Precision of a Mammalian Circadian Clock

 This paper reports study of day-to-day instability in the locomotor activity rhythm of the nocturnal field mouse Mus booduga. The free-running period (τ) of this rhythm was estimated in constant darkness in n=347 adult male mice. The "onset" and "offset" of locomotor activity rhythm were used as phase markers of the circadian clock. The precision of the onset of locomotor activity was observed to be a non-linear function of τ, with maximal precision at τ close to 24 h. The precision of the offset of locomotor activity was found to increase with increasing τ. These results suggest that the homeostasis of τ is tighter when τ is close to 24 h. Received: 5 May 1998 / Accepted: 11 February 1999     

Locomotor activity rhythm in Drosophila melanogaster after 600 generations in an aperiodic environment

The locomotor activity rhythm of flies from four populations of Drosophila melanogaster, maintained under constant light for more than 600 generations, was recorded in continuous light (LL) and continuous darkness (DD) using four different protocols. The main objective behind these experiments was to estimate the proportion of flies exhibiting circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in LL, and to investigate whether this could be increased by subjecting the flies to various light regimes. About 26% of the flies exhibited a circadian rhythm of locomotor activity in LL, and the proportion increased to about 48% after an exposure to 12 h of darkness. About 77% of the flies exhibited a circadian locomotor activity rhythm in DD. Persistence of circadian locomotor activity rhythm in a considerable proportion of these flies suggests an intrinsic adaptive value to possessing circadian rhythmicity, derived, perhaps, from the need to synchronise various processes within the organism.     

Diel periodicity of pheromone release by females of Planococcus citri and Planococcus ficus and the temporal flight activity of their conspecific males

The diel periodicity of sex pheromone release was monitored in two mealybug species, Planococcus citri and Planococcus ficus (Hemiptera; Pseudococcidae), using sequential SPME/GCMS analysis. A maximal release of 2 ng/h pheromone by 9–12-day-old P. citri females occurred 1–2 h before the beginning of photophase. The highest release of pheromone by P. ficus females was 1–2 ng/2 h of 10–20-day-old females, approximately 2 h after the beginning of photophase. Mating resulted in termination of the pheromone release in both mealybug species. The temporal flight activity of the males was monitored in rearing chambers using pheromone baited delta traps. Males of both P. citri and P. ficus displayed the same flight pattern and began flying at 06:00 hours when the light was turned on, reaching a peak during the first and second hour of the photophase. Our results suggest that other biparental mealybug species display also diel periodicities of maximal pheromone release and response. Direct evaluation of the diel periodicity of the pheromone release by the automatic sequential analysis is convenient and will be very helpful in optimizing the airborne collection and identification of other unknown mealybug pheromones and to study the calling behavior of females. Considering this behavior pattern may help to develop more effective pheromone-based management strategies against mealybugs.     

<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-5-hydroxytryptophan resets the circadian locomotor activity rhythm of the nocturnal Indian pygmy field mouse, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mus terricolor</Emphasis>

We report that l-5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP), a serotonin precursor, resets the overt circadian rhythm in the Indian pygmy field mouse, Mus terricolor, in a phase- and dose-dependent manner. We used wheel running to assess phase shifts in the free-running locomotor activity rhythm. Following entrainment to a 12:12 h light–dark cycle, 5-HTP (100 mg/kg in saline) was intraperitoneally administered in complete darkness at circadian time (CT)s 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21, and the ensuing phase shifts in the locomotor activity rhythm were calculated. The results show that 5-HTP differentially shifts the phase of the rhythm, causing phase advances from CT 0 to CT 12 and phase delays from CT 12 to CT 21. Maximum advance phase shift was at CT 6 (1.18 ± 0.37 h) and maximum delay was at CT 18 (−2.36 ± 0.56 h). No extended dead zone is apparent. Vehicle (saline) at any CT did not evoke a significant phase shift. Investigations with different doses (10, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) of 5-HTP revealed that the phase resetting effect is dose-dependent. The shape of the phase–response curve (PRC) has a strong similarity to PRCs obtained using some serotonergic agents. There was no significant increase in wheel-running activity after 5-HTP injection, ruling out behavioral arousal-dependent shifts. This suggests that this phase resetting does not completely depend on feedback of the overt rhythmic behavior on the circadian clock. A mechanistic explanation of these shifts is currently lacking.     

