On-going generation of multiple forms of HIV-1 intersubtype recombinants in the Yunnan Province of China

Objectives: To investigate the molecular epidemiology of HIV in China's Yunnan Province, where the initial HIV-1 outbreak among injecting drug users (IDU) occurred in 1989, and to analyse the genesis and interrelationship of the epidemic with that in surrounding areas. Design: A molecular epidemiological investigation was conducted among IDU in three prefectures in Yunnan Province, including Wenshan (east), Honghe (southeast) and Dehong (west). Methods: Thirty-nine specimens were collected from consenting IDU in 2000-2001. The nucleotide sequences of 2.6 kb gag-RT and 340 base pair (bp) env (C2/V3) regions were determined. Phylogenetic tree and recombination breakpoint analyses were performed. Results: The circulating recombinant form (CRF), CRF08_BC, predominated in east Yunnan near Guangxi Province (89% in Wenshan and 81% in Honghe), whereas it was not detected in Dehong(0/14) in the west. In contrast, 71% (10/14) of the Dehong isolates were unique recombinant forms (URF), mostly between subtypes B' (Thailand variant of subtype B) and C, with distinct profiles of recombination breakpoints. The subtype B' accounts for the remaining 29% (4/14) of Dehong isolates. Interestingly, two Honghe isolates (2/16) shared some of the precise B'/C recombination breakpoints with CRF07_BC. Conclusion: New recombinant strains are arising continually in west Yunnan near the Myanmar border. Some appeared to be secondary recombinants derived from CRF07_BC that had further recombined with other strains. The uneven distribution of subtypes, CRF and URF, suggests the presence of independent transmission networks and clusters among IDU in Yunnan. (C) 2002 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.

Description of a new genus and two new species of labeonine fishes from South China (Teleostei : Cyprinidae)

A new genus and two new species are described from the Pearl River drainage in Guangxi Province, South China. Hongshuia, new genus, can be distinguished from all other Asian genera of the Labeonini by having a lower lip with its median lobe modified into a round, fleshy plate peripherally greatly protruded so as to form a ring-like fold that is posteromedially continuous with the mental region, and centrally sunken so as to form a round, flat, fleshy pad. This genus is distinct from all other Asian labeonine genera of the Garrina except for one newly described species of Parasinilabeo ( P. longibarbus), Pseudocrossocheilus, and Sinocrossocheilus, in the presence of well-developed maxillary barbels. Hongshuia differs from the above three genera in the lower lip morphology, and further from both Pseudocrossocheilus and Qianlabeo in the number of pharyngeal tooth rows and from Sinocrossocheilus in the colour pattern. Two new species, H. banmo and H. paoli, differ in the distribution density and degree of development of papillae on the rostral fold, depth of indentations on the distal edge of the rostral fold, presence or absence of papillae on the lower lip, size and shape of tubercles on the tip of the snout and anterior portion of the lachrymal, length, position and colour pattern of the dorsal fin, and snout length.

Fridericia nanningensis, a new terrestrial enchytraeid species (Oligochaeta) from southwestern China

Fridericia nanningensis, a new species from wetland soil of Nanhu Park, Nanning city, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region in southwest China, is described. It is characterized by 2-4 chaetae per bundle, poorly-developed clitellar glands, slender, unbranched peptonephridia, and spermathecae with 2 ampullar diverticula, a deep constriction in the middle of the ampulla and one large ectal gland. It is closely related to the European species, F. alata Nielsen & Christensen, 1959 and the East European species, F. tubulosa Dozsa-Farkas, 1972 by the shape of peptonephridia and the undeveloped clitellar glands. It differs from F. alata by its shorter body length and fewer chaetae per bundle, its type of coelomocytes (type "c"), its deep constriction in the middle of the spermathecae ampulla and a larger ectal gland, and it differs from F. tubulosa by its pale epidermal glands, its more anterior origin of the dorsal vessel, a deep constriction in the middle of the spermathecae ampulla, shorter ectal duct, and only one ectal gland at the spermathecal orifice.

Strong Spin-Orbit Interactions in an InAlAs/InGaAs/InAlAs Two-Dimensional Electron Gas by Weak Antilocalization Analysis

Spin-orbit interactions in a two-dimensional electron gas were studied in an InAlAs/InGaAs/InAlAs quantum well. Since weak anti localization effects take place far beyond the diffusive regime, (i.e., the ratio of the characteristic magnetic field, at which the magnetoresistance correction maximum occurs, to the transport magnetic field is more than ten) the experimental data are examined by the Golub theory, which is applicable to both diffusive regime and ballistic regime. Satisfactory fitting lines to the experimental data have been achieved using the Golub theory. In the strong spin-orbit interaction two-dimensional electron gas system, the large spin splitting energy of 6.08 meV is observed mainly due to the high electron concentration in the quantum well. The temperature dependence of the phase-breaking rate is qualitatively in agreement with the theoretical predictions. (C) 2009 The Japan Society of Applied Physics

Anomalous shift of the beating nodes in illumination-controlled In1-xGaxAs/In1-yAlyAs two-dimensional electron gases with strong spin-orbit interaction

The beating patterns in the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillatory magnetoresistance originating from zero-field spin splitting of two-dimensional electron gases (2DEGs) in In0.52Al0.48As/InxGa1-xAs/In0.52Al0.48As quantum wells with silicon delta doped on the upper barrier layer have been investigated by means of magnetotransport measurements before and after illumination. Contrary to the expectation, after each illumination, the beating nodes induced by the zero-field spin-splitting effect shift to lower and lower magnetic field due to the decrease in the zero-field spin-splitting energy of the 2DEGs. The anomalous phenomenon of the shift of the beating nodes and the decrease in spin-orbit coupling constants after illumination cannot be explained by utilizing the previous linear Rashba model. It is suggested that the decrease in the zero-field spin-splitting energy and the spin-orbit coupling constant arise from the nonlinear Rashba spin splitting.

