Geographical variation of skull size and shape in various populations in the black giant squirrel

We osteometrically examined the skulls of the black giant squirrel (Ratufa bicolor) from three mainland populations (M. Malayan Peninsula, V. South Vietnam, and B. Burma, India and North Thailand) and from two island populations (T. Tioman, and S. Sumatra Islands). The skull in the Malayan peninsula population was significantly smaller than that of the two other mainland populations. It is consistent with Bergmann's rule as shown in the gray-bellied squirrel. The two island populations did not show obvious differences in comparison with the Malayan population in many measurements. In the proportion analysis eliminating the size factor, the differences among populations were not easily confirmed and we concluded that the osteological characters peculiar to each population could not be shown in this species. The first and second principal component scores of M, S, and T populations were intermingled, whereas the V and B populations of V and B were not separated in the chart. We pointed out that the morphological differences were demonstrated between northern and southern groups of the Isthmus of Kra in the mainland populations, and that the two island populations did not show the island-isolation effect in comparison with the M population. The adaptational variation related to feeding and locomotion could not be confirmed among populations of the black giant squirrel as shown in the proportion analysis.     

Multivariate analysis in skull osteometry of the common tree shrew from both sides of the Isthmus of Kra in Southern Thailand

The Isthmus of Kra in Southern Thailand consists of a lowland of about 70 km in length. It has been suggested that the Isthmus may sink beneath the sea surface according to the change of level of the sea, and may function as a zoogeographical barrier in land mammals in this region. So, the geographical variation was osteometrically examined in skull of the common tree shrew (Tupaia glis) from the both sides of Isthmus of Kra. The osteometrical examination demonstrated that the skull is larger in southern population than in northern one. In the charts of the principal component analysis, however, the morphological separation between two populations can not be obviously seen in female. While, the results of the discriminant analysis indicated the morphological separation between the two populations. These findings suggest that the zoogeographical barrier of Isthmus of Kra may have influence on the osteometrical variation in the common tree shrew, when the Isthmus was covered with sea.     

Hump attachment structure of the two-humped camel (Camelus bactrianus)

The hump attachment structure was morphologically examined in the two-humped camel (Camelus bactrianus). The cranial hump is fixed by the trapezius and rhomboid muscles in the thoracic region. The strong collagen sheet in the basement of the hump is attached to the segmented bellies of the trapezius muscle, and the thoracic rhomboid muscle and the nuchal-supraspinous ligament support the attachment function of the trapezius muscle. The basement sheet possesses the line structure of collagen fibers, which are fitted to the segmented bundles of the trapezius muscle, and we observed that the muscle cells of the trapezius muscle are intermingled with the collagen fibers around the attachment line structure. In contrast, the caudal hump is directly attached to the subcutaneous tissue in the superficial region of the lumbar longissimus and lumbar iliocostal muscles. These findings demonstrated that the caudal hump of the two-humped camel is consistent with the hump of the one-humped camel in the attachment structure.     

Immunohistochemical localization of inhibin and steroidogenic enzymes in the ovary of common tree shrew (Tupaia glis) and northern smooth-tailed tree shrew (Dendrogale murina)

To study the ovarian function of the Order Scandentia, the localization of inhibin and steroidogenic enzymes (3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/isomerase and aromatase) in the ovaries of common tree shrew (Tupaia glis) and northern smooth-tailed tree shrew (Dendrogale murina) was immunohistochemically analysed. As in the results reported for other mammals, inhibin alpha-chain was localized in the follicular epithelium of secondary or Graafian follicles in the two species. The localization of aromatase in the ovary of these two species, however, was different. In the common tree shrew, the aromatase was localized in the thecal cells, whilst in other mammals it is localized in the granulosa cells. These results indicate that in the ovary of the common tree shrew, the oestradiol may be synthesized in the thecal cells.     

电阻抗分析法在大米浸泡和糊化过程中的应用

用ＦＦＴ电阻抗分析法研究大米在浸泡和糊化过程中电阻抗的变化。采用“修正Ｈａｙｄｅｎ模型”的等价电路模型和非线性最小二乘法解析出细胞内电阻Ｒｓ、细胞外电阻Ｒｓ和相角ψ,从细胞组织方面分析这些变化的机理。     

The rotational spectrum and structure of the HOOO radical

The adduct of the hydroxyl radical with oxygen has been studied theoretically, in connection with atmospheric reactions, but its stability and structure remained an open question. Pure rotational spectra of the HOOO and DOOO radicals have now been observed in a supersonic jet by using a Fourier-transform microwave spectrometer with a pulsed discharge nozzle. The molecular constants extracted from 12 rotational transitions with fine and hyperfine splittings support a trans planar molecular structure, in contrast to the cis planar structure predicted by most ab initio calculations. The bond linking the HO and O2 moieties is fairly long (1.688 angstroms) and comparable to the F-O bond in the isoelectronic FOO radical.     

Auranofin improves overall survival when combined with standard of care in a pilot study involving dogs with osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common paediatric primary bone malignancy. The major cause of death in osteosarcoma is drug‐resistant pulmonary metastasis. Previous studies have shown that thioredoxin reductase 2 is a driver of metastasis in osteosarcoma and can be inhibited by auranofin (AF). Moreover, studies have shown that AF significantly reduces pulmonary metastases in xenotransplant models. Here, we describe a phase I/II study of AF in canine osteosarcoma, a well‐recognized spontaneous model of human osteosarcoma. We performed a single‐arm multicentre pilot study of AF in combination with standard of care (SOC) (amputation + carboplatin). We recruited 40 dogs to the trial and used a historical SOC‐only control group (n = 26). Dogs >15 kg received 9 mg AF q3d PO and dogs <15 kg received 6 mg q3d. Follow‐up occurred over at least a 3‐year period. Auranofin plus SOC improved overall survival (OS) (P = .036) in all dogs treated. The improved outcome was attributable entirely to improved OS in male dogs (P = .009). At the time of writing, 10 dogs (25%) survive without measurable disease in the treatment group with survival times ranging between 806 and 1525 days. Our study shows that AF improves OS in male dogs when combined with SOC. Our findings have translational relevance for the management of canine and human osteosarcoma. Our data justify a larger multicentre phase 2 trial in dogs and a phase I/II trial in human patients with refractory disease at the time of initial surgery.     

Transgenic Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) over-expressing growth hormone show reduced ammonia excretion

The growth of aquaculture has negatively affected the environment due to the high levels of nitrogen excreted by farmed fish. Here we propose that modifying the nitrogen metabolism of the fish themselves using transgenic technology might solve the pollution problem. Growth hormone (GH) is known to increase protein retention and absorption, and is thought to reduce ammonia excretion. Thus, we produced transgenic Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) that over-expressed the GH gene throughout their bodies. Our findings showed that the food-conversion efficiency of the transgenic fish was 35% higher than that of their non-transgenic siblings. The rearing period required for the transgenic fish to reach a body weight of 20 g was about 75% of that required for non-transgenic fish that were fed the same type and quantity of food. The total amount of ammonium-nitrogen excreted by the transgenic fish was about 69% of that excreted by the wild-type fish over their lifetime. These results suggest that our transgenic approach has the potential to reduce the amount of nitrogen pollution caused by farmed fish. This strategy is a promising option for making aquaculture more ‘eco-friendly’.