Checklist of the smaller families of Opomyzoidea,Anthomyzidae, Asteiidae,Aulacigastridae, Clusiidae,Odiniidae, Opomyzidae and Periscelididae (Diptera)?of?Finland

A species checklist is presented for Finland covering seven smaller families of Opomyzoidea: Anthomyzidae, Asteiidae, Aulacigastridae, Clusiidae, Odiniidae, Opomyzidae and Periscelididae (Diptera).     

Abstracts of Papers,Conference of Young Scientists,Kol’tsov Institute of Developmental Biology,Russian Academy of Sciences,Moscow, Russia (December 21–22, 2009)

Reviews

Abstracts of Papers, Conference of Young Scientists, Kol’tsov Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia (December 21–22, 2009)     

Trypanosomes of non-human primates from the National Centre of Primates, Ananindeua, State of Pará, brazil

Trypanosome infections were sought in 46 non-human primates captured principally in Amazonian Brazil. Twenty-two (47.8%) were infected with four Trypanosoma species: T. cruzi, T. minasense, T. devei and T. rangeli. These preliminary results confirmed the high prevalence and diversity of natural infections with trypanosomes in primates from Brazilian Amazon and were the first formal record of simian infections with trypanosomes in the State of Acre. The presence of T. cruzi-like and T. rangeli-like parasites are recorded in four new hosts.     

Compounds isolated at theDepartment of Biogenesis of Natural Substances,Institute of Microbiology,Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences,in 1954–1983

Substances studied at this department in 1954–1983 are reviewed; a total of 226 compounds are characterized in a tabular form. They include natural compounds as well as those prepared by biotransformation, by semisynthetic and synthetic methods.     

Compounds isolated at theDepartment of Biogenesis of Natural Substances,institute of microbiology,Czechoslovak academy of sciences,in 1984–1988

A total of 41 compounds studied at theDepartment of Biogenesis of Natural Substances between 1984 and 1988 are characterized and tabulated. They include natural, semisynthetic and synthetic compounds. 1st supplement to the paper Podojilet al. (1984).     

Review of the fauna of Rotatoria,Cladocera, and Copepoda of the basin of the Anadyr’ River

The zooplankton composition is studied in the thermokarst, glacial and meteorite lakes, channels, former riverbeds, and hollows in the basin of Anadyr’. We found 174 taxa: 78, Rotatoria, 55, Cladocera, and 41, Copepoda. The most diverse is the lake fauna: 51 taxa of Rotatoria, 48, Cladocera, and 37, Copepoda. The thermokarst Lake Maiorskoe hosts 68 taxa: 31, Rotatoria, 14, Cladocera, and 23, Copepoda, wheras the cold ultraoligotrophic Lake El’gygytgyn features only one species of Cyclop of the group scutifer Cyclops neymanae Strel., and Rotatoria and Cladocera are present as allochtonous forms. The Copepoda illustrate the relations of the Anadyr’ fauna with those of Europe, North America, and Japan.     

Distribution, crypticity, stability, and localization of α-L-fucosidase of mouse cauda epididymal sperm

Sperm‐associated and semen‐specific isoforms of α‐L ‐fucosidase are thought to function in fertilization in numerous organisms. Here, we report the localization, distribution, crypticity, and stability of this enzyme in mouse cauda epididymal sperm and cauda fluid. Western analysis revealed that the sperm‐associated α‐L ‐fucosidase is present as two isoforms (Mr ～49 and 56 kDa), whereas the cauda fluid α‐L ‐fucosidase shows a single band at 50 kDa. α‐L ‐Fucosidase activity was detected using the fluorogenic substrate 4‐MU‐FUC. Of the total α‐L ‐fucosidase activity recovered in the cauda epididymal contents, 74% was found in the cell‐free cauda fluid and about 7% was found in sperm cells. During capacitation or permeabilization, cryptic intracellular stores of soluble enzyme were released to the supernatant, while leaving bound enzyme concentrated within the small volume of sperm. Moreover, membrane‐associated enzyme activity was still detectable in acrosome‐reacted cells. Immunofluorescence studies support the presence of α‐L ‐fucosidase (originally localizing at the acrosomal area) at the equatorial segment after the acrosome reaction. α‐L ‐Fucosidase activity of both cauda fluid and sperm at 37°C, 5% CO₂ was relatively stable and detectable up to 72 hr. The stability and appearance of mouse sperm‐associated α‐L ‐fucosidase in the equatorial segment after the acrosome reaction suggest that α‐L ‐fucosidase may be involved in sperm–egg interaction. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 79: 208–217, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An inventory of the mires of Hokkaido,Japan—their development,classification, decline,and conservation

