Genetically-based plant resistance traits affect arthropods,fungi, and birds

We examine how the distribution of a leafgalling aphid (Pemphigus betae) affects other species associated with natural stands of hybrid cottonwoods (Populus angustifolia x P. fremontii). Aphid transfers on common-garden clones and RFLP analysis show that resistance to aphids in cottonwoods is affected by plant genotype. Because susceptible trees typically support thousands of galls, while adjacent resistant trees have few or none, plant resistance traits that affect the distribution of this abundant herbivore may directly and/or indirectly affect other species. We found that the arthropod community of aphid-susceptible trees had 31% greater species richness and 26% greater relative abundance than aphid-resistant trees. To examine direct and indirect effects of plant resistance traits on other organisms, we experimentally excluded aphids and found that abundances and/or foraging behavior of arthropods, fungi, and birds were altered. First, exclusion of gall aphids on susceptible trees resulted in a 24% decrease in species richness and a 28% decrease in relative abundance of the arthropod community. Second, exclusion of aphids also caused a 2- to 3-fold decrease in foraging and/or presence of three taxa of aphid enemies: birds, fungi, and insects. Lastly, aphidexclussion resulted in a 2-fold increase in inquilines (animals who live in abodes properly belonging to another). We also found that fungi and birds responded to variation in gall density at the branch level. We conclude plant resistance traits affect diverse species from three trophic levels supporting a bottom-up influence of plants on community structure.     

Interactions between fish,grazing invertebrates and algae in a New Zealand stream: a trophic cascade mediated by fish-induced changes to grazer behaviour?

Experiments in laboratory stream channels compared the behaviour of Deleatidium mayfly nymphs in the absence of fish with that in the presence of either native common river galaxias (Galaxias vulgaris Stokell) or introduced brown trout (Salmo trutta L.). Galaxias present similar predation risks to prey during day and night but are more active at night. Whereas, trout present a higher predation risk during the day. Deleatidium maintained a fixed nocturnal drift periodicity that is characteristic of streams containing visually feeding fish regardless of the nature of the predation regime presented in the laboratory. However, the number on the substratum surface, and therefore able to graze algae, was lower when fish were present than when they were absent. The number was lower during the day in the presence of trout, when they present the highest predation risk, and lower during the night compared to the day in trials with galaxias when galaxias activity disturbs Deleatidium from the substratum. Increases in the probability of Deleatidium leaving a patch, reductions in the proportion of mayflies on high quality patches and reductions in the distance travelled from refuge also reflected variations in the predation regime. Similar differences in positioning were observed under the same predation regimes in in situ channels in the Shag River and these were associated with differences in algal biomass. Algal ash-free dry mass (AFDM) and chlorophyll a (chl a) were higher on the tops of cobbles when fish were present. Fish also affected the biomass and the distribution of algae on cobbles as AFDM and chl a were higher on the sides of cobbles from channels with trout compared to those with galaxias. Changes in grazing behaviour, caused by predator avoidance, are likely to have been responsible for differences in algal biomass because no significant differences were detected between treatments in the biomass of Deleatidium or of total invertebrates.     

Diallel analysis for sex-linked and maternal effects

Genetic models including sex-linked and maternal effects as well as autosomal gene effects are described. Monte Carlo simulations were conducted to compare efficiencies of estimation by minimum norm quadratic unbiased estimation (MINQUE) and restricted maximum likelihood (REML) methods. MINQUE(1), which has 1 for all prior values, has a similar efficiency to MINQUE(), which requires prior estimates of parameter values. MINQUE(1) has the advantage over REML of unbiased estimation and convenient computation. An adjusted unbiased prediction (AUP) method is developed for predicting random genetic effects. AUP is desirable for its easy computation and unbiasedness of both mean and variance of predictors. The jackknife procedure is appropriate for estimating the sampling variances of estimated variances (or covariances) and of predicted genetic effects. A t-test based on jackknife variances is applicable for detecting significance of variation. Worked examples from mice and silkworm data are given in order to demonstrate variance and covariance estimation and genetic effect prediction.     

Antitumor effects of human recombinant interleukin-1α and etoposide against human tumor cells: mechanism for synergismin vitro and activityin vivo

