Host-associated fitness trade-offs do not limit the evolution of diet breadth in the small milkweed bug Lygaeus kalmii (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae)

Theoretical models of evolution in a temporally variable environment predict that genotypes with low variance in fitness across generations will be favored. When host use varies temporally and fitness trade-offs exist among hosts, such that an increase in performance on one host results in a correlated decrease on the other, selection for low variance in fitness across generations will favor genotypes which are generalists. Before predictions such as this can be extended to natural herbivore populations, however, it is necessary to understand the extent to which performance trade-offs limit simultaneous adaptation to multiple hosts. The experiment reported here compares two populations of the common milkweed bug, Lygaeus kalmii (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) which differ in patterns of host usage. One population is largely restricted to milkweed (Asclepias spp.) when milkweed seeds are available, but becomes a scavenger on a large assortment of available seeds when milkweed seeds are unavailable. The second population is restricted largely to dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), without access to milkweed. We examine these populations to test for host-associated genetic trade-offs between specialization on dandelion (Taraxacum) and two species of milkweed, Asclepias fascicularis, which is low in cardiac glycoside content, and A. speciosa, which is high in cardiac glycoside content. Despite the difference in patterns of host use of the two L. kalmii populations, the populations did not differ in their performance on any of the host plants. Within each population, bugs performed nearly as well on each host, except that bugs had significantly lower survivorship on dandelion than on either milkweed species. Trade-offs in performance among hosts were not present in either population: estimated genetic correlations across hosts were strongly positive. The inability of this study to detect host-associated fitness trade-offs is consistent with most published data on this topic.     

Stereospecific induction of rat liver bilirubin UDPglucuronosyltransferase and lauric acid 12-hydroxylation by the isomers of 2-phenylpropionic acid

The inductive effects of racemic 2-phenylpropionic acid and its isomers on rat liver bilirubin UDP-glucuronosyltransferase activity and lauric acid 12-hydroxylation (cytochrome P-452-dependent) were compared. The (S)-(+)-enantiomer and the racemic mixture gave the greatest induction of both enzyme activities, whereas (R)-(-)-2-phenylpropionic acid produced increases of only one-third of those of its antipode. The determination of the enantiomeric composition of the excreted 2-phenylpropionic acid after a single oral dose indicated that the (R)-(-)-enantiomer given as such or in the racemate was inverted to its antipode, which strongly suggests that (S)-(+)-2-phenylpropionic acid is responsible for the inductive effects observed. The demonstration of the same stereospecificity for the induction of bilirubin UDPglucuronosyltransferase and lauric acid 12-hydroxylation further indicates a close mechanistic link between these two processes.     

Adenosine A1 receptors inhibit both adenylate cyclase activity and TRH-activated Ca2+ channels by a pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism in GH3 cells

The present study has examined the effects of adenosine A1 receptors on second messenger processes in GH3 cells. A1 receptors are present which are shown to inhibit adenylate cyclase in a GTP-requiring manner. Hormone (VIP) stimulation is also absolutely required for the observation of inhibition. Adenosine A1 receptor analogues also inhibit TRH-stimulated [Ca2+]i-mobilization in GH3 cells. Both effects of the adenosine receptor agonists are apparently mediated by pertussis toxin substrates, of which there are two--41,000 and 40,000 daltons respectively--in these cells. Somatostatin exerts analogous effects to the adenosine agonists in GH3 cells. Thus it may turn out that a general property of 'cyclase inhibitory receptors' is also to inhibit [Ca2+]i-mobilization in the same cells, when such mechanisms are present.     

Spray retention for liquid and mycoherbicide inoculum in three weed-biocontrol systems

Spray retention is often used to measure herbicide delivery to optimize application parameters, but little is known about retention characteristics of mycoherbicide inoculum applied for weed biocontrol. This study examined inoculum retention of three mycoherbicide agents, Pyricularia setariae, Colletotrichum truncatum and C. gloeosporioides f. sp. malvae, on their respective weed targets: green foxtail, scentless chamomile and round-leaved mallow. Conidium suspensions of these fungal pathogens containing a sodium-fluorescein tracer dye were applied at 500, 1000 and 2000 L ha^-1 using a cabinet sprayer, and the liquid volume and number of conidia retained on the plants were quantified. On all three weed species, liquid and conidium retention showed a high degree of correlation at varying application volumes although slight differences existed depending on the weed species. Based on the analysis of regression slopes, liquid retention reflected conidium retention most closely on green foxtail but slightly overestimated the number on scentless chamomile and round-leaved mallow, possibly due to different plant morphology and spray run-off at extremely high application volumes. Liquid retention can generally be used as an indicator in studying effects of spray quality on mycoherbicide retention for improved delivery and biocontrol in these weed-biocontrol systems.     

Phase II protocol for the evaluation of new treatments in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma: results of ECOG 5282

The study was a Phase II randomized study to evaluate the efficacy of new agents for the treatment of advanced gastric carcinoma. Patients were randomized to receive single agent chemotherapy with mitoxantrone, etoposide, aclacinomycin-A or spirogermanium. The patients were stratified by prior use of chemotherapy, prior doxorubicin use and ECOG performance status. Patients with a history of cardiac disease or prior doxorubicin exceeding a dose of 400 mg/m² were restrictively randomized to sopirogermanium or etoposide only. One hundred and fourteen patients were registered for the study. Among 98 evaluable patients there were only two partial responses (both in the etoposide arm), and one complete response in the mitoxantrone arm. The median survival on the study was 3.3 months. One hundred and six patients were analyzable for toxicity. There were four treatment-related deaths and four life-threatening toxicities. Because of low response rates and relatively high toxicities the studied compounds were not deemed worth further investigation for advanced gastric cancer.     

