Identification of novel juvenile-hormone signaling activators via high-throughput screening with a chemical library

Juvenile hormone (JH) is an insect-specific hormone that regulates molting and metamorphosis. Hence, JH signaling inhibitors (JHSIs) and activators (JHSAs) can be used as effective insect growth regulators (IGRs) for pest management. In our previous study, we established a high-throughput screening (HTS) system for exploration of novel JHSIs and JHSAs using a Bombyx mori cell line (BmN_JF&AR cells) and succeeded in identifying novel JHSIs from a chemical library. Here, we searched for novel JHSAs using this system. The four-step HTS yielded 10 compounds as candidate JHSAs; some of these compounds showed novel basic structures, whereas the others were composed of a 4-phenoxyphenoxymethyl skeleton, the basic structure of several existing JH analogs (pyriproxyfen and fenoxycarb). Topical application of seven compounds to B. mori larvae significantly prolonged the larval period, suggesting that the identified JHSAs may be promising IGRs targeting the JH signaling pathway.     

Riparian defoliation by the invasive green alder sawfly influences terrestrial prey subsidies to salmon streams

Invasive species in riparian forests are unique as their effects can transcend ecosystem boundaries via stream‐riparian linkages. The green alder sawfly (Monsoma pulveratum) is an invasive wasp whose larvae are defoliating riparian thin‐leaf alder (Alnus tenuifolia) stands across southcentral Alaska. To test the hypothesis that riparian defoliation by this invasive sawfly negatively affects the flow of terrestrial prey resources to stream fishes, we sampled terrestrial invertebrates on riparian alder foliage, their subsidies to streams and their consumption by juvenile coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch). Invasive sawflies altered the composition of terrestrial invertebrates on riparian alder foliage and as terrestrial prey subsidies to streams. Community analyses supported these findings revealing that invasive sawflies shifted the community structure of terrestrial invertebrates between seasons and levels of energy flow (riparian foliage, streams and fish). Invasive sawfly biomass peaked mid‐summer, altering the timing and magnitude of terrestrial prey subsidies to streams. Contrary to our hypothesis, invasive sawflies had no effect on the biomass of native taxa on riparian alder foliage, as terrestrial prey subsidies, or in juvenile coho salmon diets. Juvenile coho salmon consumed invasive sawflies when most abundant, but relied more on other prey types selecting against sawflies relative to their availability. Although we did not find effects of invasive sawflies extending to juvenile coho salmon in this study, these results could change as the distribution of invasive sawflies expands or as defoliation intensifies. Nevertheless, riparian defoliation by these invasive sawflies is likely having other ecological effects that merits further investigation.     

Activin‐A receptor expression patterns in prepubertal goat oocytes and derived embryos

This study examines the presence of activin IIA and IIB receptors (ActR‐IIA and ActR‐IIB) by Western blotting and immunocytochemistry in immature and IVM‐oocytes, 2 to 8‐cells embryos and blastocysts from prepubertal goats. Western blotting revealed that activin receptors are synthesized during oocyte maturation and embryo development. In the immunocytochemistry experiments, no immunostaining for either receptor was detected in oocytes while both receptors were immunolabelled in all the cells of cleaved embryos. In blastocysts, while ActR‐IIA expression appeared evenly distributed in the two cell lineages, inner cell mass and trophectoderm, the ActR‐IIB immunosignal was restricted mainly to the inner cell mass. Our findings reveal the presence of activin type II receptors (ActR‐IIA and ActR‐IIB) in in vitro matured prepubertal goat oocytes and blastocyst‐stage embryos. The expression of these receptors could be a key factor in understanding differences between competent and incompetent oocytes.     

