On the invariant representation of spin tensors with applications

The invariant representation of the spin tensor defined as the rotation rate of a principal triad for a symmetric and non-degenerate tensor is derived on the basis of the general solution of a linear tensorial equation. The result can be naturally specified to study the. spin of the stretch tensors and to investigate the relations between various rotation rate tensors encountered frequently in modern continuum mechanics. A remarkable formula which relates the generalized stress conjugate to the generalized strain in Hill's sense. to Cauchy stress, is obtained in invariant form through the work conjugate principle. Particularly, a detailed discussion on the time rate of logarithmic strain and its conjugate stress is made as the principal axes of strain arc not fixed during deformation.

峨眉山藏猕猴雄—婴社会行为的补充观察

藏猕猴 (Macaca thibetana) 雄—婴行为的补充数据收集于1997年1～9月、覆盖了整个出生季节和半个交配季节. 分别用1分钟点取样和5分钟事件取样收集雄婴照料(怀抱+接近)和雄—婴—雄三边作用 (triad) 的数据. 焦点动物为两个猴群中的8个婴儿. 数据处理结果表明: ①雄—婴照料集中在4.5～18周龄, 而20周龄内的婴儿平均有7.9％的时间受到雄性照料(雄9.6％, 雌5.6％); ②雄性婴儿较雌性接受的照料偏多, 但同性个体间无差异; ③雄性照料的强度随行为者社会等级的升高而增大;④婴儿介入 triad的频次与其接受照料的强度正相关. 考虑到藏猕猴繁殖单位中非优势雄猴的效配机会极少, 结果③、④支持了先前关于性/新选择介入了藏猕猴猴雄—婴行为进化的结论. 然而, 因为结果②不支持严格的“父—子”照料假设, 这种介入只具有模糊的统计学意义。

Male-infant-male interactions in Tibetan macaques

Event-sampling and scans were used for collecting data on male-infant-male triadic interactions, and their effects on member spacing respectively in a group of Macaca thibetana at Mt. Emei in 1989. The group was partially provisioned by human visitors in seasons other than winter, and could be observed closely. In addition, a stable linear male-hierarchy among five males existed for two years since the end of 1987, providing a good social condition for this topic. The triadic interactions were specific to the birth season, and recognized as three types being on a continuum functionally changing from passive ''agonistic buffering'' (4.8%) to active spatial cohesion, which resulted in a significant decline of intermale distances. Positive correlations were documented between the triad initiation rate and the number of females in consort with the males in the mating season (MS), and between the triad reception rate and the number of infants in proximity to the males in the MS when maternal care was significantly reduced. Thus the male's mating effort and kin/sexual selection may deeply be involved in the triad of this species. Considering that the two triad-species, M. sylvanus and M. thibetana, had different levels of paternity, but shared similar foraging conditions, and showed similar intensities of male-infant caretaking, the triad was very likely a byproduct of male-infant caretaking, which was probably shaped to compensate heavy maternal investment to young offspring in harsh conditions. Accordingly, the long-term arguments about the triad in M. sylvanus can be united to a model of the way in which ''male-infant caretaking'' hypothesis works ultimately, and ''regulating social relations'' hypothesis does proximately.

Molecular modeling on some human interleukins sharing gamma c of interleukin-2 receptor, and structure-function relationships

Five models for human interleukin-7 (HIL-7), HIL-9, HIL-13, HIL-15 and HIL-17 have been generated by SYBYL software package. The primary models were optimized using molecular dynamics and molecular mechanics methods. The final models were optimized using a steepest descent algorithm and a subsequent conjugate gradient method. The complexes with these interleukins and the common gamma chain of interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) were constructed and subjected to energy minimization. We found residues, such as Gln127 and Tyr103, of the common gamma chain of IL-2R are very important. Other residues, e.g. Lys70, Asn128 and Glu162, are also significant. Four hydrophobic grooves and two hydrophilic sites converge at the active site triad of the gamma chain. The binding sites of these interleukins interaction with the common gamma chain exist in the first helical and/or the fourth helical domains. Therefore, we conclude that these interleukins binds to the common gamma chain of IL-2R by the first and the fourth helix domain. Especially at the binding sites of some residues (lysine, arginine, asparagine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid), with a discontinuous region of the common gamma chain of IL-2R, termed the interleukins binding sites (103-210). The study of these sites can be important for the development of new drugs. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

峨眉山藏猕猴部分雄-婴社会行为的补充观察

藏猕猴（Macaca thibetana）雄-婴行为补充数据收集于整个出生季节和交配季节初期(1997年1-9月)。针对两个猴群中的8个婴猴，1分钟点取样和5分钟事件取样法分别用来收集照料行为（怀抱+接近）、阴部探查和雄-婴-雄三边作用（triad）。婴猴4.5-18周龄受到群内成年雄性的照料，20周龄内有7.9%时间受到成年雄猴照料(雄婴：9.57%对雌：5.56%)；照料在行为者和接受者之间分布均无差异的结果倾向于支持生态环境决定说。婴猴3.9-14.6周龄接受成年雄性阴部探查，20周龄内雄性婴儿接受的探查频率高于雌性婴儿（0.92次/小时对0.03次/小时），探查在行为者和接受者之间的分布均有差异。探查比照料开始早且持续期短，可能是成年雄性对婴儿的识别和接受。照料婴猴多的成年雄性在triad中使用婴猴也多；雄性婴儿接受照料多，在triad中被使用也多；此结果支持“Triad是雄-婴照料的副产物”假说。

