Reviews of publications

Book reviewed in this article:
Grass Evolution and Domestication: G.P.Chapman
Atlas of the Bryophytes of Britain and Ireland: M.O.Hill, C.D.Preston and A. J.E.Smith
Anatomy of Flowering Plants, An Introduction to Structure and Development, 2nd Ed.: P.Rudall
The Family Rosaceae in India (Revisionary Studies on Some Genera).Vol. I: K.M.Purohit and G.Panigrahi     

From Turbans to Inverted Triangles: South Asian Social Anthropology

Human Fertility in India: Social Components and Policy Perspectives. David G. Mandelbaum .
Robber Noblement: A Study of the Political System of the Sikh Jats. Joyce Pettigrew .
Girl Students in Jaipur: A Study in Attitudes Towards Family Life, Marriage, and Career. Cora Vreede-de Stuers .
Kinship and Urbanization: White Collar Migrants in North India. Sylvia Vatuk .
The Transformation of Sikh Society. Ethne K. Marenco .     

Continuity and Change in Modern India

A Caste in a Changing World: The Chitrapur Saraswat Brahmans, 1700–1935 . Frank F. Conlon. Sponsored by the Center for South and Southeast Asia Studies. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1977. xv + 255 pp. $15.00 (cloth).
Shanti Nagar: The Effects of Urbanization in a Village in North India. Vol. 1: Social Organization . Stanley A. Freed and Ruth S. Freed. Anthropological Papers, 53, Part 1. New York: The American Museum of Natural History, 1976. 254 pp. $13.85 (paper).
Family and Social Change in Modern India . Giri Raj Gupta , ed. Main Currents in Indian Sociology, 2. Durham, N.C.: Carolina Academic Press, 1976. xxxiv + 263 pp. n.p. (cloth).
Caste, Class and Democracy: Changes in a Stratification System . Vijai P. Singh. Cambridge, Mass.: Schenkman, 1976. viii + 158 pp. $12.50 (cloth), $5.95 (paper).
Dimensions of Social Change in India . M. N. Srinivas, S. Seshaiah , and V. S. Parthasarathy , eds. New Delhi: Allied Publishers Private, 1977. xiii + 518 pp. Rs 60.00 (cloth).     

BOOK REVIEWS

Book Review in This Article:
The Endorphins Advances in Biochemical Psychopharmacology, Vol. 18 (Editors E. C osta & M. T rabucchi )
Structure and Function of Cells by C. R. H opkins
Mechanisms, Regulation and Special Functions of Protein Synthesis in the Brain (Editors S. R oberts , A. L ajtha & W. H. G ispen )
Progress in Neurobiology (Editors G. A. K erkut & J. W. P hillis )     

Book Reviews

Book Review in this Article.
Cerebral Energy Metabolism and Metabolic Encephalopathy D. W. McCandless.
Microcomputers in the Neurosciences edited by G. Kerkut.
Myelin edited by P. Morell.
The Enzymes of Biological Membranes, Vol. 1. Membrane Structure and Dynamics (2nd edition) edited by A. N. Martonosi.     

Family 18 chitolectins: comparison of MGP40 and HUMGP39

Glycosidase and lectins both bind sugars, but only the glycosidases have catalytic activity. The glycosidases occur among over 100 evolved protein families and Family 18 is one of the two chitinases (EC 3, 2.1.14) families. Interestingly, lectins are also in this evolutionary group of Family 18 glycosidase proteins. The proteins belonging to the enzymatically inactive class are referred to as chitolectins and have a binding site that is highly similar to the catalytic Family 18 enzymes. We present a comparison of the recently obtained structures of two Family 18 chitolectins, MGP40 [A.K. Mohanty, G. Singh, M. Paramasivam, K. Saravanan, T. Jabeen, S. Sharma, S. Yadav, P. Kaur, P. Kumar, A. Srinivasan, T.P. Singh, Crystal structure of a novel regulatory 40kDa mammary gland protein (MGP-40) secreted during involution, J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 14451-14460.] and HumGP39 [F. Fusetti, T. Pijning, K.H. Kalk, E. Bos, B.W. Dijkstra, Crystal structure and carbohydrate-binding properties of the human cartilage glycoprotein-39, J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 37753-37760; D.R. Houston, D.R. Anneliese, C.K. Joanne, D.M.V. Aalten, Structure and ligand-induced conformational change of the 39kDa glycoprotein from human articular chondrocytes, J. Biol. Chem. 278 (2003) 30206-30212.] with a focus on the glycosidase active site. We compare the sequence and the structure of these two Family 18 protein classes. The difference between the active and inactive protein is a glutamic acid which acts as the essential acid/base residue for chitin cleavage and is replaced with leucine or glutamine in the chitolectins. Furthermore, a mechanism for the interaction between the chitolectin and oligosaccharides was proposed.     

