A new form of structural lipoprotein of outer membrane of Escherichia coli.

Among the membrane proteins synthesized in toluene-treated cells of Escherichia coli were two distinct membrane proteins of different molecular weights, which were cross-reactive with antiserum against a structural lipoprotein of the outer membrane. One was thought to be the known membrane lipoprotein since it migrated to the same position as that of the lipoprotein (Mr = 7,200) in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. However, the other protein migrated slower than the lipoprotein. No protein corresponding to the slower-migrating species was detected in the membrane proteins synthesized in vivo. The apparent molecular weight of the protein at the new peak was estimated to be between 10,000 and 15,000. Both the new protein and the lipoprotein were found to be synthesized from stable mRNA(s) in the toluene-treated cells. The synthesis of the new protein as well as the lipoprotein was sensitive to chloramphenicol, indicating that both proteins were synthesized on ribosomes. Peptides mapping of the new protein revealed the same COOH-terminal sequence as in the lipoprotein. This indicates that the new protein has an extra sequence at the NH2-terminal end. This hypothesis is supported by the finding that the NH2 terminus of the new lipoprotein is methionine, while that of the lipoprotein is a substituted cysteine. From double label experiments with each of 17 different amino acids and arginine, the amino acid composition of the extra region was deduced. The new protein was found to contain at least 18 to 19 extra amino acid residues over the lipoprotein, if it is assumed that the new protein has no extra arginine residues. It was found that 4 out of the 5 amino acids which were deficient in the lipoprotein (phenylalanine, tryptophan, proline, and histidine) were also deficient in the new protein, but the fifth one, glycine, was present in the new protein. From these results, it seems possible that this new form of the lipoprotine is a precursor of the lipoprotein (prolipoprotein) in the process of biosynthesis and assembly of the lipoprotein in the outer membrane.     

On meta-analytic assessment of surrogate outcomes

We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the meta-analytic approach to estimating the effect of a new treatment on a true clinical outcome measure, T, from the effect of treatment on a surrogate response, S. The meta-analytic approach (see Daniels and Hughes (1997) 16, 1965-1982) uses data from a series of previous studies of interventions similar to the new treatment. The data are used to estimate relationships between summary measures of treatment effects on T and S that can be used to infer the magnitude of the effect of the new treatment on T from its effects on S. We extend the class of models to cover a broad range of applications in which the parameters define features of the marginal distribution of (T, S). We present a new bootstrap procedure to allow for the variability in estimating the distribution that governs the between-study variation. Ignoring this variability can lead to confidence intervals that are much too narrow. The meta-analytic approach relies on quite different data and assumptions than procedures that depend, for example, on the conditional independence, at the individual level, of treatment and T, given S (see Prentice (1989) 8, 431-440). Meta-analytic calculations in this paper can be used to determine whether a new study, based only on S, will yield estimates of the treatment effect on T that are precise enough to be useful. Compared to direct measurement on T, the meta-analytic approach has a number of limitations, including likely serious loss of precision and difficulties in defining the class of previous studies to be used to predict the effects on T for a new intervention.     

