Permethrin-impregnated bednets reduce nuisance arthropods in Gambian houses

The prevalence of bedbugs (Cimex hemipterus L.), chicken ticks (Argas persicus Oken) and headlice (Pediculus capitis De Geer) was surveyed in a rural area of The Gambia. At the beginning of the study 37.5% of children's beds were infested with bedbugs and 3.9% with chicken ticks, whilst the prevalence rate of pediculosis in children under 10 years old was 28.8%. Both bedbugs and headlice were clustered within compounds. Headlice prevalence increased with hair length and they were more common on girls than boys. Following this cross-sectional survey all bednets in the sixteen hamlets were either dipped in permethrin or a placebo. About 4 months later it was found that bedbugs and chicken ticks had disappeared from homes in which the bednets had been impregnated with permethrin. There was no reduction in hamlets with placebo-treated bednets. The rate of acquiring headlice between the two surveys was reduced by 91.1% in children who slept under insecticide-treated bednets compared with children with placebo-treated bednets. There were also significantly fewer day-flying and crawling insects, except earwigs, in homes of children who slept under insecticide-treated bednets compared with those with placebo-treated nets. These additional benefits of permethrin-treated bednets should contribute to their widespread acceptance and utilization by the community for personal protection.     

In vitro development of angiosperm floral buds and organs

In the last twenty-five years, young inflorescences, floral buds and individual floral organs of a number of species have been cultured in vitro. There is considerable variability in the requirement of plant growth regulators and nutritional factors for flower development of different species. This variability is compounded by the fact that the hormonal and nutritional requirements are different at various stages of organ and floral development. Experimental studies on normal and mutant flowers in vitro have provided insights into some of the regulatory processes in floral organogenesis. The potential use of the in vitro technique in elucidating the various mechanisms in flower development is stressed.     

Serotonin and gastrin/cholecystokinin-like immunorcactive neurons in the larval retrocerebral complex of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala

Summary The presence and distribution of neurons immunoreactive against antibodies to serotonin (5-HT) and gastrin/cholecystokinin (gastrin/CCK) has been studied in the larval retrocerebral complex of the blowfly Calliphora erythrocephala, a composite structure which consists of the corpus cardiacum, the corpus allatum, the thoracic gland and a portion of the cephalic aorta. Immunoreactive material was found in all these elements except in the corpus allatum. Six to eight cell bodies in the corpus cardiacum and four to eight cell bodies in the thoracic gland were 5-HT immunoreactive (5-HTi). These 5-HTi cell bodies send processes to the neuropil of the corpus cardiacum and to neurohemal sites in the cephalic aorta, corpus cardiacum and ventral part of the thoracic gland. Six to eight cell bodies in the corpus cardiacum and four to six cell bodies in the thoracic gland reacted with antibodies against gastrin/CCK. These cell bodies send processes to the neuropil of the corpus cardiacum and to neurohemal sites in the corpus cardiacum and the cephalic aorta in a pattern resembling that of the 5-HTi fibers. Additional gastrin/CCK-like immunoreactive fibers were shown to come from the central nervous system via the two nervi corporis cardiaci. An electron-microscopical analysis was performed to analyze further the morphological features revealed by the light-microscopic immunocytochemical technique. This confirmed the existence of neurosecretory-like terminals among the gland cells of the thoracic glands and the existence of neurohemal sites in several regions of the larval retrocerebral complex. Some functional aspects of the retrocerebral complex are discussed on the basis of the presented data.     

Floral-specific polypeptides of the Japanese morning glory

Polypeptides from stems, leaves, sepals, corollas, stamens and pistils of the Japanese morning glory (Ipomoea nil Roth (Pharbitis nil Chois.)) were separated by one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and visualized by silver staining. The majority of polypeptides were expressed in two or more organs, while those specific to only one organ were comparatively rate. Among the polypeptides of the former class were two which appeared to be floral-specific. A 46-kDa (kilodalton) polypeptide was expressed in corollas, stamens and pistils, whereas a 32-kDa polypeptide was observed only in extracts prepared from reproductive organs. Polypeptide spots from the various organs were compared with those from leaves, and it was found that sepals and stems shared 40–50% of their polypeptides with leaves, whereas corollas, stamens and pistils shared 20% or less. The latter organs shared 120 polypeptides or roughly 15% of those identified in the floral extracts. Floralorgan-specific polypeptides comprised nearly 10% of the total floral polypeptides identified.Abbreviations kDa kilodalton - PAGE polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis - SDS sodium dodecylsulfate     

以点杂交方法对人β型血珠蛋白基因的染色质结构与功能进行的研究

我采用点杂交的方法,对人β型血珠蛋白基因簇的染色质结构与基因转录活性之间的关系进行了研究。以对DNase Ⅰ消化的敏感性作为染色质的结构参数,我将β型血珠蛋白基因簇中11个区域之间以及其与不表达基因区(乳糖白蛋白和免疫球蛋白不变区λ轻链基因)的染色结构进行比较。实验的细胞系统为K 562红白血病细胞与人胚皮肤细胞株(HES)。所获得的结果提示,在细胞核内,表达基因的染色质结构疏松,对DNase Ⅰ消化的敏感性远较不表达基因区的为高。此外,本文还对有关点杂交的方法学问题进行了较为详尽的讨论。     

