A new species of Monoplacophora, redescription of the genera Veleropilina and Rokopella, and new information on three species of the class

Vema levinae Warén, sp. n. is described from a submarine volcano off western Mexico. The type species of Rokopella and Veleropilina are redescribed, the usage of the names is discussed and Rokopella and Veleropilina are recognized as valid genera in Neopilinidae. Rokopella euglypta (Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1897) is redescribed from shells and a single live specimen taken from seamounts south of the Azores, from a depth of 1200–1600 m. Tectura reticulata Seguenza, 1876 (Gastropoda, 'Acmaeidae', southern Italy, Upper Pliocene/Lower Pleistocene) is considered to have been based on the monoplacophoran species previously known as Neopilina zografi from the Mediterranean, and is classified in the genus Veleropilina. Veleropilina zografi (Dautzenberg & Fischer, 1896) is redescribed based on shells from several seamounts south of the Azores. It is considered distinct from Rokopella euglypta and classified in the genus Veleropilina. An undescribed species of Veleropilina from a seamount off southern Baja California is reported, figured and discussed but not formally described.     

Ascaridoid nematodes of South American mammals, with a definition of a new genus

Ascaridoid nematodes occurring in South American mammals are divided into categories based on their possible origin. The affinities are discussed of five species so far known only from the Neotropical Region. Toxocara alienata (Rudolphi 1819) is reported from Nasua rufa socialis, Procyon cancrivorus, and Tayassus torquatus. The specimens from T. torquatus are described and found most closely to resemble Toxocara mackerrasae from south-east Asian and Austrialian rodents. Anisakis insignis from Inia geoffrensis is transferred back to Peritrachelius Diesing, 1851, on account of the structure of the lips and spicules. P. insignis is shown to exhibit remarkable convergence of lip structure with Lagochilascaris turgida from Didelphis marsupialis. Galeiceps longispiculum (Freitas & Lent, 1941) from Pteronura brasiliensis is confirmed as a species distinct from G. cucullus (Linstow, 1899) and G. spinicollis (Baylis, 1923), but G. simiae (Mosgovoy, 1951) is considered to be a synonym of G. spinicollis. An error in the host record of G. spinicollis is corrected from Cercopithecus leucampyx kandti to Lutra maculicollis kivuana. Ascaris dasypodina Baylis, 1922 from armadillos, including Cabassous unicinctus and Tolypeutes matacos, is redescribed and placed in a new genus Bairdascaris. The question is raised as to whether some species in Lagochilascaris, Galeiceps, and Toxocara may have crossed directly by sea from Africa to South America, rather than entering via North America.     

Detecting Small Amounts of Gene Flow from Phylogenies of Alleles

The method of coalescents is used to find the probability that none of the ancestors of alleles sampled from a population are immigrants. If that is the case for samples from two or more populations, then there would be concordance between the phylogenies of those alleles and the geographic locations from which they are drawn. This type of concordance has been found in several studies of mitochondrial DNA from natural populations. It is shown that if the number of sequences sampled from each population is reasonably large (10 or more), then this type of concordance suggests that the average number of individuals migrating between populations is likely to be relatively small (Nm less than 1) but the possibility of occasional migrants cannot be excluded. The method is applied to the data of E. Bermingham and J. C. Avise on mtDNA from the bowfin, Amia calva.     

Studies of the distribution of the Z-pinch radiance during the implosion of wire arrays in the angara-5-1 facility

Results are presented from time-integrated measurements of soft X-ray emission from Z-pinches during the implosion of simple and nested wire arrays. The blackening density distribution obtained with the help of a pinhole camera is recalculated into the time-integrated Z-pinch radiance. It is found that, in the case of a simple wire array, up to 70% of the total SXR energy emitted during a discharge is radiated from the axial region, the rest of energy being radiated from plasma jets, whereas in the case of a nested wire array, more than 90% of the SXR energy is radiated from the axial region.     

湖南等三地区东方田鼠遗传特性的分析比较

用染色体G带核型分析、生化位点、随机扩增多态性DNA(RAPD)标记等方法,对湖南洞庭湖湖滨、宁夏青铜峡市农田和黑龙江伊春市金山屯草甸3个地区的东方田鼠遗传特性进行了分析。结果表明,湖南和宁夏地区东方田鼠染色体数均为2N＝52,黑龙江东方田鼠染色体数则为2N＝42;生化位点结果显示3个地区的东方田鼠均呈遗传非均一性;湖南、宁夏和黑龙江鼠的个体间RAPD遗传距离分别为0．244（0．143—0．353)、0．226(0．161—0．294)、0．541(0.357—0．692)。湖南和宁夏两地区鼠种群间的遗传距离为0．367,湖南和宁夏鼠杂交一代与其亲代的RAPD遗传距离在0．310以下;但黑龙江鼠与湖南和宁夏鼠种群问的遗传距离分别为0．619和0．633。总的表明,3个地区的东方田鼠均呈遗传非均一性,但湖南与宁夏鼠在染色体、生化位点和RAPD标记等方面都具有相似性,并可杂交,而黑龙江鼠与其它两地的鼠不能杂交,且黑龙江鼠在遗传特性方面与前二地鼠有很大差异,因而后的“种”级分类地位值得进一步研究。     

务川臭蛙分布区域扩大及其濒危等级再评估

2013年9月在湖北省建始县采集到的2只务川臭蛙 (Odorrana wuchuanensis)标本,为湖北省新纪录。该记录使务川臭蛙的分布区由大娄山脉东段,沿武陵山脉延展至湖北建始县。因此,建议将其濒危等级调低至濒危（Endangered, 缩写为EN）。与模式标本比较,建始县雌蛙标本头体长99.6 mm,远大于模式标本雌蛙的最大记录;成年雄蛙62.8 mm,亦小于模式标本的最小记录;建始雌蛙体侧背皮肤亦有淡色小刺粒,因此,该特征不属于第二性征。     

NMR analysis of structure and function of snake neurotoxins

The 270-MHz proton-nmr spectra of short neurotoxins (erabutoxins from Laticauda semifasciata and cobrotoxin from Naja naja atra) and long neurotoxins (toxin B from Naja naja and α-bungarotoxin from Bungarus multicinctus) have been analyzed. The conformation of erabutoxin b in solution is largely consistent with the x-ray crystal analysis, although the environment of His-7 in solution is definitely different from that in the crystal. The pH-dependent transition has been found for toxin B, indicating that the conformation in neutral solution is different from that in the crystal as grown from acidic solution. The deuterium-exchange rates of the amide protons for the four neurotoxins have been measured. The order of structural rigidity is the same as the order of the irreversibility of neuromuscular block by neurotoxins.     

Purification and properties of the pyruvate kinase of sturgeon muscle.

Pyruvate kinase was purified from sturgeon muscle in yeilds comparable with those obtained from the muscles of other species. In contrast with mammalian muscle pyruvate kinase the enzyme from sturgeon muscle gives a sigmoidal velocity curve with respect to phosphoenolpuruvate saturation, is activated by fructose 1.6-diphosphate, and is inhibited by bivalent copper ions. In these respects it is similar to the enzyme isolated from mammalian liver. The degree of interaction between phosphoenolpyruvate-binding sites is dependent on temperature.     

Identity and taxonomic affinity of some members of the Amaranthaceae from the Galápagos Islands

ELIASSON, U. H. 1985. Identity and taxonomic affinity of some members of the Amaranthaceae from the Galápagos Islands. The type species of Pleuropetalum, P. DarwiniI, is endemic to the Galápagos and is morphologically closer to P. pleiogynum than to P. sprucei. Pleuropetalum pleiogynum has a wider distribution than previously assumed, ranging from Costa Rica to Peru. Amaranlhus anderssonii is closely related to A. urceolatus, a species of the Pacific coast of S America, and to A. berlandieri, a species of Texas and NE Mexico. Amaranlhus squamulatus, previously regarded as endemic to the Galápagos, is reported from the Guayas province of Ecuador. The genus Galápagosus, proposed for Amaranlhus sclerantoides, is rejected. Lithophila scirpoides, an overlooked taxon from the Galápagos, is believed to be an aberrant specimen of L. radicala. Lithophila subscaposa from the islands of Santiago and Pinzon differs morphologically from the specimens of Floreana. Iresine edmonstonii, probably erroneously reported from the Galápagos, is conspecific with J. angusti/olia. Blutaparon rigidum is morphologically divergent from other members of the genus, being adapted to arid conditions, and is assumed to be extinct.     

Quantitation of picomole levels of N-acetyl- and N-glycolylneuraminic acids by a HPLC-adaptation of the thiobarbituric acid assay

A simple HPLC adaptation of the periodate-TBA assay for free N-acetyl- and N-glycolylneuraminic acids greatly extends the sensitivity and increases the specificity of this standard colorimetric assay. The method, employing a C18 reverse-phase column eluted isocratically with a phosphoric acid-MeOH buffer, is linear over a range of 2 pmol to 20 nmol. Analyses can be performed directly on cell lysates and digests without prior purification of released sialic acids from contaminating salts and biological materials. Interference from 2-deoxysugars is completely eliminated as the chromophore from these compounds is completely resolved from that derived from sialic acids. The application of the technique to quantify cell-surface and total cellular TBA-reactive sialic acids on the surfaces of a variety of tumor cells is described. Additionally, the extent of desialylation of erythrocytes necessary to expose the T antigen is determined.     

Description of two new species of the genus Priolepis from the Indo-Pacific with redescription of Priolepis profunda and Priolepis psygmophilia

Priolepis akihitoi is described as new from Australia, New Caledonia and Japan. The species is distinctive in having a transverse papilla pattern, second dorsal rays usually I, 11, predorsal fully scaled and dark bars dorsally on the caudal fin. Priolepis cyanocephala is described as new from eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. It differs from other species in having a reduced transverse papilla pattern, second dorsal rays I, 10, predorsal largely naked and head with vertical bands, but no bands on the body. Priolepis profunda is redescribed based on material from northwestern Australia and Thailand, and photos of specimens from Indonesia, New Guinea and the Philippines. Priolepis psygmophilia is redescribed based on recently obtained material from the Kermadec Islands and other material from Lord Howe Island, Easter Island and Rapa Island.     

Regulation of ascorbic acid and of xylulose synthesis in liver extracts. The effect of starvation in various animals

1. The effect of starvation on the synthesis of ascorbic acid and of xylulose from glucuronolactone and from gulonate has been studied with liver extracts from cats, rabbits, hamsters, mice and guinea pigs. 2. The synthesis of ascorbic acid from glucuronolactone is decreased in all species except cats, and that from gulonate is decreased in hamsters and mice only. 3. The synthesis of xylulose from glucuronolactone was decreased in all species except cats and mice, whereas from gulonate it was enhanced in all the species examined.     

Review of the species of Michotamia from China with a description of a new species (Diptera, Asilidae)

Three species of Michotamia are recorded from China. Of these Michotamia aurata (Fabricius, 1794) was previously reported from Hainan and Taiwan. Michotamia assamensis Joseph & Parui, 1995 is recorded from China and Laos for the first time, and Michotamia yunnanensissp. n., is described and figured. A key to the known species from China is provided. A new name, Michotamia subnigra, is given to Michotamia nigra Scarbrough & Hill, 2000, which is preoccupied by Michotamia nigra (Meijere, 1911).     

Identification of the NADPH-binding subunit of the respiratory burst oxidase.

The respiratory burst oxidase is a multicomponent membrane-bound enzyme that uses NADPH to reduce oxygen to O2-. When oxidase-containing membranes from activated neutrophils are treated with 0.3 M KCl, the NADPH-binding component of the oxidase elutes from the membranes in an active form. Treatment of this eluate with [32P]NADPH dialdehyde labels an approximately 32-kDa protein that is absent from eluates obtained from normal resting membranes or from resting or activated membranes from patients with one form of chronic granulomatous disease. We propose that this approximately 32-kDa protein is the NADPH-binding component of the oxidase.     

Regulation of glucose formation from lactate and pyruvate in isolated tubules of chicken kidney.

1. Isolated kidney tubules from chicken have been used to study the actions of ethanol, ouabain and aminooxyacetate on glucose formation from lactate and pyruvate. 2. In kidney tubules from well-fed chickens the rate of glucose production from lactate was higher than from pyruvate. Ethanol (10 mM) and ouabain (0.1 mM) were found to increase glucose formation from pyruvate but not from lactate. 3. It is concluded that in the presence of ethanol the fluxes of pyruvate through pyruvate dehydrogenase are in favour of the pyruvate carboxylase reaction restricted. 4. Glucose formation from lactate is decreased by aminooxyacetate (0.1 mM) and ouabain (0.1 mM). 5. Aminooxyacetate inhibited glucose formation from lactate, although chicken phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase is located intramitochondrially. 6. The results indicate that the effect of aminooxyacetate like that of ouabain is caused by the restricted formation of pyruvate.     

Regulation of ascorbic acid and of xylulose synthesis in rat-liver extracts. The effect of alloxan-diabetes on the glucuronic acid pathway.

1. The synthesis of l-ascorbic acid and of l-xylulose from d-glucuronolactone, d-glucuronate, l-gulonate and l-gulonolactone has been studied with liver extracts from normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. 2. In diabetic animals the synthesis of ascorbic acid is impaired, and more from glucuronolactone and glucuronate than from gulonate and gulonolactone, whereas the formation of xylulose from gulonate and gulonolactone is enhanced. These changes are reversed by insulin therapy. 3. The activity of the NAD-linked gulonate dehydrogenase is enhanced during diabetes.     

Taxonomic review of the Pterostichini and Loxandrini fauna of New Caledonia (Coleoptera, Carabidae)

The generic-level taxa included in Pterostichini and Loxandrini from New Caledonia are reviewed and a key to genera and species provided. Two new genera are described, Paniestichus and Abacophrastus, with the following new species: Paniestichus subsolianus, Abacophrastus millei, Abacophrastus chapes, Abacophrastus carnifex, Abacophrastus hobbit, Abacophrastus megalops, Abacophrastus reflexus and Abacophrastus bellorum. Abacoleptus curtus new species, is described. Notonomus irideus and Notonomus savesi are moved to Prosopogmus. Four new species of Prosopogmus are described: Prosopogmus koghisensis, Prosopogmus lescheni, Prosopogmus fortis and Prosopogmus aoupiniensis. Homalosoma griseolum is moved to Sphodrosomus. Cerabilia is newly recorded from New Caledonia and the genus is moved from Platynini to Loxandrini and therefore is the first report of Loxandrini from New Caledonia. An apparent adventive from Australia, Darodilia, is newly reported from New Caledonia.     

Theoretic analysis of conformation of proteins. I. Minimization of potential energy of ribonuclease S]

Variation of ribonuclease S structure is analysed with the potential energy being minimized by a computer. The function of potential energy contains the potentials of bond and angle distortions, torsional and non-valent interactions. It is shown that after 100 iterations the potential energy is decreased from the value of 6500 kcal/mole to--1012 kcal/mole, 92% of complete change of energy fitting the first ten iterations. The root mean square deviation (r. ms. d.) of final structure from the initial one is 0.232 A (0.206 A for the backbone and 0.257 A for side groups). The forbidden non-valent contacts are completely removed after minimization. R. ms. d. of the equilibrium value is decreased from 0.097 to 0.006 A for bond lengths; from 7.660 to 3.65 degrees for valence an-les and from 9.44 to 6.95 degrees for rotation angles around the peptide bonds. Distribution of tensions along the protein chain after minimization is considerably changed, the tensions decreasing in average by 100 times.     

Cladistics of the genera of Mesochorinae (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae)

Abstract. A cladistic analysis is presented for the genera of the ichneumonid subfamily Mesochorinae. Nine genera are recognized as valid. Previous work on larval morphology is reviewed and a number of larvae are newly illustrated and discussed. Four new synonyms are proposed: Oncocotta, Piestetron, Plectochorus and Rhaibaspis are all synonymized with Mesochorus , and Stictopisthus is placed back as a synonym of Mesochorus. Four new genera are described: Artherola from South Africa, Chineater from Chile, Thamester from Japan, and Varnado from Morocco. A new key is provided to the mesochorine genera of the world.