Negligible penalty all-optical routing using a 12 × 12 passive InP wavelength-selective router

This work demonstrates transmission at 2.5 Gbit/s across two wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) network nodes, constructed using counter-propagating semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) wavelength converters and an integrated wavelength-selective router separated by 45 km of fiber, with an overall penalty of 0.6 dB. Minimal degradation of the eye diagram is evident across the whole system. Full utilization of the capacity of the router would allow an aggregate 360-Gbit/s node capacity for a WDM channel of 2.5 Gb/s.

Results of the Austrian-Ceylonese hydrobiological mission 1970 of the 1st Zoological Institute of the University of Vienna (Austria) and the Department of Zoology of the University of Ceylon Vidyalankara Campus, Kelaniya. Pt. 12. Contributions to the ecology of the larvae of some Odonata from Ceylon

The Austrian-Ceylonese hydrobiological mission studied 38 biotopes; 28 of which contain Odonata. From the Zygoptera the Calopterydoidea seem to be the dominant form (22 habitats), while the Coenagrionoidea are scarcer (11 habitats). The most frequent species was Euphaea splendens (Epallagidae - 16 habitats) followed by Vestolis apicalis nigrescens (Calopterygidae, 8 habitats) and Neurobasis chinensis (Calopterygidae, 6 habitats). From the Anisoptera Zygonyx ceylanica (Libellulidae: Zygonictinae) was the dominant form (8 habitats), but some Libellulinae remain undescribed. The number of species varied greatly between different biotopes. The biotopes containing Odonata are small brooks, in which the pH was mostly on the limit between acid and alkaline reaction. They are fast running waters, situated in most cases on lower or middle elevations, only three species being found in higher elevations (1800-2000 m). Adaptations to fast currents and other factors are described.

African origin of modern humans in East Asia: A tale of 12,000 Y chromosomes

To test the hypotheses of modern human origin in East Asia, we sampled 12,127 male individuals from 163 populations and typed for three Y chromosome biallelic markers (YAP, M89, and M130). All the individuals carried a mutation at one of the three sites.

Toward an understanding of the molecular mechanism for successful blood feeding by coupling proteomics analysis with pharmacological testing of horsefly salivary glands

Horseflies are economically important blood-feeding arthropods and also a nuisance for humans and vectors for filariasis. They rely heavily on the pharmacological properties of their saliva to get a blood meal and suppress immune reactions of hosts. Little information is available on antihemostatic substances in horsefly salivary glands; especially no horsefly immune suppressants have been reported. By proteomics or peptidomics and coupling transcriptome analysis with pharmacological testing, several families of proteins or peptides, which act mainly on the hemostatic system or immune system of the host, were identified and characterized from 30,000 pairs salivary glands of the horsefly Tabanus yao (Diptera, Tabanidae). They are: (i) a novel family of inhibitors of platelet aggregation including two members, which possibly inhibit platelet aggregation by a novel mechanism and act on platelet membrane, (ii) a novel family of immunosuppressant peptides including 12 members, which can inhibit interferon-gamma production and increase interleukin-10 secretion, (iii) a serine protease inhibitor with 56 amino acid residues containing anticoagulant activity, (iv) a serine protease with anticoagulant activity, (v) a protease with fibrinogenolytic activity, (vi) three families of antimicrobial peptides including six members, (vii) a hyaluronidase, (viii) a vasodilator peptide, which is an isoform of vasotab identified from Hybomitra bimaculata, and interestingly (ix) two metallothioneins, which are the first metallothioneins reported from invertebrate salivary glands. The current work will facilitate the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the ectoparasite-host relationship and help in identifying novel vaccine targets and novel leading pharmacological compounds.

Distribution of vitamin B-12 in some fishes and marine invertebrates

Distribution of vitamin B-12 in the skeletal muscle of several marine and fresh water fish and marine invertebrates are reported. The vitamin B-12 content of white muscle of various fish ranges between 0.05 and 1.5 micrograms. The elasmobranch fish, such as sharks and rays, has a lower levels of vitamin B-12. The distribution of vitamin B-12 in the red muscle, heart, brain and liver of various fish is also shown. Content in red muscle varies between 3 and 22 micrograms, averaging 8 micrograms. The values show that the heart is a rich source of vitamin B-12. Internal organs are also rich in vitamin B

12种鳃形目鱼类mt DNA NI4 L- NI4基因的序列变异及其分子系统学

鳃形目鱼类是一类在鱼类乃至脊椎动物进化史上占有很重要地位的古老濒 危鱼类，长期悬而未决的系统演化关系为世人瞩目.采用DNA测序技术首次测定了 包括中国特有鳃形目鱼类在内的12种鳃形目鱼类的mtDNA ND4L和ND4基因(703 by)的序列，并进行了分子系统学分析.从分子系统学的角度得出了如下结论:(1) 鲤属可以归并到鳃属;(2)达氏鳃与中华鳃的亲缘关系最近，很有可能为中华鳃的 一陆封类型;(3)环太平洋地区的鳃科鱼类可能有共同的起源;(4) ND4L和ND4基 因是进行鳃形目鱼类系统演化研究很好的遗传标记.