Dendroecological reconstruction and interpretation of larch budmoth (Zeiraphera diniana) outbreaks in two central alpine valleys of Switzerland from 1470 – 1990

 Outbreaks of the larch budmoth (LBM) (Zeiraphera diniana) recur cyclically approximately every 7 to 10 years in subalpine larch-cembran pine and montane to subalpine larch-Norway spruce forests of the relatively dry valleys of the European Alps. By dendroecologically analyzing increment cores from 570 host (European larch –Larix decidua) and non-host trees (cembran pine –Pinus cembra, Norway spruce –Picea abies) through the use of skeleton plots, at least 57 (59) outbreaks could be reconstructed in the optimum Upper Engadine Valley (suboptimum Goms Valley), Switzerland, during the time period 1503 (1472) to 1990. The average interval between initial years of successive outbreaks was 8.58 (8.95) years, SD 1.66 (2.13) years. Over the centuries spatial shifts of LBM activity between the two study areas occurred, probably due to climatic changes. Clear, site-specific differences in LBM attack could only be found in the suboptimum area where high-lying (>1800 m) and/or south-facing stands were infested most. LBM-afflicted trees proved to be unsuitable for climate reconstructions because the impact of the persistently recurring outbreaks on tree growth is dominant. In order to provide sufficient information for a detailed ecological interpretation of the course of an outbreak, latewood widths and/or densities have to be analyzed in addition to the ring-widths. Received: 11 February 1995 / Accepted: 19 July 1996     

Sensitivity to stress in the bivalve Macoma balthica from the most northern (Arctic) to the most southern (French) populations: low sensitivity in Arctic populations because of genetic adaptations?

The stress sensitivity, determined in copper exposureexperiments and in survival in air tests, and thegenetic structure, measured by means of isoenzymeelectrophoresis, were assessed in populations of theBaltic clam Macoma balthica (L.) from itssouthern to its northern distribution limit, in orderto test the hypotheses that near the distributionlimit the clams would be more stress sensitive andwould have a lower genetic variability. Thepopulations in west and north Europe show a stronggenetic resemblance. The populations in the sub-ArcticWhite Sea are genetically slightly different, and showa low stress sensitivity. The populations in theArctic Pechora Sea are genetically very distant fromthe other populations, and show the lowest stresssensitivity. Near the southern distribution limit, inagreement with the hypotheses, genetic variability islow and stress sensitivity high. On the other hand, incontrast to expectation, near the northerndistribution limit, in the populations of the PechoraSea, the genetic variability was higher, thus notreduced, and the stress sensitivity was low comparedto all other populations. Yet, it remains a questionif such is due to gradual physiologicalacclimatization (and ongoing differential selection)or to genetic adaptation.     

Purification and Characterization of a Human Brain Galectin-1 Ligand

Abstract: Our previous studies have characterized an endogenous lectin from human brain identified as galectin-1. A soluble ligand of galectin-1 was purified from human brain by affinity chromatography and preparative electrophoresis. The purified ligand (termed HBGp82, for human brain galectin-1-binding polypeptide of 82,000 daltons) has an apparent molecular mass of 82 kDa and is glycosylated by N -linked biantennary complex structures. HBGp82 was partially characterized by microsequencing of peptide fragments. Similar peptides were found in a heat shock of protein of 90,000 daltons, hsp90. However, comparison of apparent molecular weights and matrix-assisted laser desorption mass spectrometry clearly showed that HBGp82 differs to some degree from hsp90.     

大鼠延髓腹外侧表面呼吸调节化学感受区的感受机制分析

用免疫组化（ＨＲＰ）、Ｈ＾＋表面透入、核团微量注射、微电泳及损毁等方法探讨了延髓腹侧表面中枢化学感受机制。结果表明它与其浅层核团：斜方体核、外周橄榄腹外侧核（ＬＶＰＯ）、斜方体后核、巨细胞旁外侧核和外侧网状核等有神经结构联系。表面Ｈ＾＋可能被上述核团的突起或胞体感受。非呼吸相关神经元（ＬＶＰＯ）与呼吸相关神经元,同样可能参与中枢化学感受而调节呼吸活动。     

中枢ACTH受体研究进展

除垂体以外,中枢神经系统也含有促肾上腺皮质激素（ＡＣＴＨ）能神经元,其神经纤维在中枢具有较广泛的投射。ＡＣＴＨ相关肽类在中枢发挥着多种生理功能。近年来对于中枢ＡＣＴＨ受体的研究取得很大的进展,现已确认ＡＣＴＨ结合位点在中枢具有广泛的分布。新近克隆出的四种ＡＣＴＨ受体中,有两种是中枢神经系统占优势的受体亚型。     

Influence of central command and ergoreceptors on the splanchnic circulation during isometric exercise

The splanchnic circulation can make a major contribution to blood flow changes. However, the role of the splanchnic circulation in the reflex adjustments to the blood pressure increase during isometric exercise is not well documented. The central command and the muscle chemoreflex are the two major mechanisms involved in the blood pressure response to isometric exercise. This study aimed to examine the behaviour of the superior mesenteric artery during isometric handgrip (IHG) at 30% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC). The pulsatility index (PI) of the blood velocity waveform of the superior mesenteric artery was taken as the study parameter. A total of ten healthy subjects [mean age, 21.1 (SEM 0.3) years] performed an IHG at 30% MVC for 90 s. At 5 s prior to the end of the exercise, muscle circulation was arrested for 90 s to study the effect of the muscle chemoreflex (post exercise arterial occlusion, PEAO). The IHG at 30% MVC caused a decrease in superior mesenteric artery PI, from 4.84 (SEM 1.57) at control level to 3.90 (SEM 1.07) (P = 0.015). The PI further decreased to 3.17 (SEM 0.70) (P = 0.01) during PEAO. Our results indicated that ergoreceptors may be involved in the superior mesenteric artery vasodilatation during isometric exercise.     

