The Fly Agaric,Soma,Father Christmas and the Vikings

1　ThemushroomTheFlyAgaric (Amanitamuscaria (L :Fr.)Hooker)belongstothegenusAmanitaPers .,agroupwhichhasplayedmajorrolesinhumanaffairsthrough outhistory .Itincludesboththemostlydeadlypoi sonousspeciesandpossiblythemostdeliciousspeciesofalloftheediblewildmushrooms.TheFlyAgaricrepresentsthebestknownofallthewildmushroomsandhadthegreatesteffectuponmankindandworldhistory .Itistobeseeninmanychildren′sbooksasthelarge ,brightredmushroomwiththewhitespots,invariablyassociatedwithfairiesandelves.It…     

Theβ-sheets of proteins,the biosynthetic relationships between amino acids,and the origin of the genetic code

Two forces are generally hypothesised as being responsible for conditioning the origin of the organization of the genetic code: the physicochemical properties of amino acids and their biosynthetic relationships (relationships between precursor and product amino acids). If we assume that the biosynthetic relationships between amino acids were fundamental in defining the genetic code, then it is reasonable to expect that the distribution of physicochemical properties among the amino acids in precursor-product relationships cannot be random but must, rather, be affected by some selective constraints imposed by the structure of primitive proteins. Analysis shows that measurements representing the size of amino acids, e.g. bulkiness, are specifically associated to the pairs of amino acids in precursor-product relationships. However, the size of amino acids cannot have been selected per se but, rather, because it reflects the-sheets of proteins which are, therefore, identified as the main adaptive theme promoting the origin of genetic code organization. Whereas there are no traces of the-helix in the genetic code table.The above considerations make it necessary to re-examine the relationship linking the hydrophilicity of the dinucleoside monophosphates of anticodons and the polarity and bulkiness of amino acids. It can be concluded that this relationship seems to be meaningful only between the hydrophilicity of anticodons and the polarity of amino acids. The latter relationship is supposed to have been operative on hairpin structures, ancestors of the tRNA molecule. Moreover, it is on these very structures that the biosynthetic links between precursor and product amino acids might have been achieved, and the interaction between the hydrophilicity of anticodons and the polarity of amino acids might have had a role in the concession of codons (anticodons) from precursors to products.     

Mottled Duck introductions to South Carolina: The ugly,the bad,and the good?

Translocations or other movements of wildlife sometimes accomplish their intended objectives, but unforeseen consequences may arise and disrupt locally adapted ecological communities, restructure or dilute genetic integrity of populations or subspecies of the moved organism, and otherwise negatively influences a species’ long‐term fitness. Two historical populations of Mottled Ducks (Anas fulvigula) exist and are endemic to (1) Mexico and the West‐Gulf Coast (A. f. maculosa) regions of the United States and (2) Florida (A. f. fulvigula). From 1975 to 1983, 1285 Mottled Ducks from Florida, Louisiana, and Texas were released to coastal South Carolina, primarily to ultimately establish a legally harvestable population. This movement stirred mixed reactions amid the conservation community. Contemporary information suggests an increasing Mottled Duck population in South Carolina and possibly dispersing into Georgia. Herein, I objectively discuss the potential consequences of this new population per the birds’ evolution, ecology, and management. Ultimately, I suggest that this translocation is a long‐term benefit to the species.     

Translocal Ecologies: The Norfolk Broads,the “Natural,” and the International Phytogeographical Excursion, 1911

What we consider “nature” is always historical and relational, shaped in contingent configurations of representational and social practices. In the early twentieth century, the English ecologist A.G. Tansley lamented the pervasive problem of international misunderstandings concerning the nature of “nature.” In order to create some consensus on the concepts and language of ecological plant geography, Tansley founded the International Phytogeographical Excursion, which brought together leading plant geographers and botanists from North America and Europe. The first IPE in August 1911 started with the Norfolk Broads. It was led by Marietta Pallis, Tansley’s former student at Cambridge. This trip and the work of Pallis, neglected in other accounts of this early period of the history of ecology, influenced the relations between Tansley and important American ecologists H.C. Cowles and F.E. Clements. Understanding “place” as a network of relations, our regional focus shows how taking international dialogue, travel and interchange into account enriches understanding of ecological practice.     

The D-ring,Not the A-ring,Rotates in Synechococcus OS-B′ Phytochrome

Phytochrome photoreceptors in plants and microorganisms switch photochromically between two states, controlling numerous important biological processes. Although this phototransformation is generally considered to involve rotation of ring D of the tetrapyrrole chromophore, Ulijasz et al. (Ulijasz, A. T., Cornilescu, G., Cornilescu, C. C., Zhang, J., Rivera, M., Markley, J. L., and Vierstra, R. D. (2010) Nature 463, 250–254) proposed that the A-ring rotates instead. Here, we apply magic angle spinning NMR to the two parent states following studies of the 23-kDa GAF (cGMP phosphodiesterase/adenylyl cyclase/FhlA) domain fragment of phytochrome from Synechococcus OS-B′. Major changes occur at the A-ring covalent linkage to the protein as well as at the protein residue contact of ring D. Conserved contacts associated with the A-ring nitrogen rule out an A-ring photoflip, whereas loss of contact of the D-ring nitrogen to the protein implies movement of ring D. Although none of the methine bridges showed a chemical shift change comparable with those characteristic of the D-ring photoflip in canonical phytochromes, denaturation experiments showed conclusively that the same occurs in Synechococcus OS-B′ phytochrome upon photoconversion. The results are consistent with the D-ring being strongly tilted in both states and the C15=C16 double bond undergoing a Z/E isomerization upon light absorption. More subtle changes are associated with the A-ring linkage to the protein. Our findings thus disprove A-ring rotation and are discussed in relation to the position of the D-ring, photoisomerization, and photochromicity in the phytochrome family.     

