Sexual dimorphism of body size and sternopleural bristle number: a comparison of geographic populations of an invasive cosmopolitan drosophilid

Zaprionus indianus is a cosmopolitan drosophilid, of Afrotropical origin, which has recently colonized South America. The sexual dimorphism (SD) of body size is low, males being almost as big as females. We investigated 10 natural populations, 5 from America and 5 from Africa, using the isofemale line technique. Three traits were measured on each fly: wing and thorax length and sternopleural bristle number. Two indices of SD were compared, and found to be highly correlated (r > 0.99). For the sake of simplicity, only the female/male (F/M) ratio was further considered. A significant genetic variability of SD was found in all cases, although with a low heritability (intra-class correlation of 0.13), about half the value found for the traits themselves. For size SD, we did not find any variation among continents or any latitudinal trend, and average values were 1.02 for wing length and 1.01 for thorax length. Bristle number SD was much greater (1.07). Among mass laboratory strains, SD was genetically much more variable than in recently collected populations, a likely consequence of laboratory drift. Altogether, SD, although genetically variable and prone to laboratory drift, is independent of size variations and presumably submitted to a stabilizing selection in nature.     

Energy transfer and trapping in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Synechococcus</Emphasis> WH 7803

Excitation energy transfer (EET) and trapping in Synechococcus WH 7803 whole cells and isolated photosystem I (PSI) complexes have been studied by time-resolved emission spectroscopy at room temperature (RT) and at 77 K. With the help of global and target analysis, the pathways of EET and the charge separation dynamics have been identified. Energy absorbed in the phycobilisome (PB) rods by the abundant phycoerythrin (PE) is funneled to phycocyanin (PC645) and from there to the core that contains allophycocyanin (APC660 and APC680). Intra-PB EET rates have been estimated to range from 11 to 68/ns. It was estimated that at RT, the terminal emitter of the phycobilisome, APC680, transfers its energy at a rate of 90/ns to PSI and at a rate of 50/ns to PSII. At 77 K, the redshifted Chl a states in the PSI core were heterogeneous, with maximum emission at 697 and 707 nm. In 72% of the PSI complexes, the bulk Chl a in equilibrium with F697 decayed with a main trapping lifetime of 39 ps.     

Lysophosphatidic acid‐triggered pathways promote the acquisition of trophoblast endovascular phenotype in vitro

Successful implantation and placentation requires that extravillous cytotrophoblast acquires an endovascular phenotype and remodels uterine spiral arteries. Defects in this mechanism correlate with severe obstetric complications as implantation failure and preeclampsia. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) participates in embryo implantation and contributes to vascular physiology in different biological systems. However, the role of LPA on trophoblast endovascular transformation has not been studied. Due to difficulties in studying human pregnancy in vivo, we adopted a pharmacological approach in vitro to investigate LPA action in various aspects of trophoblast endovascular response, such as the formation of endothelial capillary‐like structures, migration, and proliferation. The HTR‐8/SVneo cell line established from human first trimester cytotrophoblast was used to model the acquisition of the endovascular phenotype by the invading trophoblast. LPA increased HTR‐8/SVneo tube formation, migration (wound healing assay and phalloidin staining) and proliferation (MTT assay). LPA G protein‐coupled receptors, LPA₁ and LPA₃, were expressed in HTR‐8/SVneo. By using selective antagonists, we showed that enhanced tubulogenesis was mediated by LPA₃. In addition, cyclooxygenase‐2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase pathways participated in LPA‐stimulated tubulogenesis. Inducible nitric oxide synthase was activated downstream cyclooxygenase‐2. Furthermore, prostaglandin E2 and a nitric oxide donor (SNAP) increased trophoblast tube formation in a concentration‐dependent manner. Finally, we observed that cyclooxygenase‐2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase were localized in the nucleus, and LPA did not modify their cellular distribution. Our results show that LPA‐triggered regulatory pathways promote trophoblast endovascular response in vitro, suggesting a new role for LPA during spiral artery remodeling at the maternal‐fetal interface.     

