Biochemical Genetics Of Selected Commercially Important Penaeid Prawns

‘Biochemical genetics of selected commercially important penaeid prawns‘ dloted was carried out by collecting samples from different important fishing ceatres of India and the practical work was carried out in the Research Centre of CMFRI laboratories attached with those places. On the whole, in crustacea little importance has been given so far in finding out tin genetic characteristics of different species, genetic variation within and between species and ontogenetic variations in lobsters, prawns and other crustaceans. Prawn is caunercially important group where very little attention had been given so far to find out the racial divergence which may exist in cufferent species. with the increased foreign exchange earning and consequent indiscriminate over exploitation of existing resources of prawns resulting in depletion of the marine rescurces, alternative ways and augmenting production has become essential. In this connection genetic manipulation of the broodstock will surely bring about the heterogenous characters to multiply production. In order to understand racial fragmentation of sane of the coumercially important prawns such as Pengeus ggdicus and Parggenagsis sgliferg the isozyme studies were carried out. Qatogenetic variation of g. indicus showed stage specific electrophoretic variation. Inter species variation studies was carried out for the closely aligned Penaeus species

“Studies on the Biology, Morphometrics and Biochemical composition of the Ommastrephid squid, Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis (Lesson,1830) of the south west coast of India”

With the stabilization of world finfish catches in general, and the depletion of a number of fish stocks that used to support industrial-scale fisheries, increasing attention is now being paid, to the so-called unconventional marine resources, which include many species of cephalopods. One of such important cephalopod resource is the tropical Indo-Pacific pelagic oceanic squid Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis. It is the most abundant large sized squid in the Indo- Pacific region with an estimated biomass of 8-11 metric tons. However, its distribution, biology, life cycle and nutrient value in the south west coast of India are still poorly known. So any new information of this species in the waters off the south west coast of India has important scientific significance for effective and rational utilization of this Oceanic fishery resources, especially during the time of depletion of shallow water resources. In view of that this study investigated different aspects of the Sthenoteuthis oualaniensis, such as morphometry, growth, mortality, maturation, spawning, food, feeding and biochemical composition in the south west coast of India to understand its possible prospective importance for commercial fishing and management of its fishery

Age and growth of Gerres filamentosus (Cuvier, 1829) from Kodungallur, Azhikode Estuary, Kerala

The age and growth, length – weight relationship and relative condition factor of Gerres filamentosus (Cuvier, 1829) from Kodungallur, Azhikode Estuary were studied by examination of 396 specimens collected between May 2008 to October 2008. Here, length frequency method was used to study age and growth in fishes. L∞, K and t 0 obtained from seasonal and non - seasonal growth curves. Gerres filamentosus showed a low mortality rate (Z) 3.702 y-1. G. filamentosus has moderately low K value and long life span. The relation between the total length and weight of G. filamentosus was described as Log W = 1.321+2.5868 log L for males, Log W = 1.467 + 2.7227 log L for females and Log W = 1.481 + 2.7316 log L for sexes combined. The mean relative condition factor (Kn) values ranged from 0.9 to 1.14 for males, 0.89 to 1.11 for females and 0.73 to 1.08 for sexes combined. The length weight relationship and relative condition factor showed that the wellbeing of G. filamentosus were good. The morphometric measurements of various body parts were recorded. The morphometric measurements were found to be nonlinear and there is no significant difference observed between the two sexes.

Estructura i ultraestructura testicular del mascle reproductor porcí (Sus domesticus)

