Proximal (entry) tear of dissecting aortic aneurysm visualized by three-dimensional echocardiography

AbstractJ Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002;124:1245-

Type species of genera in Aphididae (Hemiptera Sternorrhyncha) with two new generic synonymies

P. 65-68The aphidologist community attending the Seventh International Symposium on Aphids in Fremantle (Western Australia, 2005) entrusted to us the preparation of a Part of the List of Available Names in Zoology devoted to the aphid genus-group taxa names, and this to be presented at the subsequent aphid symposium. During the course of our work (Nieto Nafría et al. 2009), we checked each genus to make sure its type species designation conformed to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature 1999) ―henceforth The Code and The Commission―, and that these designations were correctly represented in the literature, especially the two most recent taxonomic catalogues (Eastop & Hille Ris Lambers 1976; Remaudière & Remaudière 1997). Previous authors have used most of the procedures of type fixation enumerated in The Code, The Commission itself has used its Plenary Powers to fix six type species, and 11 genus-group names remain without types (Table 1). In the recent aphid taxonomic catalogues (Eastop & Hille Ris Lambers op. cit.; Remaudière & Remaudière op. cit.), we found three errors caused by mistakes propagated in the literature and two errors caused by incorrect application of Article 11 of The Code. We have also found that in the case of 11 names, the criteria of Article 70.3 of The Code were not met, and regardless, earlier editions of The Code did not allow type designations of that kind (see the last paragraph of the example in Article 70.3). This article corrects the five errors and conforms the 11 aphid type species designations to the nomenclatural standards of The Code.S

Deletion of CDKAL1 Affects Mitochondrial ATP Generation and First-Phase Insulin Exocytosis

A variant of the CDKAL1 gene was reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes and reduced insulin release in humans; however, the role of CDKAL1 in β cells is largely unknown. Therefore, to determine the role of CDKAL1 in insulin release from β cells, we studied insulin release profiles in CDKAL1 gene knockout (CDKAL1 KO) mice.Total internal reflection fluorescence imaging of CDKAL1 KO β cells showed that the number of fusion events during first-phase insulin release was reduced. However, there was no significant difference in the number of fusion events during second-phase release or high K(+)-induced release between WT and KO cells. CDKAL1 deletion resulted in a delayed and slow increase in cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentration during high glucose stimulation. Patch-clamp experiments revealed that the responsiveness of ATP-sensitive K(+) (K(ATP)) channels to glucose was blunted in KO cells. In addition, glucose-induced ATP generation was impaired. Although CDKAL1 is homologous to cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) regulatory subunit-associated protein 1, there was no difference in the kinase activity of CDK5 between WT and CDKAL1 KO islets.We provide the first report describing the function of CDKAL1 in β cells. Our results indicate that CDKAL1 controls first-phase insulin exocytosis in β cells by facilitating ATP generation, K(ATP) channel responsiveness and the subsequent activity of Ca(2+) channels through pathways other than CDK5-mediated regulation

Transgenerational seasonal timer for suppression of sexual morph production in the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum

Many aphid species switch reproductive modes seasonally, with the sexual generations appearing in autumn. Sexual generations are induced by short days. It has been reported that the appearance of sexual morphs is suppressed by a transgenerational factor (a seasonal timer) over several generations after hatching from overwintered eggs. The present study examined whether the seasonal timer measures the number of days from hatching or the number of generations from hatching using the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris (Homoptera: Aphididae). Effects of temperature and photoperiod on the seasonal timer were also examined by successive rearing. The ability to produce sexual morphs was strongly suppressed in stem mothers (the foundress generation), and gradually recovered over successive generations produced during a few months. The duration for which the seasonal timer could function depended on the number of days from hatching and temperature, but not on photoperiod or the number of generations from hatching. We thus showed in a single study that the seasonal timer of the pea aphid has all the physiological characteristics shown in separate studies in different aphid species

Phylogeny, Evolution and Biogeography of Gall-Forming Aphids (Insecta: Homoptera) : A Case Study from the Eriosomatini

Gall-forming aphids are highly specific to their host plants, and speciation in galling aphids has proceeded in association with a single species or species group of host plants (primary host). This study firstly aims to revise the associations between galling aphids and their host plants by focusing on historical changes in the distribution of host plants. Aphids of the Eriosomatinae are typically associated with the primary and secondary host plants and alternate host plants seasonally, with sexual reproduction on the primary host plant. However, some species are not host-alternating and are wholly parthenogenetic on the secondary host plant. This study secondly aims to test the possibility of long-term persistence of an aphid species by means of parthenogenesis (relict hypothesis). The eriosomatine genus Colopha is a small aphid group represented by three sexual and three asexual species. The sexual species are associated with two Ulmus sister species distributed disjunctly in Europe and eastern North America. In East Asia, an asexual species, Colopha kansugei, is distributed widely on the secondary host. This study tested whether the relict hypothesis is applicable to C. kansugei by comparing DNA sequences. A high rate of substitution (3.4% at the maximum) was found in the mitochondrial COI sequence between local populations. Available evidence suggests that Colopha kansugei has persisted on the secondary host plant through parthenogenesis, probably following the local extinction of the primary host. Use of molecular techniques might possibly detect much more ancient species among parthenogenetic aphids with disjunct distributions.International Symposium on "Dawn of a New Natural History - Integration of Geoscience and Biodiversity Studies". 5-6 March 2004. Sapporo, Japan

Morphological abnormalities in gall-forming aphids in a radiation-contaminated area near Fukushima Daiichi: selective impact of fallout?

