Phylogenetic relationships of typical antbirds (Thamnophilidae) and test of incongruence based on Bayes factors

Background  

The typical antbirds (Thamnophilidae) form a monophyletic and diverse family of suboscine passerines that inhabit neotropical forests. However, the phylogenetic relationships within this assemblage are poorly understood. Herein, we present a hypothesis of the generic relationships of this group based on Bayesian inference analyses of two nuclear introns and the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene. The level of phylogenetic congruence between the individual genes has been investigated utilizing Bayes factors. We also explore how changes in the substitution models affected the observed incongruence between partitions of our data set.     

The results and characteristics of the mupirocin (Bactroban) sanative treatment of intranasal Staphylococcus carriers in a large hospital]

The action of mupirocin as a nasal ointment (Bactroban) was studied on intranasal carriers of the hospital staphylococcal strains. The study included 37 medical workers from different and mainly problem units of the large general hospital. The tolerability of the ointment was good. After the Bactroban use no complications of the patients were recorded. The efficacy of Bacroban by the microbiological criteria in total amounted to 100 per cent. The eradication of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was observed in 93 per cent of the cases. A decrease of the level of the nasal passages dissemination by MRSA and methicillin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRSC) up to such low titers as 100 and 90 per cent was stated. No difference in the action of Bactroban on MRSA, MSSA and MRSC was noted. The bacteriological monitoring for 3 to 4 months revealed a change of the staphylococcal strains in 94 per cent of the cases, recolonization by the same staphylococcal strain in 19 per cent, recolonization by some another staphylococcal strains in 33 per cent and no recolonization in 14 per cent. A stable decrease of staphylococcal strains was possible with simultaneous Bactroban sanitation of all the bacterial carriers of the hospital or its isolated unit.     

Direct exchange of vitamin B12 is demonstrated by modelling the growth dynamics of algal–bacterial cocultures

The growth dynamics of populations of interacting species in the aquatic environment is of great importance, both for understanding natural ecosystems and in efforts to cultivate these organisms for industrial purposes. Here we consider a simple two-species system wherein the bacterium Mesorhizobium loti supplies vitamin B₁₂ (cobalamin) to the freshwater green alga Lobomonas rostrata, which requires this organic micronutrient for growth. In return, the bacterium receives photosynthate from the alga. Mathematical models are developed that describe minimally the interdependence between the two organisms, and that fit the experimental observations of the consortium. These models enable us to distinguish between different mechanisms of nutrient exchange between the organisms, and provide strong evidence that, rather than undergoing simple lysis and release of nutrients into the medium, M. loti regulates the levels of cobalamin it produces, resulting in a true mutualism with L. rostrata. Over half of all microalgae are dependent on an exogenous source of cobalamin for growth, and this vitamin is synthesised only by bacteria; it is very likely that similar symbiotic interactions underpin algal productivity more generally.     

Rate of progression of CT-quantified emphysema in male current and ex-smokers: a follow-up study

Background

Little is known about the factors associated with CT-quantified emphysema progression in heavy smokers. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of length of smoking cessation and clinical / demographical factors on the rate of emphysema progression and FEV₁-decline in male heavy smokers.

Methods

3,670 male smokers with mean (SD) 40.8 (17.9) packyears underwent chest CT scans and pulmonary function tests at baseline and after 1 and 3 years follow-up. Smoking status (quitted ≥5, ≥1-<5, <1 years or current smoker) was noted. Rate of progression of emphysema and FEV₁-decline after follow-up were assessed by analysis of variance adjusting for age, height, baseline pulmonary function and emphysema severity, packyears, years in study and respiratory symptoms. The quitted ≥5 group was used as reference.

Results

Median (Q1-Q3) emphysema severity,<-950 HU, was 8.8 (5.1 – 14.1) and mean (SD) FEV₁ was 3.4 (0.73) L or 98.5 (18.5) % of predicted. The group quitted ‘>5 years’ showed significantly lower rates of progression of emphysema compared to current smokers, 1.07% and 1.12% per year, respectively (p<0.001). Current smokers had a yearly FEV₁-decline of 69 ml, while subjects quit smoking >5 years had a yearly decline of 57.5 ml (p<0.001).

Conclusion

Quit smoking >5 years significantly slows the rate of emphysema progression and lung function decline.

Trial registration

Registered at http://www.trialregister.nl with trial number ISRCTN63545820.     

Adjustment of juvenile tuatara to a cooler,southern climate: operative temperatures,emergence behaviour and growth rate

Translocations for conservation often involve species limited to relict distributions. However, uncertainty can exist regarding the ability of source individuals to acclimatise following a shift to a distant location. We investigated the ability of captive-reared juvenile tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) of Cook Strait stock (41°S) to adjust to outdoor, predator-protected pens within Orokonui Ecosanctuary (45 °S). We examined potential basking and within burrow temperatures, the influence of temperature on emergence, and growth rates in comparison with other locations. Tuatara at Orokonui reached their preferred temperature when basking over summer, and burrows provided protection from freezing over winter. Emergence was temperature-dependent and essentially ceased during winter. Growth rates of Orokonui-held juveniles were within the range for four other captive-rearing facilities and faster than for wild juveniles from a Cook Strait population. As all Orokonui-held juveniles have survived and grown we conclude that the climate at this southern location is suitable to consider a free-release.     

