Lipid-cholesterol interactions. Monte Carlo simulations and theory.

Results of Monte Carlo calculations of order parameter profiles of lipid chains interacting with cholesterol are presented. Cholesterol concentrations in the simulations are sufficiently large that it is possible to analyze profiles for chains which are near neighbors of two or more cholesterol molecules, chains which are neighbors to a single cholesterol, and chains which are not near any cholesterol molecules. The profiles, show that cholesterol acts to significantly decrease the ability of neighboring chains to undergo trans-gauche isomeric rotations, although these chains are not all forced into all-trans conformations. The effect is significantly greater for chains which are neighbors to more than one cholesterol. The Monte Carlo results are next used as a guide to develop a theoretical model for lipid-cholesterol mixtures. The properties of this model and the phase diagram which it predicts are described. The phase diagram is then compared with experimentally determined phase diagrams. The model calculations and the computer simulations upon which they are based yield a molecular mechanism for several of the observed phases exhibited by lipid-cholesterol mixtures. The theoretical model predicts that at low temperatures the system should exhibit solid phase immiscibility.     

Dog Ownership in the West Indies: A Case Study From the Bahamas

ABSTRACT

Results from several studies in The Bahamas, which included 511 interviews with residents and data on 776 dogs, are reported. The composition and characteristics of the dog population are described. The majority of dogs, both owned and unowned, are local mongrels called “potcakes.” The median age of the dog population is three years. Potcakes are given a lower level of health care than dogs considered to resemble a recognised breed. Many dogs have no place in the household and are able to roam. The dynamics of the owned and unowned dog populations are derived, and abandoned dogs are shown to sustain the free-roaming population. The free-roaming dog population breeds throughout the year but it has a breeding cycle longer than six months, which is probably caused by its ill health. Despite the nuisance caused by unowned dogs, residents are tolerant towards them, and over half the households feed dogs they do not own. The changes in pet ownership required to increase the welfare of dogs are discussed.     

腊玛古猿和西瓦古猿的形态特征及其系统关系——下颌骨的形态与比较

本文通过禄丰腊玛古猿和西瓦古猿的下颌骨与现代大猿类和其它同时代的古猿及南方古猿类的下颌骨的比较得出:禄丰的两类古猿有不少特征与猩猩相似,因此它们可能与猩猩有较密切的关系,两类古猿可能是同一类型的雌雄个体。但另一方面,禄丰腊玛古猿又显示出一些与南方古猿相似的性状,因而另一种可能是腊玛古猿是与西瓦古猿不同的类型,它比西瓦古猿更接近于人猿的共同主干。     

Lipid chains and cholesterol in model membranes: a Monte Carlo Study

The Monte Carlo method has been employed to study the equilibrium properties of a planar array of hydrocarbon chains interacting with a cholesterol molecule. The chains are arranged to model one monolayer of a lipid bilayer and within this monolayer are allowed to move laterally and change conformations by gauche rotations. In the simulation cell there are 90 lipid chains and a single cholesterol molecule. Periodic boundary conditions are imposed upon the cell. The primary results of the calculations are order parameter profiles for the C-C bonds. These are calculated for (i) all chains, (ii) the 6 chains which are nearest neighbors to the cholesterol, and (iii) the 12 chains which are next-nearest neighbors to the cholesterol. Calculations are carried out for C-14, C-16, and C-18 chains. The results show that cholesterol strongly affects the upper portions of the chains, leaving them less able to change conformations. For C-16 and C-18 chains, the chain termini of the cholesterol neighbors are more disordered than the bulk chain termini. The magnitude of the effect depends strongly on the chain length. The results suggest that the changes in the lipid phase transition caused by cholesterol are a consequence of each cholesterol hindering the rotameric freedom of five to seven lipid chains.     

