Differentiation of subspecies of asiatic striped squirrels (Tamiops swinhoei) (Milne-Edwards) (Rodentia : Sciuridae) in China with description of a new subspecies

Based on the pelage characteristics and results of multivariate and univariate analyses, a new subspecies is described in this study, and a taxonomic revision of Tamiops swinhoei from China is presented. In total, 123 specimens of Tamiops swinhoei were in

Geographic variation of Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) (Milne-Edwards, 1868) (Muridae : Murinae) from southwestern China based on cranial morphometric variables

Geographic variation of Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) (Milne-Edwards, 1868) (Muridae: Murinae) from southwestern China based on cranial morphometric variables. Zoological Studies 47(4): 393-401. A sample of 134 specimens of Apodemus chevrieri was investigated in the present study. Individuals were divided into male and female groups, and these were respectively subjected to multivariate analysis. Results indicated that 3 geographic populations of A. chevrieri inhabit southwestern China: a Sichuan population in western Sichuan Province; a northwestern Yunnan population ranging from northwestern Yunnan Province eastward to southern Sichuan Province; and a central Yunnan population in central Yunnan Province. In addition, a coefficient of difference analysis was performed among these 3 geographic populations. The results suggested that these 3 geographical populations of A. chevrieri belonged to 2 subspecies. Furthermore, we discuss the relationships of the subspecific differentiation of A. chevneri with changes in latitude in southwestern China.

Geographic variation of the Perny's Long-nosed squirrels (Dremomys pernyi) (Milne-Edwards, 1867) (Rodentia : Sciuridae) from southwestern China based on cranial morphometric variables

A sample of 114 specimens of Dremomys pernyi was investigated, 73 of which had intact skulls and were subjected to multivariate, coefficient of difference (C. D.), and cluster analyses. Results indicate that 4 subspecies (groups) of Dremomys pernyi inhabi

The effects of CpG-C oligodeoxynucleotides on innate immune responses in Eriocheir sinensis (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853)

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) can stimulate the immune system, and therefore are widely used as a therapeutic vaccination and immune adjuvant in human. In the present study, CpG-C, a combination of A- and B-class ODN, was injected into Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis at three doses (0.1, 1 and 10 mu g crab-1), and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, activities of total intracellular phenoloxidase (PO) and lysozyme-like activities, the mRNA transcripts of EsproPO, EsCrustin and EsALF were assayed to evaluate its modulating effects on the immune system of crab. The ROS levels in all treated and control groups were significantly increased from 6 to 24 h, except that ROS in 0.1 mu g CpG-C-treated crabs was comparable to that of the blank at 6 h. The PO activity was significantly enhanced and EsproPO transcripts were down-regulated (P < 0.01) at 6 h after the injection of 0.1 mu g CpG-C, with no significant changes in the other dosage treatments. The lysozyme-like activities and EsCrustin transcripts in the CpG-C-treatment groups were significantly higher than those of controls. The mRNA expression of EsALF remained almost constant in all the groups during the treatment. These results collectively suggested that CpG-C could activate the immune responses of E. sinensis, and might be used as a novel immunostimulant for disease control in crabs.

The effects of CpG-C oligodeoxynucleotides on innate immune responses in Eriocheir sinensis (H. Milne-Edwards, 1853)

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) can stimulate the immune system, and therefore are widely used as a therapeutic vaccination and immune adjuvant in human. In the present study, CpG-C, a combination of A- and B-class ODN, was injected into Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis at three doses (0.1, 1 and 10 mu g crab-1), and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, activities of total intracellular phenoloxidase (PO) and lysozyme-like activities, the mRNA transcripts of EsproPO, EsCrustin and EsALF were assayed to evaluate its modulating effects on the immune system of crab. The ROS levels in all treated and control groups were significantly increased from 6 to 24 h, except that ROS in 0.1 mu g CpG-C-treated crabs was comparable to that of the blank at 6 h. The PO activity was significantly enhanced and EsproPO transcripts were down-regulated (P < 0.01) at 6 h after the injection of 0.1 mu g CpG-C, with no significant changes in the other dosage treatments. The lysozyme-like activities and EsCrustin transcripts in the CpG-C-treatment groups were significantly higher than those of controls. The mRNA expression of EsALF remained almost constant in all the groups during the treatment. These results collectively suggested that CpG-C could activate the immune responses of E. sinensis, and might be used as a novel immunostimulant for disease control in crabs.

地下水数值模型界面Ground Water Vistas介绍——以美国Edwards含水层Barton泉稳定流模型为例

Ground Water Vistas软件是目前国际上盛行的三维地下水水流和溶质运移模拟的图形使用界面.本文介绍了Ground Water Vistas在三种模式下的功能,分析评述了它的优缺点.并以美国Edwards含水层Barton泉稳定流模型为实例,展示了Ground Water Vistas强大的前处理、后处理功能及其优良的三维可视化效果.Edwards含水层喀斯特发育程度极高,其模型研究对我国喀斯特地区地下水资源的评价与管理具有借鉴意义和指导作用.

