Effects of photoperiod on body mass, thermogenesis and body composition in Eothenomys miletus during cold exposure

Many small mammals respond to seasonal changes in photoperiod by altering body mass and adiposity. These animals may provide valuable models for understanding the regulation of energy balance. In present study, we examined the effect on body mass, rest metabolic rate, food intake and body composition in cold-acclimated (5 °C) in Eothenomys miletus by transferring them from a short (SD, 8h :16h L: D) to long day photoperiod (LD, 16h: 8h L:D). During the first 4 weeks of exposure to SD, E. miletus decreased body mass. After the next 4 weeks of exposure to LD, which the average difference between body masses of LD and SD voles was 4.76 g. This 14.74% increase in body mass reflected significant increases in absolute amounts of body components, including wet carcass mass, dry carcass mass and body fat mass. After correcting body composition and organ morphology data for the differences in body mass, only livers, kidney, and small intestine were enlarged due to photoperiod treatment during cold exposure. E. miletus increased RMR and energy intake exposure to LD, but maintained a stable level to SD after 28 days. Serum leptin levels were positively correlated with body mass, body fat mass, RMR as well as energy intake. All of the results indicated that E. miletus may provide an attractive novel animal model for investigation of the regulation of body mass and energy balance at organism levels. Leptin is potentially involved in the photoperiod induced body mass regulation and thermogenesis in E. miletus during cold exposure

Effects of Gradient Photoperiod and Temperature on Energy Metabolism and Body Composition in Tupaia belangeri chinensis

In order to explore the adaptive changes in energy metabolism and body composition in response to a gradual reduction in both ambient temperature and photoperiod, male adult tree shrews Tupaia belangeri chinensis were raised under the conditions of 30 oC and 12L:12D photoperiod (control group). The treatment group was changed from 25 oC and 16L:8D photoperiod to 5 oC and 8L:16D photoperiod (treatment group) over a period of four weeks and then maintained at those conditions for a further 4 weeks. Changes in body mass, resting metabolic rates (RMR),energy intake, and wet and dry mass of organs and tissues were measured at the end of the acclimation. Body mass in treatment tree shrews was higher than control. RMR showed significant differences between groups. No significant differences were detected in dry matter intake, energy intake, and digestible energy intake in control tree shrews during the whole acclimation period, while these parameters were significantly increased within treatment tree shrews at the end of acclimation, and were significantly higher than those in control tree shrews. Small intestine and stomach dry mass, as well as the wet mass of small intestine, heart, lung, liver and kidney were significantly higher in treatment groups than in controls, but no significant differences were found in the mass of other organs and tissues. These results suggest that increasing body mass and energy intake, together with adjusting the mass of some organs and tissues, are important physiological changes in tree shrews to adapt the changing environmental conditions

A review of transformer FRA measurement and diagnosis techniques

Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) is a successful technique to detect mechanical damage in power transformers with greater sensitivity than other measurements. The SFRA method is commonly used today and requires a benchmark FRA measurement for comparative diagnostic methods. The use of numerical indices to quantify differences in two FRA signatures is described. It is important to understand the importance of understanding the physical meaning behind the frequency responses of windings through modelling and simulation

A review of transformer FRA measurement and diagnosis techniques

Frequency Response Analysis (FRA) is a successful technique to detect mechanical damage in power transformers with greater sensitivity than other measurements. The SFRA method is commonly used today and requires a benchmark FRA measurement for comparative diagnostic methods. The use of numerical indices to quantify differences in two FRA signatures is described. It is important to understand the importance of understanding the physical meaning behind the frequency responses of windings through modelling and simulation

Whole-genome resequencing of 472 Vitis accessions for grapevine diversity and demographic history analyses

Despite the importance of grapevine cultivation in human history and the economic values of cultivar improvement, large-scale genomic variation data are lacking. Here the authors resequence 472 Vitis accessions and use the identified genetic variations for domestication history, demography, and GWAS analyses

Epistatic Roles for Pseudomonas aeruginosa MutS and DinB (DNA Pol IV) in Coping with Reactive Oxygen Species-Induced DNA Damage

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is especially adept at colonizing the airways of individuals afflicted with the autosomal recessive disease cystic fibrosis (CF). CF patients suffer from chronic airway inflammation, which contributes to lung deterioration. Once established in the airways, P. aeruginosa continuously adapts to the changing environment, in part through acquisition of beneficial mutations via a process termed pathoadaptation. MutS and DinB are proposed to play opposing roles in P. aeruginosa pathoadaptation: MutS acts in replication-coupled mismatch repair, which acts to limit spontaneous mutations; in contrast, DinB (DNA polymerase IV) catalyzes error-prone bypass of DNA lesions, contributing to mutations. As part of an ongoing effort to understand mechanisms underlying P. aeruginosa pathoadaptation, we characterized hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced phenotypes of isogenic P. aeruginosa strains bearing different combinations of mutS and dinB alleles. Our results demonstrate an unexpected epistatic relationship between mutS and dinB with respect to H2O2-induced cell killing involving error-prone repair and/or tolerance of oxidized DNA lesions. In striking contrast to these error-prone roles, both MutS and DinB played largely accurate roles in coping with DNA lesions induced by ultraviolet light, mitomycin C, or 4-nitroquinilone 1-oxide. Models discussing roles for MutS and DinB functionality in DNA damage-induced mutagenesis, particularly during CF airway colonization and subsequent P. aeruginosa pathoadaptation are discussed