Circadian consequences of social organization in the ant species<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Camponotus compressus</Emphasis>

The locomotor activity rhythm of different castes of the ant species Camponotus compressus was monitored individually under laboratory light/dark (LD) cycles, and under continuous darkness (DD). The colony of this ant species comprises two sexual castes, the queens and the males, and three worker castes, namely the major, media, and minor workers. The virgin males and virgin queens display rhythmic activity patterns, but the mated queens were arrhythmic while laying eggs, with the rhythmicity resuming soon after egg-laying. Under the LD regime, major workers showed nocturnal patterns, while about 75% of the media workers displayed nocturnal patterns and about 25% showed diurnal patterns. Under the DD regime, most major workers exhibited circadian rhythm of activity with a single steady state, whereas media workers displayed two types of activity patterns, with activity patterns changing after 6–9 days in DD (turn-arounds). The pre-turn-around of the ants that showed nocturnal activity patterns during LD entrainment was <24 h after release into DD, which then became >24 h, after 6–9 days. On the other hand, the pre-turn-around of those ants that exhibited diurnal patterns during LD entrainment was first >24 h after release into DD, and then became <24 h, after 6–9 days. The activity of the minor workers neither entrained to LD cycles nor showed any sign of free-run in DD. It appears that the circadian clocks of the ant species C. compressus are flexible, and may perhaps depend upon the tasks assigned to them in the colony.     

Clocks for sex: loss of circadian rhythms in ants after mating?

This paper describes experiments on the locomotor activity rhythm of queens of the ant species Camponotus compressus, which were performed to investigate the consequences of mating on circadian clocks. Locomotor activity rhythm of virgin and mated queens was monitored individually under constant conditions of the laboratory. The locomotor activity rhythm of virgin queens entrained to a 24 h (12:12 h) laboratory light/dark (LD) cycle and free-ran under constant dim red light (RR) with a free-running period () of approximately 24 h. The locomotor activity of the mated queens on the other hand was arrhythmic during the period when they were laying eggs, and robust rhythmicity appeared soon after the egg-laying phase was over. The of the locomotor activity rhythm of mated queens was significantly greater than that of virgin queens. These results are contrary to the commonly held belief that the role of circadian clocks in ant queens ceases after mating flights, thus suggesting that circadian clocks of ant queens are adaptively plastic and display activity patterns, perhaps depending on their physiological state and tasks in the colony.     

Pinealectomy shortens resynchronisation times of house sparrow (Passer domesticus) circadian rhythms

In many birds periodic melatonin secretion by the pineal organ is essential for the high-amplitude self-sustained output of the circadian pacemaker, and thus for the persistence of rhythmicity in 24 h oscillations controlled by it. The elimination of the pineal melatonin rhythm, or a reduction of its amplitude, renders the circadian pacemaker a less self-sustained, often highly damped, oscillatory system. A reduction in the degree of self-sustainment of a rhythm should not only increase its range of entrainment but also shorten the resynchronization times following phase-shifts of the zeitgeber. This hypothesis has not yet been directly tested. We therefore carried out the present study in which house sparrows (Passer domesticus) were subjected to both 6-h advance and 6-h delay phase-shifts of the light–dark cycle before and after the pinealectomy, and the rhythms in locomotion and feeding were recorded. The results indicate that following the delay, but not the advance, phase shift, resynchronization times were significantly shorter after pinealectomy. The dependence of resynchronization times on the presence or absence of the pineal organ is not only of theoretical interest but might also be of functional significance in the natural life of birds. A reduction or elimination of the amplitude of the melatonin secretion rhythm by the pineal organ might be responsible for faster adjustment to changes in zeitgeber conditions in nature. Professor Dr E. Gwinner died on 07 September 2004.     

