Comparative Behavior of \u3ci\u3ePyrellia Cyanicolor\u3c/i\u3e (Diptera: Muscidae) on the Moss \u3ci\u3eSplachnum Ampullaceum\u3c/i\u3e and on Substrates of Nutritional Value

(excerpt) Entomophily is commonly associated with flowering plants and their pollen vectors, but also occurs in other groups of plants. Among fungi, several genera of Phallaceae offer food rewards to calliphorid and muscid flies, which inadvertently disperse the fungal spores (Ingold 1964). Bryhn (1897) first noted a relationship between various species ofDiptera and members of the moss family Splachnaceae. The nature of this interaction has been the subject of much speculation (Bequaert 1921, Erlanson 1935, Crum et aI. 1972, Koponen and Koponen 1977), but no experimental evidence has been collected

Modulation of constant light effects on the eye by ciliary ganglionectomy and optic nerve section

AbstractOur previous studies have shown that an environment of constant light (CL) can lead to development of high degree of hyperopia in newborn chicks by inducing severe corneal flattening, and compensatory growth of the vitreous chamber. We wish to know whether the abnormal eye growth and progressive hyperopia under CL conditions is accomplished by a mechanism that uses the visual processing pathways of the central nervous system (CNS) or by a mechanism located in the eye. Thirty white leghorn chicks (Cornell K-strain) were raised under 12 h light/12 h dark (12L/12D) for either optic nerve section (ONS) or ciliary ganglion section (CGS). Another 30 chicks were raised under CL for ONS or CGS. Refractive states and corneal curvatures were measured by infrared (IR) photoretinoscopy and IR keratometry, respectively. The axial lengths of the ocular components were measured by A-scan ultrasonography. Both ONS and CGS surgery produced dilated pupils and accommodative paralysis. Four weeks after surgery, CGS eyes exhibited a hyperopic defocus, flatter cornea, and shorter vitreous chamber depth under both CL and normal conditions, whereas ONS eyes showed a smaller radius of corneal curvature and shallow vitreous chamber only in the normal light cycle group. CGS eyes of CL chicks showed significantly deeper vitreous chambers than did fellow control eyes. Our results indicate that optic nerve section does not seem to influence CL effects. Thus, local mechanisms may play a major role in the ocular development of chicks. The ciliary nerve is necessary for the normal corneal and anterior chamber growth, and prevents CL effects. The progressively increasing vitreous chamber depth under CL may be influenced by both local and central mechanisms

Diurnal illumination patterns affect the development of the chick eye

AbstractExposure to continuous illumination disrupts normal ocular development in young chicks, causing severe corneal flattening, shallow anterior chambers and progressive hyperopia (‘constant light (CL) effects’). We have studied the minimum requirements of a diurnal light cycle to prevent CL effects. (1) Seven groups of 10 chicks were reared under a 0 (constant light, CL), or 1, 2, 3,4, 6, or 12/12 h (normal) light–dark cycles. It was found that CL effects were prevented if the dark period was 4 h or longer. Below 4 h, the effects were dose-dependent and inversely correlated with the amplitude of the Fourier component of illumination at 1 cycle per day (CPD). (2) Three groups of 20 chicks were exposed to 4 h of darkness distributed differently over 24 h to vary the amplitude of the Fourier component at 1 CPD. It was found that complete suppression of the CL effects required that the 4 h of darkness were given in one block and at the same time each day. Our results show that normal ocular development in the chick requires a minimum of 4 h darkness per day, provided at the same time of the day without interruption, and suggest that the light–dark cycle interacts with a linear or weakly nonlinear oscillating system

