A Jarman/Bell model of primate feeding niches

Some of the behavioral-ecological variation in the primate order can be explained by reference to a general model known as the Jarman/Bell principle. This principle involves a scaling relationship between metabolism and body size which suggests that body size is a fundamental tactic in an animal's feeding strategy. Relatively accurate predictions regarding the diets of primates of known body weight follow from this model. In addition, it can be expanded to predict the kinds of adaptations that would appear in animals that deviate from the expected size/diet pattern. The model is general enough such that, when joined with feeding strategy theory, it can be applied to extinct organisms. In this context it is suggested that Pleistocene hominid ecology was characterized more by omnivory than carnivory.     

Hand and body position during locomotor behavior in the aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis)

Aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) have unique hands among primates, with extraordinarily long fingers in relation to body size. These long digits may be vulnerable to damage from forces during locomotion, particularly during head-first descent-a locomotor mode that the aye-aye utilizes frequently. Previous behavioral studies of aye-aye locomotion reported that Daubentonia must curl its fingers during horizontal quadrupedalism and/or descent to reduce potential stresses on its long fingers. To test this hypothesis, we examined hand and body position in three captive adult aye-ayes while they walked quadrupedally on horizontal and oblique branches. Substantial variation in hand position was observed among individuals for each substrate orientation. While hand postures with curled fingers were preferred by one individual during descent, they were not preferred by the other two individuals, contrary to our expectations. Differences in body position were more consistent among all three individuals. The angle of the body relative to the substrate was significantly reduced during descent (8.4 degrees ) compared to horizontal locomotion (16.9 degrees ). These results suggest that changes in body position, rather than hand position, may help reduce stresses on the digits. A biomechanical model is proposed that demonstrates how a reduction in the body angle in relation to substrate may act to move the center of mass more caudally. This mechanism of moderating loads by altering body position, rather than hand position, may represent an important functional aspect of arboreal locomotion in aye-ayes and other primates.     

Chromosome banding patterns of the aye-aye,Daubentonia madagascariensis (primates,Daubentoniidae)

The aye-aye (Daubentonia madagascariensis) is an endangered prosimian primate found only on the island of Madagascar. It is the only extant representative of its family Daubentoniidae. The phylogenetic relationship of this species with other prosimians is unclear. Because a G-banded karyotype forDaubentonia has not previously been reported, blood for preparation of lymphocyte cultures was obtained from one of the four aye-ayes in captivity in the United States. The diploid chromosome number was 30. The karyotype consisted of 14 autosomal metacentrics, 10 autosomal submetacentrics, and 4 autosomal acrocentrics. The similarities between the G-banded chromosomes ofDaubentonia and those ofPropithecus, a member of the Indriidae, support the notion thatDaubentonia has a closer relationship with the Indriidae than with other Lemuriformes or the lorisoids.     

角倍蚜越冬世代的发育起点温度和有效积温

五倍子系中国特产,是重要的化工和医药原料。角倍蚜Schclechtendaliachinesis（Bell）是生产五倍子的最主要致瘿蚜种。恒温试验表明,其越冬世代有翅型随温度从4.5℃升至18.0℃,平均世代历期从266.2天缩短至76.6天,世代发育起点温度为-1.4℃,有效积温为1512.9日度;无翅型随温度从7.5℃升至22.0℃,平均世代历期从118.8天缩短至29.4天,世代发育起点温度为2.2℃,有效积温为557．4日度。     

Soluble T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain (TIM)-1 and -4 generated by A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease (ADAM)-10 and -17 bind to phosphatidylserine

