Decomposing the process of species accumulation into area dependent and time dependent parts

In 1960, Preston predicted that the process of species accumulation in time (species–time relationship, STR) should be similar to the species–area relationship (SAR) and follow a power function with a slope of about 0.26. Here these two conjectures are tested using data of the spatiotemporal species accumulation in a local community of beech forest Hymenoptera. A power function species–area–time model of the form S = S₀ A^z t gave better fits to observed species numbers than a simple power function SAR model, and was able to predict similar species turnover rates (about 9% per year) to those inferred by other methods. The STR was well fitted by a power function, although due the limited time span (8 years) a logarithmic STR pattern cannot be ruled out. STR slopes ranged between 0.01 and 0.23 and were lower than predicted by Preston. Temporal species turnover appeared to be negatively correlated to species densities and positively correlated to species body weights. Ecological guild and taxon membership did not significantly influence temporal species turnover.     

Low frequency fatigue in human quadriceps is fatigue dependent and not task dependent.

It is well accepted that a low intensity/long duration isometric contraction induces more low frequency fatigue (LFF) compared to a high-intensity/short-duration contraction. However, previous reports examined the intensity/duration of the contraction but did not control the level of fatigue when concluding fatigue is task dependent. The purpose of this study was to determine whether a long duration/low intensity fatiguing contraction would induce greater LFF than a short duration/high-intensity contraction when the quadriceps muscle was fatigued to similar levels. Eighteen healthy male subjects performed quadriceps contractions sustained at 35% and 65% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) on separate days, until the tasks induced a similar amount of fatigue (force generating capacity=45% MVC). Double pulse torque to single pulse torque ratio (D/S ratio) was obtained before, immediately and 5min after fatigue along with the electromyographic (EMG) signal from vastus medialis (VM) and rectus femoris (RF). The D/S ratio significantly (p<0.05) increased by 8.7+/-8.5% (mean+/-SD) and 10.2+/-9.2% after 35% and 65% tasks, respectively, and remained elevated 5min into recovery; however, there was no significant difference in ratio between the two sessions immediately or 5min post-fatigue (p>0.05) even though the endurance time for the 35% fatigue task (124+/-39.68s) was significantly longer (p=0.05) than that of the 65% task (63+/-17.73s). EMG amplitude and median power frequency (MPF) analysis also did not reveal any significant differences between these two sessions after fatigue. These findings indicate that LFF fatigue is fatigue dependent as well as task intensity/duration dependent. These findings assist us in understanding task dependency and muscle fatigue.     

Cytoskeletal remodeling in differentiated vascular smooth muscle is actin isoform dependent and stimulus dependent

Dynamic remodeling of the actin cytoskeleton plays an essential role in the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. It has been suggested that actin remodeling may also play an important functional role in nonmigrating, nonproliferating differentiated vascular smooth muscle (dVSM). In the present study, we show that contractile agonists increase the net polymerization of actin in dVSM, as measured by the differential ultracentrifugation of vascular smooth muscle tissue and the costaining of single freshly dissociated cells with fluorescent probes specific for globular and filamentous actin. Furthermore, induced alterations of the actin polymerization state, as well as actin decoy peptides, inhibit contractility in a stimulus-dependent manner. Latrunculin pretreatment or actin decoy peptides significantly inhibit contractility induced by a phorbol ester or an alpha-agonist, but these procedures have no effect on contractions induced by KCl. Aorta dVSM expresses alpha-smooth muscle actin, beta-actin, nonmuscle gamma-actin, and smooth muscle gamma-actin. The incorporation of isoform-specific cell-permeant synthetic actin decoy peptides, as well as isoform-specific probing of cell fractions and two-dimensional gels, demonstrates that actin remodeling during alpha-agonist contractions involves the remodeling of primarily gamma-actin and, to a lesser extent, beta-actin. Taken together, these results show that net isoform- and agonist-dependent increases in actin polymerization regulate vascular contractility.     

