Behavioral response of the egg parasitoid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ooencyrtus telenomicida</Emphasis> to host-related chemical cues in a tritrophic perspective

The response of the generalist egg parasitoid Ooencyrtus telenomicida (Vassiliev) (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) to host-related chemical cues from tomato plants, Solanum lycopersicum L., and adults of Nezara viridula (L.) (Heteroptera: Pentatomidae) was investigated in laboratory-based no-choice and paired-choice tests. In Y-tube olfactometer experiments, when female wasps were exposed to volatiles from plants in different conditions, they were attracted only to volatiles produced by N. viridula adult-infested tomato plants. When female wasps were exposed to adults of N. viridula, they were attracted to volatiles from virgin males, and, at a lower level, to volatiles from mated females in preoviposition state. Finally, studies in open arena showed that chemical footprints left by adults of N. viridula did not induce arrestment responses in wasp females. These results are discussed in terms of extrinsic competition with other beneficial egg parasitoids that in field can compete for the same egg mass, since intraguild interactions may affect the success of a biological control program.     

Do the phenology and functional stem attributes of woody species allow for the identification of functional groups in the semiarid region of Brazil?

The phenology of tree species in environments that are subject to strong climatic seasonality is mainly determined by water availability, which may vary as a function of wood density. The relationship among phenology, water potential, wood density and the capacity of water storage in the stem were determined for woody species of caatinga vegetation (dry forest) in the semiarid region of NE Brazil. Leaf flush and fall, flowering and fruiting events were recorded over a 31-month period, and the water potential was measured over a two-year period. These data were related to precipitation, water availability in the soil and photoperiod. Seven deciduous species exhibited low wood density (DLWD,?<0.5?g?cm^?3), high capacity of water storage in the stem (until 250?% of the dry weight) and high water potential during the year, as opposed to 15 deciduous species that showed high wood density (DHWD,?≥0.5?g?cm^?3). Leaf flush, flowering and the fruiting of DHWD species were related to precipitation, whereas these phenological events occurred at the end of the dry season and/or the beginning of the rainy season for DLWD species and were related to the photoperiod. The two evergreen species showed variations of water potential that were intermediate between those of DHWD and DLWD deciduous species, leaf flush during the dry season and flowering at the end of dry season. These results suggest the existence of three functional groups: evergreen species, DHWD deciduous species and DLWD deciduous species.     

Hidden biodiversity of the extremophilic Cyanidiales red algae

The Cyanidiales is a group of asexual, unicellular red algae, which thrive in acidic and high temperature conditions around hot springs. These unicellular taxa have a relatively simple morphology and are currently classified into three genera, Cyanidium, Cyanidioschyzon and Galdieria. Little is known, however, about the biodiversity of Cyanidiales, their population structure and their phylogenetic relationships. Here we used a taxonomically broadly sampled three-gene data set of plastid sequences to infer a robust phylogenetic framework for the Cyanidiales. The phylogenetic analyses support the existence of at least four distinct Cyanidiales lineages: the Galdieria spp. lineage (excluding Galdieria maxima), the Cyanidium caldarium lineage, a novel monophyletic lineage of mesophilic Cyanidium spp. and the Cyanidioschyzon merolae plus Galdieria maxima lineage. Our analyses do not support the notion of a mesophilic ancestry of the Cyanidiales and suggest that these algae were ancestrally thermo-acidotolerant. We also used environmental polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the rbcL gene to sample Cyanidiales biodiversity at five ecologically distinct sites at Pisciarelli in the Phlegrean Fields in Italy. This analysis showed a high level of sequence divergence among Cyanidiales species and the partitioning of taxa based on environmental conditions. Our research revealed an unexpected level of genetic diversity among Cyanidiales that revises current thinking about the phylogeny and biodiversity of this group. We predict that future environmental PCR studies will significantly augment known biodiversity that we have discovered and demonstrate the Cyanidiales to be a species-rich branch of red algal evolution.     

Oxidative Stress in Normal‐Weight Obese Syndrome

The normal‐weight obese (NWO) syndrome was identified in women whose body weight (BW) and BMI are normal but whose fat mass (FM) is >30%. In these subjects, an early inflammatory status has been demonstrated. The aim was to verify whether oxidative stress occurs in NWO. Sixty age‐matched white Italian women were studied and subdivided as follows: 20 normal‐weight individuals (NW) (BMI <25 kg/m²; FM% <30%); 20 NWO (BMI <25 kg/m²; FM% >30%); 20 preobese‐obese (OB) (BMI >25 kg/m²; FM% >30%). Anthropometric, body composition (by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry) variables, plasma levels of some cytokines, reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH), nitric oxide (NO) metabolites (NO₂^?/NO₃^?), antioxidant nonproteic capacity (ANPC) were measured and compared between groups. Glucose and lipid metabolism parameters were assessed. GSH and NO₂^?/NO₃^? levels resulted lower in OB and NWO compared to NW (P < 0.01). LOOH levels resulted higher in OB and NWO (P < 0.01). ANPC in NWO was lower than NW but higher with respect to OB (P < 0.01). Correlation analysis revealed strong associations between GSH levels and BW, BMI, FM% (R = ?0.45, at least P < 0.05); waist circumference (W) (R = ?0.33, P < 0.05); FFM% (R = 0.45, P < 0.01); IL‐1α, IL‐6, IL‐10, IL‐15 (R = ?0.39, ?0.33, ?0.36 ?0.34, respectively, P < 0.05); triglycerides (R = ?0.416, P < 0.05). LOOH levels were negatively related to FFM% (R = ?0.413, P < 0.05) and positively to FM%, IL‐15, TNF‐α, insulin, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides (R = 0.408, R = 0.502, R = 0.341, R = 0.412, R = 0.4036, R = 0.405, R = 0.405, respectively, P < 0.05). The study clearly indicates that NWO, besides being in early inflammatory status, are contextually exposed to an oxidative stress related to metabolic abnormalities occurring in obesity.     

