On the activity of γ-aminobutyric acid and glutamate transporters in chick embryonic neurons and rat synaptosomes

The uptake of radioactive -aminobutyric acid (GABA) andd-aspartate and the effect of SKF 89976-A, a non-substrate inhibitor of the GABA transporter, on this uptake have been investigated. Neuronal cultures from eight-day-old chick embryos grown for three or six days in vitro, were used as a model. For comparison, we also used the P₂-fraction from rat. Neuronal cultures grown for three and six days expressed high-affinity uptake systems for [³H]GABA and ford-[³H]aspartate with an increasing V_max during this period. The lipophilic non-substrate GABA uptake inhibitor, SKF 89976-A, inhibited transporter mediated uptake of GABA both in cell cultures from chicken, and in P₂-fractions from rat. The results also showed that SKF 89976-A was a poor inhibitor of the uptake ofd-aspartate. We found no non-saturable uptake ofd-aspartate.     

Trend Analysis of Biological Parameters in the Baltic (1976-1988)

Eutrophication of the nature is one of the most relevant problems for the human society today. In comparison to terrestrial and limnological ecosystems, however, the marine environment is affected with some exceptions of coastal waters in a minor degree. On the basis of data from 1976–1988 trend analysis for chlorophyll, primary production, zooplankton biomass and water transparency have been carried out for the Mecklenburg Bight and different areas of the Baltic proper. As expected from the longterm increase in the nutrient levels, also for some pelagic biological variables increasing trends could be observed. At least for chlorophyll they are significant in the 95% probability level for all investigated areas. Primary production shows also an increase, however, not significant for each subarea. For zooplankton nearly no changes could be observed. All data reflect a high interannual variability, which can partly be explained by meteorological and oceanological conditions. The results are discussed from an ecological point of view. The increase in phytoplankton variables is considered to be at least partly related to the eutrophication of the Baltic.     

Maintenance Respiration of Oryza sativa Leaves at Different Growth Stages as Influenced by Nitrogen Supply

Maintenance respiration rate, R_M, irrespective of growth stages, increased with increase in nitrogen supply. The R_M increased almost in proportion with net photosynthetic rate, P_N, and biomass production during early growth stages, while it declined after anthesis. Significant positive correlation was observed between biomass production and P_N at all growth stages except tillering. Though R_M was positively correlated with biomass production during early growth stages, it was negatively correlated with the rate of increase in shoot biomass after flowering, which could indicate a possibility to identify certain cultivars endowed with low maintenance expenses despite building up biomass.     

Electrical energy production from forest detritus in a forested wetland using microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has shown great potential for harvesting energy from waste organic materials. Here, we explored the potential of MFC‐based electricity generation from forest detritus, a large untapped biomass pool. Electricity generation from in situ MFCs and relevant environmental parameters (i.e., carbon sources and concentrations, temperature, water depth) in a seasonally flooded freshwater cypress‐tupelo wetland were monitored intensively for two flooding periods. Current outputs ranged from 0 to 1.27 mA (mean of 0.40 mA for flooding period) and were highly sensitive to environmental changes, showing seasonal and diel dependences. Excluding the influence of heavy storms, drought, or wetland icing, current output was highly temperature‐dependent dielly. Seasonally, current output gradually increased in the first 3–4 months (limited by temperature) and decreased slightly during the last 1–2 months (probably limited by carbon and nutrients) of both flooding periods. Litter extract of baldcypress (Taxodium distictum) with lower C/N ratio and aromatic content showed greater stable current outputs (0.57 mA) based on 50 mg l^?1 biological oxygen demand compared to extracts of water tupelo (Nyssa aquatica) and longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), suggesting that the current output of in situ MFCs could depend on the vegetation within a wetland. Our study highlights the potential application of MFC in generating green and sustainable electricity from forest biomass for powering remote sensors in wetland ecosystems.     

RTTN Mutations Cause Primary Microcephaly and Primordial Dwarfism in Humans

Primary microcephaly is a developmental brain anomaly that results from defective proliferation of neuroprogenitors in the germinal periventricular zone. More than a dozen genes are known to be mutated in autosomal-recessive primary microcephaly in isolation or in association with a more generalized growth deficiency (microcephalic primordial dwarfism), but the genetic heterogeneity is probably more extensive. In a research protocol involving autozygome mapping and exome sequencing, we recruited a multiplex consanguineous family who is affected by severe microcephalic primordial dwarfism and tested negative on clinical exome sequencing. Two candidate autozygous intervals were identified, and the second round of exome sequencing revealed a single intronic variant therein (c.2885+8A>G [p.Ser963^∗] in RTTN exon 23). RT-PCR confirmed that this change creates a cryptic splice donor and thus causes retention of the intervening 7 bp of the intron and leads to premature truncation. On the basis of this finding, we reanalyzed the exome file of a second consanguineous family affected by a similar phenotype and identified another homozygous change in RTTN as the likely causal mutation. Combined linkage analysis of the two families confirmed that RTTN maps to the only significant linkage peak. Finally, through international collaboration, a Canadian multiplex family affected by microcephalic primordial dwarfism and biallelic mutation of RTTN was identified. Our results expand the phenotype of RTTN-related disorders, hitherto limited to polymicrogyria, to include microcephalic primordial dwarfism with a complex brain phenotype involving simplified gyration.     