Foundations of the new phylogenetics

Evolutionary idea is the core of the modern biology. Due to this, phylogenetics dealing with historical reconstructions in biology takes a priority position among biological disciplines. The second half of the 20th century witnessed growth of a great interest to phylogenetic reconstructions at macrotaxonomic level which replaced microevolutionary studies dominating during the 30s-60s. This meant shift from population thinking to phylogenetic one but it was not revival of the classical phylogenetics; rather, a new approach emerged that was baptized The New Phylogenetics. It arose as a result of merging of three disciplines which were developing independently during 60s-70s, namely cladistics, numerical phyletics, and molecular phylogenetics (now basically genophyletics). Thus, the new phylogenetics could be defined as a branch of evolutionary biology aimed at elaboration of "parsimonious" cladistic hypotheses by means of numerical methods on the basis of mostly molecular data. Classical phylogenetics, as a historical predecessor of the new one, emerged on the basis of the naturphilosophical worldview which included a superorganismal idea of biota. Accordingly to that view, historical development (the phylogeny) was thought an analogy of individual one (the ontogeny) so its most basical features were progressive parallel developments of "parts" (taxa), supplemented with Darwinian concept of monophyly. Two predominating traditions were diverged within classical phylogenetics according to a particular interpretation of relation between these concepts. One of them (Cope, Severtzow) belittled monophyly and paid most attention to progressive parallel developments of morphological traits. Such an attitude turned this kind of phylogenetics to be rather the semogenetics dealing primarily with evolution of structures and not of taxa. Another tradition (Haeckel) considered both monophyletic and parallel origins of taxa jointly: in the middle of 20th century it was split into phylistics (Rasnitsyn's term; close to Simpsonian evolutionary taxonomy) belonging rather to the classical realm, and Hennigian cladistics that pays attention to origin of monophyletic taxa exclusively. In early of the 20th century, microevolutionary doctrine became predominating in evolutionary studies. Its core is the population thinking accompanied by the phenetic one based on equation of kinship to overall similarity. They were connected to positivist philosophy and hence were characterized by reductionism at both ontological and epistemological levels. It led to fall of classical phylogenetics but created the prerequisites for the new phylogenetics which also appeared to be full of reductionism. The new rise of phylogenetic (rather than tree) thinking during the last third of the 20th century was caused by lost of explanatory power of population one and by development of the new worldview and new epistemological premises. That new worldview is based on the synergetic (Prigoginian) model of development of non-equilibrium systems: evolution of the biota, a part of which is phylogeny, is considered as such a development. At epistemological level, the principal premise appeared to be fall of positivism which was replaced by post-positivism argumentation schemes. Input of cladistics into new phylogenetics is twofold. On the one hand, it reduced phylogeny to cladistic history lacking any adaptivist interpretation and presuming minimal evolution model. From this it followed reduction of kinship relation to sister-group relation lacking any reference to real time scale and to ancestor-descendant relation. On the other hand, cladistics elaborated methodology of phylogenetic reconstructions based on the synapomorphy principle, the outgroup concept became its part. The both inputs served as premises of incorporation of both numerical techniques and molecular data into phylogenetic reconstruction. Numerical phyletics provided the new phylogenetics with easily manipulated algorithms of cladogram construing and thus made phylogenetic reconstructions operational and repetitive. The above phenetic formula "kinship = similarity" appeared to be a keystone for development of the genophyletics. Within numerical phyletics, a lot of computer programs were elaborated which allow to manipulate with evolutionary scenario during phylogenetic reconstructions. They make it possible to reconstruct both clado- and semogeneses based on the same formalized methods. Multiplicity of numerical approaches indicates that, just as in the case of numerical phenetics, choice of adequate method(s) should be based on biologically sound theory. The main input of genophyletics (= molecular phylogenetics) into the new phylogenetics was due to completely new factology which makes it possible to compare directly such far distant taxa as prokaryotes and higher eukaryotes. Genophyletics is based on the theory of neutral evolution borrowed from microevolutionary theory and on the molecular clock hypothesis which is now considered largely inadequate. The future developments of genophyletics will be aimed at clarification of such fundamental (and "classical" by origin) problems as application of character and homology concepts to molecular structures. The new phylogenetics itself is differentiated into several schools caused basically by diversity of various approaches existing within each of its "roots". Cladistics makes new phylogenetics splitted into evolutionary and parsimonious ontological viewpoints. Numerical phyletics divides it into statistical and (again) parsimonious methodologies. Molecular phylogenetics is opposite by its factological basis to morphological one. The new phylogenetics has significance impact onto the "newest" systematics. From one side, it gives ontological status back to macrotaxa they have lost due to "new" systematics based on population thinking. From another side, it rejects some basical principles of classical phylogenetic (originally Linnean) taxonomy such as recognitions of fixed taxonomic ranks designated by respective terms and definition of taxic names not by the diagnostic characters but by reference to the ancestor. The latter makes the PhyloCode overburdened ideologically and the "newest" systematics self-controversial, as concept of ancestor has been acknowledged non-operational from the very beginning of cladistics. Relation between classical and new phylogenetics is twofold. At the one hand, general phylogenetic hypothesis (in its classical sense) can be treated as a combination of cladogenetic and semogenetic reconstructions. Such a consideration is bound to pay close attention to the uncertainty relation principle which, in case of the phylogenetics, means that the general phylogenetic hypothesis cannot be more certain than any of initial cladogenetic or semogenetic hypotheses. From this standpoint, the new phylogenetics makes it possible to reconstruct phylogeny following epistemological principle "from simple to complex". It elaborates a kind of null hypotheses about evolutionary history which are more easy to test as compared to classical hypotheses. Afterward, such hypotheses are possible to be completed toward the classical, more content-wise ones by adding anagenetic information to the cladogenetic one. At another hand, reconstructions elaborated within the new phylogenetics could be considered as specific null hypotheses about both clado- and semogeneses. They are to be tested subsequently by mean of various models, including those borrowed from "classical" morphology. The future development of the new phylogenetics is supposed to be connected with getting out of plethora of reductionism inherited by it from population thinking and specification of object domain of the phylogenetics. As the latter is a part of an evolutionary theory, its future developments will be adjusted with the latter. Lately predominating neodarwinism is now being replaced by the epigenetic evolutionary theory to which phylistics (one of the modern versions of classical phylogenetics) seems to be more correspondent.     

