First record of genus Promalactis Meyrick (Lepidoptera: oecophoridae) from Cambodia with five new species

In this study, species of the genus Promalactis found in Cambodia are reviewed for the first time. Five new species, P. infundibulina sp. nov., P. prolixa sp. nov., P. seimana sp. nov., P. serratiola sp. nov., P. spiraliola sp. nov., are described. Promalactis albisquama Kim and Park is also newly discovered in Cambodia. Illustrations of adults and genitalia of each species are also provided with distributional data.

www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:88AF790D-B677-498F-20A5B4-F287B5D52318     

A cloud based fuzzy approach for spatial site selection  in decision support system 

In decision support system for spatial site selection, the fuzzy synthetic evaluation is a useful way. However, the method can’t pay attention to the randomness in factors. To remedy the problem, this paper proposes a cloudedbase fuzzy approach which combines advantages of cloud transform and fuzzy synthetic evaluation. The cloud transform considers the randomness in the factors and product the higher concept layer for data mining. At the same time, the check mechanism controls the quality of partitions in factors. Then the fuzzy approach was used to get final evaluation value with randomness and fuzziness. It make the final result is optimization. Finally, performance evaluations show that this approach spent less runtime and got more accuracy than the fuzzy synthetic. The experiments prove that the proposed method is faster and more accuracy than the original method.     

应用FBG传感器测量高性能混凝土梁养护早期性能

在高性能混凝土构件无载荷养护早期,混凝土较大的自生收缩和温度变形在混凝土结构内部产生微裂纹将对高性能混凝土结构的耐久性产生不可忽视的影响。运用光纤布拉格光栅（FBC）埋设型传感器成功检测了高性能混凝土梁构件在其无载养护早期的应变和温度变化。由于布拉格光栅同时感应温度变化和应变,因此需要设置FBG温度传感器来补偿应变传感器的温度影响。FBG双传感器成功检测了高性能混凝土梁构件的早期变形性能和温度变化,试验结果表明高性能混凝土梁在养护早期无载阶段的自收缩变形比较大,浇注养护18h达到430με的最大值,同时分析了减水剂用量对高性能混凝土早期变形性能的影响。     

A metal complex that binds alpha-amino acids with high and predictable stereospecificity.

Molecular recognition is the key step in a wide range of controlled separation and chemical transformation processes, with enzymes performing this task with an unsurpassed degree of selectivity. Enzymes contain only 20 simple amino acids, yet it remains difficult to rationalize or even predict these stereospecific recognition events. Nonetheless, the rational design of receptors able to recognize amino acids stereospecifically is attracting considerable interest because therapeutic drugs, that may be developed from chiral amino acid intermediates, are increasingly required in enantiomerically pure form. Early work has stimulated the development of efficient receptors based on small molecules, but binding of amino acids with high and predictable stereospecificity remains difficult to achieve. Directed molecular evolution, on the other hand, does select for RNA sequences or antibodies that bind amino acids with high specificity, but typically without providing insights into the molecular recognition mechanisms involved. Here we show that a rationally designed metal complex formed from a trivalent cobalt ion and a tetradentate ligand binds natural amino acids, including the simple yet challenging amino acid alanine, with high and predictable regio- and stereospecificity. We expect that our approach will allow the binding as well as separation and stereospecific catalytic formation of its target amino acids.     

Mutations in NOTCH2 cause Hajdu-Cheney syndrome, a disorder of severe and progressive bone loss

We used an exome-sequencing strategy and identified an allelic series of NOTCH2 mutations in Hajdu-Cheney syndrome, an autosomal dominant multisystem disorder characterized by severe and progressive bone loss. The Hajdu-Cheney syndrome mutations are predicted to lead to the premature truncation of NOTCH2 with either disruption or loss of the C-terminal proline-glutamate-serine-threonine-rich proteolytic recognition sequence, the absence of which has previously been shown to increase Notch signaling.     

