The EPAS1 gene influences the aerobic–anaerobic contribution in elite endurance athletes

Absract EPAS1 is a gene involved in complex oxygen sensing. It is expressed in microvascular endothelial cells, lung epithelial cells, cardiac myocytes and the brain. An association study was undertaken comparing elite endurance athletes classified into two groups according to a power–time model of performance intensity: power–time-maximum (PT-MAX; N=242, event duration 50 s to 10 min) and power–time–steady state (PT-SS; N=151, event duration ~2–10 h), with normal controls (N=444) using 12 SNPs across EPAS1. Ordinal regression analysis of allele frequencies revealed significant differences at SNPs 2 and 3 (P=0.01). Haplotype analysis revealed the presence of haplotypes involving SNPs 2–5 that significantly differentiated (P<0.05) the groups based on an ordinal ranking using the power–time classification. These same haplotypes differentiated the PT-MAX group in which a significant decrease in a haplotype (F: G-C-C-G; OR=0.57, P=0.02, 95% CI 0.36–0.92) and increase in a second haplotype (G: A-T-G-G; OR=1.75, P=0.03, 95% CI 1.05–2.91) was observed compared to controls. The PT-SS group was differentiated from the PT-MAX group by a third haplotype (H: A-T-G-A; OR=0.46, P=0.04, 95% CI 0.22–0.96). Since EPAS1 has a role as a sensor capable of integrating cardiovascular function, energetic demand, muscle activity and oxygen availability into physiological adaptation, we propose that DNA variants in EPAS1 influence the relative contribution of aerobic and anaerobic metabolism and hence the maximum sustainable metabolic power for a given event duration.     

Mycoflora and mycotoxins natural occurrence in corn from entre rios province, Argentina

Corn samples were collected in 1999 from three departments of Entre Réos province, Argentina, and were surveyed for mould contamination and natural occurrence ofFusarium mycotoxins, ochratoxin A and aflatoxins.Fusarium verticillioides was the most prevalent fungal species recorded at all departments. Zearalenone, deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A were not found in any samples. Only one of the 52 corn samples analysed was contaminated with aflatoxin B₁ (17 μg/kg). Fumonisin B₁ was found in 58 % of samples (range of positive samples: 47– 3,347 μg/kg), fumonisin B₂ in 33.0 % (range of positive samples: 23–537 μg/kg) and fumonisin B₃ in 25.0 % (range of positive samples: 24–287 μg/kg) of them. This is the first report on the natural occurrence of mycotoxins in corn from Entre Ríos province, Argentina. Levels of fumonisins were lower than detected in other Argentinian provinces.     

Phylogenetic composition of bacterial communities in small boreal lakes and ombrotrophic bogs of the upper Volga basin

Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-specific oligonucleotide probes was used to assess the numbers and phylogenetic diversity of prokaryotic microorganisms in the water of small boreal lakes and peatland catchments of the swampy upper Volga basin. The abundance of bacterioplankton in lake water was found to vary from 1.6 to 8.7 × 10⁶ cells ml⁻¹, with the highest values detected in neutral eutrophic lakes. The total cell numbers in the peat of ombrotrophic bogs were 3.9–4.3 × 10⁸ cells g⁻¹ of wet peat. The proportion of bacteria identified by the group-specific probes decreased from 79–85% in neutral (pH 6.6–6.9) mesotrophic and eutrophic lakes to 65–69% in acidic (pH 4.4–5.5) dystrophic lakes and to 51–58% in the peat of acidic (pH 3.6–3.9) ombrotrophic bogs. The diversity of bacterial communities was highest in lakes with neutral water. These communities were dominated by members of the phylum Actinobacteria (31–44% of the total bacterial number), while the contribution of Alphaproteobacteria (16–19%), Bacteroidetes (6–16%), Betaproteobacteria (6–7%), Planctomycetes (2–8%), and Gammaproteobacteria (4–5%) was also significant. In acidic dystrophic lakes, Actinobacteria (25–35%) and Betaproteobacteria (25–34%) predominated, while peatland catchments were dominated by the Alphaproteobacteria (20–23%). The presence of acidobacteria and some planctomycetes common for bogs in the water of acidic dystrophic lakes, as well as the high proportion of bacteria (31–49%) that were not identified by the group-specific probes, suggest the impact of microbial processes in peatland catchments on the microbial composition of the receiving waters.     

