Korean species of the Genus Scaphobaeocera Csiki (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Scaphidiinae) in Korea

The genus Scaphobaeocera Csiki including three species ( S. dorsalis Löbl, S. inexpectata Löbl, S. pecki Löbl) is identified for the first time in Korea. A key to the species is given with diagnosis and illustrations of important morphological features.     

Comparison of linkage disequilibrium and haplotype diversity on macro- and microchromosomes in chicken

Background

Toll like receptors (TLR) play the central role in the recognition of pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). Mutations in the TLR1, TLR2 and TLR4 genes may change the ability to recognize PAMPs and cause altered responsiveness to the bacterial pathogens.

Results

The study presents association between TLR gene mutations and increased susceptibility to Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infection. Novel mutations in TLR genes (TLR1- Ser150Gly and Val220Met; TLR2 – Phe670Leu) were statistically correlated with the hindrance in recognition of MAP legends. This correlation was confirmed subsequently by measuring the expression levels of cytokines (IL-4, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12 and IFN-γ) in the mutant and wild type moDCs (mocyte derived dendritic cells) after challenge with MAP cell lysate or LPS. Further in silico analysis of the TLR1 and TLR4 ectodomains (ECD) revealed the polymorphic nature of the central ECD and irregularities in the central LRR (leucine rich repeat) motifs.

Conclusion

The most critical positions that may alter the pathogen recognition ability of TLR were: the 9^th amino acid position in LRR motif (TLR1–LRR10) and 4^th residue downstream to LRR domain (exta-LRR region of TLR4). The study describes novel mutations in the TLRs and presents their association with the MAP infection.     

Bioluminescence Activity and Degradation Kinetics of Genetically Engineered Strain P. putida mt-2 RB 1401 in Soil System with m-Xylene

Strain RB1401 contains a plasmid with a fusion between the upper pathway promoter of the TOL plasmid xyl genes and a lux gene cassette. Bioluminescence activity appeared in the early period of biodegradation of m-xylene, and was observed at all tested conditions of temperature (15, 27, 35°C) and pH (5, 7, 9), showing in the range of 300 ～ 6100 RLU. Biokinetics of strain RB1401 in the presence of m-xylene were as follows: Y 0.56 mg/mg, μ_max 2.67 day^-1, and K_s 19.25 mg/L. A ratio of C:N(KNO₃):P(KH₂PO₄) = 100:8:1.5 and 0.01% (w/v) of H₂O₂ were chosen for optimum biostimulation conditions of RB1401 with m-xylene in soil system. These results demonstrate the capability of such a genetically engineered bacteria for the development of biomonitoring and bioremediation in soil environments contaminated with specific volatile organic compounds.     

Location of bumblebee nests is predicted by counts of nest‐searching queens

1. Bumblebee nests are difficult to find in sufficient numbers for well replicated studies. Counts of nest‐searching queens in spring and early summer have been used as an indication of preferred nesting habitat, but this relationship has not yet been validated; high densities of nest‐searching queens may indicate habitat with few nesting opportunities (meaning that queens have to spend longer looking for them). 2. From mid April 2010, queen bumblebees were counted along 20 transects in grassland and woodland habitats in central Scotland, U.K. The number of inflorescences of suitable forage plants were also estimated at each transect visit. The area surrounding each transect was searched for nests in the summer. 3. In total, 173 queen bumblebees were recorded on transects, and, of these, 149 were engaged in nest‐searching. Searches subsequently revealed 33 bumblebee nests. 4. The number of nest‐searching queens on transects was significantly, positively related to the number of nests subsequently found. Estimated floral abundance along the transect did not correlate with numbers of nest‐searching queens or with the number of nests found, suggesting that queens do not target their searching to areas that are locally high in spring forage. 5. The data suggest that counts of nest‐searching queens provide a useful positive indication of good nesting habitat, and hence where bumblebee nests are likely to be found later in the year.     

Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) of New Guinea,Part VIII: A new genus Sulciolus,with descriptions of two new species

As the eighth part in a series on the family Lecithoceridae (Lepidoptera: Gelechioidea) from New Guinea, Sulciolus Park, gen. nov. of the subfamily Lecithocerinae is described, based on the type species, S. pachystoma (Diakonoff), comb. nov., with two additional new species: (i) S. circulivalvae sp. nov.; and (ii) S. kaindiana sp. nov. The new genus shares with Achroa Meyrick, Onnuria Park, Hamatina Park and Scolizona Park a uniquely specialized 3rd segment of labial palpus, but it is differentiated from them by having a longitudinal furrow on the inner surface of the segment. Sulciolus abrasa (Diakonoff), S. capra (Diakonoff), S. induta (Diakonoff) and S. perspicua (Diakonoff) are newly combined, and Lecithocera sextacta Diakonoff is synonymized with S. perspicua (Diakonoff). Keys to genera related to Lecithocera and to species of the genus are given. Adults, labial palpi, wing venations and male genitalia are illustrated.     

