Development of polymorphic microsatellite markers for the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

To study the population genetics as well as the mating system of captive zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata) populations, we developed primers for 12 microsatellite loci and screened them in 529 individuals from two successive generations of a single captive population. All markers were polymorphic with five to 14 alleles per locus. We checked all markers for Mendelian inheritance in 307 offspring whose parents were known for sure. Four markers showed evidence for the presence of null alleles. Once allowing for null alleles, we found no mismatches between offspring and parents, suggesting a very low rate of mutation. Average observed and expected heterozygosities across the eight loci showing no evidence for null‐alleles was 0.819 and 0.812, respectively.     

Net biome production of the Amazon Basin in the 21st century

Global change includes multiple stressors to natural ecosystems ranging from direct climate and land‐use impacts to indirect degradation processes resulting from fire. Humid tropical forests are vulnerable to projected climate change and possible synergistic interactions with deforestation and fire, which may initiate a positive feedback to rising atmospheric CO₂. Here, we present results from a multifactorial impact analysis that combined an ensemble of climate change models with feedbacks from deforestation and accidental fires to quantify changes in Amazon Basin carbon cycling. Using the LPJmL Dynamic Global Vegetation Model, we modelled spatio‐temporal changes in net biome production (NBP); the difference between carbon fluxes from fire, deforestation, soil respiration and net primary production. By 2050, deforestation and fire (with no CO₂ increase or climate change) resulted in carbon losses of 7.4–20.3 Pg C with the range of uncertainty depending on socio‐economic storyline. During the same time period, interactions between climate and land use either compensated for carbon losses due to wetter climate and CO₂ fertilization or exacerbated carbon losses from drought‐induced forest mortality (?20.1 to +4.3 Pg C). By the end of the 21st century, depending on climate projection and the rate of deforestation (including its interaction with fire), carbon stocks either increased (+12.6 Pg C) or decreased (?40.6 Pg C). The synergistic effect of deforestation and fire with climate change contributed up to 26–36 Pg C of the overall decrease in carbon stocks. Agreement between climate projections (n=9), not accounting for deforestation and fire, in 2050 and 2098 was relatively low for the directional change in basin‐wide NBP (19–37%) and aboveground live biomass (13–24%). The largest uncertainty resulted from climate projections, followed by implementation of ecosystem dynamics and deforestation. Our analysis partitions the drivers of tropical ecosystem change and is relevant for guiding mitigation and adaptation policy related to global change.     

Comparative morphology and functional interpretation of the sutures in the dermal skull roof of temnospondyl amphibians

Sutures in the dermal skull roof of several Palaeozoic temnospondyl amphibians were studied, including Archegosaurus decheni, Sclerocephalus haeuseri, Cheliderpeton latirostre (Archegosauridae), Acanthostomatops vorax (Zatrachydidae), Onchiodon labyrinthicus (Eryopidae), Micromelerpeton credneri and Branchierpeton amblystomum (Dissorophoidea). Lamellae, flat bevels, butt joints, steep walls, and grooves are the sutural types occurring. Morphological sutural differences cannot be used as taxonomically relevant characters, as they mainly differ in their functional manifestations. Similarities of sutural patterns in taxa not closely related are most probably based on convergence, therefore sutural morphology allows functional conclusions rather than revealing phylogenetic relationships. The basic sutural pattern is described in Micromelerpeton credneri. Different textures and obliquity patterns of the sutural surfaces are characteristic of each region of the skull roof. In all temnospondyls studied, the median plane and the margin of the skull roof show a nearly uniform sutural morphology; the circumorbital region is most complex. Although the skulls studied are akinetic, mesokinetic movements of dermal elements along their sutures must have been permitted to guarantee the dynamic stability of the skull construction.     

Val 70,Phe 72 and the last seven amino acid residues of C—terminal are essential to the function of norepinephrine transporter

The norepinephrine transporter(NET) is a member of the Na^ /Cl^- dependent neurotransmitter transporter family and constitutes the target of several clinically important antidepressants.To delineate the critical amino acid residues and the function of C-terminal in regulating transport activity of NET,here we constructed two site mutants (V70F,F72V;V70I,F72V) and one C-terminal truncated mutant (Δ 611-617).The wild type and mutants of NET were expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injection of their cRNA.We found that all of these mutants lost their transport activity.These results indicate that the amino acid residues of V70 and F72,and the last seven amino acids of C-terminal are essential to the transport activity of NET.     

Unusual tubulins with deviant genetic code in the hypotrich ciliate Euplotidium itoi

Recently, we have shown the presence of molecules belonging to the cholinergic signalling system in the ciliate Paramecium primaurelia and in the sarcodine Dictyostelium discoideum . Propionylcholinesterase (PrChE) activity has been detected in single-cell amoebae of D. discoideum , using cytochemical, electrophoretic, and spectrophotometric methods (Falugi et al., Chemosphere , 48:407–414, 2002; Amaroli et al., Europ. J. Protistol ., 39:213–222, 2003). It has been suggested that this enzyme activity is involved in cell–cell and cell–environment interactions, as its inhibition by xenobiotic compounds affects cell migration and aggregation. In this work, we have spectrophotometrically evaluated the effect of an ELF-EMF of 300 T, 50 Hz, on PrChE activity after exposure of single-cell amoebae from 1 h up to 48 h at 22°C. The enzyme activity was inhibited significantly by 1-h- and 3-h exposures, whereas it was similar to the control value after a 4-h exposure. A significant increase in PrChE activity was found after 5- and 24-h exposures, while a decrease in PrChE activity appeared in 48-h-exposed samples. The increased PrChE activity detected in 24-h-exposed cells returned to the control value 24 h after transferring the amoebae to standard conditions. A delay in both migration and aggregation processes was observed in 3 h-exposed cells, corresponding to a decreased PrChE activity. After a 24-h exposure, a decrease in the fission rate and an increase in the cell size were found.     

Urinary diversion in therapy of pelvic cancer; an appraisal of ileal-ureteral anastomosis

In 43 cases, diversion of the urinary stream was carried out by means of an end-to-side anastomosis of ureters into an ileal segment. Forty-one of these operative procedures were performed in conjunction with the primary or secondary surgical treatment of malignant neoplasm arising in the pelvis. There were six postoperative deaths in this group of patients, none due to the urinary diversion. The remaining patients were observed for periods of from three to sixty months, the mean average eighteen months. During that period, only one patient died (at 42 months) as the result of urinary diversion. In that case death came about because the patient insisted on wearing a Foley retention catheter rather than an ileostomy bag, and the catheter perforated the ileal segment. In only three of the patients did pyelonephritis develop, and the disease was controlled by giving chemotherapeutic agents. In ten patients, some changes in postoperative intravenous pyelograms were observed.