New Australian butterfly genus Jameela gen. nov. (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae: Polyommatinae: Polyommatini) revealed by morphological, ecological and molecular data

This paper proposes to split the Australian Polyommatini genus Erysichton Fruhstorfer, 1916 into two genera on the basis of molecular, morphological and early stage behavioral attributes. The utility of reflective eye pattern as a taxonomic character is discussed and a neotype of Lycaena lineata Murray, 1874 is designated.     

Eye size variation reflects habitat and daily activity patterns in colubrid snakes

The functioning of the vertebrate eye depends on its absolute size, which is presumably adapted to specific needs. Eye size variation in lidless and spectacled colubrid snakes was investigated, including 839 specimens belonging to 49 genera, 66 species and subspecies. Variations of adult eye diameters (EDs) in both absolute and relative terms between species were correlated with parameters reflecting behavioral ecology. In absolute terms, eye of arboreal species was larger than in terrestrial and semiaquatic species. For diurnal species, EDs of terrestrial species do not differ from semiaquatic species; for nocturnal species the ED of terrestrial species is larger than fossorial species but not different from semiaquatic species. In relative terms, ED did not differ significantly by habitat for diurnal species. Although the ED of terrestrial species is larger than fossorial species there were no differences for nocturnal species between semiaquatic and fossorial snakes. In contrast to other vertebrates studied to date, colubrid EDs in absolute and relative terms are larger in diurnal than in nocturnal species. These observations suggest that among colubrid snakes, eye size variation reflects adaptation to specific habitats, foraging strategies and daily activities, independently of phylogeny. J. Morphol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Isolation of microsatellite loci in the Capricorn silvereye,Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus (Aves: Zosteropidae)

The Capricorn silvereye (Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus) is ideally suited to investigating the genetic basis of body size evolution. We have isolated and characterized a set of microsatellite markers for this species. Seven out of 11 loci were polymorphic. The number of alleles detected ranged from two to five and observed heterozygosities between 0.12 and 0.67. One locus, ZL49, was found to be sex‐linked. This moderate level of diversity is consistent with that expected in an isolated, island population.     

The Effect of Oxygen on Melanin Precursors Released from Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells In Vitro

The autoxidation of dopa to melanin in culture media causes toxicity to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and endothelial cells. The damage is specific to cell type and to the ambient oxygen concentration. To determine whether RPE cells influence the oxidation of dopa to media, we compared light absorbing dopa derivatives in the media exposed to cells with those found in the media incubated without cells. Dopa was extensively oxidized in the presence of RPE cells, and more light absorbing substances were generated with higher dopa and oxygen concentrations. However, an increase in ambient oxygen concentration decreased the quantity of several dopa derivatives which had been formed. The data provided evidence that RPE modulated dopa metabolism. Quinolic derivatives produced from a tyrosinase reaction and dopa-melanin formation moved the peak absorbance wavelength of dopa into the visible range. The spectrum between the dopa-derived compounds in the media has an absorbance at 240–275 nm and a maximum around 300 nm wth a shoulder near 375 nm. Gaussian analysis (peak separation) resolved these spectra into five components: a sharp band at 248 nm, a band at 295 nm, a large band at 359 nm, and two broad bands at 459 and 585 nm.     

Nervous system development in the fairy shrimp Branchinella sp. (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anostraca): Insights into the development and evolution of the branchiopod brain and its sensory organs