T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 1 and 4 (TIM-1 and -4) proteins serve as phosphatidylserine receptors to engulf apoptotic cells. Here we show that human TIM-1 and TIM-4 proteins are targets of A Disintegrin And Metalloprotease (ADAM)-mediated ectodomain shedding resulting in soluble forms of TIM-1 and TIM-4. We identified ADAM10 and ADAM17 as major sheddases of TIM-1 and TIM-4 as shown by protease-specific inhibitors, the ADAM10 prodomain, siRNA and ADAM10/ADAM17 deficient murine embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). TIM-1 and TIM-4 lacking the intracellular domain were efficiently cleaved after ionomycin- and PMA-treatment, indicating that the intracellular domain was not necessary for ectodomain shedding. Soluble TIM-1 and -4 were able to bind to phosphatidylserine, suggesting that soluble TIM-1 and -4 might act as negative regulators of cellular TIM-1 and -4. In summary, we describe TIM-1 and TIM-4 as novel targets for ADAM10- and ADAM17-mediated ectodomain shedding.     

Increased amounts of hybrid (heavy/heavy) DNA in Bloom's syndrome fibroblasts

The nuclear DNA of fibroblasts from patients suffering with Bloom's syndrome, density labeled for less than one round of DNA replication to give heavy/light molecules, was examined for spontaneous amounts of heavy/heavy DNA (hybrid DNA). When compared to normal fibroblasts the Bloom's syndrome cells exhibited a sixfold increase in such DNA.     

CCK39/UreB双基因融合表达载体的构建及其在大肠杆菌中的表达

本研究报道了猪源性胆囊收缩素39肽(Cholecystokinin 39, CCK39)和猪肠道大肠菌群脲酶B亚基(UreaseB, UreB)融合的原核表达载体的构建, 以及兼有CCK39和UreB功能活性域的融合蛋白的表达。利用RT-PCR从猪十二指肠总RNA中克隆CCK39, 再通过PCR从猪肠道产脲酶大肠菌群质粒中克隆UreB, 之后将扩增所得的两基因先后定向插入原核表达载体pET43a(+)中, 构建双基因融合表达载体pET43a(+)/CCK39/UreB, 并转化至大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli) BL-21(DE3)中。重组质粒pET43a(+)/CCK39/UreB经PCR、双酶切鉴定和序列分析, 证实已成功构建双基因融合表达载体。重组表达菌经isopropylthio-b-D-galactoside (IPTG)诱导表达了分子量约为80 kD的融合蛋白, 与预期分子量相同, 主要以可溶蛋白的形式存在于细胞质中; 用Ni2+-NTA对可溶蛋白进行亲和纯化, 纯度大于95%; Western blotting分析结果显示重组融合蛋白可分别为CCK8和UreB抗血清识别, 具有良好的反应原性。本研究所表达的融合蛋白为研制抗CCK/Urease双效疫苗奠定了基础。     

Plant remains from a Bell Beaker site in Switzerland, and the beginnings of Triticum spelta (spelt) cultivation in Europe

Little is known of the archaeobotany of the Bell Beaker period. The village of Cortaillod/Sur les Rochettes-est in Switzerland is one of the first settlements of this date discovered so far; and one of the few sites where systematic archaeobotanical research could be undertaken. The 114 features, mainly postholes, produced 5080 charred plant macrofossils. The composition of the cereal spectrum was dominated by hulled wheats and notably by Triticum spelta (spelt). Other important components were Triticum dicoccum (emmer) and T. monococcum (einkorn), and probably also Hordeum (barley). The abundance of spelt represents a fundamental change compared with the plant finds from earlier sites of the region. The origin of this cereal species is discussed in the light of recent results of cytogenetic and molecular research.     

萹蓄齿胫叶甲发育起点温度和有效积温

蓄齿胫叶甲 Gastrophysa polygoni (Linnaeus)是蓼科杂草蓄上的一种重要天敌昆虫。本文研究了该虫的发育起点温度和有效积温 ,结果表明 ,在 19～ 31℃范围内 ,该虫的发育历期随温度升高而缩短 ,反之则延长。经测定 ,卵的发育起点温度为 (10 .4 5± 0 .14 )℃ ,有效积温为 56 .2 4日度 ;幼虫期的发育起点为 (8.12± 0 .2 4 )℃ ,有效积温为 12 2 .2 0日度 ;蛹的发育起点为 (9.70± 0 .82 )℃ ,有效积温为91.70日度 ;产卵前期的发育起点和有效积温分别是 (16 .17± 0 .96 )℃和 52 .83日度 ;全世代的发育起点为 (12 .6 0± 0 .4 3)℃ ,有效积温为 2 90 .4 0日度     

