温度对红点唇瓢虫实验种群的影响

在７种温度下测定了红点唇瓢虫（Ｃｈｉｌｏｃｏｒｕｓ ｋｕｗａｎａｅ Ｓｉｌｖｅｓｔｒｉ）发育速率,并求得各虫态的发育起点温度和有效积温。其发育速率与温度的关系能很好地用王如松等（１９８２）提出的模型进行拟合。由此模型估计出最低、最高临界温度和最适发育温度,分别为１０．４２－１３．０１－℃、℃３３．５３－３７．０３℃和２４．９９－３０．１２℃。卵期忍耐温度变化的能力最强。４龄幼虫最弱。温度明显地影响     

Interaction of the Neurospora crassa heat shock factor with the heat shock element during heat shock and different developmental stages

The interaction of the heat shock factor (HSF) with the heat shock element (HSE) was determined by a non-radioactive electrophoretic mobility shift assay, in order to analyze HSF regulation in Neurospora crassa. HSF binds to HSE under normal, non-stress conditions and is thus constitutively trimerized. Upon heat shock, the HSF-HSE complex shows a retarded mobility. This was also observed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, where this mobility shift was shown to be due to HSF phosphorylation [Sorger and Pelham (1988) Cell 54, 855-864]. In N. crassa, HSE-dependent electrophoretic mobility shift is temperature- and time-dependent. Under normal growth conditions, the HSF is located in the cytoplasm as well as in the nucleus. In germinating conidia the HSF shows a retarded mobility typical for heat shock even at normal growth temperatures. No HSF-dependent mobility shift was detectable in aerial hyphae.     

Time dependent effect of post warming interval on microtubule organization, meiotic status, and parthenogenetic activation of vitrified in vitro matured sheep oocytes

It is a common practice to rest vitrified-warmed matured oocytes for 1-3 h, as a treatment to recover spindle and cytoskeleton, before commencing a further treatment. Vitrified-warmed matured oocytes, however, are very sensitive and may resume meiosis spontaneously during this recommended rest time. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess spindle and chromosome status as well as developmental competence of vitrified in vitro matured sheep oocytes activated parthenogenetically, either 0 h (immediately) or 2 h (delayed) after warming. There was no significant effect of post-warming interval on the proportion of degenerated oocytes. Evaluation of chromosomes and meiotic spindle configuration showed that 11.11% of oocytes in the immediate group and 8.82% of oocytes in the delayed group had normal chromosomal alignment on well-structured spindles, compared to non-vitrified group (79.41%). Meanwhile, majority of the chromosomal abnormalities in the immediate and delayed groups were categorized as absent (unobservable) (77.78%) and anaphase II (70.59%), respectively. Oocytes in immediately activated group showed significantly higher blastocyst rate (28.86%) compared to delayed activated group (16.47%). In conclusion, the results suggest that post-warming interval may have important consequence on meiotic progression and parthenogenetic activation of vitrified oocytes. In sheep, it appears that chemical activation without having to await microtubule reorganization improves embryonic development.     

Sex, secondary compounds and asymmetry. Effects on plant–herbivore interaction in a dioecious shrub

We analysed the links between herbivory, anthraquinone content and developmental instability of leaves in Rhamnus alpinus, taking into account possible effects of sexual dimorphism. The amount of leaf loss caused by herbivores averaged 3%, rarely exceeding 25%. Leaf losses were evenly distributed in the shrubs, with highest variability among leaves of the same shoot, thus hiding possible shrub, sex or population effects. This pattern of herbivory implies a shifting of caterpillars from one leaf to another before consuming all readily available material. We suggest that this behaviour might be triggered by a short-term change in leaf palatability by means of an increase in the production of secondary compounds. Supporting this hypothesis, we have found a higher anthraquinone content in damaged leaves compared with undamaged ones. The leaves of male plants exhibited a higher concentration of anthraquinones than those of females, which contrasts with classic hypotheses. We relate this to the lower rate of biomass increase in males, which should allow them to allocate more resources to defence. Leaves showed fluctuating asymmetry (FA), but we did not find any relationship between the degree of asymmetry and sex, herbivory or anthraquinone content at any level considered. Therefore, FA cannot be considered as an indicator of susceptibility to damage by herbivores or of the ability to induce the production of defensive compounds in R. alpinus.     

Dega骨盆截骨术后最佳中心边缘角的三维有限元分析

目的:应用三维有限元技术评估发育性髋关节脱位(developmental dysplasia of the hip,DDH)患儿在Dega骨盆截骨术后不同中心边缘角(center-edge angle,CEA)状态下髋臼的应力分布,为术前的手术规划提供有参考价值的生物力学结果。方法:使用已建立的DDH患者髋关节三维有限元模型,以术后CEA27°为中间值,每3°为一个变量,在Mimics誖10.0软件的模拟手术模块分别构建7组髋臼截骨术后的模型。在单腿站立和双腿站立状态下测量不同CEA状态下髋臼的应力分布。结果:单腿站立情况下,CEA为24°、27°、30°和33°的术后模型患侧髋臼的峰值应力接近正常侧。双腿站立情况下,CEA为24°时双侧髋臼的峰值应力最为接近。结论:对于该患者而言,在7组术后CEA中,24°时患侧髋臼的峰值应力与健侧最为接近,可以认为是最佳的术后CEA。有限元技术能够为Dega手术的术前规划提供个性化的指导方案。     

Semi-automated Imaging of Tissue-specific Fluorescence in Zebrafish Embryos

Zebrafish embryos are a powerful tool for large-scale screening of small molecules. Transgenic zebrafish that express fluorescent reporter proteins are frequently used to identify chemicals that modulate gene expression. Chemical screens that assay fluorescence in live zebrafish often rely on expensive, specialized equipment for high content screening. We describe a procedure using a standard epifluorescence microscope with a motorized stage to automatically image zebrafish embryos and detect tissue-specific fluorescence. Using transgenic zebrafish that report estrogen receptor activity via expression of GFP, we developed a semi-automated procedure to screen for estrogen receptor ligands that activate the reporter in a tissue-specific manner. In this video we describe procedures for arraying zebrafish embryos at 24-48 hours post fertilization (hpf) in a 96-well plate and adding small molecules that bind estrogen receptors. At 72-96 hpf, images of each well from the entire plate are automatically collected and manually inspected for tissue-specific fluorescence. This protocol demonstrates the ability to detect estrogens that activate receptors in heart valves but not in liver.