Antioxidant survey to assess antagonism to redox stress using a prokaryotic and an eukaryotic system

Using a prokaryote (Escherichia coli) and a metazoa-resembling eukaryote (Ochromonas danica), we surveyed antioxidants which might overcome redox stress imposed by menadione sodium bisulphite (MD) and buthionine sulphoximine (BSO). BSO oxidant stress was evident only inO. danica; MD oxidant stress was evident in both organisms. Glutathione, its precursors, e.g. cysteine, homocysteine, and 2-oxo-4-thiazolidine carboxylic acid, and red blood cells, emerged as prime antioxidants for relieving BSO and MD oxidant stress. BSO and MD oxidant activity and antioxidant-annulling effect inO. danica were judged comparable to those found in animal cells whereas the resultsE. coli were not entirely equivalent. TheO. danica system emerged as a practical, rapid, and useful system for pinpointing oxidant stressors and antioxidants, and shows promise for studies with mammalian systems.     

(−)-Epigallocatechin gallate,a polyphenolic tea antioxidant,inhibits peroxynitritemediated formation of 8-oxodeoxyguanosine and 3-nitrotyrosine

Reaction with peroxynitrite at pH 7.4 and 37°C was found to increase the 8-oxodeoxyguanosine levels in calf thymus DNA 35-38-fold. This oxidation of deoxyguanosine, as well as the peroxynitrite-mediated nitration of tyrosine to 3-nitrotyrosine, was significantly inhibited by ascorbic acid, glutathione and (–)-epigallocatechin gallate, a polyphenolic antioxidant present in tea. For 50% inhibition of the oxidation of deoxyguanosine to 8-oxodeoxyguanosine, 1.1, 7.6 of 0.25 mM ascorbate, glutathione or (–)-epigallocatechin gallate, respectively, was required. For 50% inhibition of tyrosine nitration, the respective concentrations were 1.4, 4.6 or 0.11 mM. Thus, (–)-epigallocatechin gallate is a significantly better inhibitor of both reactions than either ascorbate or glutathione. Reaction of (–)-epigallocatechin gallate with peroxynitrite alone resulted in the formation of a number of products. Ultraviolet spectra of two of these suggest that the tea polyphenol and/or its oxidation products are nitrated by peroxynitrite.     

Butterflies and ants: The communicative domain

Associations with ants, termed myrmecophily, are widespread in the butterfly family Lycaenidae and range from mere co-existence to more or less specific mutualistic or even parasitic interactions. Secretions of specialized epidermal glands are crucial for mediating the interactions. Transfer of nutrients (carbohydrates, amino acids) from butterfly larvae to ants plays a major role, but manipulative communication with the help of odour signals is also involved. By means of myrmecophily, lycaenid butterflies largely escape ant predation, and certain species gain protection through attendant ants or achieve developmental benefits from ant-attendance. Benefits to the ants range from minimal to substantial food rewards. While most lycaenid species maintain facultative relationships with a variety of ant genera, highly specific and obligatory associations have convergently evolved in a number of butterfly lineages. As a corollary, communication systems are largely unspecific in the former, but may be highly specialized in the latter. The sophisticated communication between obligate myrmecophiles and their host ants is tightly connected with the evolutionary rise of specialized life-cycles and thus is a source of augmenting diversity within the butterflies.     

The prey consumption and prey preference of the larvae of the mosquitoCulex (Lutzia) raptor on the larvae ofCulex quinquefasciatus

The maximum consumption of the larvae of the pest and vector mosquitoCulex quinquefasciatus by the predatory mosquitoCulex (Lutzia) raptor was studied at various instars of both the predator and the prey. The prey preferences of the predator when given lavae of different instars were also investigated. The IVth instar of the predator consumed the maximum number of Ist instar and the maximum biomass of IVth instar larvae of the prey. Instars I and II of the predator preferred the Ist of the prey; instars III and IV of the predator preferred instars II and III of the prey respectively.The predator consumed an average of 157.1 larvae during its whole larval period, when each instar of the predator was given its preferred instar of the prey.     

