The encounter of distinct Morimus asper (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) phylogeographic lineages on the Balkan Peninsula: conservation implications

Journal of Insect Conservation - The first step in monitoring and management of any taxa includes resolving taxonomic ambiguities which complicate the identification of its management units. One of...     

Modelling of carcinogenesis and low-dose hypersensitivity: an application to lung cancer incidence among atomic bomb survivors

Lung cancer incidence among the atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki was analysed with the two-step clonal expansion (TSCE) model of carcinogenesis. For the baseline incidence, a new set of model parameters is introduced, which can be determined with a higher precision than the parameter sets previously used. The effect of temporal changes in the smoking behaviour on the lung cancer incidence is modelled by allowing initiation, inactivation and division rates of intermediate cells to depend on the year of birth. The TSCE model is further developed by implementing low-dose hypersensitivity in the survival of lung epithelial cells. According to the model fit to the data, the acute gamma exposure of the atomic bomb survivors does not only result in the conventional initiating effect, but also in a promoting effect for lung cancer. Compared to the model in which radiation acts merely on initiation, the new model is in better agreement with the age-at-exposure dependence in the data, and it does not predict an unexpected increase of the excess relative risk (ERR) at 40 years after exposure. According to the new model, the ERR at low doses increases non-linearly with dose, especially during the first 10 years after exposure to older persons.     

The influence on coagulation of transdermal estrogen hormone replacement therapy as a preoperative preparation of the tissue before vaginal hysterectomy

In 32 postmenopausal patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy due to the presence of uterine prolapse at the Department of Uro-gynaecology and Pelvic Floor Disorders in the Clinic of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Medical School, Skopje in the period from 1st January 2002 to 1st January 2003, and who were preoperatively treated with transdermal estradiol 50 microg/day during 14 days the following parameters of the coagulating status were estimated: prothrombin time (PT) that is expressed in: absolute value, percentage and INR; activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT Pathrombin SL); thrombin time and platelets number before and after hormone replacement therapy. After 14-day transdermal estrogen therapy, the parameters: PT, PT%, PT INR, aPTT Pathrombin SL didn't expressed significant changes, the thrombin time expressed significant extension, and the platelets expressed a significant decrease. According to our results, the transdermal estrogens might not have any influence on the hepatic synthesis of coagulating factors till the step of prothrombin formation. They might have an essential influence on the step of prothrombin transformation into thrombin, as well as on the process of megacaryocytes segregation into platelets.     

New concepts and new words--how do languages cope with the problem of neology?

It is a well-known fact that languages react differently when foreign words denoting new concepts have to be integrated into the native system. The procedure mostly depends on the degree of purism present in a linguistic community: some languages are rather open to foreign influences and do not demonstrate any special hostility towards new words which are easily accepted and adapted to the phonological and morphological systems of the receiving language. Languages, which have a strong puristic tradition, usually channel their borrowings into the loan translation field using internal word formation resources as a means of creating neologisms. Regardless of whether they are built of native elements or appear as loans, neologisms are necessarily the result of linguistic changes.     

Novel ruthenium complex K2[Ru(dmgly)Cl4].2H2O is toxic to C6 astrocytoma cell line, but not to primary rat astrocytes

A novel class of ruthenium (III) complexes of formulas K[Ru(sar)2Cl2].12H2O and K2[Ru(dmgly)Cl4].2H2O, containing bidentate chelates N-methylglycine (sarcosine, sar) or N,N-dimethylglycine (dmgly) and additional chloro ligands were synthesized. The complexes have been obtained by direct reaction of ruthenium(III) chloride with corresponding bidentate ligand followed by addition of base (KOH). These new complexes were characterized by elemental analysis, IR and electronic absorption spectroscopy. As astrocytomas, the most common of all brain tumors, are still very difficult to treat, we examined the influence of newly synthesized ruthenium-based complexes, as well as the earlier synthesized analogue platinum(IV) complexes [Pt(dmgly)2Cl2], [Pt(sar)2Br2] and [Pt(dmgly)2Br2], on rat astrocytoma C6 cells in vitro. Among these complexes only K2[Ru(dmgly)Cl4].2H2O and [Pt(dmgly)2Br2] markedly inhibited the viability of non-confluent C6 cells. Furthermore, only complex K2[Ru(dmgly)Cl4].2H2O was able to reduce viability in confluent C6 cultures. Importantly, this complex was not toxic to primary rat astrocytes or macrophages. Having in mind that appropriate chemotherapy should be effective against tumor cells without harming normal tissues, complex K2[Ru(dmgly)Cl4].2H2O could be a promising agent for developing therapeutics against astrocytomas.     

