Relationships among mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone, prostaglandins, and sex steroids in the brain of the crested newt, Triturus carnifex

The present study was carried out to evaluate the in vitro brain release of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α), prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), androgens, and 17β-estradiol in male and female crested newt, Triturus carnifex, during three different periods of the annual sexual cycle; in addition, the effects of mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone (mGnRH), PGF_2α, and PGE₂ on prostaglandins and steroids release by the brain were evaluated during the same periods. In brain incubations of both sexes, PGF_2α and estradiol were higher during postreproduction, while PGE₂ and androgens were higher during reproduction. In both sexes, mGnRH increased PGF_2α and estradiol during postreproduction, and PGE₂ during reproduction; PGF_2α increased estradiol secretion during postreproduction. Only in the male, did both mGnRH and PGE₂ increase androgens during reproduction. It could be suggested that in Triturus carnifex, the regulation of the reproductive activity in the central nervous system (CNS) depends on the relationships among mGnRH, prostaglandins and steroids. In particular, PGF_2α and PGE₂ seem to play different roles in the CNS of the newt: PGF_2α is involved in the postreproductive processes, through estradiol secretion, while PGE₂ in the reproductive ones (through androgens secretion?).     

Molecular characterization of intact, but cryptic, flagellin genes in the genus Shigella

Flagellin genes (fliC) were detected in two species of the genus Shigella. The fliC_SF gene cloned from Shigella flexneri produced normal-type flagella in an Escherichia coli δ fliC strain while the fliC_SS genes from two Shigella sonnei strains produced curly-type flagella and their expression is repressible by Salmonella FljA repressor. The fliC_SF gene (1650bp) shared high similarity with the E. coli fliC_E gene not only in the 5′ and 3′ constant sequences but also in the upstream and downstream sequences. The fliC_S genes (1572 bp) shared high similarity with the Salmonella typhimurium fliCs gene in the operator and 3’constant sequences and also shared high similarity with the fliC_E gene in the downstream sequence, suggesting that the fliC gene has undergone horizontal transfer and recombination. Differences In nucleotide sequences of the central variable regions among the four fliC genes, including fliC_E and fliC_S, suggest that they started differentiation in each lineage approximately 80 million years ago. Loss of motility in Shigella seems to be evolutionarily a recent event.     

Divergence of the F1-ATP Synthase Complex in the Ice Worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus (Annelida, Clitellata, Enchytraeidae)

The F₁-ATP synthase complex constitutes the catalytic component of F₁F₀-ATP synthase, the primary ATP synthetic enzyme in the cell. Previous studies indicate that the glacier ice worm, Mesenchytraeus solifugus, maintains unusually high ATP levels that continue to rise as temperatures decline, suggesting that molecular changes within ice worm F₁-ATP synthase subunits may contribute to this energetic anomaly. In this report, we compared ice worm F₁-ATP synthase subunits (α, β, γ) with homologues across metazoan phyla (arthropod, chordate, nematode) and among a group of clitellate annelids (Enchytraeus albidus, Enchytraeus buchholzi, Lumbriculus variegatus, Theromyzon tessulatum). Amino acid alignments indicated that ice worm F₁-ATP α and F₁-ATP β subunits share strong sequence homology with their mesophilic counterparts, respectively, but that ATP γ has diverged more rapidly. Moreover, F₁-ATP α and F₁-ATP β displayed amino acid compositional changes consistent with trends observed in other cold adapted proteins, while F₁-ATP γ diverged in unexpected directions (e.g., gains in size, charged residues). Several ice worm-specific amino acid substitutions map to positions near the F₁-ATP β catalytic site while others occur near subunit contact sites.     

