Complex structural effects of two hemispheric climatic oscillators on the regional spatio-temporal expansion of a threatened bird

Links between climatic conditions in the eastern equatorial Pacific and extratropical ecological processes remain unexplored. The analysis of a 20‐year time series of spatial and numeric dynamics of a threatened Mediterranean bird suggests, however, that such couplings can be remarkably complex. By providing a new ecological time‐series modelling approach, we were able to dissect the joint effects of the El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO), the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), regional weather, population density and stochastic variability on the expansion dynamics of the White‐headed duck (Oxyura leococephala) in Spain. Our results suggest that the spatial and numeric dynamics of ducks between peak brood emergence and wintering were simultaneously affected by different climatic phenomena during different phases of their global cycles, involving time lags in the numeric dynamics. Strikingly, our results point to both the NAO and the ENSO as potentially major factors simultaneously forcing ecological processes in the Northern Hemisphere, and suggest a new pathway for non‐additive effects of climate in ecology.     

Tachykinin NK-1 receptor probed with constrained analogues of substance P

The action of rotameric probes introduced either in position 7 or 8 in the sequence of substance P (SP) was investigated, i.e. -tetrahydroisoquinoleic acid (Tic), -fluorenylglycine (Flg), -diphenylalanine (Dip), the diastereoisomers of -1-indanylglycine (Ing) and -benz[ƒ]indanylglycine (Bfi), the Z- and E-isomers of dehydrophenylalanine and dehydronaphthylalanine (Δ^ZPhe, Δ^EPhe, Δ^ZNal, Δ^ENal) and (Dmp). The aim of this study was the topographical characterization of the binding subsites of human NK-1 receptor expressed in CHO cells, especially the S₇ and S₈ subsites, corresponding to residues Phe⁷ and Phe⁸ of substance P. According to the binding potencies of these substituted-SP analogues, the S₇ binding subsite is smaller than the S₈ subsite: the S₇ subsite accepts only one aromatic nucleus, while the S₈ can accommodate three coplanar nuclei altogether. These findings are compatible with the idea that the S₈ binding subsite may reside in the extracellular loops of the hNK-1 receptor. NK-1 agonists bind to human NK-1 receptor and activate the production of both inositol phosphates and cyclic AMP. As already quoted for septide, [pGlu⁶, Pro⁹]SP(6–11), discrepancies are observed between affinity (K_i) and activity (EC₅₀) values for IPs production. While a weak correlation between K_i and EC₅₀ values for IPs production could be found (r = 0.70), an excellent correlation could be demonstrated between their affinities (K_i) and their potencies (EC₅₀) for cAMP production (r = 0.97). The high potency (EC₅₀) observed for ‘septide-like’ molecules on PI hydrolysis, compared to their affinity is not an artefact related to the high level of NK-1 receptors expressed on CHO cells since a good correlation was found between EC₅₀ values obtained for PI hydrolysis and those measured for spasmogenic activity in guinea pig ileum bioassay (r = 0.94).

According to the binding potencies of constrained analogues of phenylalanine, the S₇ binding subsite of human NK-1 receptor is small, whereas the S₈, which can accommodate three coplanar nuclei, might probably reside in the extracellular loop. The discrepancies observed between affinity (K_i) and activity (EC₅₀) values for IPs production are not an artefact of CHO cells since a good correlation was found between EC₅₀ for PI hydrolysis and those measured in guinea pig ileum bioassay.     

动态神经网络中的同步振荡

目前有一种假设认为同一视觉对象是由一群神经元的同步振荡活动来表征的。这一神经元发放活动的时间特性,是解决视觉信息处理中“结合问题（Ｂｉｎｄｉｎｇｐｒｏｂｌｅｍ）”的可能机制。本文用我们所提出的一种简化现实性神经网络模型［１］所构造的时滞非线性振子网络［２］,模拟生物神经网络的同步振荡活动。并考虑了振子各参数的设置与振荡活动的关系,以及网络振子间耦联对同步活动的影响．     

Analysis of vertical ozone and nitrogen oxides profiles in aPrunus cerasifera canopy

An automatic system was installed for continuous analyses of ozone, sulphur dioxide, nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide in an experimental orchard with a canopy ofPrunus cerasifera plants in summer 1993. Air samples from three elevations (0.8 m, 1.6 m and 3 m above ground) were sequentially analyzed. Ozone concentrations above the canopy were usually higher than within the canopy; their relationships with stomatal resistance have been investigated. Sulphur dioxide levels were negligible. Nitrogen oxides showed a complex profile, with no particular trend, likely due to a reciprocal exchange between the atmosphere and the ground surface.     

