类人动物小说研究--以沈石溪作品为例

动物小说是以动物作为主角、严格遵照动物的自然习性进行描写的文学样式。中国当代的动物小说作品中,有相当一部分其实并不属于规范的动物小说,而应该称之为"类人动物小说",即将动物的生物性拔高、夸大、修饰后予以刻画的小说,通常表现出主题先行的特质。这些作品后模糊了动物小说的真实含义。被称做"中国动物小说之父"的沈石溪的作品应该归属于类人动物小说。

Impact of Human Activities on Depositional Process of Tidal Flat in Quanzhou Bay of China

As a very important component of a coastal system, tidal flats come to be a focus of the studies on land-ocean interaction in the coastal zone because those areas are subjected to intense human activities and are highly sensitive to the global change. The Quanzhou Bay, located along the middle part of Fujian coast of China, covers about 136.4km^2, and the area of coastal wetland in the entire bay from intertidal to subtidal with 6m of water depth accounts for 96% of the total area. Seven short cores were collected and divided in situ with the interval of 5cm on the coastal wetlands of Quanzhou Bay on April 19, 2006. The sediment samples were scattered and the grain sizes were measured by using Mastersizer 2000. Human beings＇ activities on tidal fiat have disturbed the vertical distribution of sediments in stratigraphic sequence and accelerated the sedimentation rates. Grain size analysis results show that the grain size diameters increase and sediment becomes worse sorted towards the sea under the strong human disturbance; Spartina alterniflora can play a role of trapping the fine sediment; but near the bank, the sediment becomes coarse and there are two peak values on frequency curve influenced by the sandpile. The trough formed by human activities along the coastline changes the transport path of water and suspended sediment. The sediments are transported through the trough and deposit in it during the flood; the ebb flow is retarded by the flow output through the adjacent trough, and the deposited sediment can not be re-suspended; then, the sedimentation rate increases. In situ observation show that the sedimentation rate is about 8-10cm/yr.

Evaluation of a Direct Rapid Immunohistochemical Test (dRIT) for Rapid Diagnosis of Rabies in Animals and Humans

Presently the gold standard diagnostic technique for rabies is the direct immunofluorescence assay （dFA） which is very expensive and requires a high level of expertise. There is a need for more economical and user friendly tests, particularly for use in developing countries. We have established one such test called the direct rapid immunohistochemical test （dRIT） for diagnosis of rabies using brain tissue. The test is based on capture of rabies nucleoprotein （N） antigen in brain smears using a cocktail of biotinylated monoclonal antibodies specific for the N protein and color development by streptavidin peroxidase-amino ethyl carbazole and counter staining with haematoxollin. The test was done in parallel with standard FAT dFA using 400 brain samples from different animals and humans. The rabies virus N protein appears under fight microscope as reddish brown particles against a light blue background. There was 100 % correlation between the results obtained by the two tests. Also, interpretation of results by dRIT was easier and only required a light microscope. To conclude, this newly developed dRIT technique promises to be a simple, cost effective diagnostic tool for rabies and will have applicability in field conditions prevalent in developing countries.

Future of liver transplantation: Non-human primates for patient-specific organs from induced pluripotent stem cells

Strategies to fill the huge gap in supply versus demand of human organs include bioartificial organs, growing humanized organs in animals, cell therapy, and implantable bioengineered constructs. Reproducing the complex relations between different cell types, generation of adequate vasculature, and immunological complications are road blocks in generation of bioengineered organs, while immunological complications limit the use of humanized organs produced in animals. Recent developments in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) biology offer a possibility of generating human, patient-specific organs in non-human primates (NHP) using patient-derived iPSC and NHP-derived iPSC lacking the critical developmental genes for the organ of interest complementing a NHP tetraploid embryo. The organ derived in this way will have the same human leukocyte antigen (HLA) profile as the patient. This approach can be curative in genetic disorders as this offers the possibility of gene manipulation and correction of the patient's genome at the iPSC stage before tetraploid complementation. The process of generation of patient-specific organs such as the liver in this way has the great advantage of making use of the natural signaling cascades in the natural milieu probably resulting in organs of great quality for transplantation. However, the inexorable scientific developments in this direction involve several social issues and hence we need to educate and prepare society in advance to accept the revolutionary consequences, good, bad and ugly.

