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Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons are the predominant cell type that innervates the vertebrate skin. They are typically described as pseudounipolar cells that have central and peripheral axons branching from a single root exiting the cell body. The peripheral axon travels within a nerve to the skin, where free sensory endings can emerge and branch into an arbor that receives and integrates information. In some immature vertebrates, DRG neurons are preceded by Rohon-Beard (RB) neurons. While the sensory endings of RB and DRG neurons function like dendrites, we use live imaging in zebrafish to show that they have axonal plus-end-out microtubule polarity at all stages of maturity. Moreover, we show both cell types have central and peripheral axons with plus-end-out polarity. Surprisingly, in DRG neurons these emerge separately from the cell body, and most cells never acquire the signature pseudounipolar morphology. Like another recently characterized cell type that has multiple plus-end-out neurites, ganglion cells in Nematostella, RB and DRG neurons maintain a somatic microtubule organizing center even when mature. In summary, we characterize key cellular and subcellular features of vertebrate sensory neurons as a foundation for understanding their function and maintenance.

The pathogenesis of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is poorly understood. Here, we report that the CIPN-causing drug bortezomib (Bort) promotes delta 2 tubulin (D2) accumulation while affecting microtubule stability and dynamics in sensory neurons in vitro and in vivo and that the accumulation of D2 is predominant in unmyelinated fibers and a hallmark of bortezomib-induced peripheral neuropathy (BIPN) in humans. Furthermore, while D2 overexpression was sufficient to cause axonopathy and inhibit mitochondria motility, reduction of D2 levels alleviated both axonal degeneration and the loss of mitochondria motility induced by Bort. Together, our data demonstrate that Bort, a compound structurally unrelated to tubulin poisons, affects the tubulin cytoskeleton in sensory neurons in vitro, in vivo, and in human tissue, indicating that the pathogenic mechanisms of seemingly unrelated CIPN drugs may converge on tubulin damage. The results reveal a previously unrecognized pathogenic role for D2 in BIPN that may occur through altered regulation of mitochondria motility.

The MAP3Ks Dual Leucine Kinase (DLK) and Leucine Zipper Kinase (LZK) are essential mediators of axon damage responses, but their responses are varied, complex, and incompletely understood. To characterize their functions in axon injury, we generated zebrafish mutants of each gene, labeled motor neurons (MN) and touch-sensing neurons in live zebrafish, precisely cut their axons with a laser, and assessed the ability of mutant axons to regenerate. DLK and LZK were required redundantly and cell autonomously for axon regeneration in MNs, but not in larval Rohon-Beard (RB) or adult dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons. Surprisingly, in dlk lzk double mutants, the spared branches of wounded RB axons grew excessively, suggesting that these kinases inhibit regenerative sprouting in damaged axons. Uninjured trigeminal sensory axons also grew excessively in mutants when neighboring neurons were ablated, indicating that these MAP3Ks are general inhibitors of sensory axon growth. These results demonstrate that zebrafish DLK and LZK promote diverse injury responses, depending on the neuronal cell identity and type of axonal injury.Significance statementThe MAP3Ks DLK and LZK are damage sensors that promote diverse outcomes to neuronal injury, including axon regeneration. Understanding their context-specific functions is a prerequisite to considering these kinases as therapeutic targets. To investigate DLK and LZK cell-type specific functions, we created zebrafish mutants in each gene. Using mosaic cell labeling and precise laser injury we found that both proteins were required for axon regeneration in motor neurons, but, unexpectedly, were not required for axon regeneration in Rohon-Beard or dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons, and negatively regulated sprouting in the spared axons of touch-sensing neurons. These findings emphasize that animals have evolved distinct mechanisms to regulate injury site regeneration and collateral sprouting, and identify differential roles for DLK and LZK in these processes.

Neurons extend dendrites and axons to receive and send signals. If either type of process is removed, the cell cannot function. Rather than undergoing cell death, some neurons can regrow axons and dendrites. Axon and dendrite regeneration have been examined separately and require sensing the injury and reinitiating the correct growth program. Whether neurons in vivo can sense and respond to simultaneous axon and dendrite injury with polarized regeneration has not been explored. To investigate the outcome of simultaneous axon and dendrite damage, we used a Drosophila model system in which neuronal polarity, axon regeneration, and dendrite regeneration have been characterized. After removal of the axon and all but one dendrite, the remaining dendrite was converted to a process that had a long unbranched region that extended over long distances and a region where shorter branched processes were added. These observations suggested axons and dendrites could regrow at the same time. To further test the capacity of neurons to implement polarized regeneration after axon and dendrite damage, we removed all neurites from mature neurons. In this case a long unbranched neurite and short branched neurites were regrown from the stripped cell body. Moreover, the long neurite had axonal plus-end-out microtubule polarity and the shorter neurites had mixed polarity consistent with dendrite identity. The long process also accumulated endoplasmic reticulum at its tip like regenerating axons. We conclude that neurons in vivo can respond to simultaneous axon and dendrite injury by initiating growth of a new axon and new dendrites.

