Geometric morphometric analysis of the effect of temperature on wing size and shape in Aedes albopictus

Wing geometry helps to identify mosquito species, even cryptic ones. On the other hand, temperature has a well‐known effect on insect metric properties. Can such effects blur the taxonomic signal embedded in the wing? Two strains of Aedes albopictus (laboratory and field strain) were examined under three different rearing temperatures (26, 30 and 33 °C) using landmark‐ and outline‐based morphometric approaches. The wings of each experimental line were compared with Aedes aegypti. Both approaches indicated similar associations between wing size and temperature. For the laboratory strain, the wing size significantly decreased as the temperature increased. For the field strain, the largest wings were observed at the intermediate temperature. The two morphometric approaches describing shape showed different sensibilities to temperature. For both strains and sexes, the landmark‐based approach disclosed significant wing shape changes with temperature changes. The outline‐based approach showed lesser effects, detecting significant changes only in laboratory females and in field males. Despite the size and shape changes induced by temperature, the two strains of Ae. albopictus were always distinguished from Ae. aegypti. The present study confirms the lability of size. However, it also suggests that, despite environmentally‐induced variation, the architecture of the wing still provides a strong taxonomic signal.     

A simple,band‐mounted device to measure behaviorally modified thermal microclimates experienced by birds

Birds encounter climate at the scale of microclimates that can vary rapidly in time and space and so understanding potential vulnerability and adaptations to those microclimates requires fine‐scale measurements that accurately track thermal exposures. However, few options exist for recording the microclimates actually experienced by birds (realized microclimates). We constructed and tested a simple, low‐cost, temperature logger for recording the realized microclimates of ground‐nesting birds. We developed attachment protocols for band‐mounting Thermochron iButtons on Ring‐billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) chicks. We tested these mounted, temperature‐logging devices on 20 chicks weighing > 200 g (device weight was 4 g), attaching devices for 48 h and observing behavior before and after attachment and removal. Devices recorded temperature immediately surrounding the leg at 2‐min intervals. Recorded temperatures were strong predictors of observed thermoregulatory behaviors (panting and sitting), outperforming predictions based on air temperatures measured by basic, static approaches. Through comparison with matched controls (chicks with just a band), we detected no adverse physiological effects of devices, no effects on social or feeding behavior, and only a short‐term decrease in inactivity immediately after device attachment (likely due to increased preening). By attaching iButtons to the legs of birds, we quantified realized thermal exposure, integrating air temperature, modes of environmental heat transfer, and bird behavior at microclimatic scales. Although not yet validated for broader use, our approach (including possible miniaturization) should be suitable to measure thermal exposure of adults, not just chicks, allowing collection of data concerning thermal exposures during flight under field conditions. At ~ $25 USD per device, our approach facilitates experimental protocols with robust sample sizes, even for relatively modest budgets.     

High Yield Synthesis of Nitriles by a New Enzyme,Phenylacetaldoxime Dehydratase,from Bacillus sp. Strain OxB-1

3-Phenylpropionitrile was synthesized from Z-3-phenylpropionaldoxime (0.75 M) in a quantitative yield (98 g/l) by the use of cells of Eschrichia coli JM 109/pOxD-9OF, a transformant harboring a gene for a new enzyme, phenylacetaldoxime dehydratase, from Bacillus sp. strain OxB-1. Other arylalkyl- and alkyl-nitriles were also synthesized in high yields from the corresponding aldoximes. Moreover, 3-phenylpropionitrile was successfully synthesized by the recombinant cells in 70 and 100% yields from 0.1 M unpurified E/Z-3-phenylpropionaldoxime, which is spontaneously formed from 3-phenylpropionaldehyde and hydroxylamine in a butyl acetate/water biphasic system and aqueous phase, respectively.     

