A Method for Thin Sectioning Heavily Sclerotized Cuticle of Odontotaenius disjunctus

Elytra of the bessbeetle, Odontotaenius disjunctus were thin sectioned after embedding in epoxy resin. Sections were cut with a diamond saw, ground to the desired thickness on a rotary grinder and polished. Tearing and distortion were reduced when compared to knife-cut sections of heavily sclerotized cuticle.     

Long-distance dispersal by a parasitoid (Anagrus delicatus,Mymaridae) and its host

Summary We demonstrate that an egg parasitoid, Anagrus delicatus (Mymaridae, Hymenoptera) and its host, Prokelesia marginata (Delphacidae, Homoptera) regularly disperse 1 km or more in a north Florida saltmarsh. Anagrus delicatus were caught on yellow sticky traps on offshore islets and oyster bars throughout the spring, summer, and fall, whereas P. marginata were caught during one pulse in the spring. Parasitism rates were higher on offshore islets than at mainland sites, even though egg densities were higher at the mainland sites. The majority of parasitoids caught offshore were females. Long-distance dispersal by A. delicatus may be a cause of inverse density-dependent or density-independent spatial patterns of parasitism and may represent a risk-spreading strategy.     

活性氧在创伤愈合中作用的研究

：创伤愈合是一个复杂的生物学过程,包括出血与凝血、炎症渗出、血管和肉芽组织的形成、再上皮化、纤维化和瘢痕改建等,在这一系列的生物学活动过程中都需要能量支持;高等动物使用氧气作为终端氧化剂,通过对碳水化合物的氧化作用为愈合过程中的各种生命活动提供能量,但该过程却可以产生大量的活性氧,这些活性氧在创伤愈合的过程中扮演着重要的角色,在低浓度情况下可以促进伤口的愈合,而在高浓度时会抑制伤口愈合,而活性量浓度的过高过低都会影响创口的正常愈合过程。     

Cold-induced vasodilatation of finger and maximal oxygen consumption of young female athletes born in Hokkaido

To determine whether there is a direct correlation between endurance capacity and cold tolerance, maximal oxygen consumption (VO₂max), and cold-induced vasodilatation (CIVD), we measured these factors in 14 young female athletes born in Hokkaido, Japan's northernmost island. We determined the VO₂max by a standard incremental test on a cycle ergometer and measured the oxygen consumption (VO₂) by means of the Douglas-bag method. We determined the CIVD reaction by measuring the skin temperature of the left middle finger during immersion in cold water at 0°C for 20 min. The athletes showed significant positive correlations between VO₂max, expressed as l/min, and CIVD as well as other peripheral cold tolerance indexes (resistance index against frostbite and CIVD index). The body weight VO₂max (VO₂max/kg body weight) failed to correlate significantly with either the CIVD or with other cold tolerance indexes. These results suggest that CIVD in females may depend on factors other than those determined in this study, in addition to the functional spread of the vascular beds in peripheral tissues, including striated muscle; it is known that the size and the vascular bed in this tissue are affected by exercise training and that this results in the elevation of VO₂max and VO₂max/kg body weight.     

Hystrignathus dearmasi sp. n. (Oxyurida, Hystrignathidae), first record of a nematode parasitizing a Panamanian Passalidae (Insecta, Coleoptera)

Hystrignathus dearmasi sp. n. (Oxyurida: Hystrignathidae) is described from an unidentified passalid beetle (Coleoptera: Passalidae) from Panama. It resembles Hystrignathus cobbi Travassos & Kloss, 1957 from Brazil, by having a similar form of the cephalic end, extension of cervical spines and absence of lateral alae. It differs from the latter species by having the body shorter, the oesophagus and tail comparatively larger, the vulva situated more posterior and the eggs ridged. This species constitutes the first record of a nematode parasitizing a Panamanian passalid.     

