Structural adaptations for ram ventilation: Gill fusions in scombrids and billfishes

For ram‐gill ventilators such as tunas and mackerels (family Scombridae) and billfishes (families Istiophoridae, Xiphiidae), fusions binding the gill lamellae and filaments prevent gill deformation by a fast and continuous ventilatory stream. This study examines the gills from 28 scombrid and seven billfish species in order to determine how factors such as body size, swimming speed, and the degree of dependence upon ram ventilation influence the site of occurrence and type of fusions. In the family Scombridae there is a progressive increase in the reliance on ram ventilation that correlates with the elaboration of gill fusions. This ranges from mackerels (tribe Scombrini), which only utilize ram ventilation at fast cruising speeds and lack gill fusions, to tunas (tribe Thunnini) of the genus Thunnus, which are obligate ram ventilators and have two distinct fusion types (one binding the gill lamellae and a second connecting the gill filaments). The billfishes appear to have independently evolved gill fusions that rival those of tunas in terms of structural complexity. Examination of a wide range of body sizes for some scombrids and billfishes shows that gill fusions begin to develop at lengths as small as 2.0 cm fork length. In addition to securing the spatial configuration of the gill sieve, gill fusions also appear to increase branchial resistance to slow the high‐speed current produced by ram ventilation to distribute flow evenly and optimally to the respiratory exchange surfaces. J. Morphol. 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The functional role of the caudal fin in the feeding ecology of the common thresher shark Alopias vulpinus

This study tests the hypothesis that the common thresher shark Alopias vulpinus uses its elongate caudal fin to both produce thrust and immobilize prey during feeding. Underwater video recorded in southern California from 2007 to 2009 revealed 34 feeding events, all of which were initiated with the upper lobe of the caudal fin.     

The amino terminal sequences of acid proteases-human pepsin and gastricsin and the protease of Rhizopus chinensis.

The amino acid sequences near the amino termini of human pepsin (34 residues) and gastricsin (24 residues) and the acid protease from $\text{Rhizopus chinensis}$ (27 residues) have been determined using automated Edman degradation. From these results three additional observations were made. First, two structural variants have been observed for human gastricsin and for the $\text{Rhizopus}$ protease. Both cases are apparently genetic in origin. Second, a stretch of sequence in the $\text{Rhizopus}$ protease, residues 14 to 26, is highly homologous to the known sequence of porcine pepsin at the region of residues 11 to 23. Third, the sequences of the NH₂-terminal region of human pepsin and gastrisin are homologous.     

Crinipellis brasiliensis, a new species based on morphological and molecular data

Crinipellis perniciosa infects a diversity of hosts causing severe damage to T. cacao production in many Brazilian growing regions. We compared isolates of Crinipellis from different geographic origins and hosts in Brazil by structural analysis using light (LM) and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), as well as RFLP and sequence data based on the nuclear rDNA ITS region. Statistical analyses of morphometric data of basidia and basidiospores revealed a distinct group of isolates of Crinipellis obtained from Heteropterys acutifolia when compared to representatives from Theobroma cacao, Solanum lycocarpum and Heteropterys nervosa. A similar distinction also was observed based on sequence data of the ITS region such that combined results allowed for the segregation of a new species within the genus Crinipellis.     

Concentrations and ecological risks of metals in surface sediments of some coastal creeks in the Niger Delta,Nigeria

The concentrations of nine metals were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in surface sediments of three coastal creeks, namely, the Ifie, Egbokodo and Ubeji creeks, in the Niger Delta of Nigeria, from August 2012 to January 2013. The aim of the study was to provide information on the spatial and seasonal distribution patterns, degree of contamination, and ecological risks of metals in these sediments. The mean concentrations of the nine metals in these creek sediments ranged from 0.30 to 3.20?mg kg^?1 Cd; 10.7 to 24.7?mg kg^?1 Pb, 125 to 466?mg kg^?1 Cr; 3.1.10 to 14.9?mg kg^?1 Cu; 4.7 to 14.3?mg kg^?1 Co; 61.1 to 115?mg kg^?1 Ni; 106 to 183?mg kg^?1 Mn; 52.0 to 170?mg kg^?1 Zn and 5 469 to 20 639?mg kg^?1 Fe. In general, the metal concentrations were higher in the dry season than the wet season, except for Cr. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Ni and Zn were above their regulatory control limits in sediment as specified by the Nigerian Regulatory Authority and Cd was identified as the main ecological risk factor. The enrichment factors for the studied metals followed the order: Cd > Cr > Ni > Zn > Pb > Co > Mn > Cu. The average multiple pollution index values indicated that these sediments were severely polluted with significant inputs from Cd, Ni and Cr.     

