Features of biology of the round goby <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neogobius melanostomus</Emphasis> (Perciformes,Gobiidae) in waters of Kuibyshev Reservoir

Based on materials of 2003–2005, the size-age composition, dates of reproduction, distribution, as well the qualitative and quantitative composition of the food of the round goby Neogobius melanostomus in the coastal part of Kuibyshev Reservoir are considered. It is shown that the round goby prefers coastal parts of the reservoir with depths to 10 m and rocky grounds and that its main food are mollusks of the genus Dreissena.     

Convergence of early ontogeneses of the teleostean fish <Emphasis Type=Italic>Neogobius melanostomus</Emphasis> (Perciformes,Gobiidae) and higher vertebrates

In the teleostean fish round goby with nonlarval type of development (Anamnia) and even-toed mammals pig and sheep (Amniota), the processes of digestion during early ontogenesis are similar, which is correlated with the parental care and embryonization of development.     

On the finding of round goby <Emphasis Type=Italic>Neogobius melanostomus</Emphasis> (Pallas) (Gobiidae) in the food of burbot <Emphasis Type=Italic>Lota lota</Emphasis> (L.) of the Rybinskoe water reservoir

The fish swallowed by the burbot caught with gill nets in the Volzhskii reach of the Rybinskoe water reservoir in 2007 are investigated. Based on the teretial body shape, the absence of a swim bladder, the presence of a pelvic disc, the dimensions of the skull, the body length, the body weight, and the age, the specimens found in the gut of the burbot are identified as round goby Neogobius melanostomus (Pallas). The round goby should be regarded as an adventive (invasive) species because it is not distributed in different biotopes of the Rybinskoe water reservoir.     

First record of stellate tadpole goby <Emphasis Type=Italic>Benthophilus stellatus</Emphasis> (Sauvage, 1874) (Actinopterygii: Gobiidae) in the Rybinsk Reservoir

data on the first find of stellate tadpole goby on August 2014 in the Volzhskii reach of the Rybinsk Reservoir is presented.     

Morphological divergence and diagnostic characters of ginger goby <Emphasis Type="Italic">Neogobius eurycephalus</Emphasis> (Kessler, 1874) and surman goby <Emphasis Type="Italic">N. cephalargoides</Emphasis> Pinchuk, 1976 (Perciformes,Gobiidae)

Comparative analysis of morphometric characters of surman goby Neogobius cephalargoides and of two subspecies of ginger goby N. eurycephalus is made. Characteristics liable to size variation and sex dimorphism are revealed. Independence of the investigated species and the diagnostic value of characters previously suggested for classification are confirmed. The obtained data confirm isolation of north-western populations of ginger goby as a separate subspecies N. eurycephalus odessicus and suitability of three meristic characters for differentiation of the subspecies: the number of rays in the second dorsal fin and anal fin and the number of transverse rows of scales.     

Habitat,density, and spatial distribution of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Rivulus giarettai</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Actinopterygii</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type=Italic>Cyprinodontiformes</Emphasis>) in southeastern Brazil

We present data on the habitat, density, and spatial distribution of Rivulus giarettai, and discuss some biotic and abiotic variables related to its abundance in Free Flowing Waters (FFW) and Dam Reservoirs (DR) in palm grove (Mauritia flexuosa) marshes (Veredas) in Uberlandia, Minas Gerais, southeastern Brazil. The mean density (individuals/plot) of R. giarettai was about 13 times higher in FFW than in DR. In FFW, the density of R. giarettai was highest at intermediate amounts of substrate (plant mass) and it was positively rank-correlated with the depth, and the number of arthropods. Individuals occurred in an aggregated distribution. The aggregated pattern could be related to a concentration of individuals in microhabitats neither too much exposed nor completely saturated by plants. R. giarettai was relatively abundant and tolerant to slight man-made habitat modifications. Damming appeared to be especially problematic by negatively affecting its density.     

Efficient separation and purification of allophycocyanin from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Spirulina</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Arthrospira</Emphasis>) <Emphasis Type=Italic>platensis</Emphasis>

Allophycocyanin (APC) is a minor component of phycobiliproteins in cyanobacteria and red algae. This paper describes a simple and inexpensive extracting method for isolating APC from Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis with high efficiency. The crude phycobiliprotein extract was pretreated by ammonium sulfate fractionation. Then, by adding hydroxylapatite into crude phycobiliprotein extract dissolved in 20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0), APC was selectively adsorbed by hydroxylapatite but C-phycocyanin (C-PC) was not. The hydroxylapatite was collected and APC was extracted from the crude phycobiliprotein extract. Then, the enriched APC was washed off from the hydroxylapatite using 100 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.0). In this simple extracting method it was easy to remove C-PC and isolate APC in large amounts. The absorbance ratio A ₆₅₀/A ₂₈₀ of extracted APC reached 2.0. The recovery yield was 70%, representing 4.61 mg · g⁻¹ wet weight. The extracted APC could be further purified by a simple anion-exchange chromatography with a pH gradient from 5.6 to 4.0. The absorbance ratio A ₆₅₀/A ₂₈₀ of the purified APC reached 5.0, and the overall recovery yield was 43%, representing 2.83 mg · g⁻¹ wet weight. Its purity was confirmed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate-PAGE.     

Cryopreservation of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Robinia</Emphasis><Emphasis Type=Italic>pseudoacacia</Emphasis>

Cryopreservation of Robinia pseudoacacia explants by vitrification achieved 78% survival following the stepwise preculture of shoot tips in (0.3 + 0.5 + 0.7 M) sucrose with a 80 min incubation in PVS2; compared to 87% survival after desiccation of explants to 30% water content, following 3 days alginate bead (with glycerol and sucrose treatments) preculture in 0.7 M sucrose.     

