Distribution and Conservation of Slender Lorises (Loris tardigradus lydekkerianus) in Southern Andhra Pradesh,South India

Slender lorises live in forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. Little is known about their distribution patterns and relative densities. We report the results of a survey conducted in 6 forest divisions in the southern parts of the state of Andhra Pradesh, South India. Relatively high densities of lorises occurred in mixed deciduous forests and in adjoining farm lands interspersed with trees. Three distinct populations inhabit the study area. We recommend conservation measures for Loris tardigradus.     

Red cell enzyme polymorphism in two populations of coastal Andhra Pradesh, South India

Four red cell enzyme polymorphisms: Esterase-D (ESD), Glyoxalase-I (GL01), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Phosphoglucomutase (PGM1 and 2), have been studied in two endogamous populations (paidi and Valmiki) of North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, South India. Inter group comparison by chisquare analysis revealed no significant differences among them. An attempt was made to compare with those available for other populations from Andhra Pradesh.     

Spatial distribution,exposure, and potential health risk assessment from nitrate in drinking water from semi-arid region of South India

Abstract

Elevated nitrate concentration in groundwater is a worldwide problem. Continuous exposure to high levels of nitrate in groundwater may cause adverse health effects among residents who use groundwater for consumption. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the nitrate distribution and its potential health risk assessment from semi-arid region of Peddavagu in Central Telangana (PCT), South India. Groundwater samples were collected from thirty five locations and analyzed for nitrate and other water quality parameters. Nitrate (NO₃^-) in groundwater was observed to vary from 17 to 120?mg/L, with a mean of 58.74?mg/L. About 57% of samples exceeded the maximum acceptable limit of Indian drinking water standard. About, 40% of groundwater samples drinking water quality index (DWQI) is good, while 60% of groundwater falls in poor quality for drinking purposes. Health risk maps were created based on hazard quotient to quantify the potential health risk of the residents using US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) health risk assessment model. Health risk assessment revealed that mean total hazard index (HI_total) for men, women, and children were found as 1.42E?+?00, 1.67E?+?00, and 1.95E?+?00, respectively. Results exhibited that children are at high health risk than men and women in the PCT. Further, the human exposure to the NO₃^- contaminated water was above the critical limit of non-carcinogenic risk.     

A new species of Phyllodiaptomus Kiefer (Copepoda,Calanoida) from South India

Phyllodiaptomus sasikumari, a new species of calanoid copepod is described from the material collected in several ephemeral ponds and pools in the Palghat District of Kerala State, South India.     

Evaluation of groundwater contamination for fluoride and nitrate in semi-arid region of Nirmal Province,South India: A special emphasis on human health risk assessment (HHRA)

The main aim of this study was to assess the groundwater quality and human health risks of fluoride and nitrate contamination in Nirmal Province, South India, where groundwater is the primary source for drinking water. Hazard quotient (HQ) and total hazard index (THI) were calculated to estimate the non-carcinogenic risk to men, women, and children using the most substantial method recommended by United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The results of the study reveal that 26% and 20.59% of groundwater samples have significantly high nitrate and fluoride concentrations, exceeding the maximum permissible limits set by Bureau of Indian Standards (45 mg/L and 1.5 mg/L, respectively). Therefore, ingestion of high fluoride and nitrate water could be the chief reason for health risk in the study region. The total non-carcinogenic health risks for men, women, and children ranged from 2.95E?01 to 4.07E+00, 3.49E?01 to 4.80E+00, and 3.99E?01 to 5.50E+00, respectively. Moreover, 67.65%, 79.41%, and 82.35% of the total collected groundwater samples exceeded the permissible limit for acceptable total health index (THI = 1) for men, women, and children, respectively. Therefore, the health risk assessment suggests that children face higher health risk than men and women in the study region.     

Differential Ca2+ sensitivity of RyR2 mutations reveals distinct mechanisms of channel dysfunction in sudden cardiac death

Arrhythmogenic point mutations in RyR2 result in abnormal Ca(2+) release following cardiac stimulation, leading to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Recently, we have demonstrated that significant functional differences exist between SCD-linked RyR2 mutations. Here, we investigated the molecular basis of this heterogeneity and determined the sensitivity of mutant RyR2 channels to cytoplasmic [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](c)) in living cells. Using streptolysin-O permeabilised human embryonic kidney cells, [Ca(2+)](c) was clamped in cells expressing GFP-tagged wild-type (WT) or SCD-linked RyR2 mutants (L(433)P, N(2386)I, and R(176)Q/T(2504)M). Although resting [Ca(2+)](c) was comparable in all cells, RyR2 mutants were characterised by a profound loss of Ca(2+)-dependent inhibition following caffeine stimulation when compared with WT channels. The ER Ca(2+) store was not perturbed in these experiments. Our findings support the hypothesis that SCD-linked mutational loci may be an important mechanistic determinant of RyR2 dysfunction and indicate that there is unlikely to be a unifying mechanism for channel dysfunction in SCD.     

