Supercooling ability in two populations of the land snail Helix pomatia (Gastropoda: Helicidae) and ice-nucleating activity of gut bacteria

The land snail Helix pomatia (Gastropoda: Helicidae) is widely distributed in Northern and Central Europe where it may experience subzero temperatures during winter months. Its supercooling ability was studied in two populations of H. pomatia. One population originated from Southern Sweden (Gotaland) and the other from Central France (Auvergne). In the experimental design, they were acclimated, over 2 weeks, to artificial winter conditions (hibernation, T=5 degrees C). The Swedish snails showed a rather limited supercooling ability (temperature of crystallization, T(c)=-6.4+/-0.8 degrees C), significantly greater, however, than the supercooling capacity of the population from France (T(c)=-4.6+/-1.4 degrees C). In artificial spring conditions (3 months of hibernation followed by a progressive acclimation, over 2 weeks, to activity at T=20 degrees C), both populations exhibited a similar high T(c) (-2.0+/-1.0 degrees C). The lower T(c) of hibernating Swedish snails could be due to a greater loss of body water, accompanied by a higher concentration of solutes in the hemolymph. In both populations, the variation in hemolymph osmolality measured between hibernating (250-270 mOsm kg(-1)) and active (165-215 mOsm kg(-1)) snails may be explained by the variation in body water mass and did not suggest the production of colligative cryoprotectants. Moreover, the three bacterial strains, Buttiauxella sp., Kluyvera sp., and Tatumella sp. (Enterobacteriaceae) which were isolated from fed snails, but absent in starved snails, did not show any ice-nucleating activity at temperatures higher than -9 degrees C. Only the strain Kluyvera sp. initiated nucleation at -9 degrees C. This strain, therefore, is a weak, also termed a Type III or Class C ice-nucleating active bacterium, but with no influence on the supercooling ability of individual snails. In summary, fluctuations in body water mass of hibernating snail populations, triggering changes in osmolyte concentration, rather than the presence of endogenous ice-nucleating-active bacteria, accounts for fluctuations in their T(c).     

Unicoloniality, recognition and genetic differentiation in a native Formica ant

Some ants have an extraordinary form of social organization, called unicoloniality, whereby individuals mix freely among physically separated nests. This mode of social organization has been primarily studied in introduced and invasive ant species, so that the recognition ability and genetic structure of ants forming unicolonial populations in their native range remain poorly known. We investigated the pattern of aggression and the genetic structure of six unicolonial populations of the ant Formica paralugubris at four hierarchical levels: within nests, among nests within the same population, among nests of populations within the Alps or Jura Mountains and among nests of the two mountain ranges. Ants within populations showed no aggressive behaviour, but recognized nonnestmates as shown by longer antennation bouts. Overall, the level of aggression increased with geographic and genetic distance but was always considerably lower than between species. No distinct behavioural supercolony boundaries were found. Our study provides evidence that unicoloniality can be maintained in noninvasive ants despite significant genetic differentiation and the ability to discriminate between nestmates and nonnestmates.     

CL系列甘蔗亲本的遗传力及配合力分析

为探讨CL系列甘蔗品种作杂交亲本的遗传特点,采用3×3不完全双列杂交(NCⅡ)遗传设计,估算了7个产量和品质性状的遗传方差、一般配合力(GCA)和特殊配合力(SCA)。结果表明:锤度的遗传主要受母本加性基因效应控制,株高的遗传主要受父母本加性基因控制,而锤重的遗传主要受非加性基因效应所制约;CL83-1163作为母本,糖分配合力高,且能把高糖特性传递给后代,CL88-4730为父本,产量和品质性状的配合力大,其杂交后代表现高产高糖;根据配合力总效应(TCA),综合表现好的组合有CL83-1364×CL88-4730、CL83-1900×CL84-3152、CL83-1163×CL88-4730,可用于今后的甘蔗有性育种计划。     

The Vertical Pattern of Rooting and Nutrient Uptake at Different Altitudes of a South Ecuadorian Montane Forest