中红侧沟茧蜂寄生对粘虫幼虫取食及生长发育的影响

【目的】为明确中红侧沟茧蜂Microplitis mediator(Haliday)寄生对粘虫Mythimna separata(Walker)幼虫取食和发育的影响及评价其田间应用价值。【方法】比较研究了中红侧沟茧蜂寄生不同日龄粘虫对粘虫幼虫取食量和发育的影响。【结果】被寄生的粘虫4、6、8日龄幼虫与未被寄生的同龄期幼虫取食量差异达极显著水平。被寄生的4、6、8日龄粘虫幼虫间的取食量差异不显著。被寄生的幼虫,5 d前体重缓慢上升,之后缓慢下降,所有被寄生的幼虫均不能化蛹。4、6、8日龄粘虫幼虫被寄生后,中红侧沟茧蜂幼虫在其体内的发育历期不同,不同日龄间差异显著,随着日龄的增大显著缩短。【结论】表明该蜂不仅能有效地控制粘虫当代危害,而且在很大程度上能够抑制粘虫的种群数量。     

Effects of alpha lipoic acid and its R+ enantiomer supplemented to hyperbaric oxygen therapy on interleukin-6, TNF-α and EGF production in chronic leg wound healing

Abstract

Context: Lipoic acid (LA) and hyperbaric oxygenation therapy (HBOT) improve chronic wound healing.

Objective: We compared the effects of LA or its enantiomer R-(+)-lipoic acid (RLA) on wound healing.

Materials and methods: Groups LA?+?HBOT (L), RLA?+?HBOT (R) and placebo?+?HBOT (P). Lesion areas measured before treatment and on 20th and 40th day. The biopsies and plasma were harvested before treatment and on 7th and 14th (measurements of VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; EGF, epidermal growth factor, TNF-α and IL-6).

Results: Ulcers improved more on RLA. In both L and R groups, EGF and VEFG increased in time. RLA decreased IL-6 on T₇ and T₁₄, which did not happen with LA. TNF-α levels decreased on T₁₄ in both LA and RLA.

Discussion: The improved wound healing is associated with increased EGF and VEGF and reduced plasma TNF-α and IL-6.

Conclusion: RLA may be more effective than LA in improving chronic wound healing in patients undergoing HBO therapy.     

Ventilation and oxygen consumption in the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa L.

Ventilation was measured directly in the hagfish, Myxine glutinosa L., by means of an electro-magnetic blood flowmeter. Ventilatory flow and frequency increased from 0.86 ± 0.27 ml·min^?, and 18.2 ± 5.1·min^?, respectively, at 7°C to 1.70 ± 0.20 ml·min^?, and 70.1 ± 9.5·min^? at 15 ·C.Standard oxygen consumption,V?O₂, was measured in non-buried hagfish. V?O₂ was 0.57 ± 0.17μl O₂·g^?1·min^?1 at 7°C, and 0.85 ± 0.12μl O₂·g^?1·min^?1 at 15°C.     

THE EFFECT OF SUBLETHAL CONCENTRATIONS OF NATURAL SUSPENDED SILT ON ROUTINE OXYGEN CONSUMPTION BY MOZAMBIQUE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS MOSSAMBICUS)

Summary

Exposure of adult Oreochromismossambicusto sublethal concentrations (5 to 20 g silt ?^?1) of natural silt from the Phalaborwa Barrage altered routine oxygen consumption by causing increased rates of oxygen consumption. This indicates that sublethal levels of suspended silt result in a significant (p<0.05) increase in oxygen consumption by the exposed fish due to an increase in metabolic rate associated with increased activity and stress. Any species unable to compensate for this increase in energy expenditure over time would not be able to sustain itself.     

Simultaneous single neuron recording of O2 consumption, [Ca2+]i and mitochondrial membrane potential in glutamate toxicity

