Gene pool state and degree of infestation by bark beetle (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Ips tipographus</Emphasis> L.) of Norway spruce (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea abies</Emphasis> L. Karst.) natural populations and planted stands in Moscow region

A comparative analysis of the gene pool state in natural populations and planted stands of Norway spruce and the degree of their infestation by the bark beetle in the Moscow region was conducted taking into account the dynamic state of communities (4 populations, 148 samples, 24 isoenzyme loci). The degree of infestation by the bark beetle of conditionally native communities is 0%; for planted stands, it is 90–100%; and for a short-term community, it is 15–20%. The comparison of “healthy” populations and those infested with bark beetle by average values of observed heterozygosity (H _O) detected no significant differences. However, the test on allelic frequency heterogeneity demonstrated the difference of planted stands from conditionally native populations both by three loci (Fe-2, Idh-1, Mdh-3) and by the totality of 18 polymorphic isoenzyme loci; the short-term population differs from conditionally native population only by two loci. The value of the inbreeding coefficient by the Idh-1 locus is significantly higher in both populations infested with the bark beetle than in “healthy” populations. The results of conducted studies demonstrate the necessity of continuation of the study on the gene pool state in Norway spruce populations owing to the degree of their infestation by the bark beetle along with the study on the dynamic state of the communities; this can provide a key to solving the problem of the forest preservation from pests.     

Vegetation strategy of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Vellozia crinita</Emphasis> (Velloziaceae)

Plant communities in which the herb layer is dominated by Vellozia crinita were surveyed in seven mountain ranges with a complex comprising open herbaceous or savanna-like montane vegetation overlying quartzite and sand, locally known as “campos rupestres” in the State of Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil, by means of 92 vegetation relevés (totaling approx. 4629 m²). Vellozia crinita displayed a growth strategy which is rare among the Velloziaceae south of the Espinhaço mountain chain.While most species of Vellozia are phanerophytes with erect caudices and grow exclusively on or among rock outcrops, V. crinita is a caespitose chamaephyte with a profusely branched, repent caudex which grows under the ground or very slightly exposed. It forms cushions which stabilize convex mounds of colluvial sand, thus occupying a distinct niche in the “campos rupestres”. One association, two subassociations and two variants of the white-sand vegetation component are described as new.     

Letting the Air Out: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aire</Emphasis> as an Empty Signifier in Oaxacan Understandings of Illness

“Air (aire, also aigre) in the body” is a frequent explanation of illness according to the traditional medical beliefs in Mexico. Anthropologists have generally scrutinized aire in the context of other common folk illnesses treated by traditional healers (curanderas). However, drawing on my research in the communities of Northern Oaxaca I suggest that aire occupies a more distinct position in the folk medical cosmology than it has usually been credited with. This distinction rests on the notion’s exceptional ambivalence and openness to multiple interpretations. “Air” is recurred to as the cause of illness mainly in situations where every other explanation, either “traditional” or “biomedical,” seems to be inadequate. The physical properties of air—its transparency, invisibility, apparent immateriality, near omnipresence, and virtual “nothingness”—render it a suitable explanation of the last resort. Local understandings of what aire “is” are often vague and elusive, and in many respects the term functions in folk medical discourse as an “empty signifier.”     

Grassland community structure under different grazing regimes,with a method for examining species association when local richness is constrained

Plant community structure was investigated in a species-poor grassland on slightly alkaline soil, subjected to eight combinations of seasonal grazing management. The “Linear patch model” ofBycroft et al. (1993) and the “Site model” ofWilson et al. (1987) were used to examine variance in local species richness, since a variance deficit (in comparison with a null model) is a possible indication of niche limitation. Even though treatment had affected species composition, the degree of variance deficit was essentially constant between grazing treatments. Grass species richness was also unaffected by grazing regime. Species association was examined by a new method, that discounts the tendency to negative association that will be caused by any constraint on local species richness. There were differences in association between paddocks, related to both treatments and blocks, but these were individualistic to the sample, apparently because of species spatial patchiness. Differences between replicate paddocks were generally as great as those between treatments. However, the effect of Spring grazing on the association betweenHordeum secalinum andAgrostis stolonifera was opposite between the two Winter grazing levels. Pattern of the more common species was investigated, again via a new test, one based on runs. The pattern ofAgrostis stolonifera was constant, irrespective of grazing treatment, even though its abundance had changed. However,Lolium perenne was affected by grazing—under winter grazing its occurrences were less clumped —even though grazing had no effect on its mean abundance. There was therefore some indication of small effects of winter grazing on community structure, i.e. regularities in the patterns of species co-occurrences that might be caused by limitations to species coexistence. Apart from this, community structure was quickly restored after the imposition of different grazing regimes, to that typical of stable communities. Applying the Gitay-Wilson “Three-phase model” of succession, the “Pioneer” phase in this grassland lasted less than five years. It is concluded that the grassland is currently in the second, “Building”, phase.     

