Function and structure in the paired fins of scorpaeniform fishes

Synopsis The paired fins of the basic, ancestral type of free-swimming acanthopterygian teleost serve primarily in guiding the forward course of movement and in maneuvering within the water column. In various scorpaeniform fishes the paired fins have taken on a number of other functions associated with a bottom-living mode of life. Among these are: defense against predation, probing for food items, propping the forward part of the body away from the bottom, progressing over it, digging into it, and the development of a suction disc for attachment to it. The relationship between these developments and paired-fin structure is the subject of the paper.     

蜥臀目霸王龙及有鳞目沧龙牙齿组织的微细结构

本文是利用扫描电子显微镜对陆栖恐龙tvrannosaurid与海栖渐增mosasaurid”牙齿结构进行的比较解剖学研究。化石采自加拿大RedDeerhiverValley上白里统Horse－shoeCanyon组。通过研究地层中出现的生物化石,特别是动物牙齿的组织结构,可以了解动物为了适应生活环境而发生的进化过程,也可以推测它们的系统发育关系。tyrannosaund与mosas。id都拥有锥状的同形齿,牙齿侧向扁平,且略向后弯曲。研究结果确认了tyrannosaurid的牙齿由于薄层的无柱釉质bPrismaticenamel）向齿质的侵人而造成许多的凹凸构造,此锯齿状构造沿着牙齿的前后缘,由牙齿的顶端分布至基部。因此tyrannosaurid的牙齿呈现着锐利的切缘;在这些凹凸状切缘的沟与小窝的深部可观察到有机物的沉积。但是类似的锯齿状构造只能在齿冠呈钝圆状的mosasaurid牙齿的基部附近观察到。我们以扫描电子显微镜（SEM）检索,确认两爬行类的齿质皆是属于中间型的真性齿质（intermediatetypeorthodentine）;所谓orthodentine即是细管齿质（tubulardentine）。tyrannosaurid的真性齿质的齿质小管只在齿质一釉质相接处Uentino—enamaljunction）附近放散出规则性的分歧与末枝。但mosasaurid的真性齿质的齿质J。管,在齿质的中间层与表层中,呈现着由复杂     

Correlative light and electron microscopy imaging of autophagy in a zebrafish infection model

High-resolution imaging of autophagy has been used intensively in cell culture studies, but so far it has been difficult to visualize this process in detail in whole animal models. In this study we present a versatile method for high-resolution imaging of microbial infection in zebrafish larvae by injecting pathogens into the tail fin. This allows visualization of autophagic compartments by light and electron microscopy, which makes it possible to correlate images acquired by the 2 techniques. Using this method we have studied the autophagy response against Mycobacterium marinum infection. We show that mycobacteria during the progress of infection are frequently associated with GFP-Lc3-positive vesicles, and that 2 types of GFP-Lc3-positive vesicles were observed. The majority of these vesicles were approximately 1 μm in size and in close vicinity of bacteria, and a smaller number of GFP-Lc3-positive vesicles was larger in size and were observed to contain bacteria. Quantitative data showed that these larger vesicles occurred significantly more in leukocytes than in other cell types, and that approximately 70% of these vesicles were positive for a lysosomal marker. Using electron microscopy, it was found that approximately 5% of intracellular bacteria were present in autophagic vacuoles and that the remaining intracellular bacteria were present in phagosomes, lysosomes, free inside the cytoplasm or occurred as large aggregates. Based on correlation of light and electron microscopy images, it was shown that GFP-Lc3-positive vesicles displayed autophagic morphology. This study provides a new approach for injection of pathogens into the tail fin, which allows combined light and electron microscopy imaging in vivo and opens new research directions for studying autophagy process related to infectious diseases.     

Mosasaurus beaugei Arambourg, 1952 (Squamata, Mosasauridae) from the Late Cretaceous phosphates of Morocco

Mosasaurus beaugei Arambourg, 1952 was based on isolated teeth from the Maastrichtian phosphatic deposits of Morocco. The recent discovery of new material, including skull and mandibular remains, improves our knowledge of this species. M. beaugei shares the following synapomorphies with the genus Mosasaurus: large teeth bearing two prominent carinae and with asymmetrical labial and lingual surfaces, the labial one being flattened and strongly facetted and the lingual one being convex; premaxillae with a small pointed rostrum and dentary without rostrum; palatal elements closely united; coronoid with very large ventromedial process overlying the prearticular. M. beaugei is characterised by the following autapomorphies: 12-13 maxillary teeth; marginal teeth bearing 3-5 prisms on the labial surface and 8-9 on the lingual one; palatine with posterior border concave and perpendicular to the long axis of the skull; splenial visible laterally on half of the dentary ventral surface; coronoid with anterior wing well developed and bearing two notches. M. beaugei is only known to date in the Maastrichtian phosphates of Morocco.     

