Ethnobotany of Ghalegay, District Swat, Pakistan

Ethnobotanical study of plants revealed that the local community of Ghalegy, District Swat, invariably uses 126 species of 59 families for various purposes. Based on their traditional local uses, fifty-seven species （45.2%） were classifted as medicinal, forty-seven as fire wood （37.3 % ）, forty-five as forage （35.7 % ）, twenty-eight as honey bee species （22.2%）, twenty-seven as vegetable species （21.4%）, 25 as edible fruits （14 wild and llcultivated）, thirteen as timberwood （10.3%）, twelve as ornamental （9.5%）, eleven as furniture wood, ten as shelter and thatch makers （7.9%）, ten as fencing （7.9%）, five as poisonous （4%）, four as religious/superstitious species, three species used in making hand sticks and wooden tools （2.4%）, three as utensil cleaner species （2.4%）, three as evil repellent and one as fish poisoning species. The area is in plant resources and traditional knowledge but it needs ecological management for its sustainability.     

Inheritance of stability of MN81330 common wheat samples to septoria blotch

Wheat samples described in literature as resistant to septoria glume blotch were assessed for their response to inoculation with Septoria nodorum Berk. Three days after inoculation with the infectious agent, samples Klein Titan (k-41772), Mian Jang (k-61568), Walter (k-54585), Reisler (k-59505), Rempart (k-59493), PIN/BOW (k-62838), MN81330 (k-60785), Frondoso (k-46736), Sokrates (k-58179) were classified as resistant to infection. Seven days after inoculation, only samples Reisler and Mian Jang were regarded as resistant. The genetic control of glume blotch resistance was studied by hybridological analysis in sample MN81330. Resistance of this sample manifested in a longer latent period of the disease is controlled by two dominant complementary genes not linked to the gene Lr24 responsible for resistance to brown rust, to the gene responsible for coleoptile coloration, and to minor genes that improve expression of the major ones.     

Panic Disorder,Somatization, and the New Cross-cultural Psychiatry: The Seven Bodies of a Medical Anthropology of Panic

This article aims to adduce aframework that will allow for thecross-cultural study of panic disorder. Theauthors take sensation as the key unit ofanalysis, aiming to contribute to a medicalanthropology of sensation. The seven analyticperspectives that are suggested in the articleare the following: the full spectrum of panicattack sensations (the sensation body), thebiological generation of panic sensations (thebiological body), sensation as invoking anethnophysiology (the ethnophysiological body),sensation as metaphor (the metaphoric body),sensation as invoking the landscape (thelandscape body), sensation as invokingcatastrophic cognitions (the catastrophiccognitions body), and sensation as invokingmemory (the memory-associational body).     

Energy enzymes from the flight muscle of the house sparrow, Passer domesticus-II. Physical and chemical properties related to purification of the glycolytic enzymes

The isoelectric points (pI0), molecular weights and ammonium sulfate precipitation ranges for most of the glycolytic enzymes from house sparrow (Passer domesticus) flight muscle were determined. The pI0 for each enzyme is as follows: HK (6.8), PGI (6.7), PFK (5.4), Ald (7.2), TPI (7.5), PGK (7.1), PGM (6.1), Enol (6.2), PyK (6.6), and LDH (8.3). The molecular weight for each enzyme is as follows: PGI (145,000), Ald (160,000), TPI (60,000), PGK (35,000), PGM (60,000), Enol (100,000), PyK (200,000), and LDH (145,000). The ammonium sulfate precipitation range for each enzyme is as follows: PGI (0-80%), PFK (40-50%), Ald (40-65%), TPI (30-90%), PGK (70-90%), PGM (30-80%), Enol (45-80%), PyK (55-85%), and LDH (40-65%).     