Flurbiprofen,A Cyclooxygenase Inhibitor,Reduces the Brain Arachidonic Acid Signal in Response to the Cholinergic Muscarinic Agonist,Arecoline, in Awake Rats

Cholinergic muscarinic receptors, when stimulated by arecoline, can activate cytosolic phospholipase A₂ (cPLA₂) to release arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipid. This signal can be imaged in the brain in vivo using quantitative autoradiography following the intravenous injection of radiolabeled AA, as an increment in a regional brain AA incorporation coefficient k*. Arecoline increases k* significantly in brain regions having muscarinic M_1,3,5 receptors in wild-type but not in cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 knockout mice. To further clarify the roles of COX enzymes in the AA signal, in this paper we imaged k* following arecoline (5 mg/kg i.p.) or saline in each of 81 brain regions of unanesthetized rats pretreated 6 h earlier with the non-selective COX inhibitor flurbiprofen (FB, 60 mg/kg s.c.) or with vehicle. Baseline values of k* were unaffected by FB treatment, which however reduced by 80% baseline brain concentrations of prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂), eicosanoids preferentially derived from AA via COX-2 and COX-1, respectively. In vehicle-pretreated rats, arecoline increased the brain PGE₂ but not TXB₂ concentration, as well as values for k* in 77 of the 81 brain regions. FB-pretreatment prevented these arecoline-provoked changes. These results and those reported in COX-2 knockout mice suggest that the AA released in brain following muscarinic receptor-mediated activation is lost via COX-2 to PGE₂ but not via COX-1 to TXB₂, and that increments in k* following arecoline largely represent replacement by unesterified plasma AA of this loss.     

Gas Exchange,Leaf Structure,and Hydraulic Features in Relation to Sex,Shoot Form,and Leaf Form in An Evergreen Shrub Sabina vulgaris in the Semi-Arid Mu Us Sandland in China

We examined differences in net photosynthetic rate (P _N), transpiration rate (E), water use efficiency (WUE), ratio of substomatal to atmospheric CO₂ concentration (C _i/C _a), cuticle thickness (CT), epidermis cell size (ECS), mesophyll cell size (MCS), vascular bundle size (VBS), tissue density (TD), and coefficient of water loss (k) in Sabina vulgaris as related to sex, shoot form, and leaf form. P _N, E, WUE, C _i/C _a, MCS, VBS, and k varied with sex, whereas CT, ECS, and TD did not. These differences in physiology and anatomy between the female and male plants may be closely related with their reproduction behaviour. P _N, E, C _i/C _a, CT, ECS, MCS, and VBS were significantly smaller in the erect shoots than in the prostrate shoots, WUE was just opposite; TD and k did not vary with shoot form. These changes in physiology with shoot form indicate that erect shoots may be more tolerant of water stress than prostrate shoots. P _N, E, C _i/C _a, TD, and k were significantly greater in the spine leaves than in the scale leaves, whereas WUE, CT, ECS, MCS, and VBS followed the opposite trends. The changes in physiology and anatomy with leaf form suggest that scale leaves have higher drought-resistant and water-holding capacities than spine leaves. Measurements of field gas exchange showed that three-year-old seedlings had lower drought-resistance and higher water loss than five-year-old seedlings, which provides some evidence that seedling survival decreases with decreasing plant age.     

Age, growth, and sexual maturity of the yellownose skate Dipturus chilensis in the south‐eastern Pacific

The age and growth parameters of Dipturus chilensis were estimated by counting growth rings from thin sections of vertebral centra from 400 fish (246 females and 154 males), ranging from 23 to 124 cm total length (L_T), and backcalculating fish lengths at previous ages. Marginal increment analysis lent support to the hypothesis of annual deposition of band‐pairs, which formed during the winter months. The oldest female D. chilensis aged in this study was 21 years and 117 cm L_T, whereas the oldest male was 18 years and 93 cm L_T. A 4·7% index of average per cent error (I_APE) suggested that this is a precise method for calculating the age of D. chilensis. Observed L_T were lower than backcalculated L_T, which implies the influence of Lee's phenomenon. The von Bertalanffy growth equations, based on mean length‐at‐age data, were estimated as L_t = 128·3 (1 ? e^{?0·112 (t + 0·514)}) for females and L_t = 107·8 (1 ? e^{?0·134 (t + 0·862)}) for males where t is age (years). Growth was significantly different between sexes: females reached a larger adult size. Ages and lengths at 50% maturity were estimated at 14 years of age and 106 cm L_T for females and 11 years of age and 86 cm L_T for males. At c. 14 years, there was a decline in growth rates in females. The factor most likely responsible for this was sexual maturity, which caused a discontinuity in growth of female fish. These results show that this species is slow‐growing, long‐lived, relatively large and of delayed maturity, characteristics that make it vulnerable to exploitation.     

