Interaction of Photoprotective and Acclimation Mechanisms in Ulva rigida (Chlorophyta) in Response to Diurnal Changes in Solar Radiation in Southern Chile

Species of the genus Ulva (Chlorophyta) are regarded as opportunistic organisms, which efficiently adjust their metabolism to the prevailing environmental conditions. In this study, changes in chlorophyll‐a fluorescence‐based photoinhibition of photosynthesis, electron transport rates, photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation, total phenolic compounds, and antioxidant metabolism were investigated during a diurnal cycle of natural solar radiation in summer (for 12 h) under two treatments: photosynthetically active radiation (PAR: 400–700 nm) and PAR+ ultraviolet (UV) radiation (280–700 nm). In the presence of PAR alone, Ulva rigida showed dynamic photoinhibition, and photosynthetic parameters and pigment concentrations decreased with the intensification of the radiation. On the other hand, under PAR+UV conditions a substantial decline up to 43% was detected and an incomplete fluorescence recovery, also, P‐I curve values remained low in relation to the initial condition. The phenolic compounds increased their concentration only in UV radiation treatments without showing a correlation with the antioxidant activity. The enzimatic activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) increased over 2‐fold respect at initial values during the onset of light intensity. In contrast, catalase (CAT) increased its activity rapidly in response to the radiation stress to reach maxima at 10 a.m. and decreasing during solar. The present study suggests that U. rigida is capable of acclimating to natural radiation stress relies on a concerted action of various physiological mechanisms that act at different times of the day and under different levels of environmental stress.     

Degree of Hybridization in Seed Stands of Pinus engelmannii Carr. In the Sierra Madre Occidental,Durango, Mexico

Hybridization is an important evolutionary force, because interspecific gene transfer can introduce more new genetic material than is directly generated by mutations. Pinus engelmannii Carr. is one of the nine most common pine species in the pine-oak forest ecoregion in the state of Durango, Mexico. This species is widely harvested for lumber and is also used in reforestation programmes. Interspecific hybrids between P.engelmannii and Pinus arizonica Engelm. have been detected by morphological analysis. The presence of hybrids in P. engelmannii seed stands may affect seed quality and reforestation success. Therefore, the goals of this research were to identify introgressive hybridization between P. engelmannii and other pine species in eight seed stands of this species in Durango, Mexico, and to examine how hybrid proportion is related to mean genetic dissimilarity between trees in these stands, using Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) markers and morphological traits. Differences in the average current annual increment of putative hybrids and pure trees were also tested for statistical significance. Morphological and genetic analyses of 280 adult trees were carried out. Putative hybrids were found in all the seed stands studied. The hybrids did not differ from the pure trees in vigour or robustness. All stands with putative P. engelmannii hybrids detected by both AFLPs and morphological traits showed the highest average values of the Tanimoto distance, which indicates: i) more heterogeneous genetic material, ii) higher genetic variation and therefore iii) the higher evolutionary potential of these stands, and iv) that the morphological differentiation (hybrid/not hybrid) is strongly associated with the Tanimoto distance per stand. We conclude that natural pairwise hybrids are very common in the studied stands. Both morphological and molecular approaches are necessary to confirm the genetic identity of forest reproductive material.     

Parameter identification of the calvin photosynthesis cycle

Summary This article is concerned with the determination of kinetic parameters of the Calvin photosynthesis cycle which is described by seventeen nonlinear ordinary differential equations. It is shown that the task requires dynamic data for several sets of initial conditions. The numerical technique is based upon an algorithm for non-linear optimization and Gear's numerical integration scheme for stiff systems of differential equations. The sensitivity of the parameters to noise in the data is tested with a method adapted from Rosenbrook and Storey. A preliminary set of parameters has been obtained from a preliminary set of experimental data. The numerical methods are then tested with synthetic data derived from these parameters. The mathematical model and the results obtained in the simulation are used as an aid in designing new experiments.     

Dissimilarities in auditory tuning in midwife toads of the genus Alytes (Amphibia: Anura)

The auditory sensitivity in three species of the anuran genus Alytes (Alytidae) was examined to determine patterns of intra‐ and interspecific variation, relating these measurements to behavioural preferences measured in previous studies and to the adaptive and evolutionary significance of this sensory function. The audiograms obtained with multi‐unit recordings in the torus semicircularis of 13 Alytes cisternasii, 10 Alytes obstetricans, and eight Alytes dickhilleni show two regions of enhanced sensitivity, between approximately 100–500 and 1200–2400 Hz, with minimum thresholds at approximately 40 and 45 dB SPL, respectively. The mean and range of the high‐frequency region differed among species, although the sensitivity, measured as minimum thresholds, was similar. The region of high‐frequency sensitivity was centred at approximately the frequency of the advertisement call in A. cisternasii but, in A. obstetricans and A. dickhilleni, was centred at frequencies higher than the conspecific calls. These results contrast with preferences for lower frequencies exhibited by Alytes in female phonotactic and in male evoked vocal responses. Such loose relationships between signals and receivers suggest that the divergence of the sound communication system in Alytes has implied environmental and phylogenetic factors in addition to sexual selection processes.     

