The role of context, colour and location cues in socially learned novel food source preferences in starlings, Sternus vulgaris

Although the opportunity for errors in social learning is widely recognised, as yet little research has been directed towards understanding specific inaccuracies, biases and limitations in social learning and the mechanisms that give rise to them. In two experiments I ask how starlings, Sternus vulgaris, identify exemplars of novel feeders previously learned about socially. I find that starlings have a stronger response to feeders in the same context as that in which social learning took place, compared to identical and nonidentical feeders in a different context. Within a context that matches where social learning took place, starlings prefer feeders that show the same location and colour as the feeder demonstrated by the demonstrator starling, and show no preference when colour and location cues are dissociated. This suggests that starlings are relatively accurate social learners, since they show strong responses to novel foraging options only if they match the context, colour and location of options learned about socially, and they do so after very few trials. Furthermore, the responses of the subjects were compatible with conditioned learning-like mechanisms, which provide a useful basis for the further investigation of the origins and implications of errors in social learning.     

Intraspecific interactions and their effect on habitat utilisation by the praying mantid <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ciulfina biseriata</Emphasis> (Mantodea: Liturgusidae)

Tree trunks are spatially separated habitat patches for the tree-running mantid Ciulfina biseriata (Mantodea: Liturgusidae). This paper investigates how intraspecific interactions may affect spacing patterns in C. biseriata. Many mantid species inhabit tree trunk surfaces, but little is known about how they interact with this type of habitat. Behavioural observations and choice tests investigated the effect of a conspecific on habitat utilisation. Field surveys were used to investigate patterns of movement in the field. The decision to inhabit a tree trunk may be affected by the presence of a conspecific. Whereas adult males seek out females when selecting habitat, females will actively avoid males. Habitat choice decisions are primarily based on aspects of their mating system rather than on competition for space or food resources. The behavioural interactions of C. biseriata are described, including novel observations of same-sex mating behaviour in adult males.     

Intraspecific genetic variation of a Fagus sylvatica population in a temperate forest derived from airborne imaging spectroscopy time series

1. The growing pace of environmental change has increased the need for large‐scale monitoring of biodiversity. Declining intraspecific genetic variation is likely a critical factor in biodiversity loss, but is especially difficult to monitor: assessments of genetic variation are commonly based on measuring allele pools, which requires sampling of individuals and extensive sample processing, limiting spatial coverage. Alternatively, imaging spectroscopy data from remote platforms may hold the potential to reveal genetic structure of populations. In this study, we investigated how differences detected in an airborne imaging spectroscopy time series correspond to genetic variation within a population of Fagus sylvatica under natural conditions.
2. We used multi‐annual APEX (Airborne Prism Experiment) imaging spectrometer data from a temperate forest located in the Swiss midlands (Laegern, 47°28'N, 8°21'E), along with microsatellite data from F. sylvatica individuals collected at the site. We identified variation in foliar reflectance independent of annual and seasonal changes which we hypothesize is more likely to correspond to stable genetic differences. We established a direct connection between the spectroscopy and genetics data by using partial least squares (PLS) regression to predict the probability of belonging to a genetic cluster from spectral data.
3. We achieved the best genetic structure prediction by using derivatives of reflectance and a subset of wavebands rather than full‐analyzed spectra. Our model indicates that spectral regions related to leaf water content, phenols, pigments, and wax composition contribute most to the ability of this approach to predict genetic structure of F. sylvatica population in natural conditions.
4. This study advances the use of airborne imaging spectroscopy to assess tree genetic diversity at canopy level under natural conditions, which could overcome current spatiotemporal limitations on monitoring, understanding, and preventing genetic biodiversity loss imposed by requirements for extensive in situ sampling.

     

Mycobacterium tuberculosis ClpX Interacts with FtsZ and Interferes with FtsZ Assembly

FtsZ assembly at the midcell division site in the form of a Z-ring is crucial for initiation of the cell division process in eubacteria. It is largely unknown how this process is regulated in the human pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Here we show that the expression of clpX was upregulated upon macrophage infection and exposure to cephalexin antibiotic, the conditions where FtsZ-ring assembly is delayed. Independently, we show using pull-down, solid-phase binding, bacterial two-hybrid and mycobacterial protein fragment complementation assays, that M. tuberculosis FtsZ interacts with ClpX, the substrate recognition domain of the ClpXP protease. Incubation of FtsZ with ClpX increased the critical concentration of GTP-dependent polymerization of FtsZ. Immunoblotting revealed that the intracellular ratio of ClpX to FtsZ in wild type M. tuberculosis is approximately 1∶2. Overproduction of ClpX increased cell length and modulated the localization of FtsZ at midcell sites; however, intracellular FtsZ levels were unaffected. A ClpX-CFP fusion protein localized to the cell poles and midcell sites and colocalized with the FtsZ-YFP protein. ClpX also interacted with FtsZ mutant proteins defective for binding to and hydrolyzing GTP and possibly for interactions with other proteins. Taken together, our results suggest that M. tuberculosis ClpX interacts stoichiometrically with FtsZ protomers, independent of its nucleotide-bound state and negatively regulates FtsZ activities, hence cell division.     