Population statistics of the migratory hilsa shad,Tenualosa ilisha,in Sindh,Pakistan

In order to estimate the population dynamics of the hilsa shad, Tenualosa ilisha, fishery in Sindh, the key population parameters of growth, mortalities, recruitment pattern, exploitation and maximum sustainable yield are discussed. Length frequency data were collected from April to October 2004 from the main commercial (hilsa) landings at Thatta, Sindh. Estimated parameters of the von Bertalanffy (Hum. Biol. 10, 181–213) growth model were L_∞ = 31.5 cm, K = 1.5 year^?1, t₀ = ?0.10 year as obtained by the electronic length frequency analysis (ELEFAN I). Estimated natural, fishing, and total mortalities were 2.21, 0.673, 2.89 year^?1, respectively. The relative biomass per recruit (B′/R) was 0.95 and yield per recruit (Y′/R) was 0.06 using the knife‐edge selection. The exploitation ratio at the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) was E_max = 1.0 year^?1, fishing mortality at MSY was F_max = 2.89 year^?1, average target F_opt = 0.5 year^?1 and F_limit = 1.47 year^?1. The catch and effort data from 1981 to 2004 (MFD, Karachi) were analyzed using the catch and effort data analysis (CEDA) computer programme. Estimated biological reference point of MSY for the Fox model was 891 tonnes (t), R² = 0.75; for the Schaefer and Pella‐Tomlinson models MSY = 744 t, R² = 0.49, the outputs of which appeared to be more conservative than the Fox model which indicated a better fit. The overall situation of hilsa fishery is in severe stress and appears vulnerable to overexploitation. On the basis of the present findings, serious attention is required to provide appropriate access of the fish to the Indus River during the spawning period as well as to impose a ban on fishing during upstream migration and on undersized catch to prevent this traditional fishery in this area.     

Specific oxygen uptake of the entomopathogenic nematode,Steinernema carpocapsae CABA01, in submerged culture

The specific oxygen uptake rate (qO₂) of stages of the entomopathogenic nematode (EPN) Steinernema carpocapsae CABA01 in liquid culture was measured. Nematodes were grown into previously pasteurised culture broths of their symbiotic bacterium, Xenorhabdus nematophila, in orbitally agitated flask cultures (V_L = 125 mL) at N = 150 rpm and T = 25°C. The basal medium contained 3% (w/v) soy trypticase broth and 0.5% (w/v) yeast extract. The EPNs developed from the egg stage to the adult stage exhibiting qO₂ values of 1.92, 5.48, 0.48, 0.28 and 0.0014 [10^?1 mmolO₂/(g_{nematode-wet base} h)] for the egg-Juvenile 1 (J1), J2, J3, J4 and the adult stages, respectively.     

Characterization of cardiac innervation in the nudibranch,Archidoris montereyensis

Summary The heart of the nudibranch mollusc Archidoris montereyensis is regulated by a small number of powerful effector neurons located in the right pleural and visceral ganglia. Two identifiable neurons in the pleural ganglion, a heart excitor (pl_HE) and a heart inhibitor (Pl_HI), are especially important regulators of cardiac function in that low levels of spontaneous activity in either cell significantly alters the amplitude and rate of heart contractions. These neurons have extensive dendritic arbors within the right pleural ganglion and branching axonal processes within the visceral ganglion. The visceral ganglion also contains a heart excitor neuron (V_HE) and at least two heart inhibitor neurons (V_HI cells), but their influence on cardiac activity is weaker than that of the pleural ganglion cells. All of these heart effector cells appear to be motor neurons with axons that terminate predominately in the atrio-ventricular valve region of the heart via the pericardial nerve. The simplicity and strength of these neuronal connections to the heart of Archidoris make this a favorable preparation for studies of cardiac regulation.Abbreviations Pl _HE pleural ganglion heart excitor neuron - Pl _HI pleural heart inhibitor neuron - V _HE visceral ganglion heart excitor neuron - V _HI cells, visceral heart inhibitor neurons - V _K visceral kidney excitor neuron - V _G visceral gill excitor neuron     

