Female long-tailed macaques with scrotum-like structure

Female long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) living in multimale and multifemale societies show a swelling and reddening of the sexual skin around the anogenital region when they approach ovulation. These swellings are limited to the base of the tail in many local populations. We recently observed another type of sexual swelling in long-tailed macaques inhabiting localities north of the Isthmus of Kra, Thailand. This swelling was located in the inguinal region in pubertal females. These swellings develop bilaterally into a globular structure, which so strongly resembles the male scrotum that it is difficult to reliably identify an individual's sex at a distance using only the standard phenotypic features of differential presence of clitoris or scrotum. The sex of the monkeys possessing the scrotum-like swelling was examined at the chromosomal and gonadal levels by determining the presence of two sex-related genes (the SRY and the AMEL), and sex-steroid hormone levels, respectively. For chromosomal sex, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays suggested the absence of the Y-linked SRY and AMEL loci but the presence of the X-linked AMEL locus in the scrotum-like monkeys, consistent with them being XX and not XY. Plasma testosterone levels of the monkeys possessing the inguinal sex skin swelling did not differ from those of ordinary females and was significantly lower than that of subadult and adult males. However, plasma estradiol levels were higher than those of both ordinary adult males and ordinary adult females. Together, the data strongly support the suggestion that these are XX females. Indeed, most of the tissue components of the scrotum-like swelling were in fact adipose cells. Upon our latest survey in Thailand, the scrotum-like swellings were observed only in long-tailed macaques inhabiting the Indochinese region, above the Isthmus of Kra. To understand whether the scrotum-like swelling is related to geographical distribution, further study is necessary.     

Studies on the salinity and desiccation tolerances of Helice tridens and Helice japonica (Decapoda: Grapsidae)

In the Shigenobu River Estuary (33 ° 48′ 18″ N, 132 ° 41′ 10″ E), Matsuyama (Japan), Helice tridens inhabits the mid-intertidal zone to the limit of the high tide, while H. japonica is found around the mid-intertidal zone. In addition, H. japonica is distributed further downstream than H. tridens. These differences suggest that H. japonica has a lower salinity and desiccation tolerance than H. tridens. Laboratory experiments on salinity tolerance confirmed the higher tolerance of H. tridens compared to H. japonica. Helice tridens survived at least a week under fresh water conditions, whereas most of the H. japonica died. Helice tridens was shown to be more able to tolerate desiccation than H. japonica, through behavioral, not physiological, adaptation to dry conditions. The present results demonstrate a stronger adaptation of H. tridens to semi-terrestrial and/or freshwater environments than H. japonica. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Apoplastic water fraction and rehydration techniques introduce significant errors in measurements of relative water content and osmotic potential in plant leaves

Relative water content (RWC) and the osmotic potential (π) of plant leaves are important plant traits that can be used to assess drought tolerance or adaptation of plants. We estimated the magnitude of errors that are introduced by dilution of π from apoplastic water in osmometry methods and the errors that occur during rehydration of leaves for RWC and π in 14 different plant species from trees, grasses and herbs. Our data indicate that rehydration technique and length of rehydration can introduce significant errors in both RWC and π. Leaves from all species were fully turgid after 1–3 h of rehydration and increasing the rehydration time resulted in a significant underprediction of RWC. Standing rehydration via the petiole introduced the least errors while rehydration via floating disks and submerging leaves for rehydration led to a greater underprediction of RWC. The same effect was also observed for π. The π values following standing rehydration could be corrected by applying a dilution factor from apoplastic water dilution using an osmometric method but not by using apoplastic water fraction (AWF) from pressure volume (PV) curves. The apoplastic water dilution error was between 5 and 18%, while the two other rehydration methods introduced much greater errors. We recommend the use of the standing rehydration method because (1) the correct rehydration time can be evaluated by measuring water potential, (2) overhydration effects were smallest, and (3) π can be accurately corrected by using osmometric methods to estimate apoplastic water dilution.     

From fence-and-fine to participatory conservation: mechanisms of transformation in conservation governance at the Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park,Indonesia

This paper addresses the transformation of forest bureaucracy, which has occurred in accordance with a national policy shift from “fence-and-fine” to “participatory” conservation, and its impact on resource users at Gunung Halimun-Salak National Park in Indonesia and analyzes causal relationships between this transformation and its outcome. The research suggests that the mode of conservation governance was transformed through the implementation of new ways of communication and interaction, learning processes and perceptional and behavioral changes. The result of this analysis indicates that while the dominant discourse of participatory conservation assumes a primary importance of satisfying local economic needs for conservation, what should be emphasized is the process of trust-building and learning between frontline staff and local resource users without which the durability of a conservation institution is questionable. The analysis also reveals both challenges and limitations of a trust-building approach: while the approach effectively functions to halt forest degradation, it might not lead to the rehabilitation of forest ecosystem.     

