Too much of a good thing: sea ice extent may have forced emperor penguins into refugia during the last glacial maximum

The relationship between population structure and demographic history is critical to understanding microevolution and for predicting the resilience of species to environmental change. Using mitochondrial DNA from extant colonies and radiocarbon‐dated subfossils, we present the first microevolutionary analysis of emperor penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) and show their population trends throughout the last glacial maximum (LGM, 19.5–16 kya) and during the subsequent period of warming and sea ice retreat. We found evidence for three mitochondrial clades within emperor penguins, suggesting that they were isolated within three glacial refugia during the LGM. One of these clades has remained largely isolated within the Ross Sea, while the two other clades have intermixed around the coast of Antarctica from Adélie Land to the Weddell Sea. The differentiation of the Ross Sea population has been preserved despite rapid population growth and opportunities for migration. Low effective population sizes during the LGM, followed by a rapid expansion around the beginning of the Holocene, suggest that an optimum set of sea ice conditions exist for emperor penguins, corresponding to available foraging area.     

Crystal Structure of Fad35R from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv in the Apo-State

Fad35R from Mycobacterium tuberculosis binds to the promoter site of Fad35 operon and its DNA binding activities are reduced in the presence of tetracycline and palmitoyl-CoA. We resolved the crystal structure of Fad35R using single-wavelength anomalous diffraction method (SAD). Fad35R comprises canonical DNA binding domain (DBD) and ligand binding domain (LBD), but displays several distinct structural features. Two recognition helices of two monomers in the homodimer are separated by ~ 48 Å and two core triangle-shaped ligand binding cavities are well exposed to solvent. Structural comparison with DesT and QacR structures suggests that ligand binding-induced movement of α7, which adopts a straight conformation in the Fad35R, may be crucial to switch the conformational states between repressive and derepressive forms. Two DBDs are packed asymmetrically, creating an alternative dimer interface which coincides with the possible tetramer interface that connects the two canonical dimers. Quaternary state of alternative dimer mimics a closed-state structure in which two recognition helices are distanced at ~ 35 Å and ligand binding pockets are inaccessible. Results of biophysical studies indicate that Fad35R has the propensity to oligomerize in solution in the presence of tetracycline. We present the first structure of a FadR homologue from mycobacterium and the structure reveals DNA and ligand binding features of Fad35R and also provides a view on alternative quaternary states that mimic open and closed forms of the regulator.     

An early Miocene deep‐water decapod crustacean faunule from the Vienna Basin (Western Carpathians,Slovakia)

Abstract: A decapod crustacean faunule from the lower Miocene (upper Burdigalian, ‘Karpatian’) of the Slovakian part of the Vienna Basin comprise five new species: Callianopsis marianae (Ctenochelidae), Crosniera schweitzerae (Thomassiniidae), Agononida cerovensis and Munidopsis lieskovensis (both Galatheidae) plus Mursia harnicari (Calappidae). The new species of Callianopsis is the first undoubted member of the genus to be recorded from Europe; it is based on sexually dimorphic major and minor chelae as well as on portions of carapace and abdomen. Crosniera schweitzerae sp. nov. and Agononida cerovensis sp. nov. constitute the first fossil members of these genera. Additional material of an enigmatic crab, Styrioplax exiguus, and a re‐examination of the type material, confirms assignment of that genus to the subfamily Rhizopinae (family Pilumnidae). Palaeoecological data suggest that deposition of the levels (Lak?árska Nová Ves Formation) from which these taxa were collected took place under generally low‐energy, deep‐water conditions that were conducive to the preservation of delicate structures. Palaeobiogeographical affinities of the described taxa suggest a trans‐Atlantic migration during the early Miocene.     

Evaluating the importance of residual effects from previous years' treatment on the efficiency of different strategies for control of Sahelian grasshoppers with Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum

A model for the residual effect of previous years' treatment with the mycoinsecticide Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum has been constructed based on field data from treatment of two different grasshopper species in east Niger. This model was incorporated in an earlier developed simulation model to evaluate control strategies for the grasshopper Oedaleus senegalensis in West Africa and the model system was used to assess the potential importance of second year's residual effects for the efficiency of different treatment strategies. It has earlier been hypothesized that the persistence of M. anisopliae and the ability of this agent to impose long-term control on grasshopper populations through secondary cycling in some cases might render the use of M. anisopliae more efficient than the use of chemical insecticides like fenitrothion. Results show that this effect is possible if M. anisopliae is used in a repetitive treatment strategy where control operations are concentrated in the main millet production areas.     

Cost-effectiveness of a structured progressive task-oriented circuit class training programme to enhance walking competency after stroke: The protocol of the FIT-Stroke trial

Background  

Most patients who suffer a stroke experience reduced walking competency and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). A key factor in effective stroke rehabilitation is intensive, task-specific training. Recent studies suggest that intensive, patient-tailored training can be organized as a circuit with a series of task-oriented workstations.     

