Ancient DNA sequences of rice from the low Yangtze reveal significant genotypic divergence

Rice (Oryza sativa) was first domesticated in the lower and middle Yangtze regions of China, and rice remains have been found in many Chinese archaeological sites. Until now, only phenotypic archeobotanical evidence, such as the spikelet bases of ancient grains, has been used to speculate on the domestication process and domestication rate of rice. In this study, we sequenced 4 genomic segments from rice remains in Tianluoshan, a site of the local Hemudu Neolithic culture in the low Yangtze and two other archaeological sites (~2400 and 1200 BC, respectively). We compared our sequences with those of the current domesticated and wild rice (O. rufipogon) populations. At least two genotypes were found in the remains from each site, suggesting a heterozygotic state of the rice seeds. One ancient genotype was not found in the current domesticated population and might have been lost. The rice remains belonged to the japonica group, and most if not all were japonica-type, suggesting that the remains might be at an early stage of indica-japonica divergence or an indica-japonica mixture. We also identified sequences with significant similarity to those from species of Sapindales, Zygophyllales, and Brassicales, which is consistent with the identification of other plant remains in the Tianluoshan site and the common rice field weeds such as mustards in southern China.     

试析异化与归化在翻译中的辩证统一关系

异化与归化是翻译研究中非常重要的翻译策略,也是两种互为补充的翻译方法.异化有助于充分反映原语文化的特征,有助于充分传达原作的“异国风味”,也有助于丰富译入语的表达手段,而归化则有利于译入语读者对原文的理解.异化与归化是两种截然不同的翻译态度,它们是矛盾的两个方面,但它们之间是辩证统一的.无论是异化多些还是归化多些,只要在翻译的过程中将二者很好地结合使用,将其辩证统一的关系充分体现出来,既再现了原作的风格,又结合了读者的文化及语言习惯,就是成功的翻译.     

浅谈翻译策略的异化与归化

鉴于目前翻译界对异化和归化两种翻译方法所发生的论争,详细解析了翻译的两种主要策略-异化与归化,并且从实例的角度出发分析了二者在英汉互译中的应用,旨在说明在翻译过程中译者应将二者有机地统一起来,充分发挥二者的优势,为广大读者提供更多出色的翻译作品。     

从读者的需求看跨文化翻译中的归化与异化

译文的归化和异化是现今翻译界关注的焦点之一,作为跨文化翻译的两种策略,归化、异化并没有优劣之分,各有所长;从读者的角度来看,他所处的时代不同,对同一译作的反响亦不同。不同的读者由于其知识结构和心理倾向的差别,对译文的要求也会不同。可见,不管是归化还是异化,只要能得到读者的认可,都是可行的翻译。     

In vivo effects of epinephrine in a freshwater fish

Summary In vivo effects of epinephrine were investigated in a freshwater teleost,Barbus conchonius Hamilton. Fish given 2 mg/kg epinephrine in a single i.m. dose showed significant hypocholesterolemia and elevated, liver and kidney cholesterol levels 1–8 h postinjection. Plasma amino nitrogen evinced a transient yet significant fall at 2 h followed by a significant increase after 24 h. A marked reduction occurred in the plasma FFA and organic PO₄ levels after 1–8 h. The results offer little evidence for a lipolytic effect of epinephrine in this species, and the changes in metabolite levels are attributable, in part, to the catecholamineinduced modification of insulin secretion.N.K. thanks the U.G.C. for the award of a research fellowship.     

Population biology of bryozoans: correlates of sessile,colonial life histories in freshwater habitats

Bryozoans are common, often abundant, sessile, colonial invertebrates of freshwaters. By reviewing what is known of their general ecology and considering in further detail the population biology of specific groups, we provide evidence that 1) populations are locally ephemeral and regional persistence is attained via a dynamic equilibrium between dispersal and colonization, and 2) sex may often be infrequent and a high degree of clonality obtains at both local and regional scales. On the basis of these characteristics we discuss how the group offers exceptional opportunities for investigating a number of fundamentally important ecological and evolutionary questions.The highly curious modification of the Molluscan type which the Polyzoa [=Bryozoa] present... the great beauty of their forms, and the facility with which they can in general be observed in a living state, cannot but render them special favorites for every lover of Nature; and for the more profound student must confer on them a peculiar significance, and invest their study with a scientific interest which is scarcely surpassed by that of any other group of animals.... (Allman 1856)     