Systematics of Chimarrita, a new subgenus of Chimarra (Trichoptera: Philopotamidae)

The subgenus Chimarrita of the genus Chimarra is erected to include three described species, formerly placed in the subgenus Chimarra , and fifteen new species, all with distributions in the Greater Antilles or South America. A phylogeny for the species in the subgenus, and characters supporting monophyly of the subgenus Chimarrita , are proposed, as well as evidence for the monophyly of the subgenera Chimarra and Curgia . Keys are provided for the males and known females of the subgenus. Described species transferred to this subgenus are Chimarra simpliciforma Flint, Chimarra rosalesi Flint, and Chimarra maldonadoi Flint. Chimarra simpliciforma is designated the type species for the subgenus. New species in Chimarra ( Chimarrita ) described in this paper include: Chimarra akantha (Brazil), C . camella (Brazil), C . camura (Brazil), C . chela (Venezuela), C . forcipata (Venezuela), C . heligma (Brazil), C . heppneri (Peru), C . kontilos (Brazil), C . majuscula (Brazil), C . merengue (Dominican Republic), C . neblina (Venezuela), C . prolata (Ecuador), C . pusilla (Venezuela), C . tortuosa (Brazil), and C . xingu (Brazil).     

Identification of strains isolated as total and fecal coliforms and comparison of both groups as indicators of fecal pollution in tropical climates

This study was undertaken to better characterize the groups of total coliforms (TC) and fecal coliforms (FC) and to evaluate both groups as indicators of fecal contamination of drinking well water in a tropical climate (The Ivory Coast, West Africa). Isolated colonies obtained as TC or FC on membrane filters were identified using the API-20E system. From the well water samples, 58 golden-green colonies with a metallic sheen isolated on Endo medium (TC) were identified as Escherichia coli (55%), Enterobacter (26%), Klebsiella (14%), Proteus (3%), and Citrobacter (2%). Among 132 colonies isolated on Endo medium as non-TC (not showing the characteristic golden metallic sheen), 10% were identified as E. coli. The 196 blue colonies isolated on M-FC medium at 44.5 degrees C (FC) were identified as E. coli (66%), Klebsiella (12%), Enterobacter (10%), Citrobacter (5%), Salmonella (3%), Serratia (3%), Proteus (2%), and Yersinia (0.5%). Among 24 nonblue colonies on M-FC medium, none were identified as E. coli. Of the colonies isolated from human feces, E. coli represents 92% of the TC and 89% of the FC. Although these results are limited, they tend to confirm the greater specificity of the fecal coliform technique over that of total coliform for the detection of fecal contamination of untreated well water. From the results presented here and the observations of other workers, it is suggested that the use of FC instead of TC should be considered as the method of choice for determining drinking water pollution of untreated groundwater supplies.     

Enantiomer separation of triazole fungicides by high-performance liquid chromatography

Enantiomer separation is one of the most important prerequisites for the investigation of environmental enantioselective behaviors for chiral pesticides. In the present study, the enantiomer separation of 7 triazole fungicides, i.e., hexaconazole (1), triadimefon (2), tebuconazole (3), diniconazole (4), flutriafol (5), propiconazole (6), and difenoconazole (7), were evaluated using normal phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Chrialcel OD column and Chrialcel OJ column were used. The influence of column temperature was studied for the optimization of the resolution as well as the type and percentage of organic modifier in the mobile phase. The retention factors for the enantiomers of all investigated compounds decreased as the temperature increased. The natural logarithms of the selectivity factors (lnalpha) of hexaconazole (1), tebuconazole (3), flutriafol (5), propiconazole (6) and difenoconazole (7) depended linearly on the inverse of temperature (1/T) while the corresponding values for triadimefon (2) and diniconazole (4) kept unchanged in the studied temperature range 10-35 degrees C. Van't Hoff plots afforded thermodynamic parameters, such as the apparent change in enthalpy DeltaH degrees , the apparent change in entropy DeltaS degrees and the apparent change in DeltaDeltaH degrees and DeltaDeltaS degrees . The thermodynamic parameters (DeltaH degrees , DeltaS degrees , DeltaDeltaH degrees and DeltaDeltaS degrees ) were calculated in order to provide an understanding of the thermosynamic driving forces for enantioseparation. The established method shows perspective to be used for preparing micro-scale amount of pure enantiomers of the chiral triazoles studied.     

