Expression of the orexin system in the porcine uterus,conceptus and trophoblast during early pregnancy

Orexin A and B are hypothalamic peptides derived from the prepro-orexin (PPO) precursor. Orexins stimulate food intake and arousal. Those peptides bind and activate two G protein-coupled receptors: orexin receptor 1 (OX1R) and orexin receptor 2 (OX2R). Numerous authors have suggested that orexins play an important role in the regulation of the reproductive functions. The objective of the present study was to analyse the presence of and changes in the gene and protein expression pattern of the orexin system in the porcine uterus, conceptus and trophoblast (chorioallantois) during early pregnancy. In the endometrium, the highest PPO and OX1R gene expression was detected on days 15 to 16 of gestation. The OX2R mRNA content in the endometrium was higher on days 10 to 11 and 15 to 16 than on days 12 to 13 and 27 to 28. In the trophoblasts, PPO gene expression was higher on days 30 to 32 than on days 27 to 28. The highest PPO protein content in the endometrium was noted on days 12 to 13. The highest OX1R protein content in the endometrium was detected on days 10 to 11, whereas OX2R protein on days 15 to 16. In the trophoblasts, PPO and OX1R protein levels were more pronounced on days 27 to 28 than on days 30 to 32, but OX2R expression was higher on days 30 to 32. The expression of PPO, OX1R and OX2R was different in the conceptuses and trophoblasts during early pregnancy. Local orexin production and the presence of the specific orexin receptors suggest that the orexin system may participate in the control of porcine reproductive functions by exerting endocrine and auto/paracrine effects on the uterus, conceptuses and trophoblasts during early pregnancy. This study provides the first evidence for the presence of orexins and their receptors in the uteri, conceptuses and trophoblasts in pigs during early pregnancy. The local orexin system is dependent on the stage of pregnancy.     

Effects of zinc on microalgal biofilms in intertidal and subtidal habitats

Microalgal biofilms are sensitive to environmental conditions. Impacts of contaminants on assemblages of marine biofilm are often investigated in laboratories or in mesocosms. Such experiments are rarely representative of the effects of contaminants on biofilms under natural conditions. Studies in field situations, with enough power to detect impacts, are necessary to develop a better understanding of the effects of contaminants on ecological processes. Metals are a common contaminant of marine systems and can cause disturbances to assemblages. Using a new technique to experimentally deliver contaminants to microalgal assemblages, hypotheses were tested regarding the effects of zinc on microalgal biofilms growing on settlement panels in subtidal and intertidal habitats. PAM fluorometry was used to assess the amount and physiological state of biofilms on panels. Control panels deployed for 1 month in each habitat had significantly greater amounts of biofilm than those exposed to zinc. After deployment for 3 months, the results varied with location. The observed effects on the biofilm did not, however, cause significant changes in the macro-invertebrate assemblages that developed on the panels.     

Demography of source—sink populations and the evolution of ecological niches

Summary The demography of populations living in variable environments is an important factor molding the evolution of ecological niches, for it determines the relative strength of selection pressures on adaptations to different habitats. Here I consider a coarse-grained environment consisting of two habitat types and investigate how the selection pressure on reproductive success in different habitats depends on their quality and frequency and the dispersal pattern. The results suggest that selection on adaptations to optimal habitats will usually be stronger than on adaptations to poor habitats and the ecological niche will thus tend to be an evolutionarily conservative character. It is because under the habitat choice or limited dispersal that seem to prevail in natural populations, more individuals encounter the better habitat than would be expected solely on the basis of its relative area. This bias results in reduced selection pressure on reproductive success in the poorer habitat. With habitat choice or limited dispersal, selection pressure on reproductive success in the poorer habitat may exceed that on reproductive success in the better habitat only if the poorer habitat is much more frequent in the environment than the better habitat and the difference in their quality is not large.     

盖膜期间沙糖橘果实品质变化规律的研究

在果实成熟的1~3月,采样分析盖膜和不盖膜沙糖橘果实品质。结果表明:树冠盖膜后沙糖橘果皮色泽一直保持橘红色,而不盖膜的果皮色泽由前期的橘红色转为后期的橘黄色,且色泽暗淡;盖膜处理果实的酸含量在开始的20d内呈上升趋势,1月28日出现最高值0.31%,此后的10d内迅速下降至低于对照的水平,2月7日出现最低值,此后的20d内上升高于对照,之后又下降至3月15日的0.19%;对照果实的酸含量呈现明显的下降趋势,1月7日出现最高值为0.26%,3月15日出现最低值为0.08%,盖膜处理果实的酸含量在大多数时间内高于对照;盖膜处理果实的可溶性固形物含量从1月17日的12.33%提高到3月15日的13.40%,提高了1.07个百分点,总体呈上升趋势,而对照的从1月17日的10.70%下降至3月15日的9.90%,下降了0.80个百分点,总体呈下降趋势。     