Anisotropic crystallographic properties, strain, and their effects on band structure of m -plane GaN on LiAlO2 (100)

The m-plane GaN films grown on LiAlO2(100) by metal-organic chemical vapor deposition exhibit anisotropic crystallographic properties. The Williamson-Hall plots point out they are due to the different tilts and lateral correlation lengths of mosaic blocks parallel and perpendicular to GaN[0001] in the growth plane. The symmetric and asymmetric reciprocal space maps reveal the strain of m-plane GaN to be biaxial in-plane compress epsilon(xx)=-0.79% and epsilon(zz)=-0.14% with an out-of-plane dilatation epsilon(yy)=0.38%. This anisotropic strain further separates the energy levels of top valence band at Gamma point. The energy splitting as 37 meV as well as in-plane polarization anisotropy for transitions are found by the polarized photoluminescence spectra at room temperature. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.

The evolution of intermediate castration virulence and ant coexistence in a spatially structured environment

Theory suggests that spatial structuring should select for intermediate levels of virulence in parasites, but empirical tests are rare and have never been conducted with castration (sterilizing) parasites. To test this theory in a natural landscape, we co

A Plant Needs Ants like a Dog Needs Fleas: Myrmelachista schumanni Ants Gall Many Tree Species to Create Housing

Hundreds of tropical plant species house ant colonies in specialized chambers called domatia. When, in 1873, Richard Spruce likened plant-ants to fleas and asserted that domatia are ant-created galls, he incited a debate that lasted almost a century. Alth

Highly Functionalized Daphnane Diterpenoids from Trigonostemon thyrsoideum

Trigonothyrins A-C (1-3), which are highly functionalized daphnane diterpenoids, were isolated from the stems of Trigonostemon thyrsoideum. Compounds 1-3 represent the first examples of daphnanes with an oxygen-bridged four-membered-ring system, and a linkage mode of 12,13,14-orthoester. Compound 3 was observed to inhibit HIV-1 induced cytopathic effects. The EC50 value was 2.19 mu g/mL, and the therapeutic index (TI) was more than 90.

Molecular phylogeography and population structure of a mid-elevation montane frog Leptobrachium ailaonicum in a fragmented habitat of southwest China

Leptobrachium ailaonicum is a vulnerable anuran restricted to a patchy distribution associated with small mountain streams surrounded by forested slopes at mid-elevations (approximately 2000-2600 m) in the subtropical Mount Wuliang and Mount Ailao ranges in southwest China (Yunnan Province) and northern Vietnam. Given high habitat specificity and lack of suitable habitat in lower elevations between these ranges, we hypothesized limited gene flow between populations throughout its range. We used two mitochondrial genes to construct a phylogeographic pattern within this species in order to test our hypothesis. We also examined whether this phylogeographic pattern is a response to past geological events and/or climatic oscillations. A total of 1989 base pairs were obtained from 81 individuals of nine populations yielding 51 unique haplotypes. Both Bayesian and maximum parsimony phylogenetic analyses revealed four deeply divergent and reciprocally monophyletic mtDNA lineages that approximately correspond to four geographical regions separated by deep river valleys. These results suggest a long history of allopatric separation by vicariance. The distinct geographic distributions of four major clades and the estimated divergence time suggest spatial and temporal separations that coincide with climatic and paleogeographic changes following the orogeny and uplift of Mount Ailao during the late Miocene to mid Pliocene in southwest China. At the southern distribution, the presence of two sympatric yet differentiated clades in two areas are interpreted as a result of secondary contact between previously allopatric populations during cooler Pleistocene glacial cycles. Analysis of molecular variance indicates that most of the observed genetic variation occurs among the four regions implying long-term interruption of maternal gene flow, suggesting that L ailaonicum may represent more than one distinct species and should at least be separated into four management units corresponding to these four geographic lineages for conservation. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

THE PHYLOGENETIC-RELATIONSHIPS AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE DOUCS AND SNUB-NOSED LANGURS OF CHINA AND VIETNAM

The taxonomy of the douc and snub-nosed langurs has changed several times during the 20th century. The controversy over the systematic position of these animals has been due in part to difficulties in studying them: both the doucs and the snub-nosed langurs are rare in the wild and are generally poorly represented in institutional collections. This review is based on a detailed examination of relatively large numbers of specimens of most of the species of langurs concerned. An attempt was made to draw upon as many types of information as were available in order to make an assessment of the phyletic relationships between the langur species under discussion. Toward this end, quantitative and qualitative features of the skeleton, specific features of visceral anatomy and characteristics of the pelage were utilized. The final data matrix comprised 178 characters. The matrix was analyzed using the program Hennig86. The results of the analysis support the following conclusions: (1) that the douc and snub-nosed langurs are generically distinct and should be referred to as species of Pygathrix and Rhinopithecus, respectively; (2) that the Tonkin snub-nosed langur be placed in its own subgenus as Rhinopithecus (Presbytiscus) avunculus and that the Chinese snub-nosed langur thus be placed in the subgenus Rhinopithecus (Rhinopithecus); (3) that four extant species of Rhinopithecus be recognized: R. (Rhinopithecus) roxellana Milne Edwards, 1870; R. (Rhinopithecus) bieti Milne Edwards, 1897; R. (Rhinopithecus) brelichi Thomas, 1903, and R. (Presbytiscus) avunculus Dollman, 1912; (4) that the Chinese snub-nosed langurs fall into northern and southern subgroups divided by the Yangtze river; (5) that R. lantianensis Hu and Qi, 1978, is a valid fossil species, and (6) the precise affinities and taxonomic status of the fossil species R. tingianus Matthew and Granger, 1923, are unclear because the type specimen is a subadult.