Myrmecophilous butterflies utilise ant–treehopper associations as visual cues for oviposition

1. Selection of a safe oviposition site is important for herbivorous insects whose immature stages have limited mobility. Female herbivores rely on environmental cues for this choice, and presence of natural enemies or mutualistic partners may be important in this process. 2. Some butterflies have mutualistic interactions with ants (myrmecophily), in which caterpillars offer a nutritional liquid and gain protection against natural enemies. Participants in butterfly–ant mutualisms may utilise signals to initiate interactions, but the use of visual cues by ovipositing myrmecophilous butterflies remains uncertain. 3. Larvae of facultatively myrmecophilous Parrhasius polibetes (Lycaenidae) feed on Schefflera vinosa, and females prefer to oviposit near aggregations of the ant‐tended treehopper Guayaquila xiphias, where caterpillars survive better due to increased ant attendance. Given the conspicuousness of ant–treehopper associations, it was investigated whether butterflies use them as visual cues for oviposition and, if so, which participants of the association are used as cues: ants, treehoppers, or both. 4. Experiments using dried insects on paired branches revealed that females visually recognise ants and ant–treehopper associations, using them for egg‐laying decisions. However, presence of a treehopper aggregation alone had no effect on oviposition choices. 5. This is a first insight into the importance of visual discrimination for ovipositing myrmecophilous butterflies. The results show that facultative mutualisms can be important enough to promote a behavioural adaptation (visual detection of ants) reinforcing the interaction. Our research highlights the importance of the behavioural interface within complex multispecies systems.     

Using microwave irradiation in Marchi's method for demonstrating degenerated myelin

Conventional methods for histological preparation of degenerated myelin are time-consuming and difficult. The purpose of our study was to shorten the time required for the procedure and to obtain better quality results for light microscopic demonstration of degenerated myelin in the central and peripheral nervous systems by using microwave irradiation. Rat brain and sciatic nerve were used for the study. The middle cerebral artery was occluded and the sciatic nerve was cut to produce myelin degeneration. Marchi's method was used for staining degenerated myelin. Fixation for light microscopy that would take two days using the conventional procedure was completed in 16.5–18.5 min using microwave irradiation. While staining of degenerated myelin requires 10 days for the conventional Marchi method, we decreased it to 7 h for brain tissue and 1 h for sciatic nerve by using the microwave oven. Moreover, a better quality preparation was achieved in the groups stained under microwave irradiation than those prepared by the conventional method.     

非酒精性脂肪肝大鼠脂质代谢及病理变化的动态观察

目的通过高脂饮食建立NAFLD大鼠模型,连续监测4～16周模型动物肝功能、脂质代谢、胰岛素抵抗及肝细胞凋亡在NAFLD进展过程中的变化情况及相互关系,为该模型在脂肪肝发病机制、脂肪肝治疗药物评价等方面的应用提供参考依据。方法 SD大鼠50只,除正常对照组外,其余动物饲喂高脂饲料,分别检测4,8,12,16周大鼠血清GLU、CHO、TG、HDL、LDL、GPT、GOT及胰岛素水平,肝脏组织切片进行病理学及细胞凋亡观察,进一步分析大鼠肝功能、脂质代谢、胰岛素抵抗及肝细胞凋亡对肝组织病理改变的影响。结果模型组大鼠4周后就出现肝功能损伤,脂质代谢紊乱、胰岛素抵抗,肝细胞凋亡8 W后明显增加,肝细胞脂变及炎症为肝组织病理变化的主要特征,且造模时间越长,病变程度越严重。结论经过高脂饲料的喂养,SD大鼠在4～16周内可形成病变程度逐步加重的NAFLD模型,肝功能损伤,脂质代谢紊乱及肝细胞凋亡是引起非酒精性脂肪肝中脂肪变性和炎症的重要因素,该模型可应用于脂肪肝治疗药物评价等方面。     

Characterization of heterotypic interaction effects <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> to deconvolute global gene expression profiles in cancer

Background  

Perturbations in cell-cell interactions are a key feature of cancer. However, little is known about the systematic effects of cell-cell interaction on global gene expression in cancer.     

Effects of bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP4) and its inhibitor,Noggin, on <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis>maturation and culture of bovine preimplantation embryos

Background  

BMP4 is a member of the transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) superfamily and Noggin is a potent BMP inhibitor that exerts its function by binding to BMPs preventing interactions with its receptors. The aim of this work was to investigate the role of BMP4 and Noggin, on oocytes in vitro maturation (m experiments) and embryos in vitro development (c experiments) of bovine.     