Hokkaido Island is located in the cool temperate zone, and its climate conditions facilitated the formation of a variety of wetland types, the majority of them peat-forming mires. Most of these remained in a natural state until the early 20th century. However, drainage and subsequent conversion mostly to agricultural land have since destroyed more than 70% of the original wetland ecosystems. This paper (1) provides an overview of mire types, (2) reviews the development process of mires in Hokkaido during the Holocene, (3) analyzes the causes of losses of wetland areas, and (4) gives a summary of the current conservation and management status. Basic mire types that have been described in other parts of the northern hemisphere can also be recognized in Hokkaido, although there are floristic differences, and the frequency and intensity of volcanic impact and tsunamis is higher than in most other regions with abundant mire formation. Mire formation started at various points during the postglacial period; a few mountain mires in southwest Hokkaido date back to the Lateglacial, but most mountain mires formed during the mid to late Holocene. Most lowland mires developed at altitudes below 20 m and were influenced by the Jomon transgression that peaked ca. 6,000 years BP. The largest lowland mires started forming after the sea retreated, and many are not older than ca. 3,000 years. In 1996, the total number of wetlands (including peat-forming mires, freshwater marshes, and saltmarshes) greater than 1 ha was 150, with a total area of 59,881 ha. In 1928, when many wetlands were yet undeveloped, their total area was 200,642 ha. Most losses occurred between the 1950s and 1970s, when post-war development economics promoted agriculture and large-scale reclamation projects. Currently, 90.7% of mountain wetlands are public land, while 81.3% of the lowland wetlands are private or in mixed ownership. The ownership condition affects the possibilities for the protection of complete mire complexes especially in the lowlands. For effective conservation of wetland ecosystems it is necessary to include the catchment area in the planning of protected areas.     

List of reviewers, 2017

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Effect of the association of IGF-I, IGF-II, bFGF, TGF-β1, GM-CSF, and LIF on the development of bovine embryos produced in vitro

This study examined the influence of the following growth factors and cytokines on early embryonic development: insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I, IGF-II), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor (TGF-β), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Synthetic oviduct fluid (SOF) was used as the culture medium. We studied the development of bovine embryos produced in vitro and cultured until Day 9 after fertilization. TGF-β1, bFGF, GM-CSF, and LIF used on their own significantly improved the yield of hatched blastocysts. IGF-I, bFGF, TGF-β1, GM-CSF, and LIF significantly accelerated embryonic development, especially the change from the expanded blastocyst to hatched blastocyst stages. Use of a combination of these growth factors and cytokines (GF-CYK) in SOF medium produced higher percentages of blastocysts and hatched blastocysts than did use of SOF alone (45% and 22% vs. 24% and 12%; P < 0.05) on Day 8 after in vitro fertilization and similar results to use of SOF + 10% fetal calf serum (38% and 16%, at the same stages, respectively). The averages of total cells, inner cell mass cells, and trophectoderm cells of exclusively in vitro Day-8 blastocysts for pooled GF-CYK treatments were higher than those for SOF and similar to those for fetal calf serum. The presence of these growth factors and cytokines in the embryo culture medium therefore has a combined stimulatory action on embryonic development; in particular through an increase in hatching rate and in the number of cells of both the inner cell mass and trophoblast. These results are the first to demonstrate that use of a combination of recombinant growth factors and cytokine, as IGF-I, IGF-II, bFGF, TGF-β1, LIF, and GM-CSF, produces similar results to 10% fetal calf serum for the development of in vitro-produced bovine embryos. This entirely synthetic method of embryo culture has undeniable advantages for the biosecurity of embryo transfer.     

Cytogenetic biomonitoring of inhabitants of a large uranium mineralization area: the municipalities of Monte Alegre, Prainha, and Alenquer, in the State of Pará, Brazil

Uranium is a natural radioactive metallic element; its effect on the organism is cumulative, and chronic exposure to this element can induce carcinogenesis. Three cities of the Amazon region—Monte Alegre, Prainha, and Alenquer—in North Brazil, are located in one of the largest uranium mineralization areas of the world. Radon is a radioactive gas, part of uranium decay series and readily diffuses through rock. In Monte Alegre, most of the houses are built of rocks removed from the Earth’s crust in the forest, where the uranium reserves lie. The objective of the present work is to determine the presence or absence of genotoxicity and risk of carcinogenesis induced by natural exposure to uranium and radon in the populations of these three cities. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CA) showed no statistically significant differences between the control population and the three study populations (P > 0.05). MN was also analyzed using the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, with a centromere-specific probe. No clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects were found in the populations. Using FISH analysis, other carcinogenesis biomarkers were analyzed, but neither the presence of the IGH/BCL2 translocation nor an amplification of the MYC gene and 22q21 region was detected. Clastogenicity and DNA damage were also not found in the populations analyzed using the alkaline comet assay. The mitotic index showed no cytotoxicity in the analyzed individuals’ lymphocytes. Once we do not have data concerning radiation doses from other sources, such as cosmic rays, potassium, thorium, or anthropogenic sources, it is hard to determine if uranium emissions in this geographic region where our study population lives are too low to cause significant DNA damage. Regardless, genetic analyses suggest that the radiation in our study area is not high enough to induce DNA alterations or to interfere with mitotic apparatus formation. It is also possible that damages caused by radiation doses undergo cellular repair.     

