The theropod ancestry of birds: new evidence from the late cretaceous of madagascar

A partial skeleton of a primitive bird, Rahona ostromi, gen. et sp. nov., has been discovered from the Late Cretaceous of Madagascar. This specimen, although exhibiting avian features such as a reversed hallux and ulnar papillae, retains characteristics that indicate a theropod ancestry, including a pubic foot and hyposphene-hypantra vertebral articulations. Rahona has a robust, hyperextendible second digit on the hind foot that terminates in a sicklelike claw, a unique characteristic of the theropod groups Troodontidae and Dromaeosauridae. A phylogenetic analysis places Rahona with Archaeopteryx, making Rahona one of the most primitive birds yet discovered.     

Using a GnRH agonist to obtain an index of testosterone secretory capacity in the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) and sulphur-crested cockatoo (Cacatua galerita)

Objective   Validation of a stimulation test for determining the steroidogenic capacity of the parrot testis. The major aim was to characterise testosterone secretion after injection of a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa), then use the test to investigate seasonal reproduction in the male cockatiel.
Procedure   A synthetic GnRHa (buserelin; 8.0 µg of peptide/kg bodyweight) was injected IM into male cockatiels (n = 7) and sulphur-crested cockatoos (n = 3) and serial blood samples collected at 0, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after administration. Once validated, the technique was subsequently used to examine seasonal changes (23 months) in the testosterone profile of a captive cockatiel population.
Results   Injection of buserelin resulted in a significant increase in the testosterone concentration of cockatiel plasma, with maximal concentrations occurring at approximately 60 (1.33 ± 0.08 ng/mL) to 90 min (1.22 ± 0.08 ng/mL) after injection. Although no clear pattern of seasonal variation in testosterone secretion was detected in cockatiel plasma, samples taken 60 and 90 min after administration showed a significant increase in all seasons. Injection of buserelin in the sulphur-crested cockatoo also resulted in increased testosterone secretion, with maximal concentrations obtained after 90 min.
Conclusion   Buserelin can be used to obtain a reliable index of the prevailing testosterone capacity of the cockatiel and cockatoo testis. With further studies, this test may be incorporated into clinical assessment of reproductive status.     

The pyrethroid resistance status and mechanisms in Aedes aegypti from the Guerrero state,Mexico

Dengue is one of the most important vector-borne diseases worldwide and is a public health problem in Mexico. Most programs in dengue endemic countries rely on insecticides for Aedes control. In Mexico, pyrethroid insecticides (mainly permethrin and deltamethrin) have been extensively used over a decade as adulticides and represented a strong selection for insecticide resistance for dengue vectors in several parts of the country. We studied the type, frequency and distribution of insecticide resistance mechanisms in Aedes aegypti from six municipalities in the state of Guerrero selected on the basis of historically intense chemical control and a high risk for dengue transmission. Ae. aegypti eggs were collected from October 2009 to January 2010 using ovitraps. F₁ adults, emerged from these collections, were exposed to permethrin, deltamethrin and DDT in WHO diagnostic tests and showed high resistance levels to both pyrethroids and DDT. This was consistent with the presence of increased metabolic enzyme activities and target site insensitivity due to kdr mutations. Biochemical assays showed elevated esterase and glutathione S-transferase activities in the six municipalities. The V1016I kdr mutation on the IIS6 domain of the sodium channel gene was present in an overall frequency of 0.80. A second mutation, F1534C on the IIIS6 domain of the same gene was also detected, being the first report of this mutation in Guerrero. The multiple resistance mechanisms present in Ae. aegypti from Guerrero state represent a warning for the efficacy of the pyrethroid usage and consequently for the success of the dengue control program.     

Effects of nitrate,ammonium and chloride application on the yield and nitrate content of soil-grown lettuce

Summary

The effect of nitrogen availability and nitrogen form on the yield and nitrate content of butterhead lettuce (Lactuca sativa var. capitata L.) grown in soil under greenhouse conditions was studied. The extent to which chloride application can reduce nitrate content by supplying the plant with an alternative osmotically active anion, and whether the presence of ammonium in the soil is a necessary prerequisite for an effect of chloride, was also examined. Reducing NO₃-N availability from 260 to 200 kg N ha^–1 significantly reduced nitrate content while head fresh weight was unaffected. Further reducing NO₃-N availability to 120 kg N ha^–1 significantly reduced both nitrate content and fresh weight. Substituting 40% of the available NO₃-N with NH₄-N significantly reduced nitrate content while fresh weight was unaffected. The effect of NH₄-N application on plant nitrate content was enhanced by the application of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD). Despite increasing chloride uptake, the application of chloride had no significant effect on head fresh weight or nitrate content when available nitrogen was in the nitrate form irrespective of the level of nitrogen application. Chloride application similarly had no effect on head fresh weight or nitrate content when applied together with ammonium without the nitrification inhibitor DCD, despite a greater uptake of chloride. Where both ammonium and DCD were applied, however, chloride application significantly reduced head nitrate content.     

