Microhabitat use by mountain pygmy‐possum (Burramys parvus): Implications for the conservation of small mammals in alpine environments

The Australian alpine region harbours a wide range of species, many of which are endemic and of high conservation value. Among these species, the endangered mountain pygmy‐possum, Burramys parvus, is of particular interest because this specialized marsupial is highly sensitive to extreme temperatures. The selection of microhabitats by B. parvus is a critical but poorly understood element of its biological characteristics. To understand the microhabitat preferences of B. parvus, we performed detailed investigations of the thermal properties of alpine boulder fields. The selection of a preferred microclimate was demonstrated by comparing temperatures and environmental conditions in preferred and non‐preferred boulder fields. The variability of the daily temperature depended on the depth at which measurements were made within the boulder fields. Temperatures were more stable as depth increased. The results suggest that B. parvus prefers to occupy deep boulder fields at high elevations with good rock structure (small rock and cavity size with multiple layers) and long snow duration because these boulder fields can provide a favourable microclimate. At 1 m depth, the maximum temperatures in the hottest part of the year were 1.27°C cooler in preferred compared to non‐preferred boulder fields. In the coldest part of the year, immediately following the melting of persistent snow cover, the minimum temperatures at a depth of 1 m were 1.67°C warmer in preferred compared to non‐preferred boulder fields. On average, the snow duration was 27 days greater in the boulder fields preferred by B. parvus than in non‐preferred boulder fields. Our results emphasize the value of boulder field microhabitats as thermal refuges for small mammals in rocky habitats within alpine environments in the light of continuing habitat loss and climate change.     

Consistency of optimal sequence alignments

Pairwise optimal alignments between three or more sequences are not necessarily consistent as a whole, but consistent and inconsistent residues are usually distributed in clusters. An efficient method has been developed for locating consistent regions when each pairwise alignment is given in the form of a “skeletal representation” (Bull. math. Biol. 52, 359–373). This method is further extended so that the combination of pairwise alignments that gives the greatest consistency is found when possibly many alignments are equally optimal for each pairwise comparison. A method for acceleration of simultaneous multiple sequence alignment is proposed in which consistent regions serve as “anchor points” limiting application of direct multi-way alignment to the rest of “inconsistent” regions. Dedicated to Prof. Akiyoshi Wada on the occasion of his 60^th birthday.     

Optimal sequence alignment using affine gap costs

When comparing two biological sequences, it is often desirable for a gap to be assigned a cost not directly proportional to its length. If affine gap costs are employed, in other words if opening a gap costsv and each null in the gap costsu, the algorithm of Gotoh (1982,J. molec. Biol. 162, 705) finds the minimum cost of aligning two sequences in orderMN steps. Gotoh's algorithm attempts to find only one from among possibly many optimal (minimum-cost) alignments, but does not always succeed. This paper provides an example for which this part of Gotoh's algorithm fails and describes an algorithm that finds all and only the optimal alignments. This modification of Gotoh's algorithm still requires orderMN steps. A more precise form of path graph than previously used is needed to represent accurately all optimal alignments for affine gap costs.     

The Edible Molecule…

Pettingill, Olin Se wall, Jr. Another Penguin Summer New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975 80 pp., $10.00 Reviewed by A. Gilbert Wright

Grant, Verne Genetics of Flowering Plants New York: Columbia University Press, 1975 514 pp., $20.00 Reviewed by Martin Labar

Gutnik, Martin J. Energy: Its Past, Its Present, Its Future Chicago: Childrens Press, 1975 46 pp., individuals $6.60, institutions $4.95 Reviewed by George G. Mallinson

Wild, Robin, and Jocelyn Wild How Animals Work for Us New York: Parents' Magazine Press 64 pp., $4.99, 1975 Reviewed by Harold W. Puffer

Morse, Roger A. Bees and Bee-Keeping Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press 295 pp., $13.50, 1975 Reviewed by W.L. Gojmerac

Heintze, Carl The Bottom of the Sea and Beyond New York: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1975 144 pp., $5.95 Reviewed by Albert C. Jensen

Cottrell, Alan Portrait of Nature New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975 236 pp., $9.95 Reviewed by Paul S. Cohen

