The failed invasion of Harmonia axyridis in the Azores,Portugal: Climatic restriction or wrong population origin?

We tested two questions:(i)whether the climatic conditions of the Azorean Islands in Portugal may have restricted the invasion of Harmonia axyridis across this archipelago and(ii)determine what population of this species could have a higher probability of invading the islands.We used MaxEnt to project the climate requirements of different H.axyridis populations from three regions of the world,and the potential global niche of the species in the Azorean islands.Then we assessed the suitability of the islands for each of the three H.axyridis populations and global potential niche through histograms analysis,Principal Component Analysis(PCA)of climate variables,and a variable-by-variable assessment of the suitability response curves compared with the climatic conditions of the Azores.Climatic conditions of the Azores are less suitable for the U.S.and native Asian populations of H.axyridis,and more suitable for European populations and the global potential niche.The PCA showed that the climatic conditions of the islands differed from the climatic requirements of H.axyridis.This difference is mainly explained by precipitation of the wettest month,isothermality,and the minimum temperature of the coldest month.We concluded that the climatic conditions of the Azores could have influenced the establishment and spread of H.axyridis on these islands from Europe.Our results showed that abiotic resistance represented by the climate of the potentially colonizable zones could hinder the establishment of invasive insects,but it could vary depending of the origin of the colonizing population.     

Prototype Design and Experimental Study on Locust Air-Posture Righting

Locust has the capacity to maintain a righting posture and glide through attitude adjustment after leaping. A prototype inspired by the dynamic mechanism of attitude adjustment of locusts was developed. The prototype consists of a pair of wings driven by a four-bar mechanism, and a 2 Degree of Freedom （DOF） tail to imitate the movement of the locust abdomen. The power source, microcontroller, wireless data transmission module, and attitude sensors are contained in the fuselage. Experiments imitating the flight of locust were conducted to determine the mechanism of locust Subsequent Attitude Adjustment （SAA）. The tethered prototype was driven by the movement of the tail and the flapping of the wings. Results show that the pitch and yaw of the tail, and the asymmetric action of the flapping wings significantly influence the posture of the prototype. These findings suggest that both the wiggling abdomen and flapping wings contribute to the locust SAA in the air. This research lays the groundwork and technical support for the probable design and development of practical jumping robots with attitude adjustment function.     

Localization and Dynamic Change of Saponin in Vegetative Organs of Polygala tenuifolia

Anatomical, histochemical and phytochemical methods were used to investigate the structure, localization and dynamic changes of total saponin and senegenin of vegetative organs in Polygala tenuifolia Willd. Histochemical localization results showed that saponin accumulated mainly in parenchyma cells of vegetative organs. The phytochemical results also showed that the saponin accumulated in the vegetative organs of P. tenuifolia, with higher content in roots and lower content in the aerial parts that included stems and leaves. The saponin content and dry weight of the vegetative organs of P. tenuifolia had dynamic variance at the developmental stages and all reached the highest level in the post-fruit period. Hence, the roots and aerial parts should be gathered in August to make full use of the plant. As the root is the main medicinal organ of P. tenuifolia, the content of total saponin and senegenin of different aged and different parts of the root were determined. The content of total saponin and senegenin exhibited a sustained decreasing trend with increasing root age; therefore, the annual roots had high quality. The content of total saponin and senegenin in different parts of the root showed obvious variation. The content in the ＂skin areas＂ was much higher than that of xylem. The results offer a theoretical basis for determining the appropriate harvesting stage and a reasonable harvest of P. tenuifolia.     