The alternative futures of naval force

Abstract

The paper discusses a series of new technologies and new strategic factors entering into naval power and their analytical consequences. The argument is made that (1) traditional ways of identifying “naval power”; no longer have any utility or carry real meaning; (2) current high‐value surface naval forces of declining utility are extremely vulnerable to attack, which will force a radical revaluation in the West of “sea control”; and the costs of such control; and (3) the Soviet Union, by virtue of its geography and its capacity to innovate in “sea denial”; naval force, may be better positioned that the West to take advantage of new antinaval technologies. Western countermeasures may be expensive, involve a radical restructuring of naval force, and mean the acceptance of permanent strategic vulnerability at sea. The “new era”; of naval politics cannot be divorced, analytically and operationally, from emergent space systems and from the strategic nuclear balance.     

Classification of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas: facts and perspectives]

Previous classifications of malignant non-Hodgkin lymphomas (nHL) are based on morphological and histological-cytological findings. The rapid development of immunology, the application of immunocytological, cytochemical and electromicroscopic methods led to new classifications of nHL based on immunology. They are founded on the idea that the prevailing cells of nHL correspond to a cell type from the differentiation line of lymphocytes. Thus, a distinction can be made between malignant lymphomas (ml) of stem, B and T-cells; the more frequently occurring lymphomas originating from B-cells are represented by chronic lymphatic leukaemia originating from B1-cells, by ml of follicular genesis (centrocytes, centroblastic-centrocytic ml, centroblasts) and by ml synthesizing and releasing immunoglobulins (immunocytoma, immunoblastoma). The type formerly called "reticulosarcoma" (histocytic ml) could be identified to be an immature, Ig synthesizing ml (immunoblastloma) in most cases. The new classification enables a more extensive differentiation and a better prognostic statement to be made than previous ones. The new units of disease can be diagnosed in most cases with light microscopic routine methods, although borderline cases and unclassifiable ml may occur.     

Synthesis of N-diisopropyl phosphoryl benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline, a new class of mitochondrial complexes I and III inhibitors

The synthesis of N-(O,O-diisopropylphosphoryl)-benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline (3) has been achieved in a 'one pot' procedure from imine (2) and diisopropyl-phosphorochloridate (1) generated in situ (POCl3 + iPrOH). Compound 3 is the first benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline derivative found to be a potent inhibitor of mitochondrial complexes I and III, and therefore it opens a new perspective with this series of compounds as they can be considered as new class of antitumor agents.     

Isolation and characterization of new strains of methanogens from cold terrestrial habitats

Five strains of methanogenic archaea (MT, MS, MM, MSP, ZB) were isolated from permanently and periodically cold terrestrial habitats. Physiological and morphological studies, as well as phylogenetic analyses of the new isolates were performed. Based on sequences of the 16S rRNA and methyl-coenzyme M reductase a-subunit (mcrA) genes all new isolates are closely related to known mesophilic and psychrotolerant methanogens. Both, phylogenetic analyses and phenotypic properties allow to classify strains MT, MS, and MM as members of the genus Methanosarcina. Strain MT is a new ecotype of Methanosarcina mazei, whereas strains MM and MS are very similar to each other and can be assigned to the recently described psychrotolerant species Methanosarcina lacustris. The hydrogenotrophic strain MSP is a new ecotype of the genus Methanocorpusculum. The obligately methylotrophic strain ZB is closely related to Methanomethylovorans hollandica and can be classified as new ecotype of this species. All new isolates, including the strains from permanently cold environments, are not true psychrophiles according to their growth temperature characteristics. In spite of the ability of all isolates to grow at temperatures as low as 1-5 degrees C, all of them have their growth optima in the range of moderate temperatures (25-35 degrees C). Thus, they can be regarded as psychrotolerant organisms. Psychrotolerant methanogens are thought to play an important role in methane production in both, habitats under seasonal temperature variations or from permanently cold areas.     

A new species of Gonystylus (Thymelaeaceae) from Sarawak, Borneo

A new species, Gonystylus othmanii Tawan (Thymelaeaceae) from Sarawak (Borneo) is described and illustrated. It is considered to be endemic to Sarawak. The morphological differences between the new species and related taxa are included.     