A cytogenetic characterization comparing a rat 6TG-resistant strain and 6TG-sensitive clones

Summary A 8.3 /ml 6-thioguanine (6TG)-resistant strain was isolated from a rat tetraploid cell line by step-by-step selection in 6TG-medium. In the 6TG-resistant cell population 51% of the cells were tetraploid and 35% of the cells were hypertetraploid, i.e., one chromosome more than a tetraploid. The 6TG-resistant strain grew very well in RPMI 1640 medium with intervals of three days between subcultures. The 6TG-resistant cells all have a homogeneously staining region (HSRs) in one of the X chromosomes which do not stain after chromosome C-banding. They also possess a higher NORs activity and much lower frequency of sister chromatid exchanges (SCE). When the 6TG-resistant RCT cells were subcultured in 6TG-free medium for three days, their SCE frequency did not change. 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) significantly suppressed the NORs activity for both 6TG-resistant cells and 6TG-sensitive cells (P<0.001).Abbreviations 6TG 6-thioguanine - HSRs homogeneously staining region - NORs nucleolar organizer region - SCE sister chromatid exchange - BrdU 5-bromodeoxyuridine - HPRT Hypoxanthine phosphoribosyl transferase     

Structural organization of cholera toxin gene and its expression in an environmental non-pathogenic strain ofVibrio cholerae

Non-pathogenic, environmental strain ofVibrio cholerae, ELTOR Ogawa EW6 carries a copy of the cholera toxin gene in its chromosome. Restriction enzyme digestion followed by Southern blot analysis revealed that the structure of the cholera toxin gene in this organism is different from that found in the virulent strains. The xbaI site which has been found to be conserved in the cholera toxin of the virulent strains examined so far, is absent here. Results of the RNA dot blot analysis indicated that the cholera toxin gene in EW6 is transcribed much less efficiently compared to the cholera toxin gene present in the virulent strainVibrio cholerae classical Inaba 569B.     

Loading patterns and jaw movements during mastication in Macaca fascicularis: a bone-strain, electromyographic, and cineradiographic analysis

Rosette strain gage, electromyography (EMG), and cineradiographic techniques were used to analyze loading patterns and jaw movements during mastication in Macaca fascicularis. The cineradiographic data indicate that macaques generally swallow frequently throughout a chewing sequence, and these swallows are intercalated into a chewing cycle towards the end of a power stroke. The bone strain and jaw movement data indicate that during vigorous mastication the transition between fast close and the power stroke is correlated with a sharp increase in masticatory force, and they also show that in most instances the jaws of macaques are maximally loaded prior to maximum intercuspation, i.e. during phase I (buccal phase) occlusal movements. Moreover, these data indicate that loads during phase II (lingual phase) occlusal movements are ordinarily relatively small. The bone strain data also suggest that the duration of unloading of the jaw during the power stroke of mastication is largely a function of the relaxation time of the jaw adductors. This interpretation is based on the finding that the duration from 100% peak strain to 50% peak strain during unloading closely approximates the half-relaxation time of whole adductor jaw muscles of macaques. The EMG data of the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles have important implications for understanding both the biomechanics of the power stroke and the external forces responsible for the "wishboning" effect that takes place along the mandibular symphysis and corpus during the power stroke of mastication. Although both medial pterygoid muscles reach maximum EMG activity during the power stroke, the activity of the working-side medial pterygoid peaks after the balancing-side medial pterygoid. Associated with the simultaneous increase of force of the working-side medial pterygoid and the decrease of force of the balancing-side medial pterygoid is the persistently high level of EMG activity of the balancing-side deep masseter (posterior portion). This pattern is of considerable significance because the direction of force of both the working-side medial pterygoid and the balancing-side deep masseter are well aligned to aid in driving the working-side lower molars across the upper molars in the medial direction during unilateral mastication.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Artifical diets and rearing of the nun moth, Lymantria monacha

Artificial diets were reviewed and two tested. The highest level of survival to the adult stage (72%) was obtained on a modified diet of Odell & Rollinson (1966). Rearing required 61 days for males and 70 days for females. Wing deformation occurred in 16% of the adults. The sex ratio ( : ) was 0.80. Average pupal weight was 281 mg for males and 368 mg for females. Females averaged 102 eggs (range 80–125 eggs). Neonates from field-collected egg masses started hatching on 6 December; frost was not necessary for hatching. Hatching could be postponed until at least 10 November of the following year by storing egg masses at-2°C. L. monacha can be maintained continuously in the laboratory.

