Levels of the upper forest boundary in northern Asia

On the Ural range the elevation of upper timberline changes at grade 71 m per degree of latitude in linear regression. Much lengthy cross-section—for the semi-arid regions of middle Siberia and adjacent Kazakhstan, and for the regions of eastern Siberia dominated by larch forests—exhibit parabolic regression of timberline levels upon geographic latitude. The longitudinal gradient of timberlines presumably depends on radiation balance related with the amount of precipitation. The arctic boundary of taiga in eastern Europe and Siberia lies mostly on average latitude 69° 36 E. It correlates with mean July temperature 11.2 °C, or with duration of the growing season 128 days with stable temperature of air exceeding 0°C which amounts to 876°. Daily temperatures exceeding 5° and especially 10 °C are seemingly less influential there. The value of 11.2 °C deviates by about 1 °C from the value of above 10 °C for three summer month reported by Langlet 1935, which shows the close environmental control regulating the northern and upper boundary of the northern, mostly coniferous forest on the northern hemisphere.     

Mitochondrial DNA sequence variation in the spruce budworm species complex (Choristoneura: Lepidoptera)

A combination of polymerase-chain-reaction amplification and automated DNA sequencing was used to survey variation in a species complex of pest insects, the spruce budworms (Choristoneura fumiferana species group), and an outgroup species, C. rosaceana. We sequenced an mtDNA region of 1,573 bp that extends from the middle of cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) through tRNA leucine (UUR) to the end of cytochrome oxidase subunit II. In addition, we examined levels of intraspecific variation within a 470-bp region of the COI gene. Choristoneura fumiferana clearly represented the oldest lineage within its species group, with 2.7%-2.9% sequence divergence from the other species. In contrast, the four remaining species (C. pinus, C. biennis, C. occidentalis, and C. orae) had closely related or identical mtDNA, with < 1% divergence among most of their haplotypes. Despite its older lineage and widespread geographic distribution, C. fumiferana showed significantly lower intraspecific genetic diversity than did C. occidentalis. Choristoneura orae shared haplotypes with C. occidentalis and C. biennis, and species-level separation of these three species was not supported. Two divergent, uncommon haplotypes were also found in C. occidentalis and C. biennis. The divergent haplotype in C. biennis had an unusually high number of inferred amino acid replacements, suggesting selective differences between mitochondrial DNA haplotypes. Transition:transversion ratios in Choristoneura paralleled those found in Drosophila; transition:transversion ratios were highest in closely related sequences but decreased with increasing sequence divergence. Nucleotide composition showed an A+T bias that was near the high end of the range known for insects. This work illustrates the potential utility of direct DNA sequencing in assessing population structures, species limits, and phylogenetic relationships among organisms that have not previously been subjected to DNA analysis.      

Occurrence of secretory structures in underground systems of seven Asteraceae species

In contrast with the abundance of anatomical studies of secretory structures on aerial vegetative organs of Asteraceae species, the information about secretory structures on thickened subterranean organs is sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of secretory structures on thickened and nonthickened subterranean organs of seven Asteraceae species from three tribes: Eupatorieae (Chromolaena squalida and Gyptis lanigera), Vernonieae (Chresta sphaerocephala, Lessingianthus bardanoides, L. glabratus and Orthopappus angustifolius), and Plucheeae (Pterocaulon angustifolium). The specimens were collected in areas of cerrado from the State of São Paulo, Brazil. All species of the tribe Vernonieae studied exhibited endodermic cells, other than the epithelial cells of the canal, with secretory activity in the roots. In C. sphaerocephala roots, two types of endodermic cell were found, but only one had secretory activity. Secretory canals were found in the tuberous and nontuberous roots of all studied species. These data agree with the results from the literature for Asteraceae species. Here, we describe for the first time in Asteraceae the presence of secretory idioblasts in C. sphaerocephala. Secretory trichomes are present in the Orthopappus angustifolius rhizophore. Histochemical tests have shown that all types of secretory structure possess substances containing lipids. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 789–796.     

On the identity of turmeric: the typification of Curcuma longa L. (Zingiberaceae)

Although Curcuma L. (Zingiberaceae) is a conserved name, with C. longa L. as its conserved type, the type of C. longa is still uncertain. Numerous discussions about the identity of the taxon called C. longa by Linnaeus have been followed by various attempts to rename turmeric, suggestions as how to settle the type and proposals to conserve the name from a later author in order to stabilize the situation. Unfortunately, none of the previous proposals can be upheld for reasons which are discussed in this article. A lectotype is selected from extant material examined by Linnaeus and an epitype collected near the type locality is designated here. The identity of C. longa is discussed and a colour plate of the species is included. Synonyms of C. longa and their types are discussed and notes on the variability of C. longa are provided.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 157 , 37–46.     

Organ specificity in nitric oxide storage in the blood vessel walls during adaptation to hypoxia

Addition of N-acetylcysteine induced relaxation of the coronary and basilar arteries thus indicating some basilar NO-stores in these vessels. The maximum capacity of the NO-stores was similar in the coronary and the basilar arteries. Following adaptation to hypoxia, however, the depot was much greater in the coronary artery wall. This seems to be connected with different degree of participation of the NO-dependent vasodiatation in implementation of the adaptive response to hypoxia in coronary and cerebral vascular systems.     

台湾常绿阔叶林主要类型及其与大陆常绿阔叶林的关系

 文中采用“常绿阔叶林”的广义概念,系指分布在热带以外、由常绿阔叶乔木组成林冠的森林植被类型。台湾和中国大陆东南部是常绿阔叶林分布中心。根据群落外貌结构以及生境特征将台湾常绿阔叶林分为3个亚类：1）亚热带适雨常绿阔叶林,2）亚热带季节常绿阔叶林,3）山地常绿阔     

Effects of MEK inhibitor U0126 on meiotic progression in mouse oocytes： microtuble organization, asymmetric division and metaphase Ⅱ arrest

In this study we used U0126, a potent and specific inhibitor of MEK, to study the roles of MEK/ERK/p90~(rsk) signaling pathway in the meiotic cell cycle of mouse oocytes. The phosphorylation of MAP kinase and p90~(rsk) in the oocytes treated with 1.5 μM U0126 was the same as that in oocytes cultured in drug-free medium. With 1.5 μM U0126 treatment, the spindles appeared normal as they formed in oocytes, but failed to maintain its structure. Instead, the spindle lost one pole or elongated extraordinarily. After further culture, some oocytes extruded gigantic polar bodies (>30 μm) that later divided into two small ones. Some oocytes underwent symmetric division and produced two equal-size daughter cells in which normal spindles formed. In oocytes with different division patterns, MAP kinase was normally phosphorylated. When the concentration of U0126 was increased to 15 mM, the phosphorylation of both MAPK and p90~(rsk) were inhibited, while symmetric division was decreased. When incubating in medium c