Discriminant analysis of cuticular hydrocarbons of social waspPolistes exclamans viereck and surface hydrocarbons of its nest paper and pedicel

The articular lipids were analyzed from individualPolistes exclamans workers collected from 10 nests. Surface lipids were also recovered from the paper and pedicels of these nests. Twenty-two hydrocarbons were identified in these lipid fractions. The major components of the wasp cuticular lipids weren-heptacosane,n-nonacosane, methylhentriacontane, and methyltritriacontane. Discriminant analysis of the hydrocarbon profiles of the adult wasps showed that the wasps group together according to their respective colonies. Several colonies from the same geographical location clustered more closely together than colonies from diverse locations. The nest papers and pedicels did not group with the wasps from their respective colonies, but the nest papers clustered together separately, as did the nest pedicels.     

Acquired and Partially De Novo Synthesized Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids in Two Polyphagous Arctiids and the Alkaloid Profiles of Their Larval Food-Plants

The profiles of pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in the two highly polyphagous arctiids Estigmene acrea and Grammia geneura and their potential PA sources in southeastern Arizona were compiled. One of four species of Boraginaceae, Plagiobothrys arizonicus, contained PAs; this is the first PA record for this plant species. The principle PA sources are Senecio longilobus (Asteraceae) and Crotalaria pumila (Fabaceae). The known PA pattern of S. longilobus was extended; the species was found to contain six closely related PAs of the senecionine type. Three novel PAs of the monocrotaline type, named pumilines A-C, were isolated and characterized from C. pumila, a species not studied before. The pumilines are the major PAs in the seeds, while in the vegetative organs they are accompanied by the simple necine derivatives supinidine and as the dominant compound subulacine (1beta,2beta-epoxytrachelanthamidine). In both plant species, the PAs are stored as N-oxides, except C. pumila seeds, which accumulate the free bases. Great variation in PA composition was observed between local populations of C. pumila. The PA profiles were established for larvae and adults of E. acrea that as larvae had fed on an artificial diet supplemented with crotalaria-powder and of G. geneura fed with S. longilobus. In both experiments, the larvae had a free choice between the respective PA source and diet or food plants free of PAs. The profiles compiled for the two species reflect the alkaloid profiles of their PA sources with one exception, subulacine could never be detected in E. acrea. Besides acquired PAs, insect PAs synthesized from acquired necine bases and necic acids of insect origin were detected in the two arctiid species. These insect PAs that do not occur in the larval food sources accounted for some 40-70% (E. acrea) and 17-37% (G. geneura) of total PAs extracted from the insects. A number of novel insect PAs were identified. Plant-acquired and insect PAs were found to accumulate as N-oxides. The results are discussed in relation to specific biochemical, electrophysiological, and behavioral mechanisms involved in PA sequestration by arctiids.     

The Pharmacology and Therapeutic Utility of Sodium Hydroselenide

Metabolically active gasotransmitters (nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulfide) are important signalling molecules that show therapeutic utility in oxidative pathologies. The reduced form of selenium, hydrogen selenide (HSe⁻/H₂Se), shares some characteristics with these molecules. The simple selenide salt, sodium hydroselenide (NaHSe) showed significant metabolic activity, dose-dependently decreasing ex vivo O₂ consumption (rat soleus muscle, liver) and transiently inhibiting mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase (liver, heart). Pharmacological manipulation of selenoprotein expression in HepG2 human hepatocytes revealed that the oxidation status of selenium impacts on protein expression; reduced selenide (NaHSe) increased, whereas (oxidized) sodium selenite decreased the abundance of two ubiquitous selenoproteins. An inhibitor of endogenous sulfide production (DL-propargylglycine; PAG) also reduced selenoprotein expression; this was reversed by exogenous NaHSe, but not sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS). NaHSe also conferred cytoprotection against an oxidative challenge (H₂O₂), and this was associated with an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential. Anesthetized Wistar rats receiving intravenous NaHSe exhibited significant bradycardia, metabolic acidosis and hyperlactataemia. In summary, NaHSe modulates metabolism by inhibition of cytochrome C oxidase. Modification of selenoprotein expression revealed the importance of oxidation status of selenium therapies, with implications for current clinical practice. The utility of NaHSe as a research tool and putative therapeutic is discussed.     

