A long-snouted predatory dinosaur from africa and the evolution of spinosaurids

Fossils discovered in Lower Cretaceous (Aptian) rocks in the Tenere Desert of central Niger provide new information about spinosaurids, a peculiar group of piscivorous theropod dinosaurs. The remains, which represent a new genus and species, reveal the extreme elongation and transverse compression of the spinosaurid snout. The postcranial bones include blade-shaped vertebral spines that form a low sail over the hips. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the enlarged thumb claw and robust forelimb evolved during the Jurassic, before the elongated snout and other fish-eating adaptations in the skull. The close phylogenetic relationship between the new African spinosaurid and Baryonyx from Europe provides evidence of dispersal across the Tethys seaway during the Early Cretaceous.     

Are ovine fenugreek (Trigonella foenum‐graecum) staggers and kangaroo gait of lactating ewes two clinically and pathologically similar nervous disorders?

Fenugreek staggers has occurred in sheep in Victoria, as both an acute and a chronic syndrome. Signs included quadraparesis, a high stepping fore limb gait and a 'bunny-hopping' hind limb gait. Changes consistent with acute oedema were found in the brain and spinal cord of acute cases, and Wallerian degeneration in the peripheral nerves of chronic cases. Kangaroo gait occurred in ewes in New South Wales, and the clinical signs and microscopic changes were remarkably similar to those of fenugreek staggers. Although the diet associated with each is different the causal agent may be the same.     

The theropod ancestry of birds: new evidence from the late cretaceous of madagascar

A partial skeleton of a primitive bird, Rahona ostromi, gen. et sp. nov., has been discovered from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. This specimen, although exhibiting avian features such as a reversed hallux and ulnar papillae, retains characteristics that indicate a theropod ancestry, including a pubic foot and hyposphene-hypantra vertebral articulations. Rahona has a robust, hyperextendible second digit on the hind foot that terminates in a sicklelike claw, a unique characteristic of the theropod groups Troodontidae and Dromaeosauridae. A phylogenetic analysis places Rahona with Archaeopteryx, making Rahona one of the most primitive birds yet discovered.     

球孢白僵菌生长及毒力影响因子的研究进展

随着害虫综合治理的提出，昆虫病原真菌在防治农林害虫上的应用日趋广泛，白僵菌是世界各国研究应用最多的真菌杀虫剂。从白僵菌生长所需的营养、温湿度条件等方面的研究进展进行阐述，总结了提高菌株生长水平和杀虫效果的主要措施，以期对今后白僵菌的培养及应用提供参考。     

Sandwich immunoassays for the determination of peanut and hazelnut traces in foods

People suffering from food allergies are dependent on accurate food labeling, as an avoidance diet is the only effective countermeasure. Even a small amount of allergenic protein can trigger severe reactions in highly sensitized patients. Therefore, sensitive and reliable tests are needed to detect potential cross-contamination. In this paper two fast sandwich immunoassays are described for the determination of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) and hazelnut (Corylus avellana) traces in complex food matrices. Mouse monoclonal antibodies were used as capture antibodies, and labeled rabbit polyclonal antibodies were used as detection antibodies in both assays. The assay time was 30 min in total, and cross-reactivities against a variety of fruits and seeds were found to be in the low 10(-4)% (ppm) level or in some cases not detectable. The recoveries in all tested food matrices ranged from 86 to 127%, and the limits of detection were in the range of 0.2-1.2 mg/kg (ppm) in food for both peanut and hazelnut, respectively.     

Detection and Characterization of the Cumulene Carbenes H2C5 and H2C6

Two cumulene carbenes, H2C5 and H2C6, were detected in a supersonic molecular beam by Fourier transform microwave spectroscopy. Their rotational and leading centrifugal distortion constants were determined with high accuracy, such that the entire radio spectrum can now be calculated. Like the known carbenes H2C3 and H2C4, both molecules have singlet electronic ground states and linear carbon-chain backbones. They can be produced in sufficiently high concentrations in the laboratory that their electronic spectra, expected to lie in the visible, should be readily detectable by laser spectroscopy. The microwave spectra of other, more exotic isomers may be detectable as well.     

小麦钙调素新亚型TaCaM5的克隆及表达分析

利用RT-PCR技术,从条锈菌诱导的小麦叶片中分离出一个编码CaM基因的cDNA序列, 经氨基酸序列分析确定其为一个新的小麦CaM亚型,暂被命名为TaCaM5。TaCaM5包含一个完整450 bp的开放阅读框,编码149个氨基酸;编码的蛋白不含跨膜区、无信号肽、定位在胞内,具有4个EF-hand保守结构域。在目前已知的CaM基因中,TaCaM5与玉米CaM基因的亲缘关系最近,相似性高达97%。该基因在根、茎、叶等组织中均有不同程度的表达;并且受条锈菌诱导表达,在非亲和组合与亲和组合中,分别在接种后6 h和24 h表达量最高。外源植物激素脱落酸、茉莉酸甲酯和乙烯诱导TaCaM5上调表达,水杨酸诱导其下调表达。TaCaM5在机械伤害、干旱和低温条件下表达量上升,在高盐环境下表达量降低。表明TaCaM5可能通过茉莉酸和乙烯等信号途径参与小麦对条锈菌的防御反应,同时参与机械伤害、低温和干旱环境下的Ca²⁺-CaM信号转导途径。