The mitochondrial genome of Hua aristarchorum (Heude, 1889) (Gastropoda, Cerithioidea, Semisulcospiridae) and its phylogenetic implications

Research on complete mitochondrial genomes can help in understanding the molecular evolution and phylogenetic relationships of various species. In this study, the complete mitogenome of Hua aristarchorum was characterized to supplement the limited mitogenomic information on the genus Hua. Three distinct assembly methods, GetOrganelle, NovoPlasty and SPAdes, were used to ensure reliable assembly. The 15,691 bp mitogenome contains 37 genes and an AT-rich region. Notably, the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COX1) gene, commonly used for species identification, appears to be slow-evolving and less variable, which may suggest the inclusion of rapidly evolving genes (NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 [ND6] or NADH dehydrogenase subunit 2 [ND2]) as markers in diagnostic, detection, and population genetic studies of Cerithioidea. Moreover, we identified the unreliability of annotations (e.g., the absence of annotations for NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4L [ND4L] in NC_037771) and potential misidentifications (NC_023364) in public databases, which indicate that data from public databases should be manually curated in future research. Phylogenetic analyses of Cerithioidea based on different datasets generated identical trees using maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods. The results confirm that Semisulcospiridae is closely related to Pleuroceridae. The sequences of Semisulcospiridae clustered into three clades, of which H. aristarchorum is one; H. aristarchorum is sister to the other two clades. The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the characteristics of the H. aristarchorum mitogenome and the phylogenetic relationships of Semisulcospiridae. The inclusion of further mitochondrial genome sequences will improve knowledge of the phylogeny and origin of Cerithioidea

Genetic Diversity and Mating System of Two Mangrove Species (Rhizophora apiculata and Avicennia marina) in a Heavily Disturbed Area of China

Mangrove forests are distributed in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical regions, and have been severely damaged by anthropogenic activities, climate change, and stochastic events. Although much progress has been made in the conservation and restoration of mangroves in China, studies of the genetic diversity of mangroves are lacking, especially for isolated populations, yet such studies are essential for guiding conservation and restoration efforts. Here, we evaluated the genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, and mating system of two mangrove species, Rhizophora apiculata and Avicennia marina, in a heavily disturbed area in Tielu Harbor, Sanya City, Hainan Island, China, using 18 nuclear microsatellite markers. We found that the genetic diversity of R. apiculata, which is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ in the China Red List categories, was high and similar compared with the genetic diversity estimates of other populations reported in previous studies. In contrast, the genetic diversity of A. marina, which is classified as a species of ‘Least Concern’, was low compared with the genetic diversity estimates of other populations. We then evaluated the presence of genetic bottlenecks, spatial genetic structure, and the mating system to determine the effects that habitat destruction has had on these two species. Our findings indicate that distinct conservation and restoration approaches are needed for these two species. Generally, our results provide valuable information that will aid the development of conservation and restoration strategies for the mangroves of Tielu Harbor

Genetic Diversity and Mating System of Two Mangrove Species (<i>Rhizophora apiculata</i> and <i>Avicennia marina</i>) in a Heavily Disturbed Area of China

Mangrove forests are distributed in the intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical regions, and have been severely damaged by anthropogenic activities, climate change, and stochastic events. Although much progress has been made in the conservation and restoration of mangroves in China, studies of the genetic diversity of mangroves are lacking, especially for isolated populations, yet such studies are essential for guiding conservation and restoration efforts. Here, we evaluated the genetic diversity, spatial genetic structure, and mating system of two mangrove species, Rhizophora apiculata and Avicennia marina, in a heavily disturbed area in Tielu Harbor, Sanya City, Hainan Island, China, using 18 nuclear microsatellite markers. We found that the genetic diversity of R. apiculata, which is classified as ‘Vulnerable’ in the China Red List categories, was high and similar compared with the genetic diversity estimates of other populations reported in previous studies. In contrast, the genetic diversity of A. marina, which is classified as a species of ‘Least Concern’, was low compared with the genetic diversity estimates of other populations. We then evaluated the presence of genetic bottlenecks, spatial genetic structure, and the mating system to determine the effects that habitat destruction has had on these two species. Our findings indicate that distinct conservation and restoration approaches are needed for these two species. Generally, our results provide valuable information that will aid the development of conservation and restoration strategies for the mangroves of Tielu Harbor