Propulsive Velocity Optimization of 3-Joint Fish Robot Using Genetic-Hill Climbing Algorithm

Underwater robot is a new research field which is emerging quickly in recent years.Previous researches in this field focuson Remotely Operated Vehicles(ROVs),Autonomous Underwater Vehicles(AUVs),underwater manipulators,etc.Fish robot,which is a new type of underwater biomimetic robot,has attracted great attention because of its silence in moving and energyefficiency compared to conventional propeller-oriented propulsive mechanism.However,most of researches on fish robots have been carried out via empirical or experimental approaches,not based ondynamic optimality.In this paper,we proposed an analytical optimization approach which can guarantee the maximum propulsivevelocity of fish robot in the given parametric conditions.First,a dynamic model of 3-joint(4 links)carangiform fishrobot is derived,using which the influences of parameters of input torque functions,such as amplitude,frequency and phasedifference,on its velocity are investigated by simulation.Second,the maximum velocity of the fish robot is optimized bycombining Genetic Algorithm(GA)and Hill Climbing Algorithm(HCA).GA is used to generate the initial optimal parametersof the input functions of the system.Then,the parameters are optimized again by HCA to ensure that the final set of parametersis the"near"global optimization.Finally,both simulations and primitive experiments are carried out to prove the feasibility ofthe proposed method.     

The morphology of the club glands on the dorsal fin of mature male shannies, Lipophvys pholis (L.) (Blenniidae: Teleostei)

The pelvic, pectoral, anal and dorsal fins of mature male, female and immature male Lipophrys pholis (L.) were examined by light microscopy for the presence of club glands. All fins except the dorsal showed a highly stratified epidermis and a thick cuticle. Club glands were present on the dorsal fin of mature male fisH but only during the breeding season. The development and decline of the club glands corresponds to the period of gonadal build-up and spawnout. Each club gland comprises several thousand bundles ofcolumnar cells. The columnar cells surround acentral pore which opens to the outside through a layer of Malpighian cells. The substance produced by the gland includes mucopolysacchdride. The function of the secretion is unknown and is discussed in relation to studies on similar glands in several Mediterranean blenniids.     

Growth dynamics of caudal and pectoral fin muscle fibres in a carangid, Caranx malabaricus (Cuv. & Val.), and their possible relation with somatic growth

The growth dynamics of red, pink and white fibres of the caudal and pectoral fin muscles are described in Carans malabaricus (Cuv. & Val.) in relation to their somatic growth. In all three fibre types growth occurred by an increase in fibre number and diameter in small size classes of fish and by an increase in diameter only in larger fish. The growth dynamics of the three fibre types were similar to those of the myotomal muscle fibres and paralleled the somatic growth pattern of this fish.     

复方薏苡仁方对小鼠肠道菌群及微环境的调节作用

目的观察复方薏苡仁方调节小鼠肠道菌群功能及胃肠运动的效果,并考察复方薏苡仁方对小鼠盲肠内容物pH及肠黏膜结构等肠道内环境的影响。方法参照《保健食品检验与评价技术规范》(2003版)的规定进行调节肠道菌群实验和小肠墨汁推进试验,检测小鼠盲肠内容物pH,并对肠道黏膜结构进行病理形态学观察。结果 (1)与给样前相比,复方薏苡仁方中、高剂量组肠杆菌数和低、高剂量组肠球菌数均明显减少(P<0.05),中、高剂量组乳杆菌数和双歧杆菌数均明显或显著增加(P<0.05或P<0.01),且高剂量组乳杆菌数和中、高剂量组双歧杆菌数明显高于阳性对照组(P<0.05);(2)复方薏苡仁方各剂量组小鼠盲肠内容物pH值均显著降低(P<0.01),且均低于阳性对照组,其中低、高剂量组差异有统计学意义(P<0.05或P<0.01);(3)与正常对照组相比,复方薏苡仁方低、中、高剂量组小鼠十二指肠、空肠、回肠绒毛长度/隐窝深度比值(A/V)均明显或显著增加(P<0.05或P<0.01),且中、高剂量组十二指肠、空肠及回肠A/V比值明显或显著高于阳性对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01);(4)与模型对照组相比,复方薏苡仁方各剂量组小鼠小肠推进率均显著增加(P<0.01),且均高于阳性对照组(P<0.01)。结论复方薏苡仁方对调节肠道菌群及改善肠道微环境具有一定的促进作用。     

