Reduced reproductive function in wild baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) related to natural consumption of the African black plum (Vitex doniana)

Several authors have suggested that the consumption of plant compounds may have direct effects on wild primate reproductive biology, but no studies have presented physiological evidence of such effects. Here, for two troops of olive baboons (Papio hamadryas anubis) at Gashaka-Gumti National Park, Nigeria, we show major seasonal increases in levels of fecal progesterone metabolites in females, and provide evidence that this is linked to the consumption of natural plant compounds. Increases in fecal progestogen excretion occurred seasonally in all females, in all reproductive states, including lactation. Detailed feeding data on the study animals showed that only one food species is consumed by both troops at the time of observed progestogen peaks, and at no other times of the year: the African black plum, Vitex doniana. Laboratory tests demonstrated the presence of high concentrations of progestogen-like compounds in V. doniana. Together with published findings linking the consumption of a related Vitex species (Vitex agnus castus) to increased progestogen levels in humans, our data suggest that natural consumption of V. doniana was a likely cause of the observed increases in progestogens. Levels of progestogen excretion in the study baboons during periods of V. doniana consumption are higher than those found during pregnancy, and prevent the expression of the sexual swelling, which is associated with ovulatory activity. As consortship and copulatory activity in baboons occur almost exclusively in the presence of a sexual swelling, V. doniana appears to act on cycling females as both a physiological contraceptive (simulating pregnancy in a similar way to some forms of the human contraceptive pill) and a social contraceptive (preventing sexual swelling, thus reducing association and copulation with males). The negative effects of V. doniana on reproduction may be counter-balanced by the wide-range of medicinal properties attributed to plants in this genus. This is the first time that physiological evidence has been presented of direct effects of plant consumption on the reproductive biology of wild primates.     

Reproductive success and nestling diet in the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker ( Picoides minor ): the early bird gets the caterpillar

Populations of Lesser Spotted Woodpecker (Picoides minor) are decreasing in size, necessitating management strategies. However, data on the reproductive biology of this species are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of timing of breeding and nestling diet on the reproductive success of the Lesser Spotted Woodpecker and thereby contribute to an understanding of the determinants influencing its reproductive success. During 6 study years between 1996–2003, we investigated various variables of reproductive success in a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker population in the Taunus low mountain range, Germany. We observed nestling feeding at breeding holes to assess the composition of nestling diet and how it changes during the season. Clutch size, number of fledglings as well as body mass of the nestlings declined with the start of egg laying. Pairs composed of individuals that had breed together in previous years started egg laying earlier than newly established pairs. Nestling diet consisted mainly of aphids, caterpillars, craneflies and wood-living larvae. The composition changed considerably within the breeding season in both early and late broods. However, early broods were provided with caterpillars more frequently, whereas late broods received wood-dwelling larvae more often. Our results suggest that Lesser Spotted Woodpeckers time their breeding so as to coincide with the early nestling stage with the highest availability of caterpillars, since this is the time of highest energy demand. Moreover, food availability declines during the breeding season, and the decline in reproductive performance seems to be an effect of this development.     

Prediction of enzymes and non-enzymes from protein sequences based on sequence derived features and PSSM matrix using artificial neural network

The problem of predicting the enzymes and non-enzymes from the protein sequence information is still an open problem in bioinformatics. It is further becoming more important as the number of sequenced information grows exponentially over time. We describe a novel approach for predicting the enzymes and non-enzymes from its amino-acid sequence using artificial neural network (ANN). Using 61 sequence derived features alone we have been able to achieve 79 percent correct prediction of enzymes/non-enzymes (in the set of 660 proteins). For the complete set of 61 parameters using 5-fold cross-validated classification, ANN model reveal a superior model (accuracy = 78.79 plus or minus 6.86 percent, Q(pred) = 74.734 plus or minus 17.08 percent, sensitivity = 84.48 plus or minus 6.73 percent, specificity = 77.13 plus or minus 13.39 percent). The second module of ANN is based on PSSM matrix. Using the same 5-fold cross-validation set, this ANN model predicts enzymes/non-enzymes with more accuracy (accuracy = 80.37 plus or minus 6.59 percent, Q(pred) = 67.466 plus or minus 12.41 percent, sensitivity = 0.9070 plus or minus 3.37 percent, specificity = 74.66 plus or minus 7.17 percent).     