On optimal nonlinear associative recall

The problem of determining the nonlinear function (“blackbox”) which optimally associates (on given criteria) two sets of data is considered. The data are given as discrete, finite column vectors, forming two matricesX (“input”) andY (“output”) with the same numbers of columns and an arbitrary numbers of rows. An iteration method based on the concept of the generalized inverse of a matrix provides the polynomial mapping of degreek onX by whichY is retrieved in an optimal way in the least squares sense. The results can be applied to a wide class of problems since such polynomial mappings may approximate any continuous real function from the “input” space to the “output” space to any required degree of accuracy. Conditions under which the optimal estimate is linear are given. Linear transformations on the input key-vectors and analogies with the “whitening” approach are also discussed. Conditions of “stationarity” on the processes of whichX andY are assumed to represent a set of sample sequences can be easily introduced. The optimal linear estimate is given by a discrete counterpart of the Wiener-Hopf equation and, if the key-signals are noise-like, the holographic-like scheme of associative memory is obtained, as the optimal nonlinear estimator. The theory can be applied to the system identification problem. It is finally suggested that the results outlined here may be relevant to the construction of models of associative, distributed memory.     

Les Pectinidae miocènes des faluns (Ouest de la France). Intérêts biostratigraphiques des associations

The Miocene Pectinidae from the “faluns” (W France). Biostratigraphical interests of the associations. New sampling was realized throughout neogene outcrops occurring in Western France (mainly, “faluns” of Langhian to Tortonian age from Touraine, Anjou and Blésois). It has been known for long that the species or associations of the representatives of the family Pectinidae vary in each outcrop, but it was still necessary to get original data, which were collected precisely in their original level. Such a work is still in progress in Mediterranean areas. It seems that the systematic framework of several species has still to be detailed; the recently re-discovered species may be 12 in number. The species may characterize four main assemblages: rich and poorly diversified faunas, collected in microconglomerates, deposited in shallow environments; rich and diversified association, corresponding to the bryozoa facies deposited in deeper environments (“savignean” facies Auct.); poor assemblage, collected in shallow water, shelly beds (“pontilevian” facies Auct.); nearly absent Pectinidae in the shallow water Arca facies (“lublean” Auct.). Generally, the species belonging to the genus Pecten are only common in the savignean facies, in which the diversity consequently increases. Actually, the biochronological framework of the “faluns” is correct, mainly related to the mammal zonation. The associations of Pectinidae collected in the “faluns” may be of several interests.

• •Several memberships of the observed faunas have a long stratigraphical range (Langhian–Pliocene), wide geographical distribution (from Britain to Mediterranean areas), and may be ecologically tolerant. They belong to the Crassadoma multistriata and Aequipecten radians species. In Western France, A. radians may be related to quite shallow environment. Opposite, the species Gigantopecten ligerianus may be related to the deepest environments.
• •Several species or association may success to each other through time, which may offer a regional stratigraphical interest, in the “faluns” from Western France: P. subarcuatus—P. sp. 1 (Langhian), P. sp. 2 (close to praebenedictus, Serravalian to Tortonian.), P. praebenedictus s. s. (younger Tortonien), P. jacoabeus or maximus (Messinian to Pliocene). G. ligerianus was recently recollected regionally in sediments of Langhian age only, if the local deposition environments are deep enough. Note that numerous shells belonging to this species exist in historical collections, from Doué area (obs. pers. M.B.).

     

To be or not to be [fertile], that is the question

Background

According to our literature analysis, there are no data focused on spermatozoa emotional representations in childless men and data on the emotional repercussions of a diagnosis of infertility on men are still scarce. Thus, in this work, we investigated what the presence or absence of spermatozoa in the semen symbolize for men.

Material and methods

To answer this question, 441 childless heterosexual men participated in an anonymous, prospective, Internet-based survey.

Results

In response to the question “What would having a high or normal sperm count symbolize for you?” the most frequent answer was “ability to father a child”. Men living with a partner were significantly more likely than single men to answer “ability to father a child” (p?<?0.05) and less likely to answer “virility” and/or “ability to have an erection/ejaculation” (p?=?0.001). In response to the question “If you found out that you had a low sperm count or no spermatozoa at all, how would you feel?”, most of the men stated that they would be disappointed. Men living with a partner were more likely to state that they would feel ashamed (p?<?0.05) or guilty with regard to their partner (p?<?0.0001).

