Expression and Localization of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and its Receptors in the Corpus Luteum During Oestrous Cycle in Water Buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

The aim of this study was to document the expression and localization of VEGF system comprising of VEGF isoforms (VEGF 120, VEGF 164 and VEGF 188) and their receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) in buffalo corpus luteum (CL) obtained from different stages of the oestrous cycle. Real‐time RT‐PCR (qPCR), Western blot and immunohistochemistry were applied to investigate mRNA expression, protein expression and localization of examined factors. In general, all the components of VEGF system (the VEGF isoforms and their receptors) were found in the water buffalo CL during the oestrous cycle. The mRNA as well as protein expression of VEGF system was highest during the early and mid‐luteal phase, which later steadily decreased (p < 0.05) after day 10 to reach the lowest level in regressed CL. As demonstrated by immunohistochemistry, VEGF protein was localized predominantly in luteal cells; however, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 were localized in luteal cells as well as in endothelial cells. In conclusion, the dynamics of expression and localization of VEGF system in buffalo corpora lutea during the luteal phase were demonstrated in this study, indicating the possible role of VEGF system in the regulation of luteal angiogenesis and proliferation of luteal as well as endothelial cells through their non‐angiogenic function.     

Efficacy of Beauveria bassiana against the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: Combining biological control and chemical control could be used for controlling red imported fire ant (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta, more effectively. Beauveria bassiana F256, a local strain from Taiwan, was evaluated for its efficacy in the control of S. invicta under both laboratory and field conditions. RESULTS: The efficacies of different doses of B. bassiana (Bb) using direct application and bait formulation methods were compared. The number of RIFA workers killed by the direct application of Bb or by bait were significantly higher than those of the control, with different rates of efficacy under laboratory conditions. Under field conditions, the direct application of Bb into RIFA mounds was more efficient in inactivating the mounds than the bait application. CONCLUSION: It was shown that B. bassiana is able to control S. invicta under both laboratory and field conditions and can be used as a biocontrol agent against RIFA in Taiwan. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

以電化學分析法探討堆肥對土壤三價砷活性的影響

台灣西南沿?貐^土壤中砷含量有偏高情形,砷含量過高會經由各種途徑對人體造成毒害。以X-射線繞射儀與傅立葉轉換紅外線吸收光譜儀證明普魯士藍對三價砷的孯恍晕綑C制,再以普魯士藍修飾電極搭配流動注入系統來偵測土壤三價砷,並探討堆肥對三價砷在不同土壤中吸附與脫附的影響。試驗結果得知電化學分析技術可快速、簡便且準確地偵測土壤三價砷,且結果中也指出堆肥處理會增加秀水與後里土壤對三價砷的吸附。此外,三種土壤不論有無施用堆肥,脫附百分率的大小順序爲興大>秀水>後里,其中秀水土壤雖在施用堆肥後吸附力大小明顯增加,但脫附百分率下降的情形較不明顯,顯示黏土礦物種類與含量控制三價砷的脫附行爲。     

Different breeding systems of three varieties of Bidens pilosa in Taiwan

Three varieties of the introduced Bidens pilosa (Hairy beggar‐ticks; Asteraceae) co‐exist in Taiwan. Bidens pilosa var. minor and var. pilosa are naturalised, while only var. radiata is invasive. Differences in seed set in bagged versus open‐pollinated capitula, pollen–pistil interactions and the pollen/ovule (P/O) ratio were investigated among these three varieties. In contrast with the resulting 45–55% seed set in each bagged capitulum of var. minor and var. pilosa, almost no mature seeds (1–2 seeds) were found in bagged capitula of var. radiata, showing that var. radiata has a low capability of autonomous seed production. In bagged capitula, only 1.5% of pistils of var. radiata, but 76% and 52% of those of var. minor and pilosa, respectively, had pollen tubes penetrating into their styles, suggesting that var. radiata has strong self‐incompatibility mechanisms preventing autonomous autogamy. The P/O ratio, with mean values of 8189, 2053 and 1613 for var. radiata, var. minor and var. pilosa, respectively, were counted. These results support the hypothesis that the three varieties bear different breeding systems; the invasive var. radiata is highly self‐incompatible, whereas the other two naturalised varieties are self‐compatible.     

