Independent evolution of song diversity and song motor performance in canaries,goldfinches and allies indicates clade-specific trade-offs in birdsong

The diversity and the motor performance of birdsongs can both be sexually selected. In wood warblers, most species with high motor performance sing a greater proportion of trills, presumably to advertise performance, and thus have lower syllable diversity. We tested if this trade-off between motor performance and syllable diversity extends to canaries, goldfinches and allies, a clade with much longer and more varied songs. We assembled a molecular phylogeny and inferred song motor performance based on the speed of frequency modulation either in trills or in within-song intervals. The two metrics of performance were positively, but only mildly, related across species. While performance evaluated in intervals had high phylogenetic signal, performance evaluated in trills changed independently of phylogeny and was constrained by body size. Species in densely vegetated habitats sang fewer trills, but did not differ in motor performance. Contrary to wood warblers, song motor performance did not predict the proportion of trilled syllables nor within-song syllable diversity, perhaps because large differences in the song duration of canaries, goldfinches and allies prevent trills from severely compromising syllable diversity. Opposed results in wood warblers and in these finches indicate the existence of clade-specific trade-offs in the evolution of birdsong.     

Muscle regeneration in adiponectin knockout mice showed early activation of anti-inflammatory response with perturbations in myogenesis

Activation, proliferation, and differentiation of satellite cells can be influenced by extracellular factors, such as adiponectin. This adipokine has been proposed as a regulator of in vitro myogenesis, but its action on in vivo regeneration is not still elucidated. We used C57BL/6 (wild-type [WT]) and adiponectin knockout (AdKO) mice injured with barium chloride at periods of 3, 7, and 14 days after injury. The AdKO presented a higher number of centralized nuclei after 7 days, and a reduction in myogenic genes was observed after 3 days. Moreover, these mice presented an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokines after 3 and 7 days, and an increase in the M2 gene marker and proinflammatory cytokines after 7 days. The WT demonstrated an increase in adiponectin messenger RNA after 7 days. These results demonstrate that adiponectin is important in tissue remodeling during regeneration and that its deficiency does not compromise the maturation of muscle fibers, due to an increase in anti-inflammatory response; however, there is a possible impairment in proinflammatory response and an increase in centralized myonuclei.     

Exposure of Betula pendula Roth pollen to atmospheric pollutants CO,O3 and SO2

Betula pendula pollen, under laboratory conditions, was exposed to three atmospheric pollutants: carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O₃) and sulphur dioxide (SO₂). Two levels of each pollutant were used; the first level corresponds to a concentration on the atmospheric hour-limit value acceptable for human health protection in Europe, the second level to a higher, at least more than double of the first, concentration level. Experiments were done under artificial solar light with controlled temperature and relative humidity. Our results indicate that, in urban areas, concentrations of CO, O₃ and SO₂ on the limits established for human protection, can affect pollen fertility. We verified a decrease in the viability and germination of the pollen, indicating damage to the pollen membrane system. Also, a general decreasing trend in the total protein content of the exposed samples when compared with the control samples was observed, which suggests alterations in the antigenic characteristics of pollen.     

Determinant Factors of Untreated Dental Caries and Lesion Activity in Preschool Children Using ICDAS

The aim of the present study was to investigate determinant factors associated with the presence of dental caries and lesion activity in preschool children. A population-based, cross-sectional study was carried out with 843 children of aged three to five years enrolled at public and private preschools in the city of Campina Grande, Brazil. A questionnaire addressing socio-demographic data and oral health care was self-administered by parents/caregivers. Three dentists previously calibrated examined the children for the diagnosis of dental caries and lesion activity using the International Caries Detection and Assessment System (ICDAS). Nutritional status was evaluated based on the body mass index. Logistic regression analysis for complex samples was performed (α = 5%). The prevalence of dental caries was 66.3%. Among the children with caries, 88.0% had active lesions. Dental caries was more prevalent in girls (OR = 1.53, 95%CI: 1.05–2.23), in children from families with a monthly household income ≤US$312.50 (OR = 2.38, 95%CI: 1.65–3.43) and those whose mothers had up to eight years of schooling (OR = 1.55, 95%CI: 1.07–2.23). Lesion activity was significantly associated with mother’s schooling ≤ 8 years (OR = 2.15, 95%CI: 1.15–4.00). The prevalence rates of dental caries and lesion activity were high and mainly associated with a lower socioeconomic status and mother’s schooling.     

The anabolic action of intermittent parathyroid hormone on cortical bone depends partly on its ability to induce nitric oxide‐mediated vasorelaxation in BALB/c mice