Nitric oxide is involved in heat-induced HSP70 accumulation

Heat shock potentiated the nitric oxide production (EPR assay) in the liver, kidney, heart, spleen, intestine, and brain. The heat shock-induced sharp transient increase in the rate of nitric oxide production preceded the accumulation of heat shock proteins (HSP70) (Western blot analysis) as measured in the heart and liver. In all organs the nitric oxide formation was completely blocked by the NO-synthase inhibitor (L-NNA). L-NNA also markedly attenuated the heat shock-induced accumulation of HSP70. The results suggests that nitric oxide is involved in the heat shock-induced activation of HSP70 synthesis.     

甜玉米籽实含糖量的配合力分析

采用不完全双列杂交设计研究了 6个母本3个父本甜玉米自交系籽实含糖量的配合力效应。结果表明,父母本一般配合力和特殊配合力效应均方都显著。根据各亲本的表现把亲本5033归为一般配合力高而特殊配合力方差大的最理想类型;亲本5012和5011属一般配合力高而特殊配合力方差小的类型;亲本5018、5034、5028和5024为一般配合力低,但特殊配合力方差高的类型; 亲本5023和5009属一般配合力效应和特殊配合力方差都低的类型,最缺少实用价值。     

5-Hydroxy-3-Ethylamino-2-Oxindole Is Not Formed in Rat Brain Following a Neurotoxic Dose of Methamphetamine: Evidence that Methamphetamine Does Not Induce the Hydroxyl Radical-Mediated Oxidation of Serotonin

Abstract: Oxygen radicals have been implicated in the neurodegenerative and other neurobiological effects evoked by methamphetamine (MA) in the brain. It has been reported that shortly after a single large subcutaneous dose of MA to the rat, the serotonergic neurotoxin 5,6-dihydroxytryptamine (5,6-DHT) is formed in the cortex and hippocampus. This somewhat controversial finding suggests that MA potentiates formation of the hydroxyl radical (HO^?) that oxidizes 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) to 5,6-DHT, which, in turn, mediates the degeneration of serotonergic terminals. A major and more stable product of the in vitro HO^?-mediated oxidation of 5-HT is 5-hydroxy-3-ethylamino-2-oxindole (5-HEO). In this investigation, a method based on HPLC with electrochemical detection (HPLC-EC) has been developed that permits measurement of very low levels of 5-HEO in rat brain tissue in the presence of biogenic amine neurotransmitters/metabolites. After intracerebroventricular administration into rat brain, 5-HEO is transformed into a single major, but unknown, metabolite that can be detected by HPLC-EC. One hour after administration of MA (100 mg/kg s.c.) to the rat, massive decrements of 5-HT were observed in all regions of the brain examined (cortex, hippocampus, medulla and pons, midbrain, and striatum). However, 5-HEO, its unidentified metabolite, or 5,6-DHT were not detected as in vivo metabolites of 5-HT. MA administration, in particular to rats pretreated with pargyline, resulted in the formation of low levels of N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine (NAc-5-HT) in all brain regions examined. These results suggest that MA does not potentiate the HO^?-mediated oxidation of 5-HT. Furthermore, the rapid MA-induced decrease of 5-HT might not only be related to oxidative deactivation of tryptophan hydroxylase, as demonstrated by other investigators, but also to the inhibition of tetrahydrobiopterin biosynthesis by NAc-5-HT. The massive decrements of 5-HT evoked by MA are accompanied by small or no corresponding increases in 5-hydroxyindole-3-acetic acid (5-HIAA) levels. This is due, in part, to the relatively rapid clearance of 5-HIAA from the brain and monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibition by MA. However, the loss of 5-HT without corresponding increases in its metabolites point to other mechanisms that might deplete the neurotransmitter, such as oxidation by superoxide radical anion (O₂^??), a reaction that in vitro does not generate 5-HEO or 5,6-DHT but rather another putative neurotoxin, tryptamine-4,5-dione. One hour after administration, MA evokes large depletions of norepinephrine (NE) throughout the brain but somewhat smaller decrements of dopamine (DA) that are restricted to the nigrostriatal pathway. Furthermore, MA evokes a major shift in the metabolism of both NE and DA from the pathway mediated by MAO to that mediated by catechol-O-methyltransferase. The profound and widespread effects of MA on the noradrenergic system, but more anatomically localized influence on the dopaminergic system, suggests that NE in addition to DA, or unusual metabolites of these neurotransmitters, might play roles in the neurodegenerative effects evoked by this drug.     

