Flowering seasonality and flower characteristics ofLoranthus acaciae Zucc. (Loranthaceae): Implications for advertisement and bird-pollination

The flowering biology and pollination ecology ofLoranthus acaciae was studied at Hazeva in the northern Arava Valley in Israel. Flowers at anthesis had red anthers, a red stigma and a green corolla which turned red as a postfloral phenomenon. Their flowering period was approximately 10 months long (from mid-June until mid-April) during which time two main flowering patterns were distinguished. Some plants flowered twice a year, with separate summer and winter flowering periods; other plants flowered continuously, with two peaks, one in the summer and one in the winter. Several significant differences between summer and winter flowering and fruiting were found: (1) the summer flowering period was shorter than that of winter, (2) flowering synchrony between individual plants was lower in summer than in winter, (3) in summer the plants produced a larger proportion of female flowers, whereas in winter most of the plants produced a larger proportion of hermaphrodites, (4) in summer a limited number of plants produced smaller flowers while the majority produced normal-sized flowers, whereas in winter the entire population produced only normal-sized flowers, and (5) fruit set percentage was lower in summer than in winter.L. acaciae was found to be self-compatible, but, since it was not spontaneously self-pollinated, it showed high dependence on pollinator activity. In summer the flowers were visited by a wide spectrum of pollinators, both birds and insects, while in winter flowers were visited almost exclusively by the orange-tufted sunbird (Nectarinia osea osea, Nectariniidae). These seasonal changes in flowering characteristics and pollinator activity could explain why reproductive success is higher in winter than in summer.     

Acid-base equilibria of air-water monolayers ofN-hexadecyl-8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxamide

The surface pressure-area (-A) isotherms ofN-hexadecyl-8-hydroxy-2-quinolinecarboxamide (HHQ) monolayers at an air-water interface on subphases with different pH values were investigated. The monolayer of HHQ was expanded and unstable on acidic subphases, while it was condensed and stable on basic subphases. The acid-base equilibrium of HHQ was investigated in an aqueous dioxane solution and at the air-water interface. The association-dissociation of HHQ with H⁺ ions in the interfacial region was very different from that in the aqueous dioxane solution. Some information regarding the packing density, phase transition and degree of ionization of the head group under different experimental conditions has been obtained.     

20-羟基蜕皮酮对蓖麻蚕蛹体液免疫的调节作用(英)

本研究指出20—羟基蜕皮酮(20-OHE)参加蓖麻蚕蛹对大肠杆菌的体液免疫反应。20-OHE的作用方式是多方面的,包括提高血淋巴蛋白质含量,产生抗菌蛋白,增加溶菌酶活性,和激活原酚氧化酶系统。这表明多个免疫控制系统参与蓖麻蚕蛹体液免疫反应的可能性。     

新型气升式反应器在发酵培养中的应用研究

本文以Ｌ－苹果酸生产为例,采用新型的分段内循环气升式反应器分批培养产延胡索酸酶的产氨短杆菌ＭＡ－２,并与同等规模机械搅拌反应器中接着的结果相比较。数据表明,采用气升式发酵设备进行培养,该菌体的收率能提高近３％,且发酵周期能缩短一半左右,显著降低培养成本,该类型的反应器具有广阔的应用前景。     

马铃薯人工种子的研究

本研究以虎头（Ｈ）、克四（Ｋ）和Ｆａｖｏｒｉｔａ（Ｆ）三个品种的马铃薯不定芽在液体培养条件下诱导生成的微型薯为试材,经筛选后获得的大小一致的微型薯经过适度的低温处理后,用４％的海藻酸钠和２％的氯化钙溶液,在附加一定的植物激素条件下,进行人。种皮包埋形成人工种子。在无菌条件下,三个品种的人工种子萌发率均达９０％以上。在土壤中,人工种子萌发率可达６０％以上,萌发的人工种子中８０％能够形成生长发育正常的完整植株。     

REGULATORY ROLE OF 20-HYDROXYECDYSONE ON HUMORAL IMMUNITY IN THE PUPAE OF THE INDIAN SILKWORM,PHZLOSAMIA CYNTHIA RICINI*

Abstract The present study shows that 20-hydroxyecdysone(20-OHE) participates in the humoral immune responses of Philosamia Cynthia ricini, either normal or debrained pupae, to the E. coli. The mode of action of 20—-OHE is multiple. It raises hemolymph protein content, makes antibacterial proteins be produced, increases lysozyme activity, and activates prophenoloxidase system. It is possible that several immune control systems are involved.     

