Ecological studies of Ctenosciara hawaiiensis (Hardy) (Diptera: Sciaridae)

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.The seasonal fluctuations of Ctenosciara hawaiiensis (Hardy) populations in two different ecosystems at the same elevation on Mauna Loa on the island of Hawaii are compared and correlated with fluctuations in rainfall, humidity, and temperature. Rainfall appears to be the most important extrinsic factor affecting seasonal changes in this species. There is a marked difference between the two populations which in part could be explained by differences in the ecosystems. Ctenosciara hawaiiensis is closely associated with Acacia koa. The larvae live under the bark of dead branches

D-β-Hydroxybutyrate Is Protective in Mouse Models of Huntington's Disease

Abnormalities in mitochondrial function and epigenetic regulation are thought to be instrumental in Huntington's disease (HD), a fatal genetic disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine track in the protein huntingtin. Given the lack of effective therapies for HD, we sought to assess the neuroprotective properties of the mitochondrial energizing ketone body, D-β-hydroxybutyrate (DβHB), in the 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) toxic and the R6/2 genetic model of HD. In mice treated with 3-NP, a complex II inhibitor, infusion of DβHB attenuates motor deficits, striatal lesions, and microgliosis in this model of toxin induced-striatal neurodegeneration. In transgenic R6/2 mice, infusion of DβHB extends life span, attenuates motor deficits, and prevents striatal histone deacetylation. In PC12 cells with inducible expression of mutant huntingtin protein, we further demonstrate that DβHB prevents histone deacetylation via a mechanism independent of its mitochondrial effects and independent of histone deacetylase inhibition. These pre-clinical findings suggest that by simultaneously targeting the mitochondrial and the epigenetic abnormalities associated with mutant huntingtin, DβHB may be a valuable therapeutic agent for HD

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Laboratory studies of Hawaiian Sciaridae (Diptera)

Reports were scanned in black and white at a resolution of 600 dots per inch and were converted to text using Adobe Paper Capture Plug-in.Fourteen Hawaiian Sciaridae (Diptera) were studied in the laboratory and reared in constant temperature cabinets at 20°C + or -2°. Six of these species are possibly endemic. The mean developmental time in days of eggs, larvae and pupae for each species, except Hyperlasion magnisensoria (Hardy) is given. Total mean developmental time for each species was as follows: Bradysia, sp. 1 - 18.8; B. impatiens (Johannsen) - 16.3; B. molokaiensis (Grimshaw) - 16.2;B. spatitergum (Hardy) - 17.9; B.tritici (Coquillett), "monogenic"- 18.5; B. tritici (Coquillett), “digenic"- 22.2; Corynoptera brevipalis Steffan - 34.0; Ctenosciara hawaiiensis (Hardy) - 29.0; Lycoriella hayti (Hardy) - 33.0; L. solispina (Fitch) -20.0; L. solispina (Hardy) - 19.8; Phytosciara, sp. 2 - 21.5; Plastosciara pernicisoa Edwards - 27.3 and Scatopsciara nigrita Hardy - 24.5. The probable ecological role for each species is given. Most Hawaiian Sciaridae are either phytosaprophagous or mycetophagous or both. Some are known to be facultatively phytophagous elsewhere and several species are probably facultatively coprophagous. One or more species may be corticolous feeders.Island Ecosystems IRP, U.S. International Biological Progra