Research resource: New and diverse substrates for the insulin receptor isoform A revealed by quantitative proteomics after stimulation with IGF-II or insulin

The isoform A of the insulin receptor (IR) (IR-A) is a bifunctional receptor, because it binds both insulin and IGF-II. IR-A activation by IGF-II plays a role in development, but its physiological role in adults is unknown. IGF-II signaling through IR-A is deregulated in cancer and favors tumor progression. We hypothesized that IGF-II binding to the IR-A elicits a unique signaling pathway. In order to obtain an unbiased evaluation of IR-A substrates differentially involved after IGF-II and insulin stimulation, we performed quantitative proteomics of IR-A substrates recruited to tyrosine-phosphorylated protein complexes using stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture in combination with antiphosphotyrosine antibody pull down and mass spectrometry. Using cells expressing only the human IR-A and lacking the IGF-I receptor, we identified 38 IR-A substrates. Only 10 were known IR mediators, whereas 28 substrates were not previously related to IR signaling. Eleven substrates were recruited by stimulation with both ligands: two equally recruited by IGF-II and insulin, three more strongly recruited by IGF-II, and six more strongly recruited by insulin. Moreover, 14 substrates were recruited solely by IGF-II and 13 solely by insulin stimulation. Interestingly, discoidin domain receptors, involved in cell migration and tumor metastasis, and ephrin receptor B4, involved in bidirectional signaling upon cell-cell contact, were predominantly activated by IGF-II. These findings indicate that IR-A activation by IGF-II elicits a unique signaling pathway that may play a distinct role in physiology and in disease.     

Convenient preparation of L-arabino-hexos-5-ulose derivatives from lactose

2,6-di-O-benzyl- (9), 2-O-benzyl-3,4-O-isopropylidene- (19), and 2-O-benzyl-6-O-m-chlorobenzoyl-L-arabino-hexos-5-ulose (20) have been prepared using 4'-deoxy-4'-eno- and 6'-deoxy-5'-eno lactose dimethyl acetal derivatives 7 and 14 as key intermediates. The synthesis of enol ethers 7 and 14 has been performed with good yields by base-promoted elimination of acetone or p-toluenesulfonic acid from 2',6'-di-O-benzyl-, and 6'-O-p-toluenesulfonyl-2,3:5,6:3',4'-tri-O-isopropylidenelactose dimethyl acetal, respectively. The epoxidation with MCPBA of 7 and 14 in methanol or dichloromethane furnishes C-5'-methoxy and C-5'-m-chlorobenzoyloxy derivatives, easily transformed with good yields into L-arabino 5-ketoaldohexoses 9, 19 and 20.     

Macrofollicular encapsulated variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma as a potential pitfall in histologic and cytologic diagnosis. A report of three cases

BACKGROUND: Macrofollicular encapsulated papillary carcinoma (MEPC) is a variant of papillary carcinoma with a favorable clinical course. Its characteristic histologic pattern could be mistaken for that of an adenoma or hyperplastic nodule. Fine needle aspiration of this neoplasm may not show the particular nuclear features of papillary carcinoma, so the cytologic diagnosis may be benign. CASE REPORTS: Three paradigmatic cases of MEPC with different histologic patterns, diagnosed as a follicular neoplasm using fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) are described. Preoperative cytology showed scattered clusters of thyrocytes with prominent nuclear pleomorphism and irregularities and focal oxyphilic changes mixed with colloid and aggregates of typical thyrocytes. The histologic picture exhibits small, neoplastic foci showing a microfollicular structure within an encapsulated neoplasm with a macrofollicular pattern. In microfollicular areas obvious nuclear pseudoinclusions were seldom observed. CONCLUSION: MEPC represents a challenging tumor subtype that infrequently shows the pathognomonic cytologic characteristics of papillary carcinoma, and therefore it is much more difficult to diagnose with a FNAB. Nuclear pleomorphism and irregularity of the nuclear membrane of thyrocytes are clues to this variant, although in some cases a clear-cut preoperative diagnosis cannot be made.     

The expression of native and oxidized LDL receptors in brain microvessels is specifically enhanced by astrocytes-derived soluble factor(s)

Based on the functional characterization of sucrose biosynthesis related protiens[SBP: sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS), sucrose-phosphate phosphatase (SPP), and sucrose synthase (SuS)] in Anabaena sp. PCC7120 and sequence analysis, we have shown that SBP are restricted to cyanobacterium species and plants, and that they are multidomain proteins with modular architecture. Anabaena SPS, a minimal catalytic SPS unit, defines a glucosyltransferase domain present in all SPSs and SuSs. Similarly, Anabaena SPP defines a phosphohydrolase domain characteristic of all SPPs and some SPSs. Phylogenetic analysis points towards the evolution of modern cyanobacterial and plant SBP from a bidomainal common ancestral SPS-like gene.     

Controllability of selection-mutation systems

The well-known Fisher type selection-mutation model is studied from the point of view of mathematical systems theory. Mutation rates are considered as control functions. Based on a general sufficient condition for local controllability of non-linear systems with invariant manifold, a method is proposed to guarantee the controllability of the considered population into a polymorphic equilibrium.