Plant diversity of the Kangchenjunga Landscape,Eastern Himalayas

The Kangchenjunga Landscape (KL) in the Eastern Himalayas is a transboundary complex shared by Bhutan, India, and Nepal. It forms a part of the ‘Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot’ and is one of the biologically richest landscapes in the Eastern Himalayas. In this paper, we use secondary information to review and consolidate the knowledge on the flora of the KL. We reviewed 215 journal articles, analysed the history of publications on the flora of the KL, their publication pattern in terms of temporal and spatial distribution and key research areas. Our review shows that the landscape has a long history of botanical research that dates back to the 1840s and progressed remarkably after the 1980s. Most of the studies have been carried out in India, followed by Nepal and Bhutan. The majority of these have been vegetation surveys, followed by research on ethnobotanical aspects and Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs). This paper describes the forest types and characteristic species of the KL and details the species richness, diversity and dominant families of seed plants. A total of 5198 species of seed plants belonging to 1548 genera and 216 families have been recorded from the landscape, including 3860 dicots, 1315 monocots and 23 gymnosperms. Among families, Orchidaceae is the most diversely represented family in terms of species richness. This paper also draws attention to the threatened and endemic flora of the KL, including 44 species that are threatened at national and global level and 182 species that are endemic. Finally, the paper reviews the major challenges facing the KL, the conservation efforts and practices that are currently in place and recommends systematic and comprehensive floral surveys, particularly long-term data collection and monitoring and transboundary collaboration, to address the existing knowledge gaps on floral diversity of the KL.     

Time delay and cross-correlated Gaussian noises-induced stochastic stability and regime shift between steady states for an insect outbreak system

In this paper, we focus on investigating the stochastic stability and the regime transition between the endangered state and the boom state for a time-delayed insect growth system driven by correlated external and internal noises. By use of the Fokker Planck equation, the method of small time delay approximation and the fast descent method, we explore in detail the joint action of noise terms and time delay on the mean reproduction and depression time for the insect population. Our investigations indicate that the pseudo-resonance phenomenon of the mean first-passage time (MFPT) occurs because of the impact of different noises and time delay. Through the numerical calculation, it is discovered that multiplicative noise can speed up the shift of the insect population from the boom state to the endangered one, while the noise correlation and time delay can propel the insect system to evolve from the endangered state to the boom state and improve the biological stability. In addition, the impact of the additive noise on the stability of the biological system depends on the positive and negative situation of the noise correlation. On the other hand, during the process of suppressing the insect explosion, it is beneficial to the pest control to amplify the association noise strength and weaken the intensities of the multiplicative, additive noises and time delay. However, during the process of eliminating the pests, it can produce nice effect on the disinsection to increase time delay, the intensities of multiplicative and additive noises and weaken the strength of noise correlation.     

Involvement of Polyamine Oxidase in Abscisic Acidinduced Cytosolic Antioxidant Defense in Leaves of Maize

Using pharmacological and biochemical approaches, the role of maize polyamine oxidase （MPAO） in abscisic acid （ABA）- induced antioxidant defense in leaves of maize （Zea mays L.） plants was investigated. Exogenous ABA treatment enhanced the expression of the MPAO gene and the activities of apoplastic MPAO. Pretreatment with two different inhibitors for apoplastic MPAO partly reduced hydrogen peroxide （H202） accumulation induced by ABA and blocked the ABA-induced expression of the antioxidant genes superoxide dismutase 4 and cytosolic ascorbate peroxidase and the activities of the cytosolic antioxidant enzymes. Treatment with spermidine, the optimum substrate of MPAO, also induced the expression and the activities of the antioxidant enzymes, and the upregulation of the antioxidant enzymes was prevented by two inhibitors of MPAO and two scavengers of H202. These results suggest that MPAO contributes to ABA-induced cytosolic antioxidant defense through H202, a Spd catabolic product.     

三疣梭子蟹卵附着机制及相关形态学特征

Using histological methods and scanning electron microscopy, the structure of cement gland and formation of outer egg-membrane and egg-stalk of the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus were studied to explain the mechanism of egg-attachment and function of the cement gland. Eggs adhered to the setae of pleopodal basipodite and endopodite for hatching followed by spawning but no egg attached on the setae of exopodite. The setae of pleopodal basipodite and endopodite were smooth for egg attachment while the setae of exopodite were branched and suitable for collecting and protecting eggs. Cement gland distributed along longitudinal axis of the pleopodal basipodite and endopodite under epithelia cells. Cells of the cement gland were elliptical and its size was about 50 times of the epithelium. Some glue secreted to the surface of the pleopod along the seta, while the other glue secreted to the surface of the pleopod by the channel which across the integument of the pleopod. The first spawned egg was transferred to the setae that were far from the pore, not attached to the setae of the pleopodal basipodite and endopodite near the genital pore. And the egg attachment became nearer and nearer to the pore with further spawning. Since the eggs to glide rather than roll, there was almost no glue on the contrary surface of the egg at first: and with further secretion, the whole surface was surrounded by glue. The thick part of glue formed one short bud during the glide of the egg and gradually developed into a full egg-stalk. On the other hand, the else glue developed into an outer egg-membrane, which was “trichromatic egg membrane” originally. Each egg attached to the setae of pleopodal basipodite and endopodite with its own egg-stalk. The egg-stalk was a plane strap at the formation stage and later it rolled into a rope shape, but it could be reverted to the former by outside force. Four types of egg attachment : an egg to a seta, an egg to several setae, several eggs to a seta and several eggs to several setae were discovered. In summary, the cement gland existed in the pleopod of the swimming crab and formed outer egg membrane and egg-stalk during the egg attachment [Acta Zoologica Sinica 50 (5) : 873 - 879, 2004].     