Changes in trophic level of Squatina guggenheim with increasing body length: relationships with type, size and trophic level of its prey

The occurrence of changes in the trophic level (TL) of sharks with growth has not been quantified until now. Here length-related changes on Squatina guggenheim Marini trophic level were determined, and shifts in type, size and trophic level of its prey were analysed. Sampling took place during five bottom trawl surveys conducted in the Argentine–Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone during spring (December/1995, October/1997) and fall (March/1997, March–April/1998, May–June/1998), using an Engel bottom-trawl net to capture the sharks. Three length groups were defined based on diet composition and using a cluster analysis (group I, 23–60 cm; group II, 61–80 cm; group III, 81–91 cm L _T). An ANOSIM procedure detected significant differences (P < 0.05) in the diet spectrum between the three length groups. The smallest sharks (group I) ingested fish prey ranging from 5 to 21 cm L _T, medium sharks (group II) fed on fish prey between 11 and 35 cm L _T, and largest sharks (group III) preyed on fish between 13 and 40 cm L _T. Diet structure of length groups were discriminated by almost the same prey taxa that characterized them. The increase of S. guggenheim body length promoted a decrease in the relative importance of small pelagic fishes. Contrarily, prey as medium benthopelagic fishes, medium pelagic squid and medium benthopelagic fishes showed an inverse tendency, indicating a broad diet spectrum of adults. Predator-length and prey-length relationship indicated a trend where 44.8% of S. guggenheim diet was integrated by prey <20% of their own body length and 32.8% of their diet was composed by prey >30% of their own length. The increase of mean prey weight was associated with the increase of predator weight and length. Smallest sharks (group I) were identified as secondary consumers (TL < 4) whereas medium sharks (group II) and largest sharks (group III) were placed as tertiary consumers (TL > 4). The study revealed an increase in S. guggenheim TL with shark growth as a consequence of changes on type, size and TL of prey ingested.     

Further reports of Acanthocolpidae Lühe, 1906 (Digenea) from fishes off New Caledonia, with descriptions of two new species

Ophiotaenia bungari n. sp. (Cestoda: Proteocephalidea) is described from the intestine of the banded krait Bungarus fasciatus (Schneider) (Ophidia: Elapidae) in Vietnam. The new species differs from all but three Ophiotaenia species parasitic in Asian reptiles in the possession of a glandular apical organ. It differs from O. andersoni Jensen, Schmidt & Kuntz, 1983 in the position of the vagina in relation to the cirrus-sac (anterior and posterior in O. bungari versus anterior only in the latter species), in the cirrus-sac/proglottis width ratio (29–38 versus 50%) and by having more testes (100–150 versus 42–116 in O. andersoni); from O. chattoraji Srivastava, 1980 in the number of uterine diverticula (50–65 versus 10–26) and in the cirrus-sac/proglottis width ratio (29–38 versus 22%); and from O. rhabdophidis (Burt, 1937) by having more uterine diverticula (50–65 versus 30–45), by the cirrus-sac/proglottis width ratio (29–38 versus 20–25%) and by the width of the scolex (360–420 versus 130–187 μm). The taxonomic importance of the relative size of the ovary (i.e. the ratio of the ovarian size in relation to that of the entire proglottis), a character previously not used in the systematics of proteocephalidean cestodes, is discussed. Comparison of measurements of all of the nominal species of Ophiotaenia La Rue, 1911 and Proteocephalus Weinland, 1858 (c.135 species) has shown that the ovary of species parasitic in snakes in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia is not only considerably smaller than that of congeneric species from European hosts, but also smaller than in all species of Proteocephalus parasitic in teleost fishes throughout the world.     

