Thrips are important agricultural pests and accurate identification is important for their effective management. In order to determine species, however, they need to be mounted on slides and the traditional process is time-consuming. The aim of this paper is to describe a simple and fast method to prepare temporary slides for the routine identification of thrips, which is not dependent on their colour and hardness. Four species of thrips of different colours were used in the preparations: Frankliniella occidentalis (yellow with brown tergal markings), Frankliniella schultzei (entirely brown), Haplothrips gowdeyii (dark brown to carmine) and Caliothrips phaseoli (brown to black). Slides of each species were prepared using three different methods: traditional (3 days), simplified (6 h) and fast method (10 min). The thrips on the resulting slides were observed under a microscope and important structures used in their identification were compared. The quality of the slides prepared using the traditional method was superior to those prepared using the other two methods if only the transparency and general position of the insects on the slides were considered. The transparency of the slides prepared using the simplified method was also good, but only for the pale coloured species (yellow and grey-brown). The fast method, on the other hand, was very efficient for routine identification since it resulted in slides of sufficient quality for identifying species regardless of their colour. It is important, however, to stress that the fast method is only suitable for preparing temporary slides for routine identification and is not a substitute for the traditional method of preparing permanent slides., Luís C.P. Silveira, Marcelo M. Haro., and Obsahuje bibliografii
EGY1 (ethylene-dependent gravitropism-deficient and yellow-green 1) is an intramembrane metalloprotease located in chloroplasts, involved in many diverse processes including chloroplast development, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and the ethylene-dependent gravitropic response. Plants deprived of this protease display pleiotropic effects such as the yellow-green early senescence phenotype and a poorly developed thylakoid system membrane in the mature chloroplasts. We applied the GC/MS technique to analyze the changes in fatty acid composition in two egy1 mutant lines. We used DAPI staining and transmission electron microscopy methods to establish the number of nucleoids and the amount of chloroplast DNA. Our results indicated that the lack of EGY1 protease led to a dramatic overaccumulation and a dramatic decrease in the content of linolenic acid C18:3 and hexadecatrienoic acid C16:3, respectively. The amount of chloroplast DNA and the number of nucleoids were severely reduced in egy1 mutant lines. Similarly, a reduced correlation between DAPI and autofluorescence signal was observed, which may indicate some perturbations in nucleoid anchoring.
We investigated the effect of the feeding behaviour of young larvae of Pieris rapae crucivora Boisduval (Pieridae) on parasitism by the parasitoid wasp, Cotesia glomerata (L.) (Braconidae). Young, 1st-3rd instar larvae used approximately three sites for feeding each day. When not feeding, they moved a short distance away from the feeding sites (= feeding marks) and rested. For first, second and third instar larvae, the distances from the new mark, made within 24 h, to larva at rest were, respectively, about 3.5 mm, 5 mm and more than 10 mm. To resume feeding, they moved back to one of the former feeding sites or a new site. The percentage of the feeding marks older than 24 h that attracted parasitoids was less than 50%. Time spent searching for hosts by a parasitoid was short. Larvae placed 5 mm or more from a feeding mark were less parasitized than the larvae placed near a mark. The number of feeding marks affected parasitism. When comparing single-marked and triple-marked leaves, the percentage parasitism of the larvae on the latter was significantly lower than that of the larvae on the former. On triple-marked leaves, parasitoids visited each mark unevenly. Accordingly, the time spent searching each mark differed significantly among the marks. Because of this confusing effect, hosts are considered to be reducing the risk of parasitism. Our results demonstrate that the feeding habits of young larvae of P. rapae crucivora are adaptive in terms of reducing the risk of parasitism by C. glomerata., Aya Nakayama, Keiji Nakamura, Jun Tagawa., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Haemadipsid leeches are among the most successful terrestrial invertebrates in Bornean rainforests. They are very common ectoparasites of vertebrates, and their abundance has facilitated the conduction of numerous projects in the fields of ecology, zoogeography and taxonomy. We undertook research on two species inhabiting lowland dipterocarp forest, Haemadipsa picta Moore, 1929 and Haemadipsa subagilis (Moore, 1929), in order to address the following questions: (a) is there a difference in leech abundance between trails and off-trails?; (b) is ambush location dependent on specimen size or is species-specific?; (c) is intra- and interspecific competition limited by differences in foraging behaviours or vertical niche partitioning? Our results clearly show that H. picta is more abundant on trails than on off-trails and is vertically dispersed within the understory; the size of a specimen is strongly correlated with plant height. Haemadipsa subagilis was found not to exhibit such patterns. We suggest a possible lowering of interspecific competition between these species as a result of: (i) size-dependent dispersion of H. picta (together with reduction of intraspecific competition); and (ii) habitat specialisation of H. subagilis. Moreover, we provide new observations on their foraging behaviour., Piotr Gąsiorek, Hanna Różycka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Laboratory research of cough reflex utilizes almost exclusively
male guinea pigs – a practice that represents a significant obstacle
in the successful translation of results into clinical practice. Chronic
hypersensitivity cough syndrome affects mostly postmenopausal
women and it represents significant decrease in patient’s quality
of life. No cause for such exaggerated cough can be found,
therefore this condition cannot be treated appropriately. One of
the reasons leading to the lack of relevant data about mechanisms
responsible for hypersensitivity of cough related pathways is
nowadays widely discussed gender bias, which is present in nearly
all branches of biomedical research. Since gender differences in
cough reflex physiology do exist in humans, it would be reasonable
to study cough-related phenomena on both sexes of laboratory
animals. In this study, we focused on detailed characterization of
cough response of female guinea pigs to aerosols of commonly
used tussive agents (capsaicin, distilled water, allyl isothiocyanate,
cinnamaldehyde, citric acid). In pooled data from multiple
challenges we found no statistical difference in number of cough
and cough latency between sexes. Based on our results we
conclude that the utilization of female guinea pigs model does not
lead to messy data and can be used in basic cough research.