Microbiological and Histological Examinations of Endangered Neurergus kaiseri Tissues Displaying Red-leg Syndrome

Presence of the red leg syndrome （RLS） was documented through bacterial and histological examinations in the endangered Kaiser＇s mountain newt Neurergus kaiseri obtained from a pet shop. The individuals which were severely infected showed lethargy, appetite loss, weight loss, abdominal skin redness and skin ulcers on hind legs. This study reveals the presence of two bacteria causing RLS on the skin of captive AT. kaiseri including Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus cereus. Sections of skin in affected areas and internal organs were examined through standard histological procedures. Histologically, epidermal necrosis and ulcers, epidermal gland depletion, myositis and subcutaneous edema, gastric submucosal edema and hepatomegaly were seen. There were also correlations between the microbial infection and structural changes in tissues of Kaiser＇s mountain newt. The severity of the structural changes are related to the level of microbial infection in the target organs and could be sustained by the isolation of P. vulgaris and other pathogens. The presence of the infective bacterial population and their interaction on the skin of the newt may have changed the normal skin flora and facilitate the prevalence of other disease.     

Medical Virology in Malaysia

Virology is a branch of biological science dealing with the study of viruses, and medical virology focuses on the study and control of diseases due to viruses that is of medical importance. The development of medical virology in Malaysia has its beginning in the Institute for Medical Research （IMR）, following the establishment of the Division of Medical Zoology and Virus Research in the institute on 23 March 1953. The second institution in the country to establish diagnostic and research work in medical virology was Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya. This was followed by University Kebangsaan Malaysia, University Sains Malaysia and University of Sarawak Malaysia. The National Public Health Laboratory （NPHL） is the latest institution to establish a laboratory in 2003 for virus isolation and services to support country surveillance and outbreak investigation of infectious diseases due to viruses. In the field of medical virology, Malaysia contributed substantially in the areas of virus diagnostic services, development and research ranging from survey and documentation on the existence and prevalence of viruses causing diseases in Malaysia, clinical presentation and epidemiological features of virus diseases, evaluation of new diagnostic tests to pathogenesis of viral diseases. Malaysia contributed to the discoveries of at least 12 new viruses in the world. ASEAN plus Three （China, Japan, Republic of Korea） Emerging Infectious Programme was established to overcome the challenges and impact of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases in this region. Malaysia as the co-ordinator of the laboratory component of the programme, contributed to strengthen the regional laboratory capability, capacity, laboratory-based surveillance and networking. The future of medical virology in Malaysia in terms of integration of diagnostic, reference and research to support the country＇s need will be enhanced and strengthened with the on-going development of the National Centre fo     

A Mechanical Model for the Adhesion of Spiders to Nominally Flat Surfaces

In dry attachment systems of spiders and geckos, van der Waals forces mediate attraction between substrate and animaltarsus. In particular, the scopula of Evarcha arcuata spiders allows for reversible attachment and easy detachment to a broadrange of surfaces. Hence, reproducing the scopula’s roughness compatibility while maintaining anti-bunching features and dirtparticle repellence behavior is a central task for a biomimetic transfer to an engineered model. In the present work we model thescopula of E. arcuata from a mechano-elastic point of view analyzing the influence of its hierarchical structure on the attachmentbehavior. By considering biological data of the gecko and spider, and the simulation results, the adhesive capabilities of thetwo animals are compared and important confirmations and new directives in order to reproduce the overall structure are found.Moreover, a possible suggestion of how the spider detaches in an easy and fast manner is proposed and supported by the results.     

