Withdrawn food rate for larvae of Siberian moth on conifers of Siberia

Experimental evaluation of the mass of food withdrawn by larvae of the Siberian moth during their development on larch, cedar pine, fir, spruce, and common pine was carried out. The obtained dependences between the masses of larvae and food withdrawn by them can be directly used to determine the withdrawn food rate of Siberian moth on each of the Siberian conifer species.     

Tumulduria incomperta and the case for Tommotian trilobites

The enigmatic fossil Tumulduria incomperta Missanhevsky 1969 from the basal Tommotian Stage at 'Dvortsy' on the Aldan River, Siberian Platform, is reinvestigated in light of the report (Fedorov et al. 1979, Dokl. AN SSSR 249) of trilobite remains from the same beds. Comparisons of these supposed trilobites with old and new collections from 'Dvortsy' leave no doubt that they are identical to Tumulduria incomperta. Tumulduria is represented by phosphatic plates with a crude bilateral symmetry, consisting of a central longitudinal rounded ridge flanked by flat lateral portions. They are built of growth lamellae overlapping each other along the axis of symmetry. The surface carries prominent transverse folds and lamellar terminations. There is considerable morphological variation, and the similarity of some specimens to trilobites is only superficial. Tumulduria is interpreted as a bilaterally symmetrical metazoan with a dorsal protective plate; it probably represents a short-lived group that left no descendants.     

Microatoll microbialites of Lake Clifton,Western Australia: Morphological analogues ofCryptozoön proliferum Hall,the first formally-named stromatolite

Summary The Linnaean nameCryptozo?n proliferum Hall was proposed in 1883 for a previously undescribed life-form preserved in spectacular exposures of Cambrian limestones in New York State, USA. It is now recognised that these are exposures of stromatolitic microbialites, laminated organosedimentary structures formed from interaction between a benthic microbial community (BMC) and the environment. Microbialites are neither fossil organisms nor trace fossils. These complex structures are the products of dissipative, self-organising systems involving a BMC, the external environment and the accreting microbialite. Functionally analogous BMCs of different species compositions may build similar structures in similar environments in quite separate periods. The type exposures ofCryptozo?n proliferum show objects composed of complex, concentric rings, up to a metre in diameter, that have grown laterally without any restriction other than that provided by neighbouring structures. They are not the relicts of domes truncated by penecontemporaneous erosion or Pleistocene glaciation, but depositional forms in which upward growth was restricted. Analogous modern structures occur on a reef platform along the north east shore of hyposaline Lake Clifton, Western Australia. These are tabular thrombolitic microbialites that vary lakeward across the reef platform from low, compound structures to discrete, concentric structures up to 50 cm high. The Lake Clifton forms are, in turn, morphological analogues of microatolls found on coral reef platforms. Coral microatolls are coral colonies with flat, dead tops and living perimeters in which upward growth is constrained by the sea surface. In shallow water they form circular rims of laterally growing coral around a dead centre. In deeper water they form coral heads that develop flat tops on reaching sea level. It is concluded that both the tabular microbialites of Lake Clifton and the type exposures ofCryptozo?n proliferum are analogous to coral microatolls in both form and origin-structures that have been able to grow laterally, but in which upward growth is restricted by subaerial exposure. Similar microatoll microbialites have been described from other modern environments, including Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA and Stocking Island, Exuma Cays, Bahamas. Ancient examples may include some of the “tufa” deposits of the Basal Purbeck Formation in Dorset, UK, as well as the coalesced domal bioherms of the Upper Cambrian Arrinthrunga Formation of the Georgina Basin, Central Australia, and the “washbowl” structures described from the B?tsfjord Formation of the Varanger Peninsula, north Norway. Progress towards a reliable interpretation of ancient microbialites depends on an understanding of modern environments in which analogous structures are forming. This study of microatolls has demonstrated that other sessile life forms may create colonial ecomorphs that, used cautiously, can serve as analogues for understanding the factors controlling the growth and form of microbialites. The surprising lack of pre-Pleistocene examples of microatolls recorded to date has simply been due to their lack of recognition in the geological record. They occur in sequences from the Proterozoic onwards, and provide powerful environmental indicators of ancient reef platforms on which biological growth was adjusted to contemporary sea level.     

