Carry‐over Effects of Size at Metamorphosis in Red‐eyed Treefrogs: Higher Survival but Slower Growth of Larger Metamorphs

Most animals have complex life histories, composed of a series of ecologically distinct stages, and the transitions between stages are often plastic. Anurans are models for research on complex life cycles. Many species exhibit plastic timing of and size at metamorphosis, due to both environmental constraints on larval growth and development and adaptive plastic responses to environmental variation. Models predicting optimal timing of metamorphosis balance cost/benefit ratios across stages, assuming that size affects growth and mortality rates in each stage. Much research has documented such effects in the larval period, but we lack an equal understanding of juvenile growth and mortality. Here, we examine how variation in size at metamorphosis in the Neotropical red‐eyed treefrog, Agalychnis callidryas, affects post‐metamorphic growth, foraging, and behavior in the lab as well as growth and survival in the field. Surprisingly, many individuals lost mass for weeks after metamorphosis. In the lab, larger metamorphs lost more mass following metamorphosis, ate similar amounts, had lower food conversion efficiencies, and grew more slowly after mass loss ceased than did smaller ones. In field cages larger metamorphs were more likely to survive than smaller ones; just one froglet died in the lab. Our data suggest that size‐specific differences in physiology and behavior influence these trends. Comparing across species and studies, large size at metamorphosis generally confers higher survival; size effects on growth rates vary substantially among species, in both magnitude and direction, but may be stronger in the tropics.     

Effects of germination time on seed morph ratio in a seed-dimorphic species and possible ecological significance

Background and Aims Diaspores of heteromorphic species may germinate at different times due to distinct dormancy-breaking and germination requirements, and this difference can influence life history traits. The primary aim of this study was to determine the effect of germination time of the two seed morphs of Suaeda corniculata subsp. mongolica on life history traits of the offspring.Methods Germinated brown and black seeds were sown on the 20th of each month from April to September in a simulated but near-natural habitat of the species. Phenological and vegetative traits of the maternal plants, and number, size and germination percentage of the offspring were determined.Key Results Germinated seeds sown late in the year produced smaller plants that had a higher proportion of non-dormant brown than dormant black seeds, and these brown seeds were larger than those produced by germinated seeds sown early in the year. The length of the seedling stage for brown seeds was shorter than that for black seeds, and the root/shoot ratio and reproductive allocation of plants from brown seeds were more variable than they were for plants from black seeds. Late-germinating brown seeds produced larger plants than late-germinating black seeds.Conclusions Altering the proportion of the two seed types in response to germination timing can help alleviate the adverse effects of delayed germination. The flexible strategy of a species, such as S. corniculata, that produces different proportions of dimorphic seeds in response to variation in germination timing may favour the maintenance and regeneration of the population in its unpredictable environment.     

Fatty acid composition indicating diverse habitat use in coral reef fishes in the Malaysian South China Sea

Background

In order to understand feeding ecology and habitat use of coral reef fish, fatty acid composition was examined in five coral reef fishes, Thalassoma lunare, Lutjanus lutjanus, Abudefduf bengalensis, Scarus rivulatus and Scolopsis affinis collected in the Bidong Island of Malaysian South China Sea.

Results

Proportions of saturated fatty acids (SAFA) ranged 57.2% 74.2%, with the highest proportions in fatty acids, the second highest was monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) ranged from 21.4% to 39.0% and the proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) was the lowest ranged from 2.8% to 14.1%. Each fatty acid composition differed among fishes, suggesting diverse feeding ecology, habitat use and migration during the fishes’ life history in the coral reef habitats.

Conclusions

Diets of the coral fish species might vary among species in spite of that each species are living sympatrically. Differences in fatty acid profiles might not just be considered with respect to the diets, but might be based on the habitat and migration.     