熊蜂滞育及调控机制研究进展

滞育是绝大多数昆虫为了在不利于自身生存的极端自然环境中存活下来而进行的一种生理过程,是昆虫与环境长期协同进化的结果。熊蜂滞育过程属于成虫生殖滞育,其滞育进程可能受保幼激素水平、热激蛋白表达以及物质代谢等方面的影响,但其具体的滞育调节机制尚未清楚。本文从昆虫滞育的相关假说、熊蜂滞育进程以及熊蜂滞育机制调控进展等方面进行阐述,以期为后续熊蜂工厂化繁育中滞育技术的突破奠定基础。     

闲散未成年人犯罪的原因及对策

闲散未成年人是指达到法定入学年龄但没入学,或者结束某一阶段学业后并未升学或就业的未成年人。家庭教养的不当与缺失,学校应试教育的缺陷与失误,社会不良因素的影响是闲散未成年人犯罪的主要原因。要有效预防闲散未成年人犯罪就必须依靠和发挥整个社会的力量,形成齐抓共管的局面,把影响未成年人基本生存、健康成长的不利因素减少到最低限度,为未成年人营造一个良好的生存、成长与发展的空间。     

饲料锌含量对方格星虫稚虫生长性能、体成分、体腔液中锌含量及碱性磷酸酶活性的影响

以蛋氨酸锌为锌源,在等氮等能的基础饲料中添加不同水平的锌,配制实际锌含量分别为9.3、31.7、49.9、90.1、168.6和326.5 mg/kg的6种试验饲料,饲喂平均体重为(14.54±0.10)mg的方格星虫稚虫8周,用以研究饲料锌含量对方格星虫稚虫生长、体成分、体腔液中锌含量及碱性磷酸酶活性的影响。每种试验饲料设3个重复,每个重复饲喂400尾方格星虫稚虫。结果表明:饲料锌含量对方格星虫的成活率、增重率和特定生长率均有显著影响(P0.05),其中增重率和特定生长率均在饲料锌含量为49.9 mg/kg时达到最高值,并显著高于饲料锌含量最低(9.3 mg/kg)和最高(326.5 mg/kg)的组(P0.05)。饲料锌含量对虫体粗脂肪和粗灰分含量有显著影响(P0.05),虫体粗脂肪含量随着饲料锌含量的提高呈先增后降的趋势,而粗灰分含量的趋势则相反。饲料锌含量对虫体水分和粗蛋白质含量没有显著影响(P0.05)。饲料锌含量对虫体体腔液锌含量和碱性磷酸酶活性均有显著影响(P0.05)。虫体体腔液锌含量随着饲料锌含量的提高而不断上升,在饲料锌含量为326.5 mg/kg时达到最高值;而虫体体腔液中碱性磷酸酶活性则随着饲料锌含量的提高先上升后趋于稳定,当饲料锌含量为49.9 mg/kg时达到最高值。以增重率为评价指标,通过回归分析得出方格星虫稚虫饲料中适宜锌含量为41.93 mg/kg。     

不同脂肪源对真鲷幼鱼生长、存活及体内脂肪酸组成的影响

真鲷幼鱼摄食缺乏多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)饵料时,其生长增重率和存活率比摄食富含PUFA配合饵料或玉筋鱼鱼糜的明显下降。幼鱼摄食含有不同脂肪酸饵料时,其肌肉和肝脏组极性或非极性脂中脂肪酸组成都有变化。肌肉和肝脏极性脂中的PUFA比非极性脂中PUFA含量高,并且当饵料中不能提供足够的PUFA时,非极性脂中的PUFA下降明显,而极性脂中的PUFA变化较小,被优先贮存。真鲷幼鱼肌肉和肝脏组织缺乏n-9、n-6和n-3相互转化的能力。因此,为提高幼鱼的生长增重率和存活率,必须保证饵料中含有足够的PUFA。     

