Evolutionary distinctiveness of the endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle

The endangered Kemp's ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys kempi) nests almost exclusively at a single locality in the western Gulf of Mexico, whereas the olive ridley (L. olivacea) nests globally in warm oceans. Morphological similarities between kempi and olivacea, and a geographical distribution that "...makes no sense at all under modern conditions of climate and geography", raise questions about the degree of evolutionary divergence between these taxa. Analysis of mitochondrial (mt) DNA restriction sites shows that Kemp's ridley is distinct from the olive ridley in matriarchal phylogeny, and that the two are sister taxa with respect to other marine turtles. Separation of olive and the Kemp's ridley lineages may date to formation of the Isthmus of Panama, whereas the global spread of the olive ridley lineage occurred recently. In contrast to recent examples in which molecular genetic assessments challenged systematic assignments underlying conservation programmes, our mtDNA data corroborate the taxonomy of an endangered form.     

The phytotoxins ofMycosphaerella fijiensis,the causative agent of Black Sigatoka disease of bananas and plantains

Black Sigatoka is the most costly to control disease of bananas and plantains in the world. Currently, a worldwide search is underway either to find or to produce cultivars that are disease-resistant or-tolerant. Phytotoxins isolated from the pathogen might facilitate the discovery of such cultivars. Several aromatic compounds from liquid cultures ofMycosphaerella fijiensis, the causal agent of Black Sigatoka disease of bananas and plantains, have been isolated. The most abundant and phytotoxic of these compounds is 2,4,8-trihydroxytetralone, which induces necrotic lesions at 5 g/5 l in less than 12 h on sensitive cultivars of bananas. This compound exhibits host-selectivity that mimics that of the pathogen. Other phytotoxins isolated from this fungus, in lesser amounts, were juglone, the novel compound 2-carboxy-3-hydroxycinnamic acid, isoochracinic acid and 4-hydroxyscytalone. Some of the phytotoxins isolated are melanin shunt pathway metabolites, which makes this fungus unique among plant pathogens.     

Protein structure and function

Posters

Protein structure and function     

Tamoxifen ‘sex reverses’ alligator embryos at male producing temperature,but is an antiestrogen in female hatchlings

Summary Tamoxifen is an anticancer drug widely used in the treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancer. In hatchling alligators it acts as a pure antiestrogen in that it completely blocks the effect of estradiol-induced oviductal hypertrophy and completely blocks the estradiol-induced hepatic vitellogenin secretion. Paradoxically, when injected into alligator eggs incubated at 33°C, a temperature which would normally result in 100% male hatchlings, tamoxifen sex reverses the embryos into apparently normal female hatchlings.     

The Development and Application of Combined Thermoregulatory Mathematical Models

Thermoregulatory mathematical models have being developed for more than half a century and obtained more and more wide application. Among them, the "engineering-physiological" thermal models, which correlated closely to the man-machine-environment system, are the ones that developed most rapidly and have been widely accepted by thermal physiologists and environmental control engineers.This paper attempts to outline briefly the development and application of such kind of thermal models, discusses how to further develop and apply various combined thermal models in practice, and puts forward four respects of suggestions for establishment and modification of combined thermal models of man-clothing-cabin environment.     

HQ70钢疲劳强度统计特性研究

在对HQ70钢疲劳寿命统计特性研究的基础上,利用疲劳寿命分布与疲劳强度分布函数间的转换关系,对HQ70钢疲劳强度分布特性进行研究,并作出疲劳寿命强度概率分布的P-s-N三维空间曲面.确认疲劳强度分布并非通常假设的正态分布,而是偏态分布,其特征函数的概率分布为标准正态分布.     

含铝高速钢中奥氏体非均匀长大的机制

M2AI和M2高速钢经一次和二次淬火后,奥氏体晶粒和未溶碳化物的定量研究表明,在高温r/f比值相同的条件下,由于淬火前原始组织的差别,可发生正常(均匀)和异常(非均匀)两类长大。根据异常粗晶形成初期的组织观察,提出了“连续-非连续”再结晶模式和“合并—推移”式的生长机制。提出了减轻或消除M2AI钢混晶的工艺原则。     

Retention of topical liposomal formulations on the cornea

Summary The ability of liposomes composed of different kinds of phospholipid materials to adhere to the surface of the cornea was studied in the rabbit. The liposomes were labelled with tracer amounts of an I¹²⁵-labelled phosphatidylethanolamine derivative and were instilled in 10 l drops onto the cornea. The retention of radioactivity was monitored. The results show that liposomes containing positively charged phospholipids are better retained than an albumin control. Thus, it may be possible to develop a drug delivery, liposome system which would permit long-term sustained release of ophthalmic drugs onto the cornea.