Spectrographic Description of Vocalizations in Captive Otolemur garnettii

To advance knowledge of the vocal communication associated with close proximity social interactions in Garnett's greater bush baby (Otolemur garnettii), we measured acoustic and temporal properties of vocalizations from videotaped recordings of captives in two main social contexts: mother-infant interactions and adult male-female pair introductions and reintroductions. We used a real-time sonagraph or software program to display, edit, and analyze vocal waveforms, and to provide wideband and narrowband spectrograms. Vocalization characteristics measured include fundamental frequency (via inspection of harmonics) and spectral features such as formant frequency, intensity, and duration. The vocal repertoire contained 4 major types of vocalizations: 1) barks and complex multiple bark sequences, 2) low frequency flutter/hums and growls, 3) high frequency clicks and spits, and 4) noisy shrieks. We describe several vocalizations for the first time and provide a clear classification of some of them on the basis of call durations (long/short growls). Complex bark sequences, previously described as distant communication calls, were invariant and were not often emitted by individuals when in close proximity. When classified spectrographically, the remaining 3 call types, which occurred when individuals were in close proximity, were less stereotypical, and gradations within call types were apparent. Our results show that although nocturnal and non-gregarious, complex communicatory signals of bush babies constitute a vocal repertoire formerly thought to be characteristic only of diurnal, gregarious primates.     

Livestock Water Use and Productivity in the Nile Basin

Livestock are the major consumers of water but also sustain millions of pastoralist and farming families. In regions where water is a scarce commodity, such as the Nile basin, there is a need for strategies to improve livestock water productivity (LWP). This study seeks to contribute to this need through a better understanding of livestock water use and productivity within the Nile basin and how this varies across the basin. We developed a spatial framework combining dynamic models of digestion in ruminants, crop water requirements (CWRs), and animal drinking water requirements to estimate spatial distribution of livestock water requirements in different livestock production systems (LPSs). We compared this with livestock production and water availability estimates within the basin. The results show that in most areas LWP is less than 0.1 USD/m³, with only few areas showing a LWP of 0.5 USD/m³ and higher. This is largely related to very low livestock meat and milk production on one hand and very variable, but, in general, low feed water productivity (fWP). Total water need for feed production was estimated to be roughly 94 billion m³, which amounts to approximately 5% of the total annual rainfall (68 billion m³ or 3.6% of total annual rainfall when excluding water for residues). Differences in LWP between systems and regions are large, suggesting considerable scope for improvements. We discuss the main factors influencing observed patterns of LWP and livestock water use and how this information can be used for developing strategies for increasing the water productivity of agricultural systems at the basin level.     

BioScore–Cost-effective assessment of policy impact on biodiversity using species sensitivity scores

Human-induced pressures are known to be one of the main causes of biodiversity loss. In order to readily assess policy impacts on biodiversity, a cost-effective evaluation tool is developed, using species sensitivity scores. We demonstrate the potential effects of a selected policy option, being woody bioenergy crop production, on a wide range of species groups in Europe. Large-scale expansions of woody biofuel plantations would have a net negative effect on the species set covered in our study, with little variation among biogeographical regions, but with considerable differences among species groups. The evaluation tool enables policy makers to assess the potential impact of decisions on future biodiversity.     

Three-dimensional co-culture of primary human liver cells in bioreactors for in vitro drug studies: effects of the initial cell quality on the long-term maintenance of hepatocyte-specific functions