Characterization of a zebrafish estrogen-sulfating cytosolic sulfotransferase: inhibitory effects and mechanism of action of phytoestrogens

Cytosolic sulfotransferases (STs) are generally thought to be involved in detoxification of xenobiotics, as well as homeostasis of endogenous compounds such as thyroid/steroid hormones and catecholamine hormones/neurotransmitters. We report here the identification and characterization of a zebrafish estrogen-sulfating cytosolic ST. The zebrafish ST was bacterially expressed, purified, and examined for enzymatic activities using a variety of endogenous compounds as substrates. Results showed that the enzyme displayed much higher activities toward two endogenous estrogens, estrone (E(1)) and 17beta-estradiol (E(2)), in comparison with thyroid hormones, 3,3',5-triiodothyronine (T(3)) and thyroxine (T(4)), dopamine, dihydroxyphenylalanine (Dopa), and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). The kinetic parameters, K(m), and V(max), with estrogens and thyroid hormones as substrates were determined. The calculated V(max)/K(m) for E(1), E(2), T(3), and T(4) were, respectively, 31.6, 16.7, 1.5, and 0.8 nmol min(-1) mg(-1) microM(-1), indicating clearly the estrogens being preferred physiological substrates for the enzyme. The inhibitory effects of isoflavone phytoestrogens on the sulfation of E(2) by this zebrafish ST were examined. The IC(50) determined for quercetin, genistein, and daidzein were 0.7, 2.5, and 8 microM, respectively. Kinetic analyses revealed that the mechanism underlying the inhibition by these isoflavones to be of the competitive type.     

Ni2+高效结合肽的筛选与作用研究

利用噬菌体随机十二肽库和金属亲和层析对重金属Ni2 进行结合肽筛选。经4轮生物淘洗、噬菌体扩增和DNA测序,获得一组多肽序列。GenBank Blast分析未发现同源序列,Clustal W多重序列比对也未找到Ni2 金属结合肽结合基序,但可能含有多聚组氨酸(His)2-5。噬菌体单克隆金属离子螯合树脂的亲和力测定和反筛、抑菌解毒试验表明:展示有金属结合肽的噬菌体不仅对Ni2 具有高亲和力,而且对其它金属离子也有作用,Cu2 、Ni2 、Co2 、Zn2 等金属离子对金属结合肽的亲和力显著高于Cd2 和Cr2 ,展示金属结合肽的噬菌体对重金属Ni2 具有一定的耐受和解毒作用。显微形态学观察也显示金属结合肽与金属螯合树脂的作用。对于了解重金属与多肽的相互作用机理以及环境重金属修复等均具有重要意义和价值。     

Serum chemistry of the minke whale from the northeastern Atlantic

Serum samples were collected from 42 harpooned minke whales (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) during commercial whaling off the coast of northern Norway (1997 and 1998) and analyzed for serum chemistry parameters in order to find clinical reference values for the northeastern Atlantic stock of this species. Mean and median values, as well as standard deviation and 90% central range, are presented for 28 different serum chemistry parameters. Lipemia is a common finding in marine mammals such as the minke whale, and chemical analysis of lipemic serum samples may produce artifacts. We found statistically significant elevated values of total protein, globulin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), sodium and chloride in strongly-lipemic compared to non-lipemic samples, all which may be artifacts due to interference of lipids with the methods used for analysis. In addition, we found significantly elevated levels of creatin kinase, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), urea, uric acid and triglycerides, as well as a decrease in creatinine in the strongly lipemic samples. Reanalyzing serum samples after twelve mo storage at -20 C (n = 13) revealed reduction in the serum concentration of the enzymes ALT (42%), alkaline phosphatase (ALP; 10%), LDH (19%), gamma glutamyl transferase (17%) and amylase (11%), as well as for triglycerides (9%) and non-esterified fatty acids (16%). It is crucial that serum chemistry analysis is performed without delay after sampling. Possible changes in the values of some parameters due to the presence of high amounts of lipids or long term storage of samples must be considered when interpreting results from serum chemistry analysis in these animals.     