There is strong evidence that vasodilatory nitric oxide (NO) donors have anabolic effects on bone in humans. Parathyroid hormone (PTH), the only osteoanabolic drug currently approved, is also a vasodilator. We investigated whether the NO synthase inhibitor L‐NAME might alter the effect of PTH on bone by blocking its vasodilatory effect. BALB/c mice received 28 daily injections of PTH[1–34] (80 µg/kg/day) or L‐NAME (30 mg/kg/day), alone or in combination. Hindlimb blood perfusion was measured by laser Doppler imaging. Bone architecture, turnover and mechanical properties in the femur were analysed respectively by micro‐CT, histomorphometry and three‐point bending. PTH increased hindlimb blood flow by >30% within 10 min of injection (P < 0.001). Co‐treatment with L‐NAME blocked the action of PTH on blood flow, whereas L‐NAME alone had no effect. PTH treatment increased femoral cortical bone volume and formation rate by 20% and 110%, respectively (P < 0.001). PTH had no effect on trabecular bone volume in the femoral metaphysis although trabecular thickness and number were increased and decreased by 25%, respectively. Co‐treatment with L‐NAME restricted the PTH‐stimulated increase in cortical bone formation but had no clear‐cut effects in trabecular bone. Co‐treatment with L‐NAME did not affect the mechanical strength in femurs induced by iPTH. These results suggest that NO‐mediated vasorelaxation plays partly a role in the anabolic action of PTH on cortical bone. © 2016 The Authors. Cell Biochemistry and Function published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Repeated immunostaining of the same tissue section using alkaline phosphatase as a reporter

One can determine the best dilution of a primary antibody for immunohistochemistry that uses horseradish peroxidase conjugated to a secondary antibody by testing increasing concentrations sequentially on the same tissue section. When the same tissue section is incubated repeatedly with increasing concentrations of primary antibodies to epithelial membrane antigen, smooth muscle α-actin, or vimentin using alkaline phosphatase conjugated to a secondary antibody as the reporter, the best staining was obtained with a less concentrated primary antibody than was optimal for a single staining test. The best concentration of primary antibody for single run staining using an alkaline phosphatase reporting system is usually four times the best concentration for staining with multiple runs. The optimal concentration can be determined by denaturing the residual alkaline phosphatase and extracting residual stain by incubating the section in 4:1 diglyme:phosphate buffered saline for 20 min at 80^o C between tests of primary antibody concentrations. I tested the method for four chromogens from one supplier and one chromogen from a different supplier.     

Soil and entomopathogenic fungi with potential for biodegradation of insecticides: degradation of flubendiamide in vivo by fungi and in vitro by laccase

Purpose

Flubendiamide is a highly toxic and persistent insecticide that causes loss of insect muscle functions leading to paralysis and death. The objective was to screen for filamentous fungi in soils where insecticides had been applied, to isolate entomopathogenic fungi from insect larva (Anticarsia gemmatalis) that infest soybean crops, and to use these in biodegradation of insecticides.

Method

Filamentous fungi were isolated from soils, and growth inhibition was evaluated on solid medium containing commercial insecticides, Belt® (flubendiamide) and Actara® (thiamethoxam). A total of 133 fungi were isolated from soil and 80 entomopathogenic fungi from insect larva. Based on growth inhibition tests, ten soil fungi, 2 entomopathogenic fungi, and Botryosphaeria rhodina MAMB-05 (reference standard) were selected for growth on commercial insecticides in solid media. Fungi were grown in submerged fermentation on media containing commercial insecticides and assayed for laccase activity.

Result

Isolates JUSOLCL039 (soil), JUANT070 (insect), and MAMB-05 performed best, and were respectively inhibited by 48.41%, 75.97%, and 79.23% when cultivated on 35 g/L Actara®, and 0.0, 5.42%, and 43.39% on 39.04 g/L Belt®. JUSOLCL039 and JUANT070 were molecularly identified as Trichoderma koningiopsis and Neurospora sp., respectively. The three fungal isolates produced laccase constitutively, albeit at low activities. Fungal growth on pure flubendiamide and thiamethoxam resulted in only thiamethoxam inducing high laccase titers (10.16 U/mL) by JUANT070. Neurospora sp. and B. rhodina degraded flubendiamide by 27.4% and 9.5% in vivo, while a crude laccase from B. rhodina degraded flubendiamide by 20.2% in vitro.

Conclusion

This is the first report of fungi capable of degrading flubendiamide, which have applications in bioremediation.

     

Barley microgreen incorporation in diet-controlled diabetes and counteracted aflatoxicosis in rats

Increased environmental pollution and unhealthy lifestyle are blamed for escalated chronic diseases. Exposure to aflatoxins was recently suggested to have a role in the increased incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Diet modification and consumption of different functional food are now gaining attention, especially in diabetes management. This study investigates the effect of a diet containing barley microgreen against diabetes induced by streptozotocin with or without aflatoxin administration in rats. Barley microgreen was rich in 3′-Benzyloxy-5,6,7,4′-tetramethoxyflavone (48.8% of total) followed by 5β,7βH,10α-Eudesm-11-en-1α-ol (18.46%). Streptozotocin injection and/or aflatoxin administration significantly elevated glucose level, decreased insulin level, decreased β-cell function, deteriorated liver and kidney function parameters, and induced oxidative stress in the liver. Histopathology revealed irregular small-sized islets and decreased area % of insulin-positive beta cells in the pancreas, hepatic degeneration, nephropathy, and neuropathy in diabetic and/or aflatoxin administered rats compared to control. Barley microgreen diet fed to diabetic rats with or without aflatoxin alleviated all evaluated parameters. Barley microgreen diet also ameliorated the toxic effect of aflatoxin. In conclusion, exposure to aflatoxin aggravated diabetes and its complication. The incorporation of barley microgreen in the diet was able to control type 2 diabetes mellitus and the improved outcomes observed with barley microgreen treatments involved or occurred in conjunction with improved biomarkers of oxidative stress.