KCN和NaN3预处理对烟草愈伤组织抗氰呼吸的影响

用０．５ ｍ ｍ ｏｌ／Ｌ ＫＣＮ 或０．０１ ｍ ｍ ｏｌ／Ｌ ＮａＮ３ 预处理继代培养２５ ｄ 的“甘肃黄花烟草”（Ｎｉｃｏｔｉａｎａ ｒｕｓｔｉｃａ Ｌ． ｃｖ． Ｇａｎｓｕ ｙｅｌｌｏｗ ｆｌｏｗ ｅｒ）愈伤组织对其呼吸作用有明显的影响。ＫＣＮ 和ＮａＮ３ 预处理１２ ｈ 可分别使愈伤组织的总呼吸速率下降１２％ 和１７％ ,细胞色素途径的实际运行量分别下降２２％ 和２８％ ;抗氰交替途径在最大容量（Ｖａｌｔ）基本不变的情况下,实际运行量（ρ·Ｖａｌｔ）不但未随总呼吸速率和细胞色素途径运行量的下降而降低,反而还略有上升。结果导致细胞色素途径对总呼吸的贡献下降而抗氰交替途径对总呼吸的贡献上升。ＫＣＮ 预处理２４ ｈ,细胞色素途径的实际运行量虽略有回升,但仍低于对照;ＮａＮ３ 预处理２４ ｈ 则使细胞色素途径运行继续下降而交替途径运行持续上升。上述结果表明,在继代培养的烟草愈伤组织中,当细胞色素主路途径被部分抑制后交替途径的电子流量明显加强,从而起着一种补偿作用     

AN ASSESSMENT OF CHANGES WITH TIME IN THE MARKING PATTERNS USED FOR PHOTOIDENTIFICATION OF INDIVIDUAL SPERM WHALES, PHYSETER MACROCEPHALUS

We observed changes with time in the patterns of characteristic fluke markings used to identify sperm whales. Changes were categorized as minor, moderate, or major based on their severity. These change types were found to occur at rates of 0.9%, 11.8%, and 1.3% per individual per year, respectively. Gain and loss rates for each of seven different mark types were also calculated. The highest estimated rate was the gain of small nicks at 0.08 per individual per year. Most individuals identified by us possess at least a few characteristic marks and, therefore, changes of the type observed in this study are unlikely to severely affect their recognizability. For all but one mark type, gain rates were higher than loss rates, indicating that individuals may be accumulating marks with age. Over long periods this could eventually make individuals unrecognizable, with the result that population sizes calculated from these data may be overestimated. As long as photoidentification studies are conducted sufficiently often, and these changes are as gradual as they appear to be, this problem should be minimal.     

Genome characterization of glucose-isomerase-producingStreptomyces sp. NCIM 2730: detection of sequences homologous to a rice repeat sequence

Restriction analysis of the genomic DNA from a high glucose/xylose-isomerase-yieldingStreptomyces sp. NCIM 2730 revealed a number of distinct bands on a background smear, indicating the occurrence of repeated DNA sequences in the genome. Optical renaturation analysis indicated that 25% of the genome comprised rapidly reannealing sequences with a copy number of 50 and a kinetic complexity of 3×10³. Hybridization of theStreptomyces genomic library with theStreptomyces DNA, supported the estimate of the repetitive DNA content derived from the re-association kinetics of the DNA. Hybridization of DNA from three differentStreptomyces species with a rice repetitive DNA probe revealed the presence of homologous sequences, which is a unique finding.M.S. Ghatge was and V.V. Deshpande and P.K. Ranjekar are with the Division of Biochemical Sciences, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune -41108, India; M.S. Ghatge is now with the Department of Microbiology & Molecular Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, 36th and Rainbow Blvd, Kansas City, Kansas - 66103, USA.