Principles of organization and evolution of systems of regulation of functions

Evolution of living organisms is closely connected with evolution of structure of the system of regulations and its mechanisms. The functional ground of regulations is chemical signalization. As early as in unicellular organisms there is a set of signal mechanisms providing their life activity and orientation in space and time. Subsequent evolution of ways of chemical signalization followed the way of development of delivery pathways of chemical signal and development of mechanisms of its regulation. The mechanism of chemical regulation of the signal interaction is discussed by the example of the specialized system of transduction of signal from neuron to neuron, of effect of hormone on the epithelial cell and modulation of this effect. These mechanisms are considered as the most important ways of the fine and precise adaptation of chemical signalization underlying functioning of physiological systems and organs of the living organism     

Investigation of the mechanism of temperature sensitivity of the electroreceptors of ampullae of lorenzini

In experiments on Black Sea skates (Raja clavata), the potential of the receptor epithelium of the ampullae of Lorenzini and spike activity of single nerve fibers connected to them were investigated during electrical and temperature stimulation. Usually the potential within the canal was between 0 and –2 mV, and the input resistance of the ampulla 250–400 k. Heating of the region of the receptor epithelium was accompanied by a negative wave of potential, an increase in input resistance, and inhibition of spike activity. With worsening of the animal's condition the transepithelial potential became positive (up to +10 mV) but the input resistance of the ampulla during stimulation with a positive current was nonlinear in some cases: a regenerative spike of positive polarity appeared in the channel. During heating, the spike response was sometimes reversed in sign. It is suggested that fluctuations of the transepithelial potential and spike responses to temperature stimulation reflect changes in the potential difference on the basal membrane of the receptor cells, which is described by a relationship of the Nernst's or Goldman's equation type.I. P. Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. I. M. Sechenov, Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Pacific Institute of Oceanology, Far Eastern Scientific Center, Academy of Sciences of the USSR, Vladivostok. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 67–74, January–February, 1980.     

Possible mechanisms of implementation of toxic potential of lipopolysaccharides of pathogenic bacteria

The significance of variability of biological properties of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) is discussed in the paper within the pathogenesis of infectious process. On the basis of an analysis of published data and of results of independent research of two microorganisms (Yersinia pestis and Francisella tularensis) a conclusion is made on that a biologically inert LPS form (with a weak cytokine-inducing ability, apirogenicity and non-toxicity etc.) is typical of highly pathogenic bacteria. It is suggested that the above phenomenon is biologically expedient. Presumably, the inert LPS transforms to the active form inside a sensitive host and, according to an infection stage, each of them being functionally significant. It is the inert status of LPS that enables the pathogens, at the initial stages, to surmount freely the humoral and cell barriers of host. As the infection progressively aggravates and the proliferation of bacteria modifies itself due to LPS micro- and macroorganisms, its chemical structure and biopolymer conformation change. Both modification mechanisms enhance the LPS toxic potential. In case of a sensitive host, such variations transform the biologically inert LPS into a toxically active form with its function of endotoxin being realized. There is no LPS modification in a host insensitive to such infection, which entails either recovery or prolonged persistence of the pathogen inside the microorganism.     

医疗机构合理用药评价模型的构建研究

目的 针对医疗机构的合理用药水平进行评价研究。方法 根据医疗机构合理用药的具体要求,构建医疗机构合理用药评价指标体系,采用基于模糊群决策的方法和多指标评价分析法构建医疗机构合理用药评价模型。结果 构建了基于模糊群决策的医疗机构合理用药评价模型,并通过实例分析证明了评价模型的可行性。结论 建立的基于模糊群决策的医疗机构合理用药评价模型能够对医疗机构的合理用药水平进行科学评价,为提高医疗机构合理用药水平奠定基础。     

Principles of classification of life forms of plants

For classifying life forms of plants a proposal was made to use the principle of parallel divergence based on the hypothesis that life forms diverging to any degree preserve further the potential of evolving in a similar way, that is, in parallel series. Life forms of plants are divided into thirteen types corresponding to the nature of their basic metameres. Further, every type is divided into subtypes and sections according to the character of these metameres and then into smaller grades (classification units of the system of living forms corresponding to one trait and its evolutionary level) according to categories of traits: ramification, vegetative flexibility, rate of changes of metameres, types of habitat and environment. On the basis of the principle of parallel divergence scales of traits were constructed for each category. Corresponding to 26 paires of alternative traits 26 degrees of hierarchic classification were devised and within the limits of every type of life form there were 2(26) grades at the lowest rank. Separate systems were developed for single-celled and colonial forms.     