关于石片台面的分类

本文分析了中国旧石器时代常见的石片台面的主要类型,提出两种世人不太注意的类型:有疤台面和刃状台面。     

Siberian species of the riihimakiensis-group in the genusChironomus (Diptera,Chironomidae). 1. Karyotypes and morphology

Karyotypes and morphology of three species with close relations toC. riihimakiensis Wülker 1971 are described from material of Tuva and Altai in Siberia. Only one of them could be reared to the male adult and was namedC. tuvanicus n.sp.     

救护白鹤与野生白鹤迁徙路线和活动规律差异分析

受伤和体弱白鹤的救护及放归是白鹤保护的重要方式之一。2014—2016年间,先后对8只救护白鹤和2只野生白鹤进行环志并安装卫星跟踪器,根据所获得的卫星跟踪数据来分析比较救护白鹤与野生白鹤在秋季迁徙路线和在重要中途停歇地的最大日活动距离、活动区分布和面积、生境类型等方面的异同。结果显示,救护白鹤放归当年与放归次年以及救护白鹤放归当年与野生白鹤的秋季迁徙路线和活动规律之间存在明显差异,但救护白鹤放归次年与野生白鹤之间差异不明显。(1)放归当年,4只救护白鹤在农田和水塘停歇1个月左右,停歇时长明显高于野生白鹤和放归次年的救护白鹤。(2)救护白鹤放归当年在跨海方式、登陆地点、停歇地点以及登陆后的迁徙方向上表现出多样性和不确定性,其中部分个体在迁徙过程中有停顿徘徊、迷失迁徙方向的现象,且跨越渤海和大别山的距离大于放归次年的救护白鹤和野生白鹤。(3)救护白鹤放归后4天内每日最大活动距离小,而后高低分化明显,无明显规律,而救护白鹤放归次年的每日最大活动距离规律变化与野生白鹤较一致。(4)与救护白鹤放归次年以及野生白鹤的活动规律相比,救护白鹤放归当年的栖息地位点变化频繁,具体表现为生境类型选择的多样化,且无明显规律,同时活动区面积较小。探索救护白鹤放归野外后与野生白鹤迁徙路线和活动规律的差异,对救护白鹤的科学放归具有指导意义。     

Sex identification of morphologically-undifferentiated Siberian sturgeon with statistical analysis of gene expression patterns

The purpose of this study was to detail a simple strategy for sexing morphologically-undifferentiated fish using statistical analysis of gene expression patterns characterized by quantitative PCR. This approach is especially relevant for species without known genomic sex markers. The method was developed for early identification of female Siberian sturgeon as part of a genomics study. That study documented activation of the enzyme 17ß-hydroxy-steroid-dehydrogenase (hsd17b1) in future ovarian tissue at 3 months of age, concurrent with a small forkhead box L2 (foxl2) peak and emerging cytochrome P450, family 19, subfamily A (cyp19a1) expression. Major cyp19a1 and foxl2 peaks occurred in presumptive female gonads at 5–6 months. This pattern suggested a genetic relay mediating estrogen production throughout differentiation, possibly to maintain gonadal femininity. Genes involved in stem cell proliferation (lim homeobox 2 (lhx2)) and somatic-germ cell interaction maintenance (iroquois homeobox 5 (irx5) and iroquois homeobox 3 (irx3)) were also expressed during molecular differentiation, at 5–6 months. The roles of lhx2, irx3, and irx5 in fish sex differentiation should be confirmed using other methodologies. These results indicate that estrogens are crucial for ovarian differentiation in basal non-teleost fish, consistent with well-established patterns in teleosts, with hsd17b1 as one of the earliest biomarkers of gonadal development.     