Relationship of single-nucleotide polymorphism rs11562975 in thermo-sensitive ion channel TRPM8 gene with human sensitivity to cold and menthol

The examination of people belonging to the Russian ethnic group revealed that 20.3% of subjects had heterozygous genotype, containing the C-allele in single nucleotide polymorphism rs11562975, located in exon 7 of the gene encoding the temperature-sensitive ion channel TRPM8. Functional differences, associated with sensitivity to cold and menthol were identified between subjects with different genotypes of the polymorphism rs11562975 (GG and GC). Subjects with heterozygous genotype GC were characterized by increased sensitivity to cold and reduced sensitivity to menthol, agonist of the ion channel TRPM8, compared with subjects with homozygous genotype GG.     

Chronic stress and its effects on adrenal cortex apoptosis in pregnant rats

The model of chronic intermittent stress by immobilization during pregnancy may produce alterations in the mechanisms that maintain adrenal gland homeostasis. In earlier investigations using this model, significant variations in plasma prolactin and corticosterone levels, and adrenal gland weights were observed. We hypothesized that chronic stress causes changes in apoptosis in the adrenal glands of pregnant rats. We identified and quantified apoptotic cells in the adrenal cortex and examined their ultrastructural characteristics using transmission electron microscopy. Adrenal glands of pregnant rats at gestation days 12, 17 and 21 were studied for control and experimental (stressed) rats. Immunolabelling techniques, stereological analysis and image quantification of adrenal gland sections were combined to determine differences in apoptosis in the different cell populations of the adrenal cortex. The apoptotic index of the experimental rats showed a significant reduction at gestation day 17, while at days 12 and 21 there were no differences from controls. Moreover, the apoptotic index of the reticular zones in control and experimental animals showed a significant increase compared to the glomerular and fascicular zones at the three gestation times studied. Chronic stress by immobilization reduced the caspase-dependent apoptotic index at gestation day 17, which may be related to variations in plasma concentrations of estrogens and prolactin.     

Effects of Piper hispidinervum on spermatogenesis and histochemistry of ovarioles of Spodoptera frugiperda

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), not only damages crops, but controlling its population also requires synthetic insecticides, which leads to selection of resistant populations and environmental contamination. Essential oils are an alternative for controlling this insect. There are few studies of the effects of these oils on the insect's reproductive system. We evaluated the effects of the long pepper, Piper hispidinervum, essential oil on the gonads of the armyworm and tested its possible influence on the fertility of this insect. Dosages of 30 and 50 mg/ml were tested in 3^rd instar caterpillars using the leaf immersion method. Testes and ovarioles were collected, fixed with 10% formalin and embedded in Historesin. The sections were stained with toluidine blue and Mallory trichrome to detect connective tissue, periodic acid-Schiff to detect neutral carbohydrates, and bromophenol blue to detect proteins. We found that the long pepper essential oil affected negatively the spermatogenesis and altered the histochemistry of the ovarioles of S. frugiperda. The effects of long pepper oil suggest that it is a promising tool for controlling the armyworm pest.     

Microbial diversity of cellulolytic community of the sandy mat from lake Zun-Torey (Southern Transbaikalia)

The diversity of the microbial community from the sandy mat of the soda lake Zun-Torey (Transbaikalia) has been studied using enrichment cultures. The use of classical microbiological and molecular genetic techniques allows one to assess the numbers and diversity of species of decomposer bacteria from the cellulolytic communities formed in different horizons of the sandy mat.     

β-Adrenoreceptor participation in the formation of the thermoregulatory and immune responses under the effect of rapid deep cooling

The effect of β-adrenoantagonist (obzidan) iontophoresis to skin on the thermoregulatory response and immune response to antigen was analyzed to elucidate the significance of β-adrenoceptors in formation of these responses at deep rapid cooling in rats.

On the background of β-adrenoceptors blockade in thermoneutral conditions the skin and core temperatures decreases; at rapid cooling non-shivering thermogenesis is attenuated and shivering thermogenesis is considerably enhanced.

Administration of β-adrenoantagonist affect the modulating influence of cold exposure on the immune response—the immunosuppressive effect of deep cooling on the immune response is abolished. This concerns both antigen binding function of spleen and peritoneal cells and antibody formation.

The results support the idea that β-adrenoceptors participates in the processes of the stimulation of thermogenesis and suppression of the immune response to antigen at rapid deep cooling.