Response of hepatic function to hepatic copper deposition in rats fed a diet containing copper

Fischer rats were a fed diet supplied with copper chloride (150–600 ppm) for 60 d from weaning. Serum (glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (GPT) activities were increased with the increase of Cu concentration in the diet. Biliary excretion of Cu was related to the dietary Cu level. Depositions of hepatic and renal Cu were also related to the dietary Cu level in a dose-dependent manner. In particular, hepatic (155.2±13.3 μg/g) and renal (44.9±4.4 μg/g) Cu concentrations increased abruptly in the Cu-600 ppm group. In the liver, about 60% of Cu was distributed in the soluble fraction (100,000 g supernatant). In the Cu-600 ppm group, 25% of cystosolic Cu was bound to metallothionein (MT). Our results suggest that chronic exposure to Cu appears to have a deleterious effect on the hepatic function, and further, that even in rats with normal biliary Cu excretion, clearance of Cu from the liver may be marginal when dietary Cu is near the 600-ppm level. Although Cu is an essential nutrient, an overload of Cu should be avoided.     

Properties of monovalent nickel complexes with tetraaza-macrocyclic ligands in aqueous solutions

The effects of N-alkylation on the redox potential of the couples NiLⁱ²⁺/NiLⁱ⁺, L = tetraaza-14-membered-macrocyclic ligands, and on the properties of the monovalent nickel complexes in aqueous solutions are reported for 14 complexes. The spectra and lifetimes of the NiLⁱ⁺ complexes are reported. The self-exchange rates for the couples NiLⁱ²⁺/NiLⁱ⁺ were determined. Two of the ligands were synthesized for the first time for this study. Cyclic voltammetry and pulse radiolysis were used. The results point out that: (i) N-alkylation always shifts the redox potential to a less cathodic one; this effect stems to a large degree from the decrease in the solvation energy of the complex caused by the N-alkylation of the ligand. (ii). The lifetime of the monovalent complexes is not linearly related to the redox potential of the NiLⁱ²⁺/NiLⁱ⁺ couples. (iii) The NiLⁱ⁺ complexes exist in several isomeric forms; the rate of the isomerization depends on the structure of the ligand. (iv) Different isomers of NiLⁱ⁺ may be formed when the complex NiLⁱ²⁺ is reduced by different reagents; therefore, the pulse-radiolytically formed NiLⁱ⁺ complexes might have different properties than those formed electrochemically.     

Two New Species of Aphelenchoididae (Nemata) from Declining Red Pines in Maryland

Aphelenchoides resinosi n. sp. and Ektaphelenchus joyceae n. sp. are described and illustrated from red pines of the Allegheny plateau of Maryland, USA. The new species were found in trees infested with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Primary diagnostic characters of A. resinosi females are constriction of the head, basal stylet knobs, tong postuterine sac, two incisures in the lateral field, and conical tail four to five anal body widths long with a simple terminal mucro. Diagnostic characters of the males are two pairs of subventral caudal papillae and spicule shape: Primary diagnostic characters of E. joyceae females are a slight constriction of the head, six similar lips, conical tail, and short postuterine sac. Diagnostic characters of the males are spicule size and shape, a single row of spermatocytes, and one pair of caudal papillae. Within-tree distributions of A. resinosi and E. joyceae are presented. A total of 70% of both red-needled and chlorotic-needled trees in the study were positive for A. resinosi and E. joyceae. Branch hierarchy was related to the percentage of samples positive for A. resinosi.     

Biosynthesis of Leishmania lipophosphoglycan: solubilization and partial characterization of the initiating mannosyiphosphoryltransferase

Lipophosphoglycan (LPG) is the predominant surface glycoconjugateof Leishmania promastigotes and consists of a capped polymerof Gal(ß1,4)Man(