六种藓类植物茎的比较解剖学研究

通过对6种藓类植物,即褶叶青藓(Brachythecium salebrosum(Web.et Mohr.)B.S.G.)、湿地匐灯藓(Plagiomnium acutum(Lindb.)Kop.)、侧枝匐灯藓(Plagiomnium maximoviczii(Lindb.)Kop.)、大凤尾藓(Fissidensnobilis Griff.)、大羽藓(Thuidium cymbifolium(Doz.et Molk.)B.S.G.)和大灰藓(Hypnum plumaeforme Wils.)嫩茎和老茎的石蜡切片和显微观察发现,同一藓类植株的嫩茎和老茎,茎结构稳定,不同种藓类植物茎横切面具有不同特征.植物体茎横切面形状、表层细胞的层数、细胞大小和细胞壁厚薄、皮层细胞大小和形状、中轴的有无以及比例等特征可以作为藓类植物的分科分类依据之一.     

龙胆科药用植物化学成分的研究现状

龙胆科植物在我国的分布范围很广,且多数为药用植物,其多数种属的药用植物,至今其化学成分尚未被系统研究。综述了目前龙胆科药用植物的化学成分的研究现状及一般提取方法,对近年来发现的环烯醚萜及裂环烯醚萜类化合物进行了总结,为本科药用植物的更深入研究提供了参考。     

Mechanism of action of small doses of radiation

Opposite changes occur in the intensity of UV-fluorescence (UVF) in irradiated (0.1 Gy and 5.0 Gy) HeLa cells. The radiometric study has demonstrated that there is a correlation between the number of tryptophan-containing proteins and UVF intensity in nonirradiated and irradiated (5.0 Gy) cells during culture growth. Such a correlation was absent in cells exposed to 0.1 Gy radiation. Low radiation doses (0.1 Gy) have maximum action on cytoplasm membrane fluorescence. Low-level radiation changes the intensity of the ANS probe fluorescence connected with cell membranes, and the intensity of the cell protein UVF. High radiation doses increase and low doses decrease the probe fluorescence.     

Overview of mechanisms of action of lycopene

Dietary intakes of tomatoes and tomato products containing lycopene have been shown to be associated with decreased risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases in numerous studies. Serum and tissue lycopene levels have also been inversely related to the risk of lung and prostate cancers. Lycopene functions as a very potent antioxidant, and this is clearly a major important mechanism of lycopene action. In this regard, lycopene can trap singlet oxygen and reduce mutagenesis in the Ames test. However, evidence is accumulating for other mechanisms as well. Lycopene at physiological concentrations can inhibit human cancer cell growth by interfering with growth factor receptor signaling and cell cycle progression specifically in prostate cancer cells without evidence of toxic effects or apoptosis of cells. Studies using human and animal cells have identified a gene, connexin 43, whose expression is upregulated by lycopene and which allows direct intercellular gap junctional communication (GJC). GJC is deficient in many human tumors and its restoration or upregulation is associated with decreased proliferation. The combination of low concentrations of lycopene with 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 exhibits a synergistic effect on cell proliferation and differentiation and an additive effect on cell cycle progression in the HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cell line, suggesting some interaction at a nuclear or subcellular level. The combination of lycopene and lutein synergistically interact as antioxidants, and this may relate to specific positioning of different carotenoids in membranes. This review will focus on the growing body of evidence that carotenoids have unexpected biologic effects in experimental systems, some of which may contribute to their cancer preventive properties in models of carcinogenesis. Consideration of solubility in vitro, comparison with doses achieved in humans by dietary means, interactions with other phytochemicals, and other potential mechanisms such as stimulation of xenobiotic metabolism, inhibition of cholesterogenesis, modulation of cyclooxygenase pathways, and inhibition of inflammation will be considered. This review will point out areas for future research where more evidence is needed on the effects of lycopene on the etiology of chronic disease.