Sex differences in the electrocommunication signals of the electric fish Apteronotus bonapartii

The South American weakly-electric knifefish (Apteronotidae) produce highly diverse and readily quantifiable electrocommunication signals. The electric organ discharge frequency (EODf), and EOD modulations (chirps and gradual frequency rises (GFRs)), vary dramatically across sexes and species, presenting an ideal opportunity to examine the proximate and ultimate bases of sexually dimorphic behavior. We complemented previous studies on the sexual dimorphism of apteronotid communication signals by investigating electric signal features and their hormonal correlates in Apteronotus bonapartii, a species which exhibits strong sexual dimorphism in snout morphology. Electrocommunication signals were evoked and recorded using a playback paradigm, and were analyzed for signal features including EOD frequency and the structure of EOD modulations. To investigate the androgenic correlates of sexually dimorphic EOD signals, we measured plasma concentrations of testosterone and 11-ketotestosterone. A. bonapartii responded robustly to stimulus playbacks. EODf was sexually monomorphic, and males and females produced chirps with similar durations and amounts of frequency modulation. However, males were more likely than females to produce chirps with multiple frequency peaks. Sexual dimorphism in apteronotid electrocommunication signals appears to be highly evolutionarily labile. Extensive interspecific variation in the magnitude and direction of sex differences in EODf and in different aspects of chirp structure suggest that chirp signals may be an important locus of evolutionary change within the clade. The weakly-electric fish represent a rich source of data for understanding the selective pressures that shape, and the neuroendocrine mechanisms that underlie, diversity in the sexual dimorphism of behavior.     

Water and ions in a high resolution structure of B-DNA.

A detailed picture of hydration and counterion location in the B-DNA duplex d(GCGAATTCG) is presented. Detailed data have been obtained by single crystal x-ray diffraction at atomic resolution (0.89 A) in the presence of Mg(2+). The latter is the highest resolution ever obtained for a B-DNA oligonucleotide. Minor groove hydration is compared with that found in the Na(+) and Ca(2+) crystal forms of the related dodecamer d(CGCGAATTCGCG). High resolution data (1.45 A) of the Ca(2+) form obtained in our laboratory are used for that purpose. The central GAATTC has a very stable hydration spine identical in all cases, independent of duplex length and crystallization conditions (counterions, space group). However, the organization of the water molecules (tertiary and quaternary layers) associated with the central spine vary in each case.     

Effect of different carbohydrate drinks on whole body carbohydrate storage after exhaustive exercise.

Seven untrained male subjects participated in a double-blind, crossover study conducted to determine the efficacy of different carbohydrate drinks in promoting carbohydrate storage in the whole body and skeletal muscle during recovery from exhaustive exercise. The postabsorptive subjects first completed an exercise protocol designed to deplete muscle fibers of glycogen, then consumed 330 ml of one of three carbohydrate drinks (18.5% glucose polymer, 18.5% sucrose, or 12% sucrose; wt/vol) and also received a primed constant infusion of [1-(13)C]glucose for 2 h. Nonoxidative glucose disposal (3.51 +/- 0.28, 18.5% glucose polymer; 2.96 +/- 0.32, 18.5% sucrose; 2.97 +/- 0.16, 12% sucrose; all mmol. kg(-1). h(-1)) and storage of muscle glycogen (5.31 +/- 1.11, 18.5% glucose polymer; 4.07 +/- 1.05, 18.5% sucrose; 3.45 +/- 0.85, 12% sucrose; all mmol. kg wet wt(-1). h(-1); P < 0.05) were greater after consumption of the glucose polymer drink than after either sucrose drink. The results suggest that the consumption of a glucose polymer drink (containing 61 g carbohydrate) promotes a more rapid storage of carbohydrate in the whole body, skeletal muscle in particular, than an isoenergetic sucrose drink.     

Isolation of microsatellite loci in the Capricorn silvereye,Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus (Aves: Zosteropidae)

The Capricorn silvereye (Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus) is ideally suited to investigating the genetic basis of body size evolution. We have isolated and characterized a set of microsatellite markers for this species. Seven out of 11 loci were polymorphic. The number of alleles detected ranged from two to five and observed heterozygosities between 0.12 and 0.67. One locus, ZL49, was found to be sex‐linked. This moderate level of diversity is consistent with that expected in an isolated, island population.     

Transport of amino acids and ammonium in mycelium of Agaricus bisporus.

Mycelium of Agaricus bisporus took up methylamine (MA), glutamate, glutamine and arginine by high-affinity transport systems following Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The activities of these systems were influenced by the nitrogen source used for mycelial growth. Moreover, MA, glutamate and glutamine uptakes were derepressed by nitrogen starvation, whereas arginine uptake was repressed. The two ammonium-specific transport systems with different affinities and capacities were inhibited by NH(+)(4), with a K(i) of 3.7 microM for the high-velocity system. The K(m) values for glutamate, glutamine and arginine transport were 124, 151 and 32 microM, respectively. Inhibition of arginine uptake by lysine and histidine showed that they are competitive inhibitors. MA, glutamate and glutamine uptake was inversely proportional to the intracellular NH(+)(4) concentration. Moreover, increase of the intracellular NH(+)(4) level caused by PPT (DL-phosphinotricin) resulted in an immediate cessation of MA, glutamine and glutamate uptake. It seems that the intracellular NH(+)(4) concentration regulates its own influx by feedback-inhibition of the uptake system and probably also its efflux which becomes apparent when mycelium is grown on protein. Addition of extracellular NH(+)(4) did not inhibit glutamine uptake, suggesting that NH(+)(4) and glutamine are equally preferred nitrogen sources. The physiological importance of these uptake systems for the utilization of nitrogen compounds by A. bisporus is discussed.     

One possible way to affect the impurity influx into the plasma of a stellarator with poloidal slits in the vacuum wall

A possible way to affect the influxes of heavy impurities into the plasma of a stellarator with poloidal slits in the vacuum wall (e.g., the W7-AS stellarator) by RF heating of the impurities is discussed. It is shown that the influxes can be reversed in direction by applying a relatively low RF power. The design features of the W7-AS stellarator are such that there is no need to place additional antennas inside the vacuum chamber.