Efficacy of African weaver ant,Oecophylla longinoda (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in reducing losses due to frugivorous fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in smallholder mango production systems in Eastern Tanzania

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are dipteran insects that cause high losses of fruits and vegetables in the tropical and subtropical regions of the world. As quarantine pests, fruit flies affect export markets because trade regulations hamper export of fruits from areas with occurrence of fruit flies. We compared the effectiveness of Oecophylla longinoda with the insecticide; imidacloprid for the control of Bactrocera dorsalis in a 6-year-old orchard of mango cultivar ‘Apple’. Mango samples at different developmental stages were collected between September and November in 2012 and between November 2013 and January 2014 at a three-week interval between sampling dates. Every fruit was cultured in a separate individual plastic container containing approximately 500?g sieved sterilised sand. Three weeks later, larvae and pupae were sieved from sand and counted. In both years, significantly higher (P?<?.0001) incidences and infestation rates were recorded in the control plots when compared to the trees protected with insecticides and O. longinoda. Incidences and infestation rates did not differ significantly (P?>?.05) between insecticide and weaver ants protected fruits, implying that O. longinoda was as effective as imidacloprid in suppressing the population of fruit flies. Peak fruit fly incidences and infestation rates coincided with the ripening stage of mango fruits. Our results have shown that the incidences and infestation rates on incubated mango fruits were lowest in the O. longinoda and the imidacloprid protected trees. Thus, O. longinoda is an effective bio-control agent that could be exploited to serve as a vital Integrated Pest Management component on mango orchards.     

新疆天山西部山脉森林生态系统地衣群落结构的初步研究

 根据多年的研究资料并采用聚类分析方法对分布在天山西部山脉的地衣群落结构进行了研究。结果表明,分布在该地区的地衣种类形成了6种群落:1) 土星猫耳衣（Leptogium saturninum)＋矮石蕊(Cladonia humilis)＋兰灰蜈蚣衣（Physcia caesia）群落;2）黑穗石蕊（Cladonia amaurocr     

Correlation of -475 IL-2 Promoter Gene Polymorphisms and the Levels of Serum IL-2 on the Risk of Multiple Sclerosis

Background:The aim of present study is to asset the IL-2 promoter gene (SNP -475) as a candidate gene for multiple sclerosis (MS) susceptibility.Methods:This study included 70 patients with relapsing – remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and 50 healthy controls. Following the extraction of genomic DNA from peripheral blood, frequency of genotypes and alleles of SNP -475 was calculated using Restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymer chain reaction (RFLP-PCR) and then the results were analyzed statistically.Results:The results revealed the unusual ratio for the heterozygous (AT) was 1.6972 indicating that heterozygous patients were at higher risk of multiple sclerosis than wild homozygous (AA), and homomutant (TT). The results show protective role for - 475 IL-2 promoter among individuals with multiple sclerosis, (O.R: 0.4872; C.I. 95%: 0.1617- 1.4680) and (O.R: 0.9275; C.I. 95%: 0.2476 - 3.4745) for both AA and TT genotypes, respectively.Conclusion:Our results showed that in this population of Iraqi patients, the AT genotype / A allele of -475 IL-2 promoter gene SNP may include attributed factors for MS predisposition.Key Words: IL-2, Multiple sclerosis, PCR-RFLP SNP     

绵羊发情周期不同组织Cry1mRNA 转录水平相对定量研究

研究表明,时钟基因Cry1在哺乳动物季节性繁殖内分泌过程中可能发挥了重要作用。文章以多浪羊(非季节性繁殖)和中国美利奴羊(季节性繁殖)为研究对象,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术对下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴主要组织Cry1在发情周期不同阶段的表达变化情况进行了跟踪检测。结果表明:绵羊Cry1在所检测组织中均有表达,其中松果体和甲状腺Cry1的表达水平较高;不同绵羊品种Cry1在发情周期不同阶段的组织表达谱基本一致,除下丘脑外,卵巢、子宫、松果体、垂体和甲状腺中Cry1的表达水平均是在发情前期达到峰值;卵巢、子宫、垂体和松果体Cry1在发情前期和发情期的表达变化幅度存在显著的品种间差异。研究结果表明:Cry1可能具有启动发情和季节性繁殖的重要作用。     

