Annotated checklist of the Hydraenidae (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea) recorded from Iran

According to our analysis of literature sources on the family Hydraenidae (Coleoptera: Staphylinoidea) of Iran, it is represented by 67 species and three genera: Hydraena Kugelann, 1794 (21 species), Limnebius Leach, 1815 (six species) and Ochthebius Leach, 1815 (40 species). Twenty-two species are supposed to be endemic to Iran. Here, for the first time, we summarize species distribution data in Iranian provinces and present them in a checklist of Iranian Hydraenidae. We also present two additional species lists: one with incorrect records (one species and one subspecies) and the other with unidentified species.     

Crop row spacing and its influence on the partitioning of evapotranspiration by winter-grown wheat in Northern Syria

A study was conducted during the 1996–97 crop growth season at ICARDA in northern Syria, to investigate the influence of wheat canopy architecture on the partitioning of moisture between soil evaporation and crop transpiration, on a soil with high hydraulic conductivity. The study was conducted on the long-term two course wheat-lentil rotation trial, established on a swelling clay soil (Calcixerollic xerochrept). The wheat canopy architecture was manipulated by sowing the crop at either of two row-spacings, 0.17 or 0.30 m, both at a constant sowing rate equivalent to 120 kg ha^–1. In this study, evapotranspiration from the crop was inferred from changes in soil moisture content over time, evaporation and rainfall interception were measured daily using microlysimetry, drainage was estimated as being the difference between potential daily evapotranspiration, and the evapotranspiration estimated from the soil water deficit. Between sowing and day 80 (tillering stage), evapotranspiration was calculated to consist mainly of soil evaporation. However, after day 80, transpiration became an increasingly dominant component of evapotranspiration. For both row-spacings, cumulative evapotranspiration over the season was approximately 373 mm. In the narrow-row crop, transpiration and soil evaporation were approximately 185 mm and 183 mm of water respectively. Conversely for the wide row-spaced crop, 172 mm of water was transpired while about 205 mm of water evaporated from the soil surface. While green leaf area index did not differ between row-spacings, the architecture of the crops as a result of sowing affected solar radiation penetration such that more incident radiation was intercepted at the soil surface of the wide row-spaced crop. This is likely to have made some contribution to the elevated levels of evaporation from the soil beneath the canopy of the wide-sown crop.     

Seroprevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi infection among forestry workers and farmers in Duzce, north-western Turkey

Borrelia burgdorferi infection is the most frequent tick-transmitted disease worldwide. Our aim was to assess the seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi infection among forestry workers and farmers in Duzce, in the north-west region of Turkey. Blood samples from 349 forestry workers and farmers and 193 healthy blood donors were obtained to determine the presence of antibodies to B. burgdorferi. A two-step testing strategy was used; the sera were initially tested by ELISA and then by Western blot (WB) IgG. Demographic data regarding residence, age, gender, profession, tick bite history, contact with animals, and symptoms involving the skin, nervous system, and osteoarticular system were collected by questionnaire. All results were evaluated statistically using the chi2 test. The seroprevalence of B. burgdorferi was 10.9% (n=38) in forestry workers and farmers and 2.6% (n=5) in blood donors by ELISA, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.001). Seropositivity rates were related to age, gender, and common risk factors for the disease. IgG seropositivity was confirmed in four (1.1%) sera by WB. In this first seroepidemiological report from the northwest region of Turkey, tick bite exposure was found to be high, whereas B. burgdorferi infection was not common. Preventive measures against tick exposure and further studies to determine the distribution of Lyme disease in Turkey are proposed.     

Phototherapy increases DNA damage in lymphocytes of hyperbilirubinemic neonates

Phototherapy is commonly used in the treatment of hyperbilirubinemia in newborns. No serious side effects related to phototherapy have been observed, but concerns regarding its potential to damage DNA have been expressed, based on animal or cell-culture studies. The aim of this study was to investigate, in neonates with hyperbilirubinemia, the possible relation between phototherapy and DNA damage. The study included 33 full-term newborns with non-physiological jaundice and 14 healthy newborns with physiological jaundice as controls. Phototherapy was performed with an array of six fluorescent lamps producing radiation with wavelengths of 480–520 nm at 12 μW/cm²/nm. DNA damage in lymphocytes was determined by use of the alkaline comet assay. The DNA damage increased significantly with the duration of phototherapy, as shown by measurements at 24, 48, and 72 h (P < 0.001). These findings indicate that phototherapy, widely used in neonatology units, increases DNA damage in newborns. It remains to be seen whether the genotoxic effect observed in the present study can cause any long-term health effect in phototherapy-treated infants in later life.     

Regulation of in vitro calcium phosphate mineralization by combinatorially selected hydroxyapatite-binding peptides

We report selection and characterization of hydroxyapatite-binding heptapeptides from a peptide-phage library and demonstrate the effects of two peptides, with different binding affinities and structural properties, on the mineralization of calcium phosphate mineral. In vitro mineralization studies carried out using one strong- and one weak-binding peptide, HABP1 and HABP2, respectively, revealed that the former exhibited a drastic outcome on mineralization kinetics and particle morphology. Strong-binding peptide yielded significantly larger crystals, as observed by electron microscopy, in comparison to those formed in the presence of a weak-binding peptide or in the negative control. Molecular structural studies carried out by circular dichroism revealed that HABP1 and HABP2 differed in their secondary structure and conformational stability. The results indicate that sequence, structure, and molecular stability strongly influence the mineralization activity of these peptides. The implication of the research is that the combinatorially selected short-sequence peptides may be used in the restoration or regeneration of hard tissues through their control over of the formation of calcium phosphate biominerals.     