Recombinant human interleukin 1α (rh IL-1α) and etoposide (VP-16) synergize for direct growth inhibition of several human tumor cell linesin vitro. Our previous studies demonstrated that VP-16 increased the number of membrane-associated IL-1 receptors (IL-1Rs) and also enhanced the internalization of receptor-bound rh IL-1α. The purposes of this study were to test our hypothess that these events were critical to the synergy between rhIL-1α and VP-16, to determine whether rhIL-1α and VP-16 synergize to increase superoxide (SO) anion radical productionin vitro since SO anion has been implicated in the toxic effects of IL-1, and to investigate the antitumor efficacy of the combinaton against tumors in vivo. A375/C6 melanoma cells and OVCAR-3 ovarian carcinoma cells were tested with IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) before exposure to rhIL-1α, VP-16 and rhIL-1α plus VP-16. The synergistic or antagonistic effects were assessed by MTT assay. SO production was measured by reduction of cytochrome C. Athymic female mice bearing the A375/C6 melanoma were treated by rhIL-1α, VP-16, and rhIL-1α+VP-16. The antitumor effects were evaluated by quantitating tumor growth and survival time. Pretreatment with the IL-1ra abrogated the synergistic effects of rhIL-1α and VP-16. The production of SO radical by A375/C6 cells was increased 2.5 fold by the combination of rhIL-1α and VP-16, and the addition of exogenous SOD blocked the synergy between rhIL-1α and VP-16. However, when A375/S0D15 cells which over-expressed manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) after MnSOD cDNA transfecton were exposed to rhIL-1α and VP-16, in vitro antagonism was observed. In vivo studies demonstrated that the combination of rhIL-1α and VP-16 delayed tumor growth better than either agent alone, although long-term survival was not improved because of substantial toxicity. Our results suggest that the synergistic antitumor effects of IL-1α and VP-16 may be due to IL-1R modulation and increased internalization of IL-1-IL-1R complex by VP-16 treatment, as well as to a subsequent increase in SO anion radical production from the tumor cells exposed to both drugs. Thus, the combnation of IL-1α and VP-16 might prove useful for the treatment of malignant diseasein vivo, if the increased toxicity can be reduced or managed. The US Government’s right to retain a non-exclusive royalty-free license on and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Plant growth and reproduction along CO2 gradients: non-linear responses and implications for community change

The effects of rising atmospheric CO₂ concentrations on natural plant communities will depend upon the cumulative responses of plant growth and reproduction to gradual, incremental changes in climatic conditions. We analysed published studies of plant responses to elevated CO₂ to address whether reproductive and total biomass exhibit similar enhancement to elevated vs. ambient CO₂ concentrations, and to assess the patterns of plant response along gradients of CO₂ concentrations. In six annual plant species, mean enhancement at double ambient vs. ambient CO₂ was 1.13 for total biomass and 1.30 for reproductive biomass. The two measures were significantly correlated, but there was considerable scatter in the relationship, indicating that reproductive responses cannot be consistently predicted from enhancement of total biomass. Along experimental CO₂ gradients utilizing three concentrations, there was a great diversity of response patterns, including positive, negative, non-monotonic and non-significant (flat) responses. The distribution of response patterns differed for plants grown in stands compared to those grown individually. Positive responses were less frequent in competitive environments, and non-monotonic responses were more frequent. These results emphasize that interpolation of plant response based on enhancement ratios measured at elevated vs. ambient CO₂ concentrations is not sufficient to predict community responses to incremental changes in atmospheric conditions. The consequences of differential response patterns were assessed in a simulation of community dynamics for four species of annual plants. The model illustrates that the final community composition at a future point in time depends critically on both the magnitude and the rate of increase of atmospheric CO₂.     

使用MUG培养基定量检测植物药中大肠杆菌时荧光猝灭现象的发生与克服方法

实验中观察到,用ＭＵＧ培养基对植物药中的大肠杆菌定量时多发生荧光猝灭现象,影响检测结果。本文对此现象产生的原因与克服方法进行了系统的考察,发现以一种简便的转接方法可排除植物药介质对菌检的干扰。该方法由两组检验系列构成,当怀疑正常稀释系列（第一系列）４０ｈ培养液的荧光结果可能因猝灭现象呈假阴性时,立即分别将该系列的１—３号管培养液以０．５ｍｌ的接种量转接入新鲜的ＭＵＧ培养基（第二系列）,重新培养２４ｈ,荧光猝灭现象即可克服。综合两系列的荧光、产气和吲哚三项生化特征得出检品中大肠杆菌含量。实际应用表明,此法能显著提高使用该培养基时菌检结果的可靠性。     

Influence of 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields on the pulse rate of human heart

This investigation studied the effects of 50 Hz electric and magnetic fields on the pulse rate of the human heart. The ECG (electrocardiograms) of 41 male volunteers were recorded with a Holter recorder. Twenty-six subjects were measured in and outside real fields, and 15 subjects were measured in and outside “sham” fields. The blood pressure and EEG (electroencephalogram) were also measured, but this article presents only the results of ECG recordings. The measurements took 3 h. The subjects were first sitting for 1 h outside the fields, then 1 h in the real or “sham” fields, and then, again, 1 h outside the fields. The electric field strength varied from 3.5 to 4.3 kV/m and the magnetic flux density from 1.4 to 6.6 μT. An analysis of the ECG recordings showed that the subjects' pulse rates were the same in and outside the fields. No response occurred when the subjects were exposed to real or “sham” fields. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