Termination of leech swimming activity by a previously identified swim trigger neuron

Cell Tr2 is a neuron in the subesophageal ganglion of the leech that can trigger swim episodes. In this report, we describe the ability of Tr2 to terminate ongoing swim episodes as well as to trigger swimming. Stimulation of Tr2 terminated ongoing swim episodes in nearly every preparation tested, while Tr2 stimulation triggered swim episodes in only a minority of the preparations. We suggest that the primary role of Tr2 is in the termination rather than the initiation of swimming activity.The swim trigger neuron Tr3 and a swim-gating neuron, cell 21, hyperpolarized during Tr2-induced swim termination. Another swim-gating neuron, cell 204 was sometimes slightly excited, but more often, hyperpolarized during Tr2-induced swim termination. In contrast to these cells, Tr2 stimulation excited another swim-gating neuron, cell 61. The responses of the swimgating cells were variable in amplitude and sometimes not evident during Tr2-induced swim termination. Hence, the effects of Tr2 stimulation on swim-gating neurons seem unlikely to be the direct cause of swim termination.Oscillator cells examined during Tr2-induced swim termination include: 27, 28, 33, 60, 115, and 208. The largest effect seen in an oscillator neuron was in cell 208, which was repolarized by up to 10 mV during Tr2 stimulation. Tr2 stimulation did not produce any obvious synaptic effects in motor neurons DI-1, VI-1, and DE-3. Our findings indicate that other, yet undiscovered, connections are likely to be important in Tr2-induced swim termination. Therefore, we propose that cell Tr2 is probably a member of a distributed neural network involved in swim termination.Abbreviations DP dorsal posterior nerve - Mx midbody ganglion x - Rx neuromere x of the subsesophageal (rostral) ganglion - DE dorsal excitatory motor neuron - DI dorsal inhibitory motor neuron - VI ventral inhibitory motor neuron     

孤峰组最底部的牙形刺动物群

在孤峰组底部发现了包括Ｍｅｓｏｇｏｎｄｏｌｅｌｌａ ｎａｎｋｉｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ在内的牙形刺动物群。Ｇｏｎｄｏｌｅｌｌａ ｓｅｒｒａｔａ Ｃｌａｒｋ ｅｔ Ｅｔｈｉｎｇｔｏｎ,１９６２是Ｍｅｓｏｇｏｎｄｏｌｅｌｌａ ｎａｎｋｉｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ（Ｊｉｎ,１９６０）的同义名,Ｍｅｓｏｇｏｎｄｏｌｅｌｌａ ｎａｎｋｉｎｇｅｎｓｉｓ已被北美学者推荐为瓜达洛坪统底界的标志化石。因Ｍｅｓｏｇｏｎｄｏｌｅｌｌａ ｎａ     

Differentiation of vegetation zones and species strategies in the subalpine region of Mt. Fuji

The floristic and structural differentiation of vegetation along the altitudinal gradient in four subalpine forests of different developmental stages on Mt. Fuji has been studied. Near the forest limit a micropattern of vegetation corresponding to the altitudinal zonation has been observed which elucidated the mechanisms of development of the vegetation zonation. As to early stages of vegetation development only two types can be distinguished: the volcanic desert above 1500 m and the pioneer forests below. As to later stages a differentiation of subzones includes from higher to lower altitudes: the Alnus maximowiczii, Betula ermanii, Abies veitchii and Tsuga diversifolia forests. Larix leptolepis and Sorbus americana ssp. japonica, appear as co-dominants in ecotonal communities between the principal subzones and are also important pioneers in early stages. Similarity analyses reveal that the upper subalpine Alnus-Betula forests can be regarded as early successional phases of the climax Abies-Tsuga forests of the lower subalpine zone. The regular arrangement of A. maximowiczii-B. ermanii-A. veitchii is studied along the gradient from the margin to the interior of the forest growing near the forest limit where locally favourable conditions prevail. Growth form, height growth, photosynthetic activity, seed supply, and seedling distribution of the three principal species have been compared, as well as biomass and production relations in contiguous forests of these species. The marginal Alnus type community is productive and disturbance-tolerant, and has a wide ecological and sociological amplitude along the gradient, while the central Abies community is accumulative and disturbance-intolerant, and has a narrower tolerance range, but is superior in competition under stable habitat conditions. A vegetation organization, ‘temporal multi-storeyed structure’, is suggested which means that a zonal pattern of vegetation within a climax region develops by successive replacement of successional species along an environmental gradient.     

HMG17 protein facilitates the DNA catenation reaction catalyzed by DNA topoisomerases

HMG17 protein is shown to greatly facilitate the catention of double-stranded DNA rings catalyzed by DNA topoisomerases. Even at low DNA concentrations such that catenanes are not observable in the absence of HMG17, the addition of the protein promotes the catenation of greater than 95% of the input DNA into networks that do not enter the gel upon electrophoresis. Electron microscopy and restriction enzyme cleavage experiments indicate that these networks are large structures containing many catenated DNA rings. The HMG17-promoted DNA network formation has been observed with calf thymus type II DNA topoisomerase and the type I topoisomerases of Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, and calf thymus.