Evolutionary relationships among photosynthetic bacteria

To understand the evolution of photosynthetic bacteria it is necessary to understand how the main groups within Bacteria have evolved from a common ancestor, a critical issue that has not been resolved in the past. Recent analysis of shared conserved inserts or deletions (indels) in protein sequences has provided a powerful means to resolve this long-standing problem in microbiology. Based on a set of 25 indels in highly conserved and widely distributed proteins, all main groups within bacteria can now be defined in clear molecular terms and their relative branching orders logically deduced. For the 82 presently completed bacterial genomes, the presence or absence of these signatures in various proteins was found to be almost exactly as predicted by the indel model, with only 11 exceptions observed in 1842 observations. The branching order of different bacterial groups as deduced using this approach is as follows: low G+C Gram-positive (Heliobacterium chlorum) ↔ high G+C Gram-positive ↔ Clostridium–Fusobacterium–Thermotoga ↔ Deinococcus–Thermus ↔ green nonsulfur bacteria (Chloroflexus aurantiacus) ↔ Cyanobacteria ↔ Spirochetes ↔ Chlamydia–Cytophaga–Flavobacteria–green sulfur bacteria (Chlorobium tepidum) ↔ Aquifex ↔ Proteobacteria (δ and ∈) ↔ Proteobacteria (α) ↔ Proteobacteria (β) and ↔ Proteobacteria (γ). The Heliobacterium species, which contain an Fe–S type of reaction center (RC 1) and represent the sole photosynthetic phylum from the Gram-positive or monoderm bacteria (i.e., bounded by only a single membrane), is indicated to be the most ancestral of the photosynthetic lineages. Among the Gram-negative or diderm bacteria (containing both inner and outer cell membranes) the green nonsulfur bacteria, which contain a pheophytin-quinone type of reaction center (RC 2), are indicated to have evolved first. The later emerging photosynthetic groups which contain either one or both of these reaction centers could have acquired such genes from the earlier branching lineages by either direct descent or by means of lateral gene transfer. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dolichopteryx minuscula, a new species of spookfish (Argentinoidei: Opisthoproctidae) from the Indo-West Pacific

A new species Dolichopteryx minuscula is described on the basis of three specimens [49.4–59.6 mm in standard length (SL)] collected from the Indo-West Pacific. The new species is characterized by pouchlike eyes with a small lens (lens diameter 2.2% SL), an adipose fin, the anal fin base originating posterior to the dorsal fin base, and 16–17 (= 5–6 + 1 + 10–11) gill rakers. Total fecundity was relatively low, only 658 ova being obtained from one specimen, despite the ovary being mature. Ovarian eggs were clearly subdivided into “undeveloped” (0.1–0.7 mm diameter classes, n = 561) and “developed” (1.0–1.3 mm classes, n = 97) groups, based on their frequency distribution. Such relatively low fecundity and frequency distributions of ovarian eggs suggest that Dolichopteryx species spawn iteratively during spawning season.     

Increased Lipid Peroxidation and Ascorbic Acid Utilization in Testis and Epididymis of Rats Chronically Exposed to Lead