A clip domain serine protease (cSP) from the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis: cDNA characterization and mRNA expression

Clip domain serine protease (cSP), characterized by conserved clip domains, is a new serine protease family identified mainly in arthropod, and plays important roles in development and immunity. In the present study, the full-length cDNA of a cSP (designated EscSP) was cloned from Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis by expressed sequence tags (ESTs) and PCR techniques. The 1380 bp EscSP cDNA contained a 1152 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding a putative cSP of 383 amino acids, a 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of 54 bp, and a 3'-UTR of 174 bp. Multiple sequence alignment presented twelve conserved cysteine residues and a canonical catalytic triad (His(185), Asp(235) and Ser(332)) critical for the fundamental structure and function of EscSP. Two types of cSP domains, the clip domain and tryp_spc domain, were identified in the deduced amino acids sequence of EscSP. The conservation characteristics and similarities with previously known cSPs indicated that EscSP was a member of the large cSP family. The mRNA expression of EscSP in different tissues and the temporal expression in haemocytes challenged by Listonella anguillarum were measured by real-time RT-PCR. EscSP mRNA transcripts could be detected in all examined tissues, and were higher expressed in muscle than that in hepatopancreas. gill, gonad, haemocytes and heart. The EscSP mRNA expression in haemocytes was up-regulated after L anguillarum challenge and peaked at 2 h (4.96 fold, P < 0.05) and 12 h (9.90 fold, P < 0.05). Its expression pattern was similar to prophenoloxidase (EsproPO), one of the components of crab proPO system found in our previous report. These results implied that EscSP was involved in the processes of host-pathogen interaction probably as one of the proPO system members. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A novel serine protease with clip domain from scallop Chlamys farreri

The serine proteases with clip domain are involved in various innate immune functions in invertebrate such as antimicrobial activity, cell adhesion, pattern recognition and regulation of the prophenoloxidase system. A serine protease with clip-domain cDNA (Cf SP) was obtained by Expressed sequence taggings (ESTs) method and rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE). The Cf SP full-length cDNA was of 1,152 bp, including a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 63 bp, a 3'-terminal UTR of 81 bp with a canonical polyadenylation signal sequence AATAAA and a poly(A) tail, and an open reading frame of 1,008 bp encoding a polypeptide of 336 amino acids with a putative signal peptide of 19 amino acids. The deduced amino acid sequence of Cf SP contained an amino-terminal clip domain with three disulfide bonds formed six conserved Cys residues, a carboxyl-terminal trypsin-like domain with the conserved His-Asp-Ser catalytic triad, and a low complexity linker sequence. The Cf SP was strongly expressed in hemocytes and the mRNA expression of Cf SP was up-regulated and increased 3.2-fold and 2.6-fold at 16 h after injection of Vibrio anguillarum and Micrococcus luteus. The results suggested that Cf SP gene might be involved in immune response of Gram-negative and Gram-positive microbial infection in scallop.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a serine proteinase homolog prophenoloxidase-activating factor in the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus

Serine proteinase homologues (SPHs), as one of prophenoloxiase-activating factors (PPAFs), play critical roles in innate immunity of crabs. Based on an EST from the eyestalk full length cDNA library, the complete cDNA (designated as PtSPH) and genomic DNA of SPH from the swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus were cloned in this study. The estimated molecular weight of mature PtSPH (354 amino acids) was 38.7 kDa and its isoelectric point was 5.08. Multiple sequence alignment revealed that PtSPH lacked a catalytic residue with a substitution of Ser in the active site triad to Gly. Phylogenetic analysis indicated PtSPH together with PPAFs of Callinectes sapidus (AAS60227), Eriocheir sinensis (ACU65942), Penaeus monodon (ABE03741, ACP19563) and Pacifastacus leniusculus (ACB41380), formed a distinct cluster which only included clip-SPHs. As the first analyzed genomic structure of PPAFs in crustaceans, two introns were found in the open reading frame region of this gene. The mRNA transcripts of PtSPH could be detected in all the examined tissues, and were higher expressed in the eyestalk than that in gill, hepatopancreas, haemocytes and muscle. Accompanied with the change in phenoloxidase (PO) activity and total haemocyte counts, the temporal expression of PtSPH gene in haemocytes after Vibrio alginolyticus challenge demonstrated a clear time-dependent expression pattern with two peaks within the experimental period of 32 h. These findings suggest that PtSPH is involved in the antibacterial defense mechanism of Portunus tritubercualtus crab. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.