Single-chain antibody fragments: Purification methodologies

At present, single-chain variable fragments (scFv) of antibodies are considered one of the most important tools in human therapies. Wide applications of antibodies are being exploited in different medical, pharmaceutical and research areas. These molecules maintain the same binding functionality that full length antibodies but possess several advantageous features as quickness to penetrate the tissues, easy manipulation, fast elimination of their immunocomplex and the possibility of being produced in simple expression systems like bacteria and yeast. The increasing demand in antibody based methodologies is driving advances in the production and purification of genetically engineered antibodies and antibody fragments. While advances in expression systems allow the production of high titers of antibodies, there exist some limits imposed by the downstream methodologies which are not efficient enough to ensure their industrialization.The main aim of this review is to highlight the principal characteristics of single-chain variable fragments of antibodies addressing advances and perspectives on scFv purification.     

莫莫格自然保护区白鹤秋季迁徙停歇期觅食生境选择

2008年秋季(10月8日—20日)及2009年秋季(9月20日—10月16日),通过样方法对觅食生境11个生态因子进行调查,利用卡方检验、资源选择指数和资源选择函数在莫莫格保护区对秋季迁徙停歇期白鹤觅食生境选择进行研究。结果表明,白鹤对距人为干扰源距离、植被密度、盖度、高度、植物性食物密度以及水深均具有选择性,但对宏观尺度干扰因子的选择性较低。其偏好觅食生境的特点为:距一级路>5000m,>二级路1500m以上,>三级路1000m以上,>居民点1000m以上,农田>1000m;植被密度20~50株/m2,盖度<10%,高度<20cm,扁杆藨草密度1~50株/m2,藨草密度1~10株/m2,水深40~60cm。白鹤秋季觅食生境资源选择函数为Logistic(P)=0.663+0.565×与一级道路距离+0.042×与二级道路距离+0.519×与三级道路距离+0.353×与居民点距离+0.169×与农田距离–0.455×植被密度–0.618×植被盖度–0.548×植被高度–0.158×扁杆藨草密度–0.404×藨草密度+0.920×水深,T(x)=eLogistic(p)/[1+eLogistic(p)],模型正确预测率为82.9%。     

Twice Daily Melatonin Peaks in Siberian but not Syrian Hamsters under 24 h Light:Dark:Light:Dark Cycles

The daily pattern of blood-borne melatonin varies seasonally under the control of a multi-oscillator circadian pacemaker. Here we examine patterns of melatonin secretion and locomotor activity in Siberian and Syrian hamsters entrained to bimodal LDLD8:4:8:4 and LD20:4 lighting schedules that facilitate novel temporal arrangements of component circadian oscillators. Under LDLD, both species robustly bifurcated wheel-running activity in distinct day scotophase (DS) and night scotophase (NS) bouts. Siberian hamsters displayed significant melatonin increases during each scotophase in LDLD, and in the single daily scotophase of LD20:4. The bimodal melatonin secretion pattern persisted in acutely extended 16 h scotophases. Syrian hamsters, in contrast, showed no significant increases in plasma melatonin during either scotophase of LDLD8:4:8:4 or in LD20:4. In this species, detectable levels were observed only when the DS of LDLD was acutely extended to yield 16 h of darkness. Established species differences in the phase lag of nocturnal melatonin secretion relative to activity onset may underlie the above contrast: In non-bifurcated entrainment to 24 h LD cycles, Siberian hamsters show increased melatonin secretion within ～2 h after activity onset, whereas in Syrian hamsters, detectable melatonin secretion phase lags activity onset and the L/D transition by at least 4?h. The present results provide new evidence indicating multi-oscillator regulation of the waveform of melatonin secretion, specifically, the circadian control of the onset, offset and duration of nocturnal secretion.