Economic impact of cystic echinococcosis in peru

Background

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) constitutes an important public health problem in Peru. However, no studies have attempted to estimate the monetary and non-monetary impact of CE in Peruvian society.

Methods

We used official and published sources of epidemiological and economic information to estimate direct and indirect costs associated with livestock production losses and human disease in addition to surgical CE-associated disability adjusted life years (DALYs) lost.

Findings

The total estimated cost of human CE in Peru was U.S.$2,420,348 (95% CI:1,118,384–4,812,722) per year. Total estimated livestock-associated costs due to CE ranged from U.S.$196,681 (95% CI:141,641–251,629) if only direct losses (i.e., cattle and sheep liver destruction) were taken into consideration to U.S.$3,846,754 (95% CI:2,676,181–4,911,383) if additional production losses (liver condemnation, decreased carcass weight, wool losses, decreased milk production) were accounted for. An estimated 1,139 (95% CI: 861–1,489) DALYs were also lost due to surgical cases of CE.

Conclusions

This preliminary and conservative assessment of the socio-economic impact of CE on Peru, which is based largely on official sources of information, very likely underestimates the true extent of the problem. Nevertheless, these estimates illustrate the negative economic impact of CE in Peru.     

Polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern in liver and erythrocyte phospholipids from obese patients

Objective: Our aim was to study the fatty acid (FA) composition of liver phospholipids and its relation to that in erythrocyte membranes from patients with obese nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), as an indication of lipid metabolism alterations leading to steatosis. Research Methods and Procedures: Eight control subjects who underwent antireflux surgery and 12 obese patients with NAFLD who underwent subtotal gastrectomy with a gastro‐jejunal anastomosis in Roux‐en‐Y were studied. The oxidative stress status of patients was assessed by serum F₂‐isoprostanes levels (gas chromatography/negative ion chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry). Analysis of FA composition of liver and erythrocyte phospholipids was carried out by gas‐liquid chromatography. Results: Patients with NAFLD showed serum F₂‐isoprostanes levels 84% higher than controls. Compared with controls, liver phospholipids from obese patients exhibited significantly 1) lower levels of 20:4n‐6, 22:5n‐3, 22:6n‐3 [docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)], total long‐chain polyunsaturated FA (LCPUFA), and total n‐3 LCPUFA, 2) higher 22:5n‐6 [docosapentaenoic acid (DPAn‐6)] levels and n‐6/n‐3 LCPUFA ratios, and 3) comparable levels of n‐6 LCPUFA. Levels of DHA and DPAn‐6 in liver were positively correlated with those in erythrocytes (r = 0.77 and r = 0.90, respectively; p < 0.0001), whereas DHA and DPAn‐6 showed a negative association in both tissues (r = ?0.79, p < 0.0001 and r = ?0.58, p < 0.01, respectively), associated with lower DHA/DPAn‐6 ratios. Discussion: Obese patients with NAFLD showed marked alterations in the polyunsaturated fatty acid pattern of the liver. These changes are significantly correlated with those found in erythrocytes, thus suggesting that erythrocyte FA composition could be a reliable indicator of derangements in liver lipid metabolism in obese patients.     

Six2 is required for suppression of nephrogenesis and progenitor renewal in the developing kidney

During kidney development and in response to inductive signals, the metanephric mesenchyme aggregates, becomes polarized, and generates much of the epithelia of the nephron. As such, the metanephric mesenchyme is a renal progenitor cell population that must be replenished as epithelial derivatives are continuously generated. The molecular mechanisms that maintain the undifferentiated state of the metanephric mesenchymal precursor cells have not yet been identified. In this paper, we report that functional inactivation of the homeobox gene Six2 results in premature and ectopic differentiation of mesenchymal cells into epithelia and depletion of the progenitor cell population within the metanephric mesenchyme. Failure to renew the mesenchymal cells results in severe renal hypoplasia. Gain of Six2 function in cortical metanephric mesenchymal cells was sufficient to prevent their epithelial differentiation in an organ culture assay. We propose that in the developing kidney, Six2 activity is required for maintaining the mesenchymal progenitor population in an undifferentiated state by opposing the inductive signals emanating from the ureteric bud.