Urea-based two-dimensional electrophoresis of beta-amyloid peptides in human plasma: evidence for novel Abeta species

The detailed analysis of beta-amyloid (Abeta) peptides in human plasma is still hampered by the limited sensitivity of available mass spectrometric methods and the lack of appropiate ELISAs to measure Abeta peptides other than Abeta(1-38), Abeta(1-40), and Abeta(1-42). By combining high-yield Abeta immuno- precipitation (IP), IEF, and urea-based Abeta-SDS-PAGE-immunoblot, at least 30 Abeta-immuno-reactive spots were detected in human plasma samples as small as 1.6 mL. This approach clearly resolved Abeta peptides Abeta(1-40), Abeta(1-42), Abeta(1-37), Abeta(1-38), Abeta(1-39), the N-truncated Abeta(2-40), Abeta(2-42), and, for the first time, also Abeta(1-41). Relative quantification indicated that Abeta(1-40) and Abeta(1-42) accounted for less than 60% of the total amount of Abeta peptides in plasma. All other Abeta peptides appear to be either C-terminally or N-terminally truncated forms or as yet uncharacterized Abeta species which migrated as trains of spots with distinct pIs. The Abeta pattern found in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was substantially less complex. This sensitive method (2-D Abeta-WIB) might help clarifying the origin of distinct Abeta species from different tissues, cell types, or intracellular pools as well as their amyloidogenicity. It might further help identifying plasma Abeta species suitable as biomarkers for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD).     

中国外来植物数据集

搞清楚中国外来植物种类有哪些, 从哪里来, 如何进入中国, 属于什么性质的类群, 它们的生物学特征和生态学特性如何等问题, 是中国外来入侵植物预防和预警机制研究的重要基础。《中国植物志》、Flora of China、各省级植物志书等记载的外来植物信息由于种种原因非常有限, 且目前我国尚没有完整体现中国外来植物信息的数据库。本文通过整合近几年外来植物相关的资料, 并通过文献考证增补外来植物原产地、习性等信息, 利用计算机网络、数据库及大数据分析技术手段, 经信息化处理和分类学校正, 进行分类体系重建, 最终确定中国外来植物的物种名录数据集。该数据集共有数据14,710条, 记载中国外来植物283科3,233属14,710个类群(含13,401原种332杂交种2嵌合体458亚种503变种14变型)。每个类群包括类别、中文科名、科名、中文属名、属名、中文名、别名、学名、命名人、生存状态、生存时间、生活型、原产国家或地区和中国引入省份等基础信息。数据集显示, 外来植物已在中国的植物种类构成中占据了相当大的比例(高达28.19%, 中国境内有维管植物52,177个类群, 其中本土37,464, 外来14,710, 上述数字包含种下等级, 统计截至2021年12月31日); 就生存状态而言, 栽培植物占所有外来植物的比例高达91%, 逃逸植物占7.36%, 归化植物占6.69%, 入侵植物占2.66%; 对于生活型的分析显示, 多年生类群占据了外来植物的绝大多数(13,625种, 约占总数的92.6%), 草本植物(8,937种, 约占总数的60.8%)相较于乔木(2,752种, 约占总数的18.7%)、灌木(4,916种, 约占总数的33.4%)及其他生活型数量要更多; 中国的外来植物大多来自北美洲(4,242种)、非洲(3,707种)、南美洲(3,645种)、亚洲(3,102种), 欧洲(1,690种)和大洋洲(1,305种)相对较少; 而中国具有外来植物最多的前10个省份分别为台湾(6,122种)、北京(5,244种)、福建(3,667种)、广东(3,544种)、云南(3,404种)、上海(2,924种)、江苏(2,183种)、江西(1,789种)、浙江(1,658种)和湖北(973种)。本数据集是第一次对中国外来植物进行全面系统整理, 可供从事外来植物相关研究工作参考, 也可作为植物多样性研究的基础资料, 还可作为农业、林业、草业、园林、草药及自然保护和环境保护人士及高等院校师生的参考数据。     