Mutations for activity level in Drosophila jambulina perturbed its pacemaker that controls circadian eclosion rhythm

Mutations for activity level, designated hpa and hra, in Drosophila jambulina altered properties of the pacemaker controlling eclosion rhythm. Entrainment of eclosion rhythm was studied in light-dark (LD) cycles of 12:12 h at 28°C. The wild type strain entrained to LD cycles but the hpa or hra strain did not. When these strains were released from constant light (LL) to constant darkness (DD), the wild type strain free-ran while other two strains were arrhythmic. Temperature cycles entrained the wild type and hpa strain in DD and LL, and when transferred to constant temperature following thermoperiodic entrainment, the wild type strain free-ran in DD, while the hpa strain free-ran in LL as if the input of LL was essential for its free-running state. Temperature cycles entrained the hra strain in DD but not in LL, and free-running rhythmicities were never established, suggesting that the hra mutation has altered the basic properties of its pacemaker.     

Chronotype differences in Drosophila are enhanced by semi-natural conditions

Morning and evening chronotypes of sleep/wake cycles in humans are often metaphorically termed as ‘larks’ and ‘owls’. We derived Drosophila populations early and late, displaying lark- and owl-like emergence chronotypes by imposing selection for adult emergence during morning and evening hours. Preference for morning and evening emergence in these populations was accompanied by divergence in their circadian period (τ) and photic phase response curve. To test if lark- and owl-like emergence chronotypes displayed by these flies under weak environmental cycles of the laboratory would also persist in nature where several zeitgebers are present in the strongest form, we examined the emergence rhythm of early and late flies under semi-natural conditions. The early and late flies not only continued to exhibit divergent emergence waveforms under semi-natural conditions, the differences became even more prominent. However, phases of early and late emergence waveforms did not match natural morning and evening transitions, unlike that observed under laboratory conditions. These results thus provide evidence consistent with the notion that chronotypes are the result of interactions between circadian clocks and natural environmental cycles.     

混合胁迫条件下蓝藻运动特性研究

为了探究混合控藻技术对蓝藻运动分布特性的影响,实验测定了太湖蓝藻在不同光照度、温度、压力等条件下的上浮/下沉速度.蓝藻在1 500~6 000 lx光照度范围内均表现出很强的上浮性能,光照度大于1 500 lx时,上浮速度大于0.8cm·min-1的藻颗粒占58%;当光照度小于1 500 lx或大于6 000 lx时上浮速度将减弱.在8~25℃环境下,蓝藻呈上浮运动,且随着温度的升高,上浮速度增加.在0~0.1 MPa压强条件下蓝藻上浮,且随着压强的增加上浮速度减慢;当压强达到0.2~0.3 MPa时大部分蓝藻悬浮于水中,只有少部分上浮或下沉;当压强达到0.4~0.6 MPa时,蓝藻明显下沉,且随着压强的增加下沉速度增大,0.6 MPa压强下,下沉速度大于1.0 cm·min-1的藻颗粒占52.5%.当外界压力超过藻细胞气囊所能承受的范围,气囊开始破裂,藻细胞的浮力变小直至小于其重力,导致藻颗粒下沉.常压下,藻颗粒粒径越大,上浮速度越快,密度越小;高压下,藻颗粒粒径越大,下沉速度越快,密度越大.     

横坡与顺坡垄作径流氮磷输出及其富营养化风险对比研究

以沂蒙山区典型的坡耕地为例,通过2种雨强(40 mm·h-1和70 mm·h-1)下的野外原位模拟降雨试验,分析了横坡与顺坡垄作地表径流溶解态无机氮Inorganic-N(NO3--N、NH4+-N)以及溶解态磷(DP)的输出特征,并利用Inorganic-N/DP、NO3--N/DP和NH4+-N/DP等3种氮磷比对...     

