Biased sex ratio and low population density increase male mating success in the bug Nysius huttoni (Heteroptera: Lygaeidae)

Demographic factors such as operational sex ratio (OSR) and local population density (LPD) are temporally and spatially dynamic in the natural environment but the influence of these variables on male mating success and the mechanisms behind it are still poorly understood and highly controversial. Here, we manipulated the OSR and LPD of a seed bug, Nysius huttoni, and carried out a series of mating trials to test how these variables affected male mating success. The two demographic factors had no significant interactions, suggesting that they affect male mating success independently in N. huttoni. In this species male mating success was significantly higher in both male- and female-biased OSR than in even OSR. It is suggested that, in male-biased OSR, the increased intensity of competition and interference does not result in lower male mating success; rather, males may make more effort in courting and females may have more chance to encounter better males, resulting in higher male mating success. In female-biased OSR, females may become less choosy and less likely to reject male mating attempt, leading to the higher male mating success. Lower male mating success in N. huttoni in high LPD may be due to increased interference between males and/or delayed female receptiveness for mating. OSR had a stronger effect on male mating success than LPD in N. huttoni, suggesting that OSR and LPD affect mating success in different ways and intensities.     

Oxidative stress related enzymes in response to chromium (Ⅵ) toxicity in Oxya chinensis ( Orthoptera : Acridoidae)

The toxic effects of Cr（Vl） on antioxidant enzymes of Oxya chinensis（Orthoptera： Acridoidae） were determined. Changes in the activities of the antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase（SOD）, catalase（CAT）, and guaiacol peroxidase（GPx） were measured in O. chinensis insects injected with Cr（VI）. Fifth-nymphs of O. chinensis insects were injected with Cr（VI） with different concentrations （0, 75, 150, 225, 300, 375, 450 mg/kg of body weight）. The results showed that Cr（VI） led to the change of SOD, CAT, and GPx activities at different concentrations, which revealed that： （1） The oxidative stress of SOD increased with the increase of Cr （VI） concentration. （2） With the increase of Cr （VI） concentrations, CAT activities for females increased at lower concentrations, but decreased at higher concentration range, which indicated that antioxidant system of O. chinensis was not influenced by the presence of Cr （VI）. A very similar response to Cr（VI） effect for males indicated that Cr（VI） concentrations were not high enough to damage O. chinensis in terms of CAT. （3） The GPx activity for females increased in all treatments, which revealed that the damage power of Cr（VI） was increased with the increase of Cr（Vi） concentrations in terms of GPx, but the effect was not so remarkable. There was not a consistent trend of GPx activities for males in all treatments of Cr（VI）. Cr（VI）-induced changes in antioxidant enzymes were different for SOD, CAT and GPx, of which the tendency was that activities generally changed with increase of concentrations of Cr（VI） suggesting SOD, CAT, and GPx could serve as indices of oxidative stress to some extent.     

Effects of temperature on population growth and intake of food by the army worm, Mythimna separata (Walker)

Population life tables of the army worm, Mythimna separata, were constructed and nutritional parameters of food for the larvae were examined at 5 temperatures from 16℃ to 32℃. The temperature suitable for growth and reproduction of the insect ranged from 20℃ to 28℃ with the optimum of 24℃. Their survivalship and fecundity were much poorer at 32℃ than at 16℃. Indices of population trend of the insect at these temperatures could well fitted with the parabolic curve which theoretically indicated that the population density would multiply by some 660 after one generation circle at the optimal temperature, 22.6℃, and it would decline at temperatures higher than 32.9℃ or lower than 12.3℃. Larval food intake and their AD tended to go up while their ECI and ECD to go down with a rise in temperature. These alterations in population size and feeding behavior caused by temperature would exert an important effect on their damage to crops.     

Pre- and post-hatch trophic egg production in the subsocial burrower bug, Canthophorus niveimarginatus (Heteroptera: Cydnidae)

In recent years, three terrestrial bugs, Adomerus triguttulus and Sehirus cinctus (Cydnidae) and the closely related Parastrachia japonensis (Parastrachiidae), have been the focus of several fascinating studies because of the remarkable, extensive parental care they were found to display. This care includes egg and nymph guarding, production of trophic eggs, unfertilized, low cost eggs that are used as food by newly hatched nymphs, and progressive provisioning of the host seed. In this study, we have investigated yet a third related Asian cydnid, Canthophorus niveimarginatus, with regard to the possible occurrence of some or all of these complex traits in order to assess how widespread these maternal investment patterns are in this group of insects and to better understand the implications of their manifestations from an evolutionary context. Manipulative experiments were carried out in the lab to determine whether females provision nests. Observational and egg removal studies were carried out to determine whether trophic eggs are produced, and, if they are, their possible impact on nymphal success. The findings revealed that C. niveimarginatus does, in fact, progressively provision young, and this species also displays all of the other behaviors associated with extended parental care in subsocial insects. Moreover, unlike the other two related species, which place trophic eggs on the surface of the original egg mass, C. niveimarginatus produces both pre- and post-hatch trophic eggs. Nymphs deprived of access to post-hatch trophic eggs had significantly lower body weight and survival rate than those that fed on them. To our knowledge, this is the first time the production of both pre- and post-hatch trophic eggs has been demonstrated in insects outside the Hymenoptera. In this paper, we qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrate the provisioning behavior and patterns of trophic egg production in C. niveimarginatus. When and how trophic eggs are produced and delivered to young should have important correlations with the ecological and life history constraints under which a species has evolved. Thus, we also discuss the possible ecological and life history factors that favor the evolution of post-hatch trophic eggs.     