Molecular Characterization of Gastrothylax crumenifer (Platyhelminthes: Gastrothylacidae) from Goats in the Western Part of India by LSU of Nuclear Ribosomal DNA

The rumen parasite, Gastrothylax crumenifer (Platyhelminthes: Gastrothylacidae), is a highly pathogenic trematode parasite of goat (Capra hircus). It sucks blood that causes acute disease like anemia, and severe economic losses occur due to morbidity and mortality of the ruminant infected by these worms. The study of these rumen paramphistomes, their infection, and public health importance remains unclear in India especially in the western part of state Uttar Pradesh (U.P.), Meerut, India, where the goat meat consumption is very high. This paper provides the molecular characterization of G. crumenifer recovered from the rumen of Capra hircus from Meerut, U.P., India by the partial sequence of 28S rDNA. Nucleotide sequence similarity searching on BLAST of 28S rDNA from parasites showed the highest identity with those of G. crumenifer from the same host Capra hircus. This is the first report of molecular identification of G. crumenifer from this part of India.     

Woody species diversity of four sacred groves in the Pondicherry region of South India

Plant wealth and diversity of four sacred groves – twoanthropogenic stands and two natural forest patches – along the southeastcoast of India adjoining Pondicherry was studied. A total of 111species, belonging to 103 genera in 53 families, were recorded from thefour sites, which together measure 15.6 ha. The number of woody species (girth at breast height(gbh) 20 cm) was 20 each in Keezbuvanagiri (KBG) andKilialamman (KLM) grove, followed by 13 in Periyakattupalayam (PKP) and 15in Periyamudaliar chavadi (PMC). Based on the important value index (IVI), PMCgrove is an association of Aglaia elaeagnoidea,Borassus flabellifer and Pterospermumsuberifolium. A two-layered forest structure resembling tropical dryevergreen forest (TDEF) was found there. Stratification was obscured in the KBGgrove, as the scrub species were abundant, indicating a scrub woodland formation.PKP and KLM were characterised by the abundance of a few species. The presenceof a stout liana of Secamone emetica (gbh 35cm), the robustness of Cretaeva magna (gbh 220cm), Syzigium cumini (gbh 207.45cm), P. suberifolium (gbh 128.7cm) and Tamarindus indica (gbh 250cm), and survival of evergreen species like A.elaeagnoidea and Pamburus missionis isbotanically significant; Polyalthia suberosa is a raretaxon found only within the groves. The persistence of the groves until thepresent time is a testimony to the sacred grove status enjoyed by them.     

Reproductive phenology of a wet forest understorey in the Western Ghats, South India

The reproductive phenology of 60 understorey species was monitored at monthly intervals for 20 months in a medium elevation wet evergreen forest in the Southern Western Ghats. The life forms monitored were herbs (including terrestrial orchids), shrubs and small trees. Flowering and fruiting were non‐uniform with a dry season flowering peak and wet season fruiting peak. Flowering in the understorey correlated negatively with rainfall. No significant correlation was detected for fruiting. Life forms had flowering and fruiting peaks at different times of the year.     

Habrobathynella nagarjunai n. sp., the second representative of Bathynellacea (Crustacea, Syncarida) from groundwaters of South India

A new species of the genus Habrobathynella Schminke, 1973, i.e. H. nagarjunai n.sp., is described from the groundwater of the Nagarjuna University campus near Guntur town, South India. One of the principal criteria in the original definition of Habrobathynella is amended to accommodate the new species. H. nagarjunai n.sp. differs from its three congeners, i.e. H. milloti (Delamare & Paulian, 1954), H. jeanneli (Delamare & Paulian, 1954) from Madagascar, and H. schminkei Reddy, 2002 from India, in several essential morphological details: the sympodite of uropod bears 8–10 similar spines; the apophysis on segment 4 of the antennule is short; of the two setae on the exopodite of uropod, one is apical and the other subapical in position; the basal segment of maxilla has three unequal setae; the male thoracopod VIII is relatively elongate. H. nagarjunai n. sp. is the second representative of the groundwater (eustygobiont) Bathynellacea in South Asia. Furthermore, a key to the identification of Habrobathynella spp. is given.     