DCD不同施用时间对小麦生长期N2O排放的影响

通过田间试验,采用静态箱法研究相同施肥条件下,DCD不同施用时间(基肥配施,追肥配施,基追肥按比例配施)对麦季N2O排放的影响.结果表明,小麦生长期施肥配施DCD减少麦季N2O排放.从小麦整个生长季来看,与尿素处理相比,基肥配施减少N2O排放21％,追肥配施减少N2O排放26％,基追肥按比例配施减少N2O排放35％,方差分析均达显著水平(P＜0.05),其中基肥配施主要减少小麦播种-返青期N2O排放,追肥配施主要减少小麦返青-成熟期N2O排放,而基追肥按比例配施DCD减少整个小麦生长季N2O排放.在小麦的整个生长阶段,施加DCD处理的土壤NH+4-N浓度和表观硝化率均高于未施加DCD的处理,且土壤NH+4-N浓度随时间的延长而降低.在小麦播种-返青期,基肥配施处理和基追肥按比例配施处理土壤NH+4-N浓度和表观硝化率高于追肥配施处理和对照处理;在小麦的返青-成熟期,追肥配施处理和基追肥按比例配施处理土壤NH+4-N浓度和表观硝化率高于基肥配施处理和对照处理.从小麦产量来看,与尿素处理相比,基肥配施和基追肥按比例配施显著增加小麦产量,而追肥配施处理小麦产量无显著性差异.基追肥按比例配施DCD在提高小麦产量的同时显著减少N2O排放,具有大田推广的现实意义;基肥与追肥配施DCD对N2O减排效果除了与施用时间有关外,还应将降雨或灌溉量的年际变化考虑在内.     

Timing,frequency, and duration of incubation recesses in dabbling ducks

Nest attendance is an important determinant of avian reproductive success, and identifying factors that influence the frequency and duration of incubation recesses furthers our understanding of how incubating birds balance their needs with those of their offspring. We characterized the frequency and timing (start time, end time, and duration) of incubation recesses for mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) and gadwall (Mareca strepera) hens breeding in Suisun Marsh, California, USA, and examined the influences of day of year, ambient temperature at the nest, incubation day, and clutch size on recess frequency and timing using linear mixed models. Mallard, on average, took more recesses per day (1.69 ± 0.80, mean ± standard deviation) than did gadwall (1.39 ± 0.69), and 45% of mallard nest‐days were characterized by two recesses, while only 27% of gadwall nest‐days were characterized by two recesses. Mallard morning recesses started at 06:14 ± 02:46 and lasted 106.11 ± 2.01 min, whereas mallard afternoon recesses started at 16:39 ± 02:11 and lasted 155.39 ± 1.99 min. Gadwall morning recesses started at 06:30 ± 02:46 and lasted 91.28 ± 2.32 min, and gadwall afternoon recesses started at 16:31 ± 01:57 and lasted 192.69 ± 1.89 min. Mallard and gadwall started recesses earlier in the day with increasing ambient temperature, but later in the day as the season progressed. Recess duration decreased as the season progressed and as clutch size increased, and increased with ambient temperature at the nest. The impending darkness of sunset appeared to be a strong cue for ending a recess and returning to the nest, because hens returned to their nests earlier than expected when recesses were expected to end after sunset. Within hens, the timing of incubation recesses was repeatable across incubation days and was most repeatable for mallard afternoon recesses and on days in which hens took only one recess. Hens were most likely to be away from nests between 04:00 and 07:00 and between 16:00 and 19:00; therefore, investigators should search for nests between 07:00 and 16:00. Our analyses identified important factors influencing incubation recess timing in dabbling ducks and have important implications for nest monitoring programs.     