女性体检人群生殖道病原体的分布

目的了解体检妇女人群生殖道感染情况,为女性生殖道感染的防治提供进一步的资料。方法对1157例参加健康体检的妇女的阴道后穹窿及宫颈分泌物标本进行显微镜镜检以检测阴道清洁度、真菌、滴虫等,同时采用培养法对淋球菌、解脲支原体、人型支原体、真菌等进行检测,沙眼衣原体则采用免疫层析法;检测结果进行统计学分析。结果女性生殖道感染的感染率为54.0%,其中混合感染率为9.3%,而清洁度异常率仅为23.8%;前3位病原体依次为解脲支原体(35.3%)、衣原体(22.2%)、真菌(5.5%);年轻妇女组与年老组支原体的检出率差异有显著性(P<0.05)。结论女性生殖道感染情况严重,支原体、衣原体等感染隐匿,加强对育龄妇女的监测尤为重要。     

凝溶胶蛋白的结构与功能

凝溶胶蛋白（gelsolin）是凝溶胶蛋白超家族的成员之一,是一种重要的肌动蛋白结合蛋白,其通过切断、封端肌动蛋白丝,或使肌动蛋白聚集成核等方式来控制肌动蛋白的结构.凝溶胶蛋白除了在重组肌动蛋白丝中发挥作用以外,还在细胞运动、控制细胞程序性死亡等细胞活动中发挥重要的作用.此外,肿瘤细胞中凝溶胶蛋白的表达量也发生变化.凝溶胶蛋白的变异还是某些遗传疾病的基础.最近的研究发现,凝溶胶蛋白可以作为转录辅激活蛋白,促进雄激素受体的转录活性.本文对凝溶胶蛋白的结构特点、参与调节细胞的功能和机制及其研究现状进行概述.     

Eel community structure,fluvial recruitment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla marmorata</Emphasis> and indication for a weak local production of spawners from rivers of Réunion and Mauritius islands

Anguillid eels were sampled from permanent rivers in the Réunion and Mauritius islands, western Indian Ocean, with a standardized electrofishing method. A. marmorata was very dominant, corresponding to 91.7 and 90.7% of all the eels collected in Réunion and Mauritius, respectively. Three other species (A. mossambica, A. bicolor bicolor and A. nebulosa labiata) were also present in both islands. A. marmorata showed a strong altitudinal gradient of densities from the lower to upper zones, especially in the younger stages (TL <250 mm), while A. mossambica was only found in the upper zones and A. bicolor bicolor occurred only in the lower zones (A. nebulosa labiata was rare). The eel species composition in freshwaters of both islands is very similar because these two adjoining islands are located in the same trail of drifting marine larvae. Mean estimated eel biomasses were noticeably low (11.1 and 22.2 kg ha⁻¹ in Réunion and Mauritius islands, respectively), especially when compared to those of other tropical insular systems without any eel fishery (Comoros or Polynesia, more than 100 kg ha⁻¹). Nevertheless, the fluvial recruitment of A. marmorata seemed to be regular during the surveyed period, staggering from October to April. The obvious lack of large eels in Mauritius but more significantly in Réunion suggests a high pressure from traditional fishery, and the local reproductive turnover is uncertain. Because sexual maturation seems to occur at a large body size for A. marmorata, as for temperate species, the Réunion and Mauritius rivers may only have a weak contribution to the regional production of spawners. However, the giant mottled eel population in the western Indian Ocean is believed to be panmictic at the regional scale, and may not rely exclusively on these islands’ contribution. A comparison is made with those of freshwater systems in other tropical islands.     

The Influence of Discharge on Duration,Ascent Distance,and Fidelity of the Spawning Migration for Paddlefish of the Yellowstone-Sakakawea Stock,Montana and North Dakota,USA

Paddlefish, Polyodon spathula, of the Yellowstone-Sakakawea stock, Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, Montana and North Dakota, were radio-tagged to assess the influence of spring discharge on duration of river residency, ascent distance, and site-fidelity during spawning migrations of 1999–2002. Contrary to expectations and reported results from other paddlefish populations, fish remained in the river for similar periods of time and ascended to similar reaches in years of higher, more sustained discharge and in years of lower, more fluctuating discharge. In all years, 65 of the 74 migrants (88%) restricted their ascent to reaches below Yellowstone River kilometer (YRkm) 55; only six migrants were found to further ascend to upriver reaches within 20 river kilometers (rkm) of the Intake Diversion Dam (YRkm 114). The lack of detectable annual differences in ascent distance over the study period despite annual differences in Yellowstone River spring flow regimes may have been partially attributed to the apparent site-fidelity demonstrated by the tagged fish over the study period. Ten of the 22 paddlefish contacted in more than one spring migration repeatedly limited their upriver movement to sites that were within 10 rkm of each other. In addition, similar to the reproductive homing tendencies documented in other large-river migratory fishes, site-fidelity occurred in different reaches of the river system. Results from this study suggest that, in years of moderate discharge, site-fidelity may be as influential as the spring flow regime in determining the reaches to which migratory paddlefish ascend. Further research is needed to investigate potential differential spawning success in fish that return to different reaches of the lower Yellowstone River.     