Using immunohistochemical labeling against acetylated a‐tubulin and serotonin in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy and 3D‐reconstruction, we investigated the temporary freshwater pond inhabitant Branchinella sp. (Crustacea: Branchiopoda: Anostraca) for the first time to provide detailed data on the development of the anostracan nervous system. Protocerebral sense organs such as the nauplius eye and frontal filament organs are present as early as the hatching stage L0. In the postnaupliar region, two terminal pioneer neurons grow from posterior to anterior to connect the mandibular neuromeres. The first protocerebral neuropil to emerge is not part of the central complex but represents the median neuropil, and begins to develop from L0+ onwards. In stage L3, the first evidence of developing compound eyes is visible. This is followed by the formation of the visual neuropils and the neuropils of the central complex in the protocerebrum. From the deutocerebral lobes, the projecting neuron tract proceeds to both sides of the lateral protocerebrum, forming a chiasma just behind the central body. In the postnaupliar region, the peripheral nervous system, commissures and connectives develop along an anterior–posterior gradient after the fasciculation of the terminal pioneer neurons with the mandibular neuromere. The peripheral nervous system in the thoracic segments consists of two longitudinal neurite bundles on each side which connect the intersegmental nerves, together with the ventral nervous system forming an orthogon‐like network. Here, we discuss, among other things, the evidence of a fourth nauplius eye nerve and decussating projecting neuron tract found in Branchinella sp., and provide arguments to support our view that the crustacean frontal filament (organ) and onychophoran primary antenna are homologous. J. Morphol. 277:1423–1446, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

高浓度玻璃酸钠滴眼液与聚乙二醇滴眼液防治飞秒激光辅助LASIK术后干眼的临床疗效对比

目的:比较高浓度玻璃酸钠滴眼液与聚乙二醇滴眼液防治飞秒激光辅助LASIK术后干眼的临床效果。方法:选取2016年1月至2017年1月在我院视光学中心收治的飞秒激光辅助LASIK术后干眼患者80例并将其随机分为A、B两组,分别给予玻璃酸钠滴眼液(3 g/L)、聚乙二醇滴眼液,在用药后1周、2周、1个月进行干眼体征检查,比较患者用药前后泪液分泌试验(SIT)、泪膜破裂时间(BUT)、角膜荧光素染色(FL)的变化。结果:术后1周,所有患者BUT均较术前显著降低,FL均较术前显著升高,差异均有统计学意义(P0.05),但SIT与术前比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。两组患者用药后SIT数值随时间变化差异没有统计学意义(P0.05);A组和B组分别在用药后1周、2周、1个月时进行比较,SIT变化差异没有统计学意义(P0.05);而A组BUT时间、FL评分改善时间明显早于B组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:滴用高浓度玻璃酸钠滴眼液(3 g/L)对飞秒激光辅助LASIK术后干眼患者的效果明显优于滴用聚乙二醇。     

Immunolocalization of the Na,K-ATPase in photoreceptor cells of the moth Manduca sexta-evidence for Na,K-ATPase on both the nonmicrovillar and the microvillar domains of the plasma membrane

Immunohistochemical and physiological studies on various insect photoreceptors have demonstrated that the Na,K-ATPase (sodium pump) is restricted to the nonreceptive nonmicrovillar area of the plasma membrane. Here, we examined the distribution of the Na,K-ATPase in photoreceptor cells of the superposition-type compound eye in the moth Manduca sexta. Using immunofluorescent and immunogold cytochemistry, we show that the Na,K-ATPase is localized to both the nonmicrovillar and the microvillar parts of the plasma membrane. Manduca photoreceptors thus deviate from the common concept that the sodium pump and the molecular components of the photoreceptive machinery reside on different domains of the plasma membrane.     

Selection of visual information for lightness judgements by eye movements

When judging the lightness of objects, the visual system has to take into account many factors such as shading, scene geometry, occlusions or transparency. The problem then is to estimate global lightness based on a number of local samples that differ in luminance. Here, we show that eye fixations play a prominent role in this selection process. We explored a special case of transparency for which the visual system separates surface reflectance from interfering conditions to generate a layered image representation. Eye movements were recorded while the observers matched the lightness of the layered stimulus. We found that observers did focus their fixations on the target layer, and this sampling strategy affected their lightness perception. The effect of image segmentation on perceived lightness was highly correlated with the fixation strategy and was strongly affected when we manipulated it using a gaze-contingent display. Finally, we disrupted the segmentation process showing that it causally drives the selection strategy. Selection through eye fixations can so serve as a simple heuristic to estimate the target reflectance.