A simple model of human foveal ganglion cell responses to hyperacuity stimuli

We developed a physiologically plausible model of the first steps of spatial visual information processing in the fovea of the human retina. With the predictions of this model we could support the hypothesis that, for moderate contrasts ( 40%), hyperacuity is mediated by the magnocellular (MC-) pathway. Despite the lower sampling density in the MC pathway, as compared to the parvocellular (PC-) pathway, the information that is transferred by the MC ganglion cells is sufficient to achieve thresholds comparable to those of human subjects in psychophysical tasks. This is a result of the much higher signal-to-noise ratio of the MC pathway cell signals. The PC pathway cells do not transfer enough information for hyperacuity thresholds.     

华北地区莴苣属（广义）植物花粉特征的研究

本文研究了华北地区莴苣属（广义）７种植物的花粉形态与微形态特征。结果表明：莴苣属（广义）内这些种具有相同的花粉类型。该属的花粉为球形,３孔沟;极面观为三裂圆形,近六边形;赤道面观为圆形;花粉表面具网状纹饰,同胞１５个,网脊上有许多小穴和规则排列的刺。与邻近属形成明显差异,使该属成为一个自然类群。新属毛鳞菊属ＣｈａｅｔｏｓｅｒｉｓＳｈｉｈｇｅｎ．ｎｏｖ．以其花粉网状纹饰的网脊上具不规则排列的短柱而有别于莴苣属（广义）。花粉的形态特征与微形态特征可为菊科属级水平分类提供重要依据。     

中国亚热带常绿阔叶林净第一性生产力的估算

中国亚热带常绿阔叶林净第一性生产力的估算倪健（中国科学院植物研究所生态室,北京１０００９３）ＥｓｔｉｍａｔｅｏｆｔｈｅＮｅｔＰｒｉｍａｒｙＰｒｏｄｕｃｔｉｖｉｔｙｆｏｒＳｕｂｔｒｏｐｉｃａｌＥｖｅｒｇｒｅｅｎＢｒｏａｄｌｅａｖｅｄＦｏｒｅｓｔｉｎＣｈ...     

Mycobacterium kansasii infection in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus sciureus)

Abstract: This report documents asymptomatic infections of Mycobacterium kansasii in four of five tuberculin positive squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus sciureus). The mycobacterial DNA amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from a bronchial lymph node had no affinity for the species specific probes of M. tuberculosis, M. avium, and M. intracellular, thus allowing the presumptive diagnosis of an atypical mycobacterial infection. Infection by Mycobacterium kansasii was confirmed by culture of bronchial lymph nodes from three monkeys. The source of the infection was never identified.     

Melanotic ependymoma in a Goeldi's marmoset (Callimico goeldii)

A spontaneous melanotic ependymoma was observed in the brain of an adult female Goeldi's marmoset (Callimico goeldii). The mass completely occupied the left lateral ventricle, rupturing the fornix and corpus callosum, and compressing the adjacent neuropil. Special histochemical techniques, including melanin bleach, periodic acid-Schiff, Perls iron and phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin, demonstrated the neoplasms to be an ependymoma with a rare melanotic differentiation.     

Zolpidem Displays Heterogeneity in Its Binding to the Nonhuman Primate Benzodiazepine Receptor In Vivo

Abstract: The distinctive pharmacological activity of zolpidem in rats compared with classical benzodiazepines has been related to its differential affinity for benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) subtypes. By contrast, in nonhuman primates the pharmacological activity of zolpidem was found to be quite similar to that of classical BZR agonists. In an attempt to explain this discrepancy, we examined the ability of zolpidem to differentiate BZR subtypes in vivo in primate brain using positron emission tomography. The BZRs were specifically labeled with [¹¹C]flumazenil. Radiotracer displacement by zolpidem was monophasic in cerebellum and neocortex, with in vivo Hill coefficients close to 1. Conversely, displacement of [¹¹C]flumazenil was biphasic in hippocampus, amygdala, septum, insula, striatum, and pons, with Hill coefficients significantly smaller than 1, suggesting two different binding sites for zolpidem. In these cerebral regions, the half-maximal inhibitory doses for the high-affinity binding site were similar to those found in cerebellum and neocortex and ～100-fold higher for the low-affinity binding site. The low-affinity binding site accounted for <32% of the specific [¹¹C]-flumazenil binding. Such zolpidem binding characteristics contrast with those reported for rodents, where three different binding sites were found. Species differences in binding characteristics may explain why zolpidem has a distinctive pharmacological activity in rodents, whereas its pharmacological activity in primates is quite similar to that of classical BZR agonists, except for the absence of severe effects on memory functions, which may be due to the lack of substantial zolpidem affinity for a distinct BZR subtype in cerebral structures belonging to the limbic system.     