广西主要林区多孔菌生物多样性与资源的初步研究

广西壮族自治区是中国多孔菌资源比较丰富的区域之一，本研究对广西主要林区进行了初步调查，并根据形态学研究方法对广西地区的多孔菌进行了系统分类学研究。 结果显示，广西地区的多孔菌共有15科，60属，140种。研究过程中发现两个新种，分别是菌索容氏孔菌Junghuhnia rhizomorpha H.S. Yuan & Y.C. Dai和小孔大孢卧孔菌Megasporoporia microporela X.S. Zhou &Y.C. Dai；发现7个中国新记录种：萨拉氏灵芝Ganoderma sarasinii Steyaert，唐氏胶囊革菌Gloeocystidiellum donkii S.S. Rattan，线浅孔菌Grammothele lineata Berkeley & M.A. Curtis，粉状捷克革菌Jacksonomyces furfurellus (Bres.) Sheng H. Wu & Z.C. Chen，半伏容氏孔菌Junghuhnia separabilima (Pouzar) Ryvarden，非洲纵隔担孔菌Protomerulius africanus (Ryvarden) Ryvarden和日本芮氏孔菌Wrightoporia japonica Núñez & Ryvarden；78种为广西地区新记录种，占该地区已报道种类的55.7%。 依据分类学的研究结果，对广西地区的多孔菌的种类组成和地理成分进行了初步分析，结果显示，优势科为多孔菌科Polyporaceae（33.3%），其次为皱孔菌科Meripilaceae（10%），优势属为多孔菌属Polyporus（7.9%%）和针层孔菌属Phellinus（5.7%）；属的地理成分以世界广布属（68.3%）和热带–亚热带分布属（23.3%）为主，种的地理成分以泛热带分布成分（35%）和世界广布种（30%）为主。 经研究表明广西地区共有森林干基腐朽病原多孔菌21种，食用多孔菌菌有5种，药用多孔菌32种，工业用多孔菌17种，多孔菌资源较丰富。 对重要种类木蹄层孔菌Fomes fomentarius (L.:Fr.) Fr.进行了固体培养研究，结果显示木蹄层孔菌的营养菌丝生长最适培养温度为28℃，最适培养pH值为7，最适培养碳源为蔗糖，最适培养氮源为蛋白胨。

开垦草地对土壤有机碳库构成与来源的效应

以广西西北部喀斯特地区的开垦草地生态系为对象,研究了草地开垦变为不同农田后对土壤有机碳库的效应。结果表明,草地开垦为农田后,土壤可溶性有机碳、微生物生物量碳及总有机碳的含量显著下降。自然草地开垦后,柑桔地土壤有机碳含量高于农作用地土壤。玉米与甘蔗轮作土壤有机碳含量高于甘蔗连作。13C示踪结果表明,柑桔地土壤有机碳中来源于草地的含量高于农田土壤;农田土壤有机碳中来源于草地的随种植年限的增加而降低。在玉米与甘蔗轮作的农田中,土壤有机碳中来源于玉米的高于甘蔗连作土壤有机碳中来源于甘蔗的。

Solving the coastal eutrophication problem by large scale seaweed cultivation

Eutrophication is becoming a serious problem in coastal waters in many parts of the world. It induces the phytoplankton blooms including 'Red Tides', followed by heavy economic losses to extensive aquaculture area. Some cultivated seaweeds have very high productivity and could absorb large quantities of N, P, CO2, produce large amount of O-2 and have excellent effect on decreasing eutrophication. The author believes that seaweed cultivation in large scale should be a good solution to the eutrophication problem in coastal waters. To put this idea into practice, four conditions should be fulfilled: (a) Large-scale cultivation could be conducted within the region experiencing eutrophication. (b) Fundamental scientific and technological problems for cultivation should have been solved. (c) Cultivation should not impose any harmful ecological effects. (d) Cultivation must be economically feasible and profitable. In northern China, large-scale cultivation of Laminaria japonica Aresch. has been encouraged for years to balance the negative effects from scallop cultivation. Preliminary research in recent years has shown that Gracilaria lemaneiformis (Bory) Daws. and Porphyra haitanensis Chang et Zheng are the two best candidates for this purpose along the Chinese southeast to southern coast from Fujian to Guangdong, Guangxi and Hong Kong. Gracilaria tenuistipitata var. liui Chang et Xia is promising for use in pond culture condition with shrimps and fish.

SOME ASPECTS OF THE GROWTH OF GRACILARIA-TENUISITIPITATA IN POND CULTURE

The effect of temperature, salinity, nitrogen, culture density and depth on the growth of Gracilaria tenuistipitata were investigated between April 1985 and March 1986 in outdoor ponds in Guangxi Province, South China. The mean annual growth rate was 2.4% per day. Under favourable temperatures of 20-30-degrees-C, daily growth rate may reach as high as 3.3%. Salinity had an obvious effect on growth and photosynthesis and growth peaked at 21 parts per thousand, with a broad plateau between 7-27 parts per thousand. Growth experiments showed that a total nitrogen (NH4-N plus NO3-N) concentration of 4 muM was sufficient to enable the plants to maintain a daily growth rate of 2.7%. The best growth of the plant was obtained at a culture density of 0.5-1 kg M-2 and a culture depth of 30 cm in the pond.