Density dependent neurodynamics

The dynamics of a neural network depends on density parameters at (at least) two different levels: the subcellular density of ion channels in single neurons, and the density of cells and synapses at a network level. For the Frankenhaeuser-Huxley (FH) neural model, the density of sodium (Na) and potassium (K) channels determines the behaviour of a single neuron when exposed to an external stimulus. The features of the onset of single neuron oscillations vary qualitatively among different regions in the channel density plane. At a network level, the density of neurons is reflected in the global connectivity. We study the relation between the two density levels in a network of oscillatory FH neurons, by qualitatively distinguishing between three regions, where the mean network activity is (1) spiking, (2) oscillating with enveloped frequencies, and (3) bursting, respectively. We demonstrate that the global activity can be shifted between regions by changing either the density of ion channels at the subcellular level, or the connectivity at the network level, suggesting that different underlying mechanisms can explain similar global phenomena. Finally, we model a possible effect of anaesthesia by blocking specific inhibitory ion channels.     

Xanthine oxidase and endothelium dependent relaxation

Superoxide anion (O2-) generated from xanthine oxidase/xanthine has been used to decrease the half life of endothelium derived relaxing factor (EDRF). However, by itself, xanthine oxidase causes endothelium dependent relaxation. This relaxation is unrelated to the oxidative property of the enzyme since it is not inhibited by allopurinol. In addition, the relaxation is not inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin, or the phospholipase A2 inhibitor, p-bromophenacyl bromide. On the other hand the relaxation is inhibited by the trypsin inhibitor (TI) from chicken egg white. A similar endothelium dependent relaxation elicited by pancreatin and trypsin is also inhibited by TI. Pancreatin used in the preparation of xanthine oxidase contains trypsin, chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase. When compared to trypsin both chymotrypsin and carboxypeptidase elicit little relaxation. Thus the endothelium dependent relaxation elicited by xanthine oxidase is likely due to contamination with trypsin. Our results emphasize that when the superoxide generating system, xanthine oxidase/xanthine is used to study the effect of oxygen radicals on EDRF, it is advantageous to ensure that only purified preparations of xanthine oxidase are used.     

Intra-specific competition and density dependent juvenile growth

A difference equation model for the dynamics of a semelparous size-structured species consisting of juvenile and adult individuals is derived and studied. The adult population consists of two size classes, a smaller class and a larger more fertile class. Negative feedback occurs through slowed juvenile growth due to increased total population levels during the developmental period and consequently a smaller adult size at maturation. Intra-specific competition coefficients are size dependent and measure the strength of intra-specific competition between juveniles and adults. It is shown that equilibrium states in which adults and juveniles occur together at all times are in general destabilized by significantly increased juvenilevs adults competition with the result that stable periodic cycles appear, in which the generations alternate in time and hence avoid competition. This result supports the tenet that intra-specific competition between juveniles and adults is destabilizing. Exceptions to this destabilization principle are found, however, in which populations exhibiting non-equilibrium, aperiodic dynamics can be equilibrated by increase competition between juveniles and adults. This occurs, for example, when adult fertility and competition coefficients are significantly size class dependent. The author gratefully acknowledges the support of the Applied Mathematics Division and the Population Biology/Ecology Division of the National Science Foundation under NSF grant No. DMS-8902508. Research supported by the Department of Energy under contracts W-7405-ENG-36 and KC-07-01-01.     

Mechanisms and significance of spike-timing dependent plasticity

Hebb's original postulate left two important issues unaddressed: (i) what is the effective time window between pre- and postsynaptic activity that will result in potentiation? and (ii) what is the learning rule that underlies decreases in synaptic strength? While research over the past 2 decades has addressed these questions, several studies within the past 5 years have shown that synapses undergo long-term depression (LTD) or long-term potentiation (LTP) depending on the order of activity in the pre- and postsynaptic cells. This process has been referred to as spike-timing dependent plasticity (STDP). Here we discuss the experimental data on STDP, and develop models of the mechanisms that may underlie it. Specifically, we examine whether the standard model of LTP and LTD in which high and low levels of Ca(2+) produce LTP and LTD, respectively, can also account for STDP. We conclude that the standard model can account for a type of STDP in which, counterintuitively, LTD will be observed at some intervals in which the presynaptic cell fires before the postsynaptic cell. This form of STDP will also be sensitive to parameters such as the presence of an after depolarization following an action potential. Indeed, the sensitivity of this type of STDP to experimental parameters suggests that it may not play an important physiological role in vivo. We suggest that more robust forms of STDP, which do not exhibit LTD at pre-before-post intervals, are not accounted for by the standard model, and are likely to rely on a second coincidence detector in addition to the NMDA receptor.     