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Zusammenfassung Eine Massenvermehrung der Nonne, Lymantria monacha (L.), trat in 1984 auf 500 ha Pinus sylvestris bei Budelerbergen (S.O. der Niederlande) auf und betraf 1985 eine Fläche von 2800 ha. Obwohl die Vermehrung durch eine Luftapplikation mit Dimilin 25 bekämpft werden konnte, wurden Untersuchungen begonnen zur Entwicklung von für die Umwelt sicheren Bekämpfungsmethoden, besonders die Anwendung von Virosen. Das Ziel bestand in der Virusproduktion in künstlichen Raupenzuchten. Die Nonne wurde bisher mit verschiedenen für andere Insektenarten oder speziell für diesen Zweck entwickelten künstlichen Nährböden gezüchtet. Da die Zusammensetzung dieser Nährböden und die Zuchtmethoden nicht veröffentlicht waren und da wenige Details über die Raupenentwicklung vorlagen, wurden modifizierten Nährböden von McMorran sowie von Odell & Rollinson für die Massenzucht der Nonne geprüft.

     

Muscle damage and repair in voluntarily running mice: strain and muscle differences

Summary Soleus, extensor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior muscles of mice voluntarily running in wheels for periods of 5 to 120 days were studied in spaced serial and serial cross-sections. Shortly after the onset of running and during the next 2 weeks, degeneration, necrosis, phagocytosis and regeneration of muscle fibers, satellite cell proliferation and cellular infiltration were found in soleus muscles of mice from all strains investigated (CBA/J, NMRI, C57b, NIH, SWS and Balb/c). Tibialis anterior but not extensor digitorum longus muscles were also damaged. Predominantly high-oxidative fibers were affected (both slow-oxidative and fast oxidative glycolytic in soleus, fast-oxidative glycolytic in tibialis anterior). Denervated soleus muscles that had been passively stretched during running were not damaged. Evidence was found that, during the early period of running, split fibers form by myogenesis within (regeneration) or outside (satellite cell proliferation) necrotic muscle fiber segments. Split fibers persisted in solei of long-term (2 to 3 months) exercised CBA/J but not NMRI mice. In 6 out of 20 solei of CBA/J runners exercised for 2 months or longer, fiber-type grouping was observed in the areas where extensive damage usually occurred in the early periods. The results show that different muscles are damaged and repaired to varying degrees and that marked interstrain and inter-individual differences are present. It appears that acute muscle injury occurring upon onset of voluntary running is a usual event in the adaptation of muscles to altered use.     

低通气量呼吸对犬左空心肌收缩性的影响

大量的研究表明,急性呼吸衰竭时多伴有心血管功能的损害,但有关急性呼吸衰竭对于左室心肌收缩性的影响所知甚少。本文对开胸麻醉犬在低通气引起呼吸衰竭时,左室心肌收缩性的变化进行了观测和分析。结果表明,在实验组(n=9)低通气呼吸(通气量小于160ml/min/kg,PaO_2小于60mmHg)时,心率(HR)、主动脉平均压(MOP)、左室收缩峰压(LV-SP)、左室内压最大上升速率(dP/dt_(max))、节段心肌发展张力(DT)及其最大发展速率(dT/dt_(max))均显著降低,心肌开始收缩至dp/dt_(max)的时间(t-dp/dt_(max))和至dT/dt_(max)的时间(t-dT/dt_(max))则显著增加,与低通气呼吸前比较均有统计学差异。而在对照组(n=5)保持正常通气(通气量大于450ml/min/kg,PaO_2大于70mmHg),观察45min,未见上述指标有明显改变。本研究表明,急性呼吸衰竭时左室心肌收缩性严重受损。