The hypothesis has been recently presented that lead may exert its negative effect at least partially through the increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) level in tissues. However, little is known about the influence of lead intoxication on equilibrium between generation and elimination of ROS in the male reproductive system. Sexually mature male Wistar rats were given ad libitum 1% of aqueous solution of lead acetate (PbAc) for 9 months. Significantly higher lead concentrations were found in blood [median 7.03 (Q25–Q75: 2.99–7.65) versus 0.18 (0.12–0.99) μg dl⁻¹, P < 0.01], caput epididymis [median 5.51 (Q25–Q75: 4.31–7.83) versus 0.51 (0.11–0.80) μg g⁻¹ d.m., P < 0.001], cauda epididymis [median 5.88 (Q25–Q75: 4.06–8.37) versus 0.61 (0.2 – 1.08) μg g⁻¹ d.m., P < 0.001] and testis [median 1.81 (Q25–Q75: 0.94–2.31) versus 0.17 (0.03–0.3) μg g⁻¹ d.m., P < 0.01] of lead-intoxicated rats when compared to the control. The concentration of ascorbyl radical, generated in vitro from l-ascorbic acid (present in tissues in vivo) was measured by means of Electron Paramagnetic Resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. The EPR signal of ascorbyl radical in caput epididymis, cauda epididymis, testis and liver of lead acetate-treated animals revealed a significant decrease by 53%, 45%, 40% and 69% versus control tissues, respectively. Plasma l-ascorbic acid content measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method and total antioxidant status (TAS) measured by means of spectrophotometry were also significantly lower in the intoxicated versus control animals (28% and 21%, respectively). In the group exposed to lead the concentration of lipid peroxide in homogenates of the reproductive system organs was significantly elevated versus control group. It can be assumed that the lower EPR signal was caused by decreased tissue concentrations of l-ascorbic acid. The latter may have resulted from consumption of ascorbic acid for scavenging of ROS excess in tissues of animals chronically exposed to lead.     

A Composite Polyelectrolytic Matrix for Controlled Oral Drug Delivery

The purpose of this study was to formulate drug-loaded polyelectrolyte matrices constituting blends of pectin, chitosan (CHT) and hydrolyzed polyacrylamide (HPAAm) for controlling the premature solvation of the polymers and modulating drug release. The model drug employed was the highly water-soluble antihistamine, diphenhydramine HCl (DPH). Polyelectrolyte complex formation was validated by infrared spectroscopy. Matrices were characterized by textural profiling, porositometry and SEM. Drug release studies were performed under simulated gastrointestinal conditions using USP apparatus 3. FTIR spectra revealed distinctive peaks indicating the presence of –COO⁻ symmetrical stretching (1,425–1,390 cm⁻¹) and -NH₃⁺ deformation (1,535 cm⁻¹) with evidence of electrostatic interaction between the cationic CHT and anionic HPAAm corroborated by molecular mechanics simulations of the complexes. Pectin–HPAAm matrices showed electrostatic attraction due to residual –NH₂ and –COO⁻ groups of HPAAm and pectin, respectively. Textural profiling demonstrated that CHT-HPAAm matrices were most resilient at 6.1% and pectin–CHT–HPAAm matrices were the least (3.9%). Matrix hardness and deformation energy followed similar behavior. Pectin–CHT–HPAAm and CHT–HPAAm matrices produced type IV isotherms with H3 hysteresis and mesopores (22.46 nm) while pectin–HPAAm matrices were atypical with hysteresis at a low P/P₀ and pore sizes of 5.15 nm and a large surface area. At t _2 h, no DPH was released from CHT–HPAAm matrices, whereas 28.2% and 82.2% was released from pectin–HPAAm and pectin–CHT–HPAAm matrices, respectively. At t _4 h, complete DPH release was achieved from pectin–CHT–HPAAm matrices in contrast to only 35% from CHT–HPAAm matrices. This revealed the release-modulating capability of each matrix signifying their applicability in controlled oral drug delivery applications.     

Genetic divergence in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ditrema</Emphasis><Emphasis Type="Italic">jordani</Emphasis> (Perciformes: Embiotocidae) from the Pacific coast of southern Japan,as inferred from mitochondrial DNA sequences

Genetic divergence in Ditrema jordani was investigated from sequence variations on the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. Clear genetic differences were found between specimens collected from the Mie and Shizuoka prefectures (westward of Izu Peninsula) and those from the Kanagawa and Chiba prefectures (eastward of Izu Peninsula). The uncorrected genetic distance between the two groups, which may represent separate taxa, was much greater (3.1–3.7%) than that between D. temminckii and D. viride (1.1–2.4%), and between two subspecies of D. temminckii (0.8–1.3%), suggesting that the Izu Peninsula acts as a stable geographic barrier to gene flow between the D. jordani groups. The clear genetic divergence between the two geographic populations of D. jordani may be partly related to direct development (viviparity) and low dispersal ability in the genus.     