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soil around Mathura oil refinery,India

Six polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [naphthalene, anthracene, phenanthrene, pyrene, chrysene and benzo(a)-pyrene] were detected in soil receiving effluents from an oil refinery. Biodegradation studies revealed a time-dependent disappearance of these polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons when they were added to soil samples: naphthalene disappeared completely in 60 days, whereas phenanthrene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene and benzo(a)pyrene decreased by 87%, 34%, 21%, 5% and 40%, respectively, in 120 days.B.T. Ashok and J. Musarrat were and S. Saxena is with the Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, A.M.U., Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh, India. K.P. Singh is with the Environmental Chemistry Section, Industrial Toxicology Research Centre, M.G. Road, Lucknow-226001, Uttar Pradesh, India. B.T. Ashok is now with the Department of Biochemistry, J.N. Medical College, A.M.U., Aligarh-202002, Uttar Pradesh, India. J. Musarrat is now with the Department of Radiology and Blochemistry Program. The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.     

Reviews of publications

Book reviewed in this article:
The Nigerian Field: Index to volumes 1–50 (1931–1985).
Fruits of South-east Asia, by Jacqueline Piper.
Grain Legumes–Evolution and Genetic Resources, by J. Smartt.
Plant Population Genetics, Breeding, and Genetic Resources, edited by A. H. D. Brown, M. T. Clegg, A. L. Kahler and B. S. Weir.
Evolution, Systematics and Fossil History of the Hamamelidae.
The Systematics Association Special Volumes 40 A&B.
Plant pheno-morphological studies in Mediterranean type ecosystems, edited by Gideon Orshan.
Molecular and Genetic Aspects of Nitrate Assimilation, edited by J. L. Wray & J. R. Kinghorn
Species dispersal in agricultural habitats, edited by R. G. H. Bunce & D. C. Howard.
Flora Iberica: plantas vasculares de la Peninsula Iberica e Islas Baleares, Vol. 2: Platanaceae–Plumbaginaceae (partim), edited by S. Castroviejo, M. Lainz, G. Lopez Gonzalez et al.     

Recognition of immunologically important antigens in Bacteroides fragilis infection —an experimental study in mice

When the outer membrane proteins (OMP) of Bacteroides fragilis ATCC 23745 grown under seven different culture conditions were analysed by SDS-PAGE, five of the seven preparations showed similar protein profiles. When the three different OMP preparations were subsequently analysed by Western blotting, that from B. fragilis grown in brain heart infusion broth supplemented with haemin and menadione alone showed more immunodominant bands than those grown with additional cholesterol and methionine or cholesterol and cysteine. Only the former showed immunodominant proteins around 45.6 kDa and 66.2 kDa throughout the course of infection in mice. A protein corresponding to 97.4 kDa was found under all culture conditions. The results emphasise the importance of culture conditions in the expression of immunologically reactive antigens and also the possible use of such antigens in the serodiagnosis of B. fragilis infection.T. Khanna is and D. Panigrahi was with the Department of Medical Microbiology and N.K. Ganguly and S. Majumdar are with the Department of Experimental Medicine, at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. D. Panigrahi is now with Kuwait University, Faculty of Alled Health Science, P.O. Box 31470 Sulaibikhat, 90805, Kuwait     

中国蜘蛛研究中的几点建议

1 中国蜘蛛研究中问题的提出 中国蜘蛛的系统分类研究近年飞速发展,现已描记56科2100多种(Chen,Liand Wu,1996),但中国蜘蛛的研究同其它类群的生物一样,仍仅限于地区性的普查及新种的描述,综合性的修订工作却因为种种原因(如模式标本不能互相借阅等)而很难开展。近20年来,国际上各研究机构之间互相借阅标本已成常规,最有价值的系统分类研究也被普遍认为是对某一类群的修订工作。对没有经过任何修订的类群进行新种描述,往往会导致更多的同物异名(Coddington and Levi,1991)。新近出版的几本蜘蛛志(Song     

The phylogeny of the Rosaceae

KALKMAN, C., 1988. The phylogemy of the Rosaceae. A phylogenetic (cladistic) analysis of Rosaceae (excluding Chrysobalanaceae and Neuradaceae) is presented, based on the postulated direction of evolution in 14 morphological characters. Tribes or smaller groups, considered to be holophyletic, are taken as operational units. Three possible cladograms, made by hand, are presented and discussed. One of them is, within the limits of the method, selected as the most plausible image of real history, but this cladogram is not fully resolved and contains much homoplasy. Also presented is a fourth cladogram, produced by computer (CAFCA program); it is of about the same quality.
It is not justified to base drastic alterations in current classification on the weak phylogenetic hypothesis. For the time being it seems better not to recognize any subfamilies, but only a number of tribes.
It is hypothesized that the family originated in West Gondwana. A diagram is presented in which the most plausible cladogram is combined with the present distribution, clarifying the postulated routes of migration.
The sistergroup of Rosaceae is far from evident. The Cunoniaceae are considered to be the most plausible choice.     

