Variation in melanin pigmentation of a sexually selected plumage trait and its adaptive value in the Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago

There is increasing evidence that melanin‐based plumage coloration correlates with different components of fitness and that it may act as a social or sexual signal of individual quality. We analysed variation in melanin pigmentation in the outermost tail feathers of the Common Snipe Gallinago gallinago. During courtship flights, male Snipe use their outermost tail feathers to generate a drumming sound, which plays a role in territory establishment and mate choice. As the outermost tail feathers are displayed to females during these flights, we predicted that conspicuous variation in their rusty‐brown (pheomelanin‐based) coloration may act as an honest signal of individual quality. To test this prediction, we spectrophotometrically measured brightness (an indicator of total melanin content) and red chroma (an indicator of pheomelanin content) of the outermost tail feathers in 180 juvenile and adult Common Snipe. An age‐related decline in feather brightness was found exclusively in females, suggesting that melanization could have evolved by natural selection to camouflage incubating birds. In both sexes, brightness of the tail feathers was inversely correlated with their structural quality (as measured with mass–length residuals), suggesting that melanization could increase mechanical properties of feathers and, in males, enhance the quality of courtship sonation. Red chroma positively correlated with total plasma protein concentration, supporting our prediction that pheomelanin pigmentation of tail feathers may act as an honest signal of condition. Our study indicated that variation in the melanin‐based coloration of the outermost tail feathers in the Common Snipe could have evolved as a result of several different selection pressures and it emphasizes the complexity of the processes that underlie the evolution of melanin‐based plumage coloration in birds.     

Lower Jurassic Bahamian-type facies in the Choč Nappe (Tatra Mts,West Carpathians,Poland) influenced by paleocirculation in the Western Tethys

The Lower Jurassic (upper Sinemurian) of the Hronicum domain (Tatra Mts., Western Carpathians, Poland) represents typical tropical shallow-water carbonates of the Bahamian-type. Eight microfacies recognized include oolitic-peloidal grainstone/packstone, peloidal-bioclastic grainstone, peloidal-lithoclastic-bioclastic-cortoidal grainstone/packstone, peloidal-bioclastic packstone/grainstone, peloidal-bioclastic wackestone, spiculitic wackestone, recrystallized peloidal-oolitic grainstone and subordinate dolosparites. The studied sediments were deposited on a shallow-water carbonate platform characterized by normal salinity, in high-energy oolite shoals, bars, back-margin, protected shallow lagoon and subordinately on restricted tidal flat. Some of them contain the microcoprolite Parafavreina, green alga Palaeodasycladus cf. mediterraneous (Pia) and Cayeuxia, typical of the Early Jurassic carbonate platforms of the Western Tethys. The spiculite wackestone from the upper part of the studied succession was deposited in a transitional to deeper-water setting. The studied upper Sinemurian carbonates of the Hronicum domain reveal microfacies similar to the other Bahamian-type platform carbonates of the Mediterranean region. Thereby, they record the northern range of the Lower Jurassic tropical shallow-water carbonates in the western part of the Tethys, albeit the thickness of the Bahamian-type carbonate successions generally decrease in a northerly direction. The sedimentation of the Bahamian-type deposits in the Hronicum domain, located during the Early Jurassic at about 28°N, besides other specific factors (i.e., light, salinity, and nutrients) was strongly controlled by the paleocirculation of warm ocean currents in the Western Tethys.     

Localization of the membrane-associated region of vesicular stomatitis virus M protein at the N terminus, using the hydrophobic, photoreactive probe 125I-TID.

The membrane-reactive, photoactivatable probe 125I-TID [3-(trifluoromethyl)-3-(m-[125I]iodophenyl)-3H-diazirine] was found to label the M protein of vesicular stomatitis virus about 40% as much as G protein in intact virions, in agreement with labeling studies with other probes. By analyzing limited tryptic digestion and specific chemical cleavage products, the label was essentially entirely localized within the first 19, and probably within the first 5 to 10, amino acid residues at the N terminus, identifying this short amphipathic segment as the likely site of interaction of M protein with the viral bilayer.     

Decline ofPotentillo albae-Quercetum phytocoenoses associated with the invasion ofCarpinus betulus

The study area in the Bialowieza primeval forest-size 28000 m², divided into quadrats of 100 m², comprised two patches ofPotentillo albae-Quercetum as distinguished by phytosociological methods, and a fragment of an adjacent very largeTilio-Carpinetum stand. The directional variation in the distribution ofCarpinus betulus trunk diameter values in the southern part of the study area indicates invasion of this oak forest byCarpinus. This process probably started 1962–1968. The invasion ofCarpinus betulus caused considerable deterioration in light conditions of the ground layer, as deduced from a decrease in Ellenberg light index values. The phytosociological division of the study area correlates with variation in the spatial pattern ofCarpinus mean trunk diameter distribution.Quadrat groups were distinguished by association analysis. They were described phytosociologically using systematic group values for species, constituting the characteristic combination for thePotentillo albae-Quercetum. Areas occupied by still olderCarpinus individuals correspond to successive stages of oak forest regression. The deterioration of light conditions caused recession of thermo-and heliophilous oak-forest species and decline ofPotentillo albae-Quercetum phytocoenoses. However, this was not accompanied by the expansion pansion of species ofCarpinus forests.     