In vitro culture models that employ human liver cells could be potent tools for predictive studies on drug toxicity and metabolism in the pharmaceutical industry. A bioreactor culture model was developed that permits the three-dimensional co-culture of liver cells under continuous medium perfusion with decentralised mass exchange and integral oxygenation. We tested the ability of the system to support the long-term maintenance and differentiation of primary human liver cells. The effects of the initial cell quality were investigated by comparing cultures from resected, non-preserved liver with cultures from liver graft tissue damaged by long-term preservation. In cultures originating from non-preserved liver, protein and urea synthesis, glucose metabolism, and cytochrome (CYP450) activities were stable over the 2-week culture period, with maximal activities at the end of the first week in culture. Enzyme induction led to increased 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities of up to 20 times the basal value. In cultures from preservation-damaged liver, recovery of metabolic activities was detected during bioreactor culture. After two weeks, most biochemical parameters approached those of cultures from non-preserved human liver. Light microscopy demonstrated the three-dimensional reorganisation of hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cells in co-culture. Long-term maintenance, and even the regeneration of specific functional activities of human liver cells, can be achieved in the bioreactor. This could facilitate the introduction into the pharmaceutical industry of in vitro drug testing with primary human liver cells.     

The genome revolution in vaccine research

The conventional approach to vaccine development is based on dissection of the pathogen using biochemical, immunological and microbiological methods. Although successful in several cases, this approach has failed to provide a solution to prevent several major bacterial infections. The availability of complete genome sequences in combination with novel advanced technologies, such as bioinformatics, microarrays and proteomics, have revolutionized the approach to vaccine development and provided a new impulse to microbial research. The genomic revolution allows the design of vaccines starting from the prediction of all antigens in silico, independently of their abundance and without the need to grow the pathogen in vitro. This new genome-based approach, which we have named "Reverse Vaccinology", has been successfully applied for Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B for which conventional strategies have failed to provide an efficacious vaccine. The concept of "Reverse Vaccinology" can be easily applied to all the pathogens for which vaccines are not yet available and can be extended to parasites and viruses.     

Reproductive performance of yellowtail rockfish,Sebastes flavidus

Synopsis Field and laboratory studies were conducted for 3 years on the yellowtail rockfish,Sebastes flavidus, from Cordell Bank, California, in order to characterize the reproduction of this species whose northern stocks have declined. Research findings included reversal of the sex ratios and male-female ages and sizes at age throughout the annual cycle, heavier and longer, females at age than males after sexual maturation, maturation of females at 6 and males at 8 years, long reproductive lifespans, distinct male and female gonadosomatic index patterns over the annual cycle, age- and size-specific fecundity, no difference between potential and realized fecundity and the seasonal changes associated with gonadogenesis. The reproductive profile of the Cordell Bank yellowtail rockfish provided a base for comparison with northern populations that appeared to differ, especially in age and size.     

Dispase-Mediated Basal Detachment of Cultured Keratinocytes Induces Urokinase-type Plasminogen Activator (uPA) and Its Receptor (uPA-R, CD87)

Keratinocytes synthesize and secrete urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), which is bound in an autocrine manner to a specific receptor (uPA-R, CD87) at their surface. Plasminogen, which is also bound to membrane binding sites, is readily activated by uPA-R-bound uPA. Thus, plasmin for proteolysis of pericullular glycoproteins is provided. While uPA-R and uPA are at low to undetectable levels in keratinocytes of the normal epidermis, both compounds are upregulated in migrating keratinocytes during reepithelialization of epidermal defects and in affected keratinocytes of various epidermal disorders, including bullous dermatoses. We have hypothesized that the disturbance of cell/matrix interactions—a common feature of these diverse pathological situations—induces uPA/uPA-R. Accordingly, we explored whether the dispase-mediated detachment of cultured keratinocytes, which have formed a multilayered epidermis-like structurein vitro,induced uPA and uPA-R. We found increases in uPA secretion, cell-associated uPA activity, and uPA- and uPA-R-antigen in keratinocytes upon dispase-mediated detachment from their growth substratum. The increase was preceded by an increase in uPA-R- and uPA-specific mRNA, which was not observed when the proteinase inhibitor phosphoramidon was added together with dispase. In conclusion, we present evidence that experimental detachment with dispase provides signals for the concomitant upregulation of uPA-R and uPA. The findings support the hypothesis that cell/matrix interactions may influence the expression of the cell surface-associated PA system in human keratinocytes.