Levels of metals in tomato products

Para determinar el tenor de metales como constituyentes normales y contaminantes en productos comerciales de tomate: extractos doble y triple, puré, triturado, pelado y salsa portuguesa, se seleccionaron 47 muestras provenientes de 13 establecimientos industriales de Cuyo (Argentina). Las muestras se secaron en estufa con circulación de aire y se mineralizaron para la preparación de extractos clorhídricos, sobre los cuales se cuantificaron plomo, cadmio, cromo, hierro, cobre y zinc, utilizando un espectro-fotómetro de absorción atómica Perkin-Elmer. Con los datos obtenidos se calcularon las características muestrales: media, desviación típica y varianza, para cada elemento, y se determinaron los intervalos de confianza para la media para establecer los valores normales para = 0.05. Los resultados, expresados sobre sustancia seca, indican: • la totalidad de las muestras presentan plomo entre 3,28 y 56,29 mg/kg; • el 61,7 % tiene cromo entre 1,66 y 5,53 mg/kg; • en el 78,7 % de las muestras se detectó de 0,13 a 8,82 mg/kg de cadmio; • los metales constituyentes normales presentan elevado coeficiente de variación, destacándose el hierro de 47,97 a 2 576 mg/kg; • para el cobre, los valores fueron 8,38 y 115,44 mg/kg; • y para el zinc, 16,66 y 88,63 mg/kg.In order to determine normal and contaminating levels of metallic elements in different commercial tomato products, 47 samples coming from different industries in Cuyo (Argentina) were selected. The products included were double and triple extracts, smashed tomatoes, ground tomatoes, peeled tomatoes and portuguese sauce. Laboratory samples were carefully conditioned, dried by means of air circulating heaters and mineralized via dry process to obtain hydrochloric extracts with a 1:50 final dilution. Lead, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron and zinc contents were measured in the extracts using a Perkin-Elmer atomic absorption spectro-photometer. Statistical analysis of the analytical results included the most important sample characteristics such as mean value, standard deviation and variance for every tested element. Results show that lead was present in all the tested samples, in levels ranging from 3,28 mg/kg to 56,29 mg/kg. Chromium was present in 61,7 % of the samples, with levels between 1,66 and 5,53 mg/kg. Cadmium was found in 78,7 % of the samples, in levels ranging between 0,13 and 0,82 mg/kg. Results for the tomato normal metallic constituents show a high variation coefficient, standing out the iron content, with minimum values of 47,97 mg/kg and maximum values of 2 576 mg/kg. Extreme values for copper were 8,38 and 115,44 mg/ kg while for zinc extreme values were 16,66 and 88,63 mg/kg.Fil: Martí, Luis. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Salcedo, Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Troilo, Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Rey, Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícol

Double-Pass Measurement of Retinal Image Quality in the Chicken Eye

8 pages, 6 figures.-- PMID: 12553544 [PubMed].-- This research was presented as a paper at the annual meeting of the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology on May 4, 2000, in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.[Purpose] The chicken, Gallus gallus domesticus, is used as an animal model to study the development of refractive error. Although vision is important in determining the eye's refractive state, relatively little is known about the retinal image quality of the chicken eye. An objective double-pass technique was used to measure the optical quality of the eyes of White Leghorn chickens.[Methods] Measurements were made on 21 eyes of six untreated birds and eight experimental birds that were members of a study of refractive development. Ages ranged from 3 to 6 weeks, and refractions ranged from -1.29 to +0.58 D in the untreated eyes and -4.58 to +10.17 D in the experimental eyes. The measurements were made under general anesthesia combined with either cycloplegia or ciliary nerve section. Proper optical alignment of the eye was achieved with the aid of a TV monitor, CCD camera, and an infrared source. A 543-nm laser point source was focused on the retina, and the double-pass aerial image was collected by a high-resolution CCD camera. Refractive errors were corrected with trial lenses, using a bracketing method to optimize the retinal images. Both the full width at half-maximum of the double-pass aerial image and the single-pass modulation transfer function were used as objective estimates of the optical quality.[Results] The mean full width at half-maximum value in eyes of the untreated birds was 1.60 min arc for a 4.50-mm mean pupil diameter. Optical quality tended to be worse in the experimental myopic eyes.[Conclusions] The optical quality of the chicken eye measured under monochromatic conditions meets or may even exceed the neural limits of spatial acuity based on anatomical estimates of ganglion cell spacing. The data also suggest that optical quality is worse in myopic eyes, which is consistent with studies of human eyes.Support for this research was provided by National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health grants EY04395 to S. Burns, EY11228 to D. Troilo, EY12392 to C. Wildsoet, and EY12847 to N. Coletta. S. Marcos was supported by the Human Frontier Science Program LT/0542/1997-B and Fulbright 163/2000.Peer reviewe

Aptitud for underground irrigation based on salinity and sodicity in drillings made between 2004 and 2010 in the North and Central Oasis, Mendoza