一种生物病虫害控制模型的进化算法处理

为控制蘑菇种植过程中尖眼蕈蚊数量,利用线虫和尖眼蕈蚊数量变化的动态关系模型,应用分布估计算法对控制干涉次数和控制数量进行优化处理,将其与遗传算法结果进行比较.结果表明:该算法在控制次数略有增加情况下,可以取得较小目标函数值,并且算法稳定收敛,该结果可以作为一种理想的控制优化方案.分布估计算法可以用来处理此类动态关系模型的优化问题.     

Thiacetarsamide in dogs with Dirofilaria immitis: influence of decreased liver function on drug efficacy

The influence that decreased functional hepatic mass had on blood arsenic concentrations in dogs after they were treated with thiacetarsamide, on the clearance of indocyanine green (ICG), on arsenic concentrations in the heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis), and on drug efficacy was studied. Dogs which were partially hepatectomized and treated with thiacetarsamide (1.76 mg/kg, 2 times a day for 2 days) had a significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced ICG clearance, significantly (P less than 0.01) higher arsenic levels in heartworms, and a significantly (P less than 0.01) higher proportion of heartworms killed than did dogs that were sham operated and treated with thiacetarsamide or sham operated and untreated. There were no significant differences in blood arsenic (thiacetarsamide) concentrations 2 minutes after injection between hepatectomized and nonhepatectomized groups. More male heartworms were killed than were female worms in the thiacetarsamide-treated groups. Indocyanine green half-life was longer (12.43 minutes) in the hepatectomized group than it was in the nonhepatectomized sham-operated groups (5.09 and 4.94 minutes). Indocyanine green clearance rate was lower in the hepatectomized group (0.54 ml/min/kg) than that in the nonhepatectomized groups (1.36 and 1.56 ml/min/kg). A parallel seemed to exist between ICG and thiacetarsamide removal from the blood by the liver. This parallel also was suggested in the higher worm arsenic (thiacetarsamide) concentrations for the hepatectomized group vs that for nonhepatectomized groups. Apparently, the slower the removal of thiacetarsamide from the blood by the liver, the higher the worm arsenic level and, consequently, the higher the worm kill.     

In vitro Developmental Competence of Adult Sheep Oocytes Treated with Roscovitine

The efficiency of in vitro sheep embryo production is still low compared to that observed in vivo and in other species. In this context, meiotic inhibition strategies emerged as a promising alternative to improve this biotechnology. So, this study aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the effects of roscovitine on in vitro maturation of sheep oocytes and their subsequent embryo development. For this, cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured for 6 h in the presence (Rosco) or absence (Control) of 75 μm roscovitine and, subsequently, in vitro matured (IVM) for 18 h with gonadotropins. At 0 (Immature), 6 and 24 h of culture, the nuclear status of oocytes was evaluated by Hoechst staining. Embryo cleavage and blastocyst formation were recorded 30 h after in vitro fertilization and on day 7 of culture, respectively. Blastocyst quality was evaluated by differential staining. At 6 h, the GV rate in the Rosco treatment (93.8%) was similar to that observed in the Immature oocytes (94.9%) and significantly higher compared to Control (41.3%). After IVM for 18 h, a high and similar proportion of oocytes from Rosco (93.6%) and Control (88.4%) reached the MII stage. In both treatments, approximately 70% of oocytes cleaved and 50% of them developed up to blastocyst. The mean percentage of blastocyst cells, embryoblast, trophoblast and pyknosis did also not differ between Control and Rosco. In conclusion, roscovitine, at the studied experimental conditions, was efficient to reversibly inhibit the meiosis of adult sheep oocytes without detrimental effect on development and quality of the in vitro produced embryos.     

Potential exposure to Australian bat lyssavirus is unlikely to prevent future bat handling among adults in South East Queensland

Despite ongoing public health messages about the risks associated with bat contact, the number of potential exposures to Australian bat lyssavirus (ABLV) due to intentional handling by members of the general public in Queensland has remained high. We sought to better understand the reasons for intentional handling among these members of the public who reported their potential exposure to inform future public health messages. We interviewed adults who resided in a defined geographic area in South East Queensland and notified potential exposure to ABLV due to intentional handling of bats by telephone between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2013. The participation rate was 54%. Adults who reported they had intentionally handled bats in South East Queensland indicated high levels of knowledge and perception of a moderately high risk associated with bats with overall low intentions to handle bats in the future. However, substantial proportions of people would attempt to handle bats again in some circumstances, particularly to protect their children or pets. Fifty‐two percent indicated that they would handle a bat if a child was about to pick up or touch a live bat, and 49% would intervene if a pet was interacting with a bat. Future public health communications should recognize the situations in which even people with highrisk perceptions of bats will attempt to handle them. Public health messages currently focus on avoidance of bats in all circumstances and recommend calling in a trained vaccinated handler, but messaging directed at adults for circumstances where children or pets may be potentially exposed should provide safe immediate management options.