Bionomics and distribution of species of Hystrichopsylla in Arizona and New Mexico, with a description of Hystrichopsylla dippiei obliqua, n. ssp. (Siphonaptera: Hystrichopsyllidae).

More than 450 specimens of Hystrichopsylla were collected from nests and hosts of species of Microtus, Neotoma, Tamiasciurus, and Peromyscus in Arizona and New Mexico from 1981-2004. A new subspecies, Hystrichopsylla dippiei obliqua, is described and a map illustrating the distribution of the three taxa (Hystrichopsylla dippiei truncata Holland, H. d. obliqua, and H. occidentalis sylvaticus Campos and Stark) occurring in Arizona and New Mexico is provided. Hystrichopsylla. o. sylvaticus is reported in New Mexico for the first time and H. d. truncata is a new record in Rio Aribba County, NM. Relationships of Mexican species are also discussed. These large fleas are seldom collected from the fur of their mammalian hosts (usually singly) but are prevalent in moist nests. The maximum number of the new subspecies collected from a single nest was 54. Dry nests, particularly those that are not subterranean or otherwise protected from desiccation, do not support development of Hystrichopsylla fleas. Minimum elevation at which H. dippiei ssp. is found in Arizona and New Mexico appears to be about 2,100 m.     

褐梅衣属地衣的中国新记录种

对喀纳斯自然保护区所采集的褐梅衣属地衣(Melanelia Essl.)160多号标本进行了整理及分类,鉴定出该属的2个中国新记录种——托敏氏褐梅和无毛褐梅,并对此2种进行详细的描述。     

Processing liquid-based gynecologic specimens: comparison of the available techniques.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a cytopreparation protocol suitable for satisfactory processing by the AutoCyte PREP System with the gynecologic specimens collected in PreservCyt fluid for the ThinPrep machine. STUDY DESIGN: The residue of a number of gynecologic specimens collected in PreservCyt and processed by ThinPrep were processed by AutoCyte PREP. Some modifications were made in the cytopreparatory protocol in order to obtain satisfactory specimens. RESULTS: The ThinPrep and AutoCyte PREP specimens were examined independently. The results were comparable, with a high degree of concordance between the two techniques. CONCLUSION: Gynecologic specimens collected in PreservCyt and following the ThinPrep specimen collection protocol can be processed using the AutoCyte PREP System. Minor protocol modifications provided comparable diagnostic material. Additional studies are needed to explore the feasibility of this approach and fulfill the various U.S. regulatory agency requirements for the liquid-based Pap test.     

海南革菌初步研究(英文)

初步研究了中国海南省的革菌,共发现37种革菌,其中绝大部分种类为海南首次报道。锗边刺革孔菌(Hymenochaete ochromarginata)为中国一新记录种,并对该种进行了描述。台湾丝齿菌(Hyphodontia taiwaniana)为大陆首次发现。名录中列出了每个种的标本信息。     

中国高等植物数字化标本分析

传统上馆藏标本,主要用于植物分类学、植物资源学的研究。数字标本的出现将标本的使用拓展到从研究生物多样性时间空间分布到生态学和进化学理论、生物多样性保护、农业和人类健康等广泛领域。截至目前,从互联网上获取的采自中国的植物标本数量已有1 200多万份。该文通过整理和分析这些数据以了解中国植物标本的数字化精度、采集时间和采集地区规律以及采集空缺等状况。结果表明:中国标本采集形成了4个高峰,即20世纪30年代、60年代、80年代和21世纪初,中国植物标本采集和研究工作主要在20世纪50年代后由中国学者完成。标本采集地区覆盖度在省级较好,县级标本采集则很不平衡; 标本采集类群在科属层面覆盖率高,但近五分之一的物种采集不足; 标本的采集量既与植物分布幅度相关,也与采集地区的知名度、所获科研项目及采集者偏好有关。未来中国植物标本数字化方向应该在继续挖掘馆藏标本的同时,一方面开展对现有数字化标本信息再审核及补充,并加强与欧美大馆的信息共享以获取早期历史标本信息; 另一方面应用数字化标本信息分析结果,指导境内标本的精准采集,包括采集薄弱/空白地区、采集薄弱/空白属种的采集,以进一步增强实体标本馆能力,提高数字化标本质量,为进一步完善植物标本数字化和精准化采集提供依据,更好地服务科学和社会的发展。     

Genetic isolation among morphotypes in the photosymbiotic didemnid Didemnum molle (Ascidiacea, Tunicata) from the Ryukyus and Taiwan

Didemnum molle, a colonial ascidian that harbors the symbiotic cyanophyte Prochloron spp., is distributed throughout the coral reefs of the Indo-West Pacific Ocean. Several morphotypes of D. molle are characterized by the color and size of their colonies. Previous molecular phylogeny inferred from gene sequences for the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) identified four morphotypes (i.e., gray, brown, white, and large) from several sites in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. With the addition of 17 specimens, including another morphotype (small), from several collection sites (Taiwan and the Ryukyus), the present report demonstrates genetic separation among the five morphotypes based on COI sequences. A number of sexually mature specimens of the different morphotypes were collected at the same times and sites, indicating reproductive isolation among morphotypes.     