Parasitoid females may adjust offspring sex allocation according to the number and quality of hosts available. Because in solitary species only one offspring survives per host, already parasitized hosts are of low quality and generally rejected. Superparasitism (i.e., sequential oviposition by the same or different females) results in aggressive interactions and competition for nutritional resources among larvae. We examined variations in the offspring sex ratio of Dendrocerus carpenteri (Curtis) (Hymenoptera: Megaspilidae), a solitary ectoparasitoid developing as a hyperparasitoid on the prepupae and pupae of primary aphid parasitoids inside mummified aphids. Mated females produced a female-biased sex ratio of 0.433 (proportion of sons) when caged singly and provided with 12 mummies for 2 h; they parasitized an average of four mummies/h and rarely superparasitized. Superparasitism increased when two females were caged together and provided with 12 mummies, from 1.18 to 1.24 and 1.38 eggs/host parasitized in 1, 2 and 3 h, respectively. The offspring sex ratio became increasingly more female-biased with increase in superparasitism; however, sex ratio variations were not correlated with cohort size. One mated and one unmated female provided with 12 mummies and caged together for 1 h produced a mean cohort sex ratio of 0.645, which differed from the one predicted (0.717) by an algebraic model incorporating the assumptions that both females contribute equal numbers of offspring and that the mated female does not change her offspring-sex allocation strategy. The observed shift in the cohort sex ratio to an increased female-bias indicates that mated females of D. carpenteri change their behaviour when encountering parasitized mummies or a conspecific competitor in the same patch. By depositing fertilized rather than unfertilized eggs, a female can increase the proportion of her daughters among parasitoids competing for a diminishing host supply., Manfred Mackauer, Andrew Chow., and Obsahuje bibliografii
Článek představuje teoretické pozadí metody instrumentálního obohacování Reuvena Feuersteina a její využití v praxi. Pojednává o životě autora, jeho teorii strukturální kognitivní modifikovatelnosti a zkušenosti zprostředkovaného učení. Dále představuje využití metody ve třech oblastech – školní, sociální a oblasti zdravotnictví. Ve školním prostředí se článek zaměřuje na využití u žáků s ADHD, specifickými poruchami učení, sociálním znevýhodněním a na rozvoj učitelů. V sociální oblasti představuje možnosti metody k intervenci u seniorů a dospělých, dále také u osob ve výkonu trestu odnětí svobody. V oblasti zdravotnictví představuje její aplikaci u osob s traumatickým poškozením mozku a Parkinsonovou nemocí. and This article presents the theoretical background of Reuven Feuerstein´s Instrumental Enrichment and its application. It discusses Feuerstein´s life, his theory of structural cognitive modifiability, and mediated learning experience. It shows the application of the program in three areas – education, social area, and healthcare. In the area of education, it discusses the application in students with ADHD, specific learning disabilities, social disadvantage, and a teacher´s development. In the social area, it presents the application of the program in seniors, adults, and at the prison. In the area of healthcare, application in people with traumatic brain injury and Parkinson´s disease is presented.
Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is one of the members of endocrine arm of FGF family. Its actions as a glucose and lipids metabolism regulator are widely known. Although the mechanism of FGF21 action in kidneys is still under investigation, FGF21 was considered as a marker of early kidney function decline. While many researchers focused on adult subjects in this matter, there are no data regarding children. Therefore, we have investigated the relationship between plasma or urine FGF21 levels and kidney function in a group of 42 pediatric patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Anthropometrical parameters and blood pressure were taken, routine biochemical tests were performed. The concentration of FGF21 in serum and urine was determined by enzyme immunoassay. The results revealed significantly higher serum FGF21 concentration among children from CKD group. However, serum FGF21 level was not related to gender, proteinuria, eGFR or renal replacement therapy. Urine FGF21 concentration correlated negatively with albuminuria and positively with eGFR. Documented negative correlation of FGF21 fractional excretion and eGFR is not enough to support the role of FGF21 as a biomarker for predicting kidney disease progression in children and adolescents. Other mechanisms including local kidney FGF21 production or enhanced excretion due to higher extrarenal production may result in higher urine FGF21 concentrations.
This study evaluates bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) in relationship with new markers of chronic kidney disease (CKD), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), and klotho. The patients in this cross-sectional study were divided as follows: group A -patients in stages G1-3; group B -patients in stages G4 - 5 according to KDIGO. Plasma levels of soluble klotho and FGF23 were determined by ELISA. Bone mineral density (BMD) and trabecular bone score (TBS) were measured. 74 patients with CKD (mean age 68.8 years) were included in the study. Higher levels of FGF23 were observed in group B (N=15) compared to group A (N=59; p=0.001) were observed. FGF23 was higher in group A compared to group B. Significant difference in TBS within the first 3 stages of CKD was observed (mean TBS in G1=1.375 vs. G2=1.340 vs. G3a=1.24; p<0.05) and negative correlation of FGF23 and TBS (R=-0.33; p=0.05) and positive correlation between klotho and TBS (R=0.419; p=0.04) was observed. This study confirmed that FGF23 and klotho are associated with TBS, but TBS reflects a decrease in kidney function only in the first 3 stages of CKD. Thus, FGF23 and klotho together with TBS are promising markers of early trabecular bone impairment in CKD., Zuzana Kužmová, Martin Kužma, Andrea Gažová, Magdaléna Kovářová, Peter Jackuliak, Zdenko Killinger, Ján Kyselovič, Juraj Payer., and Obsahuje bibliografii