鼠伤寒沙门菌pStSR100质粒对生物膜形成的影响

目的:鼠伤寒沙门菌在多种表面形成的生物膜对其致病性和引起食物中毒等方面起着重要作用,本研究探讨鼠伤寒沙门菌pStSR100质粒对细菌在不同材质表面生物膜形成的影响。方法:用LB(Luria-Bertani,LB)培养基和TSB(Tryptose Soya Broth,TSB)培养基分别将携带pStSR100质粒的野生株在96孔板与放置无菌小圆玻片的24孔板中静态培养48 h,用结晶紫半定量法确定生物膜形成的适宜培养基。将野生株与消除质粒的突变株,用结晶紫半定量法和激光共聚焦显微镜(Confocal Laser scanning microscopy,CLSM)观察其在聚苯乙烯培养板和小圆玻片表面形成生物膜的差异。结果:用LB培养时细菌生物膜的形成能力高于用TSB培养,LB培养基更适宜生物膜形成;结晶紫半定量法结果表明野生株比突变株在小圆玻片表面形成生物膜的能力明显增强,而在聚苯乙烯培养板表面两者则无明显差异;CLSM观察发现,野生株在小圆玻片表面形成融合成片的大克隆,突变株仅形成较小克隆。结论:鼠伤寒沙门菌pStSR100质粒能促进该菌在亲水性材质表面生物膜的形成,但其对该菌在疏水性材质表面生物膜的形成未见明显影响,这一新发现为进一步研究鼠伤寒沙门菌生物膜形成的调控机制,研制抗感染材料提供了理论和实验依据。     

长白山南坡苔原植被的特殊性及坡向间差异性分析

以长白山苔原带南坡植被为对象,通过植被调查,与北坡和西坡植被进行比较,研究长白山苔原植被因坡向差异导致的不同植被变化模式。结果显示:(1)长白山苔原南坡植被中灌木处于优势地位,与北坡、西坡情况一致。但在物种组成上,各坡向差异明显,为中度不相似水平;(2)在生物多样性、多度、盖度等群落特征上,南坡与西坡的差异较大、与北坡相似性较强;(3)在物种多样性的空间分布上,南坡与北坡相同,即随海拔升高呈单峰变化且峰值出现在中部,与西坡物种多样性随海拔升高呈单调递减的趋势完全不同。表明不同群落抗干扰能力以及所受干扰程度存在差异,北坡处于演替中后期,较为稳定,抗干扰能力更强。南坡因受干扰强度较小,植被处于较稳定状态;(4)长白山苔原各坡向植被变化差异较大。南坡和北坡的植被相对稳定,与西坡草本植物强烈上侵明显不同。长白山苔原带植被的坡向差异源于各坡向的本底差异、环境差异以及对全球气候变化的差异性响应,是火山、强风干扰下植被演替与响应气候变化的植被变化共同作用的结果。     

长白山南坡苔原植被的特殊性及坡向间差异性分析

以长白山苔原带南坡植被为对象,通过植被调查,与北坡和西坡植被进行比较,研究长白山苔原植被因坡向差异导致的不同植被变化模式。结果显示：（1）长白山苔原南坡植被中灌木处于优势地位,与北坡、西坡情况一致。但在物种组成上,各坡向差异明显,为中度不相似水平;（2）在生物多样性、多度、盖度等群落特征上,南坡与西坡的差异较大、与北坡相似性较强;（3）在物种多样性的空间分布上,南坡与北坡相同,即随海拔升高呈单峰变化且峰值出现在中部,与西坡物种多样性随海拔升高呈单调递减的趋势完全不同。表明不同群落抗干扰能力以及所受干扰程度存在差异,北坡处于演替中后期,较为稳定,抗干扰能力更强。南坡因受干扰强度较小,植被处于较稳定状态;（4）长白山苔原各坡向植被变化差异较大。南坡和北坡的植被相对稳定,与西坡草本植物强烈上侵明显不同。长白山苔原带植被的坡向差异源于各坡向的本底差异、环境差异以及对全球气候变化的差异性响应,是火山、强风干扰下植被演替与响应气候变化的植被变化共同作用的结果。     

Localization of Xho1 repetitive sequences on autosomes in addition to the W chromosome in chickens and its relevance for sex diagnosis