新的抗真菌药物靶点研究进展

近30年来,侵袭性真菌感染发病率持续上升,病死率居高不下,而治疗药物十分有限是造成其高致死率的重要因素之一。因此,发现新的抗真菌靶点和药物,已成为迫切需要。正在研究的新的抗真菌靶点如下：一是信号通路介导的抗真菌靶点,包括钙调神经磷酸酶及其分子伴侣Hsp90、3-磷酸肌醇依赖性蛋白激酶（PKH）以及参与Ras蛋白修饰的相关酶等,其拮抗剂包括传统免疫抑制剂的类似物以及Hsp90抗体、KP-372-1和PS77以及手霉素A等;二是GPI锚定蛋白合成通路的催化酶,其抑制剂有E1210和M720等化合物;三是分泌型天冬氨酸蛋白酶,肽类、逆转录病毒抑制剂,以及砜类的衍生物等均可以抑制这一靶点;四是海藻糖的合成的两个关键酶Tps1和Tps2。鉴于侵袭性真菌感染严重影响人类公共健康安全,而新型抗真菌药物的研发又依赖于新靶点的探索,因此,本文靶向这一核心真菌临床问题,系统介绍了当前新的抗真菌药物靶点发展概况,并在靶点选择可行性以及针对靶点的药物研发策略上提出见解。     

MaSTerClass: a case-based reasoning system for the classification of biomedical terms

MOTIVATION: The sheer volume of textually described biomedical knowledge exerts the need for natural language processing (NLP) applications in order to allow flexible and efficient access to relevant information. Specialized semantic networks (such as biomedical ontologies, terminologies or semantic lexicons) can significantly enhance these applications by supplying the necessary terminological information in a machine-readable form. With the explosive growth of bio-literature, new terms (representing newly identified concepts or variations of the existing terms) may not be explicitly described within the network and hence cannot be fully exploited by NLP applications. Linguistic and statistical clues can be used to extract many new terms from free text. The extracted terms still need to be correctly positioned relative to other terms in the network. Classification as a means of semantic typing represents the first step in updating a semantic network with new terms. RESULTS: The MaSTerClass system implements the case-based reasoning methodology for the classification of biomedical terms.     

An assessment of some improved techniques for estimating the abundance (frequency) of sedentary organisms

The traditional sampling method for estimating frequency (the number of sub-quadrats containing a basal part of the organisms) is compared, using both computer simulations and direct comparison in the field, to two new methods that use a compound series of variable-sized concentric sub-quadrats. Both the new frequency-score and the new importance-score methods are closer approximations of density than is the standard frequency method, and the estimates produced by both of the new methods are less affected by the choice of sub-quadrat size and the spatial distribution (dispersion) of the organisms (i.e. clumping and regularity). Thus, the two nested-quadrat methods appear to ameliorate the usual frequency limitations associated with sub-quadrat size and organism dispersion, by the use of a range of different sub-quadrat sizes. This is important in community studies, where the component species may show a wide range of densities and dispersions. Both of the new methods are easily employed in the field. The importance-score method involves no more sampling effort than does standard qualitative (presence-absence) sampling, and it can therefore be used to sample a larger quadrat area than would normally be used for frequency sampling. This makes the method much more cost-effective as a means of estimating abundance, and it allows a greater number of the rarer species to be included in the sampling. The frequency-score method is more time-consuming, but it is capable of detecting more subtle community patterns. This means that it is particularly useful for the study of species-poor communities or where small variations in composition need to be detected.     

A Revision of Subtribe Pleioblastinae Keng & Keng f.

This paper deals with the taxa of tribe Arundinarieae Steud. subtribe Pleiobalastinae Keng and Keng f. which comprised three genera (Pseudosasa Makino, Pleioblastus Nakai and Brachystachyum Keng) when it was established in 1957. With the analysis of morphological characters and geographical distribution, a number of revisions connected with the taxon are made as follows: (1) Genus Brachystachyum Keng is transferred to the tribe Shibataeeae Nakai according to its false inflorescence. (2) Genus Pseudosasa Makino is transferred to subtribe Sasinae Keng f. according to our study on the numerical taxonomic method. (3) Some species of Pleioblastus Nakai established by Keng and Keng f. should be revised. Pleioblastus actinotrichus (Merr. and Chun) Keng f. should be Ampelocalamus actinotrichus (Merr. and Chun) S. L. Chen, T. H. Wen and G. Y. Sheng in subtribe Thamnocalaminae Keng f.; Pleioblastus dolichanthus (Keng) Keng f. is the synonym of Sinobambusa tootsik (Sieb.) Makino, belonging to tribe Shibataeeae Nakai. The rest species remain in this genus. Since the genus Pleioblastus is related to genus Arundinaria Michaux., subtribe Pleioblastus Keng and Keng f. does not seem to have a reason to be retained as a subtribe in tribe Arundinarieae Steud., according to the newest Code (1978). A part of it should be a synonym of subtribe Arundinariinae and we may cite it as follows: Subtribe Arundinariinae——Subtribe Pleioblastinae Keng and Keng f. pro parte, syn. nov. The other parts of it should be transferred to other subtribes or tribes. In addition, one new variety in Branchystachyum, two new species, one new variety in Pseudosasa and six new species, three new varieties in Pleioblastus, are described in this paper.     