(S)-Reutericyclin: Susceptibility Testing and In Vivo Effect on Murine Fecal Microbiome and Volatile Organic Compounds

We aimed to assess the in vitro antimicrobial activity and the in vivo effect on the murine fecal microbiome and volatile organic compound (VOC) profile of (S)-reutericyclin. The antimicrobial activity of (S)-reutericyclin was tested against Clostridium difficile, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus (S.) epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Propionibacterium acnes. Reutericyclin or water were gavage fed to male BALBc mice for 7 weeks. Thereafter stool samples underwent 16S based microbiome analysis and VOC analysis by gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). (S)-reutericyclin inhibited growth of S. epidermidis only. Oral (S)-reutericyclin treatment caused a trend towards reduced alpha diversity. Beta diversity was significantly influenced by reutericyclin. Linear discriminant analysis Effect Size (LEfSe) analysis showed an increase of Streptococcus and Muribaculum as well as a decrease of butyrate producing Ruminoclostridium, Roseburia and Eubacterium in the reutericyclin group. VOC analysis revealed significant increases of pentane and heptane and decreases of 2,3-butanedione and 2-heptanone in reutericyclin animals. The antimicrobial activity of (S)-reutericyclin differs from reports of (R)-reutericyclin with inhibitory effects on a multitude of Gram-positive bacteria reported in the literature. In vivo (S)-reutericyclin treatment led to a microbiome shift towards dysbiosis and distinct alterations of the fecal VOC profile.     

High resolution spatiotemporal patterns of flow at the landscape scale in montane non-perennial streams

Intermittent and ephemeral streams in dryland environments support diverse assemblages of aquatic and terrestrial life. Understanding when and where water flows provide insights into the availability of water, its response to external controlling factors, and potential sensitivity to climate change and a host of human activities. Knowledge regarding the timing of drying/wetting cycles can also be useful to map critical habitats for species and ecosystems that rely on these temporary water sources. However, identifying the locations and monitoring the timing of streamflow and channel sediment moisture remains a challenging endeavor. In this paper, we analyzed daily conductivity from 37 sensors distributed along 10 streams across an arid mountain front in Arizona (United States) to assess spatiotemporal patterns in flow permanence, defined as the timing and extent of water in streams. Conductivity sensors provide information on surface flow and sediment moisture, supporting a stream classification based on seasonal flow dynamics. Our results provide insight into flow responses to seasonal rainfall, highlighting stream reaches very reactive to rainfall versus those demonstrating more stable streamflow. The strength of stream responses to precipitation are explored in the context of surficial geology. In summary, conductivity data can be used to map potential stream habitat for water-dependent species in both space and time, while also providing the basis upon which sensitivity to ongoing climate change can be evaluated.     

Prospects for chiral nonlinear optical media

This paper describes the development and optimization of chiral, nonpolar media with large second-order nonlinear optical responses. We employ molecular engineering, quantum-mechanical sum-over-states theory, and measurements of molecular hyperpolarizability by means of Kleinman-disallowed hyper-Rayleigh scattering in order to understand molecular properties. Then we analyze the appropriate arrangement of the chromophores that produce an optimum axial nonlinear optical medium. Chromophores with large Kleinman disallowed traceless symmetric second-rank tensor hyperpolarizabilities β can be aligned so as to result in large susceptibilities χ⁽²⁾ in structures that lack polar order. We found that Λ-shaped chromophores with C_2v or similar symmetry are good candidates for these materials, as they can exhibit large second-rank components of the hyperpolarizability tensor. A wide variety of techniques can be used to fabricate bulk materials belonging to the chiral nonpolar symmetry groups D_∞ and D₂. The microscopic chromophore alignment schemes that optimize the nonlinear optical response in such materials are deduced from general symmetry consideration for both molecules and bulk. We also speculate on the possible application of such materials as high-bandwidth spatial light modulators     

Comment on the letter ''imaging in transient regional osteoporosis''

Canada's hospitals are slowly coming to grips with the millennium bug, but Anita Elash reports that no one really knows what impact the move into the year 2000 will have on computers and medical devices, either in the hospital or doctor's office.     

Protein turnover in the hypertrophying kidney

To establish whether altered proteolysis contributes to the increase in protein content in hypertrophying kidneys, we studied protein turnover in proximal renal tubules isolated from rats with three forms of renal hypertrophy, diabetes mellitus (DM), ammonium chloride-induced acidosis and compensatory renal growth (CRG). We found that in DM and in chronic acidosis the normal balance in protein turnover is altered due to attenuated proteolysis and accelerated protein synthesis. Together this favors an increase in kidney protein content. In contrast, in CRG, the increase in protein content is entirely due to increased protein synthesis. Thus, the changes in protein turnover leading to the net gain in kidney protein content in renal hypertrophy depends on the cause of hypertrophy.