Two new Mastigodiaptomus (Copepoda,Diaptomidae) from southeastern Mexico,with a key for the identification of the known species of the genus

Two new species of the freshwater planktonic copepod genusMastigodiaptomus—M. maya and M. reidae—are described from material collected in southeastern Mexico. This neotropical genus is known to be distributed mainly in the southern part of the United States, Mexico and Central America, and now embraces eight species. Of these, six occur in Mexico. Both new species seem to be closely related to M. texensis and M. albuquerquensis. It is probable that this group of Mexican species represents a northwards radiation from the Proto-Antilles-Central America region into the continent, eventually reaching North America. A key for the identification of the known species of the genus is provided.     

Allozyme electrophoresis demonstrates the presence of a species boundary in freshwater crabs (Decapoda: Potamonautidae)

Potamonautes granularis, P. perlatus and P. sidneyi are morphologically similar species of freshwater crab occurring in the middle to lower reaches of rivers. Potamonautes perlatus and P. sidneyi are known to exhibit clinal morphological differentiation between two distinct morphotypes and their specific status has remained obscured. This study investigates the species boundaries between these three species, as well as genetic differentiation and gene flow between populations within each species, using allozyme electrophoresis. Twenty-five populations (including two P. granularis, 10 P. perlatus and 13 P. sidneyi populations) were utilized, collected along a transect of 2300 km. Individuals were screened for 11 presumptive loci, using a horizontal starch-gel electrophoresis protocol. Mean genetic identities obtained in pair-wise comparisons of populations of different species (I =0.748-0.846) were typical of interspecific comparisons. Diffuse species boundaries (over which gene flow and hybridization may be possible) were observed between P. granularis and P. perlatus, and between P. perlatus and P. sidneyi. A fixed allele difference at the ME locus distinguished P. granularis and P. sidneyi. Hierarchical F -statistics revealed significant genetic sub-structuring between populations within each species and within the entire sample, illustrating low-levels of gene flow. Although some regional groupings were evident from the genetic data, no distinct distance-related patterns, or patterns of clinal variation could be observed. Patterns of genetic differentiation resemble a patchwork that is probably the product of mutations, genetic drift, balanced by low levels of gene flow, and natural selection. The extensive morphological variation must now be seen against the backdrop of three genetically defined species.     

Rediscovery of Gastrostyla setifera (Engelmann, 1862) Kent, 1882: morphology and divisional morphogenesis (Ciliophora,Hypotrichida)

The morphology and morphogenesis of the poorly known hypotrichous ciliate Gastrostyla setifera, isolated from a freshwater pond near Harbin, China, are described from both living and protargol silver-impregnated specimens. The Harbin population of this species is characterized thus: medium-sized freshwater Gastrostyla, 150-205 × 70-95 μm in vivo, ellipsoid in shape but somewhat narrowed posteriorly. Contractile vacuole located in left half of mid-body region. On average 48-56 (mean 52) adoral membranelles; 10 frontal and 9-11 ventral cirri; 23-26 left and 30-34 right marginal cirri; usually with four complete dorsal kineties and two dorsomarginal kineties; three caudal cirri present at posterior margin; invariably two macronuclear nodules and two micronuclei. Its morphogenesis reveals the following characteristics: (1) adoral zone of membranelles (AZM) in the opisthe arises from the new oral primordium while the proter inherits the entire parental structure; (2) 10 frontal, 9-11 ventral and five transverse cirri are derived from five frontoventral transverse cirral anlagen together with the undulating membrane anlage; (3) left and right marginal cirri are derived from new anlagen which originate within the old marginal rows; (4) the generation of the dorsal kineties is of the 'two-group-mode'; three left primary dorsal anlagen and two dorsomarginal anlagen appear as two groups in both dividers from which all dorsal kineties are derived (the fourth kinety is formed due to the fragmentation of the third anlage); (5) one caudal cirrus is formed at the ends of each of the first, second and fourth dorsal anlagen.     

A new species of Hyalella from Colombia,and the redescription of H. meinerti Stebbing, 1899 from Venezuela (Crustacea: Amphipoda)

The new species H. quindioensis is described from Colombia. This species is close to H. paramoensis Andres, 1988 also in Colombia. Hyalella meinerti Stebbing, 1899 is figured and redescribed. The type locality for this species is Venezuela. However, it has a wide distribution including Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Brazil.