While many regulators of axon regeneration have been identified, very little is known about mechanisms that allow dendrites to regenerate after injury. Using a Drosophila model of dendrite regeneration, we performed a candidate screen of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and found a requirement for RTK-like orphan receptor (Ror). We confirmed that Ror was required for regeneration in two different neuron types using RNA interference (RNAi) and mutants. Ror was not required for axon regeneration or normal dendrite development, suggesting a specific role in dendrite regeneration. Ror can act as a Wnt coreceptor with frizzleds (fzs) in other contexts, so we tested the involvement of Wnt signaling proteins in dendrite regeneration. We found that knockdown of fz, dishevelled (dsh), Axin, and gilgamesh (gish) also reduced dendrite regeneration. Moreover, Ror was required to position dsh and Axin in dendrites. We recently found that Wnt signaling proteins, including dsh and Axin, localize microtubule nucleation machinery in dendrites. We therefore hypothesized that Ror may act by regulating microtubule nucleation at baseline and during dendrite regeneration. Consistent with this hypothesis, localization of the core nucleation protein γTubulin was reduced in Ror RNAi neurons, and this effect was strongest during dendrite regeneration. In addition, dendrite regeneration was sensitive to partial reduction of γTubulin. We conclude that Ror promotes dendrite regeneration as part of a Wnt signaling pathway that regulates dendritic microtubule nucleation., This study identifies the receptor tyrosine kinase Ror as a player in a Wnt signaling pathway that regulates dendritic microtubules; although dendrite development is normal in animals that lack Ror, the poorly understood process of dendrite regeneration is compromised.

Background: The Present study was designed to evaluate the spermicidal potential of various Lantana camara leaf extracts on healthy human spermatozoa. Methods: Four different extracts viz. Petroleum ether, Chloroform, Methanol and Water were prepared and diluted to various concentrations. These were then treated with suitably diluted human semen samples. Various parameters like sperm motility, sperm viability, sperm count, hypoosmotic swelling, acrosomal status and function were noted. Results: The results showed that methanolic and aqueous extracts possessed maximum spermicidal potential in terms of above mentioned sperm health and function parameters. Therefore, methanolic and aqueous extracts were further studied for In-vitro evaluation of pro-oxidant activity by detection of ROS generation using fluorescent probe detection method. Conclusions: The results revealed that both methanolic and aqueous extracts of Lantana camara possessed pro-oxidant potential which could be attributed for its observed contact spermicidal activity.

AIM: To determine whether being the victim of violence during a date among female college students on any given day predicted cannabis and alcohol use the following day. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Between August 2010 and January 2013, we conducted a 90-day daily diary study with 174 females who were in current dating relationships from a large university in the Southeastern United States. The mean age of the sample was 18.71 (SD = 1.27); participants were primarily non-Hispanic Caucasian (85.5%). Participants answered questions about contact with their dating partner, being the victim of violence (physical and sexual) during a date, physical perpetration, alcohol use, and cannabis use for up to 90 days. The mean number of diaries completed was 54.90 (SD = 27.66). MEASUREMENTS: The primary outcomes were self-reported daily cannabis and alcohol use. Being the victim of violence during a date was assessed each day using self-report items from the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales and Sexual Experiences Survey. FINDINGS: Being the victim of violence during a date predicted cannabis use the following day (OR = 2.25), and this effect held when controlling for contact with a partner, cannabis and alcohol use the previous day, physical perpetration the previous day, alcohol use the same day, and the overall likelihood of being the victim of violence during a date, substance use, and physical perpetration. Being the victim of violence during a date did not predict next day alcohol use. Being the victim of sexual and physical violence during a date did not differentially predict next day substance use. CONCLUSIONS: Among female college students in the USA, being the victim of violence during a date appears to increase the risk for cannabis use the following day. Language: en

Dating violence is a serious and prevalent problem on college campuses. Although there is a robust literature documenting that alcohol use is consistently associated with increased risk for perpetrating dating violence, little research has examined the role of cannabis in dating violence perpetration. With increasing legalisation of cannabis throughout the world, it is imperative to understand what role, if any, cannabis may play in the important public health problem of dating violence. In this commentary, we discuss the current state of the research on cannabis and dating violence and suggest avenues for additional research in this area. It is critical that we conduct methodologically sound research on the association between cannabis and dating violence so that we can understand what role, if any, cannabis exerts on this important problem. [Shorey RC, Haynes E, Strauss C, Temple JR, Stuart GL. Cannabis use and dating violence among college students: A call for research. Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:17–19]

Dendrite microtubules are polarized with minus-end-out orientation in Drosophila neurons. Nucleation sites concentrate at dendrite branch points, but how they localize is not known. Using Drosophila, we found that canonical Wnt signaling proteins regulate localization of the core nucleation protein γTubulin (γTub). Reduction of frizzleds (fz), arrow (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein [LRP] 5/6), dishevelled (dsh), casein kinase Iγ, G proteins, and Axin reduced γTub-green fluorescent protein (GFP) at branch points, and two functional readouts of dendritic nucleation confirmed a role for Wnt signaling proteins. Both dsh and Axin localized to branch points, with dsh upstream of Axin. Moreover, tethering Axin to mitochondria was sufficient to recruit ectopic γTub-GFP and increase microtubule dynamics in dendrites. At dendrite branch points, Axin and dsh colocalized with early endosomal marker Rab5, and new microtubule growth initiated at puncta marked with fz, dsh, Axin, and Rab5. We propose that in dendrites, canonical Wnt signaling proteins are housed on early endosomes and recruit nucleation sites to branch points.