H．史密斯采集的中国紫草科植物

自H．Smith在二十,三十年代从我国采集的紫草科标本中鉴定出15属,36种,4变种,均属紫草亚科,其中包括附地菜属一新种,其中,这批标本本来应该包括更多的新种,如Johnston在1928年及以后描述的Microula rockii Johnst.,Onosma mertensioides Johnst.,O.adenopus Johnst.,Trionotis floribunda Johnst.,Kitagawa在六十年代描述的Lappula shanhsiensis Kitag.,本文作者和王庆瑞在八十年代描述的Microula pseudotrichocarpa W.T.Wang,M.turbinata W.T.Wang,M.turbinata W.T.Wang,M.floribunda W.T.Wang,Trigontis longipes W.T.Wang,T.corispermoides C.J.wang。只是由于这批柴草科标本未得到及时鉴定,才推迟了这10个种的发表。     

Genotyping from semen of wild Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata)

The noninvasive collection of animal cells is crucial for DNA analyses in wild populations that cannot be disturbed by capture. We describe the collection of 68 semen samples following copulation and masturbation events in wild habituated and nonhabituated troops of Japanese macaques on the protected island of Yakushima. We used this DNA to amplify 390 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial DNA control region in 16 individuals from eight troops, and found a monomorphic pattern in agreement with the low variability imposed by geographic isolation and female philopatry. We also amplified two microsatellite loci from samples collected after the resident males of a focal troop had copulated with different females. We found several different allele combinations in samples collected after the observed mating of a single male, indicating the presence of contaminant DNA, presumably from males that had previously mated with the same female. This discovery made it impossible to assign a given sample to a specific male except when the samples were recovered after masturbation events. Thus, it was not possible to test for kinship or estimate allele frequencies from the semen samples. The mixing of semen, and the pattern of sample collection observed in morphologically identified individuals support the notion that strong mating and sperm competition exists among resident and nonresident males.     

Isolation and characterization ofEscherichia coli O157:H7 strains in China

Five strains ofEscherichia coli O157:H7 were isolated from 486 stool specimens collected in 1986, 1987, and 1988 from patients with diarrhea in Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China; 21 of the specimens were from patients with bloody diarrhea. The biochemical reactions of all five strains were almost identical with those of the well-knownE. coli O157:H7 strain 933. All of the strains were found to carry a 60 Md plasmid and two small plasmids. The plasmid DNA Hind 111 restriction patterns were identical. The strains were lysed byE. coli typing phage E1, E2, and E3, but not by E4 or E5. Data suggested that it might belong to a single phage or plasmid group. All strains produced vero toxin and caused diarrhea and death in infant rabbits and mice.     

Effect of administration of prostaglandin F2alpha or presence of an estrous teaser bitch on characteristics of the canine ejaculate

Semen was collected from eight dogs after SC administration of 0.1mg/kg PGF2alpha or 0.6 mL 0.9% NaCl solution 15 min prior to collection in the presence or absence of an estrous teaser bitch (switchback design; all dogs given all four treatments in random sequence). There were more spermatozoa (P=0.02) in ejaculates collected after administration of PGF2alpha in the presence of an estrous teaser bitch ((852+/-736)x10(6), mean+/-S.D.) than in ejaculates collected in saline-treated dogs in the absence of a teaser bitch ((371+/-620)x10(6)). However, the number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate of dogs given PGF2alpha in the absence of a teaser bitch and in dogs given saline in the presence of a teaser bitch ((556+/-494 and 600+/-622)x10(6), respectively) were not significantly different from each other or from the other two groups. The percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa did not vary by treatment (P=0.51). In conclusion, treatment with PGF2alpha and presence of a teaser bitch had an additive effect on the number of spermatozoa. This, coupled with relatively minor side-effects, suggests this is a useful technique to increase number of spermatozoa in a single canine ejaculate.     

NOTES UPON A COLLECTION OF BIRDS FROM INDOCHINA

The rediscovery of some of the lost collection of Monsieur A. David-Beaulieu from Laos is reported. Notes are given on 22 selected forms and a list is appended of the type specimens and topotypical material in the collection. One species, Acrocephalus concinnens , is reported from Indochina for the first time and several forms are reported or confirmed for the first time for either North or Central Laos.     

