The introduction ofMimorista pulchellalis [Lepidoptera: Pyraustidae] into South Africa for the biological control of jointed cactus,Opuntia aurantiaca. 2. Field evaluation

The mothMimorista pulchellalis was monitored over 2 years after liberation in a jointed cactus (Opuntia aurantiaca) infestation in South Africa. Moth and cactus densities were estimated using a system of randomly-assigned quadrats and the impact of the moth on the cactus population quantified. Moths appeared adapted to survive on the etiolated form of jointed cactus plants, killing approximately 1% of the increment in small plants annually. Large plants were also attacked but damage was negligible. The moths occurred in low numbers throughout the study period and generally went through 3 generations in a year.

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Résumé La pyraleMimorista pulchellalis a été surveillée durant les deux années qui suivirent sa libération dans une infestation de figuier de Barbarie en Afrique du Sud. Les densités de pyrale et de cactus ont été estimées en utilisant un système de quadrats distribués au hasard et l'impact de la pyrale sur la population de cactus a été quantifiée. Les pyrales semblaient adaptées à survivre sur la forme étiolée des plants de cactus tuant approximativement 1% de l'accroissement annuel des petits plants. Les gros plants étaient aussi attaqués, mais les dégats étaient négligeables. La pyrale existait en faibles nombres durant toute la période d'étude et elle présentait généralement 3 générations par an.

     

A practical test for in vitro evaluation of photosensitization: Assessment with hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD)

A simple procedure is described for the determination of the photosensitizing potency of drugs, using three leukemic cell lines, two of lymphocytic origin, L1210 and P388 and one of erythroid type, Friend-745. The procedure allows one to investigate several aspects of the photosensitization properties of tested compounds such as cellular localization and direct (trypan blue exclusion) or delayed (clonogenicity) photomediated toxicities.The method was assessed using crude hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD) as well as dihematoporphyrin ether (DHE) or commercially available Photofrin II. Results were compared to those obtained with normal cells, e.g spleen lymphocytes and erythropoietic stem cells (CFU-e), and discussed in the light of the relative response of normal versus transformed cells.Abbreviations DHE Dihematoporphyrin Ether - FCS Fetal Calf Serum - HPD Hematoporphyrin Derivative - PDT Photodynamic Therapy     

A gastric trichobezoar in a chimpanzee

A firm, mobile, oblong mass was discovered as an incidental finding in the stomach of a chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) during routine surgery. It was removed and determined to be a trichobezoar.     

Uptake of phosphate from soils and fertilizers as affected by soil P availability and solubility of phosphorus fertilizers

Fertilizers labelled with ³²P were used to measure amounts of phosphorus, P_s and P_F, taken up by Lolium perenne from available soil P and from P fertilizer respectively, when applied at a rate of 66 mg P·(kg soil^–1) in greenhouse experiments. The quantity P_s of phosphorus taken up from soil in the presence of P fertilizer was compared to the quantity P_o taken up from soil without P fertilizer. The quantity (P_s–P_o) is positive for low P_o values, i.e. in soils poor in available phosphorus, but is negative for high P_o values indicating that an input of P fertilizer can induce a decrease in the utilization of available soil phosphorus. Moreover, for a given soil, the quantity (P_s–P_o) depends on the chemical form of the fertilizer. The standard method of evaluation of P fertilizer efficiency is based on the assumption that P_s=P_o, but P_s can differ from P_o. This result can explain the contradictory data published from field experiments about the efficiency of the various P fertilizers.     

