A new species of Rhytimorpha Szépligeti (Hymenoptera: Braconidae: Braconinae) from Israel

The distinctive braconine wasp genus Rhytimorpha Szépligeti is distributed through Africa and the Near East. We provide photographic illustrations of the type specimens of the two species of Rhytimorpha known up to the present, R. coccinea Szépligeti and R. nigriceps Szépligeti. Previous published records of R. coccinea from Israel by J. Papp are confirmed. A new species, R. pappi Quicke & Butcher sp. n. is described based on a female from Holot Agur, a semi-desert area in the Negev Dunes in northeastern Sinai Peninsula.

http://www.zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:B5CDA65C-5341-4A61-9C85-2A7A70D7D4C1     

Reputation management as an alternative explanation for the “contagiousness” of immorality

Previous findings showing that people are reluctant to contact morally disgusting objects such as Nazi clothing have been interpreted as showing that immorality is perceived as physically contaminating. However, self-presentation concerns could underlie the apparent contagiousness of immorality: associating visibly with immoral stimuli risks reputation damage because observers infer immorality by association. In a scenario, participants preferred to wear a Nazi armband under rather than over their clothing, despite the under choice requiring skin contact (Study 1). And participants reported being primarily motivated by reputation, not contamination. Studies 1a and 1b revealed that, when public display was kept constant to minimize reputation concerns, skin contact increased discomfort by a small amount. A lab study using a real Nazi armband showed that the preference for hiding the armband was stronger with an audience (Study 2). Changing perspective in Study 3, third parties judged targets who made direct contact with the armband as less immoral, and even less contaminated, than those who displayed the armband. Another scenario in Study 4 revealed a strong effect of public display, but no effect of skin contact, on negative feelings about wearing an immoral t-shirt. Overall, findings suggest that apparent moral contagion effects may be explained more by self-presentation than by contamination.     

A new “marker” protein for astrocytes

A monoclonal antibody (Mab J1-31) has been produced by using human brain homogenate as immunogen in mouse. Double-label immunofluorescence microscopy on cryostat sections of human, rabbit and rat brain, reveals staining of cells that are also stained with antiserum to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP, a commonly used marker protein for astrocytes). However, there is no decrease in staining due to Mab J1-31 in sections incubated in antiserum to GFAP prior to incubation with the J1-31 ascites fluid. Immunoprecipitation of aqueous and detergent extracts of brain homogenate gives a single band at 30K by SDS PAGE followed by autoradiography. Immunoelectron microscopy shows that the J1-31 antigen is associated with the cytoskeleton. Thus, the Mab J1-31 recognizes a new protein present in GFAP positive cells (astrocytes) in the brain.     

Development of ligands at γ-aminobutyrric acid type A (GABAA) receptor subtype as new agents for pain relief

The identification of compounds with selective anxiolytic-like effects, exerted through the benzodiazepine site on γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA_A) receptors, and that show pronounced antihyperalgesia in several pain models, has oriented research towards the development of new agents for the relief of pain. Starting from our previously reported ligands at the benzodiazepine site on GABA_A receptors showing selective anxiolytic-like effects, we have designed new compounds with the aim of identifying those devoid of the typical side effects of the classical benzodiazepines. Our preliminary results indicate that compounds 4, 10(±) and 11 have a very promising antihyperalgesic profile in different animal pain models (peripheral mono-neuropathy, STZ-induced hyperalgesia). In particular 11 exhibits high potency since it exerted its protective effect starting from the dose of 3 mg/kg po, after single injection.     

Multi-agent-based bio-network for systems biology: protein–protein interaction network as an example

Recently, a collective effort from multiple research areas has been made to understand biological systems at the system level. This research requires the ability to simulate particular biological systems as cells, organs, organisms, and communities. In this paper, a novel bio-network simulation platform is proposed for system biology studies by combining agent approaches. We consider a biological system as a set of active computational components interacting with each other and with an external environment. Then, we propose a bio-network platform for simulating the behaviors of biological systems and modelling them in terms of bio-entities and society-entities. As a demonstration, we discuss how a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network can be seen as a society of autonomous interactive components. From interactions among small PPI networks, a large PPI network can emerge that has a remarkable ability to accomplish a complex function or task. We also simulate the evolution of the PPI networks by using the bio-operators of the bio-entities. Based on the proposed approach, various simulators with different functions can be embedded in the simulation platform, and further research can be done from design to development, including complexity validation of the biological system.     