Urine collection in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and its applicability to endocrinological studies

We investigated a new method of urine collection in the common marmoset. We entered the cage as soon as the light cycle started in the breeding room and collected urine from the animal directly without any restraint. We were able to take separate samples from completely different individuals housed together for behavioral studies in the same cage. Urine and blood samples were taken from individuals from late pregnancy through postpartum nursing period. Cortisol and prolactin concentrations measured in urine were compared to those measured in blood to evaluate this collection method. LH/CG level in the urine samples was also measured. Urine data in females indicated a tendency toward high cortisol values during late pregnancy, a sharp drop before parturition, and increase after delivery. In females cortisol levels measured in blood closely resembled concentrations measured in urine. Urine cortisol in males clearly indicated an increase postpartum, but the increase was not indicated in plasma. Plasma and urine prolactin concentrations in females made a similar increase during lactation. Male's plasma prolactin clearly indicated an increase directly proportional to strong behavioral contact with the infant. We also confirmed hormonal changes during pregnancy, and postpartum ovulation and subsequent pregnancies, from urine LH/CG data. We found this method extremely useful because of the high correlation between cortisol, prolactin and LH/CG data from blood and urine. Additionally, we collected urine samples with little stress to the animal from fear, irritation, pain, etc.     

Relationship between the aerobic and anaerobic metabolic capacities and the vertical distribution of three intertidal sessile invertebrates: Jehlius cirratus(Darwin) (Cirripedia), Perumytilus purpuratus (Lamarck) (Bivalvia) and Mytilus chilensis (Hupé) (Bivalvia)

In protected areas of the southern Chilean coastline, the barnacle Jehlius cirratus dominates the upper intertidal zone, the bivalve Perumytilus purpuratus is the dominating species in the intermediate zone and Mytilus chilensis in the middle-lower zone. Varying degrees of aerial respiration were observed in the laboratory for these three sessile invertebrates: 80–100% of the immersed oxygen uptake for Jehlius cirratus, 30–50% for Perumytilus purpuratus and 5–15% for Mytilus chilensis. The pyruvate kinase/phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PK/PEPCK) ratio (adductor muscle) was higher for P. purpuratus than for M. chilensis. J. cirratus had no PEPCK activity in total soft tissues, under the assay conditions used in this study, and PK activity was higher for the cirriped than that of both bivalves. Succinate was produced in both mussels when exposed to hypoxic conditions, but it was not detected in J. cirratus. The kinetic parameters of the PK revealed that M. chilensis presented the highest _0.5 value for PEP and J. cirratus the lowest. Alanine inhibited the PK from M. chilensis to a greater extent (higher n_H value) and did not affect the PK of the cirriped. This latter enzyme also presented a marked substrate inhibition, above PEP concentrations of 0.5 mM. The evidence suggests that organisms inhabiting the upper intertidal zone could utilize an aerobic metabolism, given their high aerial respiration capacity, and that the succinate anaerobic pathway could be a more important metabolic strategy in species of the middle-lower intertidal zone. The physiological and biochemical capacities of these three species could thus be correlated with their vertical distribution in the intertidal rocky shore.     

Mutant Huntingtin induces activation of the Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa interacting protein (BNip3)

Huntington''s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive neuronal death in the basal ganglia and cortex. Although increasing evidence supports a pivotal role of mitochondrial dysfunction in the death of patients'' neurons, the molecular bases for mitochondrial impairment have not been elucidated. We provide the first evidence of an abnormal activation of the Bcl-2/adenovirus E1B 19-kDa interacting protein 3 (BNip3) in cells expressing mutant Huntingtin. In this study, we show an abnormal accumulation and dimerization of BNip3 in the mitochondria extracted from human HD muscle cells, HD model cell cultures and brain tissues from HD model mice. Importantly, we have shown that blocking BNip3 expression and dimerization restores normal mitochondrial potential in human HD muscle cells. Our data shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying mitochondrial dysfunction in HD and point to BNip3 as a new potential target for neuroprotective therapy in HD.     