In order to determine the sequence of cellular processes in glutamate toxicity, we simultaneously recorded O₂ consumption, cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i), and mitochondrial membrane potential (mΔψ) in single cortical neurons. Oxygen consumption was measured using an amperometric self‐referencing platinum electrode adjacent to neurons in which [Ca²⁺]_i and mΔψ were monitored with Fluo‐4 and TMRE⁺, respectively, using a spinning disk laser confocal microscope. Excitotoxic doses of glutamate caused an elevation of [Ca²⁺]_i followed seconds afterwards by an increase in O₂ consumption which reached a maximum level within 1–5 min. A modest increase in mΔψ occurred during this time period, and then, shortly before maximal O₂ consumption was reached, the mΔψ, as indicated by TMRE⁺ fluorescence, dissipated. Maximal O₂ consumption lasted up to 5 min and then declined together with mΔψ and ATP levels, while [Ca²⁺]_i further increased. mΔψ and [Ca²⁺]_i returned to baseline levels when neurons were treated with an NMDA receptor antagonist shortly after the [Ca²⁺]_i increased. Our unprecedented spatial and time resolution revealed that this sequence of events is identical in all neurons, albeit with considerable variability in magnitude and kinetics of changes in O₂ consumption, [Ca²⁺]_i, and mΔψ. The data obtained using this new method are consistent with a model where Ca²⁺ influx causes ATP depletion, despite maximal mitochondrial respiration, minutes after glutamate receptor activation.     

The influence of suspended silt on oxygen consumption by the redbreast tilapia, Tilapia rendalli (Boulenger,1896)

The routine oxygen consumption of redbreast tilapia, Tilapia rendalli exposed to silt from the Phalaborwa Barrage was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. Exposure of adult fish to sublethal concentrations of silt did alter routine oxygen consumption by causing increased rates (53–77% from initial) of oxygen consumption. This indicates that sublethal levels of suspended silt concentrations results in an increase in oxygen consumption by the fish due to an increase in metabolic rate associated with increased activity and stress. From the laboratory experiments, it can therefore be predicted that sublethal releases from the Phalaborwa Barrage will stress the resident fish populations. However, the extent of the impact on the fish population will depend on factors such as frequency, duration and severity of exposure as well as the species in question. Long term monitoring of the fish population below the Phalaborwa Barrage is therefore essential.     

Pupal cell-building behavior in passalid beetles (Coleoptera: Passalidae)

In passalids, metamorphosis takes place inside pupal cells which are built by adults piling detritus on the pupa until it is completely covered by a cell. The results reported in this paper show the significance of an olfactory stimulus in the release of this behavior. Adults do not differentiate conspecific pupae originating from their own or other nests for the construction of pupal cells; however, they do not build these cells for heterospecific pupae. It was not possible to demonstrate significant differences between males and females with regard to the presentation of this behavior, but differences were found between young and mature adults. The former require greater stimulation and are less efficient in the construction of cells than the latter. Nevertheless, all adults, including very young ones, can perform the behavior. It was also found that, under laboratory conditions, metamorphosis is normally developed in the absence of pupal cells. Some hypotheses about the possible function of these cells are discussed.     

Winter anoxic layer in Lake Hibara

The concentration of dissolved oxygen in waters 0.5–0.6 m above the bottom of Lake Hibara, a dimictic lake, was zero in early spring of 1994 and 1997. The concentrations in early spring of 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1998 ranged from 3.75 to 10.1 mg l⁻¹. The depth profiles of water temperature suggest that water had not circulated prior to the sample collections of 1994 and 1997, but it had done so in the cases of the other years, suggesting that winter conditions were well preserved in the former years. On the other hand, the dissolved oxygen in the same strata decreased severely in summer. However, more or less titratable amounts of dissolved oxygen still remained (0.01–0.73 mg l⁻¹) at the final stages of summer stratification from 1992 to 1998. These facts show that a completely anoxic condition is not formed in this lake in summer but is sometimes formed in winter. It is interesting to note that in spite of unfavorable winter conditions for oxygen consumption, i.e., shorter duration and lower water temperature, oxygen is exhausted. These facts suggest that ventilation to the depths is much greater in summer than in winter. Received: March 5, 1999 / Accepted: October 18, 1999     

Routine metabolism of juvenile spot, Leiostomus xanthums (Lacépède), as a function of temperature, salinity and weight

Routine oxygen consumption rates of juvenile spot, Leiostomus xanthums , were measured over a range of temperatures, salinities and fish weights. As predicted, Q O₂ increased with temperature and decreased with body weight. However, Q O₂ decreased with decreasing salinity and did not show the expected minimum at isosmotic concentrations. The data are best described by the relationship: log₁₀ Q O₂ (mg O₂ g⁻¹ h⁻¹) = 0.129 log_lo salinity (%0) + 1.604 log₁₀ temperature (°C)-0.1401og₁₀(g)-2.767.