To evaluate the impact of fallout from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident on organisms, this study compared the morphology and viability of gall-forming aphids between the Fukushima population and control populations from noncontaminated areas. This study, in particular, focused on the morphology of first-instar gall formers derived from the first sexual reproduction after the accident. Of 164 first instars from Tetraneura sorini galls collected 32 km from Fukushima Daiichi in spring 2012, 13.2% exhibited morphological abnormalities, including four conspicuously malformed individuals (2.4%). In contrast, in seven control areas, first instars with abnormal morphology accounted for 0.0–5.1% (on average, 3.8%). The proportions of abnormalities and mortality were significantly higher in Fukushima than in the control areas. Similarly, of 134 first instars from T. nigriabdominalis galls, 5.9% exhibited morphological abnormalities, with one highly malformed individual. However, of 543 second-generation larvae produced in T. sorini galls, only 0.37% had abnormalities, suggesting that abnormalities found in the first generation were not inherited by the next generation. Although investigation is limited to one study site, this result suggests that radioactive contamination had deleterious effects on embryogenesis in eggs deposited on the bark surface, but a negligible influence on the second generation produced in closed galls. Furthermore, analysis of both species samples collected in spring 2013 indicated that the viability and healthiness of the aphids were significantly improved compared to those in the 2012 samples. Thus, the results of this study suggest the possibility that a reduced level of radiation and/or selection for radiation tolerance may have led to the improved viability and healthiness of the Fukushima population

INBREEDING DEPRESSION, INCREASED PHENOTYPIC VARIANCE, AND A TRADE-OFF BETWEEN GONADS AND APPENDAGES IN SELFED PROGENY OF THE APHID PROCIPHILUS ORIENS

Trade-offs are potentially common among two or more traits whose development is dependent on the same resources. To detect genetic trade-offs, the techniques of quantitative genetics, pedigree analyses, and selection experiments have been used. This study demonstrates genetically based trade-offs between gonads and appendages in hatched larvae of the aphid Prociphilus oriens by focusing on enlarged variance among the families of selfed progeny. The selfed and outbred families were compared in respect to the size of morphological traits, gonad volume, and hatch dates as well as egg volume. Selfing not only increased the among-family variance component in all larval traits examined, but it also increased the mean size of all the morphological traits significantly. In contrast, gonad volume, a fitness component, was reduced with selfing. Calculation of the allometry (log-transformed regression) of larval traits to egg volume indicated that in the outbred group, morphological traits grew slowly relative to egg volume with slopes below 0.25, whereas gonads exhibited isometric growth. With selfing, most morphological traits had significantly steeper slopes, whereas the slope for gonads was greatly decreased. When the effect of egg volume was statistically removed from the means of selfed families, significant negative correlation was detected between the adjusted means of gonad volume and those of tibia length. This result suggests genetic trade-offs between gonad volume and tibia length. Thus, the evidence implies that at the loci governing the development of appendages, the dominant alleles function to canalize the development of tibiae into an optimal size, irrespective of egg volume. It is hypothesized that increased homozygosity of the deleterious recessive alleles reduced gonad volume through increasing the resource allocation to tibiae. The hypothesis of the gonad-appendage trade-off could be applied to explain the phenotypic evolution in some aphid species

Mating behavior and genital damage during copulation in the leaf beetle Lema coronata (Chrysomelidae: Criocerinae)

The criocerine leaf beetle Lema coronata Baly has extremely long genitalia that reach more than twice the body length in both sexes. We observed mating behavior of this species in the laboratory and inspected the male genital morphology using a scanning electron microscope. The males did not perform pre-copulatory courtship and post-copulatory guarding of the mates, and copulation lasted only for about 30 min. The surface of male genitalia is smooth without any special structures at the tip. A fragment of broken male genitalia was detected in the spermathecal duct of one female. We discuss the adaptive significance of male genital damage and the selective factor of elongated genitalia

Evolution of sex allocation in the genus Tetraneura (Aphididae: Pemphiginae).

Abstract: Sexuparae (autumnal migrants) of the Pemphiginae produce sexual males and females at once, and the sexuals mature without food intake. Hence, sex ratio and the size of sexuals are completely determined by the mothers (sexuparae). This study examined variation in sex ratio among species of Tetraneura and its allied genera. The relative size of sexuals to sexuparae (mothers) varied greatly among species. In species with relatively small sexuals, each sexupara produced both males and females; the number of males was constant and the number of females tended to increase in larger sexuparae. Sex allocation in these species can be explained by Yamaguchi (1985)’s model. In contrast, in species with relatively large sexuals, a considerable fraction of sexuparae produced sexual females alone. Rearing experiments in T.sp. O showed that sexuparae from one clone produced sexual females only, while those from other clones produced both males and females. In species with relatively large sexuals, the relative investment in both sexes was highly female-biased. Local mate competition has been assumed to be responsible for female-biased sex allocation. However, this comparative study suggests that sex allocation is also affected by the relative size of sexuals. The size of sexual females is highly correlated with that of first instar fundatrices (gall makers). Therefore, it is suggested that advantage of larger size in fundatrices, for example in fighting, has led to larger body size in sexual females and more highly female-biased sex allocation