峨眉山蕨类植物区系的初步研究

依据2004~2006年的野外调查和标本馆标本以及文献资料,初步分析了峨眉山蕨类植物区系的地理特征,结果表明:峨眉山共有蕨类植物46科110属425种,优势科为蹄盖蕨科、水龙骨科和鳞毛蕨科,共192种,占总种数45.2%,优势属为耳蕨属、鳞毛蕨属、凤尾蕨属和蹄盖蕨属等;在科、属的水平上,为热带分布型,以泛热带分布为主,而种的地理分布则以温带分布的中国特有和东亚成分占绝对优势,分别为36.5%和32.0%,揭示了峨眉山蕨类植物区系是以温带性质为主的亚热带类型,具有较强的热带亲缘;与大巴山关系密切,和云南哀牢山有一定的联系,而与秦岭、西藏和陕西天华山的关系较为疏远。     

A classification of the Ericaceae: subfamilies and tribes

The variation shown by 60 characters (morphological, anatomical, embryological, chemical and cytological) is tabulated for the whole of the Ericaceae. The reliability of the characters and the observations on them are discussed, and it is emphasized that many characters are difficult to use because they are rarely restricted to one taxon. Six subfamilies are recognized. Within the Rhododendroideae seven tribes are recognized, the monogeneric Daboecieae being new; Epigaea is transferred to the Rhododendroideae from the Andromedeae and Diplarche from the Diapensiaceae. Calluna is placed in a new monotypic tribe within the Ericoideae. The extended Vaccinioideae includes the Arbutoideae; five tribes are recognized, of which the Enkiantheae and Cassiopeae are new. The Pyroloideae and Monotropoideae are left unchanged: a new subfamily, the Wittsteinioideae, includes the deviant monotypic genus Wittsteinia. A key to subfamilies, and to genera of the Pyroloideae, Rhododendroideae and superior-ovaried Vaccinioideae is given.     

The ultrastructure of the paratympanic organ (Vitali) in Gallus domesticus: preliminary studies

The sensory epithelium of the paratypanic organ (Vitali) was studied by means of the electron microscope. Two kinds of cells are present. One type extends from the basement membrane to the surface of the epithelium; their nuclei are arranged close to the connective tissue and are surrounded by a pale cytoplasm. The distal part of these cells, which are denser and richer in organelles, possess microvilli. The cells of the second type are located above the basement membrane and are found between the upper parts of the cells of the first type. Their cytoplasm is rich in small round vesicles, free ribosomes and cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum are present especially in the infranuclear zone. The apical part contains a Golgi apparatus lysosomes and multive sicular bodies. At the apex each cell possesses a cuticular plate numerous stereocilia and one kinocilium. The stereocilia become increasingly longer from one side of the cell surface to the other and the kinocilium is situated on the side where the stereocilia are longest. Nervous fibers are present in the epithelium and are in close contact with the cells of the second type. The cells we have described are remarkably similar to the supporting and hair cells of the vestibular sensory epithelium.     

Ecology of nematophagous fungi: vertical distribution in a deciduous woodland

Summary The distribution of nematophagous fungi in soil collected from a deciduous woodland is compared to various biotic and abiotic soil factors. The microfungi are isolated at all depths down to a maximum of 35 cm. Predators forming constricting rings, adhesive branches and adhesive knobs are restricted to the upper litter and humus layers. The net forming predators and endoparasites are isolated at all depths, although they are significantly more abundant in the lower mineral rich soils. A much greater species diversity of nematophagous fungi is recorded in the upper organic zones.Preliminary soil analysis indicates thatCephalosporium balanoides is independent of all soil variables, while predators able to form traps spontaneously are restricted to the organic soils which are rich in nematodes. Non-spontaneous trap forming predators, which are excellent saprophytes, are isolated from the deeper soils which are low in nutrients. The ecological significance of these results is discussed.     