Lower Permian Bryozoa of the Jamal Formation from Bagh-e Vang (Shotori Mountains,northeast Iran)

Lower Permian Bryozoan fauna of Jamal Formation, exposed in Bagh-e Vang (Shotori Mountains, northeast Iran) includes six species. Three species – Streblotrypa (Streblascopora) marmionensis (Etheridge 1926), Rhabdomeson bispinosum (Crockford 1944) and Alternifenestella kungurensis (Stuckenberg 1898) – indicate the Lower Permian (Artinskian to Kungurian) age of the formation. Three additional taxa – Fistulipora sp. 1, Fistulipora sp. 2 and undetermined timanodictyid bryozoan ?Timanodictya sp. could not be identified at the species level. The investigated fauna refers to Uralian and Australian palaeobiogeographic provinces.     

Two new and two resurrected species of the sciaenid genusJohnius (Johnius) from the West Pacific

Two new species of the sciaenid genusJohnius (Johnius) are described:J. trewavasae from Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, differs from all other congeners in having 24–27 dorsal soft rays, 5–6 scales above and 7–10 scales below the lateral line, 6–8 obtuse lower gill rakers, the last pleural rib on the 11th vertebra, and a shorter lower jaw (33.8–38.4% HL);J. latifrons from Thailand and Java is characterized by 25–29 dorsal soft rays, 7–9 scales above and 11–14 scales below the lateral line, 7–9 obtuse lower gill rakers, a wide interorbital width (26.1–30.6% HL), a small eye (16.7–26.4% HL), and a short, second anal spine (25.9–37.1% HL). Two related species,J. heterolepis Bleeker from “Suriname” andJ. cantori Bleeker from Malaya, are resurrected as valid West Pacific species of Johnius (Johnius).     

Distribution of ten antibiotic resistance genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> isolates from swine manure,lagoon effluent and soil collected from a lagoon waste application field

The prevalence of ten antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was evaluated in a total of 616 Escherichia coli isolates from swine manure, swine lagoon effluent, and from soils that received lagoon effluent on a commercial swine farm site in Sampson County, North Carolina (USA). Isolates with ARGs coding for streptomycin/spectinomycin (aadA/strA and strB), tetracycline (tetA and tetB), and sulfonamide (sul1) occurred most frequently (60.6–91.3%). The occurrence of E. coli isolates that carried aadA, tetA, tetB, and tetC genes was significantly more frequent in soil samples (34.0–97.2%) than in isolates from lagoon samples (20.9–90.6%). Furthermore, the frequency of isolates that contain genes coding for aadA and tetB was significantly greater in soil samples (82.6–97.2%) when compared to swine manure (16.8–86.1%). Isolates from the lagoon that carried tetA, tetC, and sul3 genes were significantly more prevalent during spring (63.3–96.7%) than during winter (13.1–67.8%). The prevalence of isolates from the lagoon that possessed the strA, strB, and sul1 resistance genes was significantly more frequent during the summer (90.0–100%) than during spring (66.6–80.0%). The data suggest that conditions in the lagoon, soil, and manure may have an impact on the occurrence of E. coli isolates with specific ARGs. Seasonal variables seem to impact the recovery isolates with ARGs; however, ARG distribution may be associated with mobile genetic elements or a reflection of the initial numbers of resistant isolates shed by the animals.     