温州城市降雨径流磷的负荷及其初始冲刷效应

监测了温州2个采样区5场较为典型的降雨过程,测定了不同下垫面径流pH值以及总磷(TP)、溶解态磷(DP)、颗粒态磷(PP)、总无机碳(TIC)、总有机碳(TOC)、总悬浮颗粒(TSS)、BOD5、COD的含量.结果表明,温州城市降雨径流中TP、DP以及PP含量分别介于0.01～4.32 mg.L-1、ND～0.88 mg.L-1以及ND～4.31 mg.L-1之间,径流初期阶段PP占绝对主导地位,而在整个径流过程的中后期,大部分降雨径流中DP占TP的比重呈现出一个上升的趋势,屋面径流和汇流口径流这一情况尤其明显.从TP和DP的EMC值来判断,有些城市降雨径流会对下级受纳水体造成环境压力.同时,不同城市降雨径流中TP以及DP含量之间的差异显著,而不同的降雨条件也会影响降雨径流中磷的含量.根据M(V)累积曲线判断,TP初期冲刷效应在城市降雨径流中是较为普遍的;与TP相比,城市降雨径流中的DP比较难发生初始冲刷的情况.城市降雨径流中总磷的含量不但受下垫面类型的影响,而且与径流各种理化指标之间呈现出显著的相关关系.所有结果皆指出针对不同下垫面径流磷污染的治理工作应采用不同的最佳管理方案(BMPs),而降低径流TSS含量是削减其磷负荷的有效途径之一.     

Torpor and activity in a free-ranging tropical bat: implications for the distribution and conservation of mammals?

Bats are most diverse in the tropics, but there are no quantitative data on torpor use for energy conservation by any tropical bat in the wild. We examined the thermal biology, activity patterns and torpor use of two tree-roosting long-eared bats (Nyctophilus geoffroyi, 7.8?g) in tropical northern Australia in winter using temperature telemetry. Bats commenced activity about 20?min after sunset, ended activity about 2.5?h before sunrise and entered torpor everyday in the early morning even when minimum ambient temperatures (T _a) were as high as 23°C. On average, bats remained torpid for almost 5?h, mean minimum skin temperature (T _skin) measured was 22.8?±?0.1°C and daily T _skin minima were correlated with T _a. Our study shows that even in the tropics, torpor is frequently employed by bats, suggesting that worldwide most bat species are heterothermic and use torpor for energy conservation. We propose that the ability of employing torpor and the resulting highly plastic energy requirements may partially explain why these small insectivorous bats can inhabit almost the entire Australian continent despite vastly different climatic and likely trophic conditions. Reduced energy requirements also may permit survival in degraded or modified habitats, reduce the need for foraging and reduce exposure to predators. Thus, the ability to employ torpor may be one important reason for why most Australian bats and other heterothermic mammals have not gone extinct whereas many obligatory homeothermic mammals that cannot employ torpor and have high energy and foraging requirements have suffered high rates of extinctions.     

A novel function for the pineal organ in the control of swim depth in the Atlantic halibut larva

The pineal organ of vertebrates is a photo-sensitive structure that conveys photoperiod information to the brain. This information influences circadian rhythm and related metabolic processes such as thermoregulation, hatching time, body growth, and the timing of reproduction. This study demonstrates extra-ocular light responses that control swim depth in the larva of the Atlantic halibut, Hyppoglosus hyppoglosus. Young larvae without a functional eye (<29 days) swim upwards after an average delay of 5 s following the onset of a downwelling light stimulus, but sink downwards a few seconds later. Older larvae (₉ days), which possess a functional eye, swim immediately downwards (microsecond delay) following the onset of the light stimulus, but proceed to swim upwards several seconds later. These two response patterns are thus opposite in polarity and have different time kinetics. Because the pineal organ of the Atlantic halibut develops during the embryonic stage, and because it is the only centre in the brain that expresses functional visual pigments (opsins) at early larval stages, it is the only photosensory organ capable of generating the extra-ocular responses observed.     