El present treball analitza al microscopi òptic i al microscopi electrònic de transmissió el testicle de Sus domesticus (raça Landrace - varietat anglesa) a partir de mascles reproductors porcins adults i sans. L'objectiu principal de tots els centres d'Inseminació Artificial Porcina i de les Explotacions de Selecció i Multiplicació Porcina és garantir una excel·lent qualitat espermàtica al llarg de la vida reproductiva útil d'un mascle reproductor porcí. Així doncs, un millor coneixement dels patrons estructural i ultraestructural normals del testicle permetrà diagnosticar amb facilitat quina ha estat l'estructura o funció testicular afectada quan s'observa una disminució de la qualitat del semen. Les anàlisis seminals i hormonals són certament crucials en la valoració d'aquests mascles, però, no són totalment informatives de les alteracions testiculars, ja que és necessari conèixer l'organització microscòpica. Diversos estudis sobre testicle han demostrat que els marcadors més sensibles per a l'avaluació de la funció testicular són els següents: (1) la grandària testicular, (2) el gruix i l'organització de la càpsula testicular, (3) el percentatge de túbuls seminífers i de teixit intersticial en el parènquima testicular, (4) el diàmetre dels túbuls seminífers, (5) l'alçada i la composició de cèl·lules germinals de l'epiteli seminífer, (6) el gruix i l'organització de la làmina pròpia i, (7) la morfologia i la grandària de les cèl·lules de Leydig. El primer objectiu concret del present estudi ha estat, per tant, caracteritzar tots aquests paràmetres testiculars en mascles porcins sans i adults. L'organització estructural del testicle i les mesures quantitatives utilitzades com a marcadors no mostren diferències significatives ni entres els mascles porcins (P > 0,01), ni entre el testicle dret i l'esquerre (P > 0,01). Els testicles, de 330,80  16,99 g de pes, estan envoltats per una càpsula, de 2.375,13  246,68 m de gruix, la qual es divideix en tres capes: la túnica vaginalis constitueix l'1,82  0,78 % de la càpsula i està composta per una capa mesotelial externa i una capa interna de teixit conjuntiu dens; la túnica albuginea representa el 37,31  3,27 % i és de teixit conjuntiu dens i, la túnica vasculosa constitueix el 64,24 4,40 % i és de teixit conjuntiu lax. En el parènquima testicular els túbuls seminífers i el teixit intersticial representen el 72,44  2,12 % i el 27,46  2,12 %, respectivament. Els túbuls seminífers, de 226,23  18,08 m de diàmetre, es troben fortament recargolats i empaquetats, i estan compostos per la làmina pròpia i l'epiteli seminífer. La làmina pròpia, de 4-4,5 m de gruix, està formada per la làmina basal i dues capes de cèl·lules peritubulars. L'epiteli seminífer, amb una alçada mitjana de 66,11  10,62 m, és columnar i estratificat amb cèl·lules de Sertoli i diferents generacions d'espermatogònies, espermatòcits i espermàtides. El teixit intersticial és un teixit conjuntiu lax amb abundants cèl·lules de Leydig polièdriques fortament empaquetades (ca. 15 x 12 m). El segon objectiu concret d'aquest estudi ha estat estudiar des del punt de vista morfològic i morfomètric (alçada, longitud, freqüència relativa d'aparició i durada) els estadis del cicle de l'epiteli seminífer en els mascles porcins de la raça Landrace (varietat anglesa), classificats d'acord amb el mètode de la morfologia tubular. Els estadis premeiòtics ( I, II i III) ocupen el 31,9 % del cicle espermatogènic i es caracteritzen, principalment, per la presència de cèl·lules en les fase inicials de la meiosi I. Les primeres etapes de la meiosi I no afecten els paràmetres morfomètrics de l'epiteli seminífer ja que els valors obtinguts per l'alçada de l'epiteli seminífer, la freqüència relativa, la longitud i la durada d'aquests estadis són molt variables. Els estadis meiòtics (IV i V) representen el 16,4 % del cicle espermatogènic i estan constituïts, principlament, per cèl·lules en un estat avançat de la meiosi I i /o cèl·lules en meiosi II. Les últimes fases de la meiosi I i també de la meiosi II tenen lloc ràpidament, la qual cosa resulta en una baixa freqüència relativa d'aparició i, per tant, en una baixa durada dels estadis meiòtics. Els estadis postmeiòtics (VI, VII i VIII) ocupen el 50,6 % del cicle espermatogènic. L'esdeveniment més important que té lloc en aquests estadis és la fase de maduració de l'espermiogènesi. En la fase de maduració, les espermàtides experimenten diverses modificacions morfològiques i estructurals que donen lloc, finalment, als espermatozoides. La complexitat d'aquests processos fa que els estadis postmeiòtics presentin valors més grans de freqüència relativa, longitud i durada. El tercer objectiu concret d'aquest treball ha estat descriure a nivell ultraestructural el procés d'espermiogènesi, i relacionar les transformacions que experimenten les espermàtides en fase d'elongació amb els canvis ultraestructurals que tenen lloc en les diferents cèl·lules que constitueixen el testicle (cèl·lules germinals, de Sertoli i de Leydig, principalment). L'espermiogènesi del mascle porcí de la raça Landrace (varietat anglesa) s'ha dividit en 9 passos que vénen definits per 9 tipus diferents d'espermàtides. Al llarg de l'espermiogènesi no s'observen diferències ultraestructurals significatives (P > 0,01) ni entre els mascles porcins ni entre el testicle esquerre i dret en les cèl·lules que constitueixen el testicle.

