Ponovni opis, biologija, životni ciklus, ponašanje i ekotip Sphedanolestes minusculus Bergroth (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Sphedanolestes minusculus Bergroth lays pale yellow eggs in batches. Eggs are glued to each other and to the substratum with cementing material. The average number of eggs per female was 63.33 ± 21.77. The eggs hatch in 7.80 ± 0.41 days. The average developmental period from I instar to V instar was 48.43 ± 7.39days. The longevity of the male (80.16 ± 5.23) was shorter (96.77 ± 11.88) than that of the female. The preoviposition period was 12.55 ± 3.43 days and the male and female sex ratio was 1: 1.5. The innate capacity of natural increase (rc) was 0.061 with a gross reproduction rate (mx) of 91.671 females per female. Mean length of generation (Tc) was 76.310 days. Redescriptions of adult and descriptions of egg and nymphal instars are given with illustrations. Predatory and mating behaviour exhibited sequential events as in other reduviids. Prey-deprived predators took less time to approach, capture and pin the prey. Individuals of S. minusculus collected from three different ecological and geomorphological habitats viz., Olavakod tropical rainforest, Sunkankadai scrub jungle and Aralvaimozhi semiarid zone exhibited pronounced diversities in their oviposition pattern, hatchability, incubation and stadial periods, nymphal mortality, adult longevity and sex ratio. These diversities are considered a specially adapted biological function collectively called ecotypism.Sphedanolestes minusculus Bergroth polaže blijedo žuta jaja u gomilicama. Jaja su ljepljivom tvari slijepljena međusobno kao i za podlogu. Srednja vrijednost broja jaja po ženki je bila 63,33 ± 21,77. Ličinke su se izvalile u 7,80 ± 0,41 dana. Srednja vrijednost razvojnog perioda od I do V stadija bila je 48,43 ± 7.39 dana. Dužina života mužjaka (80,16 ± 5,23) bila je kraća (96,77 ± 11,88) nego ženki. Preovipozicija jaja je trajala 12,55 ± 3.43 dana a omjer između mužjaka i ženki je bio 1:1,5. Urođen, svojstven kapacitet prirodnog porasta (rc) je bio 0,061 s maksimalnim omjerom reprodukcije (mx) od 91,671 ženki. Prosječna dužina života jedne generacije (Tc) bila je 76, 310 dana. Ponovo su opisani odrasli, a na novo jaja i ličinački stadiji prikazani slikama. Složeno predatorsko ponašanje i ponašanje tijekom parenja slijedilo je pravilan tok kao kod drugih vrsta porodice Reduviidae. Ovi predatori su brzi u lovu i pridržavanju ulova. Jedinke Sphedanolestes minusculus su bile sakupljane u tri različita ekološka i geomorfološka staništa: Olavakod - tropska kišna šuma, Sunkankadai - guštara đungle i Aralvaimozhi - semiaridna zona. Opisane su različitosti u: njihovim ovipozicijskim uzorcima, izlijeganju jaja, vremenu inkubacije, trajanju razvojnih stadija, ličinačkoj smrtnosti, dužini života odraslih, te omjeru spolova. Te razlike u opisanim karakteristikama smatraju se posebno prilagođenim biološkim funkcijama koje zajednički nazivamo ekotip

BIOLOGIJA, PONAŠANJE I ODNOS ŽRTVA - PREDATOR U VRSTE Sphedanolestes Variabilis Distant (INSECTA: HEMIPTERA: REDUVIIDAE: HARPACTORINAE), POTENCIJALNOGA PREDATORA ŠTETNIKA IZ REDA LEPIDOPTERA