湖北菱科植物的数量分类研究 Ⅲ.分类性状的定量评价

用R聚类分析和主分量分析,定量研究了湖北菱科5种8变种37个形态和生态性状的变异及分类学价值。结果表明,植物体大小变异是形态演化的主要方向之一。形态演化的同时,也发生生态分化。除少数性状例外,形态演化与生态分化在相当程度上是独立的。     

Evaluation of Drugs for Treating Obesity

Criteria for the evaluation of new drugs to treat obesity are important as guides for designing clinical trials to test these agents. These criteria must be developed in relation to the realities of obesity, which is a chronic disease associated with morbidity and mortality that is increased by visceral fat deposits. The observation that patients regain weight after stopping drug treatment for obesity argues for the proposition that drugs work only when taken and NOT that the drugs are ineffective. The analogy between the development of treatments for obesity to those for the treatment of hypertension is used to highlight potential areas for new developments. Several features of an ideal drug for the treatment of obesity are suggested. Criteria for evaluating new drugs include both primary and secondary endpoints. The primary endpoint for an anti-obesity drug should be weight loss, possibly by category of success. Losses of total body fat or visceral fat might be alternative primary endpoints. Secondary endpoints include reduction in risk factors for associated diseases and improvement in the quality of life. In trials where vigorous placebo designs including highly aggressive behavior modification or very-low-calorie diets were used, it may be difficult or impossible to detect a response to a drug.     

Extra-weak chemiluminescence of drugs XV. Method for determining stability of Toki-shakuyaku-san extract granules

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the quality of Toki-shakuyaku-san extract granules (TJ-23) using chemiluminescence (CL). A linear relationship was obtained between the log value of the CL of TJ-23 and the reaction temperature. An excellent correlation (r= 0.999) was found between the slope of this curve (ΔA) and the colour intensity due to the browning reaction occurring at the early stage of the Maillard reaction.     

Conservation evaluation of nine Hong Kong mangals

A comparative analysis of the conservation value of nine Hong Kong mangals spread across Hong Kong has been undertaken. The analysis is based on both biological and socio-economic attributes. Biological attributes used in the analysis include plant species richness, benthic and arboreal gastropod species richness, occurrence of rare species within each site, and site representativeness. A review of the past and present development and development plans around and within each site has been undertaken to assess the comparative degree of hazard to each mangal. The drastic decline of mangal habitats throughout Hong Kong highlights the need for conservation of what remains today. Priorities and strategies for conservation of these nine mangals are discussed with particular emphasis on the preservation of biodiversity and the management of these habitats as education and research sites.Department of Applied Biology & Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic     

杭州湾六市土地生态环境的数量评价及其在国土规划上的意义

在系统调查分析和特尔斐测定的基础上,选取人口密度、耕地人口负荷量、土地工业经济密度、居民点、厂矿用地、>25°土地面积、单位森林蓄积占用土地、耕地非旱涝保收面积7项指标,应用分值权重累加、系统聚类分析和模糊综合评价3种方法对杭州湾6市土地生态环境作综合分析评价,结果可应用于国土规划实践,对探讨土地生态环境评价的理论与方法有参考价值。     

漓江流域喀斯特综合干扰评价及其空间特征

喀斯特地区具有特殊的地质结构,生态环境脆弱性较高,辨识和量化人为、自然多重干扰是减少人类干扰影响及制定喀斯特景观管理政策的重要依据。基于漓江流域喀斯特发育地貌特征,旨在建立包括地貌、水文、气候、生物、社会5类因素以及15个具体干扰指标的喀斯特综合干扰指数,并通过空间相关分析探究地理因子对综合干扰解释力以及因子与指标间交互作用力的特征。结果显示：(1)漓江流域中游综合干扰指数高于上下游,自然地形地貌本底以及不同类型喀斯特景观分布的地带性是分异的主要原因;(2)干扰等级为显著干扰,综合干扰指数为0.336,空间上呈现出东部与北部低、西部与南部高的分布特征,具有明显的空间异质性;(3)地理环境和社会经济因素对综合干扰具有较强解释力,采石采矿、各类灾害、生产活动等多项干扰指标以及海拔高度具有较强空间关联关系。评估了漓江流域喀斯特综合干扰并分析其空间特征,研究结果对喀斯特生态环境保护及景观资源可持续发展政策制定具有重要参考价值。