Audiovisuals Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Vagrant Woman . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
A Forty Dollar Misunderstanding . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Two Brothers . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Wrong Kid . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
The Informant . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
After the Game . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
901/904 . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
An Investigation of a Hit and Run . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
A Legal Discussion of a Hit and Run . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Nothing Hurt but My Pride . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Youth and the Man of Property . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Manifold Controversy . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Appitsch and the Drunk . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
Henry is Drunk . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
T-Group . A film by JOHN MARSHALL
You Wasn't Loitering . A film by JOHN MARSHALL     

广西酸性土地区季节性雨林的分类研究

季节性雨林是广西南部北热带地区的地带性植被类型。本文主要介绍酸性土地区季节性雨林的类型, 记录了下列几个群系:1、以窄叶坡垒为主的季节性雨林;2、以擎天树为主的季节性雨林;3、以小叶红光树为主的季节性雨林;4、以风吹楠为主的季节性雨林;5、以咛为主的季节性雨林;6、以紫荆木为主的季节性雨林;7、以橄榄为主的季节性雨林;8、以米老排为主的季节性雨林;9、以大果马蹄荷为主的季节性雨林;10、以红苞木为主的季节性雨林;11、以仪花为主的季节性雨林;12、以格木为主的季节性雨林;13、以翅子树为主的季节性雨林;14、以红鳞蒲桃为主的季节性雨林;并把已确定的群丛列举出来。     

PHARMACOLOGICAL STUDIES ON THE STIMULATION OF THE PHOSPHOLIPASE A2-ACYLATION SYSTEM OF SYNAPTIC MEMBRANES OF BRAIN, BY NEUROTRANSMITTERS AND OTHER AGONISTS

Methacholine, nicotine and succinylcholine stimulated the phospholipase A2-acylation system of synaptic membranes isolated from the cerebral cortex of guinea pig. Stimulation by acetylcholine was partially blocked by atropine and by D-tuberocurarine respectively, indicating both muscarinic and nicotinic stimulation. Muscarinic stimulation by acetylcholine was greater than -isotinic stimulation, and stimulation by acetylcholine was completely blocked by a combip, or;. and n-tuberocurarine. The phospholipase A2-acylat tem was stimulated by phenylcphrine., id. Cqxoterenoi. Stimulation by noradrenaline was J-. tidlr, by phenoxybenzamine and pindalol i:spectively, indicating both 8-adrenergic and P-adrenergic ztimulation. n-Adrenergic stimulation by noradrenaline was greater than P-adrenergic-stimulation. 5 -mlation by noradrenaline was completely blocked by a combination of phenoxybenzamins and pindalol. Stimulation of both acylation and phospholipid hydrolysis, by 5-hydroxytryptamine and histamine were partially blocked by methysergide and diphenhydramine respectively. Stimulation by dopamine was blocked by halopcridol. Stimulation by y-aminobutyric acid was partially blocked by strychnine and by picrotoxin. Dichloroisoproterenol, atropine, methysergidr, diphenhydramine, strychnine, picrotoxin and eserine, at relatively high concentrations (1 mM), stimuhted the phospholipase A2-acylation system. Synergistic stimulations of both acylatior, and hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine, were observed by adenosine combined with noradrenaline, 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, dopamine or yaminobutyric acid, respectively. In the presence of ATP-MgCI, synergistic stimulations of the hydrolysis of phosphatidyicholine were observed after 30 s by noradrenaline combined with 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, dopamine, aminobutyric acid or carbamoylcholine respectively. In the presence of GTP-MgC12 synergistic stimulations were obtained by cdrbamoylcholine combined with noradrenaline. 5-hydroxytryptamine. histamine, dopamine or y-aminobutyric acid, respectively. In the presence of ATP-MgC12 plus GTP-MgC12, stimulation by noradrenaline and one other agonist including 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, dopamine, y-aminobutyric acid or carbamoylcholine were close to additive.     