黑龙江省汤旺河和呼兰河流域森林对河川年径流量的影响

利用连续１７年的流域森林资源和水文资料,分析黑龙江省汤旺河和呼兰河流域森林对河川径流的调节效应,结果表明：（１）森林能使径流年内分配和年际变化趋于均匀,其调节径流能力与森林状况相关;（２）森林覆被率和单位面积蓄积与河川年径流量和年径流系数均呈正相关关系,森林具有增加年径流量和年径流系数的作用,但年径流量和年径流系数主要受年降雨量的影响。     

Volume conduction models for surface EMG; confrontation with measurements

Volume conduction models are used to describe and explain recorded motor unit potentials (MUPs). So far it has remained unclear which factors have to be taken into account in a volume conduction model. In the present study, five different models are confronted with measured MUP distributions over the skin surface above the m. biceps brachii generated by MUs at different depths and recorded by small surface electrodes. All model simulations include fibres of finite length. The models differ in the size of the volume conductor (finite/infinite), the number of different layers (1, 2 or 3) and the conductivities of these layers (representing muscle, subcutaneous fat and skin). All measured and simulated MUPs contain a mainly negative propagating wave followed by a positive wave simultaneously present at all electrode positions. The magnitude of the different MUP components relative to each other and as a function of motor unit (MU) and electrode position differ between the models studied and the measurements. All simulated MUPs changed faster with observation distance than the measured MUPs. The three-layer model, in which muscle tissue was surrounded by a subcutaneous fat layer and by a layer of skin resulted in MUPs closest to the measured MUPs.     

黑龙江省老鹳草属植物的资源调查

目的:了解老鹳草属(Geranium)植物在黑龙江省的分布及其广布种居群所在的主要植物群落类型以及其单位面积蓄积量,为更科学合理地开发和可持续利用老鹳草提供资源学方面的依据.方法:查阅文献、腊叶标本和实地考察.结果:记录所调查的居群中老鹳草的生长环境及主要伴生植物并测量、计算单位面积蓄积量.结论:佳木斯地区地榆、蚊子草、杂类草草甸群落类型的鼠掌老鹤草单位面积蓄积量为73.57 kg/667.7 m2,凸脉苔草、榛子灌丛群落类型的粗根老鹳草单位面积蓄积量为18.24 kg/667.7 m2.     

Differentiation of chondrocytes and scleroblasts during dorsal fin skeletogenesis in flounder larvae

In teleosts, the embryonic fin fold consists of a peridermis, an underlying epidermis and a small number of mesenchymal cells. Beginning from such a simple structure, the fin skeletons, including the proximal and distal radials and lepidotrichia (finrays), develop in the dorsal fin fold at the larval stage. Their process of skeletogenesis and embryonic origin are unclear. Using flounder larvae, we report the differentiation process for chondrocytes and scleroblasts prior to fin skeletogenesis and the effects of retinoic acid (RA) on it. In early larvae, the mesenchymal cells grow between the epidermis and spinal cord to form a line of periodical condensations, which are proximal radial primordia, to produce chondrocytes. The prescleroblasts, which ossify the proximal radial cartilages, differentiate in the mesenchymal cells remaining between the cartilages. Then, mesenchymal condensations occur between the distal ends of the proximal radials, forming distal radial primordia, to produce chondrocytes. Simultaneously, condensations occur between the distal radial primordia and peridermis, which are lepidotrichia primordia, to produce prescleroblasts. Exogenous RA specifically inhibits the mesenchymal condensation prior to the proximal radial formation together with the down-regulation of sonic hedgehog (shh) and patched (pta) expression, resulting in the loss of proximal radials. Thus, it was indicated that differentiation of the precursor cells of radials and lepidotrichia begins in the proximal part of the fin fold and that the initial mesenchymal condensation prior to the proximal radial formation is highly susceptible to the effects of RA. Lepidotrichia formation does not occur where proximal radials are absent, indicating that lepidotrichia differentiation requires interaction with the radial cartilages. To examine the suggestion that neural crest cells contribute to the medial fin skeletons, we localized the HNK-1 positive cells in flounder embryos and slug and msxb-positive cells in pufferfish, Fugu rubripes, embryos. That the positive cells commonly arrive at the proximal part of the fin fold does not contradict the suggestion, but their final destiny as radial chondrocytes or lepidotrichia scleroblasts, should be further investigated.