Feng et al. describe persistent neuronal microtubule minus end growth that depends on the CAMSAP protein Patronin and is needed for dendritic minus-end-out polarity., Microtubule minus ends are thought to be stable in cells. Surprisingly, in Drosophila and zebrafish neurons, we observed persistent minus end growth, with runs lasting over 10 min. In Drosophila, extended minus end growth depended on Patronin, and Patronin reduction disrupted dendritic minus-end-out polarity. In fly dendrites, microtubule nucleation sites localize at dendrite branch points. Therefore, we hypothesized minus end growth might be particularly important beyond branch points. Distal dendrites have mixed polarity, and reduction of Patronin lowered the number of minus-end-out microtubules. More strikingly, extra Patronin made terminal dendrites almost completely minus-end-out, indicating low Patronin normally limits minus-end-out microtubules. To determine whether minus end growth populated new dendrites with microtubules, we analyzed dendrite development and regeneration. Minus ends extended into growing dendrites in the presence of Patronin. In sum, our data suggest that Patronin facilitates sustained microtubule minus end growth, which is critical for populating dendrites with minus-end-out microtubules., Graphical Abstract

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) are highly conserved between humans and non-human primates. Conservation exists at the level of genomic structure, protein structure and epigenetics. Overall homology of nAChRs at the protein level is 98% in macaques versus 89% in mice, which is highly relevant for evaluating subtype-specific ligands that have different affinities in humans versus rodents. In addition to conservation at the protein level, there is high conservation of genomic structure in terms of intron and exon size and placement of CpG sites that play a key role in epigenetic regulation. Analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) shows that while the majority of SNPs are not conserved between humans and macaques, some functional polymorphisms are. Most significantly, cynomolgus monkeys express a similar α5 nAChR Asp398Asn polymorphism to the human α5 Asp398Asn polymorphism that has been linked to greater nicotine addiction and smoking related disease. Monkeys can be trained to readily self-administer nicotine, and in an initial study we have demonstrated that cynomolgus monkeys bearing the α5 D398N polymorphism show a reduced behavioral sensitivity to oral nicotine and tend to consume it in a different pattern when compared to wild-type monkeys. Thus the combination of highly homologous nAChR, higher cortical functions and capacity for complex training makes non-human primates a unique model to study in vivo functions of nicotinic receptors. In particular, primate studies on nicotine addiction and evaluation of therapies to prevent or overcome nicotine addiction are likely to be highly predictive of treatment outcomes in humans. This article is part of the Special Issue entitled 'The Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor: From Molecular Biology to Cognition'.

TRPV ion channels are directly activated by sensory stimuli and participate in thermo-, mechano- and chemo-sensation. They are also hypothesized to respond to endogenous agonists that would modulate sensory responses. Here, we show that the nicotinamide (NAM) form of vitamin B3 is an agonist of a Caenorhabditis elegans TRPV channel. Using heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes, we demonstrate that NAM is a soluble agonist for a channel consisting of the well-studied OSM-9 TRPV subunit and relatively uncharacterized OCR-4 TRPV subunit as well as the orthologous Drosophila Nan-Iav TRPV channel, and we examine stoichiometry of subunit assembly. Finally, we show that behaviours mediated by these C. elegans and Drosophila channels are responsive to NAM, suggesting conservation of activity of this soluble endogenous metabolite on TRPV activity. Our results in combination with the role of NAM in NAD+ metabolism suggest an intriguing link between metabolic regulation and TRPV channel activity., TRPV are cation channels activated by physical and chemical stimuli. Here the authors show that nicotinamide is a soluble, endogenous agonist for orthologous TRPV channels from C. elegans and Drosophila, unveiling a metabolic-based regulation for TRPV channel activity.

Dibenzo[def,p]chrysene (DBC) is a transplacental carcinogen in mice (15mg/kg; gestation day (GD) 17). To mimic residual exposure throughout pregnancy, dams received four smaller doses of DBC (3.75mg/kg) on GD 5, 9, 13 and 17. This regimen alleviated the previously established carcinogenic responses in the thymus, lung, and liver. However, there was a marked increase in ovarian tumors (females) and hyperplastic testes (males). [(14)C]-DBC (GD 17) dosing revealed transplacental distribution to fetal tissues at 10-fold lower concentrations than in paired maternal tissue and residual [(14)C] 3weeks post-dose. This study highlights the importance of developmental stage in susceptibility to environmental carcinogens.

Quantifying the spatial genetic structure of highly vagile species of birds is important in predicting their degree of population demographic and genetic independence during changing environmental conditions, and in assessing their abundance and distribution. In the western Arctic, Lesser Snow Geese (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) provide an example useful for evaluating spatial population genetic structure and the relative contribution of male and female philopatry to breeding and wintering locales. We analyzed biparentally inherited microsatellite loci and maternally inherited mtDNA sequences from geese breeding at Wrangel Island (Russia) and Banks Island (Canada) to estimate gene flow among populations whose geographic overlap during breeding and winter differ. Significant differences in the frequencies of mtDNA haplotypes contrast with the homogeneity of allele frequencies for microsatellite loci. Coalescence simulations revealed high variability and asymmetry between males and females in r...

Many states have established special harvest seasons and hunting zones to target overabundant populations of temperate-nesting Canada geese (Branta canadensis) and protect less abundant northern-nesting populations of Canada geese and cackling geese (B. hutchinsii). To meet management needs for spatially and temporally explicit harvest estimates, we utilized established methods of genetic stock identification and standardized harvest sample collections to estimate proportional contributions of cackling (B. h. hutchinsii) and Canada geese (B. c. maxima and B. c. interior) to 5 consecutive annual harvests (1998–2002) in Michigan, USA. Harvest samples (n = 2,272) were analyzed for several seasons at statewide, regional, and local spatial scales. We expanded upon previous studies that used genetic methods to monitor cackling goose and Canada goose harvests by analyzing harvests within regional and local goose management areas. Likelihood ratio tests were also employed to compare harvest composition a...