湿地资源保护经济学分析——以北京野鸭湖湿地为例

湿地资源保护是全球生态保护的核心问题之一。在分析湿地资源保护的经济属性的基础上,以北京市野鸭湖湿地为案例,运用经济学的理论和方法以及清晰的图表重点分析了野鸭湖湿地资源保护过程中的外部性以及资源利用中成本与收益两个问题。研究结果表明:(1)从正外部性分析,个人收益小于社会收益,个人保护的湿地资源小于社会最优量,会造成湿地资源保护的不足;从负外部性分析,个人成本小于社会成本,个人对湿地资源的利用水平大于社会最优利用水平,造成湿地资源的过度利用;(2)根据湿地资源利用的成本收益分析结果,"搭便车"行为会造成湿地资源的退化甚至恶化;(3)明晰产权有利于湿地资源配置效率的提高。研究结果可以为中国湿地保护过程中出现的资源利用矛盾提供有益的借鉴,特别是为保护北京野鸭湖湿地提供理论支撑和政策建议。     

In vitro survival of murine morulae after quick freezing in the presence of chemically defined macromolecules and different cryoprotectants

We studied the ability of frozen-thawed mouse morulae to develop in vitro when the cryoprotectant proteins were substituted with one of the following nonorganic macromolecules: polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP), and ficoll. We also determined how these agents interacted with 3 different cryoprotectants: glycerol (GLY), propylene glycol (PG), and ethylene glycol (EG). The influence of both of the above factors was measured on the basis of post-thaw morphological appearance, the percentage of development to the expanded blastocyst stage and the total cell count. Morulae (n=950) were collected from superovulated mice. Those classified as good or excellent were distributed among the 12 different freezing solutions, obtained by combining the 3 cryoprotectants with the 4 macromolecules (the 3 mentioned above, plus a control of 5% fetal calf serum) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Embryos frozen in PVA, PVP and ficoll tended to be a little difficult to recover from the straws. Development to the expanded blastocyst stage was significantly lower (P<0.05) in propylene glycol (43.6%) than in ethylene glycol (79.5%) or in glycerol (76.1%). Polyvinyl alcohol provided a higher survival rate when combined with glycerol (90.3) or ethylene glycol (95.0), but when it was combined with propylene glycol, only 56.5% of embryos survived after thawing. A positive interaction was observed between glycerol and PVA and between ethylene glycol and PVA or ficoll. The results indicate that fetal serum could be successfully substituted for any of the 3 chemically defined macromolecules. However, our findings also suggest that the use of PG as a cryoprotectant should be avoided when mouse morulae are frozen using the quick freezing method.     

古尔班通古特沙漠南缘草本层对积雪变化的响应

草本层是古尔班通古特沙漠植物群落下层层片的构建者, 冬季积雪提供了其生长发育所需要的主要水分, 积雪的增加或减少对草本植物数量和生物量会产生显著的影响。该研究利用人工增减积雪的方法, 在古尔班通古特沙漠南缘设置了5个不同厚度的积雪处理: 0积雪、50%积雪、100%积雪、150%积雪和200%积雪, 其中100%积雪为自然积雪。采用1 m × 1 m的样方, 对草本层片的物种数、盖度、密度、高度进行了调查, 还采用收获法测定了草本层片的地上生物量和优势种小花荆芥(Nepeta micrantha)的单株地上生物量。对研究区内13个科29种草本植物的研究表明: 1)单位面积出土幼苗数量跟积雪厚度呈显著正相关关系, 草本层片的盖度、密度对积雪的变化响应显著, 随着积雪增加, 草本层片的密度和盖度呈递增趋势, 而草本层片的平均高度呈递减趋势, 但不同积雪处理间的物种数和总地上生物量没有显著差异; 2)积雪厚度与优势种的株高和地上生物量呈显著负相关关系, 积雪的增加导致优势种的单株生物量和株高显著降低; 3)积雪厚度的变化主要影响了草本层片植物种子萌发的数量, 但对物种数量没有显著影响。这表明: 虽然积雪是草本植物的主要水分来源之一, 但荒漠植物群落的草本植物对积雪的变化具有很强的缓冲能力, 即使积雪很少, 草本层片的物种构成也不会发生显著变化, 草本层片的净初级生产力也保持相对稳定。     