Appendicular skeletal muscle mass: effects of age, gender, and ethnicity

Gallagher, Dympna, Marjolein Visser, Ronald E. De Meersman,Dennis Sepúlveda, Richard N. Baumgartner, Richard N. Pierson, Tamara Harris, and Steven B. Heymsfield. Appendicular skeletal muscle mass: effects of age, gender, and ethnicity. J. Appl. Physiol. 83(1): 229-239, 1997.This studytested the hypothesis that skeletal muscle mass is reduced in elderlywomen and men after adjustment first for stature and body weight. Thehypothesis was evaluated by estimating appendicular skeletal musclemass with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in a healthy adult cohort. Asecond purpose was to test the hypothesis that whole body⁴⁰K counting-derived total bodypotassium (TBK) is a reliable indirect measure of skeletal muscle mass.The independent effects on both appendicular skeletal muscle and TBK ofgender (n = 148 women and 136 men) andethnicity (n = 152 African-Americans and 132 Caucasians) were also explored. Main findingswere 1) for both appendicularskeletal muscle mass (total, leg, and arm) and TBK, age was anindependent determinant after adjustment first by stepwise multipleregression for stature and weight (multiple regression modelr² = ~0.60);absolute decrease with greater age in men was almost double that inwomen; significantly larger absolute amounts were observed in men andAfrican-Americans after adjustment first for stature, weight, and age;and >80% of within-gender or -ethnic group between-individualcomponent variation was explained by stature, weight, age, gender, andethnicity differences; and 2) mostof between-individual TBK variation could be explained by totalappendicular skeletal muscle(r² = 0.865),whereas age, gender, and ethnicity were small but significant additional covariates (totalr² = 0.903). Ourstudy supports the hypotheses that skeletal muscle is reduced in theelderly and that TBK provides a reasonable indirect assessment ofskeletal muscle mass. These findings provide a foundation forinvestigating skeletal muscle mass in a wide range of health-related conditions.

     

Conservation of a long open reading frame in two Neurospora mitochondrial plasmids

The nucleotide sequence of a specific region of the mitochondrial plasmid from the Neurospora intermedia Varkud-lc strain was determined. Analysis of the sequence revealed the presence of a long (up to 710 amino acids) ORF. This ORF is almost identical to a previously characterized ORF in the mitochondrial plasmid from the Neurospora crassa Mauriceville-lc strain. When the ORFs from the two plasmids are compared over their entire length of 2,133 bp, only 34 nucleotide substitutions are found (greater than 98% identity). These substitutions result in only nine amino acid replacements in the protein sequences predicted from the two ORFs. Though no function can be assigned to the putative products of these ORFs, their high conservation of nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequence suggest that they are under selective pressure, presumably to preserve the function of some protein.      

Evaluating Habitat Suitability for the Establishment of Monochamus spp. through Climate-Based Niche Modeling

Pine sawyer beetle species of the genus Monochamus are vectors of the nematode pest Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. The introduction of these species into new habitats is a constant threat for those regions where the forestry industry depends on conifers, and especially on species of Pinus. To obtain information about the potential risk of establishment of these insects in Chile, we performed climate-based niche modeling using data for five North American and four Eurasian Monochamus species using a Maxent approach. The most important variables that account for current distribution of these species are total annual precipitation and annual and seasonal average temperatures, with some differences between North American and Eurasian species. Projections of potential geographic distribution in Chile show that all species could occupy at least 37% of the area between 30° and 53°S, where industrial plantations of P. radiata are concentrated. Our results indicated that Chile seems more suitable for Eurasian than for North American species.     

The E3 ubiquitin ligase HOIL-1 induces the polyubiquitination and degradation of SOCS6 associated proteins

The suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) proteins are thought to exert their function through the recruitment of interacting-proteins to the ubiquitin/proteasome degradation pathway. All SOCS proteins bind an Elongin BC E3 ubiquitin ligase complex through the common Socs-box. Here, we show that haem-oxidized IRP2 ubiquitin ligase-1 (HOIL-1), another E3 ubiquitin ligase, interacts with SOCS6. The Ubl domain of HOIL-1 and the SH2 and Socs-box domains of SOCS6 are required for the interaction. HOIL-1 expression stabilizes SOCS6 and induces the ubiquitination and degradation of proteins associated with SOCS6. These data suggest that SOCS proteins may interact with different E3 ubiquitin ligases in addition to a common Elongin BC E3 complex.