Sacred sites as habitats of culturally important plant species in an Indian megacity

Cultural ecosystem services related to urban green spaces contribute significantly to liveable cities. While previous studies highlight the intersection of cultural ecosystem services with societal values, spiritual or religious values associated with urban nature have received less attention. In India, as in other parts of the world, sacred sites are known for their biological richness, but analyses from urban sacred sites are largely missing. Based on a stratified random sampling approach, we analysed the cultivated and wild plant species assemblages of 69 sacred sites in the megacity of Bengaluru, India, in relation to biological and cultural features, and parameters related to the urban matrix and type of sacred sites (temple vs. katte). Unlike other urban studies, we found a dominance of native species in the cultivated and spontaneous species pools (121 species in total), with Ficus religiosa and Azadirachta indica as most frequently planted species. Culturally relevant species prevailed in the species pool (89%), with overlaps between religious (36%), medicinal (50%) and ornamental (62%) plants; only 11% of species were weeds. Urban matrix parameters (age of development, housing density) and size and type of sacred sites were related to differences in species assemblages. We identified key species for different classes of age and housing density, and for types of sacred sites. Our study demonstrates that urban sacred sites have an important potential in harbouring both native and culturally significant species that can support urban livelihoods in developing countries by a range of cultural and provisioning ecosystem services, including medicinal uses. As such sites are conserved by communities for spiritual or cultural beliefs, local biodiversity can be enhanced, e.g. by adapting management practices through community participation. This would strengthen the important contribution of sacred sites within the green infrastructure of rapidly growing megacities.     

Association of TNF-α, IL-10 and IL-6 promoter polymorphisms in pulmonary tuberculosis patients and their household contacts of younger age group

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of cytokine genes have been found to be involved in the clinical outcome of Tuberculosis. The present study was aimed to identify the high risk genotypes in Tuberculosis patients and their household contacts. A total of 490 subjects were studied which includes 150 active pulmonary tuberculosis patients (APTB), 190 household contacts (HHC) and 150 healthy controls (HC). The SNPs of TNF-α (-308A/G), IL-10(-1082G/A) and IL-6(-174G/C) were performed by ARMs PCR. The IL-10 GA genotype showed significant association in APTB and HHC and was 2.3 times higher risk in APTB and 3.7 times in HHC compared to HCs. The A allele was found to be significantly associated with the risk of disease. The CC genotype of IL-6 was found to be significantly associated in APTB and an insignificant positive association in HHCs. The multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) analysis indicated that the genotypes of IL-6 were showing high risk with GA genotype of IL-10. In conclusion the gene interaction may be useful for identification of genotypes as biomarkers to distinguish high risk individuals.     

不同周龄大耳白兔血液生理生化指标的测定

为了明确大耳白兔中国兽药监察所封闭群的生物学特性，对其血液生理生化指标进行了测定。选5、10及13周龄的雄兔和雌兔。空腹采血测定红细胞、白细胞等16项血液生理指标和血糖、总蛋白等16项生化指标。10周龄的红细胞数、白细胞数、红细胞压积和平均红细胞血红蛋白含量高于5周龄和13周龄，雌雄间血液生理指标无明显差异，血清丙氨酸转氨酶含量随着周龄的增加而升高，碱性磷酸则随着周龄的增加而下降。与日本大耳白兔相比，主要血液生理指标比较接近，丙氨酸转氨酸、白蛋白、尿素氮、直接胆红素等血液生化指标相近，其他指标有所不同。测定结果表明，该封闭群具有不同于日本大耳白兔（Slc:JW/CSK)的生物学特性。     

用铬变素2R法对家蚕微孢子虫孢子染色的研究

采用铬变素 2R法 (Chromotrope 2R)染色家蚕微孢子虫 (Nosemabombycis,N .b)孢子和绿僵 (Nomuraearile yi)孢子、曲霉 (Aspergillusflavus)孢子、花粉粒 (Pollengranule)等与N .b孢子形状相似物 ,结果表明 :Chromotrope 2R法特异性地将N .b孢子染成粉红色 ,绿僵孢子、曲霉孢子、花粉粒未被染成红色 ,初步认为Chromotrope 2R法可应用于母蛾镜检的N .b鉴定 ,能明显提高N .b的检出率与准确性 ;染色N .b孢子的最佳时间与温度为 4 0min ,30℃。鉴于本染色法的条件、技术操作简便 ,染色特异性强 ,因而具有良好的应用前景     

猪肺炎支原体黏附因子基因R1R2区的克隆及表达

根据GenBank登录的猪肺炎支原体232株P97基因和J株黏附因子基因设计了1对引物，以我国猪肺炎支原体Z株(强毒株)基因组DNA为模板，通过PCR方法扩增了该株黏附因子基因的部分序列。经序列分析后，重新设计了1对带有EcoRI和HindⅢ酶切位点的引物，并经引物的定点突变，PCR扩增了Z株黏附因子的R1R2区。扩增产物经双酶切后克隆到表达载体pET-32(a) 中。该重组质粒经酶切鉴定后，将其具有正确阅读框架的重组质粒转化到大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)感受态细胞，37℃下经IPTG诱导表达，得到相对分子质量约29000的融合蛋白，表达量约为11％。     

豫麦10号高产栽培技术调查总结

通过对小麦新品种豫麦1O号的观察,认为该品种在上蔡县增产潜力较大。为充分发挥其增产优势,从整地播种,施肥浇水,中、后期管理等方面提出了措施和建议。     

Sensitivity,specificity, and predictive values of reagent test strip estimations of blood urea nitrogen

Azostix-reagent-tests(R) strips (Ames, Miles, Inc., Diagnostic Division, Elkhart, IN) were used to measure blood urea nitrogen values in blood samples from 125 dogs and cats at the North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine. Results of the tests were compared with standard serum urea nitrogen results. Sensitivity, specificity, and negative predictive values were high (86.4, 90.3, and 96.5%, respectively). Positive predictive value was low, 65.5% of the dogs and cats with elevated blood urea nitrogen values were correctly classified as abnormal The test performs well when the prevalence of abnormal values is near 50%.     

The effect of some Frescon analogs on the aquatic snail,Lymnaea stagnalis: II. Correlation of neurotoxicity to Molluscicidal effectiveness

Although the molluscicide Frescon is a strong neurotoxin to the Lymnaea stagnalis central nervous system in vitro, it is probable that the exposure of the whole animal to this molluscicide fails to result in central nervous system abnormalities: Frescon does not appear to reach the brain in sufficient quantity to disrupt its normal activity. However, only those Frescon analogs found to be neurotoxic were molluscicidal, suggesting some related mode, if not site, of action. Frescon and its analogs may act by affecting excitable tissues other than the nervous system (e.g., the snail musculature) by altering certain functional and/or structural membrane properties.     

红千层的离体培养及快速繁殖

 研究了红千层离体快繁的若干影响因素。结果表明: 叶片在MS + 6-BA 115 mg·L ^{- 1}+NAA015 mg·L ^{- 1}中的愈伤组织诱导率43% , 并可直接从愈伤组织表面分化出不定芽, 分化率为69.2%; 腋芽启动培养基为MS + 6-BA 1～1.5 mg·L ^{- 1} + NAA 0.5 mg·L ^{- 1} , 萌动率为77%; 继代和增殖培养基为MS + 6-BA 1 mg·L ^{- 1} +NAA 0.25 mg·L ^{- 1} , 平均增殖系数为16.7; 生根壮苗培养基为1 /2MS +NAA 0.25 mg·L ^{- 1} , 生根率96.1%; 试管苗生根培养30～35 d移栽, 成活率最高可达90%以上。