Basal physiological parameters in domesticated tree shrews (Tupaia belangeri chinensis)

Establishing non-human primate models of human diseases is an efficient way to narrow the large gap between basic studies and translational medicine. Multifold advantages such as simplicity of breeding, low cost of feeding and facility of operating make the tree shrew an ideal non-human primate model proxy. Additional features like vulnerability to stress and spontaneous diabetic characteristics also indicate that the tree shrew could be a potential new animal model of human diseases. However, basal physiological indexes of tree shrew, especially those related to human disease, have not been systematically reported. Accordingly, we established important basal physiological indexes of domesticated tree shrews including several factors: (1) body weight, (2) core body temperature and rhythm, (3) diet metabolism, (4) locomotor rhythm, (5) electroencephalogram, (6) glycometabolism and (7) serum and urinary hormone level and urinary cortisol rhythm. We compared the physiological parameters of domesticated tree shrew with that of rats and macaques. Results showed that (a) the core body temperature of the tree shrew was 39.59±0.05 °C, which was higher than that of rats and macaques; (b) Compared with wild tree shrews, with two activity peaks, domesticated tree shrews had only one activity peak from 17:30 to 19:30; (c) Compared with rats, tree shrews had poor carbohydrate metabolism ability; and (d) Urinary cortisol rhythm indicated there were two peaks at 8:00 and 17:00 in domesticated tree shrews, which matched activity peaks in wild tree shrews. These results provided basal physiological indexes for domesticated tree shrews and laid an important foundation for diabetes and stress-related disease models established on tree shrews.

First evidence of prey capture and meat eating by wild Yunnan snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus bieti in Yunnan,China

Most extant nonhuman primates occasionally prey on fast-moving, warm-blooded animals; however, Indriidae, Lepilemuridae, and Colobinae either scavenged for meat or did not eat meat at all. Here we report six cases of animal consumption by the snub-nosed monkey Rhinopithecus bieti in a wild, habituated group between 2004 and 2009 in Yunnan, China. At present, only males in an all-male unit within the study group were involved in active hunting. Such a male-biased activity may be related to the group structure and spatial spread of R. bieti. Two females were observed eating freshly killed birds. The findings confirmed that R. bieti engaged in scavenging and, when hunting, employed a cranio-cervical bite to kill their prey. Meat eating is likely a nutrient maximization feeding strategy in R. bieti, especially in males. A begging behavior occurred after successful prey capture. Although begging was observed, no sharing of the meat was seen. The present findings illuminate the dietary diversity of R. bieti and their ability to expand their dietary spectrum.

Influence of dominance rank and affiliation relationships on selfdirected behavior in female Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana)

Self-directed behavior(SDB) is characterized as an indicator of anxiety, frustration and stress in nonhuman primates. In this study, we collected self-directed behavior data from one group of free-ranging Tibetan macaques(Macaca thibetana) at Mt. Huangshan, China(September 2012–May 2013) using a combination of behavioral sampling methods including focal animal sampling, behavioral sampling, continuous sampling and instantaneous sampling. Our results showed that females engaged in significantly higher rates of self-directed behavior when they were in proximity to dominant individuals compared to subordinate ones. Conflict losers significantly increased their SDB rates after agonistic episodes, indicating that SDB might also serve as an index of anxiety in M. thibetana. We further found that females significantly increased their SDB rates when focal individual was proximity to weakly affiliation relationship higher rank members than to strongly affiliation relationship higher rank members. If conflicts were not reconciled, the postconflict SDB rates of losers were higher when they stayed with strongly affiliation opponents; if conflicts were reconciled, victims of strongly affiliation relationships opponents engaged in more SDB rates before reconciliation than after reconciliation, while victims of moderately affiliation relationships opponents did not engaged in more SDB rates before reconciliation than after reconciliation. We conclude that both of dominance rank and affiliation relationships might both influence the SDB rates of female Tibetan macaques significantly, suggesting that SDB is not only an index of anxiety in Tibetan macaques, but also can provide a new insight into evaluation of social relationships between individuals.

Expansion of Small Terrestrial Mammals and Their Parasites into the Barun Valley (Makalu Mt. Region, Nepal Himalaya) Linked with Changes in Glaciation and Human Activities

The article is based on collection of small terrestrial mammals(Soriculus nigrescens,Episoriculus caudatus, Neodon sikimensis,Alticola stoliczkanus, Niviventer eha and Ochotona roylei) collected in the Barun Valley, east Nepal in the pre-monsoon period of 1973.Zoogeographic and ecological characteristics and altitudinal stratification of these species are analysed, depending both on abiotic(geomorphological and climatic) and biotic(vegetation, and human presence and activities)factors. All the captured mammals were examined for ecto- and endoparasities. Infestations of Trombiculid mites and Ixodid ticks were tightly linked to the local habitat where these ectoparasites must survive during their nonparasitic phase. Analysis of their occurrence completes the reconstruction of migration routes during the expansion of small mammals into the Barun Valley and the exacerbating influence of human activities(summer pasturing,mountaineering expeditions and trekking parties).An indicator of anthropogenic influence was the occurrence of synantropic flies. The potential medical importance of these findings is discussed.It is assumed a possible occurrence of arboviruses transmitted by ticks and also rickettsioses(transmitted by ticks and chigger mites). As far bacteriological infections, plague cannot be excluded.