En Mendoza la actividad agrícola se concentra en oasis productivos que dependen exclusivamente del riego, donde aproximadamente un 70% de las propiedades utilizan agua subterránea. El objetivo fue analizar la calidad del agua que extraen las perforaciones realizadas durante el periodo 2004/2010, en los oasis Norte y Centro de Mendoza. De los aproximadamente 1000 registros de nuevos pozos se han tomado muestras de 409 perforaciones, en las que se realizaron análisis físicoquímicos: conductividad eléctrica actual (CEA) y efectiva (CEE), residuo salino, sales totales, pH, cationes y aniones, se obtuvo el coeficiente de álcali, relación de absorción de sodio y las durezas. Se clasificó según Riverside modificación Thorne-Peterson y siguiendo la clasificación regional de Wainstein. Las perforaciones del Oasis Centro son en general de menor profundidad, extrayendo agua de menor CEA y mayor calidad. En el Oasis Norte las mejores aguas están en la zona irrigada por el Río Mendoza, encontrando hacia el este (Río Tunuyán) aguas de peores características, a pesar de que en dicha zona es donde se ubican las más importantes profundidades de exploración. Las mayores diferencias entre CEA y CEE están en la cuenca del Tunuyán inferior, donde las aguas poseen más cantidad de sales de mediana solubilidad.Mendoza's agricultural activity is concentrated in productive areas which depend almost exclusively on irrigation. Around 70 percent of these estates rely on underground water basins. The goal of this project has been to analyze the water quality of wells drilled within the 2004-2010 period in the North and Central Oasis of Mendoza. Of the nearly 1000 new wells on record, 409 were sampled. Physical-chemical analyses were carried out to determine current and effective electrical conductivity, salt residue, total salts, ph, cations and anions. Coefficient of alkali, sodium absorption relation and hardness were also calculated. Wells in the Central Oasis are less deep, producing water of lower current electrical conductivity and of higher quality. In the North Oasis the best quality water is found in the area irrigated by the Mendoza river. In the east (Tunuyán river basin) waters are of inferior quality, despite greater depths of exploration. The greatest differences between current electrical conductivity and effective electrical conductivity occur in the lower Tunuyán river basin, where water contains larger amounts of medium soluble salts.Fil: Bermejillo, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Martí, Luis. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Cónsoli, Daniela. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Salcedo, Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Producción AgropecuariaFil: Llera, Joaquín. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Biomatemática y FisicoquímicaFil: Valdés, Analía. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Venier, Matías. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Troilo, Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícol

Heavy metals evaluation in soils of irrigated oasis of Mendoza Province : total concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu

En Mendoza, Argentina, no existen antecedentes respecto de la presencia de elementos trazas, totales y disponibles, relacionados con el uso de los suelos en los oasis irrigados. El objetivo del trabajo, en esta etapa, fue determinar los contenidos totales de plomo (Pb), cadmio (Cd), cinc (Zn) y cobre (Cu) en la capa superficial de suelos (0-25 cm), diferenciados en siete tipos según una clasificación utilitaria: suelos vírgenes (SV); suelos de banquina (SB); suelos vecinos a banquina (SVB); suelos de agricultura intensiva (SAI); suelos de agricultura protegidos por lucha antigranizo (SLAG); suelos afectados por actividad industrial (SI) y suelos urbanos (SU). Sobre un total de 200 muestras se efectuó una digestión ácida en caliente y en los extractos se determinaron los metales en su fracción total, mediante espectrofotometría de absorción atómica (AAS). El análisis estadístico de los datos muestra que los niveles más elevados de Cu y Cd se detectan en SAI, con medias de 39,3 y 2,5 mg kg-1 respectivamente. En SI se observan los mayores valores de Pb, con una media de 80,6 mg kg-1 y en SU los mayores tenores de Zn, con un valor medio de 740 mg kg-1. La Ciudad de Mendoza, con mayor densidad poblacional, presentó los mayores contenidos de Zn, Pb y Cd. Las concentraciones encontradas se ubican por debajo de las exigencias de la legislación argentina y la mayoría de los suelos pueden clasificarse como no contaminados (SNC) o ligeramente contaminados (SLC). Se prevé completar este estudio con la determinación de las fracciones disponibles de los elementos estudiados, correlacionándolos con variables edáficas físico-químicas como textura, pH y materia orgánica.There is no information regarding the presence of trace elements. total and available, related to the use of soils in irrigated oasis in Mendoza, Argentina. The main objective of this work, was to measure total content of lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) in the surface soil layer (0- 25cm) of different soils . They were grouped in in seven types, according to utilitarian classification: (acronyms in Spanish): virgin soils (SV); shoulder soils (SB); soils in the vicinity of shoulders (SVB); soils of intensive agriculture (SAI); agricultural areas with anti-hail rocket system (SLAG); soils affected by Industrial activity (SI); and urban soils (Su). On a total of 200 superficial samples, a hot acid digestión was performed; on the extracts, total content of Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu was measured by atomic absortion spectrometry (AAS). A statistical analysis of the results was performed, showing that the highest levels of Cu and Cd were detected in SAI, with mean values of 39.3 and 2.5 mg kg-1 respectively. The highest values of Pb were present in the SI, with a mean value of 80.6 mg kg-1, while the highest values of Zn were present in the SU soils, with a mean value of 740 mg kg-1. Mendoza city, with higher population density had the highest Zn, Pb y Cd content. The concentrations are below the argentinian legislation and most soils can be classified uncontaminated (SNC) or slightly contaminated (SLC). It expects to complete this study with the determination of the available fractions of these elements. correlating the results with physical-chemical soil properties, such as texture, pH and organic matter.Fil: Martí, Luis. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Filippini, María Flavia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Salcedo, Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Drovandi, Alejandro. Instituto Nacional del Agua (Argentina). Centro Regional AndinoFil: Troilo, Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Valdés, Analía. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícol

Cezanne regulates E2F1-dependent HIF2α expression

Mechanisms regulating protein degradation ensure the correct and timely expression of transcription factors such as hypoxia inducible factor (HIF). Under normal O2 tension, HIFα subunits are targeted for proteasomal degradation, mainly through vHL-dependent ubiquitylation. Deubiquitylases are responsible for reversing this process. Although the mechanism and regulation of HIFα by ubiquitin-dependent proteasomal degradation has been the object of many studies, little is known about the role of deubiquitylases. Here, we show that expression of HIF2α (encoded by EPAS1) is regulated by the deubiquitylase Cezanne (also known as OTUD7B) in an E2F1-dependent manner. Knockdown of Cezanne downregulates HIF2α mRNA, protein and activity independently of hypoxia and proteasomal degradation. Mechanistically, expression of the HIF2α gene is controlled directly by E2F1, and Cezanne regulates the stability of E2F1. Exogenous E2F1 can rescue HIF2α transcript and protein expression when Cezanne is depleted. Taken together, these data reveal a novel mechanism for the regulation of the expression of HIF2α, demonstrating that the HIF2α promoter is regulated by E2F1 directly and that Cezanne regulates HIF2α expression through control of E2F1 levels. Our results thus suggest that HIF2α is controlled transcriptionally in a cell-cycle-dependent manner and in response to oncogenic signalling

Cadmium and lead monitoring in major copper fungicide brands marketed in Mendoza, Argentina

La aplicación de fungicidas ha tenido un incremento importante en los últimos períodos agrícolas, siendo los cúpricos los más utilizados en nuestro medio. Según el Instituto de Sanidad y Calidad Agropecuaria Mendoza (ISCAMEN), en el período 2004/2005 se han aplicado 2.500 toneladas de estos fungicidas: 44,80% sulfato de cobre; 54,24% oxicloruro de cobre y 0,96% de hidróxido de cobre, cantidades similares a las registradas en los últimos ciclos. Habiéndose detectado metales pesados en estos productos, se pretende determinar sus concentraciones en la mayoría de los cúpricos comercializados en Mendoza. Con tal objetivo se reunieron 53 muestras comerciales de fungicidas cúpricos (44 de sulfato y 9 de oxicloruro de cobre), que representan la mayoría de las marcas comercializadas. Sobre extractos ácidos se determinaron plomo y cadmio mediante espectrofotometría de absorción atómica de llama, contrastando con material de referencia altamente confiable. La legislación argentina sólo establece límites a los contenidos de plomo, el cual no puede superar el valor resultante de la fórmula: Límite de Pb mg.kg-1 = 5 x (% Cu del producto). Para el oxicloruro el valor límite es 275 mg.kg-1 y para el sulfato 125 mg.kg-1. Los datos fueron analizados estadísticamente con los siguientes resultados: para el oxicloruro la media fue de 207,17 mg.kg-1 y el 33,3% de las muestras superaron los valores permitidos para plomo. Para los sulfatos la media fue de 63,06 mg.kg-1 y ninguna de las muestras superó el límite máximo. La presencia de cadmio está representada por medias de 2,64 mg.kg-1 y 1,53 mg.kg-1 para oxicloruro y sulfato de cobre, respectivamente.Fungicide application has had a significant increase in recent agricultural periods, with copper fungicides being the most widely used in Mendoza. According to ISCAMEN (Instituto Sanidad y Calidad Agropecuaria Mendoza), 2,500 tons of these fungicides (44.80 % sulfate copper, 54.24% copper oxychloride, and 0.96% copper hydroxide were applied in the 2004 - 2005 period and similar amounts have been used subsequently. Having detected heavy metals in these products, our aim is to determine the values present in most commercial brands available in Mendoza. To this effect, 53 samples of commercial copper fungicides were collected (44 sulphate, and 9 copper oxychloride), which are representative of most brands. Lead and cadmium amounts were determined on acid extracts by atomic absorption spectophotometry, in contrast to highly reliable reference material. Argentine legislation sets limits for lead contents only. This value cannot exceed the number resulting from the formula Limit Pb mg.kg-1 = 5 x (% Cu product). For phosgene the limit value is 275 mg.kg-1 and for sulfate 125 mg.kg-1. The statistically analyzed data yielded the following results: for oxychloride, the average was 207.17 mg.kg-1, with 33% of the samples exeeding allowed lead values; for sulfate the average was 63.06 mg.kg-1, with no samples exceeding the limit. The presence of cadmium was represented by averages of 2.64 mg.kg-1 and 1.53 mg.kg-1 for oxichloride and copper sulfate respectively.Fil: Martí, Luis. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Filippini, María Flavia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Bermejillo, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Troilo, Silvia. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Salcedo, Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería AgrícolaFil: Valdés, Analía. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Departamento de Ingeniería Agrícol