Analytical validation of a portable human Accu-Chek glucometer in honeybee hemolymph

Glucose and trehalose are the main energy sources used by honeybees (Apis mellifera) for daily activities. However, there is no validated point-of-care method to reliably measure both sugars. We performed an analytical validation of a portable human glucometer (Accu-Chek; Roche) for glucose measurement in honeybee hemolymph compared to a reference method (GluCH, UniCel DxC 600; Beckman Coulter). We used 30 pooled hemolymph samples collected from the antennae of anesthetized honeybees and diluted 1:4 in 0.9% saline. We evaluated dilution linearity, spike recovery, and inter- and intra-assay imprecision. Glucose concentration was measured over time (2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 1 d, 2 d, 3 d, 7 d, 21 d, 28 d) at various storage temperature (25°C, 4°C, −20°C, −80°C). The trehalose concentration was measured indirectly by trehalase hydrolyzation. Glucose concentrations measured by both instruments had a strong correlation (0.985, p < 0.0001) and a bias of −7.33 mmol/L (±1.96SD: 13.70 to −28.36), with linear agreement at <20 mmol/L (physiologic value: 100 mmol/L). The accuracy of the glucometer decreased at >20 mmol/L. Recovery of 115–130% of diluted spikes indicated good specificity. Inter- and intra-assay imprecision were 2.50% and 2.21%, respectively. Glucose concentrations fluctuated in stored samples dependent on time and temperature; however, glucose concentrations were constant with storage at −80°C for ≥28 d. The Accu-Chek glucometer is an adequate instrument to measure honeybee glucose concentration in hemolymph diluted with 0.9% NaCl, with good accuracy and precision at <20 mmol/L. Hemolymph storage at −80°C is suitable for long-term conservation of glucose.     

Different ethylene production in vitro by several species and formae speciales of Fusarium

The ethylene production of severalFusarium species and formae speciales in vitro was measured under comparable conditions. All of them produced ethylene.Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. ex Fr. f.tulipae Apt. produced much more than the other 18 strains investigated.Samenvatting Aangezien er aanwijzingen zijn dat ethyleen een rol speelt bij de aantasting van de tulpebol doorFusarium, werd de ethyleenproduktie van diverse soorten en formae speciales vanFusarium onder standaardvoorwaarden in vitro vergeleken. Alle onderzochteFusarium spp. en vormen vanFusarium produceerden ethyleen.Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. ex Fr. f.tulipae Apt. bleek in vergelijking met 18 andere getoetste soorten en formae speciales enige duizenden malen meer ethyleen te produceren.     

Global-scale genetic structure of a cosmopolitan cold-water coral species

• 1. When considering widely distributed marine organisms with low dispersal capabilities, there is often an implication that the distribution of cosmopolitan species is an artefact of taxonomy, constrained by the absence of characters for delimiting either sibling or cryptic species. Few studies have assessed the relationship among populations across the global range of the species' distribution, and the presence of oceanographic barriers that might influence gene flow among populations are underestimated.
• 2. In this study, evolutionary and ecological drivers of connectivity patterns have been inferred among populations of the cold-water coral Desmophyllum dianthus, a common and widespread solitary scleractinian species, whose reproduction strategy and larval dispersal are still poorly unknown.
• 3. The genetic structure of D. dianthus was explored using 30 microsatellites in 347 specimens from 13 localities distributed in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
• 4. Results clearly reveal genetically differentiated populations in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (F_ST = 0.16, F_SC = 0.01, F_CT = 0.15, P-values highly significant), and Chilean and New Zealand populations with independent genetic profiles.
• 5. Marine connectivity patterns at different spatial scales are discussed to characterize larval dispersal and gene flow through the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

     

Genetic differentiation among Atlantic island populations of the brown spiny lobster Panulirus echinatus (Decapoda: Palinuridae)

