The pattern,rate, and range of within‐patch movement of a stem‐galling fly

1. Information on the movement of insects is critical to understanding the spatial spread, dynamics, and genetic structure of their populations, as well as their interactions with other species. With this in mind, the movement behaviour of the stem‐galling fly Eurosta solidaginis Fitch (Diptera: Tephritidae) was investigated. 2. Fluorescent‐marked adults were released at a single location within pure patches of the host plant, tall goldenrod Solidago altissima, and their distributions censused repeatedly throughout the day. 3. Following their release, male and female flies redistributed themselves in a manner that was well described by a simple‐diffusion model. The diffusion rate was independent of fly density and time since flies were released. 4. Female flies dispersed at a significantly faster rate, and therefore farther on average, than males. Based on the diffusion model, it was estimated that at 2.5–3.0 h post release, males and females had a median dispersal distance of only 2.0 and 2.5 m respectively. Furthermore, 95% of the males were estimated to have dispersed no more than 5.9 m, and females no more than 6.4 m. 5. Post‐release censuses suggested that flies were most active during mid morning, disappeared from the site at a rate of 10–15% per hour (most likely due to mortality), and survived for less than 2 days. Based on the rate of spread, diel activity, and liberal estimates of longevity in the field, 50% of the ovipositing females were predicted to have had a maximum lifetime range of movement within a patch of hosts of ≤ 51 m (95% were expected to have been limited to ≤ 130 m). 6. These data are used to assess whether the absence of a positive correlation between host‐plant preference and offspring performance in this system could be due to the limited scale of dispersal of this species relative to the spatial scale at which its oviposition behaviour has been studied.     

INSIG: a broadly conserved transmembrane chaperone for sterol-sensing domain proteins

INSIGs are proteins that underlie sterol regulation of the mammalian proteins SCAP (SREBP cleavage activating protein) and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR). The INSIGs perform distinct tasks in the regulation of these effectors: they promote ER retention of SCAP, but ubiquitin-mediated degradation of HMGR. Two questions that arise from the discovery and study of INSIGs are: how do they perform these distinct tasks, and how general are the actions of INSIGs in biology? We now show that the yeast INSIG homologs NSG1 and NSG2 function to control the stability of yeast Hmg2p, the HMGR isozyme that undergoes regulated ubiquitination. Yeast Nsgs inhibit degradation of Hmg2p in a highly specific manner, by directly interacting with the sterol-sensing domain (SSD)-containing transmembrane region. Nsg1p functions naturally to limit degradation of Hmg2p when both proteins are at native levels, indicating a long-standing functional interplay between these two classes of proteins. One way to unify the known, disparate actions of INSIGs is to view them as known adaptations of a chaperone dedicated to SSD-containing client proteins.     

Rabies and canine distemper in an arctic fox population in Alaska

Two oil field workers were attacked by a rabid arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) in the Prudhoe Bay oil field (Alaska, USA) prompting officials to reduce the local fox population. Ninety-nine foxes were killed during winter 1994. We tested foxes for prevalence of rabies and canine distemper. Exposure to rabies was detected in five of 99 foxes. Of the five, only one fox had rabies virus in neural tissue as determined by the direct fluorescent antibody test. The other four foxes had been exposed to rabies, but had apparently produced antibodies and did not have an active infection. No evidence of canine distemper was detected as determined by the absence of distemper antibodies in serum and distemper virus in neural tissue.     

Oestrous behaviour in relation to fertility and fecundity of gilts

The reproductive performance of 2484 gilts was recorded over a 12-month period at a large intensive piggery in southern Australia. Between 29 and 35 weeks of age, gilts were examined daily for response to the back-pressure test (BPT). Those subjectively assessed as showing a moderate or high response were taken to a boar for mating. Gilts that had showed a moderate response to the BPT on their first day of mating had lower average litter size than gilts showing a high BPT response (9.05 and 9.35 piglets, respectively; P < 0.05). A quantitative assessment of sexual receptivity was made while the gilt was with the boar. Gilts that were mated while showing low sexual receptivity on the first day of mating had poorer farrowing rate (78.1 vs. 83.1%, respectively; P < 0.05), as well as lower litter size (9.03 vs. 9.35 piglets, respectively; P < 0.05) than gilts that were mated when showing high sexual receptivity. A moderate BPT response was followed by either low sexual receptivity or failure to mate on 81.4% of occasions, compared with 12.8% for a high BPT response. Since 75% of gilts that showed a moderate BPT response on the first day of mating showed a high response on the following day, it was concluded that mating should only be attempted when gilts exhibit a high response to the BPT. The mean farrowing rate and litter size for gilts at their first farrowing was 82.4% and 9.31 piglets (8.62 alive and 0.69 dead), respectively.     

Progression and Transformation of Clonally Heterogeneous B-cell Lymphoma

Indolent B- cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma can transform into aggressive lymphoma. We extend our prior mathematical model to analyze and predict transformation. To provide additional confidence in our model, we compare it with SCID mouse data for combination therapy of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, an aggressive form of the disease. We develop a two cell model that includes indolent and aggressive clones but no immune response and use it to predict transformation. An approximate model for the time to transformation is derived that provides insight regarding scaling effects. We then add an immune response and therapeutic measures, and illustrate the complex interactions among the various processes, with a focus on transformation. The implications for initial diagnosis and treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma are discussed.     

Vision in click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae): pigments and spectral correspondence between visual sensitivity and species bioluminescence emission

Among lampyrids, intraspecific sexual communication is facilitated by spectral correspondence between visual sensitivity and bioluminescence emission from the single lantern in the tail. Could a similar strategy be utilized by the elaterids (click beetles), which have one ventral abdominal and two dorsal prothoracic lanterns? Spectral sensitivity [S(λ)] and bioluminescence were investigated in four Brazilian click beetle species Fulgeochlizus bruchii, Pyrearinus termitilluminans, Pyrophorus punctatissimus and P. divergens, representing three genera. In addition, in situ microspectrophotometric absorption spectra were obtained for visual and screening pigments in P. punctatissimus and P. divergens species. In all species, the electroretinographic S(λ) functions showed broad peaks in the green with a shoulder in the near-ultraviolet, suggesting the presence of short- and long-wavelength receptors in the compound eyes. The long-wavelength receptor in Pyrophorus species is mediated by a P540 rhodopsin in conjunction with a species-specific screening pigment. A correspondence was found between green to yellow bioluminescence emissions and its broad S(λ) maximum in each of the four species. It is hypothesized that in elaterids, bioluminescence of the abdominal lantern is an optical signal for intraspecifc sexual communication, while the signals from the prothoracic lanterns serve to warn predators and may also provide illumination in flight.