Reduced soil respiration in gaps in logged lowland dipterocarp forests

We studied the effects of forest composition and structure, and related biotic and abiotic factors on soil respiration rates in a tropical logged forest in Malaysian Borneo. Forest stands were classified into gap, pioneer, non-pioneer and mixed (pioneer, non-pioneer and unclassified trees) based on the species composition of trees >10 cm diameter breast height. Soil respiration rates did not differ significantly between non-gap sites (1290 ± 210 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹) but were double those in gap sites (640 ± 130 mg CO₂ m⁻² h⁻¹). Post hoc analyses found that an increase in soil temperature and a decrease in litterfall and fine root biomass explained 72% of the difference between gap and non-gap sites. The significant decrease of soil respiration rates in gaps, irrespective of day or night time, suggests that autotrophic respiration may be an important contributor to total soil respiration in logged forests. We conclude that biosphere-atmosphere carbon exchange models in tropical systems should incorporate gap frequency and that future research in tropical forest should emphasize the contribution of autotrophic respiration to total soil respiration.     

Seasonal fluctuation of groundwater in an evergreen forest, central Cambodia: experiments and two-dimensional numerical analysis

This study of a water cycle was conducted in an evergreen forest located in the Mekong River Basin in central Cambodia. At the observation site, we measured the dynamics of the spatial distribution of groundwater levels. The groundwater movement was analyzed two-dimensionally using boundary conditions and parameters that had been observed in the field. The climate in the research area is dominated by two seasons, which occur annually: a rainy and a dry season. The groundwater levels are generally high during the rainy season and low during the dry season. Groundwater levels were measured along a stream, which flowed through the study site. The streambed was visible at the head of the stream in January. At the next downriver well point, the streambed appeared in March. Finally, it became visible at all well points in April, meaning that surface runoff had disappeared temporarily and instead flowed underground during the ensuing dry period. Groundwater levels of the studied lateral flow perpendicular to the stream that seeped and infiltrated into the stream were 1.2–2.5 m deep (in April), which was the lowest level recorded for the year. During that period, the depth of the groundwater of the studied lateral flow fell by as much as 56 mm per month. In addition, the lateral flow groundwater infiltrated into groundwater of the stream during that period. The groundwater level fluctuation was estimated based on a two-dimensional analysis of lateral flow perpendicular to the stream using a numerical simulation model with soil physical parameters and observed boundary conditions. The observations of ground water fluctuations were well reproduced. Deep seepage of groundwater was estimated using a uniform boundary condition that allowed efflux through the bottom, estimated as being approximately 30 mm per year. The simulated deep seepage rate was considered plausible considering other hydrological components such as soil water storage fluctuation.     

Fucoxanthin attenuates rifampin-induced cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) and multiple drug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene expression through pregnane X receptor (PXR)-mediated pathways in human hepatoma HepG2 and colon adenocarcinoma LS174T cells

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) has been reported to regulate the expression of drug-metabolizing enzymes, such as the cytochrome P450 3A (CYP3A) family and transporters, such as multiple drug resistance 1 (MDR1). Fucoxanthin, the major carotenoid in brown sea algae, is a putative chemopreventive agent. In this study, we determined whether fucoxanthin could overcome drug resistance through attenuation of rifampin-induced CYP3A4 and MDR1 gene expression by PXR-mediated pathways in HepG2 hepatoma cells. We found that fucoxanthin (1-10 μM) significantly attenuated rifampin (20 μM)-induced CYP3A4, MDR1 mRNA and CYP3A4 protein expression at 24 h of incubation. Mechanistically, fucoxanthin strongly attenuated the PXR-mediated CYP3A4 promoter activity in HepG2 cells. In addition, fucoxanthin attenuated constitutive androstane receptor (CAR)- and rPXR-mediated CYP3A4 promoter activity in this cell line. Using the mammalian two-hybrid assay, we found that fucoxanthin significantly decreased the interaction between PXR and SRC-1, a PXR co-activator. Thus, fucoxanthin can decrease rifampin-induced CYP3A4 and MDR1 expression through attenuation of PXR-mediated CYP3A4 promoter activation and interaction between PXR and co-activator. These findings could lead to potentially important new therapeutic and dietary approaches to reduce the frequency of adverse drug reactions.     

Growth response and acquired resistance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) that survived Streptococcus iniae infection

This study determined the growth performance and acquired resistance of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) that survived Streptococcus iniae infection. Tilapia were challenged with three doses of S. iniae (8.8 × 10³, 8.8 × 10⁴ and 8.8 × 10⁵ CFU fish^?1 for low, medium and high challenges respectively). Groups of non‐injected and tryptic soy broth‐injected fish were maintained as controls. Significantly (P<0.05) higher mortality (45.0%) occurred in the high challenge treatment than in the low challenge treatment group (29.6%). The medium challenge group had mortality (36.3%) that did not differ significantly from the high or low treatment. Few fish died in the non‐injected and broth‐injected treatments (3.4% and 0.8% respectively). The tilapia that survived S. iniae infection used to assess growth performance were selected from survivors without gross clinical signs of disease. These fish were randomly stocked at a rate of 30 fish into each 57 L aquarium in triplicate and fed to apparent satiation for 8 weeks. No significant differences were detected in weight gain, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio or survival between S. iniae‐survived tilapia and the control treatments following the 8‐week growth performance trial. Following the 8‐week feeding study, tilapia were challenged with 1 × 10⁶ CFU fish^?1 of S. iniae to assess acquired immunity. Mean cumulative mortality was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the control treatments (41.7% for the non‐injected and 43.3% for the broth‐injected fish) than in the low, medium and high challenge treatments (7.4%, 3.3% and 8.3% respectively). Serum protein was significantly (P<0.05) elevated in the S. iniae‐survived tilapia that were subsequently challenged when compared with controls challenged for the first time. Agglutinating antibody titre was significantly higher in the fish in the medium and high challenge treatments, compared with the control fish challenged for the first time. The results suggest tilapia that survive S. iniae challenge without showing overt disease signs performed as well as non‐infected tilapia. Further, the S. iniae‐survived tilapia challenged following the 8‐week growth performance trial gained acquired resistance to homologous S. iniae challenge.     