Expression analysis of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) metallothionein-like gene (MT3) under different stress and physiological conditions

The buckwheat metallothionein-like (MT3) gene expression was studied throughout seed and leaf development, as well as under the influence of different external stimuli. MT3 mRNAs were detected from the early stage of seed development to the end of maturation, reaching the highest level during the mid-maturation stage. High MT3 mRNA level was noticed for both green and senescent leaves. The influence of raising Cu ion concentrations on MT3 gene expression was studied only in leaves, while the effect of Zn ions was analyzed through seed development as well. It was found that Cu and Zn ions had stimulatory effects on expression in leaves. MT3 expression was significantly enhanced in the early stage of seed development in response to Zn ions, while after this stage, influence of Zn ions was not detected. After H2O2/NaCl treatment, MT3 mRNA level was decreased in green leaves, contrary to senescent leaves where expression levels remained unchanged. H2O2 treatment caused the increase of MT3 mRNA levels in the mid-maturation stage of seed development. NaCl had no effect on expression levels in seeds. According to obtained results, proposed functions in different plant organs regarding oxidative stress and metal homeostasis are discussed.     

Gender-specific growth patterns for stature,sitting height and limbs length in Croatian children and youth (3 to 18 years of age)

In a cross-sectional study of growth, 5,155 children (2,591 females, 2,564 males) from the town of Zagreb (Croatia) were measured. Four traits of linear dimensionality (stature, sitting height, arm and leg lengths) were studied in the age span of 3 to 18 years. A significant average annual increase of all four anthropometric parameters were observed up to 14 and 15 years of age in girls and 16 years of age in boys, showing that girls had a shorter growing period. In the prepubertal period until 9 years of age, gender differences were negligible. At the age of 10, boys were overgrown by girls in all parameters due to the earlier onset of puberty in girls. The growth gains for girls, when compared with those for boys, show a different pattern across variables. The female growth advantage remained in a two years period for the limbs length, but in a three year period for stature and the longest, for 4 years, for sitting height. The male predominance in size had an onset at the age of 13 for the limbs and in the age of 14 for stature and sitting height. The patterns of sexual dimorphism in stature and sitting height during growing years are similar to those observed in other populations of Europe. Growth of Croatian children and youth is very similar to that of the tallest European populations.     

Changes in midgut and brain proteins in Morimus funereus larvae depending on nutritive substrate

The response of Morimus funereus larvae to total starvation and refeeding with qualitatively different nutritive substrates (artificial diets supplemented with yeast as a source of B complex vitamins or with a digestibility reducer-tannic acid) was examined in this paper. Refeeding resulted in a compensatory increase of larval growth. Feeding and refeeding with qualitatively different nutritive substrates affected both quality and quantity of midgut and brain proteins. The observed differences suggest the possible switching of enzyme isoforms in M. funereus midgut and changes in synthesis/secretion of neurohormones, depending on food presence and its nutritional value.     

Sexual dimorphism in life history plasticity in the gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.)

Sexual differences in reaction norms of life history traits (larval development time--LDT, pupal weight--PW and adult longevity--L) were investigated in the gypsy moth reared on young or old oak leaves during the first larval instar. Sexual dimorphism was revealed for genetic variation in reaction norms that was expressed only for LDT in males, and PW and L in females. Higher mean plasticity of longevity was found in males compared to females indicating that the sexes are exposed to divergent selective pressures. Greater dependence of males on energy resources (carbohydrates and lipids) may account for the observed differences.     

Synthesis and intramolecular transesterifications of pivaloylated methyl alpha-D-galactopyranosides

Selective pivaloylations of methyl alpha-D-galactopyranoside have been studied under various reaction conditions. Partially pivaloylated products were submitted to additional acetylations. The structures were established by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. Both, 2,6- and 3,6-dipivalates underwent intramolecular cyclization in neutral conditions (phosphate buffered saline, pH 7.2) to give a stable 2,3-orthoacid with a parallel 6-->4 migration of the pivaloyl group.