The activity of 2'',3''-cyclic nucleotide 3''-phosphohydrolase in the corpus callosum, subcortical white matter, and spinal cord in infants dying from sudden infant death syndrome

Abstract: The activity of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phos-phohydrolase (CNPase) has been determined in corpus callosum, subcortical white matter, and spinal cord of infants whose death was attributed to the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), and compared with enzyme activity in other cases in which the cause of death was not associated with respiratory distress. In nearly half the SIDS cases, CNPase activity and oligodendroglial cell numbers were reduced before the onset of myelination, but only in the corpus callosum. In other SIDS cases, enzyme activity and cell numbers were the same as in non-SIDS cases. If the expression of CNPase activity reflects glioblast differentiation to oligodendrocytes with myelinating potential, then this transformation is abnormal in certain SIDS cases, as also evidenced in cases of prolonged neonatal respiratory insufficiency and gives rise to a subsequent deficit of myelin in the corpus callosum.     

Risk stratification for sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Dutch cardiologists and the care of mutation carriers

Background. Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and HCM mutation carriers are at risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Both groups should therefore be subject to regular cardiological testing – including risk stratification for SCD – according to international guidelines. We evaluated Dutch cardiologists' knowledge of and adherence to international guidelines on risk stratification and prevention of SCD in mutation carriers with and without manifest HCM. Methods. A questionnaire was sent to 1109 Dutch cardiologists (in training) containing case-based questions. Results. The response rate was 21%. Own general knowledge on HCM care was rated as insufficient by 63% of cardiologists. The percentage of correct answers (i.e. in agreement with international guidelines), on the case-based questions ranged from 37 to 96%, being lowest in cases with an unknown number of risk factors for SCD. A substantial portion of correct answers was based on the correct answer ‘ask an expert opinion’. Significantly more correct answers were provided in cases with manifest HCM. There was little difference between the answers of cardiologists with different self-reported levels of knowledge, with different numbers of HCM patients in their practice or with different numbers of carriers without manifest HCM. Conclusion. Knowledge on risk stratification and preventive therapy was mediocre, and knowledge gaps exist, especially on HCM mutation carriers without manifest disease. Fortunately, experts are frequently asked for their opinion which might bring patient care to an adequate level. Hopefully, our results will stimulate cardiologists to follow developments in this field, thereby increasing quality of care for HCM patients and mutation carriers. (Neth Heart J 2009:17:464–9.).     

南海南部陆坡表层沉积物细菌和古菌多样性

从南海南部陆坡表层沉积物中扩增了细菌和古菌16S rDNA序列,并对克隆子文库进行系统发育分析.细菌序列以变形杆菌(Proteobacteria)居多,其次是浮霉菌(Planctomycete)、酸杆菌(Acidobacteria)和candidate division OP10,另外还有少量铁还原杆菌(Deferrobacteres)、candidate division OP3、OP11、OP8、TM6、疣微菌(Verrucomicrobia)和螺旋体(Spirochaetes).古菌序列分别来自泉古生菌(Crenarchaeota)和广古生菌(Euryarchaeota),以Marine Benthic Group B(MBGB)、MarineCrenarchaeotic Group Ⅰ(MGⅠ)、Marine Benthic Group D(MBGD)和South African Gold Mine Euryarchaeotic Group(SAGMEG)为主.少量序列为C3、甲烷杆菌(Methanobacteriales)和Novel Euryarchaeotic Group(NEG).结果表明海底表层沉积物中有丰富多样的微生物群落.     

Tectonic regime transition of the western South China Block in early Cambrian: Evidence from the Meishucun volcanic ash beds

The tectonic evolution of the South China Block, especially its western part, is ambiguous in the early Paleozoic owing to the lack of contemporary tectono-magmatic records. Thick ash beds preserved in the early Cambrian successions in the eastern Yunnan Province of the western South China Block provide new insights into their magmatic origins and tectonic evolution. We report here integrated in-situ zircon U-Pb data, Hf-O isotopes, and whole-rock geochemistry of two early Cambrian ash beds (Bed 5 and Bed 9) from the Meishucun section in the eastern Yunnan Province. SIMS zircon U-Pb data indicate the two ash layers were deposited at 533.2 ± 3.8 Ma and 526.2 ± 4.1 Ma, respectively. Zircon Hf-O isotopes and whole-rock geochemistry of the two ash beds demonstrate crustal origins of their parental magma and their close affinities to A-type granites. These features suggest that the ash beds were formed in extensional settings and the tectonic regime of the study area switched from compression to extension in the early Cambrian. The Meishucun volcanic records, in combination with other late Ediacaran–early Paleozoic magmatism along the northern margin of East Gondwana, may represent the initial opening phase of the Paleo-Tethys Ocean.     