草乌花蜜产量的梯度分布及熊蜂自下而上的访花行为

收益降低假说(declining reward hypothesis)认为熊蜂自下而上的访花顺序是对花蜜产量的直接响应,先访问下部花蜜产量高的花可以获得更多的收益;花开口方向假说认为自下而上访花是因为熊蜂更容易看见其上部的花朵。为了验证上述两个假说,我们于2008年8月在北京小龙门国家森林公园调查了红光熊蜂(Bombus ignitus)访问草乌(Aconitum kusnezoffii)直立和倒立顶生花序的访问顺序,测量了直立花序下部雌性阶段花和上部雄性阶段花花蜜的糖浓度、体积,计算了花蜜中的糖含量。结果表明,红光熊蜂在直立花序和倒立花序内均以向上运动为主,分别占总运动次数的62.77%和68.35%;直立花序下部雌性阶段花花蜜糖浓度比上部雄性阶段花低1.44%,但是花蜜体积和花蜜中的糖含量都显著高于雄性阶段的花。由于熊蜂访问倒立花序时先访问的是下部的低回报雄性阶段的花,然后再访问上部高回报的雌性阶段的花,这与收益降低假说矛盾,表明红光熊蜂自下而上访问草乌直立花序可能不是受到花蜜产量的调节。     

Previtellogenic oocytes of South African largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides Lacépède 1802 (Actinopterygii,Perciformes) - the Balbiani body,cortical alveoli and developing eggshell

The ovaries of the largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides, an alien and invasive species in South Africa, contain a germinal epithelium which consists of germline and somatic cells, as well as previtellogenic and late vitellogenic ovarian follicles. The ovarian follicle consists of an oocyte surrounded by follicular cells and a basal lamina; thecal cells adjacent to this lamina are covered by an extracellular matrix. In this article, we describe the Balbiani body and the polarization and ultrastructure of the cytoplasm (ooplasm) in previtellogenic oocytes. The nucleoplasm in all examined oocytes contains lampbrush chromosomes, nuclear bodies and several nucleoli near the nuclear envelope. The ultrastructure of the nucleoli is described. Numerous nuage aggregations are present in the perinuclear cytoplasm in germline cells as well as in the ooplasm. Possible roles of these aggregations are discussed. The ooplasm contains the Balbiani body, which defines the future vegetal region in early previtellogenic oocytes. It is comprised of nuage aggregations, rough endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, mitochondria, complexes of mitochondria with nuage-like material, and lysosome-like organelles. In mid-previtellogenic oocytes, the Balbiani body surrounds the nucleus and later disperses in the ooplasm. The lysosome-like organelles fuse and transform into vesicles containing material which is highly electron dense. As a result of the fusion of the vesicles of Golgi and rough endoplasmic reticulum, the cortical alveoli arise and distribute uniformly throughout the ooplasm of late previtellogenic oocytes. During this stage, the deposition of the eggshell (zona radiata) begins. The eggshell is penetrated by canals containing microvilli and consists of the following: the internal and the external egg envelope. In the external envelope three sublayers can be distinguished.     

Estimation of genetic parameters for young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves

Young stock survival is a trait of crucial importance in cattle breeding as calf mortality leads to economic losses and represents an animal welfare issue. The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and sire breeding values for young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves. Two traits were analysed with a univariate animal model: young stock survival between 1 to 30 days and 31 to 200 days after birth. Breed combinations with Belgian Blue sires outperformed all other sire breeds. The lowest survival rates were found for breed combinations with Jersey dams or Blonde d’Aquitaine sires. The results showed low but significant heritabilities (0.045 to 0.075) for both survival traits. Differences in breeding values between sires ranged from −2.5% to 3.5% and from −5.4% to 4.7% survival from 1 to 30 days and 31 to 200 days, respectively. Based on these findings, we concluded that it is feasible to breed for improved young stock survival in beef x dairy crossbred calves. This will hopefully contribute to increasing the survival rate of the calves and reduce economic losses for the farmers.