Effects of 2-deoxy-d-glucose,amiloride, vasopressin,and ouabain on active conductance andE Na in the toad bladder

Summary The effects of various agents on active sodium transport were studied in the toad bladder in terms of the equivalent circuit comprising an active conductanceK ^a, an electromotive forceE _Na, and a parallel passive conductanceK ^p. For agents which affectK ^a, but notE _Na orK ^p, the inverse slope of the plot of total conductance against short-circuit currentI ₀ evaluatesE _Na, and the intercept representsK ^p. Studies employing 5×10^–7 m amiloride to depressK ^a indicate a changingE _Na, invalidating the use of the slope technique with this agent. An alternative suitable technique employs 10^–5 m amiloride, which reducesI ₀ reversibly to near zero without effect onK ^p. Despite curvilinearity of the -I₀ plot under these conditions,K ^p may therefore be estimated fairly precisely from the residual conductance. It then becomes possible to follow the dynamic behavior ofK ^a andE _Na (in the absence of 10^–5 m amiloride) by frequent measurements of andI ₀, utilizing the relationshipsK ^a=K-K ^p, andK _Na=I _O/(K-K ^p). 2-deoxy-d-glucose (7.5×10^–3 m) depressedK ^a without affectingE _Na. Amiloride (5×10^–7 m) depressedK ^a and enhancedE _Na. Vasopressin (100 mU/ml) enhancedK ^a markedly and depressedE _Na slightly. Ouabain (10^–4 m) depressed bothK ^a andE _Na. All of the above effects were noted promptly;K ^p was unaffected. The electromotive force of Na transportE _Na appears not to be a pure energetic parameter, but to reflect kinetic factors as well, in accordance with thermodynamic considerations.     

Changes in membrane potential, membrane resistance, and intracellular H, K, Na, and Cl activities during the progesterone-induced maturation of urodele amphibian oocytes

Changes in intracellular activities of H⁺, K⁺, Na⁺, and Cl⁻ ions were recorded with ion-selective microelectrodes during progesterone-induced maturation of full-grown oocytes of the urodele amphibians Ambystoma mexicanum and Pleurodeles waltlii. The membrane potential (E_m) and electrical resistance (R_m) were also determined. During the first hours after initiation of maturation, the oocytes slowly depolarized and R_m gradually increased. By the end of maturation of Pleurodeles oocytes E_m had stabilized at about −10 mV and R_m had increased from 410 to 1760 kΩ. The same initial pattern was observed for Ambystoma, but in most oocytes a rapid transition occurred at about the time of germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD): E_m spontaneously shifted from about −15 to about +30 mV; simultaneously R_m dropped from 1230 down to 100 kΩ (i.e., less than the initial 270 kΩ resistance). The internal K⁺ activity did not show any important variation during maturation of Ambystoma and Pleurodeles oocytes. Na⁺ activity increased slightly at the onset of GVBD in Ambystoma; a further marked increase of Na⁺, accompanied by an increase in Cl⁻ activity, was observed as soon as E_m shifted to a positive value. In Pleurodeles sodium activity was also more elevated in matured than in immature oocytes. The average pH of Ambystoma immature oocytes was 7.48 ± 0.05 (external pH 7.5). A transient alkalinization to 7.64 ± 0.04 took place during the first 4–6 hr postprogesterone. Cytoplasmic pH was restored to 7.50 ± 0.07 between 10 and 12 hr postprogesterone, before the onset of GVBD and the shift of E_m. The difference between the measured oocyte pH and the calculated equilibrium pH decreases during the course of maturation, due partly to the depolarization of E_m.     