Radial Hydraulic Conductivity of Individual Root Tissues of Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Miller as Soil Moisture Varies

The constraints on water uptake imposed by individual root tissueswere examined forOpuntia ficus-indicaunder wet, drying, andrewetted soil conditions. Root hydraulic conductivity (L_P) andaxial conductance (K_h) were measured for intact root segmentsfrom the distal region with an endodermis and from midroot witha periderm;L_Pwas then measured for each segment with successivetissues removed by dissection. Radial conductivity (L_R) wascalculated fromL_PandK_hfor the intact segment and for the individualtissues by considering the tissue conductivities in series.Under wet conditions,L_Rfor intact distal root segments was lowestfor the cortex; at midroot, where cortical cells are dead,L_Rforthe cortex was higher and no single tissue was the predominantlimiter ofL_R.L_Rfor the endodermis and the periderm were similarunder wet conditions. During 30d of soil drying,L_Rfor the distalcortex increased almost three-fold due to the death of corticalcells, whereasL_Rfor the midroot cortex was unaffected;L_Rforthe endodermis and the periderm decreased by 40 and 90%, respectively,during drying. For both root regions under wet conditions, thevascular cylinder had the highestL_R, which decreased by 50–70%during 30d of soil drying. After 3d of rewetting, new lateralroots emerged, increasingL_Rfor the tissues outside the vascularcylinder as well as increasing uptake of an apoplastic tracerinto the xylem of both the roots and the shoot. The averageL_Rforintact root segments was similar under wet and rewetted conditions,but the conductivity of the tissues outside the vascular cylinderincreased after rewetting, as did the contribution of the apoplasticpathway to water uptake. Opuntia ficus-indica; prickly pear; root hydraulic conductivity; endodermis; periderm; apoplast; lateral root emergence     

Suppression of Immunity by Phenobarbital

PHENOBARBITAL, one of the more commonly used sedatives, behaves as an immunosuppressant in vivo and in vitro when prescribed in conventional, clinically acceptable doses. This observation closely followed experiments in this laboratory which showed that lymphocytes from all patients receiving general- anaesthesia during surgery developed impaired reactivity to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) immediately after operation¹. The use of thiopental sodium as an induction anaesthetic in all instances, coupled with the rapidity with which the diminished lymphocyte responses became detectable, led to the hypothesis that this drug, or one of its relatives, could be the mediator of this untoward effect.     

High and low temperature tolerances and their relationships to distribution of agaves

Abstract. The potential influence of tissue tolerances to extreme temperatures on distributional limits was investigated for 15 taxa (14 species) of leaf-succulent agaves from the south-western United States and northern Mexico. As a group, the agaves exhibited a moderate low temperature tolerance of – 11°C (based on a 50% inhibition in the number of mesophyll cells taking up a stain, neutral red). However, nearly all of the species were able to tolerate extremely high tissue temperatures of over 60°C. Nocturnal acid accumulation by these crassulacean acid metabolism plants was about 6°C more sensitive to temperature extremes than was cellular membrane integrity.
High and low temperature acclimation in response to changing day/night air temperatures was observed in all 15 taxa, with high temperature acclimation averaging two-fold greater than low temperature acclimation (3.8°C versus 2.0°C per 10°C change in ambient temperature). Species occupying the coldest habitats exhibited the greatest low temperature tolerances and acclimation; several such species, such as Agave utahensis and A. schottii , had small rosette sizes which resulted in higher minimum leaf temperatures. Species from the hottest habitats had among the greatest high temperature tolerances and acclimation; the two species from open desert scrub habitats, A. deserti and A. lecheguilla , had the lowest leaf shortwave absorptances observed, which would result in lower maximum leaf temperatures. Thus morphology and tissue tolerances to stressful temperatures reflect the temperature extremes of a plant's native habitat, although low temperature tolerance appears to limit the distribution of agaves more than high temperature tolerance.     

Light-dependent potassium uptake by Pisum sativum leaf fragments

A net K⁺ influx into chopped pea leaves bathed in 5 mM KCl,0.26 M sucrose and illuminated with 4000 lux amounted to about7.5 µmoles/g fresh weight-hr, while essentially no netflux occurred in the dark. This light-dependent K⁺ uptake waslinear with time for nearly 2 hr and continuously increasedas the light intensity was raised to 9000 lux. Over half ofthe K⁺ uptake was balanced by H⁺ release into the bathing solution,possibly by a mechanism in which bicarbonate was the anion accompanyingK⁺. The replacement of Cl^– by HCO₃^– increased thelight-dependent K⁺ uptake to 56 µmoles/g fresh weight-hr.About 23% of the light-dependent K⁺ uptake in 5 mM KCl was accompaniedby a Cl^– uptake. This net Cl^– influx was less sensitiveto the uncoupler tri-Fl-CCP and more sensitive to DCMU in thebathing solution than was the K⁺ uptake. The remaining net K⁺influx into pea leaf fragments was balanced by effluxes of sodium(accounting for 5%), magnesium (8%) and calcium (1%). (Received March 31, 1969; )