The vertical pattern of root length densities (RLD) of fine roots (<2 mm in diameter) and nitrogen (N) uptake potential were determined at different altitudes (1,900, 2,400, and 3,000 m a.s.l.) of a tropical montane forest in order to improve our knowledge about the depth distribution of nutrient uptake in this ecosystem. At higher altitudes, precipitation rate and frequency of fog were higher than at lower altitudes while mean annual air temperature decreased with increasing altitude. Soils were always very acid with significantly lower pH at a depth of 0.0–0.3 m in mineral soil at 3,000 m (2.8–2.9) than at 1,900 and 2,400 m (3.1–3.5). The vertical distribution of RLD was very similar both during the dry and the rainy season. During the dry season the percentage of root length in the organic layer increased from 51% at 1,900 m to 61% at 2,400 m and 76% at 3,000 m. At 3,000 m, RLD was markedly higher in the upper 0.05 m than in the remaining organic layer, whereas at 1,900 m and 2,400 m RLD were similar in all depths of the organic layer. In mineral soil, RLD decreased to a greater degree with increasing soil depth at the upper two study sites than at 1,900 m. The relative N uptake potential from different soil layers (RNUP) was determined by ¹⁵N enrichment of leaves after application of ¹⁵N enriched ammonium sulphate at various soil depths. RNUP closely followed fine root distribution confirming the shallower pattern of nutrient uptake at higher altitudes. RNUP was very similar for trees, shrubs and herbs, but shallower for saplings which obtained N only from the organic layer at both altitudes. Liming and fertilizing (N, P, K, Mg) of small patches in mineral soil had no significant impact on fine root growth. We conclude that the more superficial nutrient uptake ability at higher altitudes may be partly related to increased nutrient input from canopy by leaching. However, the specific constraints for root growth in the mineral soil of tropical montane forests warrant further investigations.     

Estrogen treatment effects on cognition, memory and mood in male-to-female transsexuals

Gonadal hormones, particularly estrogens, have been suggested to influence memory and cognitive tasks that show sex differences. Previously, we reported that male-to-female (M-F) transsexuals undergoing estrogen treatment for sex re-assignment scored higher on verbal Paired Associate Learning (PAL) than a transsexual control group awaiting estrogen treatment. The present study used a more robust design to examine further associations between estrogen and cognition. We assessed additional aspects of memory, including visual, spatial, object and location memory, other cognitive abilities that show reliable sex differences, including verbal and visual-spatial abilities, and mood variables that could mediate associations between estrogen and cognition. In addition to comparing groups of individuals on and off estrogen, we used two repeated measures designs (AB and BA). The AB group was tested prior to hormone treatment and then again after treatment had begun; the BA group was tested while on estrogen treatment and then again when hormones had been withdrawn prior to surgery. Few changes in memory or cognition were observed, and changes that were observed were not consistent across study designs. The lack of significant effects did not relate to mood changes or to the sexual orientation of participants. These findings suggest that estrogen treatment associated with sex change for M-F transsexuals has little or no influence on sex-typed aspects of cognition or memory.     

Immunostimulatory nature of beta-glucans and baker's yeast in gnotobiotic Artemia challenge tests

The use of new preventive approaches such as immunostimulants to reduce stress and mortalities, to maintain good health of cultured organisms and to stimulate the non-specific defence mechanism, is becoming increasingly important in aquaculture. Yet detailed analysis reveals that in most experiments the validity of some conclusions with respect to the benefit of immunostimulation is still doubtful, especially in invertebrates. The use of standardized trials under controlled rearing conditions, complemented with fundamental research on defence mechanisms can provide unequivocal evidence for the beneficial effects of immunostimulants in reducing invertebrate susceptibility to diseases or infections. This study investigated the use of small amounts of baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and glucan particles (obtained from baker's yeast) in gnotobiotic Artemia to overcome the pathogenicity of two organisms: Vibrio campbellii and V proteolyticus. Artemia supplemented with small quantities of a yeast strain presenting higher concentrations of beta-glucans or with glucan particles seemed to completely resist the detrimental effects of both pathogens. The higher amount and/or availability of beta-glucans in that yeast might play an essential role in such protection, as most probably glucans stimulate the immune response of the nauplii.     

