The continuing conundrum of the LEA proteins

Research into late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins has been ongoing for more than 20 years but, although there is a strong association of LEA proteins with abiotic stress tolerance particularly dehydration and cold stress, for most of that time, their function has been entirely obscure. After their initial discovery in plant seeds, three major groups (numbered 1, 2 and 3) of LEA proteins have been described in a range of different plants and plant tissues. Homologues of groups 1 and 3 proteins have also been found in bacteria and in certain invertebrates. In this review, we present some new data, survey the biochemistry, biophysics and bioinformatics of the LEA proteins and highlight several possible functions. These include roles as antioxidants and as membrane and protein stabilisers during water stress, either by direct interaction or by acting as molecular shields. Along with other hydrophilic proteins and compatible solutes, LEA proteins might also serve as “space fillers” to prevent cellular collapse at low water activities. This multifunctional capacity of the LEA proteins is probably attributable in part to their structural plasticity, as they are largely lacking in secondary structure in the fully hydrated state, but can become more folded during water stress and/or through association with membrane surfaces. The challenge now facing researchers investigating these enigmatic proteins is to make sense of the various in vitro defined functions in the living cell: Are the LEA proteins truly multi-talented, or are they still just misunderstood?     

Where are the Sunday babies? III. Caesarean sections,decreased weekend births,and midwife involvement in Germany

A previous study has shown a marked and continuing decline in weekend births in Germany between 1988 and 2003 (Lerchl, Naturwissenschaften 92:592-594, 2005). The present study was performed to investigate the possible influence of caesarean sections (CS) on weekend birth number and on the involvement of midwives in births for all 16 German states for the year 2003. In total, data from 706,721 births were sorted according to weekday of births and state, respectively, and the weekend births avoidance rates were calculated. Weekend births were consistently less frequent than births during the week, with an average of -15.3% for all states and due to fewer births on Saturdays (-13.6%) and Sundays (-16.7%). Between the states, weekend births avoidance rates ranged from -11.6% (Bremen) to -24.2% (Saarland). The proportion of CS was 25.5% for all states, ranging from 19.2% (Sachsen and Sachsen-Anhalt) to 30.5% (Saarland). CS and weekend births avoidance rates were significantly correlated, consistent with the hypothesis that primary (planned) CS are regularly scheduled on weekdays. The number of births per midwife (BPM) was calculated according to the number of active members in the states' professional midwives' organizations. The mean number of BPM was 59.5, ranging from 45.2 (Bremen) to 82.4 (Sachsen-Anhalt). CS and BPM were significantly correlated, consistent with the hypothesis that higher CS ratios are associated with lower midwife involvement in births. It is concluded that the decline in weekend births and lower involvement of midwives are caused, at least in part, by an increased number of caesarean sections.     

Hummingbird with modern feathering: an exceptionally well-preserved Oligocene fossil from southern France

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) today have an exclusively New World distribution, but their pre-Pleistocene fossil record comes from Europe only. In this study, we describe an exceptionally preserved fossil hummingbird from the early Oligocene of southeastern France. The specimen is articulated, with a completely preserved beak and feathering. Osteological characters allow to identify it as Eurotrochilus sp. This genus is a stem group representative of Trochilidae and was recently described from the early Oligocene of southern Germany. The new fossil reveals that these European Trochilidae were remarkably modern in size, skeletal proportions and the shape of the wing, tail and beak and hyoid bones. These features confirm the early acquisition of the abilities of hovering and nectarivory in hummingbirds, probably before the Oligocene. In several morphological characteristics, they resemble members of the 'true hummingbirds' (subfamily Trochilinae) and differ from hermits (Phaethornithinae). These features, which include a short and square tail and a moderately long, almost straight beak, appear to be primitive within the family Trochilidae.     

Glass buildings on river banks as “polarized light traps” for mass-swarming polarotactic caddis flies

The caddis flies Hydropsyche pellucidula emerge at dusk from the river Danube and swarm around trees and bushes on the river bank. We document here that these aquatic insects can also be attracted en masse to the vertical glass surfaces of buildings on the river bank. The individuals lured to dark, vertical glass panes land, copulate, and remain on the glass for hours. Many of them are trapped by the partly open, tiltable windows. In laboratory choice experiments, we showed that ovipositing H. pellucidula are attracted to highly and horizontally polarized light stimulating their ventral eye region and, thus, have positive polarotaxis. In the field, we documented that highly polarizing vertical black glass surfaces are significantly more attractive to both female and male H. pellucidula than weakly polarizing white ones. Using video polarimetry, we measured the reflection-polarization characteristics of vertical glass surfaces of buildings where caddis flies swarmed. We propose that after its emergence from the river, H. pellucidula is attracted to buildings by their dark silhouettes and the glass-reflected, horizontally polarized light. After sunset, this attraction may be strengthened by positive phototaxis elicited by the buildings' lights. The novelty of this visual-ecological phenomenon is that the attraction of caddis flies to vertical glass surfaces has not been expected because vertical glass panes do not resemble the horizontal surface of waters from which these insects emerge and to which they must return to oviposit.     