Intra-individual variation in the vocalized frequency of the Taiwanese leaf-nosed bat, Hipposideros terasensis, influenced by conspecific colony members

We examined the intra-individual variation in resting frequency of the constant-frequency component of the second harmonic of the pulse (F _rest) over 4 years in a laboratory colony of the Taiwanese leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros terasensis). Patterns of change in F _rest were observed when individuals were added to or removed from the colony so that we investigated whether F _rest was affected by neighboring colony members. F _rest of each bat continually showed a long-term gradual change throughout the year, and all bats in the colony increased or decreased their F _rest in the same direction as a group non-seasonally. The greatest short-term changes were observed when new bats with a relatively low F _rest joined the colony and F _rest of new bats converged with those of the original colony members around 8 –16 days after their introduction. Conversely, a single individual showed sudden short-term decrease in F _rest after its isolation from other colony members. These findings strongly indicate that F _rest is flexible according to the presence of neighboring conspecific bats. We suggest that the audio-vocal feedback for conspecific pulses appears to be involved in the short- or long-term intra-individual variation in F _rest other than factors previously thought such as age or season.     

Interaction of allosteric effectors (ATP,CO2, H+) modulating oxygen affinity of the hemoglobin in the carp,Cyprinus carpio,in vitro

Summary The interaction of allosteric effectors (CO₂, ATP, H⁺) with respect to the oxygen affinity of carp hemoglobin was analyzed by determining oxygen binding curves spectrophotometrically in dilute solutions of stripped hemoglobin at 20°C. The pH range studied was 6.8–8.2.P _CO2 was 0, 10 and 70 mmHg (0, 1.33 and 9.3 kPa). ATP/Hb₄ was 0, 8 and 24. In the presence of either CO₂ or ATP, the effects of the cofactors onP ₅₀ were as expected over the whole pH range. In contrast to other published data, each cofactor also had a significant effect onP ₅₀ in the presence of the other cofactor. Evidence was obtained that oxylabile carbamate is formed by carp hemoglobin and that the formation of carbamate persists at a lower level in the presence of ATP. The results support the view that the binding of ATP to carp hemoglobin requires only one terminal amino group, leaving the other N-terminal of the -chain free to react with CO₂.     

Population biology and assessment of the white-spotted spinefoot, Siganus canaliculatus (Park, 1797), in the southern Arabian Gulf

The age, growth, mortality, reproduction and resource status of Siganus canaliculatus in the southern Arabian Gulf were investigated using a combination of size frequency, biological and size‐at‐age data. Defined structural increments consisting of alternating translucent and opaque bands in transverse sections of sagittal otoliths were validated as annuli. The maximum absolute age estimate was 7.8 years. Parameter values of the von Bertalanffy growth function fit to size‐at‐age data (males and females combined) were: k = 1.0, L_∞ = 24.8 cm (L_F), t_o = −0.1 years. Fish in spawning condition were only observed between April and July although patterns in gonadosomatic indices suggested a second but less well defined spawning event in November. The mean sizes and ages at first sexual maturity were 21.5 cm L_F (1.9 years) for males and 25.7 cm L_F (2.1 years) for females. Fish were fully recruited to the fishery at a size (L₁₀₀ = 19.7 cm L_F) that was smaller than the sizes at which sexual maturity was attained. The annual instantaneous rate of fishing mortality (F = 0.85 year⁻¹) (0.26–1.44 year⁻¹ 95% CI) was considerably greater than the target (F_opt = 0.33 year⁻¹) and limit (F_limit = 0.44 year⁻¹) biological reference points, indicating that the stock is overexploited.     