Hsa-miR-5195-3p对人宫颈癌细胞SiHa增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响

目的:探讨mi R-5195-3p对人宫颈癌细胞系Si Ha增殖、迁移与侵袭的影响。方法:采用qRT-PCR检测人宫颈癌细胞SiHa和正常上皮细胞HaCaT中mi R-5195-3p的表达水平。将mi R-5195-3p mimic转染至Si Ha细胞中构建外源性过表达细胞株,阴性对照组中则转染NC mimic,并用q RT-PCR验证转染效率;通过MTT和集落形成实验检测细胞增殖能力;划痕愈合实验检测细胞横向迁移能力; Transwell小室实验检测细胞纵向迁移能力和侵袭能力;采用qRT-PCR和Western blot检测E-cadherin、Vimentin与snail m RNA转录水平及蛋白表达水平。结果:宫颈癌细胞Si Ha中的mi R-5195-3p表达水平较HaCaT偏低(P 0. 05)。与阴性对照组相比,转染mi R-5195-3p mimic的SiHa细胞中mi R-5195-3p水平显著增高(P 0. 01);并且其体外增殖(P 0. 001),迁移(P 0. 001)与侵袭能力(P 0. 001)明显减弱;同时E-cadherin表达水平上调而Vimentin、snail表达水平下调。结论:过表达mi R-5195-3p可能通过阻碍EMT通路抑制宫颈癌细胞Si Ha的增殖,迁移与侵袭。     

汉黄芩素通过调控上皮间质转化抑制胃癌细胞的侵袭转移

目的:汉黄芩素是中药黄芩中的一种黄酮,具有体内外抗癌活性。然而,汉黄芩素对人胃癌细胞的作用尚不十分清楚。本研究拟探讨汉黄芩素对人胃癌细胞MGC-803侵袭转移能力的影响及其对上皮间质转化(Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition,EMT)的作用机制。方法:采用MTT法测定汉黄芩素对人胃癌细胞MGC-803增殖能力的影响,通过划痕实验、Transwell试验检测汉黄芩素对人胃癌细胞MGC-803迁移、侵袭能力的影响。通过免疫印迹法和免疫荧光法分析汉黄芩素对EMT的影响。结果:20μM以上浓度的汉黄芩素能抑制人胃癌细胞MGC-803的增殖,不同浓度的汉黄芩素能抑制人胃癌细胞MGC-803的迁移和侵袭,且呈浓度依赖性。此外,汉黄芩素能抑制间质标记蛋白波形蛋白(Vimentin)和锌指蛋白E-盒结合同源异形盒-1(ZEB1)的表达,促进上皮标记蛋白E-钙黏蛋白(E-cadherin)的表达。结论:汉黄芩素能抑制胃癌细胞的侵袭和迁移,这一作用可能与其抑制EMT的发生有关。     

microRNA-21在食管癌细胞增殖、迁移和凋亡中的作用

本研究检测了40例食管癌组织和40例癌旁组织中的miR-21、PTEN、PI3K和AKT表达,并通过转染miR-21抑制剂来敲低人食管癌细胞系EC9706的miR-21表达,考察了miR-21对食管癌细胞生长的影响。研究发现,食管癌组织中PTEN蛋白的阳性染色评分低于癌旁组织(p<0.05),而PI3K和AKT蛋白的阳性染色评分高于癌旁组织(p<0.05)。miR-21在人食管癌组织中被上调(3.56 vs 1.21,p<0.05)。转染miR-21抑制剂导致PTEN蛋白表达升高,而PI3K和AKT蛋白表达降低(p<0.05)。转染miR-21抑制剂抑制了EC9706细胞的增殖和迁移,但促进了细胞凋亡(p<0.05)。miR-21的上调可通过激活PTEN/PI3K/AKT信号通路来促进食道癌细胞的增殖和迁移,并抑制细胞凋亡。     

Synthesis and in vitro antitumor evaluation of honokiol derivatives

Honokiol is a natural bioactive neolignan and has been widely researched and structural modified as an anticancer agent. In this paper, 18 honokiol derivatives were synthesized and investigated for their antitumor activity. Among these, the promising compound 5a exhibited much higher anti-proliferative activity with IC₅₀ value of 10.41 μM. Transwell assays showed that 5a could significantly inhibit the invasion and migration of I-10 cells at 2.5 μM, which was further confirmed by the western blotting experiments with down-regulation of the HIF-1α and its associated downstream proteins MMP-2 and MMP-9. Overall, these results provided useful suggestion for further structural optimization of honokiol derivatives.