A photoprotective role for O(2) as an alternative electron sink in photosynthesis?

Photoprotection of the photosynthetic apparatus has two essential elements: first, the thermal dissipation of excess excitation energy in the photosystem II antennae (i.e. non-photochemical quenching), and second, the ability of photosystem II to transfer electrons to acceptors within the chloroplast (i.e. photochemical quenching). Recent studies indicate that the proportion of absorbed photons that are thermally dissipated through the non-photochemical pathway often reaches a maximum well before saturating irradiances are reached. Hence, photochemical quenching is crucial for photoprotection at saturating light intensities. When plants are exposed to environmental stresses and the availability of CO(2) within the leaf is restricted, the reduction of oxygen by both the photorespiratory and the Mehler ascorbate peroxidase pathways appears to play a critical photoprotective role, substituting for CO(2) in sustaining electron flow. Induction of high activity of the Mehler ascorbate peroxidase pathway may be associated with acclimation to environmental stress.     

Application of the name chrysopsis hyssopifolia nutt. (Compositae) and a new name for an “old” species

Analysis of the type collections ofChrysopsis hyssopifolia Nutt. (Compositae),C. gigantea Small andC. mixta Dress indicates that all three are conspecific. On the other hand, plants identified by all authors asC. hyssopifolia were found not to be conspecific. A new name is here proposed for these plants,C. Iinearifolia Semple. Two subspecies are recognized, subsp.linearifolia confined to west Florida and subsp.dressii Semple, primarily confined to central peninsular Florida.     

Auxin’s role as an example of the mechanisms of shoot/root relations

The development of the shoot and the roots exhibits a dynamic balance that is characteristic of the plant and the local conditions. Consideration of all aspects of these organ relations, including plant regeneration, suggest that information about organ size, performance and developmental rates is communicated over considerable distances. The movement of substrates, sucrose and essential ions, could not suffice to account for common situations in which they originate in storage tissues, nor for the essential correlation between organ development and vascular differentiation. More generally, the temporal and spatial separation of developmental processes on the one hand and mature functions on the other means that the information exchanged must include the potential for future and not only immediate function. In contrast to substrates, special signals could be selected to depend on development and to elicit varied responses throughout the plant. An example is the concrete evidence that auxin originates in shoot tissues and is essential for root initiation. Further, this same auxin can influence and thus integrate different processes throughout the plant. Mature organs and tissues participate in auxin relations and influence development, with the result that responses to auxin are in the context of the organs present on the plant and missing structures are added as needed. The acquisition of essential substrates feeds back to hormones by limiting development and influencing auxin distribution. A possibility that requires further study is whether feedback could also be due to direct coupling between functional performance and auxin relations. In more general terms, the discussion demonstrates the importance of the mechanisms that integrate plant development and ways they could mask mutant expression.     

Stipa crassiculmis subsp. picentina (Poaceae) new for the Balkans – a further example of amphi-Adriatic disjunction

Stipa crassiculmis subsp. picentina Martinovský, Moraldo & Caputo (Poaceae, Pooideae, Stipae) was found for the first time in the Balkan Peninsula. It was recorded in the northern part of the Republic of Macedonia, in the P?inja River gorge (Badar Gorge), between Veles and Katlanovo on ultramafic substrates. To date, S. crassiculmis subsp. picentina was known only for Italy where it occurs in the Lombardy and Campania administrative regions. This record for the Balkan Peninsula is a new example of Amphi-Adriatic Balkan-Apennine disjunction. In this paper, the morphological and anatomical characters of the specimens collected in the study area were reported together with the phytosociological characteristics of the habitat. The threatened status of the species for Macedonia was also assessed on the basis of the IUCN criteria.     

Chasmophytes on screes? A rule and not an exception in the vegetation of the Karst (southwest Slovenia)

Abstract

We investigated the community ecology and autecology of chasmophytes in the Karst (southwest Slovenia). An unusually massive occurrence of chasmophytes on settled screes and rock falls was detected in some of the collapse dolines of ?kocjan Caves and surroundings, building floristically and physiognomically homogenous plant communities. At first sight, no significant floristic distinctions in vascular plants were observed between scree and rock crevice stands, despite striking differences in habitats. A detailed floristic survey of stands, including vascular plants and bryophytes, as well as ecological parameters, revealed four distinct vegetation types. Floristically, bryophytes proved to differentiate groups of stands excellently but, in contrast to vascular plants, their presence and abundance only poorly reflected site conditions. Among chasmophytes, which, in terms of the Braun-Blanquet approach in phytosociology, are assigned to the class Asplenietea trichomanes (sensu Braun-Blanquet and Oberdorfer), only Saxifraga petraea and Saxifraga tridactylites prefer rock crevices and artificial walls, respectively, while others, e.g., Saxifraga crustata, Primula auricula and Athamanta turbith, prefer screes and their habitat selection is governed by different ecological parameters, shaped primarily by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in collapse dolines.     