乌鲁木齐南部山区朽木生地衣群落特征的初步研究

应用聚类分析方法对分布在乌鲁木齐南部山区森林生态系统中朽木生地衣群落进行了数量分类并对群落结构、物种多样性、相似性和均匀度等群落参数进行了比较系统的研究。结果表明,乌鲁木齐南部山区的朽木生地衣共计40种,隶属于6目12科和20属,朽木生地衣形成4种群落：（1）枪石蕊＋喇叭石蕊群落;（2）亚花松萝＋茸刺褐梅＋优果小网衣群落;（3）犬地卷＋分指地卷＋裂芽地卷群落;（4）柳茶渍＋土星猫耳衣＋粉石蕊群落。群落3和群落4的相似性比较高为0.768,次为群落2和群落3的相似性为0.647;群落2的多样性最大为1.957,群落4的多样性最小为1.365。同时发现在乌鲁木齐南部山区森林生态系统中朽木生地衣群落的分布与海拔高度和朽木的种类有密切的关系,不同海拔的不同类型的森林生态系统中分布着不同种类的朽木生地衣植物。     

鹞落坪自然保护区地面生地衣多样性及群落数量特征

在鹞落坪保护区设置样方,调查样方内地面生地衣种类和生境指标,探讨森林地面生地衣的分布模式和群落特征。对地衣群落进行了因子分析和排序;应用2×2联表的Fisher精确检验和Spearman秩相关系数进行了种间关联分析。因子分析表明随海拔上升,种类趋于减少,优势种的数目和盖度之间存在显著的正相关（P=0.034）,样方湿度和样方生境类型存在极其显著的正相关（P=0.001）。根据组平均分析结果并综合生境特征,将保护区地面生地衣划分为5个群丛类型。Fisher精确检验表明仙人掌绵腹衣Anzia opuntiella与红心黑蜈蚣衣Phaeophyscia erythrocardia等10个种对呈极显著正相关,4个种对呈显著正相关,无显著负相关种对出现。各个地衣种之间的竞争很小。     

荒漠化地区生物结皮的研究进展

防沙、治沙和固沙一直以来是荒漠化生态环境建设的热点问题。作者从生物结皮对荒漠化地区生态环境的影响,以及在生态系统演替中起到的重要作用等方面进行了综述,指出了地衣在生物结皮中所占有的重要地位,展望了生物结皮研究与应用的前景。     

RPB2序列的贝叶斯分析估计梅衣科部分谱系分化时间

以树发属(Alectoria)化石为校正点,使用RPB2序列和BEAST分析方法估计梅衣科部分类群的分化时间。梅衣科地衣部分谱系的分化发生在白垩纪、古新世到始新世和渐新世;主要属内辐射则发生在晚始新世、早渐新世,并延续到中新世和上新世早期。估计的主要谱系分化时间与古气候条件及古地质区域分支图相呼应。     

Intensive hemodialysis and hemoperfusion treatment of Amanita mushroom poisoning

Over a period of fifteen years, 41 patients including 23 males and 18 females with Amanita mushroom poisoning were treated at the University Hospital of Lund, Sweden. The intensity of poisoning was graded according to serum transaminase elevations and prothrombin time reductions. Severity was mild in 16 patients (Group A), moderate in 14 (Group B) and severe in 11 (Group C). Members of Group C reported shorter latency periods before the onset of symptoms, (10±1 hours,p<0.05) and longer delays in treatment, (34±4 hours), than did the other patients. Intensive treatment was begun before the results of urine amatoxin assays were reported. Treatment consisted of: fluid and electrolyte replacement, oral activated charcoal and lactulose, IV penicillin, combined hemodialysis and hemoperfusion in two 8 hour sessions, some received IV thioctic acid, others IV silibinin, all received a special diet. This combination of treatment modalities was used to accelerate the elimination of amatoxin from the patients' bodies. The longest period of hospitalization, 13±2 days, was required by the patients of Group C (p<0.01). All patients improved and were discharged from the hospital asymptomatic. No sequelae were later reported for the majority of those moderately and severely poisoned. We have concluded that intensive combined treatment applied in these cases is effective in relieving patients with both moderate and severe amanitin poisoning.