Revision of the cyprinid genus Discogobio Lin, 1931 (Pisces: Teleostei) from the upper Red River basin in Wenshan Prefecture, Yunnan, China, with descriptions of three new species

The species of the genus Discogobio (Teleostei: Cyprinidae) inhabiting the Wenshan prefecture (branches of upper Red River) of Yunnan Province, China are reviewed. The authors recognize four species from the prefecture, Discogobio antethoracalis n. sp., Discogobio propeanalis n. sp., Discogobio poneventralis n. sp., and D. yunnanensis. D. antethoracalis and D. propeanalis had previously been identified as Discogobio brachyphysallidos. D. antethoracalis can be distinguished from D. brachyphysallidos by the following characters: snout rounded, not projected (versus slightly pointed, projected); head length 17.5–20.6% of SL (vs. 20.8–22.8); prepectoral length 16.3–18.3% of SL (vs. 19.1–22.0); interorbital width 52.5–60.9% of head length (vs. 44.7–50.0); anus to anal-fin origin distance 25% posterior end of pelvic-fin base to anal-fin origin distance (versus less than 25). D. propeanalis can be distinguished from D. brachyphysallidos by the following combination of characters: interorbital width greater than half of head length (versus less than half); pelvic-fin extending beyond anal-fin origin (versus not reaching anal-fin origin); anus closer to anal-fin origin, anus to anal-fin origin distance less than 25% posterior end of pelvic-fin base to anal-fin origin distance (versus more than 25%). D. poneventralis, with a small oral sucking disc (its posterior edge not reaching vertical of anterior margin of eye) is similar to Discogobio longibarbatus and D. macrophysallidos, but distinct from them in the following characters: rostral barbels equal to eye diameter (versus twice as long as eye diameter in D. longibarbatus); maxillary barbels not reaching posterior margin of oral sucking disc (versus beyond in D. longibarbatus); mid-ventral region anterior to pelvic-fin insertion scaleless (versus scaled in D. macrophysallidos); prepelvic length 57.1–58.1% of SL (vs. 52.4–55.6 in D. macrophysallidos); pectoral-pelvic length 40.8–41% of SL (vs. 32.6–35.9 in D. macrophysallidos); head length 17.5–18.4% of SL (vs. 19.8–21.8 in D. macrophysallidos); and snout length 44.9–47.2% of HL (vs. 48.9–55.4 in D. macrophysallidos).     

Lactic acid bacteria and yeasts in kefir grains and kefir made from them

In an investigation of the changes in the microflora along the pathway: kefir grains (A)→kefir made from kefir grains (B)→kefir made from kefir as inoculum (C), the following species of lactic acid bacteria (83–90%) of the microbial count in the grains) were identified: Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, Lactobacillus helveticus, Lactobacillus casei subsp. pseudoplantarum and Lactobacillus brevis. Yeasts (10–17%) identified were Kluyveromyces marxianus var. lactis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida inconspicua and Candida maris. In the microbial population of kefir grains and kefir made from them the homofermentative lactic streptococci (52–65% and 79–86%, respectively) predominated. Within the group of lactobacilli, the homofermentative thermophilic species L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus and L. helveticus (70–87% of the isolated bacilli) predominated. Along the pathway A→B→C, the streptococcal proportion in the total kefir microflora increased by 26–30% whereas the lactobacilli decreased by 13–23%. K. marxianus var. lactis was permanently present in kefir grains and kefirs, whereas the dominant lactose-negative yeast in the total yeast flora of the kefir grains dramatically decreased in kefir C. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 28, 1–6 DOI: 10.1038/sj/jim/7000186 Received 02 August 2000/ Accepted in revised form 15 July 2001     

Biodiscovery of new Australian thraustochytrids for production of biodiesel and long-chain omega-3 oils