六溴环十二烷(hexabromocyclododecane,HBCD)暴露对生长阶段文昌鱼的毒性及其几种重要酶活性的影响

以文昌鱼为研究对象,研究了在六溴环十二烷暴露下对文昌鱼造成的机体氧化损伤.通过检测相关酶活变化情况,如酸性磷酸酶(ACP)、碱性磷酸酶(AKP)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD),从而确定低剂量长期暴露HBCD对文昌鱼鱼体产生氧化损伤效应的机制.急性毒性实验结果表明,文昌鱼暴露于六溴环十二烷饱和溶液(8....     

联苯胺对锦鲤肝脏酶活性的影响

以锦鲤(Cyprinus carprio)为试验生物,经不同浓度(6.0,3.0,2.0,1.2,0.6mg/L)联苯胺暴露14d,研究其对肝脏谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px),过氧化氢酶(CAT),超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)以及谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性的影响.结果表明,锦鲤经联苯胺暴露,肝脏GSH-Px活性几乎持续受抑制;暴露第4d出现CAT的诱导,但随着暴露的延续,在第7,14d出现酶活性抑制;对SOD的影响多表现为诱导作用,但在高浓度(6.0,3.0mg/L)暴露第14d则出现酶活性抑制;对GST和GPT的影响一般表现为在低浓度暴露下的酶诱导,高浓度暴露下酶活性受抑制.GSH-Px对联苯胺暴露最为敏感,有可能成为评价水环境联苯胺污染的生物标志物.     

Effects of temperature on population growth and intake of food by the army worm, Mythimna separata (Walker)

Population life tables of the army worm, Mythimna separata, were constructed and nutritional parameters of food for the larvae were examined at 5 temperatures from 16℃ to 32℃. The temperature suitable for growth and reproduction of the insect ranged from 20℃ to 28℃ with the optimum of 24℃. Their survivalship and fecundity were much poorer at 32℃ than at 16℃. Indices of population trend of the insect at these temperatures could well fitted with the parabolic curve which theoretically indicated that the population density would multiply by some 660 after one generation circle at the optimal temperature, 22.6℃, and it would decline at temperatures higher than 32.9℃ or lower than 12.3℃. Larval food intake and their AD tended to go up while their ECI and ECD to go down with a rise in temperature. These alterations in population size and feeding behavior caused by temperature would exert an important effect on their damage to crops.     

饲料添加剂叔丁基对羟基茴香醚和抗生素诺氟沙星对剑尾鱼的毒性效应

研究了叔丁基对羟基茴香醚(butylated hydroxyanisole,BHA)和诺氟沙星(norfloxacin,NFLX)对剑尾鱼的急性毒性及其肝脏谷胱甘肽硫转移酶(GST)、丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)及7-乙氧基异吩恶唑酮-脱乙基酶(EROD)活性的影响.结果表明,BHA和NFLX对剑尾鱼毒性大小分别属于高毒和低毒.BHA的暴露浓度为0.20mg.L-1和0.04mg.L-1时,GST和CAT活性诱导分别达到最大值;NFLX的暴露浓度为5mg.L-1时,GST和CAT均受到最大程度的诱导.随着BHA和NFLX暴露浓度的增加,GST和CAT呈现出先诱导后抑制的典型钟型曲线变化规律,而MDA含量和EROD活性则逐渐增加.其中,MDA和EROD响应较为敏感,适合作为BHA和NFLX暴露的生物标记物.雌雄个体酶响应的敏感程度存在一定的差异,雄性个体比雌性个体敏感.     

超导强磁场对小麦抗氧化酶的诱导表达

研究了7T超导稳态强磁场在不同处理时间条件下对小麦幼苗的抗氧化系统(SOD、CAT活性和MDA含量)的影响,并对不同金属辅基SOD酶的诱导表达模式进行了探讨.结果表明,强磁场诱导了T-SOD活性和CAT酶活性的提高,在峰值之前SOD和CAT的活性随着剂量的增大逐渐提高,但随着强度的增加和处理时间的延长,酶活激活作用会有所下降.低剂量下,T-SOD活性的提高来自于CuZn-SOD的活性的提高,中、高剂量下,主要诱导Mn-SOD的活性提高.低场强和短时间的磁场处理能使MDA的含量降低,但随着处理时间的延长和磁场强度的增加,MDA含量逐渐升高.各种酶在不同的处理条件下,其酶活的变化峰值处于3~5T之间.     