Methods of express analysis of staphylococcal enterotoxin a in food products

Instrument-free methods for detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) in samples of drinkable dairy products and meat broth using immunochromatography (IC) and dot-assay were developed. A conjugate of monoclonal antibodies (MA) to SEA with colloid gold (CG) was used as the detecting component in IC; the MA-CG conjugate or biotinylated SEA antibodies and streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate (STR-HRP) were used for conducting the dot-assay. The results of the SEA analysis with the developed method and with the immunoenzymatic assay (IEA) were compared. The limit of detection in ng/mL was: 10 (IC), 20 (dot analysis, MA-CG), 10 (dot analysis, STR-HRP), and 4 (IEA). The analysis time in min was: 25 (IC), 60 (dot-assay, MA-CG), 70 (dot-assay, STR-HRP), and 150 (IEA). The simplicity and availability of the developed instrumentless detection methods allow conducting single and mass testing in low-resource laboratories as well as outside laboratories.     

Determination of component volumes of lipid bilayers from simulations.

An efficient method for extracting volumetric data from simulations is developed. The method is illustrated using a recent atomic-level molecular dynamics simulation of L alpha phase 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine bilayer. Results from this simulation are obtained for the volumes of water (VW), lipid (V1), chain methylenes (V2), chain terminal methyls (V3), and lipid headgroups (VH), including separate volumes for carboxyl (Vcoo), glyceryl (Vgl), phosphoryl (VPO4), and choline (Vchol) groups. The method assumes only that each group has the same average volume regardless of its location in the bilayer, and this assumption is then tested with the current simulation. The volumes obtained agree well with the values VW and VL that have been obtained directly from experiment, as well as with the volumes VH, V2, and V3 that require certain assumptions in addition to the experimental data. This method should help to support and refine some assumptions that are necessary when interpreting experimental data.     

Heritability of determinants of the metabolic syndrome among healthy Arabs of the Oman family study

The metabolic syndrome, as defined by the International Diabetes Federation, was investigated in five large, extended, highly consanguineous, healthy Omani Arab families of a total of 1277 individuals. Heritability (h2) of the phenotypic abnormalities that make up the syndrome and other related traits was estimated by variance decomposition method using SOLAR software. The overall prevalence of the syndrome was 23%. The prevalence of abnormalities making the syndrome in a descending order were: obligatory waist circumference, hypertension, raised fasting blood glucose, low serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and raised serum triglycerides (TGs). Highly significant, but widely spread, h2 values were obtained for: height (0.68), weight (0.68), BMI (0.68), serum HDL (0.63), serum leptin (0.55), percentage body fat (0.53), total serum cholesterol (0.53), fasting serum insulin (0.51), homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance index (0.48), serum TG (0.43), waist circumference (0.40), diastolic blood pressure (0.38), and 2-hour glucose level (0.17), whereas for the metabolic syndrome itself, h2 was 0.38. The wide spread of h2 results (0.07 to 0.68) indicates that some determinants, such as weight, BMI, and HDL level, are under significant genetic influence among the Omani Arabs. Other determinants such as insulin resistance, abdominal obesity, diastolic blood pressure, and TG levels seem to be more environmentally driven.     

Clinical evaluation of different applications of misoprostol and aglepristone for induction of abortion in bitches

The aim of the present study was to compare the clinical and endocrinological effects of different applications of misoprostol (MIS) and aglepristone (AGL) for the induction of abortion in bitches. For this purpose, 28 healthy pregnant bitches from different breeds, ages, body weights (Body weigt, BWs, 10–40 kg), and between Days 25 to 35 of gestation were used. Bitches were randomly assigned to four groups. In group 1 (GI, n = 7), AGL (10 mg/kg BW, s.c. on 2 consecutive days); in group 2 (GII, n = 7), AGL (as in GI), intravaginal MIS (IVag, 200 μg for bitches with ≤20 kg BW, 400 μg for bitches with >20 kg BW, daily intravaginally until completion of abortion); in group 3 (GIII, n = 7), AGL (as in GI), ICVag (as in GII), per os MIS (400 μg for bitches with ≤20 kg BW, 800 μg for bitches with >20 kg BW, daily orally, until completion of abortion); in group 4 (GIV, n = 7), AGL (as in GI), per os MIS (as GIII) were used. Clinical, vaginal, and ultrasonographic examinations were performed daily until abortion was completed. For measurement of serum progesterone, blood samples were collected in all groups immediately after the first AGL administration and every other day until completion of abortion. No statistical differences were found between groups concerning the duration until completion of abortion after treatment (nonsignificant); however, in GII, one bitch completed abortion 2 days after the start of treatment.     