变温条件下禾谷缢管蚜发育起点温度和有效积温研究

在室内自然变温条件下测定了禾谷缢管蚜的生长发育速率。对试验结果采用2种计算方法,结果表明,直接最优化法稍优于直线回归法,由前者得出的发育起点温度为：无翅蚜全若蚜期5．50℃、有翅蚜全若蚜期5.36℃和全世代5．26℃;有效积温分别为105．69、132．28和125．40日度。根据发育起点温度和有效积温,预测了199年平凉、甘谷和兰州的理论发生代数;用有效积温公式预测了各发育阶段的历期;各发育阶段的最适温度由多项式回归法求得。     

不同老化时间对土壤中外源Zn的形态转化及生态毒性阈值(ECx)的影响

选取了6种不同性质土壤, 添加7个浓度水平的Zn, 研究了不同老化时间(14、90、180、360和540 d)对土壤中外源性Zn有效形态及毒性阈值(EC_x)的影响, 并对Zn老化过程的主要影响因子进行分析. 结果表明: 土壤中0.01 mol·L^-1CaCl₂提取态Zn含量随着老化时间的增加先快速下降, 随后变化减缓, 到540 d时基本达到平衡.随着老化时间的增加, 土壤中Zn对小白菜生长的毒性阈值(EC_x, x=10、50)逐渐增加,毒性显著降低(P<0.05).Zn老化因子(AF)AF₁₀和AF₅₀分别为1.077~1.743和1.174~1.441, 老化因子随老化时间增加而增大.土壤中Zn的平衡浓度(C_∞)与土壤pH、阳离子交换量(CEC)、有机碳含量呈显著负相关关系, 其中pH是决定Zn老化速率最重要的因素, 其次是CEC和有机碳含量,高pH下土壤中Zn达到平衡所需的时间较短. 基于土壤老化因子与主控因子建立土壤中Zn的毒性阈值预测模型,所得预测值与实测值之间有较好的相关性.研究结果将为不同土壤中外源性Zn毒性阈值的归一化处理及生态风险基准值的制定提供理论依据.     

Wernicke's area homologue in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and its relation to the appearance of modern human language

Human language is distinctive compared with the communication systems of other species. Yet, several questions concerning its emergence and evolution remain unresolved. As a means of evaluating the neuroanatomical changes relevant to language that accompanied divergence from the last common ancestor of chimpanzees, bonobos and humans, we defined the cytoarchitectonic boundaries of area Tpt, a component of Wernicke''s area, in 12 common chimpanzee brains and used design-based stereologic methods to estimate regional volumes, total neuron number and neuron density. In addition, we created a probabilistic map of the location of area Tpt in a template chimpanzee brain coordinate space. Our results show that chimpanzees display significant population-level leftward asymmetry of area Tpt in terms of neuron number, with volume asymmetry approaching significance. Furthermore, asymmetry in the number of neurons in area Tpt was positively correlated with asymmetry of neuron numbers in Brodmann''s area 45, a component of Broca''s frontal language region. Our findings support the conclusion that leftward asymmetry of Wernicke''s area originated prior to the appearance of modern human language and before our divergence from the last common ancestor. Moreover, this study provides the first evidence of covariance between asymmetry of anterior and posterior cortical regions that in humans are important to language and other higher order cognitive functions.     