广西酸性土地区季节性雨林的分类研究

季节性雨林是广西南部北热带地区的地带性植被类型。本文主要介绍酸性土地区季节性雨林的类型, 记录了下列几个群系:1、以窄叶坡垒为主的季节性雨林;2、以擎天树为主的季节性雨林;3、以小叶红光树为主的季节性雨林;4、以风吹楠为主的季节性雨林;5、以嚜咛为主的季节性雨林;6、以紫荆木为主的季节性雨林;7、以橄榄为主的季节性雨林;8、以米老排为主的季节性雨林;9、以大果马蹄荷为主的季节性雨林;10、以红苞木为主的季节性雨林;11、以仪花为主的季节性雨林;12、以格木为主的季节性雨林;13、以翅子树为主的季节性雨林;14、以红鳞蒲桃为主的季节性雨林;并把已确定的群丛列举出来。     

Reviews of publications

Book reviewed in this article:
The Voyage of Charles Darwin: His Autobiographical writings, selected and arranged by Christopher Railing.
Penguin Nature Guides: Fungi of Northern Europe, Vols I & II, by S. Nilsson &; O. Persson; illustrated by B. Mossberg
Penguin Nature Guides: Plant Communities, by Anned Biilow-Olsen, illustrated by Susanne Larsen; translated from the Danish by Joan Tate; edited and adapted by Francis Rose.
Penguin Nature Guides: Fishes of the British and Northern European Seas, by J. Moller Christensen; illustrated by Bente Nystrom; translated from the Danish by Gwynne Vevers; edited and adapted by Gwynne Vevers and Philip Orkin.
Birds of Wood, Park and Garden, text and illustrations by Lars Jonsson; translated from the Swedish by Roger Tanner
Birds of Sea and Coast, text and illustrations by Lars Jonsson; translated from the Swedish by Roger Tanner     

广西石灰岩山地常绿落叶阔叶混交林分类的研究

石灰岩山地在广西占有相当大的面积,在亚热带范围形成一种独特的石灰岩常绿落叶阔叶混交林,常常与砂页岩山地的常绿阔叶林镶嵌分布。本文主要论述它的系统分类和地理分布规律。     

Reviews of publications

Principles of Crop Improvement, by N. W. Simmonds
Marine Organisms – Genetics, Ecology & Evolution, edited by B. Battaglia & J. A. Beardrnore
Arthropod Phytogeny, edited by A. P. Gupta. Van Nostrand Reinhold
Field Guide to the Land Snails of Britain and North-west Europe, by M. P. Kernev & R. A. D. Cameron; illustrated by Gordon Riley
Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe, by Alwync Wheeler; illustrated by Peter Stebbing; maps by F. Rodney Fraser
Penguin Nature Guides: The Biology of Flowers, by Eigil Holm; illustrated by Thomas BredsdorfT; translated by Joan Tate; edited & adapted by Ronald Melville
Penguin Nature Guides: Orchids of Northern Europe, by Sven Nilsson; illustrated by Bo Mossberg; edited & adapted by P. Francis Hunt
A New Look at the Dinosaurs, by Alan Charig. Heinemann     

Reviews of publications

Book reviewed in this article:
Taxonomy of Economic Seaweeds: With reference to some Pacific and Caribbean Species, 2 edited by Isabella A. Abbott. La Jolla
Botanic Gardens and the World Conservation Strategy edited by D. Bramwell, O. Hamann, V. Heywood & H. Synge
Introduction to Ecological Biochemistry 3rd ed., by J. B. Harborne
A monographic study of the genus Rosularia (Crassulaceae) by Urs Eggli
The Photographic Guide to Identify Mediterranean Wild Flowers by Roger Phillips assisted by Martin Rix and Nicky Fox
The Photographic Guide to Identify Mediterranean Wild Flowers by Roger Phillips assisted by Martin Rix and Nicky Fox
Conserving the Wild Relatives of Crops by Erich Hoyt.
Somatic Cell Genetics of Woody Plants edited by M. R. Ahuja
Indian Journal of Natural Rubber Research
Dictionary of Weeds of Eastern Europe by G. Williams and K. Hunyadi
Nutrition of the Angiosperm Embryo by David R. Murray.
Plant Pigments edited by T. W. Goodwin.
Panbiogeography edited by R. Craw & G. Sermonti
Saxifrages of Europe: with notes on African, American and some Asiatic species by D. A. Webb & R. J. Gornall     

