Testing for ecophenotypic variation in a benthic foraminifer

A method for identifying ecophenotypic variants is tested, using two morphological variants of the benthic foraminifer Reophax dentaliniformis Brady from the Baltic Sea. Results show that the example does not correspond to the model for ecophenotypic variation. This is interpreted as showing that the two forms are genetically differentiated and that the gene flow between them is restricted by the water circulation pattern in the Baltic.     

Cambrian-Ordovician lingulate brachiopods from Scandinavia, Kazakhstan, and South Ural Mountains

Lingulate brachiopods are described from the Upper Cambrian - Lower Ordovician (Tremadoc-Arenig) of Scandinavia (Sweden, Denmark, and Norway), South Ural Mountains, northeastern Central Kazakhstan, and the southern Kendyktas Range in southern Kazakhstan. The faunas comprise a total of 56 species of which 20 are new these are assigned to 40 genera, of which the lingulids Agalatassia and Keskentassia , the siphonotretid Siphonotrerella. and the acrotretids Galinella, Longipegma, Ottenbyella, Akmolina, Mamatia, Sasyksoria , and Otariella are new. The new Subfamily Elliptoglossinae is proposed. The poorly known Cambrianardovician stratigraphy of the South Urals. northeastern Central Kazakhstan, and the southern Kendyktas Range is reviewed. Many sequences in these areas that were previously referred to the Upper Cambrian and Tremadoc can now be correlated with the lower Arenig Hunneberg Stage in Baltoscandia. Three main types of faunal assemblages can be distinguished: (1) the Broeggeria assemblage; (2) several microbrachiopod assemblages; and (3) the Leptembolon-Thysanotos assemblage. The Broeggeria assemblage is distributed world-wide in the Tremadoc of the southern Kendyktas Range, Scandinavia, Belgium, Great Britain, Canada, and Argentina, while the Leptembolon-Thysanotos assemblage is confined to the Arenig of an area surrounding the East European platform, including northern Estonia, Poland, Germany, Bohemia, Serbia, and the South Urals. The microbrachiopod assemblages are known mainly from the Upper Cambrian - Arenig of Scandinavia, South Ural Mountains, northeastern Central Kazakhstan, and the southern Kendyktas Range.     

The catchment and climate regulation of pCO2 in boreal lakes

The regulation of surface water pCO₂ was studied in a set of 33 unproductive boreal lakes of different humic content, situated along a latitudinal gradient (57°N to 64°N) in Sweden. The lakes were sampled four times during one year, and analyzed on a wide variety of water chemistry parameters. With only one exception, all lakes were supersaturated with CO₂ with respect to the atmosphere at all sampling occasions. pCO₂ was closely related to the DOC concentration in lakes, which in turn was mainly regulated by catchment characteristics. This pattern was similar along the latitudinal gradient and at different seasons of the year, indicating that it is valid for a variety of climatic conditions within the boreal forest zone. We suggest that landscape characteristics determine the accumulation and subsequent supply of allochthonous organic matter from boreal catchments to lakes, which in turn results in boreal lakes becoming net sources of atmospheric CO₂.     

Spatial summation of heat induced pain within and between dermatomes

The aim was to study spatial summation within and between ipsi- and contralateral dermatomes at different painful temperatures. For heat stimulation we used a computer controlled thermofoil based thermode. The thermode area could be varied in five discrete steps from 3.14 to 15.70 cm2. When we applied the stimuli within a dermatome, the mean heat pain threshold decreased significantly from 45.6 to 43.5 C as the area was increased from minimum (3.14 cm2) to maximum (15.70 cm2). When the areas were increased involving different dermatomes (both ipsi- or contralateral), we found similar decreases in pain threshold. Spatial summation was also found within and between dermatomes at supra-threshold temperatures (46, 48, 50 C).The study shows that spatial summation of pain is most likely a mechanism acting across segments and is existing from pain threshold to tolerance.     

Agroinfection-based high-throughput screening reveals specific recognition of INF elicitins in Solanum

We adapted and optimized the use of the Agrobacterium tumefaciens binary PVX expression system (PVX agroinfection) to screen Solanum plants for response to pathogen elicitors and applied the assay to identify a total of 11 clones of Solanum huancabambense and Solanum microdontum , out of 31 species tested, that respond to the elicitins INF1, INF2A and INF2B of Phytophthora infestans . Prior to this study, response to INF elicitins was only known in Nicotiana spp. within the Solanaceae. The identified S. huancabambense and S. microdontum clones also exhibited hypersensitivity-like cell death following infiltration with purified recombinant INF1, INF2A and INF2B, thereby validating the screening protocol. Comparison of INF elicitin activity revealed that Nicotiana plants responded to significantly lower concentrations than Solanum , suggesting variable levels of sensitivity to INF elicitins. We exploited natural variation in response to INF elicitins in the identified Solanum accessions to evaluate the relationship between INF recognition and late blight resistance. Interestingly, several INF-responsive Solanum plants were susceptible to P. infestans . Also, an S. microdontum  × Solanum tuberosum (potato) population that segregates for INF response was generated but failed to identify a measurable contribution of INF response to resistance. These results suggest that in Solanum , INF elicitins are recognized as general elicitors and do not have a measurable contribution to disease resistance.     

Predicted warming and browning affect timing and magnitude of plankton phenological events in lakes: a mesocosm study

1. Aquatic ecosystems in Northern Europe are expected to face increases in temperature and water colour (TB) in future. While effects of these factors have been studied separately, it is unknown whether and how a combination of them might affect phenological events and trophic interactions. 2. In a mesocosm study, we combined both factors to create conditions expected to arise during the coming century. We focused on quantifying effects on timing and magnitude of plankton spring phenological events and identifying possible mismatches between resources (phytoplankton) and consumers (zooplankton). 3. We found that the increases in TB had important effects on timing and abundance of different plankton groups. While increased temperature led to an earlier peak in phytoplankton and zooplankton and a change in the relative timing of different zooplankton groups, increased water colour reduced chlorophyll‐a concentrations. 4. Increased TB together benefitted cladocerans and calanoid copepods and led to stronger top‐down control of algae by zooplankton. There was no sign of a mismatch between primary producers and grazers as reported from other studies. 5. Our results point towards an earlier onset of plankton spring growth in shallow lakes in future with a stronger top‐down control of phytoplankton by zooplankton grazers.     

Community-based mental health care in Africa: mental health workers’ views

The World Health Organization (WHO) has for long proposed the development of community-based mental health services worldwide. However, the progress toward community mental health care in most African countries is still hampered by a lack of resources, with specialist psychiatric care essentially based in large, centrally located mental hospitals. It is again time to reconsider the direction of mental health care in Africa. Based on a small inquiry to a number of experienced mental health professionals in sub-Saharan Africa, we discuss what a community concept of mental health care might mean in Africa. There is a general agreement that mental health services should be integrated in primary health care. A critical issue for success of this model is perceived to be provision of appropriate supervision and continuing education for primary care workers. The importance of collaboration between modern medicine and traditional healers is stressed and the paper ends in a plea for WHO to take the initiative and develop mental health services according to the special needs and the socio-cultural conditions prevailing in sub-Saharan Africa.