The integrin alphavbeta3 mediates cell-matrix interactions. Vitaxin(R), a humanized monoclonal antibody that blocks human and rabbit alphavbeta3 integrins, is in clinical trials for metastatic melanoma and prostate cancer. alphavbeta3 is the predominant integrin on osteoclasts, the cells responsible for bone resorption in health and disease. Here, we report the first investigation of Vitaxin's effects on osteoclast activity. Vitaxin (100-300 ng/ml) decreased total resorption by 50%, but did not alter resorptive activity per osteoclast. Vitaxin (300 ng/ml) decreased osteoclast numbers on plastic by 35% after 48 h. Similarly, attachment after 2 h was reduced by 30% when osteoclasts were incubated with Vitaxin (300 ng/ml) for 25 min prior to plating; however, the rate of fusion of osteoclast precursors in Vitaxin-treated and control groups was equal. Using time-lapse microscopy, we evaluated the effect of Vitaxin on osteoclast morphology and found a significant reduction in osteoclast planar area only when cells were pretreated with macrophage colony stimulating factor (M-CSF). Extracellular Ca(2+) and M-CSF have opposite effects on alphavbeta3 conformation. Elevation of extracellular Ca(2+) eliminated the inhibitory effect of Vitaxin on osteoclast attachment. In contrast, the effect of Vitaxin was enhanced in cells pretreated with M-CSF. This action of M-CSF was suppressed by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-kinase) inhibitor wortmannin, suggesting that M-CSF increases Vitaxin's inhibitory effect by inside-out activation of alphavbeta3. In conclusion, Vitaxin decreases resorption by impairing osteoclast attachment, without affecting osteoclast formation and multinucleation. Our data also show that Vitaxin's inhibitory effects on osteoclasts can be modulated by factors known to alter the conformation of alphavbeta3.

Molecular-genetic technology and statistical methods based on principles of population genetics provide valuable information to wildlife managers. Genetic data analyzed in a hierarchical, spatial context among individuals and among populations at micro- and macro-geographic scales has been widely used to provide information on the degree of population structure and to estimate rates of dispersal. Our goals were to (1) provide an overview of spatial statistics commonly used in empirical population genetics, and (2) introduce analytical designs that can be employed to extend hypothesis-testing capabilities by incorporating space-time interactions and by using information on habitat quality, distribution, and degree of connectivity. We show that genetics data can be used to quantify the degree of habitat permeability to dispersal and to qualify the negative consequences of habitat loss. We highlight empirical examples that use information on spatial genetic structure in areas of harvest derivation for admixed migratory species, wildlife disease, and habitat equivalency analysis.

The bearded manakins in the genus Manacus are lekking, neotropical passerines. Male plumage colour varies with geographical location and classification is based solely on these plumage patterns. It has recently been suggested that in this group of birds, plumage patterns may be a misleading taxonomic character. In this study we used microsatellite variation in a collection of museum samples to establish the amount of genetic divergence between the previously described bearded manakin species/subspecies. We found substantial genetic substructuring between species/subspecies and that plumage patterns indeed may be a misleading taxonomic character because the presence of yellow in male nuptial plumage is found in most divergent forms. We did not detect a significant isolation by distance relationship although the P-value was close to significance. Physical barriers such as rivers and mountains may affect gene flow and play a role in shaping genetic structure of the genus Manacus. Accordingly, boundaries between species/subspecies often coincide with large rivers, mountains and seas.

Local genetic structure was studied in lekking white-bearded manakins in a study area on northern Trinidad, West Indies. The study population consisted of nine leks, at which a total of 238 birds were caught. By genotyping the individuals at eight polymorphic microsatellite loci we inferred some males on leks to be related (r = 0.25) as we found an average number of 14.8 half-sib relationships and two full-sib relationships per lek. We found that the sampled birds belonged to one genetic population that was slightly inbred (FIS and FIT = 0.02). Kinship coefficients decreased with increasing geographical distance, indicating that related birds displayed at the same or nearby leks. However, leks did not consist of only one family group because the average genetic distance (aij) between males within leks was higher than when comparing males on leks within close proximity. These patterns suggest limited male dispersal, that some type of kin recognition process between individuals may exist in this species and that males on leks may be more likely to establish themselves as territory-holding birds if a relative is already present.

The relative influence of the southern fire ant, Solenopsis xyloni McCook, Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), and native gray ant, Formica aerata (Francoeur), on parasitism of California red scale, Aonidiella aurantii Maskell, was studied in the laboratory for two parasitoids, Comperiella bifasciata Howard and Aphytis melinus DeBach. All three ant species reduced percentage parasitism by C. bifasciata and both percentage parasitism and host mutilation by A. melinus. Southern fire ant was the least disruptive and native gray ant the most disruptive. Southern fire ant removed 12% of scale from the lemons, presumably to feed on them, while the other ant species did not exhibit significant removal of scale compared to the controls. Percentage parasitism of California red scale exhibited by C. bifasciata was more than 2-fold the level exhibited by A. melinus. Percentage mutilation of California red scale, including probing and host feeding, was nearly 5-fold higher for A. melinus than C. bifasciata. Because A. melinus required a longer total host examination + oviposition period in the absence of ants than C. bifasciata and because oviposition occurs as the last act in a sequence of behaviors, disruption by the ants had a more significant negative effect on oviposition by A. melinus.