When attempts at robbing prey turn fatal

Because group-hunting arboreal ants spread-eagle insect prey for a long time before retrieving them, these prey can be coveted by predatory flying insects. Yet, attempting to rob these prey is risky if the ant species is also an effective predator. Here, we show that trying to rob prey from Azteca andreae workers is a fatal error as 268 out of 276 potential cleptobionts (97.1?%) were captured in turn. The ant workers hunt in a group and use the “Velcro?” principle to cling firmly to the leaves of their host tree, permitting them to capture very large prey. Exceptions were one social wasp, plus some Trigona spp. workers and flies that landed directly on the prey and were able to take off immediately when attacked. We conclude that in this situation, previously captured prey attract potential cleptobionts that are captured in turn in most of the cases.     

青海省西宁市与天峻县大气中得克隆与十溴联苯醚的水平与来源

十溴联苯醚(BDE-209)与得克隆(DP)是两种常见的添加型卤代阻燃剂,被广泛应用于各种电子产品中.由于其普遍存在于多种环境介质中,现已成为一种广泛存在的污染物,可能会对人体及生态系统产生潜在的危害.本研究测定了青海省西宁市与海西蒙古族藏族自治州天峻县夏、冬两季大气中BDE-209与DP的水平.结果表明,青海省西宁市夏、冬两季大气中BDE-209的平均水平分别为370 pg·m-3、470 pg·m-3,天峻县为220 pg·m-3、390 pg·m-3,与其他城市和地区相比,属于水平较高的地区.而西宁市大气中DP的平均水平为0.85 pg·m-3、0.25 pg·m-3,天峻县为0.24 pg·m-3、0.16 pg·m-3,西宁市水平高于天峻县,夏季水平高于冬季,与其他地区相比,青海省DP整体水平较低.西宁市与天峻县DP的同分异构体中,anti-DP所占比例分别是0.66±0.04与0.68±0.06,在时间与时空上的变化均不明显.青海省BDE-209与DP呈现弱的负相关性,说明两种污染物在青海省可能没有相同的本地源.     

广州城市污泥燃烧性能综合评价及其燃烧动力学模型

采集了广州5种不同来源城市污泥(分别为KFQ、DTS、LJ、LD和ZZ)及肇庆市1种污水污泥(ZQ),利用热重法对6种干污泥的单一样及两种干污泥的混合样在不同条件下进行了热重实验研究,并通过TG-DTG曲线计算了污泥燃烧的4个综合燃烧指数.研究发现,广州当前城市污泥具有高挥发分、低固定碳和低热值的特点.整个污泥燃烧可以分为水分析出、挥发分析出、挥发分燃烧和焦炭燃烧4个阶段,并且不同来源污泥这4个燃烧阶段差别较大,其中,挥发分的析出和燃烧制约着污泥的整个燃烧过程.不同来源污泥的燃烧性能与污水处理厂水处理工艺、污泥种类及其理化性质有关.从挥发分释放特性指数D、可燃性指数C、综合燃烧特性指数S来看,6种污泥中,LJ污泥燃烧性能最好,而LD污泥的燃烧性能最差.KFQ与ZZ污泥混合后,除D指数外,其他指数都变小,而升温速率过快,并不能显著提高污泥的综合燃烧性能.采用积分法(Coats-Redfern方程)计算得到各燃烧阶段的反应的机理方程及相应的活化能参数,发现活化能大小与污泥的燃烧阶段是相对应的.     