Primary homologies of the circumorbital bones of snakes

Some snakes have two circumorbital ossifications that in the current literature are usually referred to as the postorbital and supraorbital. We review the arguments that have been proposed to justify this interpretation and provide counter‐arguments that reject those conjectures of primary homology based on the observation of 32 species of lizards and 81 species of snakes (both extant and fossil). We present similarity arguments, both topological and structural, for reinterpretation of the primary homologies of the dorsal and posterior orbital ossifications of snakes. Applying the test of similarity, we conclude that the posterior orbital ossification of snakes is topologically consistent as the homolog of the lacertilian jugal, and that the dorsal orbital ossification present in some snakes (e.g., pythons, Loxocemus, and Calabaria) is the homolog of the lacertilian postfrontal. We therefore propose that the terms postorbital and supraorbital should be abandoned as reference language for the circumorbital bones of snakes, and be replaced with the terms jugal and postfrontal, respectively. The primary homology claim for the snake “postorbital” fails the test of similarity, while the term “supraorbital” is an unnecessary and inaccurate application of the concept of a neomorphic ossification, for an element that passes the test of similarity as a postfrontal. This reinterpretation of the circumorbital bones of snakes is bound to have important repercussions for future phylogenetic analyses and consequently for our understanding of the origin and evolution of snakes. J. Morphol. 274:973–986, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Co-existence of gametic and agametic seminiferous tubules in a chimeric mouse. A light- and electron-microscopic study

Six chimeras, including 4 phenotypic males and 2 females, were produced by aggregation of F1 (C57BL x BALB/c) and Swiss white embryos. All were fertile, except 1 male, whose deviation in testicular structure prompted this light- and electron-microscopic study. This chimera had a well-developed sperm-conducting system, sperm in the epididymis and active accessory sex glands. The testes displayed typical parenchymal and stromal components with the important exception of co-existence of gametic and agametic seminiferous tubules. These tubules were organized in territories of quasi-lobular configurations which appeared to open separately into rete testis. The former corresponded to normally developed and active seminiferous tubules, while the latter were solid testicular cords devoid of any germ cells and embedded in solid masses of interstitial (Leydig) cells. Special mitochondrial transformations were identified in sustentacular (Sertoli) cells of both types of tubules, in maturing spermatids and sperm. These and other submicroscopic sperm defects might be the cause of infertility.     

Anesthesiology: New Muscle Relaxants

The Council on Scientific Affairs of the California Medical Association presents the following epitomes of progress in anesthesiology. Each item, in the judgment of a panel of knowledgeable physicians, has recently become reasonably firmly established, both as to scientific fact and clinical importance. The items are presented in simple epitome, and an authoritative reference, both to the item itself and to the subject as a whole, is generally given for those who may be unfamiliar with a particular item. The purpose is to assist busy practitioners, students, researchers, and scholars to stay abreast of progress in medicine, whether in their own field of special interest or another.The epitomes included here were selected by the Advisory Panel to the Section on Anesthesiology of the California Medical Association, and the summaries were prepared under the direction of Dr Jackson and the panel.     

Social learning and human mate preferences: a potential mechanism for generating and maintaining between-population diversity in attraction

Inspired by studies demonstrating mate-choice copying effects in non-human species, recent studies of attractiveness judgements suggest that social learning also influences human preferences. In the first part of our article, we review evidence for social learning effects on preferences in humans and other animals. In the second part, we present new empirical evidence that social learning not only influences the attractiveness of specific individuals, but can also generalize to judgements of previously unseen individuals possessing similar physical traits. The different conditions represent different populations and, once a preference arises in a population, social learning can lead to the spread of preferences within that population. In the final part of our article, we discuss the theoretical basis for, and possible impact of, biases in social learning whereby individuals may preferentially copy the choices of those with high status or better access to critical information about potential mates. Such biases could mean that the choices of a select few individuals carry the greatest weight, rapidly generating agreement in preferences within a population. Collectively, these issues suggest that social learning mechanisms encourage the spread of preferences for certain traits once they arise within a population and so may explain certain cross-cultural differences.     

A single NFκB system for both canonical and non-canonical signaling

Two distinct nuclear factor κB (NFκB) signaling pathways have been described; the canonical pathway that mediates inflammatory responses, and the non-canonical pathway that is involved in immune cell differentiation and maturation and secondary lymphoid organogenesis. The former is dependent on the IκB kinase adaptor molecule NEMO, the latter is independent of it. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of regulation in each signaling axis and attempt to relate the apparent regulatory logic to the physiological function. Further, we review the recent evidence for extensive cross-regulation between these two signaling axes and summarize them in a wiring diagram. These observations suggest that NEMO-dependent and -independent signaling should be viewed within the context of a single NFκB signaling system, which mediates signaling from both inflammatory and organogenic stimuli in an integrated manner. As in other regulatory biological systems, a systems approach including mathematical models that include quantitative and kinetic information will be necessary to characterize the network properties that mediate physiological function, and that may break down to cause or contribute to pathology.