Repetitive sequences of the Xho1 family comprise about 70% of the W chromosome in chickens, are considered to be restricted to this sex chromosome and are used in sex diagnosis. This study investigated the reliability of sex diagnosis on small cell numbers. Fluorescent in situ hybridizations (FISH) with the Xho1 repeat sequence were performed on metaphases and signals were detected on the W chromosome and on some autosomes. Differences in signal intensity suggested that the number of repeats ranged from several thousand on the W chromosome to only a few on the autosomes. These results confirm the report from Clinton (1994) of minor male products in sex specific PCR of the Xho1 repeat. We adopted his PCR protocol to analyze small numbers of cells. FISH on blastomeres and on blood cells from E3 to E11 embryos were compared to PCR results. The FISH procedure as well as the PCR protocol are suitable for sexing. For single cells FISH was slightly more consistent.     

Changes of human movement complexity during maturation: quantitative assessment using multiscale entropy

Movement complexity can be defined as the capability of using different strategies to accomplish a specific task and is expected to increase with maturation, reaching its highest level in adulthood.Multiscale Entropy (MSE) has been proposed to estimate complexity on different kinematic signals, at different time scales. When applied on trunk acceleration data during natural walking (NW) at different ages, MSE decreased from childhood to adulthood, apparently contradicting the premises. On the contrary, authors hypothesised that this decrease was dependent on the specific task analysed and resulted from the concurrent increase in gait automaticity.This work aims to test this hypothesis, applying MSE on a non-paradigmatic task (tandem walking, TW), in order to exclude aspects related to automaticity.MSE was estimated on trunk acceleration data, collected on children, adolescents, and young adults during TW and NW. As hypothesized, MSE increased significantly with age in TW and decreased in NW on the sagittal plane. Assuming the development of complexity in TW as reference, MSE in NW showed a reduction to half of the complexity of TW with maturation on the sagittal plane. These results indicate MSE as sensitive to differences in performance due to maturation and to expected changes in complexity related to the specific performed task.     

Plant cues influence searching behaviour and parasitism in the egg parasitoid Trichogramma nr. brassicae

Abstract. 1. The effect of experience of plant cues at emergence on searching behaviour and parasitism was investigated in two strains of Trichogramma nr. brassicae (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae).
2. Wasps reared on Sitotroga cereallela were allowed to emerge on a tomato plant or in a vial, with or without food. For one of the strains, females emerging on tomato searched significantly longer on a tomato seedling than females emerging in a vial.
3. The experience effect lasted between 1 and 2 days. It involves associating plant stimuli with the remains of the host, because females emerging from their host on a tomato plant had an increased searching response to tomato, but females transferred to the plant immediately after emergence did not.
4. The effect of emergence environment on parasitism of the host Helicoverpa punctigera on tomato and lettuce seedlings was tested. Wasps were allowed to emerge on seedlings of tomato or lettuce, or in an empty vial. For one strain, females experienced with tomato at emergence parasitized significantly more hosts on tomato than did females emerging on lettuce or in a vial. Parasitism on lettuce was not influenced by the treatments.     

Sexual selection and its evolutionary consequences in female animals

For sexual selection to act on a given sex, there must exist variation in the reproductive success of that sex as a result of differential access to mates or fertilisations. The mechanisms and consequences of sexual selection acting on male animals are well documented, but research on sexual selection acting on females has only recently received attention. Controversy still exists over whether sexual selection acts on females in the traditional sense, and over whether to modify the existing definition of sexual selection (to include resource competition) or to invoke alternative mechanisms (usually social selection) to explain selection acting on females in connection with reproduction. However, substantial evidence exists of females bearing characters or exhibiting behaviours that result in differential reproductive success that are analogous to those attributed to sexual selection in males. Here we summarise the literature and provide substantial evidence of female intrasexual competition for access to mates, female intersexual signalling to potential mates, and postcopulatory mechanisms such as competition between eggs for access to sperm and cryptic male allocation. Our review makes clear that sexual selection acts on females and males in similar ways but sometimes to differing extents: the ceiling for the elaboration of costly traits may be lower in females than in males. We predict that current and future research on female sexual selection will provide increasing support for the parsimony and utility of the existing definition of sexual selection.     