Attenuation of fibrosis <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vitro</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>in vivo</Emphasis> with <Emphasis Type=Italic>SPARC</Emphasis> siRNA

Introduction  

SPARC is a matricellular protein, which, along with other extracellular matrix components including collagens, is commonly over-expressed in fibrotic diseases. The purpose of this study was to examine whether inhibition of SPARC can regulate collagen expression in vitro and in vivo, and subsequently attenuate fibrotic stimulation by bleomycin in mouse skin and lungs.     

Presence of <Emphasis Type=Italic>C. albidus</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type=Italic>C. laurentii</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>C. uniguttulatus</Emphasis> in Crop and Droppings of Pigeon Lofts (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Columba livia</Emphasis>)

Columba livia is an important reservoir and carrier of Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus uniguttulatus, Cryptococcus laurentii and Cryptococcus albidus. Upper digestive tract of this species is also known as a habitat for Cryptococcus neoformans. Given the increasing clinical interest of this microorganism, 331 swabs from crop and 174 dropping samples from pigeon lofts in Grand Canary Island have been studied. The obtained results show an extensive presence samples 81 positive (24.47%) of Cryptococcus spp. in analysed crops: 32 (9.66%) for C. neoformans, 24 (7.2%) for C. uniguttulatus, 23 (6.9%) for C. albidus and 2 (0.6%) for C. laurentii. In the same way, Cryptococcus spp was also isolated in 82 (47.13%), dropping samples: C. neoformans in 59 (33.9%), C. uniguttulatus, in 9 (5.17%), C. laurentii in 8 (4.59%) and C. albidus in 6 (3.44%) of the investigated samples, respectively. The cryptococcosis produced by species of cryptococci other than C. neoformans has become more important during the last decade, supporting the study on the role of pigeon in the epidemiology of this disease.     

Preparation of galactans from <Emphasis Type=Italic>Gracilaria debilis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type=Italic>Gracilaria salicornia</Emphasis> (Gracilariales,Rhodophyta) of Indian waters

Superior quality non-methylated and low-sulphated galactans were extracted from two Indian agarophytes namely Gracilaria debilis and G. salicornia growing naturally along the west coast of India, using an eco-friendly method developed in our laboratory. The galactans were characterised by FT-IR, ¹³C NMR, GC-MS, ICP, GPC and rheological measurements. G. debilis produced exclusively non-methylated galactan exhibiting the greatest gel strength of 650±25 g cm⁻² and lowest sulphate of 0.21±0.06%. On the contrary, G. salicornia polysaccharide was composed of non-methylated galactose (major) and mannose (minor), having gel strength of 510±25 g cm⁻² and sulphate of 0.45±0.06%. Very low heavy metal contents were determined in both the galactan samples, which may thus be potentially useful in food and biological applications.     

Thidiazuron Promotes <Emphasis Type=Italic>In Vitro</Emphasis> Plant Regeneration of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Arachis correntina</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Leguminosae</Emphasis>) via Organogenesis

Arachis correntina (Burkart) Krapov. & W.C. Gregory is a herbaceous perennial leguminous plant growing in the Northeast of the Province Corrientes, Argentina. It is important as forage. The development of new A. correntina cultivars with improved traits could be facilitated through the application of biotechnological strategies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the plant regeneration potential of mature leaves of A. correntina in tissue culture. Buds were induced from both petiole and laminae on 0.7% agar-solidified medium containing 3% sucrose, salts and vitamins from Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 0.5–25 M thidiazuron (TDZ). Shoot induction was achieved by transference of calli with buds to MS supplemented with 5 M TDZ. Fifty-four percent of the regenerated shoot rooted on MS + 5 M naphthaleneacetic acid. Histological studies revealed that shoots regenerated via organogenesis.     

Ultrastructure of the anal sacs in <Emphasis Type=Italic>Thalassema</Emphasis><Emphasis Type=Italic>thalassemum</Emphasis> (Annelida,Echiura)

The anal sacs of Thalassema thalassemum consist of an elongate tubular invagination (end sac) that is uniformly covered with numerous sessile ciliated funnels. While the funnels are composed of multi-ciliated, non-muscular cells and possess a ciliated neck-like constriction, the end sacs are lined by a simple epithelium of large, irregularly formed and sparsely ciliated cells that include masses of secretory granules. Podocytes are incorporated in the peritoneum that surrounds the anal sacs. A muscle grid consisting of inner longitudinal, outer circular and additional diagonal fibres that branch off of the circular fibres is embedded in the matrix between the end sac epithelium and peritoneum. Major structural differences between the hindgut and anal sacs support the hypothesis that the anal sacs are not gut derivatives but are instead part of a modified metanephridial system. Comparison of the anal sac morphology in Echiura reveals that T. thalassemum shares a tubular end sac with all known members of Thalassematinae and Ikedaidae, as well as with some members of Bonelliidae and Echiurinae, while the sessile funnels are apomorphic for the Thalassematinae.     

Life cycle of <Emphasis Type=Italic>Aylax hypecoi</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Insecta: Hymenoptera: Cynipidae</Emphasis>), a gall inducer on <Emphasis Type=Italic>Hypecoum</Emphasis> ssp. (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Papaveraceae</Emphasis>)

The life cycle and developmental stages of Aylax hypecoi (Trotter, 1913, Hymenoptera: Cynipidae: Aylacini) were studied in detail. Aylax hypecoi is known to induce galls in fruits of two Hypecoum species — H. imberbe and H. geslini (Papaveraceae) and the larva develops in host plant fruits. The morphology and development of egg, larva and pupa were investigated, which has previously not been done. The shape and size of terminal-instar larvae and associated galls are sex-specific. Overwintering stage, adult emergence and flying periods, and egg productivity were studied also.