Bats of the Gulf of Guinea islands: faunal composition and origins

The present study compares the bat faunas of the islands of the Gulf of Guinea. Species composition. endemism and hypothetical origins are discussed. All families present in the mainland region are found in Bioko, a typical landbridge island. Foliage gleaning guild species (Nycteridae) show limited colonization abilities. This is also true of the family Rhinolophidae, but not for the closely related family Hipposideridae. The majority of the oceanic island species are African bats which show a widespread distribution and, therefore, have a high ecological plasticity. The continental relatives of the two endemic species Myonycteris brachycephala and Chaerephon tomensis are restricted to relatively small forested areas. Bioko's bat fauna is the result of the recent isolation from a formerly land-connected community. The oceanic bat faunas originated from the establishment of incomers from other areas. Nevertheless, extinction appears in both vicariant and dispersal processes, as an important factor in modelling the current bat communities of the Gulf of Guinea islands.     

嘉陵江四川段藻类植物群落结构及水质评价

为了揭示嘉陵江四川段藻类植物的群落结构特征和水质现状,分别于枯水期(1月)和丰水期(9月)沿江段至上而下分析了12个样点藻类群落的种类组成、Shannon多样性指数（H′）、Pielou均匀度指数（E）和Margalef丰富度指数（d).结果表明: 嘉陵江四川段共采集到藻类植物8门42科95属171种(包括变种),其中硅藻、绿藻和蓝藻为各样点的优势类群.整个江段枯水期藻类植物的平均细胞密度为14.71×10⁴ ind·L^-1,金溪和红岩子样点的密度最高,分别为28.33×10⁴和25.40×10⁴ ind·L^-1;群落中以硅藻的物种数量最为丰富.丰水期藻类植物的平均细胞密度为10.78×10⁴ ind·L^-1,以青居样点的密度最低,仅3.31×10⁴ind·L^-1,绿藻和蓝藻物种数量有所增加.整个江段12个样点枯水期和丰水期的平均d、平均H′和平均E分别为2.35、1.60、0.31和2.57、2.09和0.39.嘉陵江四川段的藻类植物群落结构、细胞密度、多样性指数和均匀度指数的时空分布格局差异显著.水质整体为中污染型,其中金溪和沙溪样点为寡污型或β中污型,水质较好;苍溪、红岩子、新政和青居样点水质较差,属α中-污型.     

α-硫辛酸对H9c2细胞在H2O2导致的氧化应激损伤中的保护作用

缺血再灌注产生的氧自由基会导致心肌细胞凋亡. 近年研究发现, α-硫辛酸（α-lipoic acid, LA）具有抗氧化作用, 但LA是否能够对抗心肌细胞凋亡, 保护心脏功能的作用尚未明确. 本研究利用H2O2诱导的心肌细胞H9c2氧化应激模型, 分别用CCK 8方法检测细胞存活率、Hoechst33342染色观察细胞核的形态变化、流式细胞术检测细胞凋亡率、real time PCR法检测Bcl 2/Bax基因表达变化, 评价LA是否具有对抗氧化损伤引起的心肌细胞凋亡能力. 结果显示, LA能提高H2O2损伤的H9c2细胞存活率, 降低心肌细胞凋亡, 而且LA通过上调Bcl 2的表达而发挥抑制细胞凋亡的作用. 研究结果证实, LA对氧化应激损伤的心肌细胞具有较好的保护作用. 该研究为LA在临床上用于治疗氧化应激引起的心肌细胞凋亡提供了实验依据.