Potential adaptation of a Q biotype whitefly population from poinsettia to field crops

Abstract The invasive Q biotype whitefly was first detected in the US on poinsettia in 2004 and is still not a pest outside of greenhouse environments in the US. To assess the potential for the establishment of the Q biotype on field crops, population cage experiments were conducted to compare the performance of a poinsettia‐derived Q population named P’06 on poinsettia and six field crops (alfalfa, tomato, melon, cotton, cowpea and cabbage). P’06 adults reared on poinsettia as nymphs laid eggs on all six field crops. Significantly more eggs were laid on alfalfa, tomato, melon and cotton than on cabbage, cowpea and poinsettia. These eggs hatched and the nymphs developed to adults on the six field crops. Relative to poinsettia, whitefly survival was similar on cowpea, alfalfa, tomato and cabbage, but significantly higher on cotton and melon. Moreover, P’06 had significantly shorter development times from egg to adult on cotton, melon, cowpea, tomato and alfalfa than they did on poinsettia. However, the F1 adults raised on the six field crops had significantly shorter lifespans and laid 11‐ to 18‐fold fewer eggs than did the F1 adults raised on poinsettia. Taken together, while P’06 may have some potential to establish on field crops, the shorter lifespans and extremely low fecundities of the F1 adults raised on the six field crops suggests that P’06 is incapable of rapidly adapting to them. Poor adaptation to field crops may explain, at least partially, why the Q biotype has not established in the US field system.     

苹果蠹蛾成虫产卵特性

苹果蠹蛾Cydia pomonella(L.)是全球温带地区果园主要害虫之一,是中国的重要检疫性有害生物,对我国苹果、梨等水果的安全生产造成极大危害及威胁。为详细了解苹果蠹蛾的产卵特性,从而为进行有效的监测与防控提供基础信息,作者于2006年在甘肃省山丹县梨果园中对树冠不同高度与朝向的蛀果率进行了调查,并于2010在内蒙古阿拉善左旗对梨树果枝上不同部位的产卵量进行了详细调查。主要研究结果如下:1)树冠2.5m以上的蛀果率显著高于2.5m以下的蛀果率,树冠东面的蛀果率最高,南面的蛀果率最低;2)在整个果园中,靠近北侧的果树上果实受害程度要高于南侧果树上的果实受害程度,整个果园中蛀果率由北向南逐渐降低;3)叶片上的卵数最多,占总卵数的73.1%,果实上的卵数次之,占总卵数的14.6%,枝条上的卵数最少,占总卵数的12.2%;4)在产卵的叶片上,卵主要产在叶背面,叶片背面卵量是叶正面的6.65倍。鉴于以上研究结果,在开展化学防治或颗粒体病毒防治时,应注意充分喷施果树上层树冠,且在对果实进行处理的同时,叶片和枝条也需要充分喷药。     

Harbour porpoises respond to climate change

The effects of climate change on marine ecosystems and in particular on marine top predators are difficult to assess due to, among other things, spatial variability, and lack of clear delineation of marine habitats. The banks of West Greenland are located in a climate sensitive area and are likely to elicit pronounced responses to oceanographic changes in the North Atlantic. The recent increase in sea temperatures on the banks of West Greenland has had cascading effects on sea ice coverage, residency of top predators, and abundance of important prey species like Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). Here, we report on the response of one of the top predators in West Greenland; the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). The porpoises depend on locating high densities of prey species with high nutritive value and they have apparently responded to the general warming on the banks of West Greenland by longer residence times, increased consumption of Atlantic cod resulting in improved body condition in the form of larger fat deposits in blubber, compared to the situation during a cold period in the 1990s. This is one of the few examples of a measurable effect of climate change on a marine mammal population.     

A fluorescent antibody assay for hyphae and glomalin from arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Studies on the role of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi in soil have been aided by the use of a monoclonal antibody that detects a molecule common to all isolates of these fungi studied to date. The molecule, glomalin, is a glycoprotein that forms on hyphae, but apparently sloughs off and adheres to soil particles or imbedded plastic mesh. An indirect immunofluorescence (IF) assay is described for detection of glomalin on hyphae attached to roots, in roots, on hyphae traps and on the surface of soil aggregates. Small sieves are used to process hyphae attached to roots and soil aggregates. Glomalin on hyphae and glomalin attached to plastic or nylon are assayed on a 1 cm² section of meshes. Examples of IF assay results are shown and discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Snail–periphyton interactions in a prairie lacustrine wetland

This study examined the effects of nutrients and macrophytes on snail grazers and periphyton in a prairie wetland food web. Snails (Gyraulus circumstriatus) and periphyton in large enclosures in a lacustrine wetland, Delta Marsh, MB, Canada were subjected to two experimental treatments, nutrient addition (nitrogen, phosphorus) and macrophyte exclusion (using a porous geotextile carpet) during July and August. Snail biomass and periphyton biomass (on both artificial substrata and submerged macrophytes) increased over time in all treatments, representing seasonal growth. Snail biomass was three times higher on macrophytes than on artificial substrata. In response to nutrient addition, snail biomass was significantly elevated over time on macrophytes but not on artificial substrata. Conversely, periphyton biomass was higher on artificial substrata but not on macrophytes in response to nutrient addition. Snail biomass and periphyton biomass on artificial substrata showed no response to macrophyte exclusion. Snail biomass on all substrata was inversely correlated with turbidity, whereas periphyton biomass showed no relationship with turbidity. Timing of nutrient additions to wetlands may influence whether the response occurs primarily in phytoplankton or in periphyton and macrophytes.     