Sphedanolestes variabilis Distant laid light brown colour eggs singly as well as in small clusters of 5 to 10 eggs. The incubation period was 6.92±0.29 days. The stadial durations of I,II,III,IV and V instar nymphs were 6.83±0.58, 6.83±0.94, 6.58±1.56, 8.42±2.68 and 8.67±2.23 and 19.67±3.44 days respectively. Adult males and females lived for 93.83±13.04 and 102.83±12.69 days and their sex ratio was 1: 1 (male and female). The sequential acts of predation as well as that of mating conform to these of other harpactorine reduviids. S. variabilis exhibited Holling\u27s type II functional response as indicated by the positive correlation obtained between the prey density and the number of prey killed by the predator. The attack ratio decreased as the prey density was increased. A negative correlation was obtained between the searching time and the prey density.Sphedanolestes variabilis Distant odlaže jaja svijetlosmeđe boje pojedinačno ili u skupinama od 5 do 10 jaja. Inkubacijsko razdoblje traje 6,92 ± 0,29 dana. Razvojni stadiji I., II., III., IV. i V. faze nimfe jesu 6,83 ± 0,58, 6,83 ± 0,94, 6,58 ± 1,56, 8,42 ± 2,68 i 8,67 ± 2,23 i 19,67 ± 3,44 dana. Odrasli mužjaci i ženke živjeli su 93,83 ± 13,04 i 102,83 ± 12,69 dana, a omjer spolova bio je 1:1 (muški i ženski). Prema predatorstvu i parenju ta je vrsta u skladu s drugim vrstama iz porodice Readuviidae. Da bi se opisao odnos žrtva-plijen, korišten je model Holling tip II., koji je pokazao pozitivnu korelaciju između gustoće plijena i broja plijena ubijenih od predatora. Omjer napada smanjen je kako je gustoća plijena bila povećana. Negativna korelacija dobivena je između vremena pronalaska plijena i gustoće plijena

Maternal self-efficacy and 1–5-year-old children's brushing habits

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/73681/1/j.1600-0528.2007.00313.x.pd

Deficient Plakophilin-1 Expression Due to a Mutation in PKP1 Causes Ectodermal Dysplasia-Skin Fragility Syndrome in Chesapeake Bay Retriever Dogs

In humans, congenital and hereditary skin diseases associated with epidermal cell-cell separation (acantholysis) are very rare, and spontaneous animal models of these diseases are exceptional. Our objectives are to report a novel congenital acantholytic dermatosis that developed in Chesapeake Bay retriever dogs. Nine affected puppies in four different litters were born to eight closely related clinically normal dogs. The disease transmission was consistent with an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Clinical signs occurred immediately after birth with superficial epidermal layers sloughing upon pressure. At three month of age, dogs exhibited recurrent superficial skin sloughing and erosions at areas of friction and mucocutaneous junctions; their coat was also finer than normal and there were patches of partial hair loss. At birth, histopathology revealed severe suprabasal acantholysis, which became less severe with ageing. Electron microscopy demonstrated a reduced number of partially formed desmosomes with detached and aggregated keratin intermediate filaments. Immunostaining for desmosomal adhesion molecules revealed a complete lack of staining for plakophilin-1 and anomalies in the distribution of desmoplakin and keratins 10 and 14. Sequencing revealed a homozygous splice donor site mutation within the first intron of PKP1 resulting in a premature stop codon, thereby explaining the inability to detect plakophilin-1 in the skin. Altogether, the clinical and pathological findings, along with the PKP1 mutation, were consistent with the diagnosis of ectodermal dysplasia-skin fragility syndrome with plakophilin-1 deficiency. This is the first occurrence of ectodermal dysplasia-skin fragility syndrome in an animal species. Controlled mating of carrier dogs would yield puppies that could, in theory, be tested for gene therapy of this rare but severe skin disease of children

Validation of the Tetracycline Regulatable Gene Expression System for the Study of the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease

Understanding the pathogenesis of infectious disease requires the examination and successful integration of parameters related to both microbial virulence and host responses. As a practical and powerful method to control microbial gene expression, including in vivo, the tetracycline-regulatable system has recently gained the favor of many investigative groups. However, some immunomodulatory effects of the tetracyclines, including doxycycline, could potentially limit its use to evaluate host responses during infection. Here we have used a well-established murine model of disseminated candidiasis, which is highly dependent on both the virulence displayed by the fungal cells and on the host immune status, to validate the use of this system. We demonstrate that the pathogenesis of the wild type C. albicans CAF2-1 strain, which does not contain any tet-regulatable element, is not affected by the presence of doxycycline. Moreover levels of key cytokines, chemokines and many other biomarkers, as determined by multi-analyte profiling, remain essentially unaltered by the presence of the antibiotic during infection. Our results indicate that the levels of doxycycline needed to control the tetracycline regulatable promoter gene expression system have no detectable effect on global host responses during candidiasis. Because tet-regulatable systems are now being increasingly used in a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, these observations have wide implications in the field of infectious diseases

Assessing personality in San Joaquin kit fox in situ: efficacy of field-based experimental methods and implications for conservation management