Dynamic responses of a British Columbian forest-grassland interface to prescribed burning

Ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa and Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii forests in the Interior of British Columbia, Canada, are adjacent to grasslands. Forest ingrowth and tree encroachment, mainly due to fire suppression, represent threats to both forest and ranching industries in the region. The use of prescribed burning for ecological restoration is being practiced, but the associated ecosystem effects of restoration treatments have been little studied in the region. We used a randomized complete block design in a prescribed burning experiment. Tree survival and the responses of understory vegetation to burning were monitored for 3 years. The transect method along with crown projection areas (onto the ground) were used in comparisons between areas inside and outside of the burned area. Fire was effective in eliminating small ponderosa pine (dbh Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis was observed in grassland sites, while reduction in rabbitbrush Chrysothamnus nauseosus in the forest was observed. Data trends indicate that 3 years after burning, total biomass and forb biomass increased in grasslands, but graminoid biomass in forests was reduced and total understory biomass was not affected by burning. Burning also reduced the shrub component in these ecosystems. While aboveground biomass production may be enhanced by burning in grasslands, the impact of burning on forest understory was minimal and burning may result in reduction of graminoids. Therefore, burning can be used to control tree encroachment and forest ingrowth in this region. Management plans must incorporate topography, species diversity, and tree survival to target areas that are most susceptible to tree encroachment and to achieve desired results. Extended monitoring is necessary to determine the long-term effects of burning on species diversity in and productivity of these ecosystems.     

High levels of mitochondrial DNA deletions in substantia nigra neurons in aging and Parkinson disease

Here we show that in substantia nigra neurons from both aged controls and individuals with Parkinson disease, there is a high level of deleted mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) (controls, 43.3% +/- 9.3%; individuals with Parkinson disease, 52.3% +/- 9.3%). These mtDNA mutations are somatic, with different clonally expanded deletions in individual cells, and high levels of these mutations are associated with respiratory chain deficiency. Our studies suggest that somatic mtDNA deletions are important in the selective neuronal loss observed in brain aging and in Parkinson disease.     

CpG island methylator phenotype underlies sporadic microsatellite instability and is tightly associated with BRAF mutation in colorectal cancer

Aberrant DNA methylation of CpG islands has been widely observed in human colorectal tumors and is associated with gene silencing when it occurs in promoter areas. A subset of colorectal tumors has an exceptionally high frequency of methylation of some CpG islands, leading to the suggestion of a distinct trait referred to as 'CpG island methylator phenotype', or 'CIMP'. However, the existence of CIMP has been challenged. To resolve this continuing controversy, we conducted a systematic, stepwise screen of 195 CpG island methylation markers using MethyLight technology, involving 295 primary human colorectal tumors and 16,785 separate quantitative analyses. We found that CIMP-positive (CIMP+) tumors convincingly represent a distinct subset, encompassing almost all cases of tumors with BRAF mutation (odds ratio = 203). Sporadic cases of mismatch repair deficiency occur almost exclusively as a consequence of CIMP-associated methylation of MLH1 . We propose a robust new marker panel to classify CIMP+ tumors.     

Indole-3-carbinol enhances ultraviolet B-induced apoptosis by sensitizing human melanoma cells

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) has been found to act against several types of cancer, while ultraviolet B (UVB) is known to induce the apoptosis of human melanoma cells. Here, we investigated whether I3C can sensitize G361 human melanoma cells to UVB-induced apoptosis. We examined the effects of combined I3C and UVB (I3C/UVB) at various dosages. I3C (200 μM)/UVB (50 mJ/cm²) synergistically reduced melanoma cell viability, whereas I3C (200 μM) or UVB (50 mJ/cm²), separately, had little effect on cell viability. DNA fragmentation assays indicated that I3C/UVB induced apoptosis. Further results show that I3C/UVB activates caspase-8, −3, and Bid and causes the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase. Moreover, I3C decreased the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, Bcl-2, whereas UVB increased the translocation of Bax to mitochondria. Thus, an increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio by I3C/UVB may result in melanoma apoptosis. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that I3C sensitizes human melanoma cells by down-regulating Bcl-2. Received 5 July 2006; received after revision 25 August 2006; accepted 11 September 2006