Larval Starvation Resistance in Invasive and Native Populations of the Multicolored Asian Ladybird,Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera,Coccinellidae)

Entomological Review - Resistance of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera, Coccinellidae) larvae to long-term (up to 8 days) starvation was studied under laboratory conditions. The experiments...     

Bacterial species and evolution: Theoretical and practical perspectives

A discussion of the species problem in modern evolutionary biology serves as the point of departure for an exploration of how the basic science aspects of this problem relate to efforts to map bacterial diversity for practical pursuits—for prospecting among the bacteria for useful genes and gene-products. Out of a confusing array of species concepts, the Cohesion Species Concept seems the most appropriate and useful for analyzing bacterial diversity. Techniques of allozyme analysis and DNA fingerprinting can be used to put this concept into practice to map bacterial genetic diversity, though the concept requires minor modification to encompass cases of complete asexuality. Examples from studies of phenetically definedBacillus species provide very partial maps of genetic population structure. A major conclusion is that such maps frequently reveal deep genetic subdivision within the phenetically defined specles; divisions that in some cases are clearly distinct genetic species. Knowledge of such subdivisions is bound to make prospecting within bacterial diversity more effective. Under the general concept of genetic cohesion a hypothetical framework for thinking about the full range of species conditions that might exist among bacteria is developed and the consequences of each such model for species delineation, and species identification are discussed. Modes of bacterial evolution, and a theory of bacterial speciation with and without genetic recombination, are examined. The essay concludes with thoughts about prospects for very extensive mapping of bacterial diversity in the service of future efforts to find useful products. In this context, evolutionary biology becomes the handmaiden of important industrial activities. A few examples of past success in commercializing bacterial gene-products from species ofBacillus and a few other bacteria are reviewed.     

Die Aufnahme14C-markierter Ligninbausteine in Fichtennadeln

Kurze Zusammenfassung der wichtigsten Ergebnisse Der Einbau¹⁴C-markierter Lignin-Vorstufen (D-Coniferin, D-Glucovanillin, D-Glucosyringaaldehyd) in Fichtennadeln wurde auf mikroautoradiographischem Wege untersucht.Von der in die Nadeln eingebrachten Radioaktivität geht der größere Teil bei der Fixationsprozedur verloren. Die nicht auswaschbare Radioaktivität ist vorwiegend in den Zellwänden lokalisiert.Als Maß des Einbaus diente die mit Hilfe des Granula-Zählverfahrens ermittelte Granuladichte des stripping films. Die Granuladichte war im Mesophyll-Parenchym, Transfusions-Parenchym und Phloem hoch, in den lignifizierten Teilen (Xylem, Sclerenchym) niedrig.Für die hohe Granuladichte der lebenden Zellen des Transfusions-gewebes in Versuchen der Glucosyringaaldehyd-Serie wird eine Deutung gegeben. Zuweilen auftretende Aktivitätsnester in den Harzgängen und im Hypoderm werden beschrieben.Zwischen den Ergebnissen der UV-histospektroskopischen Lignin-Nachweismethode und der Phloroglucin-Salzsäure-Reaktion bestehen zuweilen deutliche Diskrepanzen.Die markierten Glucoside werden bevorzugt in ligninfreien oder nur schwach verholzten Geweben gespeichert. Die Lignin-Natur der eingebauten Verbindungen ist nicht gesichert.Das ermittelte Zahlenmaterial wurde statistisch geprüft. Die Untersuchungen werden fortgesetzt.Mit 9 Textabbildungen     

Development of 0-methylhydroxylamine induced mutations causing resistance to 8-azaguanine in Chinese hamster cells]

The dependence of the yield of mutations of the resistance to 8-azaguanine induced with 0-methylhydroxylamine on the number of cell generations that have passed by the time of the creation of selective conditions and the existence of a phenotypic lag period is established. The highest rate of mutations is found after 8-azaguanine treatment in two generations. As the number of generations increased, the number of detectable mutations decreased. A dependence is observed between the induced mutation frequency and death of cells as the latter are transferred to selective conditions after two generations. In experiments on induced mutagenesis, one can obtain more exact quantitative characteristics by introducing a selective agent into the cell suspension but not by treating growing cells in colonies.     

Comparison of the sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins of twitch and tonic fibres of frog muscle (Rana esculenta)

Sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteins of a frog mixed muscle (distal cruralis bundle) were investigated and compared to their fast twitch muscle homologues. Histochemical reactions revealed two populations of fibres in this muscle, differing from fast twitch fibres by the intensity of their myofibrillar ATPase reaction and by their mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase activity. The distribution of parvalbumins and LDH isoenzymes in the whole muscle showed some features of tonic muscle type. Myosin light chains pattern of cruralis bundle fibres was characterized by the lower proportion of the LC3 subunit. These results confirmed the heterogeneity of this frog muscle and the presence of tonic or intermediate fibres with their typical sarcoplasmic and myofibrillar proteinic composition.     