Threatened fishes of the world: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chalcalburnus tarichi</Emphasis> (Pallas 1811) (Cyprinidae) living in the highly alkaline Lake Van,Turkey

A member of the Cyprinidae family, the Chalcalburnus tarichi is a fish species that only inhabits the Lake Van Basin. The Lake Van represents an interesting ecosystem in the world, known as the biggest soda lake in the world, in that its water is highly alkaline with a pH of 9.8. C. tarichi has bright-silver color, its back is grayish green, and the abdominal region is silver. Its body is covered with small scales, and its eyes are large. It feeds on phyto and zooplanktons. Its average life span is 7 years, and the fish reaches reproductive maturity at 3 years old. C. tarichi is an diadrom fish that lives in the lake, but during the reproduction period it immigrates to the surrounding freshwater rivers returning after the reproduction period of April–July. In the past, pearl mullet was an attractive fresh fish for the local people and was easily caught during the spawning migration, resulting in over-fishing. The species was one of the highly endangered animals of Turkey before conservation studies, some 10 years ago, have started. At present, illegal fishing activities declined, although some locals are continuing to fish during the spawning season.     

Reverse engineering: the architecture of biological networks

We adopt a control theory approach to reverse engineer the complexity of a known system--the bacterial heat shock response. Using a computational dynamic model, we explore the organization of the heat shock system and elucidate its various regulation strategies. We show that these strategies are behind much of the complexity of the network. We propose that complexity is a necessary outcome of robustness and performance requirements that are achieved by the heat shock system's exquisite regulation modules. The techniques we use rely on dynamic computational models and principles from the field of control theory.     

The influence of cysteine and taurine on microscopic-oxidative stress parameters and fertilizing ability of bull semen following cryopreservation

Oxidative stress significantly damages sperm functions such as motility, functional integrity, endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities and fertility due to lipid peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of antioxidants such as taurine and cysteine in Bioxcell^® extender on standard semen parameters, fertilizing ability, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and antioxidant activities comprising reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) after the cryopreservation/thawing of bull semen. Nine ejaculates for each bull were included in the study. Three groups, namely taurine (2 mM), cysteine (2 mM), and control, were designed to analyze the antioxidants in Bioxcell^®. Insemination doses were processed so that each 0.25-ml straw contained 15 × 10⁶ sperm.The addition of cysteine led to higher motility, compared to the other groups (P < 0.001). Cysteine showed a greater protective effect on the percentages of acrosome damage and total abnormalities in comparison to the other groups (P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), following supplementation with antioxidants during the freeze-thawing process. No significant difference was observed in non-return rates among groups. In biochemical assays, the additives did not show effectiveness on the elimination of malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and maintenance of GSH and GSH-Px activities, when compared to controls. CAT activity (35.1 ± 8.1 kU/g) was demonstrated to be significantly higher upon the addition of 2 mM taurine (P < 0.001), while the level of MDA increased, indicating oxidative stress in this group. SOD activity (21.4 ± 2.9 U/g protein) was significantly elevated in the group with cysteine, compared to the other groups (P < 0.001).     

Role of an N-Terminal Splice Segment in the Activation of the Cation Channel TRPM2 by ADP-Ribose and Hydrogen Peroxide

In the dysfunctional splice variant TRPM2-ΔN, a stretch of 20 amino acids (aa 537–556) is missing within the N-terminal cytosolic tail of the cation channel TRPM2. The ΔN-stretch overlaps with two IQ-like calmodulin-binding domains. Moreover, it contains two PxxP motifs implicated in protein–protein interactions. Here, we constructed variants to test whether any of these motifs may explain why TRPM2-ΔN does not respond to stimulation with either ADP ribose or hydrogen peroxide. Each of the two IQ-motifs could be removed without loss of channel function. Similarly, deletion of either one or both PxxP motifs had no effect. Moreover, the single point mutation D543E associated with bipolar disorder does not change the activation of TRPM2. We conclude that no functional role can be attributed to any of the structural motifs within the ΔN-stretch that may be a spacer segment for other functional sites in the N terminus.     

Fractal analysis and ionic dependence of endocytotic membrane activity of human breast cancer cells

The endocytic membrane activities of two human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) of strong and weak metastatic potential, respectively, were studied in a comparative approach. Uptake of horseradish peroxidase was used to follow endocytosis. Dependence on ionic conditions and voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) activity were characterized. Fractal methods were used to analyze quantitative differences in vesicular patterning. Digital quantification showed that MDA-MB-231 cells took up more tracer (i.e., were more endocytic) than MCF-7 cells. For the former, uptake was totally dependent on extracellular Na⁺ and partially dependent on extracellular and intracellular Ca²⁺ and protein kinase activity. Analyzing the generalized fractal dimension (D _q ) and its Legendre transform f(α) revealed that under control conditions, all multifractal parameters determined had values greater for MDA-MB-231 compared with MCF-7 cells, consistent with endocytic/vesicular activity being more developed in the strongly metastatic cells. All fractal parameters studied were sensitive to the VGSC blocker tetrodotoxin (TTX). Some of the parameters had a “simple” dependence on VGSC activity, if present, whereby pretreatment with TTX reduced the values for the MDA-MB-231 cells and eliminated the differences between the two cell lines. For other parameters, however, there was a “complex” dependence on VGSC activity. The possible physical/physiological meaning of the mathematical parameters studied and the nature of involvement of VGSC activity in control of endocytosis/secretion are discussed.