Reviews of publications

Taxonomy of Economic Seaweeds with Reference to some Pacific and Western Atlantic Species, Volume 3, edited by Isabella A. Abbott
Conservation of Medicinal Plants edited by Olayiwola Akerele, Vernon Heywood & Hugh Synge
Introduction to Floriculture, 2nd Ed., edited by R. A. Larson
Plant Membranes: A Biophysical Approach to Structure, Development and Senescence by Ya'acov Y. Leshem
The Ecology o/Fynbos, edited by R. Cowling
A Dictionary of Plant Pathology, by P. Holliday
7th International Exhibition of Botanical Art and Illustration 13 April to 31 July 1992. Catalogue by James J. White & Autumn M. Farole
Plant Growth: interactions with nutrition and environment, edited by J. R. Porter & D. W. Lawlor
Response of Plants to Multiple Stresses, edited by H. A. Mooney, W. E. Winner & E. J. Pell
Pollen and Spores: Patterns of Diversification, edited by S. Blackmore and S. H. Barnes
International Checklist for Hyacinths and Miscellaneous Bulbs, edited by J. van Scheepen
Atlas Florae Europaeae, 9 (Paeoniaceae to Capparaceae), edited by Jaakko Jalas & Juha Suominen
Nitrogen fixation, edited by M. Polsinelli, R. Materassi & M. Vincenzini
Crucifers of Great Britain and Ireland, by T.C.G. Rich
Micropropagation: Technology and Application, edited by P. C. Debergh & R. H. Zimmerman
Phytochemical Induction by Herbivores, edited by D. W. Tallamy & M. J. Raupp
Pattern Formation in Plant Tissues, by T. Sachs
Introduction to the Principles of Plant Taxonomy, 2nd ed, by V. V. Sivarajan (edited by N. K. B. Robson)
Signal Perception and Transduction in Higher Plants, edited by R. Ranjeva & A. M. Boudet
Plant Growth Substances 1988, edited by R. P. Pharis & S. B. Rood
Gibberellins, edited by N. Takahashi, B.O. Phinney & J. MacMillan     

Effects of wild-type and mutated p53 and Id proteins on the induction of apoptosis by adenovirus E1A, c-Myc, Bax, and Nip3 in p53 null mouse cerebellum cells

The sensitivities of apoptosis induced by E1A, c-Myc, Bax, and Nip3 to wild-type (wt) and mutated p53 and Id proteins were analyzed by transient transfection followed by flow cytometry with p53 null mouse cerebellum cell lines W7 and M13 that express wt and mutated p53 in response to dexamethasone, respectively. Apoptosis induced by c-Myc was stimulated weakly by wt p53, strongly by Ids, but suppressed completely by mutated p53 irrespective of coexpression with Ids, while apoptosis induced by E1A was suppressed by mutated p53 but stimulated when coexpressed with Ids. Apoptosis induced by Bax was little affected by wt and mutated p53, but inhibited by Ids, while apoptosis induced by Nip3 was inhibited by both wt and mutated p53 and inhibition was stimulated by Ids. Caspase-1 was activated only by Bax significantly when coexpressed with mutated p53 but not with wt p53. These results indicate that the apoptotic processes elicited by these inducers are different and differently affected by wt and mutated p53 and by Ids.     

Different types of ADP-ribose protein bonds formed by botulinum C2 toxin, botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 and pertussis toxin

We attempted to characterize ADP-ribose-amino acid bonds formed by various bacterial toxins. The ADP-ribose-arginine bond formed by botulinum C2 toxin in actin was cleaved with a half-life of about 2 h by treatment with hydroxylamine (0.5 M). In contrast, the ADP-ribose-cysteine bond formed by pertussis toxin in transducin and the ADP-ribose-amino acid linkage formed by botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 in platelet cytosolic proteins were not affected by hydroxylamine. HgCl2 cleaved the ADP-ribose-amino acid bond formed by pertussis toxin in transducin but not those formed by botulinum C2 toxin or botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 in actin and platelet cytosolic proteins, respectively. NaOH (0.5 M) cleaved the ADP-ribose-amino acid bonds formed by botulinum C2 toxin and pertussis toxin but not the one formed by botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3. The data indicate that the ADP-ribose bond formed by botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 differs from those formed by the known bacterial ADP-ribosylating toxins.     

Involvement of transforming growth factor-alpha secreted by macrophages in metallothionein induction by endotoxin

The mechanism of metallothionein (MT) induction of the liver by endotoxin, which is mediated by a factor secreted by endotoxin-stimulated macrophages, was studied in vitro. MT induction of the liver cells by the endotoxin-stimulated macrophage conditioned medium was inhibited by a monoclonal antiepidermal growth factor (EGF) / transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) receptor antibody, which acts as an antagonist of EGF and TGF-alpha. MT was induced by the substance, which was adsorbed by polyclonal antibody to TGF-alpha, but not by a monoclonal antibody to EGF, in the conditioned medium of endotoxin-stimulated macrophages. These results suggest that TGF-alpha secreted by macrophages is involved in MT induction by endotoxin.     

Relationship between ion requirements for respiration and membrane transport in a marine bacterium.

