Faunistic analysis of Cerambycidae (Insecta: Coleoptera) in an area of Atlantic Forest

The Atlantic Forest is considered a hotspot biome, one of the most diverse in the world. Currently, due to deforestation, only 22% of the original cover remains, and only 7.5% well preserved. Despite the global importance of this biome, it still lacks basic studies, e.g. primary inventories. Cerambycidae is one of the most diverse groups of beetles, with high ecological and economic importance. The aim of this work was to survey the longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) in three fragments (Pacangê, Vila 5 and Pancada Grande) of Atlantic Forest within Reserva Ecológica da Michelin (southern Bahia State, Brazil). A total of 166 individuals belonging to 53 species were recorded, 15 of them new geographical records for the state, and one for Brazil. The Shannon index (H) shows Pacangê (H = 2.665) as the most diverse fragment, followed by Pancada Grande (H = 2.658) and Vila 5 (H = 2.565). The most abundant species were Nyssodrysina lignaria (38 specimens collected), followed by Compsibidion vanum (31 specimens). One hundred and ten specimens were captured in Malaise traps, while in light traps only 56 specimens were caught; however, the richness and consequently the diversity in light traps was higher. This is one of the few studies carried out in Atlantic Forest surveying longhorn beetles, and provides primary data on these taxa, to help develop conservation policies for this threatened biome.     

Cuticular hydrocarbon profiles as a chemotaxonomic tool for three blowfly species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) of forensic interest

Cuticular hydrocarbons (CHs) contain complex mixtures of components that cover the surface of all insects to restrict water loss, and in many species function in chemical communication. The complex mixtures have been used as a chemotaxonomic tool since the 1970s. The majority of CH components can be identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), allowing hydrocarbon profiles to be used as chemotaxonomic characters, which can differentiate insect species, including cryptic species. The present study used GC-MS for the identification of CHs of males and females of three species of calliphorids: Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius), Hemilucilia segmentaria (Fabricius) and Lucilia cuprina (Wiedmann), A comparison of the chromatographic profiles from the three species allows them to be readily separated. Hydrocarbons identified from the three species contain 23 to 37 carbons and include n-alkanes, methyl-branched alkanes and alkenes. The most abundant compound for both sexes of C. macellaria was n-heptacosane, while for H. segmentaria it was 2-methyltriacontane; for L. cuprina, however, the most abundant compound was hentriacontene for females and nonacosene for males. The results obtained in this study are important for the establishment of a database to be used in chemotaxonomy of sanitarily and forensically important insects.     

早期人科成员的工具行为

用工具制造工具是人的工具行为和猿的工具行为之间的界河，据此将人猿超科的工具行为分成简单复杂二种类型。粗壮南猿以前的人科成员具有简单工具行为的能力。早期人科的工具行为成为推动人科 立行走方向发展的因素之一。     

Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in acute myeloid leukemia

This review is designed to provide an overview of the current literature concerning vascular endothelial growth factor signaling (VEGF) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Aberrant VEGF signaling operates in the bone marrow of AML patients and is related to a poor prognosis. The altered signaling pathway demonstrated to interfere in several autocrine and paracrine signaling pathways. VEGF signaling promotes autocrine AML blast cell proliferation, survival, and chemotherapy resistance. In addition, VEGF signaling can mediate paracrine vascular endothelial cell-controlled angiogenesis in AML. Both effects presumably explain the association of high VEGF levels and poor therapeutic outcome. More recently, researches focusing on bone marrow stem cell niches demonstrate a role for VEGF signaling in the preservation of several cell types within these niches. The bone marrow niches are proposed to be a protective microenvironment for AML cells that could be responsible for relapses in AML patients. This implies the need of sophisticated VEGF-targeted therapeutics in AML therapy strategies. This review highlights our current understanding of aberrant VEGF signaling in AML, appoints the interference of VEGF signaling in the AML-associated microenvironment, and reflects the novelty of current VEGF-targeted therapeutics used in clinical trails for the treatment of AML.     

布洛赫线物理和纳米复合材料研究简述

简要介绍了布洛赫线物理和纳米复合材料研究的一些基本情况以及河北师范大学物理系磁学实验室开展这两方面研究的现状。     

Jean-Jacques Rousseau: Botanist

It is argued that Hugo de Vries's conversion to Mendelism did not agree with his previous theoretical framework. De Vries regarded the number of offspring expressing a certain character as a hereditary quality, intrinsic to the state of the pangene involved. His was a shortlived conversion since after the ‘rediscovery’ he failed to unify his older views with Mendelism. De Vries was never very much of a Mendelian. The usual stories of the Dutch ‘rediscovery’ need, therefore, a considerable reshaping.