Effectiveness of intensive insulin therapy by multiple daily injections and continuous subcutaneous infusion: a comparison study in type 2 diabetes with conventional insulin regimen failure.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of two intensified insulin regimens, i.e., pump delivery versus multiple daily injections in patients with type 2 diabetes not optimally controlled with conventional insulin therapy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Seventeen type 2 diabetes patients uncontrolled by two daily injections of regular plus NPH were randomly assigned in a cross-over fashion to either three daily injections of lispro plus NPH or pump device delivering lispro. HbA1c, 6 points capillary blood glucose, 24-hour continuous glucose monitoring system tracings and global satisfaction score were evaluated at the end of each 12-week treatment period. RESULTS: HbA1c decreased from 9.0+/-1.6% to 8.6+/-1.6% with multiple injections and 7.7+/-0.8% with pump device (p<0.03). Capillary blood glucose was lowered at all time-points with pump, but only at morning with multiple injections (p<0.01). Compared to conventional therapy, pump reduced hyperglycemic area under curve by 73% (p<0.01), but multiple injections by only 32% (p=0.08). Rate of hypoglycemia was not increased and patient's satisfaction was comparable with both intensive treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Pump therapy provides a better metabolic control than injection regimens, and seems to be safe and convenient in patients with type 2 diabetes who fail to respond to conventional insulin therapy.     

Die Verschiedenartigkeit von Haftorganen einiger Flechten

Summary The rhizines of the lichens, Parmelia caperata, Parmelia trichotera and Lobaria pulmonaria were studied with the Stereoscan scanning electronmicroscope and in ultrathin sections with the transmission electronmicroscope. The rhizines are composed of fungal hyphae.The fungal hyphae in the rhizines of the thallus of Parmelia caperata and in the cilia at the thallus border of Parmelia trichotera are connected by a glue-like substance. The ends of the Parmelia caperata rhizines are flattened and enlarged. With these footlike rhizines the thalli are in good connection with the substratum. The cilia at the thallus border of Parmelia trichotera have a tip by which the thallus is fixed on bark or rocks. The cell walls of the fungi hyphae in the Parmelia caperata rhizines and in the Parmelia trichotera cilia are 150–400 nm thick.The rhizines of Lobaria pulmonaria consist of fungi hyphae which are interlaced without a gluey substance. The thallus of Lobaria pulmonaria is connected to the substratum through the tips of single hyphae. The hyphae walls of Lobaria pulmonaria are 800–1800 nm thick.     

Diapause induction in Trichogramma telengai: the dynamics of maternal thermosensitivity

Transferring Trichogramma telengai Sorokina (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) from 17 to 30 °C or vice versa at different stages of pre‐imaginal development shows that the pupa (particularly late pupa) is a sensitive stage of the maternal thermal response. During this period, even a relatively short period (1–2 days) of cold or heat exposure results, correspondingly, in a marked increase or decrease in the percentage of diapausing progeny. Thus, the maternal thermal response has the same features of sensitivity as those of the previously investigated maternal photoperiodic response, suggesting that photoperiodic and thermal responses share the same mechanism. For the practice of rearing and storage Trichogramma as a biocontrol agent, it is important to note that even relatively short‐term environmental heating (i.e. for one to several days) immediately before adult emergence can drastically decrease the percentage of diapausing progeny.     

Weight dynamics in females of invasive and autochthonous populations of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Harmonia axyridis</Emphasis> (Pallas) (Coleoptera,Coccinellidae) during the induction of reproductive diapause

Under natural conditions, predatory insects often faced the shortage of food caused by an increase in the predator population density and/or a decrease in the prey population density. Experimental studies demonstrated that females of two laboratory strains that originated from autochthonous (the Russian Far East) and invasive (Krasnodar territory of Russia) populations of the aphidophagous ladybird beetle, Harmonia axyridis showed two responses to the absence or shortage of aphids. The first response, termination of oviposition, was observed in several days after transfer to the poor diet, it was independent of photoperiod, and it was stronger in females of the invasive line. The second response, induction of reproductive diapause, was observed in 20 days after transfer to the poor diet, it interacted with the long-day photoperiodic response, and it was stronger in females of the autochthonous line. The induction of reproductive diapause (in comparison with a simple termination of oviposition) is a more basic and less easily reversible physiological process. Thus, we conclude that under natural conditions, females of invasive populations terminate oviposition with the first signs of a shortage of aphids more quickly than females of autochthonous populations and also more quickly start oviposition again with an increase in prey population density. Possibly, these features can be considered as adaptations to new, less stable and less predictable environmental conditions. DOI: 10.1134/S0013873816080029