Simultaneous Collection of Body Temperature and Activity Data in Burrowing Mammals: a New Technique

Abstract: Integrating physiological and behavioral observations into ecological field studies of animals can provide novel insights into relationships among animal behavior, physiology, and ecology. We describe and evaluate a new technique for simultaneously collecting body temperature (T_b) and burrow use data for semi-fossorial mammals by combining light-sensitive radiotransmitters and implanted temperature-sensitive dataloggers. We used this approach to collect core T_b and activity data for 9 free-ranging arctic ground squirrels (Spermophilus parryii) in northern Alaska, USA, at approximately 5-minute intervals for 30–90 days each to address questions related to thermoregulation, energetics, foraging, sociality, and timing of activity in natural environments.     

Is a short,sharp shock equivalent to long‐term punishment? Contrasting the spatial pattern of acute and chronic ozone damage to soybean leaves via chlorophyll fluorescence imaging

Experimental investigations of ozone (O₃) effects on plants have commonly used short, acute [O₃] exposure (>100 ppb, on the order of hours), while in field crops damage is more likely caused by chronic exposure (<100 ppb, on the order of weeks). How different are the O₃ effects induced by these two fumigation regimes? The leaf‐level photosynthetic response of soybean to acute [O₃] (400 ppb, 6 h) and chronic [O₃] (90 ppb, 8 h d^?1, 28 d) was contrasted via simultaneous in vivo measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence imaging (CFI) and gas exchange. Both exposure regimes lowered leaf photosynthetic CO₂ uptake about 40% and photosystem II (PSII) efficiency (F_q′/F_m′) by 20% compared with controls, but this decrease was far more spatially heterogeneous in the acute treatment. Decline in F_q′/F_m′ in the acute treatment resulted equally from decreases in the maximum efficiency of PSII (F_v′/F_m′) and the proportion of open PSII centres (F_q′/F_v′), but in the chronic treatment decline in F_q′/F_m′ resulted only from decrease in F_q′/F_v′. Findings suggest that acute and chronic [O₃] exposures do not induce identical mechanisms of O₃ damage within the leaf, and using one fumigation method alone is not sufficient for understanding the full range of mechanisms of O₃ damage to photosynthetic production in the field.     

Strawberry-Flavored Baits for Pharmaceutical Delivery to Feral Swine

ABSTRACT More effective methods to control feral swine (Sus scrofa) damage are needed. We evaluated 8 oral delivery systems designed to deliver pharmaceuticals to feral swine on 2 properties in southern Texas, USA. We used modified PIGOUT® feral pig bait (Animal Control Technologies Australia P/L, Somerton, Victoria, Australia) throughout our trials to compare species-specific visitation and removal rates. Given our consistent finding of high nontarget removal of baits intended for feral swine, we question whether a swine-specific oral delivery system exists for this region.     

Deciphering bacterial community variation during soil and leaf treatments with biologicals and biofertilizers to control huanglongbing in citrus trees

The aim of the current study was to gain a clearer understanding of the bacteria involved in different treatments to control huanglongbing in citrus trees. The treatments included additions in soil or on leaf. In soil, there were two treatments, one was addition of biofertilizer mainly consisting of Brevibacillus laterosporus, and another one was the addition of burnt lime. On leaf treatment, a plant immunity inducer, Atailing spray, which is a fermented fungal protein product, was used. Besides, there was an integrative treatment including the above additions both in soil and on leaf. The control treatments had no addition. The growth of infected citrus plants was significantly improved by these treatments. We sampled soil under crown circumference, rhizosphere soil and roots, stems and leaves of the citrus trees. Sequencing of the 16S rDNA marker using Illumina methods was applied to determine the bacterial community composition of the samples. The results showed that in the soil samples under crown circumference, treatments increased the relative abundance of the genera Bradyrhizobium and Norank_f__Acidobacteriaceae__Subgroup_1_ compared with the control. In the rhizosphere soil samples, treatments increased the relative abundance of the genus Burkholderia–Paraburkholderia compared with the control. Atailing spray influenced the relative abundance of the bacterial genus norank_f__Acidobacteriaceae__Subgroup_1_ in the rhizosphere soil, as well as Pseudomonas in citrus leaves. Furthermore, 6 months after the treatments, the relative abundance of Actinobacteria and Bacilli at the class level was significantly increased in citrus plant leaves in the group treated with Atailing spray, biofertilizer and burnt lime. Overall, certain bacteria were stimulated by treatments, and the leaf‐associated bacterial communities had important indicators for the health of the citrus endophytic environment. These results provided a theoretical foundation for the development of biological approaches for huanglongbing treatment.     

Disruption of Contactin 4 in two subjects with autism in Chinese population

Autism is a heterogeneous childhood neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterised by deficits in verbal communication, impaired social interactions, restricted interests and repetitive behaviours. Using an Illumina HumanCNV370-Quad BeadChip, we identified two Han Chinese individuals with autism and large duplications (~1.6 Mb and ~2.4 Mb) disrupting the same CNTN4 gene. CNTN4 encodes a protein that functions as a cell-adhesion molecule and may play an essential role in the formation of axon connections in the developing nervous system. The disruption of this gene has been reported to be the cause of the 3p deletion syndrome and also a possible susceptibility factor for autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). Our results suggest that rare copy number variations (CNVs) in CNTN4 may also influence autism susceptibility in Asian populations. Interestingly, a comparison of the clinical phenotypes between the two subjects revealed that the subject with the 2.4 Mb CNV (involving several other genes) presented with a more severe phenotype than the subject with the 1.6 Mb CNV (disrupting only CNTN4 and CNTN6). This suggests that other genes in the nearby region may contribute to the pathogenesis.     

A novel splicing mutation in COL1A1 gene caused type I osteogenesis imperfecta in a Chinese family

Osteogenesis imperfect (OI) is a heritable connective tissue disorder with bone fragility as a cardinal manifestation, accompanied by short stature, dentinogenesis imperfecta, hyperlaxity of ligaments and skin, blue sclerae and hearing loss. Dominant form of OI is caused by mutations in the type I procollagen genes, COL1A1/A2. Here we identified a novel splicing mutation c.3207+1G>A (GenBank ID: JQ236861) in the COL1A1 gene that caused type I OI in a Chinese family. RNA splicing analysis proved that this mutation created a new splicing site at c.3200, and then led to frameshift. This result further enriched the mutation spectrum of type I procollagen genes.     

综述:脑内线粒体雌激素受体β在女性阿尔茨海默病发生过程中的作用

脑内雌激素水平下降被认为与女性阿尔茨海默病(AD)相关,女性阿尔茨海默病患者脑中胞浆、细胞核、线粒体中的雌激素受体?茁(estrogen receptor β,ERβ)水平也较正常老年女性低．老年大鼠脑内ERβ水平发生显著下降．敲除ERβ影响小鼠的学习和记忆功能,雌激素或ERβ选择性激动剂能够改善神经元突触相关蛋白表达．在神经元中,ERβ与线粒体共定位,提示定位于线粒体上的ERβ,可能参与线粒体功能的调节,从而影响神经元功能．