千岛湖次生林优势种植物光合生理生态特性

对千岛湖次生林优势种马尾松(Pinus massoniana)、苦槠(Castanopsis sclerophylla)、石栎(Lithocarpus glaber)、青冈(Cyclobalanopsis glauca)在不同季节的光合作用日变化、光响应、CO2响应以及相对叶绿素含量进行了分析,以期了解群落演替的内在机制。结果表明:(1)马尾松的净光合速率(Pn)日变化在4个季节均呈"单峰"曲线;苦槠在8月呈"双峰"曲线,其他3个月份均呈"单峰"曲线;石栎和青冈在5月、8月和11月的Pn日变化均为"双峰"曲线,有明显的光合"午休"现象,2月为"单峰"曲线。(2)马尾松和苦槠的Pn日积累值为8月最高,石栎和青冈为11月最高,且均与其他3个月均差异显著。4种优势种在4个季节的Pn日积累值的平均值大小为马尾松苦槠青冈石栎,差异显著。(3)4个季节中,光饱和点(LSP)、光补偿点(LCP)、最大净光合速率(Amax)、暗呼吸速率(Rd)、最大羧化速率(Vcmax)、最大电子传递速率(Jmax)均以马尾松最高,表观量子效率(AQY)为马尾松最低。青冈在4个季节中具有最低的LSP、Rd和最高的AQY。苦槠和石栎的光合特性介于马尾松和青冈之间。(4)相对叶绿素含量以青冈最高,马尾松最低。总之,马尾松属强阳性树种,苦槠为阳性树种,石栎具有一定的耐荫性,青冈的耐荫性较强。     

Comparison of hibernation, estivation and daily torpor in the edible dormouse, Glis glis

Three major forms of dormancy in mammals have been classified: hibernation in endotherms is characterised by reduced metabolic rate (MR) and body temperature (T _b) near ambient temperature (T _a) over prolonged times in the winter. Estivation is a similar form of dormancy in a dry and hot environment during summertime. Daily torpor is defined as reduced MR and T _b lower than 32 °C, limited to a duration of less than 24 h. The edible dormouse (Glis glis) is capable for all three distinct forms of dormancy. During periods of food restriction and/or low T _a, daily torpor is displayed throughout the year, alternating with hibernation and estivation in winter and summer respectively. We recorded T _b, O₂-consumption and CO₂-production in unrestrained dormice at different T _a's for periods of up to several months. Cooling rate and rate of metabolic depression during entrance into the torpid state was identical in all three forms of dormancy. The same was true for thermal conductance, maximum heat production, duration of arousal and cost of an arousal. The only difference between hibernation and daily torpor was found in the bout duration. A daily torpor bout lasted 3–21 h, a hibernation bout 39–768 h. As a consequence of prolonged duration, MR, T _b and also the T _b − T _a gradient decreased to lower values during hibernation bouts when compared to daily torpor bouts. Our findings suggest that all three forms of dormancy are based on the same physiological mechanism of thermal and metabolic regulation. Accepted: 27 June 2000     

Chemotaxonomic Implications of the n‐Alkane Composition and the Nonacosan‐10‐ol Content in Picea omorika,Pinus heldreichii,and Pinus peuce

The n‐alkane composition and the nonacosan‐10‐ol content in the needle cuticular waxes of Serbian spruce (Picea omorika), Bosnian pine (Pinus heldreichii), and Macedonian pine (Pinus peuce) were compared. The amount of nonacosan‐10‐ol in the needle waxes of P. omorika was higher than those in P. heldreichii and P. peuce. The range of n‐alkanes was also wider in P. omorika (C₁₈–C₃₅) than in P. heldreichii and P. peuce (C₁₈–C₃₃). The dominant n‐alkanes were C₂₉ in the needle waxes of P. omorika, C₂₃, C₂₇, and C₂₅ in those of P. heldreichii, and C₂₉, C₂₅, C₂₇, and C₂₃ in those of P. peuce. The waxes of P. omorika contained higher amounts of n‐alkanes C₂₉, C₃₁, and C₃₃, while those of P. heldreichii and P. peuce had higher contents of n‐alkanes C₂₁, C₂₂, C₂₃, C₂₄, and C₂₆. The principal component analysis of the contents of nine n‐alkanes showed a clear separation of the Serbian spruce populations from those of the two investigated pine species, which partially overlapped. The separation of the species was due to high contents of the n‐alkanes C₂₉ and C₃₁ (P. omorika), C₁₉, C₂₀, C₂₁, C₂₂, C₂₃, and C₂₄ (P. heldreichii), and C₂₈ (P. peuce). Cluster analysis also showed a clear separation between the P. omorika populations on one side and the P. heldreichii and P. peuce populations on the other side. The n‐alkane and terpene compositions are discussed in the light of their usefulness in chemotaxonomy as well as with regard to the biogeography and phylogeny of these rare and endemic conifers.     