A geometric morphometric approach to the analysis of skull shape in Triassic dicynodonts (Therapsida,Anomodontia) from South America

Dicynodont therapsids were a major component of the Permo-Triassic terrestrial ecosystems across Pangea and have been regarded as specialized herbivores. In South America, the group was represented by several taxa of the clade Kannemeyeriiformes spanning from the Middle to the Late Triassic. In order to evaluate if cranial differences among taxa are potentially related to differences in feeding function, we performed a geometric morphometric analysis on 28 South American dicynodont crania. We digitized 19 cranial landmarks and conducted generalized Procrustes analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), principal component analysis between groups (bg-PCA), and a branch weighted squared-change parsimony approach. Phylogenetic inertia was not a significant driver of cranial shape evolution in the group, whereas PCA and bg-PCA support that major morphological shape differences are concentrated in the preorbital region (relative length of the snout and width of the caniniform process), in the position of quadrate condyle in relation to the caniniform process, and in the increase in the intertemporal surface area. In this context, tusked Dinodontosaurus, “Kannemeyeria,” and Vinceria have relatively smaller adductor attachment areas and input moment arm than younger taxa lacking tusks, such as Ischigualastia, Stahleckeria, and Jachaleria. Differences in cranial morphology in later dicynodonts reflect modifications in feeding mechanics, probably due to changes in food resources (vegetation) in their habitats toward the end of the Triassic.     

南海东海岛近海固氮细菌多样性及对菜心的促生作用

海洋固氮细菌在自然界氮循环中发挥着重要作用,筛选和开发海洋固氮促生的菌种资源,对于生物菌肥的开发应用和农业生产具有重要意义。[目的]研究海洋固氮细菌的生物多样性及对陆地作物的促生作用,筛选优良的植物根际促生菌株。[方法]通过形态特征、生理生化试验和16S rRNA基因序列比对进行菌属鉴定;将解磷、解钾、产蛋白酶和纤维素酶等性能优良的菌株作为菜心盆栽试验的组合菌液,探究对菜心能否起促生作用。[结果]本研究从南海东海岛的海岛沉积物中筛选出18株固氮菌,分布在6个属9种,不动杆菌属4株,假交替单胞菌属1株,芽孢杆菌属8株,嗜冷杆菌属1株,海单胞菌属1株,交替单胞菌属3株。菜心幼苗经过组合菌剂的浇灌,在茎高、茎粗、最大叶宽和最大叶长4个指标均表明对菜心有显著的促生作用。其中,以芽孢杆菌属和不动杆菌属的菌株在菜心的生长过程中起关键的促进作用,对菜心的促生性能最佳。[结论]南海近海具有种类丰富多样的固氮细菌,以芽孢杆菌属和不动杆菌属的菌株促生作用最为显著,具有开发成微生物菌肥的潜力,为优良的海洋促生微生物菌种资源的定向利用及蔬菜的无公害生产提供重要依据。     

皖南山区肖坑林场秋季植物花粉形态特征分析

应用光学显微镜和扫描电子显微镜对皖南山区肖坑林场10月开花的26科41属42种2变种的花粉形态特征进行了观察和描述.44种植物包含草本植物38种、木本植物6种,其中菊科(Compositae)植物有11种.花粉类型以萌发孔为3孔沟为主,占52.3％;还包含单沟、3沟、多沟、散沟、3孔和多孔等类型.外壁纹饰以细网状和具刺(包括刺状、微刺状、条纹-微刺状、微刺-穿孔状、长刺状和刺突状)为主,分别占27.3％和47.7％;还有粗网状、颗粒状、棒状和条纹状纹饰等.对这些种类花粉形态特征的观察和描述可为第四纪地层花粉研究提供基础资料,也可作为中低山暖湿气候环境的代用指标.     

A new species of Penicillium isolated from soil at the Kruger National Park in South Africa

A new species of Penicillium Link ex Fries is described and illustrated. It is represented by twenty six isolates recovered from soil at twenty six different locations at the southern part of the Paul Kruger National Park in South Africa. It clearly differs from all species of the genus described so far among the Biverticillata-Symmetrica Section, and it is therefore described and proposed as a new taxon: Penicillium krugerii sp. nov.     

Incipient speciation,driven by distinct environmental conditions,in the marine catfishes of the genus Aspistor (Siluriformes,Ariidae), from the Atlantic coast of South America

The Atlantic coast of South America is characterized by significant variation in environmental attributes, such as the salinity and transparency of the water, substrate, temperatures, and oceanic currents, which contribute to the existence of heterogeneous environments with distinct biotic and abiotic conditions. The present study shows that the Aspistor quadriscutis from the equatorial Amazon–Orinoco plume and Aspistor luniscutis from the northeast to southeast coast of Brazil represent different morphological lineages, with distinct life habits and behavior, belonging to a single genetic lineage. This condition is related to the distinct selective pressures (ecological conditions) found in the geographic regions in which the two species occur. Intermediate morphological patterns correspond to the ancestral traits, present in fossil species, which, together with the absence of differentiation in mitochondrial markers, characterize a process of incipient speciation.