Acidification of lakes in Šumava (Bohemia) and in the High Tatra Mountains (Slovakia)

Acidification of lakes takes place when pH of rainwater is less than 4.5 and the catchments lie on sensitive geology. Both conditions are met for most lakes in Bohemia and Slovakia. Since 1978 we have studied mountain lakes in the Sumava and in the High Tatra Mountains. In Šumava the three lakes under study are of glacial origin. The catchments are small, with steep sides covered by spruce. The bedrocks are biotite-rich paragneiss, together with gneiss, quartzite and granite. In summer 1936 surface pH was 5.7–6.9 in the Lake Čertovo and 6.9–7.0 in the Lake Černé. Now the pH values are 4.3–4.8 in the two lakes and in the Lake Prášilské as well. Old reports on zooplankton are from the years 1871, 1892–96, 1935–37, 1947 and 1960. Since 1979 we have not found any planktonic Crustacea in the lakes Černé and Čertovo. Lake Prášilské is inhabited by Daphnia longispina and Cyclops abyssorum. In July 1989 the pH values were 4.4, 4.7 and 4.7, concentrations of labile monomeric Al were 0.83, 0.68 and 0.24 mg l^-1 in the lakes Čertovo, Černé and Prašilské, respectively. High levels of toxic Al compounds might be responsible for the extinction of planktonic Crustacea in the lakes Čertovo and Černé. All the three lakes are void of fish at present. In the High Tatra Mts. we examined more than 40 lakes above timberline in altitudes 1612–2145 m. They are all clearwater, naturally fishless lakes. The bedrock is granite. Owing to different levels of calcium the lakes are now in different stages of acidification. According to recent changes in the zooplankton they can be divided into three groups: (1) Species composition of planktonic Crustacea has not changed. (2) Planktonic Crustacea were present until 1973 but are absent now. (3) From the original species of Crustacea only Chydorus sphaericus is present. The three groups are well separated along the gradients of calcium, ANC and pH. They can be identified with the Henriksen's bicarbonate (our group 1), intermediate (our group 2) and acid (our group 3) lakes. We suppose that in the process of acidification the lakes of the group (2) have been shifted from oligotrophy to ultraoligotrophy.     

The role of food in the population dynamics of Orchesella cincta (Linné) (Collembola)

Summary The feeding activity of the collembolan species Orchesella cincta (Linné) was studied in the laboratory and in the field. In the laboratory it was shown that at any one time only about 50–60% of the animals were feeding; the remainder were occupied with molting activities. Most of the time similar values were obtained in the field but during winter and during dry summer periods high percentages of empty guts could be demonstrated, indicating an absence or inaccessability of food. When favorable weather returned, a high feeding activity was again observed. Laboratory experiments and field observations indicate that temporary starvation periods are followed by synchronization of the molting and reproductive rhythms and an apparent increase in longevity. These phenomena are important for the restoration of the population after unfavorable periods but reduce the stabilizing force of food scarcity.     

Pathogenic involvement of heregulin-β(1) in anti-atherogenesis

Human heregulins are neuregulin-1 type I polypeptides that act as ligands of the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases. These peptides play an essential role in the development of the cardiovascular system, including angiogenesis and compensation of cardiac function. Both heregulins and ErbB receptors are expressed at high levels in various types of vascular cells. The results of cell culture, animal, and clinical experiments have shown heregulin-β(1) to be a promising drug candidate for prevention of atherosclerosis. Various mechanisms have been suggested to be involved in this process, such as suppression of macrophage foam cell formation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Heregulin-β(1) retards pro-inflammatory responses by attenuating the expression of interleukin-1β, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and cyclooxygenase-2 in monocytes. The peptide also has anti-oxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, and activates endothelial nitric oxide synthase in cardiomyocytes. Chronic infusion of heregulin-β(1) into apolipoprotein E-knockout mice suppresses the development of atherosclerotic lesions. In rat balloon injury models, heregulin-β(1) injection attenuates neointimal formation in the carotid artery. Clinical studies have shown that markedly reduced levels of heregulin-β(1) in the arterial wall and blood are closely associated with the progression of human coronary atherosclerotic lesions in patients with coronary artery disease. Therefore, these findings provide insight into the potential use of heregulin-β(1) as an extended therapeutic window for combating atherosclerosis and restenosis after coronary angioplasty.     