Mating success on white-bearded manakin (Manacus manacus) leks: male characteristics and relatedness

The barrier properties and glial ensheathment of blood vessels in the retinal myelinated streak of adult New Zealand White rabbits were characterized at the ultrastructural level by intravascular injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and immuno-electron microscopy with monoclonal antibody O4 and antibodies to glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Vessels within the myelinated streak did not leak HRP, and they exhibited tight junctions between adjacent endothelial cells. However, unlike their adult counterparts, the retinal blood vessels at postnatal day 18 exhibited substantial endocytotic activity. Both GFAP+ astrocytes and O4+ cells were evident surrounding the preretinal blood vessels of the myelinated streak. Furthermore, O4+ cells exhibited features indicative of high synthetic activity, including a large proportion of extended chromatin and prominent nucleoli within the nucleus, as well as a well-developed Golgi apparatus and numerous mitochondria in the cytoplasm. O4+ cells also exhibited variable quantities of heterochromatin, indicative of early stages of cellular differentiation. These observations are consistent with previous data showing that O4+ cells in the myelinated streak include oligodendrocyte precursor cells, pre-oligodendrocytes, and immature oligodendrocytes (Morcos Y, Chan-Ling T. Glia 21:163-182, 1997). The present data indicate that the preretinal vessels of the myelinated streak possess barrier properties typical of microvasculature in the central nervous system, and that both O4+ cells and astrocytes contribute to the glial ensheathment of these vessels. These vessels thus differ markedly from the leaky preretinal vessels associated with pathological conditions such as retinopathy of prematurity.

Concerns for river health and water quality have led to aquatic organisms being used as bioindicators of these resources. X-Ray microanalysis with Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy was utilised to analyse the metal-ion content of granular concretions in the mantle of the Australian freshwater mussel Hyridella depressa from an uncontaminated water storage, Lake Burragorang. This study established a baseline level of potential contaminants for future work using mussels as bioindicators of metal pollution. Eleven elements were analysed: Cu, Zn, Pb, Al, Mg, P, Ca, Mn, S, Ba and Fe. Analysis of data from five sites in the lake determined that Lake Burragorang could be used as a baseline reference site which would allow replication.

Puffer machines were designed for the release at 30-min intervals of puffs of a 2–component pheromone blend of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner), from pressurized canisters. Pheromone components were ( Z,E )-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate and (Z)-9-tetradecenol in a 9:1 ratio. The amount of communication disruption attributable to the resulting pheromone permeation of the air above puffer-protected blocks of tomatoes was measured by comparing the numbers of male moths of the beet armyworm that located living females or synthetic beet armyworm lures used as bait in traps in the centers of these blocks with the numbers captured in similar traps in untreated blocks. When 40 puffers were positioned at 160-m separations only around the perimeters of 256-ha blocks of tomatoes (plus cotton), providing a pheromone release rate of 46 mg/ha/d, complete disruption of premating pheromone communication was achieved. A 60-ha block of tomatoes was provided with 117 puffers for 11 wk, during most of the period of tomato plant growth and maturation. The block received 266 mg of pheromone/ha/d. Greater than 99% communication disruption was achieved, measured by the reduction in numbers of male moths captured in female- or lurebaited traps. Beet armyworm egg masses laid by female moths in the treated block were 76% fewer than in a nonprotected, control block.

Machines for dispensing puffs of pheromone at preselected time intervals, containing (Z,Z)-11,13-hexadecadienal, a sex pheromone component of the female navel orange-worm, Amyelois transitella (Walker), moth were positioned at 40-m separations around the perimeters of square 16-ha blocks of pistachios, almonds, and walnuts. With a 30-min puff interval, which continued throughout the day and night for up to 5 d; these puffers delivered an effective release rate of 23 mg of (Z,Z)-11,13-hexadecadienal per ha/d within each 16-ha block. The resulting pheromone permeation of the air completely prevented males of the navel orangeworm from locating females used as bait in traps in the centers of the blocks that were >200 m from the closest puffer. In a smaller, square walnut block of 4.4 ha, with puffers located 30 m apart along the perimeter, less-than-complete communication disruption occured, even though the female-baited traps were now only approximately 100 m from the closest puffer.

Background: The apical surface of uterine epithelial cells undergoes a dramatic transformation during early pregnancy. Previous studies have shown that cytoskeletal actin microfilaments are associated with this transformation, but little is known of the role played by actin- binding proteins or which of the many described in other cell types are present in uterine epithelial cells. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies raised against four different actin-binding proteins (a-actinin, tropomyo- sin, gelsolin, and vinculin) was used to study the changing distribution of these proteins in uterine epithelium during early pregnancy in the rat. Results: Findings indicated the presence of all four of the actin-binding proteins in the uterine epithelium. The distribution of tropomyosin re- mained unchanged over the period of early pregnancy. Gelsolin and a-ac- tinin displayed similarity in distribution. Day 1 showed an apicobasal lo- calisation of reaction product, which by day 6 of pregnancy had concentrated into a thick band across the luminal surface of the cells. Vin- culin staining was a diffuse band at the level of the basal plasma membrane at day 1 and became a diffuse faint band across the apical part of the cells on day 6. Concluswns: This study confirms the presence of actin-binding proteins in uterine epithelial cells, and these findings are discussed in light of known ultrastructural alterations in the uterine epithelium during early preg- nancy. Elucidation of the role of the actin-based cytoskeleton in the uterine epithelium may further our understanding of the dynamics of this unique environment that allows the implantation of a blastocyst.

Two different laboratory bioassays were developed to quantitatively determine the repellent activity of semiochemicals, such as famesol and methyl eugenol, against the Argentine ant. lridomymzex humilis (Mayr). One assay, based on the ability of ants to cross barriers of beeswax containing different concentrations of test chemicals, was not designed to discriminate between olfactory or gustatory modes of detection. The other was based on the ability of an ant to detect airborne chemicals and, therefore, measured only the olfactory response of ants to the chemicals. Both assays permitted construction nof dosage-response curves and determination of a Bl50, the concentration that provided 50% behavioral inhibition.

Experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of synthetic pheromone components in causing disruption of attractancy of males of 2 moth species to females used as bait in traps in the centers of large field plots. For beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Noctuidae), in tomatoes and Platynota stultana (Walsingham) (Tortricidae) in both peaches and table grapes, large, widely spaced (20 m apart) evaporators in 1-ha plots gave disruption equivalent to that provided by smaller, more closely spaced (5.5 m apart) evaporators, as long as the release rates in both cases were adjusted to the same level, ≍0.9 mg/ha/d. When evaporators releasing the same total amounts of components per hectare per day were spaced 100 m apart in 25-ha plots, a reduction in the efficacy of communication disruption was noted. Evaporators releasing ≍0.9 mg of pheromone components per hectare per day and spaced at 5.5-m intervals around the perimeters only of 1- or 4-ha plots provided communication disruption of S. exigua in tomatoes and P. stultana in grapes and peaches equivalent to that provided by evaporators releasing the same amount of components per hectare per day and uniformly distributed at 5.5-m spacings within 1-ha plots. When evaporators releasing the same amount of components per hectare per day were spaced at 5.5-m intervals around the perimeters only of 16-ha plots, a reduction in communication disruption efficacy was also noted. It was calculated that evaporators releasing ≍0.9 mg of pheromone components per hectare per day could be separated from each other and from centrally located female-baited traps by up to 100 m before a lessening of communication disruption was obtained. Mechanical devices, which we call puffers , releasing pheromone components at 840 mg/ha/d, spaced at 40-m intervals around perimeters only of 16-ha plots, and separated from female-baited monitoring traps by 200 m, provided complete disruption of communication of S. exigua in tomatoes and P. stultana in grapes and peaches.

Lemon trees banded with experimental formulations of farnesol and other natural ant repellents were examined for efficacy of disruption of the foraging of the Argentine ant, Linepithema humile (Mayr), at varying periods of time after application. Excellent disruption of foraging was achieved by the use of a band constructed from a single strand of cotton twine permeated with 40 mg each of farnesol and Stickem per centimeter of twine. An “ant tape,” consisting of twine similarly permeated with farnesol and Stickem and covered with a strip of waxed paper, was under some conditions superior in duration of disruption of ant foraging to the noncovered, treated twine. Efforts to produce an effective barrier from farnesol mixed with Stickem and beeswax and formulated into a paste, which was then applied around tree trunks, have not been successful. The better formulations of farnesol tested have given between 2 and 3 mo of complete ant exclusion from banded trees. Other tested repellent compounds have not been as active or provided as long a duration of effectiveness as farnesol.

Leafroller, Platynota stultana Walsingham, pheromone–communication–disruption experiments were conducted in grape vineyards in the San Joaquin Valley in California during 1993. Four synthetic pheromone components were released, either singly or in various mixtures, into the atmosphere of the vineyards at predetermined rates from evaporation sources. These sources were attached to grape stakes at specified heights and spacings, in grids of 36 (6 × 6) evaporators. The numbers of male moths that located and were caught in female-baited traps in the centers of the evaporator arrays, compared with the numbers captured in similar female-baited traps in untreated control areas, were used to calculate the effectiveness of communication disruption. Most of the disruptive activity of the P. stultana pheromone was provided by the 2 components that are found in greatest amounts in living female moths, (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate and (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate. These components, combined in a 9: 1 ratio, disrupted pheromone communication more effectively than did either component displayed alone. The extent of communication disruption was proportional to the amount of the pheromone components released per hectare per day and was a function of both separation between evaporators and pheromone release rate from each evaporator. Ninety-nine percent disruption was obtained with the release of 6.4 mg per hectare per day of the 9:1 blend of the 2 components. Most male P. stultana moths were active in the upper 3rd of the grapevine structure, and evaporators placed at this height were most effective in preventing males from locating females.

The interactive effects of clomiphene citrate (CC) and exogenous oestrogen (E2) or progesterone (P4), on the vaginal epithelium of ovariectomised rats were examined using scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy. Results were compared with P4E2 treatment. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the two combination CC treatments. All treatment groups had the ability to stimulate a dormant epithelium and cause surface modifications in the form of individually elongated microvilli and rosette formations. The results of this study indicate that v/hile P4 enhances the oestrogenicity of CC, there is no cumulative oestrogenic effect when E2 and CC are combined, but there is modification of cell surface organisation and evidence of anti-oestrogenic activity.

Capillary tube evaporators arrayed in grids in tomato, alfalfa, and cotton fields released into the air four previously identified pheromone components, either separately or in various blend combinations, of the beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner). Disruption of pheromone communication in this species was measured by the decrease in the numbers of male moths orienting to female moths that were used as bait in traps in the centers of the grids. The only pheromone component that appeared essential to provide disruption of communication was ( Z,E -9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate. Research comparing grids equipped with evaporators of four different sizes, each size spaced at three separations in the field, indicated that the spacing between evaporators, up to 4.6 m apart, was not the most critical factor determining the amount of disruption obtained. Rather, the most important factor appeared to be evaporator size; the largest evaporators, releasing 25 μg of the pheromone component per day, provided the highest amount of disruption, even when spaced in the field at the maximum tested separation. The S. exigua pheromone component, ( Z,E )-9,12-tetradecadienyl acetate, did not disrupt communication between males and females of the tomato pinworm, Keiferia lycopersicella (Walsingham), and the K. lycopersicella pheromone, ( E )-4-tridecenyl acetate, did not disrupt communication between the sexes of S. exigua.