Role of membrane potential in ammonium inhibition of nitrogenase activity in the cultured cyanobiont Nostoc ANTH

Ammonium at 5mM completely inhibited nitrogenase activity of Nostoc ANTH but only slightly inhibited the membrane potential, indicating that these two events are independent and that nitrogenase activity is not regulated by the latter.B.B. Singh and P.S. Bisen are with the Department of Microbiology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal-462026, India; S. Singh was with the Department of Microbiology, Barkatullah University, Bhopal, India; he is now with the Department of Microbiology, North Maharastra University, Jalgaom-425001, India.     

Rubus vestervicensis (Rosaceae) — its hybrid origin revealed by DNA fingerprinting

Kraft, T., Nybom, H. & Werlemark, G. 199.5. Rubus vestervicensis (Rosaceae) — its hybrid origin revealed by DNA fingerprinting. — Nord. 3. Bot. 1.5: 237–242. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107-055X.
The large number of species in Rubus subgenus Rubus are thought to have arisen, at least in part, through hybridiation between facultatively apomictic species. R. vestervicensis is known only from a small island off the Swedish east coast. It has been suggested that it is a hybrid between R. grabowskii and R. pedemontanus . We have compared these species with DNA fingerprinting and our results support the hybridization hypothesis. All bands found in the fingerprint of R. grabowskii and about half of the bands found in R. pedemontanus were present in R. vestervicensis , suggesting that the latter species was derived from fertilization of an unreduced R. grabowskii egg cell with R. pedemontanus pollen.     

A new species of Aprostocetus Westwood (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), parasitizing mango leaf gall midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), from India

A new species of Aprostocetus doonensis Singh sp. nov. is described from northern India. The new species is a parasitoid of mango leaf gall midge, Procontarinia mangiferae (Felt) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Some observations on biology and parasitization rate are also given.     

Reviews of publications

The Diatoms–Biology and Morpology of the Genera, by F. E. Round, R. M. Crawford and D. G. Mann.
The Control of Eutrophication of Lakes and Reservoirs, edited by S.-O. Ryding and W. Rast.
An Amazonian Rain Forest, edited by C. F. Jordan. Vol. 2 in Man and the Biosphere Series. Carnforth, Lanes., U.K.
Exploiting the Tropical Rain Forest, edited by D. Lamb, Vol. 3 in Man and the Biosphere Series. Carnforth, Lanes
Biological Control of Microbial Plant Pathogens, by R. Campbell. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Aquatic Plant Book, by C. D. K. Cook. The Hague, The Netherlands: SPB Academic Publishing     

REVIEWS

Book reviewed in this article:
Histological Technique. H. M. C arleton and R. A. B. D rury
Radioisotopes in Scientific Research. Vol. iv. Research with Isotopes in Plant Biology and Some General Problems. R. C. Extermann.
Chemical Aspects of Ecology in Relation to Agriculture. H ubert M artin .
Methods of Testing Chemicals on Insects. H. H. S hepard .
Beneficial Insects. B. D. M oreton .
The Grafter's Handbook (2nd edition). R. J. G arner .
Common Names of British Insect and other Pests. Compiled by I. T homas and H. W. J anson .     

REVIEWS

Books Review in this article:
The Diseases and Curing of Cacao. By H. R. B riton -J ones .
A Flower Book for the Pocket. By M algkegor S kene .
The Structure and Reproduction of the Algae. Vol. 1 By E. F kitsch , D. Sc, F.R.S.
International Rules of Botanical Nomenclature. 3rd ed.
Chronica Botanica. Vol. 1. Ed. by F.V erdoorn .     

Book Review

Book Review in this articles:
The Biology of Diatoms (1977). Botanical Monographs, Vol. 13. Edited by D. Werner.     

From Hindu Kush to Sri Lanka and the State of the Art

The Hill of Flutes: Life, Love and Poetry in Tribal India. W. G. Archer . Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1974.
Structural Approaches to South India Studies. Harry M. Buck and Glenn E. Yocum , eds. Chambersburg, Pennsylvania: Wilson Books, 1974.
Faction and Conversion in a Plural Society: Religious Alignments in the Hindu Kush. Robert Leroy Canfield . Anthropological Papers, Museum of Anthropology, University of Michigan No. 50. 1973.
Elite Politics in Rural India: Political Stratification and Alliances in Western Maharashtra. Anthony Carter . Cambridge Studies in Social Anthropology, 9. London: Cambridge University Press, 1974.
The Myth of the Lokamanya: Tilak and Mass Politics in Maharashtra. Richard I. Cashman . Berkeley: University of California Press, 1975.