Analysis of the meiosis in the F_1 hybrids of Longiflorum × Asiatic(LA) of lilies(Lilium) using genomic in situ hybridization

Longiflorum and Asiatic lilies of the genus Lilium of the family Liliaceae are two important groups of modern lily cultivars.One of the main trends of lily breeding is to realize introgression between these groups.With cut style pollination and embryo rescue,distant hybrids between the two groups have been obtained.However,the F1 hybrids are highly sterile or some of them could produce a small number of 2n gametes,and their BC1 progenies are usually triploids.Dutch lily breeders have selected many cultivars...     

Genetic polymorphism of α-L-fucosidase in brittany (France)

Summary The authors studied the phenotypic distribution of -L-fucosidase in a random sample of the population of the area of Rennes (France). The frequencies of Fu ¹ (0.64) and Fu ² (0.36) genes are significantly different from the frequencies observed in New York whites and blacks.     

Community structure of Anthomyiidae (Diptera) of six peat-bogs in the ?umava Mts (Czech Republic)

The species composition of the family Anthomyiidae in six peat-bogs in the Šumava Mts is analysed with regards to dominance, constancy, seasonal occurrence and type of distribution of each species. Anthomyiid communities in all sites are compared based on the number of species, species richness, diversity and equitability indices, as well as coefficients of similarity and Principal Components Analysis (PCA). Three collecting methods are compared: yellow pan water traps (439 specimens/43 species), sweeping (93/18) and Malaise traps (97/22). Three species, Pegoplata aestiva (24.17%), Delia platura (14.47%), and Hylemya nigrimana (11.29%) were eudominant, two further species were dominant: Delia cardui (8.74%) and Botanophila fugax (8.27%). Two species, Botanophilia fugax and Delia platura, were found in all study sites. These species, together with those collected in five sites (Delia cardui, Heterostylodes nominabilis and Hylemya vagans), had a constancy rate higher than 75% and belonged to the category of euconstant species.     

Equilibration of Label in Malate during Dark Fixation of CO(2) in Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi

In vitro studies of dark ¹⁴CO₂ fixation with isolated cell aggregates of Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi showed that malate synthesized after 20 sec is predominantly (85 to 92%) labeled at carbon 4, while after 20 min only 65 to 69% of the radioactivity was located in this position. The intramolecular labeling pattern of malate could not be changed by supplementing the cells with carboxylation reaction substrates such as ribulose diphosphate or phosphoenolpyruvate. The kinetic decline of label at carbon 4 of malate occurs independently of CO₂ fixation, since 4-¹⁴C-labeled aspartate fed to the cells gave rise to malate labeled 62% at carbon 4 after 20 min. Furthermore, the cells were capable of converting fed malate to fumarate. It is concluded that synthesis of malate during dark CO₂ fixation is accomplished by a single carboxylation step via phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and labeling patterns observed in malate are a consequence of the action of fumarase.     

Changes in abundance of hibernating bats in central Slovakia (1992–2009)

An analysis of long-term changes in abundance of hibernating bats as revealed from the annual monitoring programme conducted in four mountain regions of the Western Carpathians (Muránska planina Mts, Revúcka vrchovina Mts, Slovensky kras Mts, Štiavnické vrchy Mts) during the period 1992–2009 is providing in the paper. Data from 52 hibernacula were analysed. Among 18 bat species recorded, an apparent population increase of three most abundant thermophilous and originally cave dwelling species of bats, Rhinolophus hipposideros, R. ferrumequinum, Myotis myotis, was observed. In other bat species (e.g., R. euryale, M. emarginatus, M. mystacinus, M. dasycneme, Barbastella barbastellus), population trends could not be detected and because of data scarcity, they should be evaluated from more extensive datasets obtained from a wide range of hibernacula or from a completely different type of evidence.     