Nucleoside imidodiphosphates synthesis and biological activities.

The synthesis of imidodiphosphate analogues of natural nucleoside 5'-diphosphates including adenosine 5'-imidodiphosphate (4a), guanosine 5'-imidodiphosphate (4b), 2'-deoxyadenosine 5'-imidodiphosphate (4c), and 2'-deoxy-guanosine 5'-imidodiphosphate (4d) has been accomplished for the first time. These compounds are the products of the reaction between nucleosides and trichloro [(dichlorophosphoryl)imido] phosphorane in trimethyl phosphate. Some of the major by-products of the reaction including 5'-deoxy-5'-chloro nucleosides are discussed. Compounds 4b, 4c, and 4d are potent inhibitors of ecto-5'-nucleotidase whereas compound 4a also active but less potent inhibitor. Compound 4b is the most potent inhibitor of phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate (PPRP) synthetase which follows by 4c, 4d and 4a. All of these compounds were more potent inhibitor of PPRP-synthetase than ADP or GDP. Ribavirin imidodiphosphate (4e) was also synthesized and tested for its inhibitory effect on ecto-5'-nucleotidase, PPRP-synthetase as well as IMP dehydrogenase. Compound 4e is the most potent inhibitor of IMP dehyrogenase but was a weak inhibitor of the other two enzymes. compound 4a, 4b, 4c and 4d are weak inhibitors of IMP dehydrogenase.     

Antitumor activity of opiorphin,sialorphin and their conjugates with a peptide klaklakklaklak

This is the study on the effect of opiorphin, sialorphin and their analogs on antitumor activity. We demonstrated that conjugation of opiorphin and sialorphin with a proapoptotic, antimicrobial peptide klak (klaklakklaklak) led to compounds (opio‐klak and sialo‐klak) that were cytotoxic against cancer cells (LN18, PC3, A549, HCT116 and B10‐F16) in the MTT test. The conjugated analogs were designed to increase the effectiveness of the peptide. The opio‐klak derivative was the most effective in the in vitro assays and led to a decrease in viability of cancer cells over time as compared with that of untreated controls. In contrast, treatment with either the untargeted klak peptide or opiorphin as a negative control led to a negligible loss in viability. Antitumor effect of the opio‐klak was also observed in vivo in murine melanoma tumor‐bearing mice. Cessation of peptide administration resulted in tumor regrowth. Our results are seemingly valuable for the development of opiorphin analogs with potential clinical applications. Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Expression of cagA,virB/D Complex and/or vacA Genes in Helicobacter pylori Strains Originating from Patients with Gastric Diseases

In order to better understand pathogenicity of Helicobacter pylori, particularly in the context of its carcinogenic activity, we analysed expression of virulence genes: cagA, virB/D complex (virB4, virB7, virB8, virB9, virB10, virB11, virD4) and vacA in strains of the pathogen originating from persons with gastric diseases. The studies were conducted on 42 strains of H. pylori isolated from patients with histological diagnosis of non-atrophic gastritis—NAG (group 1, including subgroup 1 containing cagA⁺ isolates and subgroup 2 containing cagA^- strains), multifocal atrophic gastritis—MAG (group 2) and gastric adenocarcinoma—GC (group 3). Expression of H. pylori genes was studied using microarray technology. In group 1, in all strains of H. pylori cagA⁺ (subgroup 1) high expression of the gene as well as of virB/D was disclosed, accompanied by moderate expression of vacA. In strains of subgroup 2 a moderate expression of vacA was detected. All strains in groups 2 and 3 carried cagA gene but they differed in its expression: a high expression was detected in isolates of group 2 and its hyperexpression in strains of group 3 (hypervirulent strains). In both groups high expression of virB/D and vacA was disclosed. Our results indicate that chronic active gastritis may be induced by both cagA⁺ strains of H. pylori, manifesting high expression of virB/D complex but moderate activity of vacA, and cagA^- strains with moderate expression of vacA gene. On the other hand, in progression of gastric pathology and carcinogenesis linked to H. pylori a significant role was played by hypervirulent strains, manifesting a very high expression of cagA and high activity of virB/D and vacA genes.     

Retrospective analysis of idiopathic scoliosis medical records coming from one out-patient clinic for compatibility with Scoliosis Research Society criteria for brace treatment studies

Background

First author attempted to analyse medical records of patients with idiopathic scoliosis for compliance with the Scoliosis Research Society brace studies criteria. A retrospective analysis of medical records of 2705 girls treated from 1989 to 2002 was carried out.

Methods

Age, Cobb, Risser and menarchal status were analyzed for compliance with the Scoliosis Research Society brace studies criteria: a) age ≥10 years, b) Risser 0–2, c) 25–40° Cobb angle, d) no earlier treatment, e) patients before first menses or not more than one year from first menses.

Results

It has been found that 183 girls out of 2705 were ≥10 years old and in the range 25–40° Cobb angle. One hundred two out of 2705 patients revealed eligible for brace effectiveness study according to SRS 2005 criteria. 120 out of 2705 patients revealed eligible for brace brace effectiveness study according to SRS-SOSORT 2014 criteria.

Conclusion

The excluded patients revealed too old or with too significant Cobb angles. This indicates the changing criteria for scoliosis brace treatment over the time. Direct comparison of current results of brace treatment with historical series of cases turns out to be very difficult.