Evolution of mating systems in coral reef gobies and constraints on mating system plasticity

Social and mating systems can be influenced by the distribution, abundance, and economic defendability of breeding partners and essential resources. Polygyny is predicted where males can economically defend multiple females or essential resources used by females. In contrast, monogamy is predicted where neither sex can monopolise multiple partners, either directly or through resource control, but where one mate is economically defendable. The mating system and reproductive behaviour of five species of coral reef goby were investigated and contrasted with population density and individual mobility. The two most abundant species (Asterropteryx semipunctatus and Istigobius goldmanni) were polygynous. In contrast, the less populous and more widely dispersed epibenthic species (Amblygobius bynoensis, Amblygobius phalaena and Valenciennea muralis) were pair forming and monogamous. All five species had low mobility, mostly remaining within metres (3 epibenthic species) or centimetres (2 cryptobenthic species) of a permanent shelter site. Interspecific differences in the mating system may have been shaped by differences in population density and the ability of reproductive individuals to economically defend breeding partners/sites. However, in a test of mating system plasticity, males of the three monogamous species did not mate polygynously when given the opportunity to do so in experimental manipulations of density and sex ratio. Mate guarding and complex spawning characteristics, which have likely co-evolved with the monogamous mating system, could contribute to mating system inflexibility by making polygynous mating unprofitable for individuals of the pair forming species, even when presented with current-day ecological conditions that usually favour polygyny.     

Pollination biology of a disjunct population of the endangered sandhills endemic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Penstemon haydenii</Emphasis> S. Wats. (Scrophulariaceae) in Wyoming,USA

We studied the breeding system and flower visitors of the endangered plant, Penstemon haydenii, at several south-central Wyoming, USA occurrences. In agreement with earlier studies of the species 300 km to the east in Nebraska, we found Wyoming plants to be self-incompatible and pollinator-dependent for sexual reproduction. Flower visitors were several species of native bees in the families Apidae (particularly bumblebees), Halictidae (small sweat bees), and Megachilidae (especially in the genus Osmia); and the masarid wasp Pseudomasaris vespoides. Especially important was Osmia brevis, an abundant megachilid bee, and one of only two species (the sweat bee Lasioglossum (Dialictus) pruinosum was the other) present at all five sites. As in Nebraska, fruit set did not differ between our experimental cross-pollination treatment and an open-pollinated control. However, unlike Nebraska, open-pollinated treatments in Wyoming produced significantly fewer seeds per fruit than the experimental out-crossing treatment. We discuss several possible explanations for seed limitation: (1) a scarcity of pollinators early in the flowering season; (2) resource competition for developing ovules on open-pollinated inflorescences but not on experimental inflorescences; (3) the deposition of self pollen through intra-inflorescence and intra-genet pollinator movements; (4) few S-alleles and mating types in the Wyoming metapopulation compared to the Nebraska metapopulation, from which it likely derives.     

MarkerML – Marker Feature Identification in Metagenomic Datasets Using Interpretable Machine Learning

Identification of environment specific marker-features is one of the key objectives of many metagenomic studies. It aims to identify such features in microbiome datasets that may serve as markers of the contrasting or comparable states. Hypothesis testing and black-box machine learnt models which are conventionally used for identification of these features are generally not exhaustive, especially because they generally do-not provide any quantifiable relevance (context) of/between the identified features. We present MarkerML web-server, that seeks to leverage the emergence of interpretable machine learning for facilitating the contextual discovery of metagenomic features of interest. It does so through a comprehensive and automated application of the concept of Shapley Additive Explanations in companionship to the compositionality accounted hypothesis testing for the multi-variate microbiome datasets. MarkerML not only helps in identification of marker-features, but also enables insights into the role and inter-dependence of the identified features in driving the decision making of the supervised machine learnt model. Generation of high quality and intuitive visualizations spanning prediction effect plots, model performance reports, feature dependency plots, Shapley and abundance informed cladograms (Sungrams), hypothesis tested violin plots along-with necessary provisions for excluding the participant bias and ensuring reproducibility of results, further seek to make the platform a useful asset for the scientists in the field of microbiome (and even beyond). The MarkerML web-server is freely available for the academic community at https://microbiome.igib.res.in/markerml/.