False elevation of amniotic fluid enzymes of relevance for prenatal diagnosis: Creatine kinase measurement in relation to duchenne muscular dystrophy

The creatine kinase activity of amniotic fluid was measured in samples collected at fetoscopy. In our first study, the control sample range was 0-25 IU/1, although four samples had activities of 35–85 IU/1. Elevated values did not correlate with the activities in the fetal or maternal circulations. Electrophoresis revealed the presence of the BB isozyme of creatine kinase rather than just the MM form as expected. This suggested that the source of the elevated enzyme activity was from the myometrium, damaged by insertion of the trocar and cannula. In a further series the first 2 ml of amniotic fluid withdrawn yielded a much higher creatine kinase activity than a second aliquot. A control series of such second samples (first 2 ml discarded) gave an activity range of 0–7 IU/1 with no spuriously high values. This compares favourably with a series from single samplings taken by amniocentesis. Normal creatine kinase activities were found in the amniotic fluids from 20 pregnancies at risk for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We conclude that for accurate measurement of amniotic fluid enzyme activity the first portion withdrawn should be discarded. Amniotic fluid creatine kinase activity is of no value for the prenatal diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.     

上海市大气中PM10浓度的统计分析

以上海市2002年-2009年的PM10实测数据和同步气象资料为研究对象进行上海市PM10污染分析研究。对2002年-2009年的监测数据进行分析、归纳,得到了上海市可吸入颗粒物(PM10)浓度的季节变化规律、每日小时变化规律以及上海市不同地区可吸入颗粒物(PM10)浓度的分布特征,并对这种特征及变化规律进行了详尽地分析。研究表明上海市空气环境质量在逐年好转,其标志是累计超标污染天数每年减少5天;在一年当中,污染天数最多的是冬季,其次是春季,最少的是夏季;在空气环境质量逐年好转的大趋势下,针对其产生的原因进行了分析。     

Dental microwear in relation to changes in the direction of mastication during the evolution of Myodonta (Rodentia,Mammalia)

Observations of dental microwear are used to analyse the correlation between changes in molar tooth crown morphology and the direction of masticatory movement during the evolution of Myodonta (Rodentia, Mammalia). The studied sample includes 36 specimens representing both superfamilies of Myodonta (Muroidea and Dipodoidea) spanning 16 dipodoid and 9 muroid species. Microscopic scratches on occlusal surfaces resulting from contact between opposite teeth during mastication are analysed. Using these features, we determine the direction of masticatory movements. Microwear patterns display diverse orientations among Dipodoidea: oblique in Sicistinae, Euchoreutinae and Zapodinae, propalinal in Dipodinae and intermediary in Allactaginae. Similarly, Muroidea exhibit the following orientations: oblique in Cricetinae and propalinal in Arvicolinae, Cricetomyinae, Gerbillinae and Murinae. These various chewing types illustrate different evolutionary grades within the superfamilies. Acquisition of the antero-posterior masticatory movement in Dipodoidea is related to flattening of the molar occlusal surface. However, in some muroid subfamilies, this direction of mastication is associated with low-crowned and cuspidate molars (Cricetomyinae, Murinae).     

土壤中稀土元素的含量和分布

利用仪器中子活化分析方法(INAA)对我国一些典型地区的364个表层土壤样品中La、Ce、Nd、Sm、Eu、Tb、Yb和Lu等八个稀土元素进行了测定.文中报告了各地区及所研究的全部土壤中稀土元素的平均含量和分布特征.     

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by fungal enzymes: A review

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large group of chemicals. They represent an important concern due to their widespread distribution in the environment, their resistance to biodegradation, their potential to bioaccumulate and their harmful effects. Several pilot treatments have been implemented to prevent economic consequences and deterioration of soil and water quality. As a promising option, fungal enzymes are regarded as a powerful choice for degradation of PAHs. Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus and Bjerkandera adusta are most commonly used for the degradation of such compounds due to their production of ligninolytic enzymes such as lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase. The rate of biodegradation depends on many culture conditions, such as temperature, oxygen, accessibility of nutrients and agitated or shallow culture. Moreover, the addition of biosurfactants can strongly modify the enzyme activity. The removal of PAHs is dependent on the ionization potential. The study of the kinetics is not completely comprehended, and it becomes morem hallenging when fungi are applied for bioremediation. Degradation studies in soil are much more complicated than liquid cultures because of the heterogeneity of soil, thus, many factors should be considered when studying soil bioremediation, such as desorption and bioavailability of PAHs. Different degradation pathways can be suggested. The peroxidases are heme-containing enzymes having common catalytic cycles. One molecule of hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the resting enzyme withdrawing two electrons. Subsequently, the peroxidase is reduced back in two steps of one electron oxidation. Laccases are copper-containing oxidases. They reduce molecular oxygen to water and oxidize phenolic compounds.