A variety of chemicals that are identical or similar to known ant alarm pheromone components or ant-defensive allomones produced by organisms other than ants were evaluated for effectiveness in disrupting the foraging activities of Formica aerata (Francoeur). The chemicals were applied as bands around the trunks of plum trees or around wooden stakes holding ant feeding stations at their tops. Some of the chemicals were highly effective in excluding ants from the trees or feeding stations. Long-duration (up to 53 d) disruption of foraging was obtained with farnesol when incorporated in Stickem as a slow-release substrate

This communication reports on the effects of ageing, hypophysectomy and food restriction on the fibre sizes of the soleus muscle which is primarily concerned with posture. The results reported here are compared with those previously shown for the gastrocnemius muscle which is involved mainly with locomotion. Muscle fibre size (measured as equivalent circle diameter) in the soleus muscle of the male Wistar rat increased from youth at 130 days (type 1 fibres, 61.2 microns; type 2, 58.3 microns) to middle age at 600 days (type 1 fibres, 70.4 microns; type 2, 68.0 microns) and then underwent atrophy in old age to 1,000 days (type 1 fibres, 54.5 microns; type 2, 38.0 microns). There was no growth or atrophy of these fibres in either hypophysectomized or food-restricted rats. There was an increased range of fibre sizes in control rats between youth and old age being 5-fold for type 1 fibres and 3-fold for type 2 fibres, but there was a loss of type 2 fibres in hypophysectomized rats. This ageing process in the range of fibre size was retarded by hypophysectomy (2-fold increase for type 1 fibres) and to a lesser extent by food restriction (3-fold increase for type 1 fibres). Muscle fibre atrophy and compensatory hypertrophy were not as prominent in the hypophysectomized and food-restricted groups as in the old control groups. In general these effects were similar to those previously shown for the gastrocnemius muscle. However, atrophy of both type 1 and type 2 fibres in old age was more pronounced in the soleus muscle. The retarded ageing of the soleus muscle in hypophysectomized and food-restricted rats was probably due to the absence or reduced circulating levels of hormones known to target muscle cells, such as growth hormone and thyroxine.

Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy have been used to study changes to the vaginal epithelium induced by exogenous hormones and clomiphene citrate (CC) administered to ovariectomised rats. Oestrogen (E2) administration resulted in epithelial cell proliferation and keratinisation. The administration of the E2/anti-E2 CC also resulted in the stimulation of cell proliferation, but not to the extent produced by E2. Lack of keratinisation, a decreased number of epithelial layers and decreased epithelial height were viewed as non-oestrogenic, or retarded oestrogenic, effects of CC. Modifications to the surface of vaginal luminal cells were also apparent following CC treatment. Cell apices were raised and separated by prominent borders; the surface covering consisted of short bulb-tipped microvilli that clumped together to form rosettes. Individual, elongated microvilli were also evident. The results of this study indicate that CC has retarded oestrogenic actions, as well as a unique ability to alter cell and surface morphology to produce characteristics dissimilar to those seen after treatment with E2 and progesterone.

Foraging in trees by the Argentine ant,Iridomyrmex humilis (Mayr), was disrupted by a variety of synthetic chemicals, with the most effective chemical being farnesol. Testing of substrates for presentation of the disruptant chemicals gave some success with rubber or Tygon tubing, although best results were obtained through incorporation of the material into Stikem, which was then banded around tree trunks. Amounts of farnesol used for effective, long residual ant control were between 0.8 and 2 g per tree.

The aggregation pheromone of Carpophilus hemipterus (L.), previously isolated and identified using wind-tunnel bioassays, was field tested in California. A 4-d preliminary study in plantings of figs and stone fruits was followed by long-term studies in a date garden (12 mo) and a stone fruit orchard (11 wk). The pheromone was most effective in combination with host-related coattractants such as fermenting whole wheat bread dough or fermenting fig juice. In the date garden, for example, traps baited with pheromone plus bread dough caught an overall mean of 1,152 C. hemipterus , but those baited with only the pheromone or dough caught only 23 and 3 per trap, respectively. A semisynthetic volatile mixture of methanol, methyl butyrate, propanal, and apple cider vinegar was nearly as effective as fermenting dough as a coattractant and is a practical, longer-lasting alternative to dough. The pheromone was formulated on rubber septa, which were replaced every 2 wk. There was a 45% decrease in trap catch due to aging of septa from wk 1 to wk 2, but the septa retained activity into the second week despite daily maximum temperatures

The effects were investigated of high intensity short duration exercise and anabolic steroid treatment on the medial gastrocnemius muscle of female rats. Twelve rats were divided equally into four groups, exercise with and without steroid administration and sedentary with and without steroid administration. Animals were made to swim for 5 weeks, 6 days.week-1. Muscle fibres were classified as slow-twitch (ST), fast-twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG) and fast-twitch glycolytic (FG). Muscle fibre size was measured as the equivalent circle diameter. Exercise (P less than 0.001) and steroid (P less than 0.05) treatments alone, significantly elevated FOG and decreased FG fibre proportions. Overall proportions of fast-twitch and ST muscle fibres did not vary with any of the treatments. Significant differences in the proportion of muscle fibres were found to exist between different areas within the gastrocnemius muscle (P less than 0.05). Exercise and steroid treatments alone did not alter muscle fibre diameters. Combined exercise and steroid treatments did significantly increase ST fibre diameters (P less than 0.05). Exercise only treatment resulted in significant increases in the number of capillaries surrounding ST fibre (P less than 0.05) and FOG fibre (P less than 0.01) types. In conclusion the main finding of this study indicated that anabolic steroids in conjunction with high intensity swimming instigated ST fibre hypertrophy. Exercise and steroid only treatments significantly elevated FOG fibre proportions while FG fibre proportions diminished. Exercise only treatment resulted in significant increases in the number of capillaries surrounding both ST and FOG fibre types.

