Recruits of the stingless bee Scaptotrigona pectoralis learn food odors from the nest atmosphere

The ability to learn food odors inside the nest and to associate them with food sources in the field is of essential importance for the recruitment of nestmates in social bees. We investigated odor learning by workers within the hive and the influence of these odors on their food choice in the field in the stingless bee Scaptotrigona pectoralis. During the experiments, recruited bees had to choose between two feeders, one with an odor that was present inside the nest during the recruitment process, and one with an unknown odor. In all experiments with different odor combinations (linalool/phenylacetaldehyde, geraniol/eugenol) a significant majority of bees visited the feeder with the odor they had experienced in their nest (χ ²-tests; p?<?0.05). By contrast, the bees showed no preference for one of two feeders when they were either baited with the same odor (linalool) or contained no odor. Our results clearly show that naïve workers of S. pectoralis can learn the odor of a food source during the recruitment process from the nest atmosphere and that their subsequent food search in the field is influenced by the learned odor.     

Moth pheromone binding proteins contribute to the excitation of olfactory receptor cells

Pheromone binding proteins (PBPs) occur in high concentrations in the sensillum lymph surrounding the sensory dendrites of moth pheromone-sensitive sensilla. They were shown to transport the lipophilic odorants through the aqueous sensillum lymph to the receptor cells. The sensilla trichodea of the silkmoth Antheraea polyphemus are supplied with three types of receptor cells responding specifically to three pheromone components. The sensillum lymph of these sensilla contains three different types of PBPs. In this study, recombinant PBPs in various combinations with pheromone components were applied to the receptor cells via tip-opened sensilla during electrophysiological recordings. The responses of receptor cells were shown to depend on both the pheromone component and the PBP. Pheromone components artificially bound to particular PBPs elicited nerve impulses in receptor cell types which they do not activate under natural conditions. This is the first electrophysiological study to suggest that the PBPs contribute to the activation of receptor molecules.     

Intraspecific competition and high food availability are associated with insular gigantism in a lizard

Resource availability, competition, and predation commonly drive body size evolution. We assess the impact of high food availability and the consequent increased intraspecific competition, as expressed by tail injuries and cannibalism, on body size in Skyros wall lizards (Podarcis gaigeae). Lizard populations on islets surrounding Skyros (Aegean Sea) all have fewer predators and competitors than on Skyros but differ in the numbers of nesting seabirds. We predicted the following: (1) the presence of breeding seabirds (providing nutrients) will increase lizard population densities; (2) dense lizard populations will experience stronger intraspecific competition; and (3) such aggression, will be associated with larger average body size. We found a positive correlation between seabird and lizard densities. Cannibalism and tail injuries were considerably higher in dense populations. Increases in cannibalism and tail loss were associated with large body sizes. Adult cannibalism on juveniles may select for rapid growth, fuelled by high food abundance, setting thus the stage for the evolution of gigantism.     

广东省食品中的氯丙醇酯水平及其人体暴露评估

氯丙醇酯是氯丙醇与脂肪酸反应的一类污染物,该文旨在通过评估食品中的此类污染物对不同人群进行暴露风险评估.在广东省的3个地区采集了包括油条、方便面饼和麻花在内的食品样品,用GC-MS测定了4种氯丙醇酯类化合物,其中主要为2-MCPD酯和3-MCPD酯.氯丙醇酯浓度最高的为麻花,其次为方便面饼和油条.样品中3-MCPD酯和2-MCPD酯的浓度范围分别为n.d.~0.49 mg·kg~(-1)和n.d.~0.64 mg·kg~(-1).不同样品中2-MCPD酯的浓度均大于3-MCPD酯.对各个年龄的人群暴露评估的结果表明,3~9岁儿童的3-MCPD酯的暴露大于耐受量(TDI)0.8μg·kg-1·d-1,青年与成年组均小于每日最大耐受量(PMTDI)2μg·kg-1·d-1.本研究中的食品样本,对于儿童的暴露均存在健康风险,所以应该减少对油炸食品的摄入量以降低氯丙醇酯对儿童造成的健康风险.     