The h’-Index,Effectively Improving the h-Index Based on the Citation Distribution

Background

Although being a simple and effective index that has been widely used to evaluate academic output of scientists, the h-index suffers from drawbacks. One critical disadvantage is that only h-squared citations can be inferred from the h-index, which completely ignores excess and h-tail citations, leading to unfair and inaccurate evaluations in many cases.

Methodology /Principal Findings

To solve this problem, I propose the h’-index, in which h-squared, excess and h-tail citations are all considered. Based on the citation data of the 100 most prolific economists, comparing to h-index, the h’-index shows better correlation with indices of total-citation number and citations per publication, which, although relatively reliable and widely used, do not carry the information of the citation distribution. In contrast, the h’-index possesses the ability to discriminate the shapes of citation distributions, thus leading to more accurate evaluation.

Conclusions /Significance

The h’-index improves the h-index, as well as indices of total-citation number and citations per publication, by possessing the ability to discriminate shapes of citation distribution, thus making the h’-index a better single-number index for evaluating scientific output in a way that is fairer and more reasonable.     

The twenty-fifth anniversary of the Limnological Institute,The Netherlands (1957–1982)

This paper marks the silver jubilee in 1982 of the Limnological Institute, The Netherlands. It describes the history, present research programme and organisation of the Institute, as well as its cooperative studies with other institutes and its training facilities.Some remarks about its future plans of work are made.     

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses: the same, but different?

The NCLs (neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses) (also known as Batten disease) are a group of at least ten fatal inherited storage disorders. Despite the identification of many of the disease-causing genes, very little is known about the underlying disease mechanisms. However, now that we have mouse or large-animal models for most forms of NCL, we can investigate pathogenesis and compare what happens in the brain in different types of the disease. Broadly similar neuropathological themes have emerged, including the highly selective nature of neuron loss, early effects upon the presynaptic compartment, together with an early and localized glial activation. These events are especially pronounced within the thalamocortical system, but it is clear that where and when they occur varies markedly between different forms of NCL. It is now becoming apparent that, despite having pathological endpoints that resemble one another, these are reached by a sequence of events that is specific to each subtype of NCL.     

Jiuzhaigou, The World Natural Heritage and the member of CBRN

For thousands of years, Jiuzhaigou was hidden in the mountain ranges of the plateau northwest of Sichuan. It was left to the hand of nature and human activities seemed insignificant. For a long time, there were only narrow paths for horse travels and the local Tibetans lived a self-sufficient     

The macrobenthos of the pristine stream, Skiftesåa, Høylandet, Norway

The species composition of aquatic insects in theboreal stream, Skiftesåa, was investigated usingemergence traps, Malaise traps and kick samples. Atleast 13 Ephemeroptera, 16 Plecoptera, 25 Trichopteraand 120 Chironomidae species were recorded. This faunais representative for non-polluted, northern streams.The production of macrobenthos was estimated to beonly about 1 g dry weight per year and m²,possibly due to the fluctuating flow of water.     

The rôle of the spermathecal gland of the boll weevil,Anthonomus grandis

Spermatozoa were relatively inactive and did not enter the spermatheca of female boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis, whose spermathecal glands were removed as teneral adults. However, these females were able to lay fertile eggs for a 2 week period. When the spermathecal gland was removed from older females, spermathecal filling occurred, and although the spermatozoa retained their fertilizing capacity for extended periods, spermathecal emptying did not occur. Spermatozoa gradually lost their motility and fertilizing capacity, indicating that spermathecal secretions are effective in very small amounts. Spermatozoa were not activated by any of the materials contained in the normal male ejaculate. These materials alone did not effect spermathecal filling nor were they capable of maintaining the fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa for very long. Sperm economy is low with less than 1 fertile egg laid per 100 spermatozoa used.     

The pathocenosis moment: Mirko Grmek, the Annales and the vagaries of the longue durée

Grmek's important article on pathocenosis, which appeared in 1969 in the Annales, did not achieve the fame and significance which it seemed to merit. This needs to be explained not only in terms of Grmek's own history, but also in changes in intellectual fashion, including in the Annales themselves. The work was also eclipsed by W.H. McNeill's best-selling Plagues and Peoples. History's 'cultural turn' since the 1980s has also limited the article's perceived utility. Nevertheless, the value of the concept is underlined by the articles in this collection.