A simple,rapid method to isolate salt glands for three-dimensional visualization,fluorescence imaging and cytological studies

Background  

Some plants inhabiting saline environment remove salts via the salt glands embedded in the epidermal tissues. Cytological studies of salt glands will provide valuable information to our understanding of the secretory process. Previous studies on salt gland histology relied mainly on two-dimensional microscopic observations of microtome sections. Optical sectioning properties of confocal laser scanning microscope offer alternative approach for obtaining three-dimensional structural information of salt glands. Difficulty in light penetration through intact leaves and interference from neighbouring leaf cells, however, impede the acquiring of good optical salt gland sections and limit its applications in salt gland imaging. Freeing the glands from adjacent leaf tissues will allow better manipulations for three-dimensional imaging through confocal laser scanning microscopy.     

Biological activity of the new herbicide LGC-40863 {benzophenone O-[2,6-bis[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)oxy]benzoyl]oxime}

Herbicidal characteristics of the experimental compound LGC-40863 (ISO proposed common name: pyribenzoxim) were investigated in greenhouse and field. In the greenhouse, LGC-40863 had strong post-emergent activity on various grass and broadleaf weeds including Echinochloa crus-galli L. Beauv., Alopecurus myosuroides Huds. and Polygonum hydropiper L., while it was safe in rice (Oryza sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud; (a turf species). Among important rice weeds, E. crus-galli was controlled over a wide window from the one-leaf to the six-leaf stages. In the field, LGC-40863 provided excellent control of E. crus-galli (>95%) at 30 to 40 g ha^-1 when applied alone, or at 15 to 30 g ha^-1 when applied in combination with pendimethalin, while it did not cause injury to rice at up to 60 g ha^-1. These results suggest that LGC-40863 has potential as a new selective post-emergent herbicide in rice. © 1997 SCI     

Actin rearrangements accompanying Aeromonas hydrophila entry into cultured fish cells

Aeromonas hydrophila can enter fish cells and exist as intracellular parasites. Phase-contrast and confocal microscopy were used to examine morphological changes and various cytoskeletal components of infected fish cells. Four fish cell lines were included in this study: (1) AS, (2) BF2, (3) CHSE-214, and (4) EPC cells. Virulent but not avirulent strains of A. hydrophila PPD 134/91 invaded fish cells, causing morphological changes, and inducing microfilament (F-actin) rearrangement. Morphological changes were observed in all infected fish cell lines and could be classified into three different stages. In stage I, the cells became detached from each other and pointed ends were observed. In stage II, tubular cytoplasmic extensions formed at contact points connecting neighbouring cells. The monolayers formed a satellite-like organization and became less confluent. Finally (stage III), cells were heavily infected with bacteria, and bacteria containing vacuoles occupied most of the cells. They eventually detached and lysed. Rearrangement of F-actin was observed as local polymerization (actin clouds) in stage I and massive reorganization in stage III of infection. Actin clouds could have been induced by A. hydrophila for ‘assisted' uptake into the cells. The massive reorganization of actin in stage III may be due to products released by the bacteria and the growth of vacuoles. Pretreatment of fish cells with the microfilament inhibitors such as cytochalasins induced a similar effect. There were little if any rearrangements in intermediate and microtubule filaments during bacterial entry (stages I and II). These results suggest that A. hydrophila may bind to the surface and trigger a signal to the microfilament which then generates the force necessary for bacterial uptake.     

The giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii alters background colour preference after metamorphosis from larvae to postlarvae: In association with nature of phototaxis

The giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii larvae have apposition eyes and are positively phototactic, whereas the postlarvae (PL) have superposition eyes and are negatively phototactic. M. rosenbergii has colour vision as early as larval stage. We discovered that M. rosenbergii alters background colour preference after metamorphosis from larvae to PL in association with nature of phototaxis. The test circular glass aquaria covered with a pair of two‐colour papers contained with a group of 100 larvae or 20 Pl, and the number of individuals in each colour background was recorded five times for each colour pair. The background colours tested were light blue, green, yellow, red, white and black. The numbers of larvae or PL in each colour background of different pairs were analysed by the Thurstone's law of comparative judgment. In the larvae, significant bias towards yellow was evident. In the PL, of the four pairings of black with other colours, all biased to black. The mean z‐scores were highest for yellow in the larvae, and for black in the PL. To determine the possible background brightness preference of the larvae and PL, six different colour backgrounds were presented in pairs. The larvae significantly preferred light blue over dark blue, white over yellow and white over black. The PL exhibited reversed preference. The relationship between z‐scores and light reflectance levels of five colour papers was significantly positive in the larvae and negative in the PL. The observed background colour preference was probably due to relative brightness rather than chromaticity difference.