Constituents with tyrosinase inhibitory activities from branches of Ficus erecta var. sieboldii King

Phytochemical investigation of the branches of Ficus erecta var. sieboldii King resulted in the isolation of eight constituents: p-hydroxybenzoic acid (1), methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (2), vanillic acid (3), methyl vanillate (4), syringic acid (5), β-sitosterol (6), α-amyrin acetate (7), and ethyl linoleate (8). Their chemical structures were identified via spectroscopic means as well as by comparing their data with literature values. Studies on tyrosinase inhibition activities were conducted for the isolated compounds. Among them, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (1) and methyl p-hydroxybenzoate (2) were identified as active tyrosinase inhibitors with IC(50) values of 0.98?±?0.042 and 0.66?±?0.025?mM, respectively, showing comparable activities to that of arbutin (IC(50)?=?0.32?±?0.015?mM), a standard control. Inhibition kinetics, as analyzed by Lineweaver-Burk plots, indicated that compounds 1 and 2 were competitive inhibitors of diphenolase of mushroom tyrosinase. Notably, isolated compounds 1-8 were reported for the first time as constituents of F. erecta.     

Mapping of multiple binding domains of the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A for HLA.

Multiple binding sites on the staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) molecule which interact with class II MHC Ag have been suggested by previous studies comparing SEA binding with that of another superantigen, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1. Using the synthetic peptide approach we have identified multiple regions of the SEA molecule which are responsible for binding to HLA Ag on Raji cells. Overlapping peptides were synthesized corresponding to the complete amino acid sequence of SEA: SEA(1-45), SEA(39-66), SEA(62-86), SEA(83-104), SEA(102-124), SEA(121-149), SEA(146-173), SEA(166-193), SEA(187-217), and SEA(211-233). Like the native SEA molecule, all of the peptides exhibited relatively high beta-sheet and low alpha-helical structure as determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. A direct competition assay was employed with peptide blockage of 125I-SEA binding to MHC Ag. SEA(1-45), SEA(39-66), SEA(62-86), and SEA(121-149) but none of the other peptides blocked binding to Raji cells. The relative potency of the peptides in blocking SEA binding was determined with SEA(39-66) much greater than SEA(1-45) = SEA(62-86) = SEA(121-149). Peptide competition was seen at concentrations as low as 55 microM. Further, antibodies were produced to all of the peptides and tested for their ability to bind to SEA and inhibit SEA binding to HLA. Consistent with the direct inhibition of binding, antisera to SEA(1-45), SEA(39-66), and SEA(62-86) reduced the ability of SEA to bind Raji cells, whereas, antisera to the remaining peptides failed to block binding. The data suggest that the binding of the superantigen SEA to MHC molecules involves several N-terminal regions on SEA as well as an additional internal domain. This allows for the presence of multiple binding sites in an extended N-terminal region of the SEA molecule or a discontinuous binding epitope.     

Recessive inheritance of obesity in familial non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, and lack of linkage to nine candidate genes.

Segregation analysis of body-mass index (BMI) supported recessive inheritance of obesity, in pedigrees ascertained through siblings with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). BMI was estimated as 39 kg/m2 for those subjects homozygous at the inferred locus. Two-locus segregation analysis provided weak support for a second recessive locus, with BMI estimated as 32 kg/m2 for homozygotes. NIDDM prevalence was increased among those subjects presumed to be homozygous at either locus. Using both parametric and nonparametric methods, we found no evidence of linkage of obesity to any of nine candidate genes/regions, including the Prader-Willi chromosomal region (PWS), the human homologue of the mouse agouti gene (ASP), and the genes for leptin (OB), the leptin receptor (OBR/DB), the beta3-adrenergic receptor (ADRB3), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (LIPC), glycogen synthase (GYS), and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFA).