Characterization of 21 microsatellite marker loci in the Milne-Edwards’ Sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi)

Milne-Edwards’ Sifaka (Propithecus edwardsi) is a dark furred lemur with white flanks living in the southern region of the eastern rainforest belt of Madagascar. This species is endangered due to habitat destruction primarily from deforestation. Twenty-one polymorphic nuclear microsatellite loci were isolated from a genomic DNA derived from an individual from Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. Population genetic parameters were estimated on 10 individuals each, from Andringitra National Park and the Vatoharana Forest in Ranomafana National Park.     

Resource brief: The National Non-Human Primate DNA Bank

A National Non-Human Primate (NHP) DNA bank has been established by the National Primate Research Centers and the National Center for Research Resources, NIH, providing a new resource for comparative genomic studies. The collection includes genomic DNA samples from macaques, chimpanzees, baboons, vervets, marmosets, sooty mangabeys and titi monkeys. The repository includes DNAs from 697 unrelated animals, suitable for comparing allele representation within and between species. Another 474 DNAs are derived from family-trios (dam, sire, off spring), and are useful for verifying the segregation of genetic variants. The National NHP DNA Bank includes specified holdings within each of the eight National Primate Research Centers, though detailed information on the entire collection is available through a common website.     

广东发现白头蝰及其分布现状

2011年10月26日,在广东省始兴县的车八岭国家级自然保护区采得1号雄性白头蝰,并从该保护区博物馆检出另1号雄性同种标本,11月25日又在广东省博罗县的象头山国家级自然保护区采得第3号雄性同种标本,正式报道为广东省蛇类新纪录。     

新型蛇毒C-型血凝素相关蛋白

The research projects were supported by a research scholarship from the National University of Singapore, Singapore and by a fund from The National Bureau of Foreign Talents, China [2001-151] .     

Orthogonius species and diversity in Thailand (Coleoptera, Caraboidea, Orthogoniini), a result from the TIGER project

The carabid genus Orthogonius MacLeay is treated, based mainly on materials collected in Thailand through the TIGER project (the Thailand Inventory Group for Entomological Research). Among 290 specimens, 20 species are identified in total, 10 of them are new species: Orthogonius taghavianaesp. n. (Nakhon Nayok: Khao Yai National Park), Orthogonius coomanioidessp. n. (Phetchabun: Thung Salaeng Luang National Park), Orthogonius similarissp. n. (Phetchabun: Thung Salaeng Luang National Park; Loei: Phu Kradueng National Park), Orthogonius setosopalpigersp. n. (Phetchabun: Thung Salaeng Luang National Park), Orthogonius gracililamellasp. n. (Loei: Phu Kradueng National Park; Chaiyaphum: Tat Tone National Park), Orthogonius pseudochaudoirisp. n. (Phetchabum: Thung Salaeng Luang National Park; Nakhon Nayok: Khao Yai National Park), Orthogonius constrictussp. n. (Phetchabum: Thung Salaeng Luang National Park), Orthogonius pinophilussp. n. (Phetchabum: Thung Salaeng Luang National Park), Orthogonius varisp. n. (Cambodia: Siem Reap; Thailand: Ubon Ratchathani: Pha Taem National Park; Phetchabun: Thung Salaeng Luang National Park) and Orthogonius variabilissp. n. (Thailand: Phetchabun: Thung Salaeng Luang National Park; Nakhon Nayok: Khao Yai National Park; Phetchabun: Nam Nao National Park; China: Yunnan). In addition, Orthogonius mouhoti Chaudoir, 1871 and Orthogonius kirirom Tian & Deuve, 2008 are recorded in Thailand for the first time. In total, 30 species of Orthogonius have been recorded from Thailand, indicating that Thailand holds one of the richest Orthogonius faunas in the world. A provisional key to all Thai species is provided. A majority of Thai Orthogonius species are endemic. Among the ten national parks in which orthogonine beetles were collected, Thung Salaeng Luang holds the richest fauna, including 16 species.     

Book review

National Research Council. Dolphins and the Tuna Industry: A Report of the National Academy of Sciences on Reducing Dolphin Mortality from Tuna Fishing. 1992. Washington, DC: National Academy Press. 176 pp. ISBN 0–309–04735–8. $22.95.     

The dye-exclusion test for cell viability: Persistence of differential staining following fixation

Summary A method is described whereby the differential staining of viable and nonviable unfixed cells, as observed by the dye-exclusion method, can be reproduced in glutaraldehyde-fixed preparations by staining with alcian blue. The results suggest that the differential staining is due, at least in part, to structural differences that are retained following aldehyde fixation. This work was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute of Canada and the National Research Council of Canada. Recipient of a Research Studentship from the National Cancer Institute of Canada.     

The plight of Malawi's wildlife: is trans-location of animals the solution?

Poaching for wildlife in Malawi's national parks and wildlife reserveshas forced the Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) to resort totranslocating animals from Kasungu to Liwonde National Park. The rationale forthis action has been influenced by the perception that Liwonde National Park issafer from incursions by poachers than Kasungu National Park. An examination ofanthropogenic threats in terms of encroachment and illegal activities, however,suggests that this premise may have been misapplied. The higher human populationdensity neighbouring Liwonde compared with Kasungu National Park is a potentialthreat to the conservation of wildlife in the former. Furthermore, the magnitude ofillegal activities in Liwonde is not any different from that observed inKasungu. Therefore, it is questionable if translocation is the ultimate solutionto the plight of wildlife in Malawi. Two translocations have been undertaken todate, but both have been disastrous failures. We recommend that the DNPW shouldimprove in situ conservation of wildlife by curbingpoaching pressure and ensuring that communities neighbouring protected wildlifeareas are given sufficient incentives to support wildlife conservation.     

Histochemical identification of cultured cells from human endometrium

Summary Histochemical techniques have been applied to the identification of cell types cultured from human endometrium. Previous work from this laboratory characterized two principtal cell types found in cultures of endometrium: a mature epithelial cell and another cell which was classified as the endometrial stromal cell based on light and electron microscopy. In this report we compare the histochemical staining of endometrial tissue in frozen sections to that of cultured cells. These results confirm the epithelial and stromal nature of the respective cell types. Several markers were found that could distinguish between cells of epithelial and stromal origin. The enzymes alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyltranspeptidase, peroxidase, and β-glucuronidase were localized in glandular and surface epithelia in frozen sections and in colonies of epithelial cells in culture. Stroma in frozen sections and cultured stromal cells contained leucine aminopeptidase and fibronectin. Epithelial sections and in culture could also be distinguished from cells of stromal origin by preferential binding of lotus and peanut lectin. Several other markers were found in both endometrial epithelium and stroma. J. M. S. was recipient of National Research Service Award CA09156 (National Cancer Institute); K. G. N. was recipient of National Research Service Award ES07017 (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences); and D. G. K. was recipient of Research Career Development Award CA00431 from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD. Supported by Grant CA 31733 from the National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD.     

Drought mortality of bush elephants in Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe

African bush elephants inhabiting the undeveloped Kalahari Sands region of Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe are subject to episodic mortality during droughts. We monitored the drought‐related mortality of elephants in Hwange National Park over the course of an extended drought between 1993 and 1995. The drought‐related mortality of elephants was higher during 1994 than 1995, despite significantly higher rainfall in 1994 than 1995. We found significant differences in the age‐specific mortality of elephants during 1994 and 1995. The cumulative mortality profile from this study differed significantly from previous die‐offs at this site, with a higher mortality among adult age classes than that reported from earlier studies in Hwange National Park. The effective duration of the rainy season, not total annual precipitation, appears to be the best predictor for the potential severity of drought mortality among elephants in the Kalahari Sands habitats of Hwange National Park.     

Effect of colchicine on the fine structure of the neuromuscular junction

Summary Repeated injections of colchicine into the forearms of normal adult newts led to the disappearance of microtubules within some nerves and a concomitant loss of specialized morphological features at the neuromuscular junction. Within 2 weeks, the postsynaptic folds decreased in height and number, became flattened and eventually disappeared. In addition, nerve terminals in drug-treated animals became separated from the muscle surface and were highly congested with masses of synaptic vesicles. The present findings show that colchicine has an effect on the structural integrity of the neuromuscular junction. These effects could be direct; secondary to retraction of the nerve from the muscle surface; or the result of interference with the proper transport and/or release of neurotrophic substances.Supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (GB 20902) and from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (TIGM-00105) and the National Cancer Institute (TICA-05055), National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.     

Looking at the future through windows of opportunity

Thoughts and information contained in this paper result from work supported by grants from the National Institute on Aging (AG U01 9124) and the National institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke (R01 NS28784) awarded to SLW.     

National efforts to identify research issues related to prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs), including low back and upper extremity disorders, represent one of the greatest work-related health concerns facing industrialized nations. Recently, two national groups were charged with developing research agendas aimed at increasing our knowledge of the prevention of these disorders. The first agenda, developed by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health's (NIOSH) National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) MSD team, was based on input from several hundred practitioners and safety and health experts representing industry, labor, and academia. The second agenda, developed by the National Research Council (NRC) and the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) National Panel on Musculoskeletal Disorders and the Workplace, was based on input from leading researchers in the fields of medicine, information science, and ergonomics. This paper summarizes the findings of the two groups and compares the two research agendas.     

Spirit Capture: Photographs from the National Museum of the American Indian

Spirit Capture: Photographs from the National Museum of the American Indian. Tim Johnson. ed. Washington. DC. and London: Smithsonian Institution Press in association with the National Museum of the American Indian, 1998. 206 pp.     

Woven by the Grandmothers

Woven by the Grandmothers: Nineteenth-Century Navajo Textiles from the National Museum of the American Indian. The Heard Museum, Phoenix, Arizona, February 1-April 26,1998.
Woven by the Grandmothers: Nineteenth-Century Navajo Textiles from the National Museum of the American Indian. Eulalie H. Bonar. ed. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1996. 214 pp.     

广东省蛇类新纪录-双全白环蛇

2011年9～10月,分别在广东省乳源瑶族自治县南岭国家森林公园和始兴县车八岭国家级自然保护区采集到游蛇科(Colubridae)白环蛇属(Lycodon)标本3号,经鉴定为双全白环蛇(Lfasciatus),为广东省蛇类新纪录.     

Biomass dynamics of grassland vegetation in Kenya

Seasonal changes in plant biomass in the herb layer were measured at Nairobi National Park and Masai Mara Game Reserve in Kenya from January 1980 to February 1981. Plant biomass fluctuated in response to seasonal rainfall, and live biomass was correlated with rainfall and soil moisture at both locations. Peak values for live biomass at Nairobi National Park occurred at the end of the long rains during the June 1980 sample and ranged from 138 to 197gm^-2. Minimum values for live biomass at Nairobi occurred during a dry season in February 1981 and ranged from 8 to 39 g m^-2. The standing dead and litter compartments were larger than the live compartment during every sample period at Nairobi National Park, and together often comprised more than 80% of the total above-ground biomass. Probably as a result of higher rainfall, peak values for live biomass at Masai Mara Game Reserve were higher than those at Nairobi. Again, peak biomass occurred during June following the long rains, and ranged from 218 to 294 gm^-2. Minimum values for live biomass occurred during February 1981, and ranged from 10 to 48 g m^-2. Standing dead and litter compartments were much smaller than at Nairobi National Park, reflecting more intense herbivore pressure and a greater frequency of fires at Masai Mara compared with that at Nairobi National Park.     

中国三江源国家公园与韩国智异山国家公园的对比研究

自1967年智异山被认定为韩国首个国家公园以来,韩国以国家公园为主体的自然保护地体系建设已历经50余年。这期间韩国在国家公园的建设中积累了大量经验,十分值得我国借鉴。选取我国首个国家公园体制试点——三江源国家公园和韩国首个国家公园——智异山国家公园为研究对象,对二者的管理现状进行了定性分析,并运用基于最优实践的国家公园管理能力评价方法对二者的管理能力进行了定量评价。研究表明:三江源国家公园的管理能力综合得分低于智异山国家公园,在体制建设、保障机制、资源环境管理、社区管理和科普教育五个方面均与智异山国家公园存在一定差距;智异山国家公园在资源本底调查、法制建设、多方参与、环境教育和游憩管理方面的管理能力十分突出,为三江源国家公园管理能力的提升提供了有益借鉴;三江源国家公园在生态补偿和制度约束方面具有比较优势,但在自然资源权属、资源本底调查、社区组织建设和游憩管理方面则亟待提升。在此基础上,针对三江源国家公园建设提出了强化科研支撑、健全多方参与制度、推进全民福利共享三项建议,针对我国国家公园体制建设提出了制定《国家公园法》、设置自然保护地顶层规划两项建议,以期促进三江源国家公园管理能力提升、推动我国国家公园体制建设。     

Characterization of 20 microsatellite marker loci in the red‐bellied brown lemur (Eulemur rubriventer)

Twenty nuclear microsatellite loci were isolated from a genomic DNA library derived from a free‐ranging red‐bellied brown lemur (Eulemur rubriventer), from the Ranomafana National Park, Madagascar. Population genetic parameters were estimated as baseline values from samples collected from populations harboured in the Ranomafana and Andringitra National Parks. The marker suite will be used in a future study on the population dynamics of this species.