Enthalpies of transfer for proteins from aqueous to water-alcohol solutions: a test for models of residues exposed to solvent

The enthalpies of transfer of proteins from aqueous solution to alcohol–water solutions are used as probes of solvent-accessible surface for these proteins. Enthalpies of transfer to 10 wt% ethanol solutions are determined calorimetrically for the native proteins ribonuclease A, lysozyme, and ovalbumin. Ribonuclease A and lysozyme are reduced and carboxamidomethylated to produce configurations in which interior residues of the native protein are exposed to the solvent; enthalpies of transfer are determined for these species. These data are then compared with enthalpies of transfer for the constituent amino acids of the proteins. The enthalpies of transfer for the residues are used to generate a maximal enthalpy of transfer that can be compared with the enthalpies of transfer for the reduced, carboxamidomethylated proteins. The residue amino acid enthalpies are coupled with probabilities that each residue is an exterior residue to predict an enthalpy of transfer for the native protein that can be compared with the observed enthalpy. The probabilities developed by Wertz and Scheraga and Lee and Richards, and Chothia are then compared on their ability to predict the native enthalpies of transfer for the protein. The Wertz–Scheraga model gives the better fit of this data in all cases.     

中国大蒜芥属(十字花科)叶表皮微形态学研究

利用光学显微镜观察了中国十字花科大蒜芥属9种1变种植物的叶表皮形态。结果表明：中国大蒜芥属植物叶上表皮细胞通常为多边形,垂周壁平直或弓形,少有稍浅波状,叶下表皮细胞为不规则形,垂周壁波状或深波状;气孔器类型均以不等细胞型为主,少有无规则型,偶有平列型。依据叶表皮特征,可将中国大蒜芥属划分为三种类型： （1）叶上表皮无气孔分布或偶见; （2）叶上表皮气孔常明显几个聚成一簇或排成短列,气孔密度小于叶下表皮; （3）叶上表皮气孔比较均匀分布,气孔密度与叶下表皮近相似。     

Review of the Order Strepsiptera

The morphology, biology and life history of the immature stages, the free-living and the neotenic females (of the suborders Mengenillidia and Stylopidia respectively) and the free-living males of the order Strepsiptera are discussed. Strepsiptera are entomophagous parasitoids and are known to parasitize seven orders and thirty-five families of Insecta. The morphological and physiological changes they cause to the host insect are outlined. The classification of the order is revised; the geographical distribution, phylogenetic system and keys to the families, subfamilies and genera (when possible) are given. As the sexes are dimorphic, separate keys are provided for adult males and neotenic females.     

A model of the basal ganglia in voluntary movement and postural reactions

A basal ganglia central pattern generator (CPG) is developed and its role in voluntary movements on the ground and postural reactions on a disturbed platform are studied and analysed by simulation. Biped dynamics and platform kinematics are utilised. The effects of agonist–antagonist muscular co-activation and joint stiffness are formulated. The implementation of the necessary counter-manoeuvres for maintaining balance and postural stability is studied. A control strategy, applicable to large systems, is formulated. The biped manoeuvres and transitions terminate in pre-specified intervals of time. Gravity is included and compensated for. Certain voluntary and postural adjustment strategies are the same but are initiated differently. Further experimental/computational research may identify the central nervous system and sensory paths that lead to the CPG. All actuator forces linearly evolve in time from their original values to their terminal values. There are no central continuous feedback loops present. Monitoring and sensing, however, are ongoing. The counter-manoeuvres are based on learned human-like voluntary movements that are triggered by the disturbance. The required central inputs to the musculoskeletal system are designed in the CPG. A functional structure for the CPG is proposed. The effect of certain disorders and malfunctions of the CPG are studied by simulation.     

Economics and success factors of flexible manufacturing systems: The conventional explanation revisited

This article analyzes costs and relative benefits of several hundred flexible manufacturing systems (FMSs) in the world. The analyses are based on the computerized data bases, which make it easy to correlate different cost and benefit indicators with each other and to look for regular patterns and tendencies in the applications. Both investment cost distributions and the system complexity distributions are analyzed. The relative benefits and advantages and their relationships are shown. Finally, technical and economic explanations for successful implementation strategies are given. The results show that there are two classes of economically successful systems. The small-scale and technically compact systems are usually used in small-batch production for the replacement of semimanual production. The main benefits are increased capacity and productivity as well as quality improvements. The large-scale and technically complex systems are used in large-volume production for the replacement of fixed automation and transfer lines. The benefits are mainly due to the increased potential for flexibility and capital savings.     