Aggressive reproductive competition among hopelessly queenless honeybee workers triggered by pheromone signaling

In the honeybee, Apis mellifera, the queen monopolizes reproduction, while the sterile workers cooperate harmoniously in nest maintenance. However, under queenless (QL) conditions, cooperation collapses and reproductive competition among workers ensues. This is mediated through aggression and worker oviposition, as well as shifts in pheromones, from worker to queen-like composition. Many studies suggest a dichotomy between conflict resolution through aggression or through pheromonal signaling. In this paper, we demonstrate that both phenomena comprise essential components of reproductive competition and that pheromone signaling actually triggers the onset of aggression. We kept workers as QL groups until first aggression was observed and subsequently determined the contestants' reproductive status and content of the mandibular (MG) and Dufour's glands (DG). In groups in which aggression occurred early, the attacked bee had consistently more queen-like pheromone in both the MG and DG, although both contestants had undeveloped ovaries. In groups with late aggression, the attacked bee had consistently larger oocytes and more queen-like pheromone in the DG, but not the MG. We suggest that at early stages of competition, the MG secretion is utilized to establish dominance and that the DG provides an honest fertility signal. We further argue that it is the higher amount of DG pheromone that triggers aggression.     

石墨炉原子吸收光谱法测定岩石中的钇和稀土元素

<正> 把Y、Nd、Sm、Eu、Dy、Ho,Er、Tm和Yb的高氯酸盐乙醇溶液吸入一氧化二氮-乙炔焰中,得到了这些元素的良好灵敏度,从而设计出一种测定各种岩石和矿物中上述元素的原子吸收法。但是,火焰原子吸收法的灵敏度不能满足大多数岩石中痕量Pr、Gd、Tb和Lu的测定要求。为此,笔者研究了更加灵敏的石墨炉原子化技术。 其他分析工作者已用电热原子化法研究了一种或     

Th-Hf-Ta图应用手构造岩浆分类和确定英国第三纪火山岩区玄武质熔岩的地壳混染特征

<正> D.A.Wood等(1979)年提出,基性到酸性火山岩的精确Th-Hf-Ta数据的三角形图解,可以用作判别构造岩浆环境的一种手段。后来R.N.Thompson等(1980)对Th-Hf-Ta图的某些应用方面提出了批评。 本文的第一部分是想证明Wood等(1979)使用Th-Hf-Ta图解所得出的主要结论是合理的。其余部分则是论证Th-Hf-Ta图解在确定英国第三纪火山岩     

测定岩石、矿物及有关材料中SiO_2的准确分光光度法

<正> SiO_2是岩石、矿物和有关材料中的主要组分,经常需要准确测定。用于测定SiO_2的分光光度法主要有两种,即应用黄色钼硅酸络合物的方法和应用钼兰络合物的方法。 黄色络合物不大灵敏。同时基于黄色钼硅酸络合物的方法还存在由于形成混合的钼硅酸而造成的不稳     

印度拉贾斯坦Phalwadi-Positara地区白钨矿、辉钼矿、钼钨钙矿和硅铍钇矿的新产状

<正> 在印度拉贾斯坦Phalwadi-Positara地区的Erinpura花岗岩及其伴生的酸性岩脉中现已圈出白钨矿、辉钼矿、钼钨钙矿和硅铍钇矿的重要矿化点。 1975年在区域地球化学勘探过程中,在该地区部分地方发现了含钨、锡的流水异常。本简讯就是根据随后的野外研究及对一些地质单元的紫外线检查和地球化学取样做出的。     

无标准定量电子探针微分析

<正> 用电子探针微分析器作定量微分析时,往往需要均匀的标准。分析的准确度取决于标准的组成与样品组成接近的程度。遗憾的是,要选择适当的标准存在很多困难,在某些情况下,甚至是不可能的。但是,如果电子探针微分析是基于X射线的强度与出射角的依赖关系,那么这种情况就会得到改善,Philibert在他对于深度分布函数Φ(Z)的研究中最先应用了这种关系。Ridnik指出了应用这种关系作为无标准定