Conclusions

These preliminary results should help us to improve (i) the way that male infertility is announced (it is easier to find the right words if one understands the possible importance of having a high sperm count) and (ii) the psychological, marital and sexual counselling provided to men with a diagnosis of infertility.

     

Normalisierung der geschlechtlichen Entwicklung kopfloser Fragmente junger ♀♀ vonPlatynereis dumerilii (Polychaeta) durch Behandlung mit konservierten Prostomien juveniler Individuen

Fragments taken from femalePlatynereis dumerilii are, at an early stage, characterized by small oocytes, unable to develop normal eggs and to complete the epitokous state if deprived of hormone supply from the prostomium. The question remained whether this inability to achieve normal sexual maturity is due to complete lack of common “juvenile brain hormone” or to absence of a special phase-specific “maturation hormone” whose existence has not yet been proved, but suggested on the basis of autoradiographic investigations of neurosecretory brain activity (Müller 1973). New experiments on such fragments demonstrate that fairly normal oogenesis can be induced and a more advanced epitoke formation attained by daily external treatment with dried isolated prostomia taken from juvenile specimens. Thus, there is no need to assume interference of a special “maturation hormone” in sexual development. The treated fragments show normal posterior regeneration followed by fairly normal sexual maturation, even if the supply of “juvenile brain hormone” is not changed throughout the experiment; hence it may be postulated that the fragment itself gradually alters its mode of response to the hormone.     

Promoting effect of Fusarium oxysporum [f.sp. strigae] on abundance of nitrifying prokaryotes in a maize rhizosphere across soil types

The integrated application of resistant crop varieties with biological control agents (BCAs) such as the Fusarium oxysporum [f.sp. strigae] strain “Foxy-2” has shown to be effective in fighting off the weed Striga hermonthica which is parasitic to several cereals cultivated in Sub-Saharan Africa (Schaub et al., 2006; Venne et al., 2009). “Foxy-2” proliferates in the rhizosphere and has been mainly studied for its virulence and mode of action. Contrary, no understanding is available regarding its interactions with key rhizosphere microorganisms steering relevant nutrient cycles in soils including nitrogen (N). In this study, we tested the hypothesis that “Foxy-2” displaces indigenous prokaryotic, N cycling communities in the maize rhizosphere due to competition for organic resources. Consequently, we evaluated if the application of an N-rich organic residue (i.e., Tithonia diversifolia with C/N ratio = 13, lignin content = 8.9%, polyphenol content = 1.7%) compensates these presumed competition effects. In a rhizobox experiment, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to follow the response of rhizosphere ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) as well as total bacteria and archaea following “Foxy-2” inoculation in two physico-chemically contrasting soils (sandy Ferric Alisol versus clayey Humic Nitisol). Soils were treated with or without “Foxy-2”, S. hermonthica seeds, and T. diversifolia residues. Contrary to our expectations, we observed a distinct soil texture dependent, promoting effect of “Foxy-2” on rhizosphere prokaryotes. Abundance of AOA and total prokaryotic communities increased in response to “Foxy-2” in the sandy soil, while AOB remained unaffected. This effect on AOA was accelerated when T. diversifolia residues were incorporated. Further, in the clayey soil, AOA abundance was promoted when exposed to S. hermonthica infestation of maize. This suggested their capability to adapt to this biotic stress situation. It was concluded that “Foxy-2” did not pose a negative effect on targeted indigenous microorganisms, but the underlying mechanisms for the observed promoting effect of AOA abundance by “Foxy-2” inoculation are yet to be understood.     

Genetic structure of diploid-polyploid complex of spined loach genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cobitis</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cypriniformes,Cobitidae</Emphasis>) in the Lower Danube

The extremely high diversity of spined loach biotypes in the Lower Danube has been detected by biochemical genetic investigation and cytometric analysis of 358 specimens collected in the riverbed and shallow channels. Along with two diploid species (C. elongatoides and C. “tanaitica”), six hybrid forms were revealed, namely, diploid C. elongatoides-“tanaitica”; triploid C. 2 elongatoides-“tanaitica,” C. elongatoides-2 “tanaitica,” and C. 2 elongatoides-species-1; and tetraploid C. 3 elongatoides-“tanaitica” and C. elongatoides-species-2-2 “tanaitica.” In addition, specimens with recombinant genotypes were also found. In spite of the apomictic mode of reproduction, the polyploids did not possess clonal structure, but according to the level of polymorphism and the genotype distribution, they were isomorphous to parental diploid species. Thus, in contrast to the polyploidy in Cobitids of the Dnieper, which have appeared in the basin due to the expansion, the polyploids of the Lower Danube are autochthonous and were derived by crossing with local diploid species. The process is apparently proceeds without any limitations.     