Aversive odorant causing appetite decrease downregulates tyrosine decarboxylase gene expression in the olfactory receptor neuron of the blowfly, Phormia regina

In the blowfly Phormia regina, exposure to d-limonene for 5 days during feeding inhibits proboscis extension reflex behavior due to decreasing tyramine (TA) titer in the brain. TA is synthesized by tyrosine decarboxylase (Tdc) and catalyzed into octopamine (OA) by TA ?-hydroxylase (Tbh). To address the mechanisms of TA titer regulation in the blowfly, we cloned Tdc and Tbh cDNAs from P. regina (PregTdc and PregTbh). The deduced amino acid sequences of both proteins showed high identity to those of the corresponding proteins from Drosophila melanogaster at the amino acid level. PregTdc was expressed in the antenna, labellum, and tarsus whereas PregTbh was expressed in the head, indicating that TA is mainly synthesized in the sensory organs whereas OA is primarily synthesized in the brain. d-Limonene exposure significantly decreased PregTdc expression in the antenna but not in the labellum and the tarsus, indicating that PregTdc expressed in the antenna is responsible for decreasing TA titer. PregTdc-like immunoreactive material was localized in the thin-walled sensillum. In contrast, the OA/TA receptor (PregOAR/TAR) was localized to the thick-walled sensillum. The results indicated that d-limonene inhibits PregTdc expression in the olfactory receptor neurons in the thin-walled sensilla, likely resulting in reduced TA levels in the receptor neurons in the antenna. TA may be transferred from the receptor neuron to the specific synaptic junction in the antennal lobe of the brain through the projection neurons and play a role in conveying the aversive odorant information to the projection and local neurons.     

满足城市食物消费需求的农业生产碳排放研究——以宁波为例

食物消费相关的农业生产阶段的碳排放研究,对于探讨气候变化背景下可持续消费模式的选择和低碳农业技术与管理的提升具有重要意义.以宁波市为例,采用生命周期分析与环境投入产出相结合的综合分析框架,对其2012年居民所消费食物在农业生产阶段的直接和间接碳排放进行研究,分析不同食物及不同排放源的排放特征.结果表明,粮食、猪肉、水产品和牛肉对食物消费碳排放总量的贡献最大,分别占28%、25%、10%和9%;粮食、蔬菜和蛋类单位热量和单位蛋白质的碳排放均较小,禽、蛋、水产、鲜奶单位蛋白质的碳排放低于牛羊猪肉;由农业投入品生产所带来的间接碳排放占总量的49%;化肥是多数植物性食物碳排放最大的贡献源,占植物性食物排放总量的33%;饲料是大多动物性食物碳排放的最大来源,占动物性食物排放总量的56%.为促进食物消费和农业生产的碳减排,一方面建议适当增加蛋类、水产品、禽类和鲜奶的消费比重,减少猪牛羊肉的消费比重;另一方面应着重提高农业投入品供应链的能效,推广优化施肥技术与管理,以及提升饲料品质.     

具有特定拓扑结构的聚烯烃高分子的合成

具有特定拓扑结构的聚合物合成一直是高分子合成化学领域的一个重要研究内容,设计和合成具有特定拓扑结构的聚烯烃高分子更是进一步发掘聚烯烃这一量大面广的通用高分子材料的性能、开拓其新的应用领域的重要手段。在催化剂和聚合方法的研究取得重要进展的基础上,近年来国际上在合成不同拓扑结构（包括嵌段、接枝、梳型和星型）的聚烯烃高分子研究方面发展也较快,所合成的部分高分子亦显示出独特的功能性。本文首先综述不同拓扑结构聚烯烃高分子合成的研究现状,然后结合近期化学所在此领域的研究进展,提出独特的以苯乙烯封端反应性聚烯烃为模块构建拓扑结构聚烯烃的新思路。     

No evidence for visual context-dependency of olfactory learning in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Drosophila</Emphasis>

How is behaviour organised across sensory modalities? Specifically, we ask concerning the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster how visual context affects olfactory learning and recall and whether information about visual context is getting integrated into olfactory memory. We find that changing visual context between training and test does not deteriorate olfactory memory scores, suggesting that these olfactory memories can drive behaviour despite a mismatch of visual context between training and test. Rather, both the establishment and the recall of olfactory memory are generally facilitated by light. In a follow-up experiment, we find no evidence for learning about combinations of odours and visual context as predictors for reinforcement even after explicit training in a so-called biconditional discrimination task. Thus, a ‘true’ interaction between visual and olfactory modalities is not evident; instead, light seems to influence olfactory learning and recall unspecifically, for example by altering motor activity, alertness or olfactory acuity.     