Intact cells of the marine bacterium Alteromonas haloplanktis 214 oxidized NADH, added to the suspending medium, by a process which was stimulated by Na+ or Li+ but not K+. Toluene-treated cells oxidized NADH at three times the rate of untreated cells by a mechanism activated by Na+ but not by Li+ or K+. In the latter reaction, K+ spared the requirement for Na+. Intact cells of A. haloplanktis oxidized ethanol by a mechanism stimulated by either Na+ or Li+. The uptake of alpha-aminoisobutyric acid by intact cells of A. haloplanktis in the presence of either NADH or ethanol as an oxidizable substrate required Na+, and neither Li+ nor K+ could replace it. The results indicate that exogenous and endogenous NADH and ethanol are oxidized by A. haloplanktis by processes distinguishable from one another by their requirements for alkali metal ions and from the ion requirements for membrane transport. Intact cells of Vibrio natriegens and Photobacterium phosphoreum oxidized NADH, added externally, by an Na+-activated process, and intact cells of Vibrio fischeri oxidized NADH, added externally, by a K+-activated process. Toluene treatment caused the cells of all three organisms to oxidize NADH at much faster rates than untreated cells by mechanisms which were activated by Na+ and spared by K+.     

Protection by estrogens of biological damage by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride

We examined by using 2,2′-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) as a radical generator the ability of estrogens to scavenge carbon-centered and peroxyl radicals. Electron spin resonance signals of carbon-centered radicals from AAPH were diminished by catecholestrogens but not by phenolic estrogens, showing that catecholestrogens efficiently scavenged carbon-centered radicals. However, fluorescent decomposition of R-phycoerythrin by AAPH-derived peroxyl radicals was inhibited by catecholestrogens and phenolic estrogens. Evidently, peroxyl radicals were scavenged by catecholestrogens and by phenolic estrogens. However, the scavenging ability of 4-hydroxyestradiol was less than 2-hydroxyestradiol. Strand break of DNA induced by AAPH was inhibited by catecholestrogens, but not by phenolic estrogens under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Inactivation of lysozyme induced by AAPH was completely blocked by 2-hydroxyestradiol under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and by 4-hyroxyestradiol only under anaerobic conditions. Peroxidation of arachidonic acid by AAPH was strongly inhibited by catecholestrogens at low concentrations. Only large amounts of phenolic estrogens markedly inhibited lipid peroxidation. These results show that catecholestrogens were antioxidant against AAPH-induced damage to biological molecules through scavenging both carbon-centered and peroxyl radicals, but phenolic estrogens partially inhibited AAPH-induced damage because they scavenged only peroxyl radicals.     

广西石灰岩季节性雨林分类的研究

广西北热带地区石灰岩山地占据相当大的面积,特别是桂西南一带,那里形成一种独特的石灰岩季节性雨林,与相邻的砂页岩或花岗岩山地季节性雨林镶嵌分布。本文主要论述它的分类系统和地理分布规律。     

Corticosteroids suppress cyclooxygenase messenger RNA levels and prostanoid synthesis in cultured vascular cells

Prostacyclin synthesis by cultured vascular smooth muscle cells was inactivated by aspirin. Recovery required serum factors replaceable by EGF plus TGF-beta and was blocked by cycloheximide but not by actinomycin D. Recovery of cyclooxygenase activity was prevented by preincubation with dexamethasone (0.1 to 2 microM), which also suppressed basal enzyme activity by up to 70%. A full length 2.8 Kb cDNA hybridization probe for human cyclooxygenase identified a cyclooxygenase messenger RNA of approximately 2.8 Kb in these cells. Cyclooxygenase mRNA levels were enhanced by EGF/TGF-beta, but suppressed completely by corticosteroids. It is concluded that inhibition of prostanoid synthesis by corticosteroids is mediated by suppressing cyclooxygenase messenger RNA. These observations provide a new molecular mechanism for the anti-inflammatory activity of the corticosteroids.     