Heterotrophic growth of thraustochytrids has potential in co-producing a feedstock for biodiesel and long-chain (LC, ≥C₂₀) omega-3 oils. Biodiscovery of thraustochytrids from Tasmania (temperate) and Queensland (tropical), Australia, covered a biogeographic range of habitats including fresh, brackish, and marine waters. A total of 36 thraustochytrid strains were isolated and separated into eight chemotaxonomic groups (A–H) based on fatty acid (FA) and sterol composition which clustered closely with four different genera obtained by 18S rDNA molecular identification. Differences in the relative proportions (%FA) of long-chain C₂₀, C₂₂, omega-3, and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), including docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and saturated FA, as well as the presence of odd-chain PUFA (OC-PUFA) were the major factors influencing the separation of these groups. OC-PUFA were detected in temperate strains of groups A, B, and C (Schizochytrium and Thraustochytrium). Group D (Ulkenia) had high omega-3 LC-PUFA (53% total fatty acids (TFA)) and EPA up to 11.2% TFA. Strains from groups E and F (Aurantiochytrium) contained DHA levels of 50–61% TFA after 7 days of growth in basal medium at 20 °C. Groups G and H (Aurantiochytrium) strains had high levels of 15:0 (20–30% TFA) and the sum of saturated FA was in the range of 32–51%. β,β-Carotene, canthaxanthin, and astaxanthin were identified in selected strains. Phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic groupings demonstrated similar patterns for the majority of strains. Our results demonstrate the potential of these new Australian thraustochytrids for the production of biodiesel in addition to omega-3 LC-PUFA-rich oils.     

Mating disruption to control damage by leafrollers in virginia apple orchards

Mating disruption for control of variegated leafroller (VLR),Platynota flavedana (Clemens), tufted apple bud moth (TBM),P. ideausalis Walker, and redbanded leafroller (RBL),Argyrotaenia velutinana (Walker), was studied in Virginia apple orchards in 1989 and 1990. In 1989, each dispenser (1000/ha) contained 190 mg of 67.2%E11–14:Ac, 28.8%Z11–14:Ac, 1.4%E11–14:OH, 0.6%Z11–14:OH, and 2%Z9–12:Ac (a putative generic leafroller disruption blend). Trap captures of VLR, TBM and RBL were reduced by 97%, 51% and 55%, respectively. Average leafroller injury in the interior and edge of the pheromone block was 3.8% and 2.7%, respectively. The conventional control and abandoned blocks had 0.05 and 27.5% injury, respectively. Dispensers containingE11–14:OH (70%) andZ11–14:OH (30%) (close to the natural blend of VLR), more effectively disrupted orientation to pheromone traps by bothPlatynota spp. than did the generic blend. In 1990, dispensers containing 150 mg ofE11–14:OH (70%) andZ11–14:OH (1000/ha) were placed in two 2-ha blocks and one 4-ha block. One pheromonetreated block was sprayed in August with phosmet for codling moth, not timed for leafrollers. Trap captures of VLR and TBM were reduced by almost 100% and 69%, respectively. RBL captures were not reduced by VLR pheromone permeation. Injury fromPlatynota spp. in pheromone block middles and edges ranged from 0.3–1.7% and 0.3–2.3%, respectively. Injury in conventional blocks ranged from 0–1.1%. RBL injury in pheromone block middles ranged from 0–6.1%, and in edges, 1.7–4.8%. Injury in control blocks ranged from 0–1.1%. Combined leafroller injury in an abandoned block was 18% (s.e. 0.3). Release rates averaged 30 and 32 mg/ha/h for the VLR and generic pheromone dispensers, respectively.     

Diversity patterns and zoogeography of the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean shallow-water sponge fauna