The presence of N(ε)-(Carboxymethyl) lysine in the human epidermis

It is well known that advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are formed in long-lived dermal proteins such as collagen, and that their formation is related to skin aging. To examine the distribution of AGEs in skin tissue, we performed immunofluorescence studies on the human skin using an anti-AGEs antibody. Interestingly, AGEs signals were observed not only in the dermis but also in the epidermis. The objectives of this study were to confirm the presence of N(ε)-(Carboxymethyl) lysine (CML), an AGE structure, in the epidermis and to characterize the CML-modified proteins. The presence of CML in the stratum corneum (SC) was examined using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Concordance between the retention times of a compound in the SC hydrolysate and authentic CML, as well as with the specific mass transition of CML, was detected. This result showed that CML is present in the epidermis. In order to characterize the CML-modified proteins in the epidermis, protein samples extracted from the SC were analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis followed by an amino acid sequence analysis. The clarified peptide sequences covered approximately 27% of the amino acid sequences of cytokeratin 10 (K10). In the immunoblotting experiment following the two-dimensional electrophoresis, where protein samples extracted from whole epidermis were used, the position of the major CML-positive spots corresponded to those of K10. Taken together these results showed that CML is present in the human epidermis, and suggest that K10 is one of the target molecules for CML modification in the epidermis.     

Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in citrus in the State of Paraná, Brazil

Argyrotaenia sphaleropa (Meyrick) is associated with various fruit species in South America. This tortricid was first detected in citrus, Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck, in Brazil, in commercial groves in northern Paraná, during the 1994/95-crop season. The aim of this work was to study the biology of this lepidopteran under laboratory conditions (28 +/- 2 degrees C, 70 +/-10% UR, 14h photofase) using the citrus cultivar Pêra. Larvae obtained from egg masses collected in a commercial citrus grove in Rolandia, PR, were individually placed on citrus terminal leaves inside glass shell vials (8.5 x 2.5 cm) until adulthood. A male and a female moth were then transferred to acrylic cages (13 x 10 cm) containing inside a bouquet made with new citrus flush to serve as oviposition substrate. Adults were fed daily with a 10% honey solution. The biological parameters evaluated were duration of development of egg, larval and pupal stages; pupae weight; duration of pre-oviposition and oviposition periods, fecundity and longevity. The length of the egg to adult stage was around 36 days. The pre-oviposition period was almost two days, the oviposition period approximately ten days and the embryonary period around six days. Adult longevity was almost 15 days for females and nine days for males, and the lifetime fecundity was slightly over 180 eggs.     

Ecological Monitoring of the Water Area of Port Vostochnyi (Wrangel Bay) in the Sea of Japan (1995–2002)

Benthic surveys carried out in 1989 (literature data), 1995, and 2001 (original data) revealed changes in the structure of soft bottom communities of Wrangel Bay (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan), where a deep-water port of Vostochnyi is situated. The functioning of the port has caused no significant environmental pollution by heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and other pollutants. Bottom dredging and the siltation induced by it have drastically lowered the benthos biomass, changed benthic communities, and altered their trophic structure. Sestonophages have disappeared nearly altogether being replaced by detrivores. The ecological state of the benthos is characterized as unstable.     

γ-Glutamyl conjugation of 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) in the earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris)

The conversion of 5-hydroxytryptamine to several potential metabolites was examined in the annelid earthworm (Lumbricus terrestris). 5-hydroxytryptamine and some related amines were found to be present in several tissues of the earthworm. Injection of 5-hydroxytryptamine into the body cavity of the earthworm resulted in the production of a -glutamyl conjugate of 5-hydroxytryptamine. Incubations of the anterior nerve cord of the earthworm resulted in the accumlation of considerable amounts of 5-hydroxytryptamine and -glutamyl 5-hydroxytryptamine in the incubation medium. The earthworm did not produce any N-acetyl 5-hydroxytryptamine and only very little 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Experiments involving the injection of radiolabeled 5-hydroxytryptamine or coninjection of radiolabeled glutamic acid with unlabeled 5-hydroxytryptamine into the earthworm resulted in the production of radiolabeled -glutamyl 5-hydroxytryptamine. This work demonstrates that the enzymatic conversion of 5-HT in the earthworm is markedly different from that of vertebrates and insects.     