中国的红树林

我国红树林主要分布在热带及亚热带沿海盐滩和河川出口的冲积盐性土上,包括24个科,47种,属于东方群系。从广西钦州湾开始经北海港,沿雷州半岛的海安分为两支,一支往南经海南岛的儋县新英港,向东经琼山县的东寨港和文昌县的清澜港,沿着东海岸至崖县的三亚港,又折向北到达东方县的八所港;另一支向东北经湛江的赤坎,阳江的海陵岛,台山的上下川岛,中山的三灶岛,新会的崖门,再沿海岸往北至福建的福鼎和台湾的新竹港。根据我国红树林的主要构成种类、外貌、生境,大致可分为3大群系和10个群落。(1) 矮灌木群系——这个群系多见于纬度稍高的海滩前缘,包括海榄雌群落和桐花树群落。这些群落在演替上处于前期阶段。(2) 高大稠密灌木群系——这个群系由于气温、年降雨量的差异和土壤性质的不同,组成这个群系的种类也有不同,不过都是以红树族的种类为建群种,它包括4个群落:红树群落、红海兰群落和角果木群落,这些群落在演替上属于中期阶段。(3) 乔木群系——这个群系主要分布在海南岛东北和东部海岸,所在地一般地势较高,前缘地带每日潮涨仍有海水浸淹。后缘地带只有每月大潮时才有海水到达,土壤比较固结,它包括木榄群落、海莲和尖瓣海莲群落、海桑群落及半红树林水椰群落。这些群落在演替上是处于后期阶段。组成我国红树林的种类大多数都具有较高的经济价值,如角果木是优质单宁的原料,有些种类经过发酵处理成为高营养的饲料和肥料。此外,沿海浮游生物的产量有红树林比无红树林的地带高达7倍,因此加强对红树林的经营和保护应采取积极态度和有效措施。     

蚱蝉的发声器结构:中纵隔膜

在雄蚱蝉(Cryptotympana atrata Fabricius)的体内,作者发现了白色略透明,并富有弹性的蝉体内最大的薄膜.厚约3.5μm,面积50.7mm²左右.该膜被称为中纵隔膜.中纵隔膜位于大气管气囊的矢状面,把大气囊分为相等的左右二气室,每个气室的容积约为700mm³.以中纵隔膜为界,雄蚱蝉有左右两个发声器,这两个发声器的结构相同,对称并相对独立.文中讨论了中纵隔膜在蝉鸣的发声和共振中的作用.蚱蝉自鸣声是在神经系统的控制下,由左右两个发声器协调工作发出的.在腹部共振中,中纵隔膜的振动为其中之一,比腹节的振动开始得早.     

中国的红树林

我国红树林主要分布在热带及亚热带沿海盐滩和河川出口的冲积盐性土上,包括24个科,47种,属于东方群系。从广西钦州湾开始经北海港,沿雷州半岛的海安分为两支,一支往南经海南岛的儋县新英港,向东经琼山县的东寨港和文昌县的清澜港,沿着东海岸至崖县的三亚港,又折向北到达东方县的八所港;另一支向东北经湛江的赤坎,阳江的海陵岛,台山的上下川岛,中山的三灶岛,新会的崖门,再沿海岸往北至福建的福鼎和台湾的新竹港。根据我国红树林的主要构成种类、外貌、生境,大致可分为3大群系和10个群落。(1) 矮灌木群系——这个群系多见于纬度稍高的海滩前缘,包括海榄雌群落和桐花树群落。这些群落在演替上处于前期阶段。(2) 高大稠密灌木群系——这个群系由于气温、年降雨量的差异和土壤性质的不同,组成这个群系的种类也有不同,不过都是以红树族的种类为建群种,它包括4个群落:红树群落、红海兰群落和角果木群落,这些群落在演替上属于中期阶段。(3) 乔木群系——这个群系主要分布在海南岛东北和东部海岸,所在地一般地势较高,前缘地带每日潮涨仍有海水浸淹。后缘地带只有每月大潮时才有海水到达,土壤比较固结,它包括木榄群落、海莲和尖瓣海莲群落、海桑群落及半红树林水椰群落。这些群落在演替上是处于后期阶段。组成我国红树林的种类大多数都具有较高的经济价值,如角果木是优质单宁的原料,有些种类经过发酵处理成为高营养的饲料和肥料。此外,沿海浮游生物的产量有红树林比无红树林的地带高达7倍,因此加强对红树林的经营和保护应采取积极态度和有效措施。     

东南亚和云南爬行动物区系的一致性及其起源和演化

云南与川、黔、贵等邻近省区都属于东南亚的一部分。依据爬行动物分布范围广的特点,把云南爬行动物区系起源和演化与东南亚甚至南亚的爬行动物作为一个整体进行研究,可能为解决东南亚及云南爬行动物某些类群的起源这一共同性问题,提供一些有用的资料。 本文将印度半岛、东南亚及其邻近岛屿现生爬行动物与世界范围的相同科级阶元的分布进行比较,并以古地质、古地理演变资料推论科级阶元同祖先起源地的大致范围。在此基础上,再将印度半岛、中南半岛和邻近岛屿,云南高原及邻近地区爬行动物的科属种进行比较,以探讨地区间差异的规律性。运用新构造运动和古气候变化观点阐明其物种或类群的迁移规律及其变化原因。