Mud sediments on anal pyramids of Libellula quadrimaculata larvae – accidental phenomenon or bioindicator of heavy metal pollution? (Odonata: Libellulidae)

uploaded for Odonatologica by Plaz

Driving down malaria transmission with engineered gene drives

The last century has witnessed the introduction, establishment and expansion of mosquito-borne diseases into diverse new geographic ranges. Malaria is transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Despite making great strides over the past few decades in reducing the burden of malaria, transmission is now on the rise again, in part owing to the emergence of mosquito resistance to insecticides, antimalarial drug resistance and, more recently, the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the reduced implementation efficiency of various control programs. The utility of genetically engineered gene drive mosquitoes as tools to decrease the burden of malaria by controlling the disease-transmitting mosquitoes is being evaluated. To date, there has been remarkable progress in the development of CRISPR/Cas9-based homing endonuclease designs in malaria mosquitoes due to successful proof-of-principle and multigenerational experiments. In this review, we examine the lessons learnt from the development of current CRISPR/Cas9-based homing endonuclease gene drives, providing a framework for the development of gene drive systems for the targeted control of wild malaria-transmitting mosquito populations that overcome challenges such as with evolving drive-resistance. We also discuss the additional substantial works required to progress the development of gene drive systems from scientific discovery to further study and subsequent field application in endemic settings

Relations at Three Early Stages of Marriage as Reflected by the Use of Personal Pronouns

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/71573/1/j.1545-5300.1970.00069.x.pd

Oxytocin and cholecystokinin secretion in women with colectomy

BACKGROUND: Cholecystokinin (CCK) concentrations in plasma have been shown to be significantly higher in colectomised subjects compared to healthy controls. This has been ascribed to reduced inhibition of CCK release from colon. In an earlier study CCK in all but one woman who was colectomised, induced release of oxytocin, a peptide present throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The aim of this study was thus to examine if colectomised women had a different oxytocin response to CCK compared to healthy controls. METHODS: Eleven women, mean age 34.4 ± 2.3 years, who had undergone colectomy because of ulcerative colitis or constipation were studied. Eleven age-matched healthy women served as controls. All subjects were fasted overnight and given 0.2 μg/kg body weight of CCK-8 i.v. in the morning. Samples were taken ten minutes and immediately before the injection, and 10, 20, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min afterwards. Plasma was collected for measurement of CCK and oxytocin concentrations. RESULTS: The basal oxytocin and CCK concentrations in plasma were similar in the two groups. Intravenous injection of CCK increased the release of oxytocin from 1.31 ± 0.12 and 1.64 ± 0.19 pmol/l to 2.82 ± 0.35 and 3.26 ± 0.50 pmol/l in controls and colectomised women, respectively (p < 0.001). Given the short half-life of CCK-8 in plasma, the increased concentration following injection could not be demonstrated in the controls. On the other hand, in colectomised women, an increase of CCK in plasma was observed for up to 20 minutes after the injection, concentrations increasing from 1.00 ± 0.21 to a maximum of 1.81 ± 0.26 pmol/l (p < 0.002). CONCLUSION: CCK stimulates the release of oxytocin in women. There is no difference in plasma concentrations between colectomised and controls. However, colectomy seems to reduce the metabolic clearance of CCK. The hyperCCKemia in patients who had undergone colectomy is consequently not only dependent on CCK release, but may also depend on reduced clearance

Contribution to the knowledge on panorpid scorpionflies (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) in Southern Poland

The Polish panorpid fauna (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) consists of six species. Both the composition and distribution of the different species of this family in Poland is not sufficiently known. Particularly, there is a lack of data on this group from the area of Upper Silesia. In order to fill this gap, panorpids were collected in 2010 and 2012 from 16 sites in the area of Silesian Province. The presence of four species was recorded, the most numerous and common were Panorpa communis and P. Vulgaris. The presence of P. germanica was recorded for the first time, furthermore the presence of P. alpina was confirmed in the upland areas. The panorpid fauna requires further study, in particular it is necessary to determine the size, condition, structure and conservation status of particular populations of detected species.Fauna wojsiłkowatych w Polsce (Mecoptera: Panorpidae) składa się z sześciu gatunków. Zarówno udział, jak i rozmieszczenie poszczególnych gatunków z tej rodziny w Polsce dotąd niedostatecznie zbadano. W szczególności brakuje danych na temat tej grupy zobszaru Górnego Śląska. W celu uzyskania informacji, w roku 2010 i 2012 dokonano zbioru wojsiłkowatych siatką entomologiczną (metodą na upatrzonego) z szesnastu stanowisk na obszarze województwa śląskiego. Wykazano obecność czterech gatunków, z których najliczniej i najpowszechniej występowały Panorpa communis i P. vulgaris. Po raz pierwszy wykazano obecność P. germanica , potwierdzono także obecność P. alpina na obszarach wyżynnych. Skład fauny wojsiłkowatych wymaga jednak dalszych badań, konieczne jest określenie stanu i stopnia zagrożenia poszczególnych populacji wykrytych gatunków

Stratovolcanoes in the Western Cordillera – Polish Scientific Expedition to Peru 2003–2012 reconnaissance research

The Polish Scientific Expedition has been carrying out research in the Colca Canyon and the Valley of the Volcanoes (South Peru) since 2003. The National Park project, covering the mentioned areas, is the main purpose of the research. The extent and genesis of the Quaternary volcanic Andahua group is the leading theme of the investigation. The study area is surrounded with numerous Pliocene and Pleistocene stratovolcanoes: Ampato (6,288 m a.s.l.), Chachani (6,057 m a.s.l.), multi-cone Coropuna (6,425 m a.s.l.) and others. Some of them are still active, such as Misti (5,822 m a.s.l.) or Sabancaya (5,967 m a.s.l.) and pose a real hazard to the local population. In 2003–2012, the participants of the Polish Scientific Expedition climbed several times on volcanic peaks, gaining new experience and comparative samples for study

Stratovolcanoes in the Western Cordillera – Polish Scientific Expedition to Peru 2003–2012 reconnaissance research

The Polish Scientific Expedition has been carrying out research in the Colca Canyon and the Valley of the Volcanoes (South Peru) since 2003. The National Park project, covering the mentioned areas, is the main purpose of the research. The extent and genesis of the Quaternary volcanic Andahua group is the leading theme of the investigation. The study area is surrounded with numerous Pliocene and Pleistocene stratovolcanoes: Ampato (6,288 m a.s.l.), Chachani (6,057 m a.s.l.), multi-cone Coropuna (6,425 m a.s.l.) and others. Some of them are still active, such as Misti (5,822 m a.s.l.) or Sabancaya (5,967 m a.s.l.) and pose a real hazard to the local population. In 2003–2012, the participants of the Polish Scientific Expedition climbed several times on volcanic peaks, gaining new experience and comparative samples for study

Fistulation de l'estomac et contenus gastriques résiduels après ingestion d'un régime semi-purifié à base d'amidon de maïs chez le Porc

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