ECOLOGICAL SEPARATION BETWEEN WHITE AND PINK-BACKED PELICANS IN THE RUWENZOFU NATIONAL PARK, UGANDA

The number and distribution of the White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus roseus and the Pink-backed Pelican P. rufescens were studied in the Ruwenzori National Park, Uganda, by means of aerial surveys carried out at approximately weekly intervals between May 1968 and December 1969. The White Pelican is migratory and was present in the Park at highest numbers in August 1968 and May 1969 when 2510 and 3927 respectively were recorded. It does not breed within the Park. The Pink-backed Pelican is resident, with a population averaging about 1350 birds. Pelicans are distributed in discrete flocks on loafing grounds. Flocks of the White Pelican tend to be bigger than those of the Pink-backed. Forty-three loafing grounds were recognized in the Park, and it is shown that there is no difference between the species in the frequentation of these grounds. The areas favoured by both species are characterized by flat, open stretches close to water; steep slopes and heavily vegetated shore-lines are avoided. The feeding behaviour was studied by direct observation and through cine-photography. Only the White Pelican feeds communally in coordinated groups; this species also often feeds singly. The feeding sequence of both species is described, and is divided into four phases:searching, trapping, catching and swallowing. The searching phase lasts about six times longer in the Pink-backed Pelican than in the White. The White Pelican feeds further from the shore than does the Pink-backed. There is little difference between the species in the daily feeding pattern. Feeding takes place throughout the day but mostly from dawn to about 10.00 hrs and from 17.00 hrs until dusk. The rest of the day is spent mainly in preening, resting or bathing. The food of pelicans is exclusively fish. The White Pelican takes mainly large Tilupia, and Haplochromis and fish fry to a lesser extent. The Pink-backed Pelican feeds largely on fish fry, but Tilapia and Haplochromis are frequently taken and by weight are more important than the fry. However, the Tilapiu are smaller than those taken by the White Pelican. Ecological separation between the two species is achieved through these differences in their feeding behaviour. It is estimated that the White Pelican takes 1201 g and the Pink-backed Pelican 776 g of fish each day. The total amount of fish eaten by both species from Lake George during 1969 was calculated to be 591 709 kg. This is small (c. 3%) compared with the estimated total fish production of the lake but quite appreciable (12.7%) as a proportion of the total caught by man. It is concluded that the pelican populations are probably not important as a link in the chain whereby organic matter transferred from land to water by the Hippopotamus is returned to the land.     

The social development of baboons in their first three months

The development of the mother-infant relationship is expressed in terms of the change in typical relative positions of the pair and in the pattern of contacting and leaving they showed.
Rainy periods increased the time the infant spent asleep with its mother, the effect being more than that produced by the infant's age on sleeping time in the first three months of life.
Rate of development of mother-infant relationships was compared with that of Rhesus monkeys in similar conditions, and found to be very closely comparable.
Interactions by infants with other baboons were found to be quantitatively and qualitatively different for each available demographic class (though some classes were only represented by a single individual). Results illustrated different rates of social maturing in the sexes, differential behaviour of the adult male towards the sexes of infants, and the existence of a special relationship between siblings.
Interactions of neoparturient mothers with other adults are characterized by high overall frequency, with a high frequency of avoiding of friendly approaches by the mother. Both these have returned to normal frequency levels in the third month.
Restriction of infants by mothers was seen only in the caged group. Its immediate effects on the behaviour of the infant and its association with other maternal social behaviour are described.     

Exploring the abundance and DNA barcode information of eight parasitoid wasps species (Hymenoptera), the natural enemies of the important pest of oil palm,bagworm, Metisa plana (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) toward the biocontrol approach and it's application in Malaysia

Parasitoid wasps (Hymenoptera) play a significant role in reducing the pest population of the bagworm species Metisa plana. This study presents the abundance and DNA barcoding information of eight parasitoid wasps species, Dolichogenidea metesae (47%), Brachymeria carinata (19%), Buysmania oxymora (12%), Goryphus bunoh (7%), Pediobius anomalus (5%), Eupelmus cotoxanthae (2%), Apanteles aluella (5%), Apanteles sp.1 (3%) and that emerged from M. plana collected from three highly infested oil palm plantations in Selangor (west), Perak (north) and Johor (south) in Peninsular Malaysia. Samples of infested M. plana were collected from the field and reared in a rearing room. The parasitoid wasp species D. metesae recorded the highest emergence numbers and the broadest presence in all the sampling sites. The relationships among the parasitoids species were estimated and visualized using Neighbor Joining (NJ) phylogenetic analyses with the Ceraphronidae family as an outgroup. The resulting NJ tree showed that the identified parasitoid wasps were successfully classified into specific species and supported with bootstraps values between 55% to 100%. This study provides important information on potential biological control agents for M. plana that may be useful for the Malaysian oil palm industry.     

Gastroretentive Microsponge as a Promising Tool for Prolonging the Release of Mitiglinide Calcium in Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus: Optimization and Pharmacokinetics Study

Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of death due to the persistent hyperglycemia that leads to potential complications. Lack of patients’ adherence to their prescribed medication regimens, due to the requirement of frequent dosing, leads to failure of 40–50% of patients to manage their disease. Thus, microsponges of the novel short half-life mitiglinide calcium (MTG) were formulated using Quasi-emulsion solvent diffusion method, employing Eudragit RS100, ethyl cellulose, and polyvinyl alcohol, then characterized in terms of production yield, entrapment efficiency, particle size, in vitro buoyancy, in vitro drug release, and in vivo pharmacokinetics in rabbits. Optimization was done using response surface methodology; the optimized formulation was investigated by FTIR, DSC, and SEM. Results revealed that the optimized MTG microsponge was successfully formulated with high production yield (61.61%?±?0.6), entrapment efficiency (77.7% ±1.37), and particle size of 192.76 μm and it remained buoyant over simulated gastric fluid for 24 h with high percentage of in vitro buoyancy (91.01%?±?2.5). Moreover, it sustained the in vitro drug release with cumulative % release of 83.74?±?1.5 after 24 h. This microsponge was highly porous in nature with interconnected pores where MTG was entrapped with good compatibility as confirmed by SEM, DSC, and FTIR analysis; Pharmacokinetic studies showed improvement in C_max and AUC_0-∞ (1.92- and 20.68-fold, respectively) with marked prolongation in MRT and t_1/2 (7.22- and 7.97-fold, respectively) than the marketed tablet. Thus, it is a promising approach to improve diabetic patients’ compliance by eliminating the necessity of frequent dosing thus attaining better diabetes control.     

Effects of seed colour heterogeneity on germination behaviour of the desert plant Lotononis platycarpa (Fabaceae)

We aimed to determine the ecological role of three seed morphs observed for the first time in a desert population of Lotononis platycarpa (Fabaceae), with respect to their germination requirements. Seeds sorted by seed coat colour (olive green, orange and brown) were germinated under laboratory conditions under two photoperiods (12/12‐h light and continuous dark) and three alternating temperature regimes (15/25, 20/30, 25/35°C). We found that the three distinct seed types differ in their seed mass, germination percentage and speed of germination. Overall, the light‐incubated seeds germinated with higher percentages than seeds in the total darkness. Furthermore, seeds with orange coat germinated with higher percentages at 15/25 and 25/35°C (up to 60%, for both) and significantly faster than the other two colour morphs. Our results suggest an adaptive significance of seed colour heterogeneity in the harsh desert habitat inhabited by the study species.     

Quantitative gait analysis as a method to assess mechanical hyperalgesia modulated by disease-modifying antirheumatoid drugs in the adjuvant-induced arthritic rat

In the present study, azothioprine, chloroquine, D-penicillamine, methotrexate and sodium aurothiomalate (gold salt) were evaluated for possible disease-modifying effects in the adjuvant-induced arthritis model of human rheumatoid arthritis in rats. Gait analysis was used to examine the role of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the development of pain. Body weights were also measured to monitor the progression of disease and the systemic antiarthritic effects of the test compounds used in this study, as well as their systemic toxicity. Our results showed that azothioprine (5 mg/kg/day), chloroquine (12.5 mg/kg/day), sodium aurothiomalate (2.5 mg/kg/day) and methotrexate (1 mg/kg/week) not only inhibited the macroscopic changes such as erythema and swelling of limbs, but also exhibited significant reversal of gait deficits seen in the untreated or saline-treated arthritic rats. No reduction in the body weights were observed in the arthritic rats treated with azothioprine, chloroquine, sodium aurothiomalate and methotrexate. D-Penicillamine (12.5 mg/kg/day), however, showed a significant reduction (P < 0.03) in the body weights of the arthritic rats over a period of 22 days; furthermore, it was unable to show any reduction in arthritic score (P < 0.1). In earlier experiments, chloroquine and methotrexate failed to suppress carageenan-induced edema, suggesting that the mode of antiarthritic action may be different from those of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents. Since these disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs are reported to have an immunomodulatory role, especially the gold salt, which influences the monocyte–macrophage system, it is suggested that the observed antiarthritic effects of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs may be partly attributed to their immunomodulatory activity.     

Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis Complicated by Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection During Pembrolizumab Immunotherapy for Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Mycopathologia - The widespread use of T lymphocyte-associated antigen-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death (PD)-1 and PD ligand-1 (PDL1)-targeted agents in cancer patients as immunotherapy has raised...     

Effects of leptin on oxidative stress in healthy and Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Aims/hypothesis It is generally accepted that oxidative stress is responsible for etiology and complications of diabetes. During uncontrolled Type 1 diabetes, plasma leptin levels rapidly fall. However, it is not known whether diabetes-induced hypoleptinemia has any role in oxidative stress related to uncontrolled Type I diabetes. The present study was designed to examine the effects of leptin treatment on plasma lipid peroxidation and reduced glutathion of normal and streptozotocin(STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Methods Diabetes was induced by single injection of Streptozotocin (55 mg/kg bw). One week after induction of diabetes, rats began 5-day treatment protocol of leptin injections of (0.1 mg/kg bw i.p.) or same volume vehicle. At the end of the 5th day, rats were sacrificed by cardiac puncture under anesthesia and their plasma was taken for plasma leptin, malondialdehyde, and reduced glutathione measurements. Results Plasma leptin levels decreased in STZ-induced diabetic rats while plasma glucose, TBARS, and GSH levels increased. Plasma leptin levels were not affected with leptin treatment in both diabetic and non-diabetic rats. The elevation in plasma TBARS associated with STZ diabetes decreased with leptin treatment. Leptin also increased plasma GSH levels in diabetic rats. In non-diabetic rats, treatment with leptin did not change plasma TBARS and GSH levels. Conclusions/interpretations In conclusion, leptin treatment is able to attenuate lipid peroxidation in STZ-diabetic rats, in the onset of diabetes, by increasing the GSH levels without affecting hyperglycemia and hypoleptinemia.     

Synthesis and cytotoxic activities of 4,5-diarylisoxazoles

A series of 4,5-diarylisoxazoles related to combretastatin A-4 (CA-4) were synthesized and evaluated for cytotoxicity against three human cancer cell lines. Among them, compound 6e showed better cytotoxic activity than CA-4 in HeLa and HepG2 cell lines assayed with IC(50) value as low as 0.022 and 0.065nM, respectively.