Metallothionein inhibits peroxynitrite-induced DNA and lipoprotein damage

Previous studies have demonstrated that metallothionein functions as an antioxidant that protects against oxidative DNA, protein, and lipid damage induced by superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide, hydroxyl radical, and nitric oxide. The present study was undertaken to test the hypothesis that metallothionein also protects from DNA and lipoprotein damage induced by peroxynitrite, an important reactive nitrogen species that causes a diversity of pathological processes. A cell-free system was used. DNA damage was detected by the mobility of plasmid DNA in electrophoresis. Oxidation of low density lipoprotein was measured by a thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance, which was confirmed by lipid hydroperoxide assay. Plasmid DNA damage and low density lipoprotein oxidation were induced by 3-morpholinosydnomine, which produces peroxynitrite through the reaction between nitric oxide and superoxide anion or by synthesized peroxynitrite directly. DNA damage by 3-morpholinosydnomine was prevented by both metallothionein and superoxide dismutase, whereas the damage caused by peroxynitrite was prevented by metallothionein only. The oxidation of low density lipoprotein by 3-morpholinosydnomine and peroxynitrite was also significantly inhibited by metallothionein. This study thus demonstrates that metallothionein may react directly with peroxynitrite to prevent DNA and lipoprotein damage induced by this pathological reactive nitrogen species.     

Reviews of Publications

Book reviewed in this article:
Flowers of the Himalaya , by Oleg Polunin and Adam Stainton.
A Guide to the Vegetation of Britain and Europe , by Oleg Polunin and Martin Walters.
The Experimental Biology of Bryophytes, edited by A. F. Dyer & J. G. Duckett.
A Birdwatcher's Miscellany, edited by Rob Hume.
The Moths and Butterjlies of Great Britain and Ireland, Volume 10, Noctuidae (Part II) and Agaristidae, edited by J. Heath.
Atlas of Butterjlies in Britain and Ireland, by J. Heath, E. Pollard & J. A. Thomas.
Colour Identification Guide to Butterjlies of the British Isles, revised edition by T. G. Howarth.
The World of Butterjlies, An Illustrated Encyclopaedia, by V. Sbordoni & S.Forestiero.
Colour Identijcation Guide to Moths of the British Isles, by Bernard Skinner.
The Biology of Buttegies, edited by R. I. Vane-Wright & P. R. Ackery.
Australian Grasses, by Nancy T. Burbidge, revised by Surrey W. L. Jacobs.
Collins Guide to Grasses, Sedges, Rushes and Ferns, by R. Fitter & A. Fitter. Collins.
Grasses of the Soviet Union, by N. N. Tsvelev, edited by A. A. Fedorov.
The European Garden Flora, Volume 2, Monocotyledons (Part ZZ), edited by S. M Walters et al.
Grasses, 3rd edition, by C. E. Hubbard, revised by J. C. E. Hubbard.     

Differential antimutagenic effects of caffeine and the protease inhibitor antipain on mutagenesis by various mutagens in Escherichia coli

The effects of caffeine (2 mg/ml) and the protease inhibitor antipain (1.75 mb/ml) in the plating agar medium on the yields of prototrophic revertants induced by 10 mutagens in E. coli uvrA^? strains were tested. Mutagenesis by 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide was greatly diminished by both caffeine and antipain. UV mutagenesis was decreased moderately by caffeine, and greatly by antipain. X-Ray mutagenesis was decreased very slightly by both caffeine and antipain. Mutagenesis by N-hydroxyurethan was inhibited moderately by caffeine, and greatly by antipain; that by methyl methanesulfonate was inhibited moderately by both caffeine and antipain, and that by N-methyl-N′-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine wa was not suppressed by caffeine but was inhibited moderately by antipain. Mutagenesis by ethyl methanesulfonate was inhibited greatly by caffeine, but only slightly by antipain. The antimutagenic effect of caffeine was strong on furylfuramide (AF-2) mutagenesis, moderate on that of mitomycin C (tested with B/r type strain) and negligible on that of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea. These diverse antimutagenesis patterns are briefly discussed in relation to the current idea that antipain antimutagenesis is due to inhibition of inducible error-prone repair.     

The acetates of p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside--regioselective preparation by action of lipases

All possible di-O-acetates and mono-O-acetates of p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside were prepared by chemoenzymatic way using lipases. The 2,3-di-O-acetate was obtained in 90% yield by deacetylation of the primary acetyl group of per-O-acetylated p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside by Candida cylindracea lipase (CCL) or Candida rugosa lipase (LAY). The 2,5- and 3,5-di-O-acetates were obtained by acetylation of p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside by Pseudomonas cepacia lipase (LPS-30) in organic solvents. The 5-O-acetate was regioselectively synthesised in 95% yield by acetylation of p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside catalysed by porcine pancreas lipase. Finally, the 2- and 3-O-acetates of p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside were obtained in two steps. The enzymatic di-O-acetylation of p-nitrophenyl alpha-L-arabinofuranoside by LPS-30 was followed by enzymatic hydrolysis of the primary acetyl group by CCL or LAY.