Males ofCarpophilus freemani Dobson (Coleoptera: Nitidulidae) produce an aggregation pheromone to which both sexes fly in a wind-tunnel bioassay. The major pheromone component (ca. 30 ng per male per day in volatile collections) was identified as (2E,4E,6E)-5-ethyl-3-methyl-2,4,6-nonatriene. A minor component, (2E,4E,6E,8E)-7-ethyl-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6,8-undecatetraene, was 3–10% as abundant as the major triene and was 5–20% as active when compared at relative doses ranging from natural proportions to 1:1. These compounds act synergistically: a mixture of major and minor components in natural proportions attracted more than twice as many beetles as the major component alone, and the mixture fully accounted for the activity of male-derived volatile collections. Six other male-derived conjugated hydrocarbons, ranging from 2% down to 0.04% as abundant as the major component, were also identified. These are (in order of decreasing bioassay activity when compared on an equal-weight basis): (3E,5E,7E)-6-ethyl-4-methyl-3,5,7-decatriene, (2E,4E,6E)-5-ethyl-3-me-thyl-2,4,6-octatriene, (3E,5E,7E,9E)-8-ethyl-4,6-dimethyl-3, 5,7,9-dodecatetraene, (2E,4E,6E,8E)-3,5,7-trimethyl-2,4,6, 8-undecatetraene, (3E,5E,7E)-5-ethyl-7-methyl-3,5,7-undecatriene, and (2E,4E,6E)-3,5-dimethyl-2,4,6-nonatriene. All structure identifications were confirmed by synthesis. In the wind tunnel, the pheromone acted synergistically with “host”-type volatiles such as propyl acetate, valeric acid, and ethanol. This concept was verified by fields tests in California, in which there was dramatic synergism between the pheromone and fermenting host materials. Pheromone biosynthesis is discussed.

The synthesis of Arctic sponge alkaloid viscosaline (1) is achieved by using the Zincke reaction as the penultimate step. A key synthetic intermediate theonelladin C (6), itself a marine sponge natural product, is synthesised efficiently using a four-step sequence. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

FOREWORD. PREFACE. CONTRIBUTORS. PART I: RECENT ADVANCES IN WLANs AND MULTIHOP WIRELESS NETWORKS. 1. Measuring Wireless LANs 5 (Tristan Henderson and David Kotz). 2. Understanding the Use of a Campus Wireless Network (David Schwab and Rick Bunt). 3. QoS Provisioning in IEEE 802.11 WLAN (Sunghyun Choi and Jeonggyun Yu). 4. A Perspective on the Design of Power Control for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (Alaa Muqattash, Marwan Krunz, and Sung-Ju Lee). 5. Routing Algorithms for Energy-Efficient Reliable Packet Delivery in Multihop Wireless Networks (Suman Banerjee and Archan Misra). PART II: RECENT ADVANCES AND RESEARCH IN SENSOR NETWORKS. 6. Detection, Energy, and Robustness in Wireless Sensor Networks (Lige Yu and Anthony Ephremides). 7. Mobile Target Tracking Using Sensor Networks (Ashima Gupta, Chao Gui, and Prasant Mohapatra). 8. Field Gathering Wireless Sensor Networks (Enrique J. Duarte-Melo and Mingyan Liu). 9. Coverage and Connectivity Issues in Wireless Sensor Networks (Amitabha Ghosh and Sajal K. Das). 10. Storage Management in Wireless Sensor Networks (Sameer Tilak, Nael Abu-Ghazaleh, and Wendi B. Heinzelman). 11. Security in Sensor Networks (Farooq Anjum and Saswati Sarkar). PART III: MIDDLEWARE, APPLICATIONS, AND NEW PARADIGMS. 12. WinRFID: A Middleware for the Enablement of Radiofrequency Identification (RFID)-Based Applications (B. S. Prabhu, Xiaoyong Su, Harish Ramamurthy, Chi-Cheng Chu, and Rajit Gadh). 13. Designing Smart Environments: A Paradigm Based on Learning and Prediction (Sajal K. Das and Diane Cook). 14. Enforcing Security in Mobile Networks: Challenges and Solutions (Feng Bao, Robert H. Deng, Ying Qiu, and Jianying Zhou) 15. On-Demand Business: Network Challenges in a Global Pervasive Ecosystem (Craig Fellenstein, Joshy Joseph, Dongwook Lim, and J. Candice D'Orsay). INDEX.

Codlemone, ( E,E )-8,10-dodecadienol, the female sex pheromone of the codling moth, Cydia pomonella (L.), was released at 30-min intervals into the air of square, 16-ha walnut, Juglans regia L., orchards from puffers, machines designed for the dispensing of aerosols from pressurized canisters. The puffers were arrayed at 44-m intervals along the borders of the orchards. A codlemone release rate of 254 mg/ha per day caused a 9.5–98% disruption in pheromone communication. as measured by a reduction in the numbers of males that oriented to codlemone lure–baited or female-baited traps in the centers of the orchards.