Developmental threshold, day-degree requirements and voltinism of the aphid predator Episyrphus balteatus (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Episyrphus balteatus is the dominant syrphid predator of aphids in the UK, reestablishment of populations each season is mainly by migration from warmer climes, as overwintering in this country is minimal with an uncertain level of success. The effects of temperature on the developmental rate of E. balteatus were investigated to determine the potential voltinism of this species in the UK. Estimates of the developmental threshold temperature from oviposition to adult emergence varied between 6.0d?C and 7.1d?C with a day-degree (DD) requirement of between 256 and 280 depending on the method of analysis used. Using the DD requirement derived from a weighted linear regression (261 DD above a threshold of 6.8d?C) in combination with the required value from adult emergence to first oviposition, suggests a total requirement of approximately 374 DD above 6.8d?C per generation. These data, together with climate records, indicate that one to three generations are possible each year, depending on the available DD and origin of the population. The advantages and limitations of different approaches and models used to estimate developmental thresholds and DD requirements are discussed.     

新型乙酰胆碱酯酶抑制剂Bis(9)-(-)-Meptazinol的小鼠 和大鼠药代动力学研究

目的:研究新型乙酰胆碱酯酶(acetylcholinesterase,AChE)抑制剂Bis(9)-(-)-Meptazinol(B9M)在小鼠和大鼠体内的药代动力学、组织分布和排泄过程。方法:应用本课题组前期报道的大鼠血浆中B9M的LC-MS/MS定量方法:检测B9M皮下和静脉给药后小鼠血浆和脑组织中的含量,计算相应的药代动力学参数,测定B9M小鼠(1.5 mg/kg)和大鼠(1.0 mg/kg)皮下给药后不同时间点的组织分布和粪便、尿液中排泄量。结果:小鼠经皮下注射后,B9M可迅速进入血液(Tmax=0.25 h)血液中消除速度较慢(T_(1/2)=18.09h)绝对生物利用度为115.95%。皮下注射后,B9M在脑内的达峰时间和半衰期分别是8h和18.75h,生物利用度为44.67%。小鼠和大鼠皮下给药后广泛分布于各组织,以脾、肺、肾等血流量大的组织中分布最多。B9M从体内排泄迅速原型药物在小鼠和大鼠尿液和粪便中的排泄量低于3%。结论:皮下给药B9M在小鼠和大鼠体内具有易吸收、分布广泛、易排泄的特点药代动力学特征优良,是极具研发潜力的抗阿尔茨海默病(Alzheimer's disease,AD)新药。     

(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 and AMP-activated protein kinase mediate progressive dopaminergic neuronal degeneration in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Genetic and epidemiologic evidence suggests that cellular energy homeostasis is critically associated with Parkinson''s disease (PD) pathogenesis. Here we demonstrated that genetic deletion of Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 completely blocked 6-hydroxydopamine-induced dopaminergic neurodegeneration and related PD-like symptoms. Hyperactivation of PARP-1 depleted ATP pools in dopaminergic (DA) neurons, thereby activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Further, blockade of AMPK activation by viral infection with dominant-negative AMPK strongly inhibited DA neuronal atrophy with moderate suppression of nuclear translocation of apoptosis-inhibiting factor (AIF), whereas overactivation of AMPK conversely strengthened the 6-OHDA-induced DA neuronal degeneration. Collectively, these results suggest that manipulation of PARP-1 and AMPK signaling is an effective therapeutic approach to prevent PD-related DA neurodegeneration.     

Aggregation pheromone released from the palps of feeding female Phlebotomus papatasi (Psychodidae)

Experiments with 2 feeding chambers: 1 new, the other having been used previously for feeding, showed that an aggregation and feeding pheromone had been secreted onto the chamber membranes by engorging females. Of the different extracts from parts of females or males tested, only the female palps and mouth parts exhibited pheromonal activity. The reaction to the pheromone was shown to be olfactory, and the pheromone itself is volatile. Reaction to the pheromone was dependent on chamber temperature. Pheromone-baited chambers at 28°C elicited a high response and the specific reaction to the pheromone was eliminated at 36°C. Large vacuolated cells in the 3rd and 4th segments and in Newstead's organ in the palps of females are suggested as a source of the pheromone.