Hart, Leslie A. How the Brain Works New York: Basic Books, 1975 260 pp., $10.50 Reviewed by Julie Ann Miller

Schneider, Herman Science Fun for You in a Minute or Two New York: McGraw-Hill Junior Books, 1975 64 pp., $4.72 Reviewed by Julian R. Brandou

Williamson, H.D. The Year of the Koala New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975 209 pp., $8.95 Reviewed by Austin T. Hyde

Heady, Eleanor B. Plants on the Go: A Book about Reproduction and Seed Dispersal (Finding-out books) New York: Parent's Magazine Press, 1975 64 pp., $4.59 Reviewed by Herbert Grossman

Durden, Kent A Fine and Peaceful Kingdom New York: Simon and Schuster 160 pp., $7.95, 1975 Reviewed by Robert Deitchman     

Weather Forecasting: The View from Space…

Findley, James S.; Harris, Arthur H.; Wilson, Don E.; and Jones, Clyde Mammals of New Mexico Albuquerque: The University of New Mexico Press, 1975 360 pp., $8.50 Reviewed by Vagn Flyger

Piers, Helen Grasshopper and Butterfly New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1975 80 pp., $5.95, library edition $5.72 Reviewed by N. N. Raghuvir

Gergely, Tibor Animals: A Picture Book of Facts and Figures New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1975 47 pp., $5.95, library edition $5.72 Reviewed by Theodore W. Munch

Johnsgard, Paul A. Waterfowl of North America Bloomington, Indiana University Press 1975,575 pp. Reviewed by Kate Curry Vahle

Jacobson, Daniel The Fishermen (Indians of North America) New York: Franklin Watts, Inc., 1975 87 pp., $4.90 Reviewed by Robert W. Boenig

Janzen, Daniel H. Ecology of Plants in the Tropics (The Institute of Biology's Studies in Biology, No. 58) London: Edward Arnold (Distributed by Crane, Russak &; Co., New York), 1975 65 pp., $3.75 Reviewed by Rex E. Kerstetter

London, Carolyn The Hospital Doctors, Nurses and Mystery Workers New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1976 86 pp., $5.72 Library Edition Reviewed by Philip C. Anderson

Buxton, Ralph Nature's Gliders Chicago: Children's Press, 1975 32 pp., individuals $6.60, institutions $4.95 Reviewed by Sue Hall

Clarke, H. T. (revised by B. Haynes) A Handbook of Organic Analysis: Qualitative and Quantitative (fifth edition) New York: Crane, Russak &; Co., 1975 291 pp., cloth $35.00, paper $16.00 Reviewed by Lawrence Powell Eblin

Simon, Seymour Discovering What Garter Snakes Do New York: McGraw-Hill Junior Books, 1975 48 pp., $4.72 Reviewed by Carl Gans

Dobbs, Austen, ed. The Birds of Nottinghamshire: Past and Present North Pomfret, Vt.: David &; Charles, 1975 226 pp., $17.00 Reviewed by Gerald R. Rising

Ashworth, J. M., and Dee, Jennifer The Biology of Slime Moulds (The Institute of Biology's Studies in Biology, No. 56) New York: Crane, Russak &; Co., Inc., 1975 67 pp., $3.75 Reviewed by Emanuel D. Rudolph

Exline, Joseph D. Individualized Techniques for Teaching Earth Science West Nyack, N.Y.: Parker Publishing Co., 1975 230 pp., $10.95 Reviewed by Waring B. Hill

Stadtfeld, Curtis K. Whitetail Deer: A Year's Cycle New York: The Dial Press, 1975 163 pp., $7.95 Reviewed by Paul F. Connor

Carrier, Rick Fly: The Complete Book of Sky Sailing New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1975 128 pp., $7.95 Reviewed by A.D. Goddard

Duncan, Wilbur H. Woody Vines of the Southeastern United States Athens: The University of Georgia Press, 1975 76 pp., $2.50 Reviewed by A. J. Sharp

Barnes, R. S. K. Estuarine Biology (The Institute of Biology's Studies in Biology no. 49) New York: Crane, Russak &; Co., 1975 76 pp., $3.25 Reviewed by Brother G. Nicholas