Recognizing and understanding present-day biodiversity and biogeographical patterns and how these relate to contemporary and past climate is pivotal to predict the effect of future climate on marine biodiversity and promote adequate conservation policies. Sponges constitute an important and dominant component of the marine benthos and are therefore an excellent model group for such investigations. In this study, we assessed the diversity patterns and the zoogeographical affinities of the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean shallow-water demosponge assemblages. Data on the distribution of 745 species throughout 28 areas was compiled from the literature and used to build a presence/absence matrix. Diversity patterns were assessed from estimates of species richness (S) and taxonomic distinctness (AvTD). The Mediterranean Sea proved to be more diverse both in terms of species richness and taxonomic distinctness (S = 539, AvTD = 94.74) than the Northeast Atlantic (S = 480, AvTD = 92.42) and the two regions together were found to constitute a diversity hotspot harbouring approximately 11% of the global demosponge diversity. We found an Atlantic N–S and a Mediterranean NW–SE gradient of increasing taxonomic distinctness that is strongly correlated to both contemporary (R ² = 0.5667; P < 0.01) and historical values (R ² = 0.7287; P < 0.01) of sea surface temperature (SST) at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The zoogeographical affinities examined through classification (cluster analysis) and ordination (non-metric multidimensional scaling, nMDS) based on the Bray–Curtis similarity index, revealed the presence of three groups approximately corresponding to the Northern European Seas, Lusitanian and Mediterranean provinces outlined in the ‘Marine Ecoregions of the World’ (MEOW) classification system. Geographical distance and oceanographic circulation were shown to constitute important factors in shaping the zoogeographical affinities among areas. The vast majority of the species occurring in the Northeast Atlantic and the Mediterranean (67 and 57%, respectively) was shown to have extremely restricted geographical ranges, as single-area or narrow-range (2–3 areas) endemics, which raises some concerns regarding their conservation.     

Long-term treatment with recombinant interferon alpha-2b prolongs survival of asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals

Rationale and objective: Early long-term treatment with recombinant interferon (IFN) alpha-2b delayed disease progression in asymptomatic Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) carriers in a randomized trial that lasted from October 1987 to February 1992 (14). The aim of the work reported in this paper was to observe if there was also an effect on survival when the same patients were followed-up further. Design and interventions: IFN alpha-2b was given 3 × 10⁶ IU, 3 times weekly. The control group did not receive any treatment. The main end-point for this evaluation was death due to any cause. The deadline was August 1995. Population: Subjects were anti-HIV-1 seropositive, Western blot-confirmed, asymptomatic (CDC group II), or with generalized lymphadenopathies (CDC group III). The groups had 79 (control) and 83 (IFN) patients. Main results: Mean survival was longer in the IFN group (95% CI: 127–152 vs. 101–120 months since infection or 80–90 vs. 70–82 months since the start of treatment). Survival rates were higher in IFN-treated individuals (61–77% vs. 24–54% at 10 years of infection or 53–69% vs. 34–52% at 7 years of treatment or follow-up). It was also confirmed that disease progression is significantly slower in IFN-treated patients. There were 23.4 vs. 3.2% long-term survivors in the IFN and control groups, respectively (p=0.005). IFN-treated patients had fewer AIDS-related malignancies (5 vs. 11), mainly Kaposi’s sarcomas (1 vs. 5). This difference was not statistically significant, but clinically interesting. There was no difference in survival if measured since the onset of AIDS. Conclusion: IFN alpha treatment given from the early stages of infection, but not after the appearance of AIDS symptoms, can prolong survival.     

Effects of vegetation coverage on the spatial distribution of soil nematode trophic groups

The spatial variability of total soil nematodes and trophic groups in bare and fallow plots in Shenyang Experimental Station of Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences was examined using geostatistics combined with classic statistics. Results showed that the soil pH value had a negative effect on plant-parasites in both bare and fallow plots; the mean number of total nematodes was significantly higher in fallow plots than in bare plots, which was 1485.3 and 464.0 individuals per 100 g dry soil in fallow and bare plots, respectively; the nugget (C ₀)/sill (C ₀+C) ratio of total nematodes, plant-parasites and bacterivores were lower in fallow plots (27.3%–45.6%) than in bare plots (49.5%–100%); the spatial distribution of total nematodes and trophic groups was found to be different between fallow and bare plots, which indicated that vegetation coverage had an effect on soil nematodes. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Applied Ecology, 2006, 17(2): 295–299 [译自: 应用生态学报]