Kinetic analysis for the isomerization of glucose,fructose, and mannose in subcritical aqueous ethanol

Fructose, glucose, and mannose were treated with subcritical aqueous ethanol for ethanol concentrations ranging from 0 to 80% (v/v) at 180–200 °C. The aldose–ketose isomerization was more favorable than ketose–aldose isomerization and glucose–mannose epimerization. The isomerization of the monosaccharides was promoted by the addition of ethanol. In particular, mannose was isomerized most easily to fructose in subcritical aqueous ethanol. The apparent equilibrium constants for the isomerizations of mannose to fructose, K_eq,M→F, and glucose to fructose, K_eq,G→F, were independent of ethanol concentration and increased with increasing temperature. Moreover, the K_eq,M→F value was much larger than the K_eq,G→F value. The enthalpies for the isomerization of mannose to fructose, ΔH_M→F, and glucose to fructose, ΔH_G→F, were estimated to be 18 and 24 kJ/mol, respectively, according to van’t Hoff equation. Subcritical aqueous ethanol can be used to produce fructose from glucose and mannose efficiently.     

The effect of two prey species, Chrysomphalusaonidum and Corcyra cephalonica, on the qualityof the predatory thrips, Aleurodothripsfasciapennis, reared in the laboratory

Periodic and augmentative releases of natural enemies are often required to enhance biological control and integrated pest management programs. One requirement for these programs to be practical is that natural enemies can be easily and economically mass-reared. This study assessed the effects of dieton the quality of the F₃ and F₄laboratory-reared generations of the predatory thrips,Aleurodothrips fasciapennis. Diets were eggs and crawlers of the diaspidid scale Chrysomphalusaonidum and eggs of the pyralid moth Corcyracephalonica. It was found that both the F₃ and F₄ generations were not viable when reared on the eggs and crawlers of C. aonidum due to very low fecundity and, in the F₄ generation, increased larval mortality. In contrast, thrips reared on the eggs of C. cephalonica were viable in both generations but an increase in larval mortality from the F₃ to the F₄ generation did result in are duction in viability. These results are discussed in terms of genetic, environmental and behavioural factors that may have influenced the quality of the thrips. It is concluded that genetic factors(inbreeding suppression, genetic drift or selection),the behaviour of scale crawlers and the predatory behaviour of thrips were probably of little value in explaining the results. The most likely explanation was that the diet supplied to thrips was of in adequatenutritional quality. It was not possible to distinguish whether this was due to low intrinsic quality of the prey or an indirect effect of experimental conditions on prey quality. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Thermoregulation in the primitively eusocial paper wasp, Polistes dominulus

Regulation of wing muscle temperature is important for sustaining flight in many insects, and has been well studied in honeybees. It has been much less well studied in wasps and has never been demonstrated in Polistes paper wasps. We measured thorax, head, and abdomen temperatures of inactive Polistes dominulus workers as they warmed after transfer from 8 to ~25°C ambient temperature, after removal from hibernacula, and after periods of flight in a variable temperature room. Thorax temperature (T _th) of non-flying live wasps increased more rapidly than that of dead wasps, and T _th of some live wasps reached more than 2°C above ambient temperature (T _a), indicating endothermy. Wasps removed from hibernacula had body region temperatures significantly above ambient. The T _th of flying wasps was 2.5°C above ambient at T _a = 21°C, and at or even below ambient at T _a = 40°C. At 40°C head and abdomen temperatures were both more than 2°C below T _a, indicating evaporative cooling. We conclude that P. dominulus individuals demonstrate clear, albeit limited, thermoregulatory capacity.