Utilisation of animal personality has potential benefit for conservation management. Due to logistics of robust behavioural evaluation in situ, the majority of studies on wild animals involve taking animals into captivity for testing, potentially compromising results. Three in situ tests for evaluation of boldness in San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) were developed (ENOT: extended novel object test; RNOT: rapid novel object test; TH: trap/handling test). Each test successfully identified variation in boldness within its target age class(es). The TH test was suitable for use across all age classes. Tests were assessed for in situ suitability and for quantity/quality of data yielded. ENOT was rated as requiring high levels of time, cost and labour with greater likelihood of failure. However, it was rated highly for data quantity/quality. The TH test was rated as requiring little time, labour and cost, but yielding lower quality data. RNOT was rated in the middle. Each test had merit and could be adapted to suit project or species constraints. We recommend field-based evaluation of personality, reducing removal of animals from the wild and facilitating routine incorporation of personality assessment into conservation projects

Healthy ageing and depletion of intracellular glutathione influences T cell membrane thioredoxin-1 levels and cytokine secretion

Background: During ageing an altered redox balance has been observed in both intracellular and extracellular compartments, primarily due to glutathione depletion and metabolic stress. Maintaining redox homeostasis is important for controlling proliferation and apoptosis in response to specific stimuli for a variety of cells. For T cells, the ability to generate specific response to antigen is dependent on the oxidation state of cell surface and cytoplasmic protein-thiols. Intracellular thiols are maintained in their reduced state by a network of redox regulating peptides, proteins and enzymes such as glutathione, thioredoxins and thioredoxin reductase. Here we have investigated whether any relationship exists between age and secreted or cell surface thioredoxin-1, intracellular glutathione concentration and T cell surface thioredoxin 1 (Trx-1) and how this is related to interleukin (IL)-2 production.Results: Healthy older adults have reduced lymphocyte surface expression and lower circulating plasma Trx-1 concentrations. Using buthionine sulfoximine to deplete intracellular glutathione in Jurkat T cells we show that cell surface Trx-1 is lowered, secretion of Trx-1 is decreased and the response to the lectin phytohaemagglutinin measured as IL-2 production is also affected. These effects are recapitulated by another glutathione depleting agent, diethylmaleate.Conclusion: Together these data suggest that a relationship exists between the intracellular redox compartment and Trx-1 proteins. Loss of lymphocyte surface Trx-1 may be a useful biomarker of healthy ageing. © 2013 Carilho Torrao et al.; licensee Chemistry Central Ltd

The International HapMap Project

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62838/1/nature02168.pd

Meta-analysis of type 2 Diabetes in African Americans Consortium

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is more prevalent in African Americans than in Europeans. However, little is known about the genetic risk in African Americans despite the recent identification of more than 70 T2D loci primarily by genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in individuals of European ancestry. In order to investigate the genetic architecture of T2D in African Americans, the MEta-analysis of type 2 DIabetes in African Americans (MEDIA) Consortium examined 17 GWAS on T2D comprising 8,284 cases and 15,543 controls in African Americans in stage 1 analysis. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) association analysis was conducted in each study under the additive model after adjustment for age, sex, study site, and principal components. Meta-analysis of approximately 2.6 million genotyped and imputed SNPs in all studies was conducted using an inverse variance-weighted fixed effect model. Replications were performed to follow up 21 loci in up to 6,061 cases and 5,483 controls in African Americans, and 8,130 cases and 38,987 controls of European ancestry. We identified three known loci (TCF7L2, HMGA2 and KCNQ1) and two novel loci (HLA-B and INS-IGF2) at genome-wide significance (4.15 × 10(-94)<P<5 × 10(-8), odds ratio (OR)  = 1.09 to 1.36). Fine-mapping revealed that 88 of 158 previously identified T2D or glucose homeostasis loci demonstrated nominal to highly significant association (2.2 × 10(-23) < locus-wide P<0.05). These novel and previously identified loci yielded a sibling relative risk of 1.19, explaining 17.5% of the phenotypic variance of T2D on the liability scale in African Americans. Overall, this study identified two novel susceptibility loci for T2D in African Americans. A substantial number of previously reported loci are transferable to African Americans after accounting for linkage disequilibrium, enabling fine mapping of causal variants in trans-ethnic meta-analysis studies.Peer reviewe