Localization of brain-type fatty acid-binding protein in Kupffer cells of mice and its transient decrease in response to lipopolysaccharide

Brain-type fatty acid-binding protein (B-FABP) was localized in Kupffer cells of liver of postnatal day 10 (P10) and older mice in immunolight and electron microscopy as well as by in situ hybridization histochemistry. The immunoreaction products were localized in the cytoplasmic matrix but not within the nucleus. After peritoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the immunoreaction for B-FABP decreased markedly in Kupffer cells at 1 h postinjection and thereafter gradually recovered to the preinjection level by 24 h postinjection, although no decrease in the mRNA expression was detected in Northern blotting throughout the course after the injection. The specific localization of B-FABP, but not the other FABPs, in Kupffer cells, and its rapid decrease after LPS injection suggest the intimate involvement of B-FABP in Kupffer cells in the inflammatory reaction, probably through mediation of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are strong binders of B-FABP.     

Polypharmacy in the management of patients with schizophrenia on risperidone in a tertiary-care hospital in Malaysia

The present study was conducted primarily to determine the occurrence of polypharmacy in patients with schizophrenia on risperidone. The secondary aim was to ascertain the incidence of inappropriate prescribing with anticholinergics. A retrospective review of the medical records of all patients who were being followed up at the out-patient clinic of a tertiary-care hospital in Malaysia was conducted. Only patients who were being prescribed risperidone between 1 June 2008 and 31 December 2008 were included in the study. Demographic data such as patient’s age, gender and race were obtained from the patient’s medical records. In total, 113 patients met the selection criteria. Polypharmacy was found to occur in 34 patients (30.09%), with the majority (76.47%) being on two antipsychotics. In total, 27 patients (34.18%) on monotherapy with risperidone were prescribed an anticholinergic on scheduled dosing, while 19 patients (24.05%) were prescribed it on an as-needed basis. Of the patients on polypharmacy, 26 (76.47%) were on scheduled dosing of anticholinergics, while three (8.82%) were taking the medication on an as-needed basis. Polypharmacy should be avoided, and the use of anticholinergics should be closely reviewed. By adopting more efficient prescribing practices, costs can be reduced and financial resources can instead be channelled towards more beneficial areas for the patients.     

Reflooding the Faguibine floodplain system,northern Mali: potential benefits and challenges

The Faguibine system, northern Mali, consists of a series of interconnected floodplains of which the flooded surface area declined from about 1 000 km² in the late 19th century to only some 90 km² in 2010. Flood extent depends on the height of the Niger River flood peak at Diré. Satellite imagery analysis indicated that a phase shift may have occurred in the year 2000, probably as a delayed consequence of the Sahelian drought of the 1970s compounded by the collapse of societal controls on water use during recent civil conflict. An economic evaluation of the system in 2011 showed US$100 000 per year of net income per flooded km² in Lake Faguibine, allowing vulnerable people to practise recession agriculture, to fish and to graze livestock. An intensive investment phase, combined with an approach of rebuilding local governance systems and environmental management capacity, could yield net benefits to the user communities of the order of ten times the maintenance costs, contributing to human well-being. The system is currently threatened by the building of the Fomi Dam in Guinea and by the planned expansion of irrigation upstream. There is also a risk of the return of a prolonged drought linked to the Atlantic multi-decadal oscillation index.     

内蒙古植被枯黄期变化及其与气候和植被生产力的关系

基于2001—2018年MODIS NDVI数据,采用累计归一化植被指数(NDVI)的Logistic曲线曲率极值法,识别内蒙古植被枯黄期及其时空变化特征,并在生态区尺度上分析枯黄期对气候因子和NDVI的响应特征。结果表明: 研究期间,内蒙古植被平均枯黄期主要集中在第260～280天。森林生态区枯黄期为第270～280天,从南向北推迟;草原生态区枯黄期最早,介于第257～273天,从东北向西南逐渐推迟;荒漠生态区枯黄期为第270～283天,东北向西南呈推迟态势。2001—2018年间,3个生态区植被枯黄期均呈不显著推迟趋势。植被生产力从东北向西南逐渐降低,在时间上呈增加趋势的面积大于呈减小趋势的面积。全内蒙古和各生态区植被枯黄期受季前2～3个月降水量的正面影响较大,与季前平均温度、最高温度和最低温度均呈正相关关系。全内蒙古和各生态区,8和9月植被生产力的增加(或减少)将推迟(或提前)植被枯黄期,而6和7月植被生产力的增加(或减少)将提前(或推迟)草原和荒漠生态区植被枯黄期。