南五味子属(五味子科)三种植物之补记

报道南五味子属Kadsura的黑老虎K. coccinea (Lem.) A. C. Smith在印度尼西亚的分布新记录,毛南五味子K. induta A. C. Smith在中国贵州的分布新记录,冷饭藤K. oblongifolia Merrill在中国福建和台湾以及越南的分布新记录,补充或纠正了前人对毛南五味子的形态描述,取消了Saunders对海南黑老虎K. hainanensis Merrill和冷饭藤所作的后选模式。     

Steroidal and phenolic constituents of Lilium speciosum.

Phytochemical examination of the fresh bulbs of Lilium speciosum forma vestale has led to the isolation of a new phenolic glycoside and a new steroidal saponin. The respective structures of the new compounds have been shown by spectral analysis to be 6'-O-feruloylsucrose and (25R,26R)-26-methoxyspirost-5-en-3 beta-o1 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1----2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside. Several known phenolic glycosides and saponins have also been isolated and identified.     

Isolation of a new polymorphic TC maize microsatellite located on the long arm of chromosome 10

Simple sequence repeats (SSR), also called microsatellites, were previously proved to be an important class of DNA markers. The isolation, mapping and designing of primers to the flanking regions of a new maize SSR is reported. The new marker, with a core motif of (TC) 12, designated as MZETC34, was mapped to the long arm of chromosome 10.     

Interactions of cephalosporins with the Streptomyces R61 DD-transpeptidase/carboxypeptidase. Influence of the 3''-substituent.

The preparation and use of a new photoactivatable phosphatidylcholine derivative [1-palmitoyl-2-(p-benzoyl)benzoyl phosphatidylcholine] is described. The reagent is shown to be effective in labelling different membrane proteins under irradiation conditions that preserve their enzymic activity. The properties of this new phospholipid analogue suggest that it can be useful in studying several aspects of membrane structure and function.     

A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON GENUS COMPSIDOLON REUTER 1899 FROM NORTH CHINA (HETEROPTERA: MIRIDAE: PHYLINAE)

Abstract The present paper deals with genus Compsidolon Reuter 1899 from North China. A new species Compsidolon punctulatus sp. nov. is described. C. absinthii (Scott, 1870) is here recorded as new to China, and C; gobicus Nonnaizab 1994 is considered to be a new synonym of Solenoxyphus lepidus (Puton, 1874). Type specimens of the new species will be deposited in the Biological Faculty of Inner Mongolia Teachers' University.     

采用最大溯源径流路径法估算RUSLE模型中地形因子探讨

采用基于AML的提取坡长值的新方法--最大溯源径流路径法,对贵州省毕节地区5个不同范围区域的DEM数据进行坡长值、地形因子的提取,并与基于AML的迭代累计坡长法和基于C⁺⁺的迭代累计坡长法对提取坡长值的时间消耗、地形因子值进行了比较.结果表明：基于AML的最大溯源径流路径法能够实现修正的通用土壤流失模型(RUSLE)中坡长值、地形因子的提取,可达到与迭代累计坡长法相同的效果;与基于AML的迭代累计坡长法相比,该方法计算效率较高,大大减少了提取坡长值的时间消耗,可实现基于AML的坡长值、地形因子提取在大范围区域上的扩展;与基于C⁺⁺的迭代累计坡长法相比,该方法计算时效和结果相当,程序编写简单,容易修改和调试,能更普遍应用于GIS用户.     

Quantitative autoradiography of neurochemicals

Several new methods have been developed that apply quantitative autoradiography to neurochemistry. These methods are derived from the 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) technique of Sokoloff (1), which uses quantitative autoradiography to measure the rate of glucose utilization in brain structures. The new methods allow the measurement of the rate of cerbral protein synthesis and the levels of particular neurotransmitter receptors by quantitative autoradiography. As with the 2DG method, the new techniques can measure molecular levels in micron-sized brain structures; and can be used in conjuction with computerized systems of image processing. It is possible that many neurochemical measurements could be made by computerized analysis of quantitative autoradiograms.