Curcumin derivatives as new ligands of Aβ peptides

Curcumin derivatives with high chemical stability, improved solubility and carrying a functionalized appendage for the linkage to other entities, have been synthesized in a straightforward manner. All compounds retained Curcumin ability to bind Aβ peptide oligomers without inducing their aggregation. Moreover all Curcumin derivatives were able to stain very efficiently Aβ deposits.     

Butterfly host plant range: an example of plasticity as a promoter of speciation?

Mary Jane West-Eberhard has suggested that plasticity may be of primary importance in promoting evolutionary innovation and diversification. Here, we explore the possibility that the diversification of phytophagous insects may have occurred through such a process, using examples from nymphalid butterflies. We discuss the ways in which host plant range is connected to plasticity and present our interpretation of how West-Eberhard’s scenario may result in speciation driven by plasticity in host utilization. We then review some of the evidence that diversity of plant utilization has driven the diversification of phytophagous insects and finally discuss whether this suggests a role for plasticity-driven speciation. We find a close conceptual connection between our theory that the diversification of phytophagous insects has been driven by oscillations in host range, and our personal interpretation of the most efficient way in which West-Eberhard’s theory could account for plasticity-driven speciation. A major unresolved issue is the extent to which a wide host plant range is due to adaptive plasticity with dedicated modules of genetic machinery for utilizing different plants.     

Curcumin derivatives as new ligands of Aβ peptides

Curcumin derivatives with high chemical stability, improved solubility and carrying a functionalized appendage for the linkage to other entities, have been synthesized in a straightforward manner. All compounds retained Curcumin ability to bind Aβ peptide oligomers without inducing their aggregation. Moreover all Curcumin derivatives were able to stain very efficiently Aβ deposits.     

A new bioprocess for the production of prebiotic lactosucrose by an immobilized β-galactosidase

A new bioprocess for the synthesis of lactosucrose was studied using a covalently immobilized β-galactosidase on macrospheres of chitosan. The effects of temperature and pH on the production of lactosucrose and other oligosaccharides were evaluated. At 30 °C and pH 7.0, the maximum concentration of lactosucrose reached to 79 g L⁻¹. The change of the reaction conditions allowed to modify the qualitative profile of the final products without quantitative change in the total of oligosaccharides produced. At pH 7 and 30 °C, products profile was 79 g L⁻¹ of lactosucrose, 37 g L⁻¹ of galactooligosaccharides and 250 g L⁻¹ of total oligosaccharides, while at pH 5 and 64 °C the concentrations for the same compounds were 40, 62 and 250 g L⁻¹, respectively. The immobilization increased the thermal stability up to 260-fold. Using 300 g L⁻¹ of sucrose and 300 g L⁻¹ of lactose, and 8.5 mg of chitosan mL⁻¹, 30 cycles of reuse were performed and the biocatalyst kept the maximal lactosucrose synthesis. These results fulfill some important aspects for the enzyme immobilization and oligosaccharides synthesis: the simplicity of the protocols, the high operational stability of the enzyme and the possibility of driving the final products.     

Human satellite-III DNA: an example of a “macrosatellite” polymorphism

Summary Human satellite III DNA contains a complex polymorphism, which appears to be TaqI-specific. Its likely cause is a two-step point mutation in the pentameric repeat TTCCA, typical of satellite III. Hybridization of the satellite-III sequence-related probe that demonstrates this polymorphism is directly attributable to clusters of pure pentameric TTCCA repeats in the genome. The sites of such repeats include the 3.4-kb fragment specific to the Y chromosome and a limited number of autosomes. The polymorphism arises from the latter and is likely to include chromosomes containing so-called K domain satellite III sequences found, for example, in chromosomes 9 and 15. Segregation of the polymorphic fragments appears to follow orthodox genetics.     

Application of β-glucuronidase (GusA) as an effective reporter for extremely acidophilic Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans

Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology - Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans is a model organism for investigating metal sulfide bioleaching. The regulatory mechanism of gene expression by metabolizing...