Negatively condition dependent predation cost of a positively condition dependent sexual signalling

Predation is considered as an important factor constraining the expression of sexual signals. Nevertheless, direct quantitative evidence for predation provoking significant viability costs on individuals signalling at high rates is scarce. Moreover, it is unclear whether high rate signallers are able to balance presumably increased predation costs. We examined whether a condition dependent audible sexual signal, drumming, makes Hygrolycosa rubrofasciata male spiders more prone to predation by pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca), and whether sexual signalling rate is related to escaping ability once attacked. When birds were given a choice between two spider males manipulated to drum either one or three bouts per minute using playbacks, naïve birds attacked the males randomly regardless of the drumming rate. However, experienced birds chose significantly more often the males with high signalling rate. When spiders were allowed to escape, males with high sexual signalling rate tended to be better at escaping attacks than males with low sexual signalling rate. This study provides evidence that high signalling rate increases the risk of predation, but simultaneously males with high mobility, which correlates positively with signalling rate seemed to be better at compensating this cost.     

Temperature dependent sex determination and climate change

One possible response of species to climate change is shifting their geographical range so as to track their climatic niche. Many concerns have been raised about the species ability to disperse effectively. I argue that species may have mechanisms, like temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), that are responsive to climate change and may facilitate an appropriate shift in their geographical range. More specifically, I hypothesize that, under stable climatic conditions, populations of some TSD species at the edge of their range are regulated by reduced growth rate (due to skewed sex ratios or due to limited availability of suitable nesting sites). Under climate change, these populations face new climatic conditions that trigger fast population growth (e.g. by more balanced sex ratio, or greater availability of nesting sites). Increased population size may lead to increased dispersal, and thus efficient colonization of the newly created habitat patches. So, the species rapidly tracks the geographical position of its climatic niche. This conceptual model is speculative but it leads to specific hypotheses, and opens up new research questions about the existence of prior adaptations that will enable the appropriate response to climate change.     

Glutathione peroxidase and iron-thiol dependent lipid peroxidation

Role of glutathione peroxidase in iron-thiol-mediated lipid peroxidation was examined. The enzyme was unable to prevent peroxidation of extracted rat liver microsomal lipids. In contrast, when arachidonic acid was the substrate, glutathione peroxidase did decrease the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material. Superoxide dismutase produced a consistent but partial inhibition of peroxidation and catalase was without effect. Our results suggest that iron-thiol-dependent lipid peroxidation cannot be completely blocked by protective enzymes that are effective in other systems.     

Taste-smell interactions are tastant and odorant dependent

Four experiments were conducted to assess the nature of taste–smellinteractions. In the first experiment, the ability of strawberryodor to modify the sweetness of sucrose was investigated. Thiswas accomplished by having subjects rate the sweetness of whipped-creamstimuli with and without strawberry odor over time. The stimuliwere swallowed to augment retronasal stimulation of the olfactorysystem. It was found that strawberry odor tended to enhancethe maximal sweetness and total rating time of the stimuli.In the second experiment, it was found that peanut butter odordid not enhance sweetness, thus demonstrating that an odor'sability to enhance sweetness is odor-dependent, In the thirdexperiment, it was demonstrated that strawberry odor did notenhance the saltiness of sodium chloride indicating that anodor's ability to enhance taste is tastant-dependent. In thefourth experiment, it was shown that 85% of the strawberry odorant'sability to enhance sweetness was eliminated by pinching thenostrils. This suggests that the influence of the strawberryodorant on sweetness was olfactory rather than gustatory. Itwas concluded that an odor's influence on taste is both odorantand tastant dependent.