Bendick, Jeanne How Heredity Works: Why Living Things Are As They Are (Finding-out books) New York: Parent's Magazine Press, 1975 64 pp., $4.59 Reviewed by Donald J. Nash     

Boulder Outlines in Southwestern Minnesota

Abstract

The Plateau du Coteau des Prairies, extending from Iowa through the southwest corner of Minnesota to South Dakota, is a 300 mile long series of intermittent hills, knolls and ridges. Outlines of figures and forms were made on Buffalo Ridge, the highest point on the Coteau, by setting stones in the prairie sod. Testimony to these kinds of antiquities is rare. This paper reports boulder outlines on Buffalo Ridge, including the “stone man” effigy mentioned by Nicollet in 1842.     

Childlessness: A panel study of expressed intentions and reported fertility

Abstract

The present research focuses on childed versus childless intentions and subsequent behavior and intentions for a panel of U. S. women. Utilizing data from the 1970 and 1975 National Fertility Surveys (reinterviewed women), we ascertain the consistency between intentions (1970) and behavior and intentions (1975). We find that while women who expressed a zero parity intention in 1970 were very consistent in their behavior and intentions in 1975, nearly 30 per cent of those women intending children had no children by 1975. Furthermore, of these 30 per cent, one‐third had changed their intention to zero parity by 1975. We find that changing intentions from more than zero to zero is associated with higher levels of education, slightly higher income, and to a lesser degree with the importance given religion and with labor force participation.     

Mcl-1参与非小细胞肺癌对吉非替尼耐药的实验研究

目的:探究人髓细胞白血病基因-1(myeloid cell leukemia-1,Mcl-1)是否参与非小细胞肺癌对吉非替尼的耐药。方法:应用Western blot检测Mcl-1在吉非替尼敏感细胞PC-9和耐药细胞H1975表达差异;梯度浓度的吉非替尼作用于PC-9细胞后,Western blot实验检测B淋巴细胞瘤-2基因(B-cell lymphoma-2,Bcl-2)家族中抗凋亡蛋白的表达变化;应用Western blot实验检测Mcl-1在PC-9和H1975细胞内降解速度差异。结果:Mcl-1在PC-9细胞内的表达明显低于H1975细胞,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),并且随着吉非替尼作用浓度的升高,Mcl-1表达逐渐降低,而Bcl-2和Bcl-x L表达基本不变,并且PC-9细胞内Mcl-1降解更迅速,半衰期明显缩短。结论:非小细胞肺癌对吉非替尼耐药可能与Mcl-1的表达量上调,降解速度减慢,半衰期延长有关。     

Titanium Elastic Nail (TEN) versus Reconstruction Plate Repair of Midshaft Clavicular Fractures: A Finite Element Study

BackgroundThe biomechanical characteristics of midshaft clavicular fractures treated with titanium elastic nail (TEN) is unclear. This study aimed to present a biomechanical finite element analysis of biomechanical characteristics involved in TEN fixation and reconstruction plate fixation for midshaft clavicular fractures.MethodsFinite element models of the intact clavicle and of midshaft clavicular fractures fixed with TEN and with a reconstruction plate were built. The distal clavicle displacement, peak stress, and stress distribution on the 3 finite element models were calculated under the axial compression and cantilever bending.ResultsIn both loading configurations, TEN generated the highest displacement of the distal clavicle, followed by the intact clavicle and the reconstruction plate. TEN showed higher peak bone and implant stresses, and is more likely to fail in both loading configurations compared with the reconstruction plate. TEN led to a stress distribution similar to that of the intact clavicle in both loading configurations, whereas the stress distribution with the reconstruction plate was nonphysiological in cantilever bending.ConclusionsTEN is generally preferable for treating simple displaced fractures of the midshaft clavicle, because it showed a stress distribution similar to the intact clavicle. However, TEN provides less stability, and excessive exercise of and weight bearing on the ipsilateral shoulder should be avoided in the early postoperative period. Fixation with a reconstruction plate was more stable but showed obvious stress shielding. Therefore, for patients with a demand for early return to activity, reconstruction plate fixation may be preferred.     