Base and conformational specificity of an amine modification of DNA

We have investigated the site and conformational preference of the reaction of a formaldehyde/amine reagent with DNA. Previous investigations of this laboratory have established that this reagent will react with native DNA, placing a positively charged amine moiety on the duplex that will survive exhaustive dialysis. The resulting adduct is duplex and base stacked in character, possessing B backbone geometry with a higher average winding angle and exhibiting remarkable stability with respect to the A-form, Z-form, or the single-strand denaturated species. In this current investigation, we have found that the stability of the adduct is dramatically reduced if the DNA is converted to mononucleotides, thus obviating the usual approach of nuclease digestion and chromatography for the identification of the modified nucleotides. Using indirect approaches, we have established that the reactive site that survives removal of the equilibrium concentrations of CH2O and amine is the exocyclic amino group of the guanine bases. This conclusion is based on (1) the positive correlation between GC content and the extent of adduct formation under standard reaction conditions (27 degrees C, 0.63M CH2O, 0.007M n-butylamine, pH 7); (2) decreases in the level of substitution of amine in DNA, which has this site blocked by trinitrobenzene modification; and (3) failure of poly(dI-dC) to retain amine upon dialysis. Raman spectra of the derivatized poly(dG-dC) show enhanced 2'-endo B character, with no marked shifts in the position of any of the lines, indicating the absence of any ring structures involving the N7 and the 06 of G. In standard reaction mixtures, other sites may react but this phenomenon appears to be minimal under conditions that do not favor fluctuational opening of base pairs. In the latter case, excess loading of amine on high GC content polymers produces a CD spectrum that is similar to one produced by poly(dA-dT) in the "X"-form [M. Vorlickova, E. Minyat, and J. Kypr (1984) Biopolymers 23, 1-4]. This conformation is lost, however, upon removal of excess reagents by dialysis and cannot be reestablished, in the absence of unbound amine and formaldehyde. The reaction is specific for the B-form of polynucleotides as demonstrated by the failure of poly(dG-m5dC) in the stable Z-form to exhibit substantial reaction. The B-form of this polymer will react readily with the retention of 0.23 moles amine/mole nucleotide under our standard reaction conditions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Neuropathy Target Esterase: Rates of Turnover In Vivo Following Covalent Inhibition with Phenyl Di-n-Pentylphosphinate

Phenyl di-n-pentylphosphinate is a reasonably stable easily synthesized inhibitor of neuropathy target esterase (NTE) with low anticholinesterase activity. Like phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride it protects hens against neuropathic effects of compounds such as diisopropylphosphorofluoridate. At intervals up to 15 days after dosing hens (10 mg/kg s.c. to inhibit 90% NTE) assays were made of catalytically active and of phosphinylated NTE in autopsy tissue. The sum of these components was always within the range of catalytic activity in undosed controls. However, the half-life of reappearance of active NTE was 2.07 days +/- 0.13 (SD, n = 6) for brain and 3.62 days +/- 0.23 (SD, n = 6) for spinal cord--shorter than after dosing with phenylmethylsulphonyl fluoride. It is proposed that: (1) The physiological turnover mechanism cannot distinguish between catalytically active and di-n-pentylphosphinylated NTE although initiation of organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy might involve recognition of aged di-alkyl-phosphorylated NTE as "foreign". (2) The short half-lives indicate a slow spontaneous dephosphinylation of inhibited NTE occurs in vivo as well as de novo synthesis. The difference in half-lives for brain and spinal cord NTE may be due to different rates of synthesis de novo or (more likely) to different rates of spontaneous reactivation of the inhibited NTE in the two tissues.     

Strength conditioning in older men: skeletal muscle hypertrophy and improved function

The effects of strength conditioning on skeletal muscle function and mass were determined in older men. Twelve healthy untrained volunteers (age range 60-72 yr) participated in a 12-wk strength training program (8 repetitions/set; 3 sets/day; 3 days/wk) at 80% of the one repetition maximum (1 RM) for extensors and flexors of both knee joints. They were evaluated before the program and after 6 and 12 wk of training. Weekly measurements of 1 RM showed a progressive increase in strength in extensors and flexors. By 12 wk extensor and flexor strength had increased 107.4 (P less than 0.0001) and 226.7% (P less than 0.0001), respectively. Isokinetic peak torque of extensors and flexors measured on a Cybex II dynamometer increased 10.0 and 18.5% (P less than 0.05) at 60 degrees/s and 16.7 and 14.7% (P less than 0.05) at 240 degrees/s. The torque-velocity relationship showed an upward displacement of the curve at the end of training, mainly in the slow-velocity high-torque region. Midthigh composition from computerized tomographic scans showed an increase (P less than 0.01) in total thigh area (4.8%), total muscle area (11.4%), and quadriceps area (9.3%). Biopsies of the vastus lateralis muscle revealed similar increases (P less than 0.001) in type I fiber area (33.5%) and type II fiber area (27.6%). Daily excretion of urinary 3-methyl-L-histidine increased with training (P less than 0.05) by an average 40.8%. Strength gains in older men were associated with significant muscle hypertrophy and an increase in myofibrillar protein turnover.     

Molecular genetics in clinical practice: evolution of a DNA diagnostic service.

The development of a molecular genetics diagnostic service over a three year period was studied in a National Health Service region with a population of three million. Starting from a time when few diagnostic applications were possible, the number of disorders and the overall demand had grown rapidly. Conditions for which molecular genetic diagnosis had been provided included Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy, myotonic dystrophy, Huntington''s disease, and cystic fibrosis. Of 405 requests for diagnosis, 151 (37%) related to determination of carrier state, 187 (46%) to determining the feasibility of future prenatal diagnosis, and 67 (17%) were prenatal diagnostic biopsy samples, almost exclusively of first trimester chorion. DNA samples for future diagnostic use with a wide range of genetic disorders had also been banked. The study showed a need for close integration with clinical genetics services to allow satisfactory genetic counselling and interpretation of risks.