Concept of an extracellular regulation of muscular metabolic rate during heavy exercise in humans by psychophysiological feedback

Efferent motor signals to skeletal muscles concern not only the space/time pattern of motion, but also the setting of muscular performance and through this the control of the current metabolic rate. For an optimal adjustment of metabolic rate during heavy exercise — e.g. in athletic competitions — a feedback control system must exist, including a programmer that takes into consideration a finishing point (teleoanticipation). The presented experiments, using Borg's scale, indicate the existence and functioning of a system for optimal adjustment of performance during heavy exercise and the relevance of teleoanticipatory effects. Thus motor learning includes not only somatosensory control, but also metabolic control. With regard to migratory birds, such metabolic control would have to operate in the individual as well as in the migrating flock as a whole.     

老板口服液的急性及长期毒性研究

老板口服液急性毒性实验，小鼠灌胃剂量达４０ｇ／ｋｇ时，未出现毒性症状和死亡现象．腹腔注射给药ＬＤ５０为１１．５６ｇ／ｋｇ．大鼠长期毒性实验分别灌胃给药１０ｇ／ｋｇ、５ｇ／ｋｇ和２．５ｇ／ｋｇ，连续６周．各组无动物死亡．动物外观、体重增长、血象、肝肾功能及各脏器指数与对照组无明显差异．脏器组织检查高剂量组１３只大鼠中有２只大鼠少量肝细胞脂肪样变．但留存动物于停药３周后，病检均正常．提示老板口服液临床口服用药安全范围较大．     

海南岛无翼坡垒林植物物种多样性和物种空间配置研究

从群落最小面积、绝对植物物种多样性和植物物种多样性指数等三个方面的测定，研究海南岛无翼坡垒林的植物物种多样性．其结果是，群落最小面积为３５００ｍ２，在这个面积范围里，１．５ｍ高以上的立木有１２６种；物种多样性指数Ｄｓ－ｗ＝５．０３．从群落物种分布的均匀度、各物种的频度和群落的垂直分布状况，研究该森林的物种空间配置，结果表明：群落的均匀度Ｊｓ－ｗ为７１．７６，频度分布规律力Ａ＞Ｂ＞Ｃ＞Ｄ＞Ｅ（按Ｒａｕｎｋｉａｅｒ频度级），其特征是Ａ级所占的比例很大，约占总数的７４．６％；垂直分布状况表明，无翼坡垒林整个群落的个体高度比例基本上是“金字塔”型，但仍有一定的波动性．     

KTN的核磁共振研究

研究了掺Ｎｂ浓度为０．１５的ＫＴＮ晶体中＾１８１Ｔａ和＾９３Ｎｂ的核磁共振信号的线宽和（积分）强度对温度的依赖性。通过两种核的信息分析，我们观察到在１２０Ｋ－２３０Ｋ之间晶体发生二次相变，而且发现两种核的共振线的展宽起源是不同的。我们也把＾１８１Ｔａ的信号与两种标定纯的ＫＴａＯ３晶体的相应信号作了比较，发现“消除”效应都存在。     

图中含D_λ－圈的一个充分条件

设图Ｇ是一个ｎ阶简单图，Ｇ中的一个圈Ｃ称为Ｄλ—圈，如果Ｇ＼Ｖ（Ｃ）的每个连通分支的阶都小于λ．当Ｇ是３—连通图，且有ＮＣλ（Ｇ）≥ｎ＋４２－２λ时，Ｇ含有Ｄλ—圈或Ｇ是Ｐｅｔｅｒｓｅｎ图．     

论草原生态系统中微气候研究的重要作用

草原生态系统中微气候的研究工作开始于六七十年代，主要是应用微气候学和生态学研究草原生态系统中微气候的变化规律及其与动植物的关系。这些研究工作不但丰富了生态学理论，而且对草地生产有重要的指导意义。中国在这方面的研究起步晚，报道甚少。文章旨在论述微气候学研究在草原生态系统中的重要地位，推动中国在这一领域的发展。