美国在华采集竹类植物标本的历史(1840-2010年)

植物标本采集是植物学研究的重要内容, 与植物引种密切相关。自19世纪以来, 美国植物采集者在全球尤其是中国进行了广泛的植物采集。在众多的植物类群中, 中国的竹类植物引起了美国采集者的极大关注, 并开展了大量调查研究和标本采集工作。研究美国植物采集者在中国采集竹类植物标本的历史, 对了解竹类植物从中国引种到美国的历史具有重要意义。本文基于国内外有关美国在华采集的竹类植物标本数据, 对其学名、采集地、采集人以及采集时间进行整理校对, 分析了美国采集者在华采集竹类植物标本的历史。结果表明: 1840-2010年, 美国在华共采集竹类植物标本960号2,238份, 隶属于25属120种(含变种和变型), 分别占中国竹类属和种数的73.5%和22.5%; 有45位(支)采集者(采集队), 在这些采集者中莫古礼最为重要; 采集地涉及20个省级行政区; 采集时间前后跨度约170年, 主要集中在20世纪上半叶。     

Cryptic variation and the tragedy of unrecognized taxa: the case of international trade in the spiny turtle Heosemys spinosa (Testudines: Geoemydidae)

Loss of habitat and human exploitation have driven many turtle species to the brink of extinction, particularly in many parts of southern Asia. The spiny turtle (Heosemys spinosa) is a terrestrial species distributed throughout the Sundaland region of South‐East Asia. Despite international legislative protection, H. spinosa continues to be illegally collected for the food and traditional medicine markets of China. Given its widespread distribution, taxonomists have reasonably questioned whether H. spinosa truly represents a single evolutionary lineage or multiple undiagnosed species. Recently, a large and illegal shipment of rare, wild‐caught H. spinosa was confiscated in Hong Kong, China, and the turtles were eventually distributed to several zoos and academic collections. Based on analyses of these individuals, along with additional individuals from the pet trade and museum collections, we found concordant genetic and phenotypic variation, indicating that two distinct types of H. spinosa exist in this collection of turtles. Further characterization of this variation will require field surveys and the collection of additional morphological and genetic data from specimens of known geographic provenance. However, our data indicate that this highly exploited, endangered species may contain additional cryptic taxa, and emphasize the critical need for systematic evaluation of species before unrecognized variation is lost forever. © 2012 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2012, 164 , 811–824.     

Immunogenic and protective properties of the first kazakhstan vaccine against pandemic influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 in Ferrets

This paper presents the results of a pre-clinical study of the immunogenicity and efficacy of an egg-derived, inactivated, whole-virion adjuvanted vaccine (Refluvac®) on ferret models. For this purpose, groups of eight ferrets (6 to 7 months old) were injected with 0.5 mL of vaccine specimens containing 3.75, 7.5 or 15.0 μg of virus hemagglutinin. Administration was intramuscular and given either as a single dose or as two doses 14 days apart. All vaccine specimens manifested immunogenicity in ferrets for single (HI titer, from 51 ± 7 to 160 ± 23) and double (HI titer, from 697 ± 120 to 829 ± 117) administrations. To assess the protective effects of the vaccine, ferrets from the vaccinated and control groups were infected intranasally with pandemic virus A/California/7/09 (H1N1) pdm09 at a dose of 10⁶ EID₅₀/0.5 mL. Fourteen days post-infection, the ferrets inoculated with single or double vaccines containing 3.75, 7.5 or 15.0 μg of hemagglutinin per dose showed no signs of influenza infection, weight loss, or body temperature rise, and no premature deaths occurred. The number of vaccinated ferrets shedding the virus via the upper airway, as well as the amount of virus shed after infection, was significantly reduced in comparison with animals from the control group. Based on our results, we suggest that a single vaccination at a dose of 3.75 or 7.5 μg hemagglutinin be used for Phase I clinical trials.     

Plate 415. Heteropolygonatum ogisui

Based on specimens collected from Mt Wawu (Wawushan), Sichuan, China, Heteropolygonatum ogisui ( Convallariaceae‐Polygonateae ) is newly described in this paper. This species is similar to H. roseolum , but differs from it in the leaves, which are sessile and dull white on the abaxial side without a prominent midrib, and totally pink flowers. At the present stage of studies into the genus, Heteropolygonatum consists of five species: H. roseolum , H. pendulum , H. xui , H. ginfushanicum and H. ogisui , which are all epiphytic and distributed only in western China. An artificial key to the species is provided.