Middle Givetian echinoderms from the Schlade Valley (Rhenish Massif,Germany): habitats,taxonomy and ecostratigraphy

Crinoids and ophiocistioids from classical fossil localities of the National Geosite “Schlade Valley”, NE of Bergisch Gladbach (Germany) are reported for the first time. The fossils were derived from the reefal Büchel Formation (lowermost Middle Givetian, Middle Devonian) at the northern flank of the Bergisch Gladbach-Paffrath Syncline (eastern Rhenish Massif). From the abandoned quarry “Im Grubenfeld”, skeletal elements of holothuroids, ophiocistioids and crinoids are documented from a bituminous marly shale horizon in the middle Büchel Formation. The finely bedded shales suffocated an already stressed, muddy “reefal” fauna, which followed on top of a massive Actinostroma stromatoporoid biostrome. The shales characterise an apparently regionally occurring event, herein denominated as “Schlade Event”. It is considered to represent the climax of the transgressive Lower pumilio Event. The autochthonous and vagile epibenthic echinoderm fauna on top of the “Schlade Event Layer” is low diverse. It is regarded, herein, as post disaster fauna, recolonising the dysaerobic softground/soupground together with the well-adapted trilobite Goldius. The cupressocrinitids Halocrinites and Procupressocrinus were recognised from a younger stratum of the upper Büchel Formation within the abandoned “Zimmermann Quarry” near-by. The crinoids settled in high-energy environments of a reef flat in association with characteristic brachiopods (Uncites, Stringocephalus) and bivalves (Eomegalodon) and were swept by storms into reef flat pools. In those exceptional fossil lagerstätten, which are marl-filled obrution deposits, they were parautochthonously preserved together with an autochthonous fauna composed mostly of gastropods and extremely rare allochthonous biota from the open marine realm. Published biozonations of the Büchel Formation, especially on ammonoids, are evaluated, partly corrected and supplemented by ecostratigraphic associations of rugose corals and crinoids. Schlade Event below and Taghanic Event above are major factors controlling biozonation. Taxonomic notes concern revision of the holothuroids from the Schlade Valley and discussion of taxonomic attribution of ophiocistoids and crinoids. All species formerly included in “Abbreviatocrinites” are transferred to genus Halocrinites, which has priority.     

Population of silver crucian carp <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carassius auratus</Emphasis> (Cypriniformes,Cyprinidae) with “golden” individuals in the pond of the city of Volgograd

In the pond Gornaya Polyana of the city of Volgograd, the population of silver crucian carp Carassius auratus, some individuals of which have coloration similar to that of goldfish, were found. The studied “golden” individuals from this population morphologically do not differ from individuals of the same size from other populations of C. auratus that consist of typically colored individuals. Nevertheless, the total sample of C. auratus from Gornaya Polyana differs from samples of other populations of Volgograd oblast, besides the presence in it of “golden” individuals also, on average, in larger scales. The assumption is made that the population of C. auratus from Gornaya Polyana pond initially represented a naturalized goldfish. After mass dispersal of the Eurasian silver crucian carp C. auratus in the basin of the Lower Volga, hybridization between these two forms likely occurred. It is suggested that, over the territory of the former Soviet Union, several other populations of C. auratus that originated from the goldfish or have an admixture of its genes existed and exist.     

Taxonomic Attribution of “<Emphasis Type="Italic">Oscillatoriales</Emphasis>” Strains within the Bacteriological System of Cyanobacteria: Identification Algorithm for Operational Genera

In “Oscillatoriales” cyanobacteria (Cyanophyceae), relatively simple and uniform morphology superimposes on high genetic diversity that impedes reliable identification. The system of Cyanobacteria set forth in Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology-2001/Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria-2015 deals with operational taxa—form-genera (“larger” genera represented by strains) unlike true cyanophycean genera represented by species. Form-genera were established on morphological criteria shared with Cyanophyceae, although they were typified by Pasteur Culture Collection (PCC) strains. Despite being important in determinative cyanobacteriology, old diagnoses of form-genera should be reappraised because, in them: (i) vague and/or ephemeral morphological characters are considered taxonomically significant; (ii) phylogenetic character, such as 16S rRNA gene sequence (16S) is missing. We identified 32 “Oscillatoriales” strains from CALU collection (St. Petersburg University, Russia) basing on core morphology traits, 16S of PCC type strains, and 16S from GenBank database. We proposed that, in experimentally oriented and ecology oriented studies, unequivocal identification can be attained via triple match: streamlined form-genus diagnosis— 16S of PCC reference strain—GenBank most similar 16S. Additionally, we traced the phylogeny of “Oscillatoriales” form-genera via 16S clustering and HIP1 fingerprinting, and suggested that these operational taxa should be replaced with monophyletic assemblages. Nucleotide sequence data reported are available in the GenBank database under the accession numbers KX263921?KX263950.     