THE INFLUENCE OF 400 R X-IRRADIATION ON THE NUMBER and THE OCALIZATION OF MATURE and IMMATURE GOBLET CELLS and PANETH CELLS IN INTESTINAL CRYPT and VILLUS

The influence of 400 R X-irradiation on the localization and the number of mature and immature goblet cells and Paneth cells in rat duodenal epithelium has been studied. At short times after irradiation, when the total proliferative activity in the crypts of Lieberkiihn is reduced, the proportion of mature and immature goblet cells of the total number of crypt cells was increased; also an absolute increase in the number of goblet cells in the crypts was found. The immature goblet cells were localized in the lower half of the crypt as in control animals, whereas the number of the mature cells increased over the whole crypt length. When the proliferative activity of the crypt cells increases again from 12 to 48 hr after irradiation the number of both types of goblet cells decreases. Between 48 and 72 hr, when the whole crypt is involved in proliferation, a second increase of both types of goblet cells was found. However, the localization of the immature goblet cells is no longer restricted to the lower half of the crypt but they also appear at the higher cell positions. On the villus no immature goblet cells were found and the changes in the numbers of mature goblet cells do reflect the changes induced by irradiation in the goblet cell population in the crypt. The absolute number and localization of Paneth cells did not change under the experimental conditions. The findings are discussed in relation to cell proliferation and differentiation processes in intestinal crypts.     

The use of flow microfluorimetry in the analysis of the phenotype expression of mouse histocompatibility antigens

Quantitation of the expression of cell surface antigens has hitherto been limited to analysis by either cytotoxicity tests or radioimmune assays (5, 15). We report here the use of a new methodology to analyze and quantitate the expression of mouse histocompabililty antigens (H-2 locus) in hybrid clones and parental cell types. The binding of fluorescein-tagged antibody is measured on a cell-to-cell basis in large viable cell populations using flow microfluorimetric techniques. These techniques have been used to measure hapten and immunoglobulin binding to lymphocyte populations (8, 9, 14). However, this is the first report in which these techniques have been used to examine the expression of the H-2 locus. The advantage of this approach is twofold: first, a large and statistically significant sample population may be analyzed one cell at a time, thus revealing the fine detail of heterogeneity in the expression of the cell surface markers within a population. Second, as has been demonstrated for analysis of specific components of the immune system, this method does permit fluorescence-activated sorting of cell types according to their different surface populations (8, 9, 14).     

COMPARATIVE FEEDING ECOLOGY OF SPINNER DOLPHINS (STENELLA LONGIROSTRIS) AND FRASER'S DOLPHINS (LAGENODELPHIS HOSEI) IN THE SULU SEA

Fraser's and spinner dolphins are known to feed on mesopelagic prey, bur their diets and feeding ecologies have not been compared in areas where they are observed together. In this study we examined the stomach contents of both species caught incidentally in a driftnet fishery for tuna in the eastern Sulu Sea. Importance of prey items was determined using the percent occurrence, percent number, and volumetric methods. Mesopelagic fishes, particularly myctophids (mainly Ceratoscopelus warmingi, Diaphus spp. and Myctophum asperum ), were the most important component in the diet of spinner dolphins, whereas in Eraser's dolphins, mesopelagic cephalopods ( Abraliopsis, Onychoteuthis, Histioteuthis , and Chiroteuthis ), and crustaceans ( Notostomos elegans, Acanthephyra quadrispinosa , and Acanthephyra carinata ) appeared to be equally important as the myctophid species. Fraser's dolphins appeared to feed preferentially on larger prey and had more diversified prey (Shannon's diversity index = 1.2) than spinner dolphins (diversity index = 0.9). Vertical distributions of the prey items summarized from published literature indicate that spinner dolphins forage in the upper 200 m and probably occasionally to as deep as 400 m, whereas Fraser's dolphins have a wider vertical foraging range, from near the surface to probably as deep as 600 m.     

Field Treatment of Desert Locust ( Schistocerca gregaria Forskal) Hoppers in Mauritania Using an Oil Formulation of the Entomopathogenic Fungus Metarhizium flavoviride

A field trial was conducted to test the efficacy of an oil formulation of the entomopathogenic fungus , Metarhizium flavoviride Gams & Rozsypal (Deuteromycotina: Hyphomycetes) , as a control agent for the desert locust , Schistocerca gregaria Forskal (Orthoptera: Acrididae) , in Mauritania . The treatment was applied to hopper bands in the field . In caged samples of the treated insects , 99% mortality was observed in 15 days . On average during application only 51% of the hoppers received spray droplets directly , the additional mortality being due to pick - up of spores from the spray residue . This mortality was assessed by exposing insects to a treated plot at intervals , and monitoring disease levels during subsequent incubation in cages . The spray residue remained highly infective for a period of 6 days after application . The number of nymphs in the hopper bands was estimated using a computer - based photographic image - processing technique . Unfortunately , most of the hopper bands dispersed into small groups , but a population reduction could be demonstrated for one hopper band . Maximal daily mortality in the field was observed 10 - 11 days after application , compared with 6 - 10 days in cages .     

Operational-scale application of entomopathogenic fungi for control of Sahelian grasshoppers

Locusts and grasshoppers regularly threaten agricultural production across large parts of the developed and developing worlds. Recent concerns over the health and environmental impacts of standard chemical control measures have led to a demand for alternative, more environmentally benign control technologies. Here we present the results of a field study to investigate the potential of inundative biological control for control of grasshoppers in the Sahelian region of Africa. The biocontrol agent was an oil-based biopesticide formulation of a naturally occurring entomopathogenic fungus, Metarhizium flavoviride. This was applied at a rate of 2l ha^-1 to a total area of 150 ha using standard equipment normally used for the application of chemical pesticides. Twenty-one days after application, an 80 per cent reduction in grasshopper populations was recorded in treated plots, relative to control populations in equivalent unsprayed areas. We think that this is the first operational-scale application of a biopesticide to demonstrate significant population reductions of key Sahelian grasshopper pests. This represents a substantial development in locust and grasshopper control, and should open the way for a new era of integrated control strategies where reliance on conventional chemicals is reduced.