Mass Collaboration in Earthquake Risk Management

The mechanism of mass collaboration in risk management was studied during the Sichuan earthquake under a Web-based “PeopleFinder” project, where information is contributed and shared among mass contributors. The case study is provided by a great earthquake that happened in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, of southwestern China at 2:28 p.m. on May 12, 2008. We witnessed and experienced the rescue and relief efforts for the great earthquake. In this article, two fundamental frameworks are developed to study the mechanism of mass collaboration. Mass collaboration is proven to be effective in a big public crisis such as the Sichuan earthquake.     

Effect of T-activin on the production of immune interferon

A study was made of the effect of T-activin on the biosynthesis of immune gamma-interferon. It was shown that in 27% of patients with chronic nonspecific pulmonary diseases, production of gamma-interferon by lymphocytes was substantially reduced during exacerbation of inflammatory process in the lungs. It was discovered that T-activin was not an interferon inductor but enhanced its synthesis in patients with a low capacity of producing immune interferon even at small doses of interferon inductor. The preparation does not produce any effect on this process in normal subjects and in patients showing the normal level of gamma-interferon. Thus T-activin can be used for stimulation of interferonogenesis.     

Integrated species delimitation and conservation implications of an endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Green and Orchid Islands of Taiwan

Oceanic islands are productive habitats for generating new species and high endemism, which is primarily due to their geographical isolation, smaller population sizes and local adaptation. However, the short divergence times and subtle morphological or ecological divergence of insular organisms may obscure species identity, so the cryptic endemism on islands may be underestimated. The endangered weevil Pachyrhynchus sonani Kôno (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Entiminae: Pachyrhynchini) is endemic to Green Island and Orchid Island of the Taiwan‐Luzon Archipelago and displays widespread variation in coloration and host range, thus raising questions regarding its species boundaries and degree of cryptic diversity. We tested the species boundaries of P. sonani using an integrated approach that combined morphological (body size and shape, genital shape, coloration and cuticular scale), genetic (four genes and restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing, RAD‐seq) and ecological (host range and distribution) diversity. The results indicated that all the morphological datasets for male P. sonani, except for the colour spectrum, reveal overlapping but statistically significant differences between islands. In contrast, the morphology of the female P. sonani showed minimum divergence between island populations. The populations of P. sonani on the two islands were significantly different in their host ranges, and the genetic clustering and phylogenies of P. sonani established two valid evolutionary species. Integrated species delimitation combining morphological, molecular and ecological characters supported two distinct species of P. sonani from Green Island and Orchid Island. The Green Island population was described as P. jitanasaius sp.n. Chen & Lin, and it is recommended that its threatened conservation status be recognized. Our findings suggest that the inter‐island speciation of endemic organisms inhabiting both islands may be more common than previously thought, and they highlight the possibility that the cryptic diversity of small oceanic islands may still be largely underestimated.     

分泌型磷脂酶PLA2G5的生物学功能及其抑制剂研究进展

分泌型磷脂酶PLA2G5属于磷脂酶A2超家族的一员,在免疫细胞和非免疫细胞中均有表达.研究表明,PLA2G5参与生物学事件的发生发展,在特定的病理条件下具有诱导作用.本文简要阐述了PLA2G5的来源、结构特征、生物学功能和在疾病中的作用,以及现有或潜在的PLA2G5抑制剂,以期探索基于PLA2G5的治疗新靶标.     