Patterns of associations of clinical features in neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1)

Neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) is a common, fully penetrant autosomal dominant disease. The clinical course is generally progressive but highly variable, and the pathogenesis is poorly understood. We studied statistical associations among 13 of the most common or important clinical features in data from four separate sets of NF1 patients: a "developmental sample" of 1,413 probands from the NNFF International Database, an independent "validation sample" of 1,384 probands from the same database, 511 affected relatives of these probands, and 441 patients from a population-based registry in northwest England. We developed logistic regressive models for each of the 13 features using the developmental sample and attempted to validate these models in the other three samples. Age and gender were included as covariates in all models. Models were successfully developed and validated for ten of the 13 features analysed. The results are consistent with grouping nine of the clinical features into three sets: (1) café-au-lait spots, intertriginous freckling and Lisch nodules; (2) cutaneous, subcutaneous and plexiform neurofibromas; (3) macrocephaly, optic glioma and other neoplasms. In addition, three-way interactions among café-au-lait spots, intertriginous freckling and subcutaneous neurofibromas indicate that the first two groups are not independent. Our studies show that some individuals with NF1 are more likely than others to develop certain clinical features of the disease. Some NF1 features appear to share pathogenic mechanisms that are not common to all features.     

Identification of DNA Polymerase γ in Eggs of a Teleost Fish (Loach)

DNA polymerase found in an extract from eggs of the teleost fish Misgurnus fossilis (loach) has been identified as an enzyme of the type. The enzyme was purified 4000- to 5000-fold from the extract by liquid chromatography. The DNA polymerase activity was sensitive to the inhibiting action of aphidicolin but resistant to N2-(p-n-butylphenyl)-2´- deoxyguanosine 5´-triphosphate (BuPdGTP). The enzyme activity correlates with the presence of a polypeptide with molecular mass of 120-130 kD that interacts specifically with polyclonal antibodies against calf thymus DNA polymerase as revealed by Western blotting and is presumably the catalytic subunit of the enzyme. The loach DNA polymerase possesses the 3´5´-exonuclease activity specific to single-stranded DNA and catalyzes distributive elongation of primers in primer–template complexes.     

Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis: epidemiology of canine cutaneous leishmaniasis in the State of Paraná (Brazil)

The present study examines the role that dogs play in the maintenance of the Leishmania cycle in the State of Paraná, Southern Brazil. Dogs were examined in three regions where cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic or epidemic (R1-Vale da Ribeira; R2-Central region of Paraná State and R3-Northern region). To determine serum prevalence rates ELISA was used. In regions endemic for Trypanosoma cruzi (R1 and R3), serum from dogs seroreactive towards Leishmania antigen was subjected to T. cruzi adsorption in order to eliminate cross-reaction with common antigen epitopes. Concomitantly, dogs with cutaneous lesions were biopsied to isolate and identify parasites using RAPD. Leishmania were classified by the phenetic method using the Jaccard coefficient of similarity, and grouped by Unweighted Pair-Group Method using an Arithmetic Average (UPGMA). A total of 410 dogs were studied. In R1 (Vale da Ribeira) 159 dogs were evaluated of which 10 had anti-Leishmania antibody. In R2 (Central Paraná), 39 animals were examined of which 8 were seropositive. In R3 (the North) 212 dogs were evaluated of which 39 animals were seropositive. Thirteen dogs had cutaneous lesions and the parasites were isolated from a dog with mucocutaneous lesion in R1, two animals with simple skin lesions in R2 and 10 dogs with multiple lesions in R3. The identification of the parasite by molecular methods showed it to be L. (Viannia) braziliensis. Based on this information, the role of domestic dogs in Leishmania infection of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Paraná is discussed.     

Polygenic expression of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) in human?

A non-mammalian lamprey-like gonadotropin-releasing hormone (lGnRH) has been detected in human hypothalami using a combination of immunocytochemistry, high performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay. The hypothalamic distribution of immunopositive lGnRH neurons is similar to that observed for those containing the mammalian gonadotropin-releasing hormone (mGnRH), indicating a possible role for this newly identified peptide in the regulation of pituitary function. Our data suggest the existence of a separate gene for lamprey-like GnRH in humans. Confirmation of the exact nature and role of this newly detected form of GnRH will require future isolation and sequence analysis. The possibility that polygenic expression of a given peptide may be a common phenomenon even in higher mammals is discussed.