气相色谱法测定气态苯系物的比对活动

依据活性炭吸附,二硫化碳解吸的采样分析程序,对国家环境保护总局样品研究所制备的苯系物混合气体进行采样、分析,各组分的测定结果均为满意。     

Rapid modification in the olfactory signal of ants following a change in reproductive status

In insect societies, the presence and condition of egg-layers can be assessed with pheromones. Exocrine secretions are expected to vary in time in order to give up-to-date information on an individuals reproductive physiology. In the queenless monogynous ant Streblognathus peetersi, we allowed a previously infertile high-ranking worker to accede to the alpha rank, thus triggering the onset of her oogenesis (15 replicates). We then studied her interactions with an established egg-layer from the same colony after different durations, ranging from 20 h to several days. Even though her eggs are only ready to be laid after 30 days, the new alpha was recognised within 1–2 days. Detection occurred at a distance of a few millimetres, suggesting the involvement of a pheromone with low volatility, such as cuticular hydrocarbons. When the new alpha had differentiated for >48 h, she was attacked by the established egg-layer. In all cases, low-ranking workers eventually immobilised one of the two alphas: the new alpha was the target if she had differentiated only recently, suggesting that police workers select the dominant worker with the less fertile odour. Using the behaviour of ants as our measure, we demonstrate that a dominants olfactory signal changes rapidly with a modification in her social status, and it occurs well before the onset of egg-laying.     

动物性食品中PCBs的生物有效性及人体日暴露评估

通过测定上海市售动物性食品中PCBs的浓度和生物有效性,评估该地区PCBs的人体日暴露量.结果表明,不同种类食品中PCBs的浓度在未检出~3734.3pg/g(湿重)之间,3~6氯PCBs为主要同系物.鱼类中PCBs浓度高于畜类、禽类和软体类.鱼类PCBs的浓度水平遵循以下两规律:海水鱼>淡水鱼;肉食性鱼>杂食性鱼>草食性鱼.采用模拟人体胃肠消化过程测得PCBs的生物有效性,由于食品中脂肪含量与PCBs的生物有效性具有显著的线性关系,故可用于计算样品中PCBs的生物有效性.该地区居民每天通过动物性食品摄入的PCBs量为24439.3pg/d,以PCBs的生物有效性计量为5034.5pg/d.对不同暴露源(包括灰尘和大气颗粒物)的分析表明,鱼类是PCBs人体暴露的主要贡献者,约占人体PCBs日暴露的60%.     

Orographic rainfall enhancement in the mountains of the Lake District and Snowdonia

A two-dimensional model of the seeder-feeder effect has been compared with rainfall data from a network of daily-read rain gauges located in the Lake District and the Snowdonian mountains. Two days in the winter of 1980, when persistent heavy orographic rainfall occurred, have been considered. The rain gauge data indicated that rainfall near the hill summits was enhanced by a factor of between 3.2 and 7.6. It was found that the model was capable of predicting accurately the areas of maximum rainfall but tended to underpredict the magnitude of the orographic rainfall enhancement. This was attributed to orographic effects on the seeding rainfall rates. Over certain topography three-dimensional airflow effects were thought to play an important role in determining the locations of the rainfall maxima. Using typical values for sulphate aerosol loading and the concentration of sulphate in seeding rain, the model predicted a greater deposition of sulphate over the hills accompanying the rainfall enhancement. Sulphate deposition was enhanced by a factor of approximately 4 relative to the coastal rates.     

论强化具体行政行为在环境刑法中的作用

中国目前存在着大量的环境犯罪行为,但对环境犯罪的追究力度不够。许多国家将违反环保部门决定的行为直接规定为犯罪,这种做法体现了环境刑法的行政从属性特征,有利于对环境犯罪行为的判断,可以强化环保部门的环境保护作用,对环境保护起到预防作用。中国应借鉴这些做法,在立法上加以明确的规定,并重视相关问题的研究。     

Prenatal analysis of the insulin receptor gene in a family with leprechaunism

We report on the prenatal diagnosis of a fetus at risk of leprechaunism. We had previously determined the nature of the causative mutation in the insulin receptor gene in this family. The mutation removes a restriction site for the enzyme Mbo II. Genomic DNA was extracted from a chorionic villus sample and the 3′ half of exon 2 was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction digest. Using this method, we correctly predicted an unaffected child.     

Prenatal analysis of the insulin receptor gene in a family with leprechaunism

Leprechaunism is an autosomal recessive disease characterized by intrauterine and postnatal growth restriction, loss of glucose homeostasis, and severe insulin resistance. This disease is caused by a failure of function of the insulin receptor and is lethal early in life. Here we report the prenatal diagnosis of leprechaunism in one consanguineous family, Atl-1, in which two homozygous-affected siblings died with leprechaunism. The mutation in their insulin receptor impaired insulin binding and altered receptor signalling. Prenatal diagnosis could not be accomplished using insulin binding to cultured amniocytes, but was possible using mutational analysis of the insulin receptor gene in DNA from amniotic cells.