基于集合经验模态分解去趋势的水分利用效率对气候变化响应的高程分异——以“21世纪海上丝绸之路”沿线省份为例

水分利用效率(WUE)是表征陆地碳-水循环耦合关系的重要指标，但其对气候变化响应的高程分异仍不清楚。通过集合经验模态分解(EEMD)去趋势和偏相关方法，以"21世纪海上丝绸之路"沿线省份为研究区，揭示WUE对气候变化的响应及其随高程的分异。研究结果表明：(1)研究区内WUE多年均值由中心向南北递减。不同植被类型的WUE多年均值由高到低依次为：常绿针叶林、混交林、常绿阔叶林、稀树灌木草地、耕地和城市建设用地。(2)51.11%的区域表现出均温与WUE的正相关；而81.46%地区表明温差的扩大会使得WUE增加；有近一半的研究区表明最高温的升高有利于提高WUE，而最低温的作用则相反；有67.99%的区域表明降水增多反而会导致WUE的减少。(3)在大多数土地覆盖类型，日温差和最低温主要与WUE呈正相关，而最高温和降水主要与WUE呈负相关。在常绿针叶林、耕地和城市建设用地，日均温与WUE呈负相关。在其他三种植被类型下则呈正相关。(4)在低海拔地区，均温与WUE呈负相关而在中高海拔地区则转变为正相关关系。而最高温则正好相反。降水与WUE的负相关关系系数随高度的增加而不断加强，而温差和最低温与WUE的正相关关系也随高度的增加而剧烈波动增强。     

Testosterone inhibits cAMP-induced de Novo synthesis of Leydig cell cytochrome P-450(17 alpha) by an androgen receptor-mediated mechanism

The regulation of the novo synthesis of the microsomal cytochrome P-450 enzyme, P-450(17 alpha), was studied in mouse Leydig cell cultures. Chronic treatment with 0.05 mM 8-Br-cAMP (cAMP) caused a time-dependent increase in 17 alpha-hydroxylase activity and in the amount of P-450(17 alpha), quantitated by immunoblotting. This increase in both activity and amount was enhanced by inhibiting testosterone production with aminoglutethimide, an inhibitor of cholesterol side-chain cleavage or SU 10603, an inhibitor of 17 alpha-hydroxylase. To examine the mechanism by which cAMP or cAMP plus inhibitors of testosterone production increased the activity and amount of P-450(17 alpha), changes in the rate of de novo synthesis were studied by measuring [35S]methionine incorporation into newly synthesized protein. Treatment with cAMP plus aminoglutethimide or SU 10603 caused a 2-fold or greater increase in the rate of de novo synthesis of P-450(17 alpha) compared to treatment with cAMP only. The addition of exogenous testosterone reversed this increase in the rate of synthesis, indicating that testosterone modulates the extent of cAMP-stimulated induction of P-450(17 alpha). This negative effect of testosterone could be mimicked by the addition of the androgen agonist, mibolerone, and prevented by the addition of the antiandrogen, hydroxyflutamide. Neither estradiol nor dexamethasone had any effect on the synthesis of P-450(17 alpha). Studies on the degradation of newly synthesized P-450(17 alpha) demonstrated that testosterone had no effect on the decay of P-450(17 alpha) during the first 24 h but caused a significant increase in the rate of decay between 24 and 48 h. These data indicate that testosterone produced during cAMP induction of P-450(17 alpha) negatively regulates the amount of this cytochrome P-450 enzyme by two distinct mechanisms: by repressing cAMP-induced synthesis of P-450(17 alpha) by an androgen receptor-mediated mechanism and by increasing the rate of degradation of P-450(17 alpha). A model is proposed for the regulation of P-450(17 alpha) in Leydig cells.     

厦门地区鸭鹅绦虫生活史研究

本文报告了福建厦门地区寄生于鸭鹅类的膜壳科绦虫计5属9种。实验阐明了5种绦虫的生活史,其中有三种生活史为我国首次报告。厦门地区有5种嵌水甲壳类可作膜壳绦虫的中间宿主。其中短角异剑水蚤(Apocyclops royi)是矛形剑带绦虫和片形皱缘绦虫的审间宿主,不等异介虫(Heterocypris anomala)为新发现的棘盘双睾绦虫的中间宿主,介虫(Cyprinotus sp.)为新发现的美丽膜壳绦虫的中间宿主。