Highly sensitive flow-biosensor for toxic phenolic compounds using tyrosinase and acridine orange-adsorbed carbon felt

Tyrosinase (TYR, EC 1.14.18.1) was physically adsorbed onto a carbon felt (CF) together with acridine orange (AO). Coadsorption of AO was essential to prevent the denaturation of the TYR at the CF surface. The resulting TYR and AO-coadsorbed CF (TYR/AO-CF) was successfully utilized as a detection unit of novel and highly sensitive amperometric flow-biosensor for toxic chlorophenol compounds. Standard solutions of phenolic compounds (200 μL) were injected, and the cathodic peak currents due to the reduction current of o-quinones produced by the TYR-catalyzed oxidation (phenolase activity) were detected at the applied potential of ?50 mV vs. Ag/AgCl. In this reaction, the electrochemically generated catechol compounds from o-quinones are re-oxidized repeatedly by catecholase activity of the TYR, leading to a sufficient amplified signal. The TYR/AO-CF exhibited much higher selectivity toward p-chlorophenol as compared with other chlorophenol compounds. When 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) was used as a carrier at flow rate of 3.0 mL/min, cathodic peaks for p-chlorophenol was linear in the concentration range between 0.1 and 10 [xmol/L (sensitivity: 1.41(mA-L)/mmol) with sampling rate (30 samples/h), and the detection limit ofp-chlorophenol was found to be 2.13 ? 10⁸ mol/L (S/N = 3. The ratio of signal and noise is 3). The TYR/AO-CF kept more than 80% of original activity after the storage in 0.1 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.0) containing 0.2 mmol/L AO at 4°C.     

紫外活化过硫酸盐降解二苯甲酮-4的动力学影响及降解机理与风险评价

活化PS（过硫酸盐）氧化工艺对于降解水中新兴微污染物具有潜在应用价值.为研究活化PS体系对BPs（二苯甲酮类）有机防晒剂的降解性能,以BP4（二苯甲酮-4）为研究对象,采用UV/PS（紫外活化过硫酸盐）工艺降解BP4,比较单一UV、单一PS和UV/PS 3种工艺对BP4的去除效果,考察各因素对UV/PS工艺去除BP4动力学的影响,同时探究BP4降解机理并进行风险评价.结果表明:BP4降解过程符合准一级反应动力学模型;最佳PS投加量为1.0 mmol/L,反应30 min后BP4去除率可达94%,增加PS投加量或降低初始c（BP4）均可促进BP4降解,无机阴离子（HCO₃-和Cl-）对BP4降解均有抑制作用,酸性条件有利于BP4降解;基于HPLC-MS/MS鉴定出8种中间产物,并提出降解路径,费氏弧菌毒性试验和ECOSAR v1.10软件预测表明,UV/PS工艺降解BP4过程中生成的中间产物比母物质毒性更高.研究显示,UV/PS工艺可有效去除BP4,但其中间产物可能会造成潜在的生态风险,后续需进一步深入研究.      

Assessing audit impact and thoroughness of VCS forest carbon offset projects

Voluntary markets transacted over $66 million USD of forest carbon offsets in 2016, according to Forest Trends, and over 99% of those offset projects were audited to a standard, primarily the Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). We provide a table characterizing all 70 validated and verified forest carbon projects employing the VCS version 3.0 currently-in-use (December 2011–July 2017). We also examine two separate aspects of the audit process––impact and thoroughness––to assess the effectiveness of the costly audit process, which can consume up to one-third of offset revenue. Audit impact we measure in terms of reduction in the number of offsets from ex ante estimated to ex post approved. Audit thoroughness we measure both directly in terms of the number of auditor hours worked per project and also indirectly in terms of the total number of Corrective Action Requests (CARs)/Non-Conformity Reports (NCRs) auditors prescribe. In terms of impact, we find that Afforestation/Reforestation/Restoration (A/R/R) and Improved Forest Management (IFM) projects, though only constituting 5% of total verified offsets, demonstrate significant (p < = 0.05) reductions from ex ante estimated to ex post approved offsets, likely because auditors can easily scrutinize carbon stocks/emission factors for the commercial tree species involved in these project types. In terms of thoroughness, we find that higher ex ante estimates correlate with more total auditor hours worked and total CARs/NCRs prescribed for three of four project activity types, likely because auditors perceive larger ex ante projects as higher risk. We conclude with recommendations for the VCS to empower auditors to scrutinize carbon stocks/emissions factors from avoided deforestation projects, and also to continue to flag high ex ante projects as higher risk.