海南岛番茄巨芽病和番茄丛枝病的初步鉴定

 番茄巨芽病1982年在海南岛首次发现,它的病原类菌原体(MLO)形态,寄主范围和所引起的症状与澳大利亚,以色列和美国报道的番茄巨芽病MLO基本相同,但不能侵染翠菊和酸浆,可能属不同的株系。
从番茄巨芽病株分离出来的番茄丛枝病(MLO),其寄主范围和所引起的症状与番茄巨芽病显著不同,看来是一个与番茄巨芽病不同的新病害。     

以电化学分析法探讨堆肥对土壤三价砷活性的影响

台湾西南沿海地区土壤中砷含量有偏高情形，砷含量过高会经由各种途径对人体造成毒害。以X-射线绕射仪与傅立叶转换红外线吸收光谱仪证明普鲁士蓝封三价砷的专一性吸附机制．再以普鲁士蓝修饰电极搭配流动注入系统来侦测土壤三价砷．并探讨堆肥对三价砷在不同土壤中吸附与脱附的影响。试验结果得知电化学分析技术可快速、简便且准确地侦测土壤三价砷。且结果中也指出堆肥处理会增加秀水与後里土壤对三价砷的吸附。此外。三种土壤不论有无施用堆肥，脱附百分率的大小顺序为兴大〉秀水〉后里．其中秀水土壤虽在施用堆肥後吸附力大小明显增加．但脱附百分率下降的情形较不明显．显示黏土矿物种类与含量控制三价砷的脱附行为。     

Hyperactivated Motility in Sperm

Hyperactivation is a movement pattern seen in sperm at the site and time of fertilization in mammals. It may be critical to the success of fertilization, because it enhances the ability of sperm to detach from the wall of the oviduct, to move around in the labyrinthine lumen of the oviduct, to penetrate mucous substances and, finally, to penetrate the zona pellucida of the oocyte. The movement of hyperactivated sperm appears different under different physical conditions and in different species, but basically it involves an increase in flagellar bend amplitude and, usually, beat asymmetry. Presumably, a signal or signals exist in the oviduct to initiate hyperactivation at the appropriate time; however, none has yet been identified with certainty. While the signal transduction cascade regulating hyperactivation remains to be completely described, it is clear that calcium ions interact with the axoneme of the flagellum to switch on hyperactivation. Although hyperactivation often occurs during the process of capacitation, the two events are regulated by somewhat different pathways.     

Tools to study trends in community structure: application to fish and livestock trading networks

Partitioning of contact networks into communities allows groupings of epidemiologically related nodes to be derived, that could inform the design of disease surveillance and control strategies, e.g. contact tracing or design of 'firebreaks' for disease spread. However, these are only of merit if they persist longer than the timescale of interventions. Here, we apply different methods to identify concordance between network partitions across time for two animal trading networks, those of salmon in Scotland (2002-2004) and livestock in Great Britain (2003-2004). Both trading networks are similar in that they moderately agree over time in terms of their community structures, but this concordance is higher--and therefore community structure is more consistent--when only the 'core' network of nodes involved in trading over the whole time series is considered. In neither case was higher agreement found between partitions close together in time. These measures differ in their absolute values unless appropriate standardisation is applied. Once standardised, the measures gave similar values for both network types.     

Compartmentalized and binary behavior of terminal dendrites in hippocampal pyramidal neurons

The dendritic arbor of pyramidal neurons is not a monolithic structure. We show here that the excitability of terminal apical dendrites differs from that of the apical trunk. In response to fluorescence-guided focal photolysis of caged glutamate, individual terminal apical dendrites generated cadmium-sensitive all-or-none responses that were subthreshold for somatic action potentials. Calcium transients produced by all-or-none responses were not restricted to the sites of photolysis, but occurred throughout individual distal dendritic compartments, indicating that electrogenesis is mediated primarily by voltage-gated calcium channels. Compartmentalized and binary behavior of parallel-connected terminal dendrites can greatly expand the computational power of a single neuron.