Anthropogenic impacts on hyperbenthos in the coastal waters of Sishili Bay,Yellow Sea

A survey on the hyperbenthic communities was carried out in the coastal waters of Sishili Bay in the Yellow Sea in July 2009,to investigate the impact of putative anthropogenic activities related to the presence of a sewage outfall,a harbor and an aquaculture site on the benthic ecosystem.An Agassiz net trawl was used to collect hyperbenthos at 10 sampling stations.Species,diversity,abundance,and biomass were analyzed against water sample data and historical data obtained from records from nearby Yantai City.Fifty-two species were identified in the region,of which Crustacea were the most abundant taxon,followed by Echinodermata.Dominant species included five crustaceans,two echinoderms,one mollusk and one fish species.The results of a BIOENV analysis show that the concentrations of NO3-N and Chl-a were slightly positively correlated with hyperbenthic community structure,while other factors were negatively correlated,including sediment grain size and the percentage of TN and TOC in sediment.Abundance- Biomass Comparison(ABC method) curves indicate that the hyperbenthos in Sishili Bay had been disturbed by putative sources of human activities.Eight out of 10 stations were classified as "moderately perturbed" to "perturbed".

Impacts of Human Activity on Biodiversity——An Approach to Driving Force Indicators

The impact of human activity on biodiversity is very complicated, making it difficult to design practical indicators for assessment.Currently,state and response indicators are listed within Chapter15 of Agenda21,but no mention is made of driving force indicators and how they relate to biodiversity protection. This paper repre- sents an effort to identify and then operationalize the idea of driving force indicators at national level.Five human induced factors affecting biodiversity were discussed: (a) habitat loss and fragmentation; (b) overexploitation of resources;(c)species introduction;(d)pollution;and (e) climate change. From these five factors, a subsetwas selected to serve as possible driving force indicators:(1)habitat loss, (2)the ratio of exotic species to indigenous ones, and (3)the change in pollution status. Although the three indicators are relatively simple,they coverthe most important human impacts on biodiversity and offer the potential for further redefinition and ultimate use within the spirit of biodiversity protection.

Novel Coronaviruses and Astroviruses in Bats

Zoonotic transmissions of emerging pathogens from wildlife to human have shaped the history of mankind. These events have also highlighted our poor understanding of microorganisms circulated in wild animals. Coronaviruses and astroviruses,which can be found from a wide range of mammals,were recently detected in bats. Strikingly,these bat viruses are genetically highly diverse and these interesting findings might help to better understand the evolution and ecology of these viruses. The discoveries of these novel bats viruses not only suggested that bats are important hosts for these virus families,but also reiterated the role of bats as a reservoir of viruses that might pose a zoonotic threat to human health.

Genetically modified mouse models for the study of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD) is associated with obesity,insulin resistance,and type 2 diabetes.NAFLD represents a large spectrum of diseases ranging from(1) fatty liver(hepatic steatosis);(2) steatosis with inflammation and necrosis;to(3) cirrhosis.The animal models to study NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis(NASH) are extremely useful,as there are still many events to be elucidated in the pathology of NASH.The study of the established animal models has provided many clues in the pathogenesis of steatosis and steatohepatitis,but these remain incompletely understood.The different mouse models can be classified in two large groups.The first one includes genetically modified(transgenic or knockout) mice that spontaneously develop liver disease,and the second one includes mice that acquire the disease after dietary or pharmacological manipulation.Although the molecular mechanism leading to the development of hepatic steatosis in the pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex,genetically modified animal models may be a key for the treatment of NAFLD.Ideal animal models for NASH should closely resemble the pathological characteristics observed in humans.To date,no single animal model has encompassed the full spectrum of human disease progression,but they can imitate particular characteristics of human disease.Therefore,it is important that the researchers choose the appropriate animal model.This review discusses various genetically modified animal models developed and used in research on NAFLD.