营养强化对灰海马幼体氨基酸组成的影响及品质的评价

为评价复合营养型强化剂对灰海马(Hippocampus erectus)幼体氨基酸组成模式和营养品质的影响,用0.045 mL/L(A)、0.090 mL/L(B)和0.180 mL/L(C)3个浓度的50DE-微囊强化的卤虫投喂灰海马幼体。结果显示,灰海马氨基酸总量(TAA)的平均值为51.10%(质量分数,干样);灰海马含有17种氨基酸(AA),其中8种人体必需氨基酸总量(TEAA)占TAA比例的平均值为31.00%,4种呈味氨基酸总量(TDAA)占TAA的比例超过45.00%(质量分数,干样)。限制性氨基酸为异亮氨酸(Ile)和亮氨酸(Leu)。必需氨基酸指数(EAAI)的平均值为36.97。随着强化剂浓度升高,卤虫和灰海马体内部分AA、TAA、TDAA和非必需氨基酸(TNEAA)的含量及大多数单个必需氨基酸含量与必需氨基酸总量比值(A/E)均与强化剂浓度呈反比(P<0.05)。但是,卤虫和灰海马的TEAA/TAA和TEAA/TNEAA的值却随强化剂浓度升高而上升(P<0.05)。同时,从氨基酸评分(AAS)、化学评分(CS)和EAAI的评分模式可以看出,B、C两组灰海马的评分总体显著高于A组(P<0.05),但B、C两组间大部分氨基酸评分差异不显著(P>0.05)。结果说明,过高浓度的强化剂无法显著提高氨基酸的相对含量,但却能在一定程度上改善氨基酸的组成模式。     

Effect of dietary replacement of fish meal by soybean protein concentrate on growth performance and phosphorus discharging of juvenile black sea bream,Acanthopagrus schlegelii

The 8‐week experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of partial replacement of fish meal (FM) with soybean protein concentrate (SPC) on juvenile black sea bream, Acanthopagrus schlegelii (10.70 ± 0.04 g). Diets were formulated to replace FM protein by SPC at 0, 8, 16, 24, 32 or 40% (designated as T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6, respectively). Diets except T1 were supplemented with phytase at 2000 phytase activity U kg^?1. The results showed that survival rate, growth performance and feed utilization were not significantly affected by increasing dietary SPC. Fish fed diet T3 had higher feed intake compared to those fed T1, T2 and T5 diets. Whole body compositions of black sea bream were significantly influenced by SPC replacing FM except for protein, ash and phosphorus content. Condition factor of fish was significantly lower in T2 than that of fish in T3 group. Apparent digestibility coefficients (ADCs) of dry matter was higher in fish fed T6 diet than those of fish fed T1 and T2 diets, ADCs of phosphorus increased with dietary SPC level up to T3 and then decreased. The results obtained in this study indicate that FM protein could be effectively replaced by SPC protein with phytase in diet of black sea bream.     

The sharks of South East Asia – unknown,unmonitored and unmanaged

Sharks fisheries have declined globally due to over‐ and unregulated fishing. As with many collapsed and unmonitored coastal fisheries, information is difficult to obtain, yet it is important to understand the historical changes determining population trends and evaluate the current status of sharks in order to conserve these vulnerable species. Here, we document for the first time the history and general condition of the shark fisheries of Southern China, specifically Hong Kong, and Guangdong, Fujian and Hainan Provinces. This study shows, through the use of historical literature and anecdotal accounts, including fisher interviews, that all known shark fisheries in the region collapsed between the 1970s and the 1990s. Of the 109 species present historically in the South China Sea, only 18 species were recorded in current market surveys, of which all were landed as bycatch and 65% were below the size of sexual maturity. Markets are dominated by smaller species, including the spadenose shark (Scoliodon laticaudus) and the whitespotted bambooshark (Chiloscyllium plagiosum). Marketed large shark species are almost all below the size of sexual maturation, evidence of growth overfishing and a factor in recruitment overfishing. Some species, like the whale (Rhincodon typus) and basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus), are clearly vulnerable to local extinction without intervention. Given the inherent vulnerability of sharks and the overfished states of many sharks, there is clearly an urgent need to formulate impacting conservation and management plans for these rapidly declining species in a region that has the highest demand for shark products globally.