金钱松（属）的细胞分类学研究

我国特有植物金钱松Ｐｓｅｕｄｏｌａｒｉｘａｍａｂｉｌｌｓ的体细胞染色体数目为２ｎ＝４４,不同于ｎ＝１２（Ｍｉｙａｋｅ＆Ｙａｓｕｉ,１９１１）和２ｎ＝２４（Ｄｕｎｉｅｕ－Ｖａｂｒｅ,１９６１）的结果。核型公式为Ｋ（２ｎ）＝４４＝４ｓｍ＋４０ｔ）４ＳＣ）属３Ｂ类型,与Ｋ（ｎ）＝２２＝２ｍ＋２０ｔ（Ｓａｘ＆Ｓａｘ,１９３３）和Ｋ（２ｎ）＝４４＝４ｓｍ＋４０ｔ（Ｈｉｚｕｍｅ１９８８）有差异。染色体相对长度组成为＝４４＝４Ｌ＋１２Ｍ＿２＋２６Ｍ＿１＋２Ｓ。金钦松（属）不仅在染色体数目（２ｎ＝４４）和核型（具２０对端着丝粒染色体）而且它的一些形态、解剖学和植化性状与所有松科其它各属不同。另外,它的一系列形态、解剖、孢粉、生化、植化和古植物学特征显然表明把该属与落叶松属、雪松属一起组成落叶松亚科是不适宜的。因此似乎有理由把金钱松从该亚科分出并建立一个单型的金钱松新亚科。本文还对金钱松（属）核型可能由近缘的铁杉属起源和进化而来作了讨论。     

Allosteric effects of monoclonal antibodies on human growth hormone

We have previously shown that a monoclonal antibody (MAb) recognizing the human growth hormone (hGH) antigenic domain left exposed after binding to lactogenic receptors enhanced hGH binding probably through allosteric effects on the hormone binding site. Since receptors displaying different specificities would not recognize exactly the same hGH region, we explored whether some of our MAb could affect hGH binding to somatogenic receptors from rabbit liver and to human liver hGH-specific receptors.The effect of MAbAE5, AC8 and F11 on hGH binding was measured by determining the formation of¹²⁵I-MAb:hGH:receptor complexes using two different experimental approaches. Results from procedure A, which involved the previous binding of the hormone to microsomes before adding¹²⁵I-MAb, indicated that the hGH domain defined by epitopes AE5, AC8 and F11 is uncovered in the various hormone:receptor complexes.Procedure B was devised to reveal any alteration in the hGH molecule induced by the MAb. In this case preformed¹²⁵I-MAb:hGH complexes were added to microsomes. Data showed that¹²⁵I-MAb AE5:hGH complexes bound better to the various receptors than¹²⁵I-MAb AE5 to hGH:receptor complexes. On the contrary, hGH previously bound to¹²⁵I-MAb AC8 or¹²⁵I-MAb F11 was less recognized by the receptors than the free hormone. Furthermore, binding of MAb AE5 or MAb F11 to hGH 20 K (a natural hGH variant lacking residues 32–46) also enhanced its affinity to the various receptors whereas MAb AC8 did not inhibit hGH 20 K binding.Results indicated that MAb recognizing the hGH antigenic area that remains unmasked after binding to different membrane-bound receptors are able to affect hormone binding site. MAb would induce either positive or negative allosteric changes in the hormone region involved in its binding to lactogenic, somatogenic and hGH-specific receptors.     

Assessment of five cultivars of potato (Solatium tuberosum L.) in a competition diallel

In 1992 and 1993, potato cultivars Cara, Estima, Pentland Dell, Pentland Javelin and Torridon were assessed in all possible pairings in three consecutive drills, such that one member of the pair (the cultivar) was the centre-drill, and the other member (the neighbour) was in the two adjacent drills. Each year the trial was a randomised complete block design with four replicates. Inter-cultivar competition was present for height, total tuber yield, ware yield and dry matter content, but not for emergence and maturity. Cultivar heights and dry matter contents under inter-cultivar competition and in pure-stands were highly correlated, whereas for total and ware yields, the rankings of cultivars in pure-stands were different from those under competition. Pure-stand yields were predicted for the two years separately because of year × cultivar and year × neighbour interactions. When the average total yield of the outer-drills was used as a covariate to adjust centre-drill yields to pure-stands, predicted yields were closer to those observed than were yields under competition, but there was little improvement in the correlations. In contrast, not only were the predicted values even closer to the observed ones when based on individual neighbour effects, the correlations were much higher (r = 0.76–0.94). Unfortunately, in plant breeding trials with large numbers of entries, precise estimation of individual neighbour effects would require an unrealistically large number of replicates. Hence, for the final stages of yield assessment of new cultivars, it is still desirable to use multiple-drill plots and to discard the outside drills where inter-cultivar competition can occur.