Concepts of classic and modern biogeography: Contribution of Russian entomologists

The main stages and ways of development of insect biogeography in Russia are discussed. Three general research programs (studies of ranges, zones, and regions) are described. The role of the regional approach in biogeography is characterized. Some problems related to studies of insect ranges are evaluated, and the need for creating practical range maps is emphasized. The relationships between the insect distribution patterns and the life zones are discussed. The specific features of zonation in insect biogeography are noted. Special attention is paid to establishing the zones with unified population distribution patterns within a species range. The role of geozoological investigations and opportunities of modern information technologies are characterized relative to evaluation of general patterns of insect assemblage distribution. The problems of regionalization in insect biogeography are discussed. Three main approaches (intuitive, a priori, and a posteriori) are determined. Some advantages of using population and assemblage distribution patterns in regionalization are emphasized. The role and possibilities of insect biogeography studies for in the field of reconstruction of past and long-term forecasting are characterized.     

有机磷农药对微藻的毒性作用研究概述

论文就有机磷农药对藻类生长的影响、毒性机理以及对浮游植物群落结构的影响进行综述。相对于水生甲壳类和鱼类,有机磷农药对藻类毒性较低,EC₅₀一般高于1mg/L,对藻类生长的影响大致呈现低浓度促进、高浓度抑制的趋势,有机磷农药之间及其与其它化合物之间具有联合毒性作用。有机磷农药对藻细胞酶活性具有一定影响,而对光合作用的影响也是有机磷农药对藻类毒性效应的重要致毒机制。浮游植物对有机磷农药敏感性差异以及施药引起的浮游动物对藻类的选择性摄食,可能会导致水生态系统中浮游植物群落结构的变化。     

Targeting of membrane proteins to endosomes and lysosomes

The pathways involved in targeting membrane proteins to lysosomes are extraordinarily complex. Newly synthesized proteins in the ER are transported to the Golgi complex, and upon arrival at the trans Golgi network (TGN) are targeted either directly to endosomes, or first to the cell surface from where they can be rapidly internalized into the endocytic pathway for delivery to lysosomes. The routes to endosomes are specified by sorting motifs in the cytoplasmic tails of the proteins that are recognized at the TGN or plasma membrane. The molecular details of these processes are just emerging.     

The family Erinaceidae: a synthesis of its taxonomy, phylogeny, ecology and zoogeography

All species and higher taxa of Recent Erinaceidae are diagnosed, the character-states most useful in classification are tabulated and the most probable phylogenies presented. Four African species are included in the genus Atelerix. The desert-adapted Paraechinus is believed to be more closely related to Atelerix than to the convergent Hemiechinus. The ranges of all species are mapped, with emphasis upon areas of parapatry and sympatry. Marginal localities are listed if they are not derived from previously published maps. All nominal fossil species that have been allocated to Recent genera are listed. Ecological data relevant to the interpretations of species boundaries, e.g. relating to diet and habitat, are summarized, and the factors likely to determine the species boundaries are reviewed.     

Electronic methods for the analysis of the human post-canine dentition

The human post-canine dentitions are described and analyzed, in terms of the relative plane surface area of the occlusal surface, by electronic methods. Dental casts are duplicated and the marked duplicates are then photographed in a 1:1 relationship. The photographic negatives are digitized, i.e., the points marked on the casts are converted to X and Y coordinates which are recorded on punched cards. Computer facilities are used to convert the X and Y coordinates into mensurational data and to calculate the relative plane surface areas of the crown components and the total relative plane surface of the crown. The accuracy of this method was verified by the statistical analyses.