What is hierarchical selection?

It has been proposed that natural selection occurs on a hierarchy of levels, of which the organismic level is neither the top nor the bottom. This hypothesis leads to the following practical problem: in general, how does one tell if a given phenomenon is a result of selection on level X or level Y. How does one tell what the units of selection actually are? It is convenient to assume that a unit of selection may be defined as a type of entity for which there exists, among all entities on the same “level” as that entity, an additive component of variance for some specific component F of fitness which does not appear as an additive component of variance in any decomposition of this F among entities at any lower level. But such a definition implicitly assumes that if f(x, y) depends nonadditively on its arguments, there must be interaction between the quantities which x and y represent. This assumption is incorrect. And one cannot avoid this error by speaking of “transformability to additivity” instead of merely “additivity”. A general mathematical formulation of the concepts of interaction and non-interaction is proposed, followed by a correspondingly modified approach to the definition of a unit of selection. The practical difficulty of verifying the presence of hierarchical selection is discussed.     

An iron tetrahydroporphyrin prosthetic group common to both assimilatory and dissimilatory sulfite reductases

The heme² chromophore of the “assimilatory” E. coli sulfite reductase is an iron-octacarboxylic tetrahydroporphyrin of the isobacteriochlorin type (1). Although the two “dissimilatory” sulfite reductases, desulfoviridin and desulforubidin, from the sulfate reducing bacteria Desulfovibrio gigas and Desulfovibrio desulfuricans (Norway strain), have absorption spectra and reaction products which differ from those of E. coli sulfite reductase, the present studies indicate that they contain prosthetic groups with an organic structure closely similar or identical to that of the E. coli sulfite reductase heme. EPR spectra show high-spin ferriheme in all three enzymes. It is clear, however, that the prosthetic groups must reside in substantially different environments within their respective proteins.     

The role of visual information in maintaining postural stability after the maximum exercise for the upper and lower limb muscles

The postural stability on a seesaw generating anterior–posterior instability with the eyes open (EO) and then the eyes closed (EC) in young healthy subjects (n = 28) before and 6 min after the maximum bicycle exercise (Wingate test) performed using lower limbs (“leg exercise”) or upper limbs (“hand exercise”) was investigated. It was found that “hand exercise” caused the same increase in average velocity (V, mm/s) and in the average range of sway of the centre of pressure (Qy, mm) as “leg exercise.” However, the duration of V recovery (EC: 2 min 30 s and 50 s; EO: 60 s and 40 s after “leg exercise” and “hand exercise,” respectively) and Qy (EC: 1 min 10 s and 30 s after “leg exercise” and “hand exercise,” respectively; EO: no changes from baseline) was shorter after “hand exercise.” In the presence of visual information, the increment in V decreased more than 2 times after “leg exercise” (+100.5% and + 40.5%, p < 0.01 for EC and EO, respectively) and after “hand exercise” (+73.0% and +30.3%, p < 0.01 for EC and EO, respectively). Moreover, Qy after both exercises remained at the initial level under EO conditions but significantly increased under EC conditions (+42.8%, p < 0.01 after “leg exercise” and +40.3%, p < 0.01 after “hand exercise”). Thus, the maximum exercise for the muscles of the upper limbs causes the same reduction in postural stability as analogous exercise for the muscles of the lower limbs, but the recovery period after “hand” exercise was shorter. The presence of visual information allows the baseline maintenance of postural stability and significantly reduces the strain of postural regulation while standing on a movable support after the maximum “leg exercise” and “hand exercise.”     

Effects of cyclic spouse separation on conception times

The lengthening of conceptive delays under conditions of natural fertility by cyclic spouse separation is investigated as a problem in renewal processes. Separations are “complete” if they reduce the conditional monthly probability of conception, or fecundability, to zero, and “incomplete” if they merely reduce it, from f to r say. Earlier work respecting cyclic separation by Menken (1979) is extended with formulas for the mean and variance of conceptive delays conditional on T, the ordinal month of the cycle of separation and nonseparation when the woman passes from anovulation into the fecundable state. A simple expression relating fecundabilities f and r and the conditional proportions P_s(T) and P_s-(T) conceiving during separation and nonseparation is obtained.