A geomorphic approach to global classification for natural inland wetlands and rationalization of the system used by the Ramsar Convention – a discussion

Globally, the most widely used wetland classification is that adopted by the contracting parties of the Ramsar Convention, which is the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat. A review of the Inland Wetland component of this system shows that mixed criteria are used to separate the wetlands, and that not all natural inland wetlands have been addressed. A classification system using landform and hydro-period, which results in 13 primary geomorphically non-emergent types for natural wetlands, is proposed to describe the full variety of wetlands at a primary level around the globe, and is suggested to be incorporated as the first-tier of the Ramsar classification.The proposed classification has been designed so wetlands can be described, classified and compared systematically. This paper attempts to reconcile the Ramsar Classification system with the proposed approach. The intention in this paper is not to displace the Ramsar Classification, but rather to indicate its inherent underlying geomorphic structure, and hence re-order its hierarchical framework. This adjustment to the existing classification system would highlight underlying similarities between wetlands so that global comparisons can be more readily made. It also has considerable advantages for a staged, systematic discrimination and classification of the vast array of differing wetlands globally.The use of geomorphic and hydrologic elements as the primary and secondary divisions with the more commonly used Ramsar Classification terms as a tertiary division, provides a logical structure to compare and contrast wetlands globally.     

玉米CMS材料线粒体DNA遗传多型性的研究

选用１１×４＝４４个探针／酶组合,５０个（１０ｍｅｒ）随机序列引物对２５种不同胞质来源的ＣＭＳ玉米,５种正常胞质玉米线粒体ＤＮＡ进行ＲＦＬＰ和ＲＡＰＤ研究。研究结果表明：（１）４５％的探针／酶组合可检测到玉米线粒体ＤＮＡ的多型性,共表现１５种ＲＦＬＰ类型,其中Ｓ组ＣＭＳ材料内有７种,正常胞质材料内有２种;８０％的随机引物可检测到ＲＡＰＤ。（２）基于ＲＦＬＰ资料的聚类分析结果,可将３０种胞质明确地划分为Ｔ、Ｃ、Ｓ、Ｎ４组,其结果与恢复专效性测定结果一致。其中ｐＨＪ２－７－１／ＢａｍＨＩ的ＲＦＬＰ类型可成为利用ＲＦＬＰ技术进行胞质分组的鉴定体系。（３）“双”型胞质线粒体ＤＮＡ常表现Ｓ＋Ｃ胞质的ＲＦＬＰ图谱。     

Pericarp structure and phylogeny of theLamiaceae-Verbenaceae-complex

Pericarp structure was investigated in 158 species of the familiesLamiaceae andVerbenaceae. Data from 221 out of 262 genera ofLamiaceae s.l. and a few ofVerbenaceae s.str. were collected in a table. A cladistic analysis was performed on the basis of pericarp characters only. The abandonment of subfam.Pogostemonoideae as a taxonomic unit is considered. Examples of groups given additional support by similarities in pericarp characters are: (1) the gynobasic-styled labiates (subfamiliesPogostemonoideae, Lamioideae, Nepetoideae); (2) aLamioideae-Pogostemonoideae-group; (3)Nepetoideae; (4) aWestringia-Hemigenia-Hemiandra-Microcorys group (in subfam.Chloranthoideae); (5) aLepechinia-Chaunostoma-group (inNepetoideae); (6) aPrunella-Cleonia-group (inNepetoideae).     

Relationships of bio-climatic zones and lithology with various characteristics of forest soils in Greece

Summary Soils derived from a number of different parent materials (lithologies) and developed along a climatic gradient, manifested by the altitudinal succession of natural vegetation zones (Mediterranean, sub-Mediterranean, Mountainous and Pseudoalpine), were sampled throughout mainland Greece.In soils derived from siliceous parent materials low in clay, acidity increase and percent base saturation decreases from the Mediterranean to the Pseudoalpine vegetation zones. Clay illuviation is found mainly in soils developed in the Mediterranean and the sub-Mediterranean zones. No such changes are apparent in clayey soils rich in bases.Organic matter content of the mineral portion of the soil profile increases by a factor of 2 with a decrease in mean annual air temperature of about 10°C. The pattern of change in clay and soil organic matter content with climate is in relatively good agreement with soil development trends in the area, when soil profiles are named according to the FAO-Unesco soil map of the world.Concentrations of Ca and Mg decrease and those of total N, total and extractable P, K, Fe, Mn and Zn increase from the Mediterranean to the Mountainous zone. Within the same zone, however, concentrations of N, Ca, K, Fe, Mn and Zn decrease, but those of Mg, total and extractable P increase with soil depth. The concentrations of most macro- and micronutrients in the humic horizon are several times higher than those in the mineral portion of the soil profile due to biological enrichment.