Social rank and cortisol among female rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta)

In animal societies, some stressful events can lead to higher levels of physiological stress. Such stressors, like social rank, also predict an increased vulnerability to an array of diseases. However, the physiological relationship between social rank and stress varies between different species, as well as within groups of a single species. For example, dominant individuals are more socially stressed at times, while at other times it is the subordinate ones who experience this stress. Together, these variations make it difficult to assess disease vulnerability as connected to social interactions. In order to learn more about how physiological rank relationships vary between groups of a single species, cortisol measurements from hair samples were used to evaluate the effects of dominance rank on long-term stress levels in despotic and less stringent female rhesus macaque hierarchal groups. In despotic groups, cortisol levels were found not to be correlated with social rank, but a negative correlation was found between social rank and cortisol levels in less stringent hierarchies. Low ranking monkeys in less stringent groups secreted elevated levels of cortisol compared to higher ranking animals. These data suggest that variations in the strictness of the dominance hierarchy are determining factors in rank related stress physiology. The further consideration of nonhuman primate social system diversity and the linear degree of their hierarchies may allow for the development of valid rank-related stress models that will help increase our understanding and guide the development of new therapeutics for diseases related to human socioeconomic status.

Ode to nature： The analysis of The music of this sphere

The readers of the prose The music of this sphere are usually carded away by the singing of various animals in nature, and for this reason, this article is always regarded as an ode to nature. The vivid description of the natural world evokes modem human beings＇ longing for the bosom of nature.

The Effect of Human Activities on the Quality of Water at UMhlathuze River （Northern Coast of Kwa-Zulu Natal, RSA）： The Case of Agricultural and Industrial Developments

UMhlathuze River is the main recipient of domestic sewage, industrial as well as agricultural waste from local industrial and agricultural practices. It is the effluent ＂dumping sites＂ for most human activity practices. Contamination of UMhlathuze River by agricultural and industrial developments makes communities around UMhlathuze area susceptible to potential outbreaks of water-borne illnesses as well as the risk of ingesting carcinogenic substances. In establishment of the effect of human developments on the UMhlathuze River, four different sites representing different human activities were used for sampling along the river. Temperature and pH were monitored in siitu and were found to vary between 19-21℃and 6.2-7.8, respectively. Chemical oxygen demand （COD） was found to be higher in areas affected by both industrial and agricultural activities. Spectroquadrant Pharo 300 （Merck） was used for chemical analysis of water. Agricultural waste recipient area had high concentration of phosphate, ammonia and nitrate. Parts of the river receiving effluent from treated wastewater had high sulphide, nitrate and ammonia concentrations. Industrial areas had high concentration of heavy metals （e.g., aluminium）. Microorganisms found in all sites included Escherichia coli and species of Salmonella, Shigella, Citrobacter, Serratia and Enterobacter, although their quantities differed from agricultural to industrial sites. There was a positive correlation between contamination levels and human activities which ascribe river pollution to activities around the area. Agricultural and industrial development activities practiced around UMhlathuze River have a huge contribution to the continued deterioration of the quality of water at UMhlathuze River.

Animal models to study Mycobacterium tuberculosis and HIV co-infection

Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tb) and human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) co-infection has become a public health issue worldwide. Up to now, there have been many unresolved issues either in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of M.tb/HIV coinfection or in the basic understanding of the mechanisms for the impairments to the immune system by interactions of these two pathogens. One important reason for these unsolved issues is the lack of appropriate animal models for the study of M.tb/HIV coinfection. This paper reviews the recent development of research on the animal models of M.tb/HIV co-infection, with a focus on the non-human primate models.

Treatment of dyslipidemia in the elderly

Dyshpidemia is a well-established risk factor for atherosclerosis. Treating dyslipidemia in elderly patients requires specific knowledge and understanding of common dyslipidemias and the relative safety of various pharmacologic agents in the presence of possible multiple comorbidities. Lifestyle modification remains the first step in the treatment of dyslipidemia; however, it can be difficult to sustain and achieve acceptable compliance in the elderly and it is best used in combination with drug therapy. Statins are widely accepted as the first-line therapy. Several recent studies have demonstrated that statins are safe and effective in the elderly. However, it is important to note that there is very limited data regarding the effects of dyslipidemia treatment on morbidity and mortality in patients over 85 years of age. In summary, the clinicians must recognize that the presence of dyslipidemia in the elderly poses substantial risk of coronary events and stroke. The available evidence has demonstrated that in most elderly patients who are at increased risk for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, treatment of dyslipidemia with appropriate therapy reduces the risk, and when used carefully with close monitoring for safety, the treatment is generally well tolerated. With increasing life expectancy, it is critical for physicians to recognize the importance of detection and treatment of dyslipidemia in the elderly.