The 1975 Japanese diet has a stress reduction effect in mice: search for physiological effects using metabolome analysis

Abstract

We aimed to find new physiological effects of the Japanese diet. First, to determine the key components in serum from mice fed the 1975 diet, serum from mice fed the 1960, 1975, 1990 or 2005 Japanese diet was analyzed using CE-TOFMS and LC-TOFMS. Based on these results, the key components were determined by principal component analysis. Among the identified compounds, GABA was included. Therefore, a stress reduction effect was inferred as a novel physiological effect of this diet. Next, we tested whether the 1975 diet had an actual stress reduction effect in mice. Mice were given the 1975 diet or a control diet for 4 weeks, after which they were divided into restraint stress and non-stress groups. Mice fed the 1975 diet had significantly decreased stress parameters compared with those fed the control diet. These results provide the first evidence that the 1975 Japanese diet has a stress reduction effect.     

Physical size,condition, and demography of chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra L.) in the Avoca River region,Canterbury, New Zealand

Abstract

The physical and demographic characteristics of chamois in the Avoca region are evaluated from 306 animals shot and autopsied between 1975 and 1978. These data are compared with published and unpublished information for chamois populations in Westland and Canterbury. Avoca chamois were large-framed, but weighed less than Westland chamois. The weight difference suggests better habitat condition and food resources for Westland animals, but the large skeletal size of Avoca chamois is unexplained.

High rates of juvenile mortality were caused by acute bacterial-pneumonia infections (Pasteurella). These deaths and other losses by natural causes were offset by the good breeding success of adult females so that stable population numbers were maintained.     

Experiencing Experimentation and Project Design

Richardson, David Vanishing Lichens New York: Macmillan, 1975 231 pp., $12.00. Reviewed by Emanuel D. Rudolph

Van Emden, H. F. Ecology of Pest Control (The Institute of Biology's Studies in Biology No. 50) New York: Crane, Russak &; Co., 1975 59 pp., $2.75 paper. Reviewed by W. L. Gojmerac

Behrens, June Look at the Sea Animals (An Elk Grove Book) Chicago: Children's Press, 1975 38 pp., $4.50. Reviewed by Harriet S. Gussin

Bok, Bart J., and Bok, Priscilla F. The Milky Way, 4th ed. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1974 273 pp., $15.00. Reviewed by Arnold Heiser

Schneider, Herman, and Schneider, Nina Science Fun with a Flashlight New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975 42 pp., $5.72. Reviewed by Van E. Neie

Behrens, June True Book of Metric Measurement Chicago: Children's Press, 1975 46 pp., $3.95. Reviewed by Sue Hall     

Reproduction and growth of the black shore skink,Leiolopisma suteri (Lacertilia: Scincidae), in north‐eastern New Zealand

Reproduction and growth of a boulder beach population of the nocturnal skink Leiolopisma suteri on Motutapu Island were studied for 19 months. Epididymes contain sperm from April to November, and copulation probably occurs in October or November (spring). Ovulation occurs in late October or early November, and three or four (mean, 3.7) eggs are laid in late December. Incubation takes 3 months. Total development time from ovulation to hatching is 5 months, one of the longest development periods recorded for Scincidae. Growth to sexual maturity is slow, most females depositing their first clutch 33 months after hatching; males mature at 29 months.     

Parametric and ensemble sequence alignment algorithms

Recently algorithms for parametric alignment (Watermanet al., 1992,Natl Acad. Sci. USA 89, 6090–6093; Gusfieldet al., 1992,Proceedings of the Third Annual ACM-SIAM Discrete Algorithms) find optimal scores for all penalty parameters, both for global and local sequence alignment. This paper reviews those techniques. Then in the main part of this paper dynamic programming methods are used to compute ensemble alignment, finding all alignment scores for all parameters. Both global and local ensemble alignments are studied, and parametric alignment is used to compute near optimal ensemble alignments.     