Genetic relationship of Sardinella lemuru from lombok strait with fish rich in omega-3 fatty acid

Lombok Strait has abundance of Sardine, Sardinella lemuru, which contains such high amount of omega-3 fatty acid (omega-3). However, the genetic relationship of S. lemuru with other commercial fish rich in omega-3 has not been widely studied yet. Studies on genetic proximity of S. lemuru with the other marine fish using 12S rRNA gene is very important in order to obtain genetic information of the Sardine to develop an appropriate strategy for future conservation of the fish in Lombok Strait. The aim of this study was to find out the genetic relationship of Sardinella lemuru living in Lombok Strait with the economically valuable fish and its correlation with omega-3 production. Sardinella lemuru were collected from Lombok Strait, the phylogenetic tree was done based on 12S rRNA gene through a neighbor-joining method to identify the relationship of Sardines and fish rich in omega-3 fatty acid. The phylogenetic tree showed that Sardinella lemuru is similar to Sardinella aurita and has a close similarity with Sardinella maderensis. However, the relationship did not correspond to omega-3 production. Based on the results of the study, it is suggested that the production of omega-3 is not specifically based on the proximity of the species, but it is more associated with conserved domain of Δ6-desaturase. Nevertheless, detailed mechanisms still need to be elucidated.     

Plasma cholesterol levels in free-ranging macaques compared with captive macaques and humans

Plasma total cholesterol in free-ranging Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) on Koshima islet and in free-ranging long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at Pangandaran in Indonesia was found to occur at very low levels compared with captive macaques and humans. Although total cholesterol levels in captive macaques were lower than humans, differences in HDL cholesterol levels were only small. In both sexes of wild and captive Japanese macaques, total cholesterol levels decreased from birth through to young adulthood but then increased in adult females of the captive group. In contrast, the value for adult females of the wild troop remained at a low level. Low TCH levels in adult females of the wild Japanese macaque troop may be due to a low energy intake and may have caused a delay in the onset of sexual maturation. Plasma TCH levels increased with the addition of 0.1% dietary cholesterol over six weeks in captive long-tailed macaques. That the cholesterol value after six weeks was dependent on cholesterol levels prior to supplementation indicates that captive macaques are slightly saturated with cholesterol.     

A Bioplex Analysis of Cytokines and Chemokines in First Trimester Maternal Plasma to Screen for Predictors of Miscarriage

Background

We have previously shown in two independent cohorts that circulating first trimester Macrophage Inhibitory Cytokine-1 (MIC-1) levels are lower in women in early pregnancy who are destined to miscarriage. While promising, the diagnostic performance of measuring MIC-1 alone was not sufficient for it to be a useful predictive test for miscarriage. Besides MIC-1, there are other cytokines, as well as chemokines, involved in facilitating early pregnancy. We reasoned that screening these factors in maternal plasma could uncover other predictive markers of miscarriage.

Methods

This was a nested case control study, of 78 women from a prospective study of 462 attending the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit in the first trimester (EPAU) with a threatened miscarriage; 34 of these subsequently miscarried (cases) and 44 went on to have a normal delivery (controls) Cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10, and the chemokines, CXCL8, CCL2, CCL5, CCL7 and CX3CL1 were measured in plasma from our cohort.

Results

The cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and the chemokine CXCL8 were not detectable in first trimester plasma. The chemokines CCL2, CCL5, CCL7 and CX3CL1 were detectable in all samples but levels did not vary across 5–12 weeks of gestation among controls. Plasma levels of these chemokines were no different in the miscarriage cohort compared to controls.

Conclusion

The chemokines CCL2, CCL5, CCL7 and CX3CL1 were detectable in plasma during the first trimester while IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10 and CXCL8 were not. However, none of the cytokines and chemokines screened were different in maternal plasma in cases or controls. These therefore do not appear to have potential for application as predictive biomarkers of miscarriage.     

Variation in blood proteins and mitochondrial DNA within and between local populations of longtail macaques,Macaca fascicularis on the Island of Java, Indonesia

We examined 31 blood protein loci, and restriction fragment length profiles of a PCR product of mitochondrial DNA containing the D-loop region using five kinds of restriction endonucleases (HaeIII,HinfI,MboII,MspI, andSau3 AI) in order to quantify the level of genetic variation of longtail macaques,Macaca fascicularis. Samples were collected from nine social groups in five localities of West Java, Indonesia. The average heterozygosity per individual was 0.060 and 15.7% of the loci were polymorphic (P_poly) over all populations in the protein analysis. There was no mtDNA haplotype variation within either social groups or local populations. To the contrary, great diversity was observed among local populations. Both nuclear diversity (measured byNei's standard genetic distance) and mitochondrial diversity (measured by sequence divergence) showed a significantly positive correlation with geographic distance. There was no significant correlation between these two genetic markers, however. The genetic structure of the population was evaluated in terms of local inbreeding and temporal changes in allele frequency. Differences between nuclear and mitochondrial data are discussed in relation to gender specific migration and lineage sorting.     

Development of Architectures for Internet Telerobotics Systems

This paper presents our experience in developing and implementing Internet telerobotics system. Internet telerobotics system refers to a robot system controlled and monitored remotely through the Internet. A robot manipulator with five degrees of freedom, called Mentor, is employed. Client-server architecture is chosen as a platform for our Internet telerobotics system. Three generations of telerobotics systems have evolved in this research. The first generation was based on CGI and two tiered architectures, where a client presents a Graphical User Interface to the user, and utilizes the user＇s data entry and actions to perform requests to robot server running on a different machine. The second generation was developed using Java. We also employ Java 3D for creating and manipulating 3D geometry of manipulator links, and for constructing the structures used in rendering that geometry, resulting in 3D robot movement simulation presented to the users （clients） through their web browser. Recent development in our Internet telerobotics includes object recognition through image captured by a camera, which poses challenging problem, giving the undeterministic latency of the Internet. The third generation is centered around the use of CORBA for development platform of distributed internet telerobotics system, aimed at distributing task of telerobotics system.