1. Declines in Panulirus echinatus Smith, 1869 populations along their wide distribution in the Atlantic Ocean have spurred efforts to improve their fisheries management and conservation. In this study, the genetic structure of these populations is reported for the first time.
2. In a survey of 18 species‐specific polymorphic microsatellite markers, 152 individuals were genotyped from five Atlantic oceanic islands, covering most of the insular distribution range of the species. The analyses revealed that P. echinatus is genetically partitioned into two stocks in the Atlantic Ocean. A highly significant genetic structure was observed between north‐east and south‐west Atlantic populations based on fixation index, discriminant analysis of principal components, and structure and barrier analysis.
3. We suggest that the Equatorial Circulation System represents a biophysical barrier that effectively limits migration among Atlantic subtropical gyre systems, as has been described for other species. Other physical and ecological barriers, such as the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge itself, the distance between the eastern and western sides of the Atlantic (Mid‐Atlantic Barrier) and water mass differences, as well as other biological aspects, may also influence larval dispersal and modulate the insular distribution of this species.
4. The results show the existence of two distinct genetic stocks of P. echinatus and have implications for fisheries management in the Atlantic Ocean, including their independent management according to their individual status. The Cabo Verde and the Canarian populations (north‐east Atlantic) showed the lowest level of genetic variability in comparison with the south‐western populations. A combination of factors that have occurred or are occurring in the Canary Islands, such as overfishing and volcanic eruptions, is likely to explain the reduced abundance of this lobster species in the area.

     

The impact of a community-based food skills intervention on cooking confidence, food preparation methods and dietary choices - an exploratory trial

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of undertaking a food skills intervention study in areas of social deprivation aimed at altering cooking confidence, food preparation methods and dietary choices. DESIGN: A standardised skills programme was implemented in community-based settings. Pre- (T1) and post-intervention (T2) and 6-month follow-up (T3) measures (7-day diaries and self-administered questionnaires) were undertaken in intervention and comparison groups. SETTING: Eight urban communities in Scotland. SUBJECTS: One hundred and thirteen adults living in areas of social deprivation. RESULTS: It was clear that many subjects led fragmented lives and found commitment to intervention classes problematic. Sixty-three subjects completed the final (T3) assessments. The response to each component varied due to inability to attend sessions, illness, study requirements, employment, moving out of the area, change in circumstances, loss of interest and loss of postal questionnaires. At baseline, reported consumption of fruit and vegetables was low (mean frequency 8.1 +/- 4.78 times per week). Fruit intake increased significantly (P < 0.05) between T1 and T2 in the intervention group (1.7 +/- 2.36 to 2.7 +/- 3.28 times per week) only. Between T1 and T3, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in intervention subjects who reported confidence in following a recipe (67-90%,). CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory trial shows that a food skills intervention is likely to have a small but positive effect on food choice and confidence in food preparation. A full-scale randomised controlled trial in this hard-to-reach group would require a range of flexible approaches rather than a fully defined intervention, and presents challenges for trial design.     

The cholesterol-lowering property of soybeans fed to rats is related to the fasting duration

Numerous factors affect plasma cholesterol and, therefore, representpotential interferences with the specific effects of diet on lipid metabolism.After casein intake, serum cholesterol levels depend on many experimentalconditions in rats, such as the type of casein, the presence or absence ofcholesterol in the diet, the age and strain of rat, the diet composition, thenutritional status. The effect of fasting duration on selected parameters wasstudied in adult male Wistar rats fed a 20% casein and 1% cholesterol-based diet. No changes were observed in total serum, lipoproteins-B andHDL cholesterol and in triglyceride values after an 8 h-fast compared tonon-fasted animals. A significant decrease was induced in total andlipoproteins-B cholesterol with a 12 h-fast. A prolonged fast resulted ina significant decrease in these parameters and in triglycerides and inHDL-cholesterol levels.Fasted animals fed heated soybean meal instead of casein did not display amarked decrease in serum lipids. It appeared that the fasting effect wasmore marked in animals fed casein than in animals fed soybeans. Theseresults showed the importance of experimental conditions such as nutritional status ofanimals when blood samples are taken in studies of the hypocholesterolemiceffect of soy protein compared to casein.     

CoRoT measures solar-like oscillations and granulation in stars hotter than the Sun

Oscillations of the Sun have been used to understand its interior structure. The extension of similar studies to more distant stars has raised many difficulties despite the strong efforts of the international community over the past decades. The CoRoT (Convection Rotation and Planetary Transits) satellite, launched in December 2006, has now measured oscillations and the stellar granulation signature in three main sequence stars that are noticeably hotter than the sun. The oscillation amplitudes are about 1.5 times as large as those in the Sun; the stellar granulation is up to three times as high. The stellar amplitudes are about 25% below the theoretic values, providing a measurement of the nonadiabaticity of the process ruling the oscillations in the outer layers of the stars.