Selection on body size and sexual size dimorphism differs between host species in a seed-feeding beetle

Sexual size dimorphism varies substantially among populations and species but we have little understanding of the sources of selection generating this variation. We used path analysis to study how oviposition host affects selection on body size in a seed-feeding beetle (Stator limbatus) in which males contribute large ejaculates (nuptial gifts) to females. Females use nutrients in these ejaculates for egg production. Male body size, which affects ejaculate size, affects female fecundity and is thus under fecundity selection similar in magnitude to the fecundity selection on female body size. We show that when eggs are laid on a host on which larval mortality is low (seeds of Acacia greggii) fecundity predicts fitness very well and fecundity selection is the major source of selection on both male and female adult size. In contrast, when eggs are laid on a host on which larval mortality is high (seeds of Parkinsonia florida) fecundity poorly predicts fitness such that fecundity selection is relaxed on both male and female size. However, because egg size affects larval mortality on this poor host (P. florida) there is selection on female size via the female size --> egg size --> fitness path; this selection via egg size offsets the reduction in fecundity selection on female, but not male, body size. Thus, differences in host suitability (due to differences in larval mortality) affect the relative importance of two sources of selection on adult body size; fecundity selection on both male and female body size is lower on the poor quality host (P. florida) relative to the high quality host (A. greggii) whereas selection on female body size via effects of egg size on offspring survival (body size --> egg size --> fitness) is greater on the poor quality host relative to the high quality host. Because selection via the egg size path affects only females the difference in larval survival between hosts shifts the relative magnitude of selection on female vs. male size. Researchers working on other study systems should be alerted to the possible importance of subtle, but consequential, indirect selection on their study organisms.     

Factors determining the pest status of the rose-grain aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker), on winter barley in the United Kingdom

To test the hypothesis that early maturation of barley affords it some resistance to cereal aphids, the colonisation, survival, growth, reproduction and emigration of M. dirhodum on barley was measured and compared with previously published results for this aphid on wheat.
Barley plants were colonised as readily as wheat plants. Survival to maturity was similar on both hosts. Relative growth rate was higher on wheat than on barley for most of the season while reproduction was similar on both. Emigration, measured alate production, was significantly higher on mature wheat than on mature barley.
It is proposed that the increase of M. dirhodum populations on barley is normally terminated early in the year directly plant maturation and consequent drying out of the leaves, resulting in the death of aphids. This is different to the situation on wheat, which matures later, and where emigration following plant induced alate induction has been shown to be the major factor affecting the decline in population growth.
These results support the hypothesis that early maturation of barley provides some resistance to M. dirhodum.     

Repeated (isolation) stress increases tribulin-like activity in the rat

1. The effect of repeated isolation stress on MAO inhibitory activity (tribulin) in rat tissues as well as on plasma catecholamine levels was investigated. 2. Animals were subjected to a daily period of isolation (9 min) and sacrificed on days 1, 2, 4, and 5. 3. In brain and cerebellum the levels of both inhibitory activities were found to be significantly higher in animals sacrificed on days 1-2 than in either controls or animals sacrificed on days 4-5. 4. In heart and kidney the highest levels of both activities were found in animals sacrificed on days 4-5. 5. Plasma levels of dopamine on day 4 were significantly higher than those in controls or in any of the experimental groups. Plasma levels of epinephrine showed step-by-step increments from day 1 up to day 5, reaching statistical significance only on day 5. Plasma levels of norepinephrine were significantly increased on days 2, 4, and 5. 6. Under the experimental conditions of this study, we have shown a rapid and short-lasting increment of tribulin in the central nervous system. Its disappearance on days 4-5 could be related to adaptation to the novel situation. Changes in the peripheral tissues appeared later, and a similar adaptation was absent during the period of observation. 7. Tribulin would be related to the stressful situation not only as an anxiety-promoting agent but also in contributing to the maintenance of high levels of circulating catecholamines.