Brumptomyia angelae, a new species of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest of the state of Paraná, Brazil

The male of Brumptomyia angelae, sp. nov., a new species of Phlebotominae (Diptera, Psychodidae) of the Atlantic forest of the state of Paraná, Brazil, is described and illustrated. This new taxon is closely related to Brumptomyia ortizi Martins, Silva & Falc?o 1971, Brumptomyia nitzulescui (Costa Lima, 1932), and Brumptomyia troglodytes (Lutz, 1922). The male genitalia of these three latter species have also been drawn.     

Does performance of hang power clean differentiate performance of jumping, sprinting, and changing of direction?

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate whether the athlete who has high performance in hang power clean, a common weightlifting exercise, has high performances in sprinting, jumping, and changing of direction (COD). As the secondary purpose, relationships between hang power clean performance, maximum strength, power and performance of jumping, sprinting, and COD also were investigated. Twenty-nine semiprofessional Australian Rules football players (age, height, and body mass [mean +/- SD]: 21.3 +/- 2.7 years, 1.8 +/- 0.1 m, and 83.6 +/- 8.2 kg) were tested for one repetition maximum (1RM) hang power clean, 1RM front squat, power output during countermovement jump with 40-kg barbell and without external load (CMJ), height of CMJ, 20-m sprint time, and 5-5 COD time. The subjects were divided into top and bottom half groups (n = 14 for each group) based on their 1RM hang power clean score relative to body mass, then measures from all other tests were compared with one-way analyses of variance. In addition, Pearson's product moment correlations between measurements were calculated among all subjects (n = 29). The top half group possessed higher maximum strength (P < 0.01), power (P < 0.01), performance of jumping (P < 0.05), and sprinting (P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference between groups in 5-5 COD time, possibly because of important contributing factors other than strength and power. There were significant correlations between most of, but not all, combinations of performances of hang power clean, jumping, sprinting, COD, maximum strength, and power. Therefore, it seems likely there are underlying strength qualities that are common to the hang power clean, jumping, and sprinting.     

Distribution of CGRP-, VIP-, DβH-, SP-, and NPY-immunoreactive nerves in the periosteum of the rat

Summary In light of the possible role peripheral nerves may play in bone metabolism, the morphology of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP)-, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP)-, substance P (SP)-, neuropeptide Y (NPY)-, and dopamine--hydroxylase (DH)-immunoreactive nerve fibers was examined in whole-mount preparations of periosteum of membranous bones (calvaria, mandible) and long bones (tibia) from the rat. Periosteum from animals treated to remove selectively either the sympathetic or fine-caliber primary afferent nerves was also examined to determine the origin of the nerve fibers. We found a consistent and often dense innervation of the periosteum. The innervation patterns of the calvaria and mandible were similar, with networks of nerves spread across the surface of the bone. Nerves in the tibial periosteum were oriented in the longitudinal axis and were more numerous at the epiphyses than in the mid-shaft region. CGRP-immunoreactive fibers were widely and densely distributed. The presence of populations of CGRP-immunoreactive fibers of differing calibers and perivascular arrangements suggests that such nerves in bone tissues may serve different functions. SP-immunoreactivity was present in a fine network of varicose fibers in the superficial layers of the periosteum. CGRP- and SP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were dramatically reduced in periosteum of capsaicin-treated animals as compared to controls, indicating the sensory origin of these nerves. VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers were distributed in the periosteum of mandible and calvaria as small networks and individual fine varicose fibers. In tibial periosteum, larger networks of these fibers were visible. VIP-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the periosteum were associated with both vascular and nonvascular elements within the layers of cells closest to the bone, suggesting that VIP may serve more than one function in periosteal tissues. NPY-immunoreactive fibers were largely confined to vascular elements; occasional fibers were observed among the bone-lining cells. DH-immunoreactivity was associated only with blood vessels. VIP-, NPY-, and DH-immunoreactivities were dramatically reduced in the periosteum of guanethidinetreated animals, indicating the sympathetic origin of these nerves.     

Transglycosylation of a β-galactosyl radical, in the course of enzymic hydrolysis of lactose, in the presence of selected polyhydroxyalcohols

Sorbitol, xylitol, erythritol and lactitol were used as the acceptors of galactosyl radicals, in the process of transgalactosylation accompanying the hydrolysis of lactose, conducted with -galactosidase (4.0 ml Lactozym 3000 was added to 430 ml 1.45 M lactose with 0.95 M polyhydroxyalcohols). The following concentrations of galactosyl derivatives of polyols were obtained after hydrolysis for 4 h at 40°C: 0.31 M Gal-erythritol, 0.22 M Gal-xylitol, 0.18 M Gal-sorbitol and 0.14 M Gal-lactitol. A quadruple increase of xylitol content in dry matter of a solution (from 11.5% (w/w) to 44.5% (w/w) brought about a 2.3-fold increase of the product content in the solution (15.2% (w/w) of dry matter).