The Significance of Sigma Neurofeedback Training on Sleep Spindles and Aspects of Declarative Memory

The functional significance of sleep spindles for overnight memory consolidation and general learning aptitude as well as the effect of four 10-minute sessions of spindle frequency (11.6–16 Hz, sigma) neurofeedback-training on subsequent sleep spindle activity and overnight performance change was investigated. Before sleep, subjects were trained on a paired-associate word list task after having received either neurofeedback training (NFT) or pseudofeedback training (PFT).Although NFT had no significant impact on subsequent spindle activity and behavioral outcomes, there was a trend for enhanced sigma band-power during NREM (stage 2 to 4) sleep after NFT as compared to PFT. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation between spindle activity during slow wave sleep (in the first night half) and overall memory performance was revealed. The results support the view that the considerable inter-individual variance in sleep spindle activity can at least be partly explained by differences in the ability to acquire new declarative information.We conclude that the short NFT before sleep was not sufficient to efficiently enhance phasic spindle activity and/or to influence memory processing. NFT was, however, successful in increasing sigma power, presumably because sigma NFT effects become more easily evident in actually trained frequency bands than in associated phasic spindle activity.The authors contributed equally to manuscipt     

Relationship between oral impacts on daily performance and chewing ability among independent elders residing in Daejeon City, Korea

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2011.00504.x
Relationship between oral impacts on daily performance and chewing ability among independent elders residing in Daejeon City, Korea Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association between oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) measured by the oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP) inventory and chewing ability. Methods: The cluster sampling method was used to select a sample of 634 socially active independent community‐dwelling elders. An oral examination was conducted and a questionnaire was implemented. After bivariate comparisons, a multivariable two‐level logistic model was developed for the dichotomous OIDP indicator using the generalised linear mixed model. Results: The mean age of the participants was 74 years and 56.6% were women. Eight percent were edentulous, and the mean number of teeth was 17.7. Overall, 39.3% of participants had one or more oral impacts on daily performance. Elders with chewing ability of 0–49, 50–74 and 75–99% were approximately 120, 20 and seven times more likely to have oral impacts compared with those with full chewing ability, respectively. Elders reporting their oral health as ‘fair’ or ‘better’ were 68% less likely to have oral impacts than those with poor or very poor self‐reported oral health. Conclusion: Among independent elders, amelioration of chewing ability including delivery of appropriate prosthodontic care might independently contribute to improving OHRQoL of elders by improving their physical, psychological and social wellbeing.     

Effect of bone mineral density on masticatory performance and efficiency

doi: 10.1111/j.1741‐2358.2010.00414.x Effect of bone mineral density on masticatory performance and efficiency Objective: To evaluate the effect of bone mineral density (BMD) on masticatory performance and efficiency in dentate subjects. Background data: Osteoporosis is the most common disorder of the bone. It causes reduction in BMD of the all the skeletal tissue including jaw bones. It also promotes bone loss in jaw bones. In osteoporosis, a reduction of maximal bite force and greater electromyography activity of masticatory muscles is documented. This may lead to the development of masticatory dysfunction which can be assessed by a chewing test in the form of change in masticatory performance and efficiency. Materials and methods: Sixty subjects with equal numbers of men and women were selected for the study, in which BMD screening (T‐score) was carried out to identify the normal, osteopenic and osteoporotic subjects. Their masticatory performance and efficiency was evaluated by a chewing test (fractional sieving method). Results: A high ‘T’ score was associated with low masticatory efficiency and a low ‘T’ score with high masticatory efficiency. Masticatory performance and efficiency was significantly higher among males as compared to females with similar range of BMD. Conclusion: In both genders, high BMD groups (low ‘T’ score) had a significantly high percentage of masticatory efficiency compared to the low BMD (high ‘T’ score) group.