利用转录组测序筛选低切应力作用下人脐静脉内皮细胞的差异表达基因

目的:通过转录组测序分析获得不同切应力作用下人脐静脉内皮细胞的基因的表达谱,为进一步探索切应力影响内皮细胞形态和功能的机制提供依据。方法:以人脐静脉内皮细胞为材料,通过Streamer系统建立6通道可调控切应力的流体动力学细胞模型,以层流切应力(15 dynes/cm~2)为对照,以低切应力(0.1 dynes/cm~2)为实验组,分别加载细胞18 h。提取总RNA逆转录合成cDNA,建立文库,以二代测序平台Illumina HiSeq中进行扩增和测序。结果:序列比对结果显示,有19986个基因比对上,新转录本分析显示各组新转录本数约占总转录本数的50%。基因表达差异分析显示,较对照组,低切应力组表达上调基因983个,表达下调基因701个。GO分析显示,有18499个基因得到了归类注释,绝大多数基因富集到生物学过程。KEGG分析显示,富集Top20的信号通路与细胞周期、DNA复制和细胞分裂、细胞应激和凋亡等生物学过程相关。结论:低切应力作用不仅仅激活内皮细胞中细胞的增殖相关基因,同时也涉及到DNA损伤修复和凋亡相关基因。     

Effect Of Boulderflow On Soil Transformation Under Tipi Rings

Abstract

To examine the effect of boulderflow on soil transformation under tipi rings on the prairies, two sites were located with rings of at least two different diameters. Boulderflow, defined as water flowing over a boulder, decreased the pHCaCl2 C and N contents, cation exchange capacity, and exchangeable Ca, and increased extractable C of the soil under the ring boulders. Depth to effervescence with dilute HCI proved to be an excellent and simple relative dating technique to. c?r:npare relative time of being in situ for boulders of t1p1 nngs of various diameters.     

The Enantioselective Synthesis of Marmelo Oxides A and B and the Assignment of the Absolute Configurations of Marmelo Oxides

(+)-Marmelo oxide A and (—)-marmelo oxide B were stereoselectively synthesized from d-glutamic acid via (—)-marmelo lactones A and B. The absolute configurations of marmleo oxides were thus determined to be the (+)-oxide A having the (2R, 4R) and (+)-oxide B having (2S, 4R) configurations.     

DNA末端构型调控RecJ核酸外切酶活性

目的 核酸酶介导的DNA双链末端切割对同源重组修复至关重要。然而,DNA末端构型对RecJ 5’-3’核酸外切酶活性的调控尚不清楚。本研究旨在探究DNA3’端和5’端构型对RecJ核酸外切酶活性的影响及其机制。方法 为探究DNA3’端构型对RecJ核酸外切酶活性的影响,使用含有Mg²⁺的体系,对具有不同3’突出末端长度（9 nt与18 nt）和3’突出末端修饰（磷酸化和硫代磷酸酯修饰）的单链DNA分别进行RecJ核酸酶活性检测。为揭示DNA 3’端构型对RecJ外切酶活性的调控机制,在Mg²⁺缺失的体系中,使RecJ与底物结合后进行凝胶迁移实验（EMSA）。为探索其他调控因子与DNA3’端构型对RecJ的协同作用,分别检测5’端磷酸化修饰和单链DNA结合蛋白（SSB）对DNA3’突出末端修饰的影响。结果 DNA3’端构型包括突出末端的长度和修饰（磷酸化和硫代磷酸酯修饰）均会抑制RecJ外切酶活性。DNA 3’端磷酸化和硫代磷酸酯修饰通过重塑RecJ-DNA的结合模式抑制RecJ外切酶活性。DNA 5’端磷酸化修饰可增强RecJ对具有不同3’端...     

Environmentally induced variation in uric acid concentration and xanthine dehydrogenase activity in Littorina saxatilis (Olivi) and L. arcana Hannaford Ellis

Littorina saxatilis and Littorina arcana collected from a boulder field low in the intertidal zone had a uric acid concentration significantly higher than snails collected from nearby cliff crevices that were at the upper limit of their vertical range on the shore. The absolute concentrations varied with different collections, suggesting a possible seasonal fluctuation in uric acid. L. arcana had a greater concentration of uric acid than did L. saxatilis when both were from the boulder field, but the two did not differ significantly when taken from crevices. Samples from the two sites were marked and transplanted; by four weeks the transplanted animals showed a tendency to develop a uric acid concentration similar to that of natives of the site, suggesting a physiological rather than a genetic adaptation. Xanthine dehydrogenase activity differed between animals from the two sites in the same manner as the uric acid concentration.