Standardized evaluation of algorithms for computer-aided diagnosis of dementia based on structural MRI: The CADDementia challenge

Algorithms for computer-aided diagnosis of dementia based on structural MRI have demonstrated high performance in the literature, but are difficult to compare as different data sets and methodology were used for evaluation. In addition, it is unclear how the algorithms would perform on previously unseen data, and thus, how they would perform in clinical practice when there is no real opportunity to adapt the algorithm to the data at hand. To address these comparability, generalizability and clinical applicability issues, we organized a grand challenge that aimed to objectively compare algorithms based on a clinically representative multi-center data set. Using clinical practice as the starting point, the goal was to reproduce the clinical diagnosis. Therefore, we evaluated algorithms for multi-class classification of three diagnostic groups: patients with probable Alzheimer's disease, patients with mild cognitive impairment and healthy controls. The diagnosis based on clinical criteria was used as reference standard, as it was the best available reference despite its known limitations. For evaluation, a previously unseen test set was used consisting of 354 T1-weighted MRI scans with the diagnoses blinded. Fifteen research teams participated with a total of 29 algorithms. The algorithms were trained on a small training set (n = 30) and optionally on data from other sources (e.g., the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, the Australian Imaging Biomarkers and Lifestyle flagship study of aging). The best performing algorithm yielded an accuracy of 63.0% and an area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC) of 78.8%. In general, the best performances were achieved using feature extraction based on voxel-based morphometry or a combination of features that included volume, cortical thickness, shape and intensity. The challenge is open for new submissions via the web-based framework: http://caddementia.grand-challenge.org.

A prospectus for future geomorphological investigation of the Namib sand sea

The Namib Sand Sea in southern Africa offers an ideal location in which to consider general questions about the evolution of sand seas, about the fluxes of sand through contemporary dune fields and about the patterns of dune form that are created. This paper aims to provide a concise account of the approaches and techniques that are currently being used and will be used in the future to address these questions. The paper considers the techniques employed to investigate wind climate, the morphometry of the dunes, the internal structure of dune sediments, the age of the dunes and the potential to model dune development

Flood Risk Assessment in Coastal Drainage Basins through a Multivariate Analysis within a GIS-Based Model

This paper presents a GIS-based multicriteria flood risk assessment and mapping approach applied to coastal drainage basins where hydrological data are not available. It involves risk to different types of possible processes: coastal inundation (storm surge), river, estuarine and flash flood, either at urban or natural areas, and fords. Based on the causes of these processes, several environmental indicators were taken to build-up the risk assessment. Geoindicators include geological-geomorphologic proprieties of Quaternary sedimentary units, water table, drainage basin morphometry, coastal dynamics, beach morphodynamics and microclimatic characteristics. Bioindicators involve coastal plain and low slope native vegetation categories and two alteration states. Anthropogenic indicators encompass land use categories properties such as: type, occupation density, urban structure type and occupation consolidation degree. The selected indicators were stored within an expert Geoenvironmental Information System developed for the State of Sao Paulo Coastal Zone (SIIGAL), which attributes were mathematically classified through deterministic approaches, in order to estimate natural susceptibilities (Sn), human-induced susceptibilities (Sa), return period of rain events (Ri), potential damages (Dp) and the risk classification (R), according to the equation R=(Sn.Sa.Ri).Dp. Thematic maps were automatically processed within the SIIGAL, in which automata cells (""geoenvironmental management units"") aggregating geological-geomorphologic and land use/native vegetation categories were the units of classification. The method has been applied to the Northern Littoral of the State of Sao Paulo (Brazil) in 32 small drainage basins, demonstrating to be very useful for coastal zone public politics, civil defense programs and flood management.

On the Relationship between Zaprionus spinipilus Chassagnard & McEvey and Z. vittiger Coquillett, the Type Species of the Genus Zaprionus (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Zaprionus vittiger Coquillett is the type species of the genus Zaprionus Coquillett. However, the species is only known from five old museum specimens collected from South Africa and Malawi. It has often been confused with many other Zaprionus species, especially with Z. spinipilus Chassagnard & McEvey, a widespread species in Africa known from Madagascar, Malawi, Ethiopia and Cameroon. We have recently collected flies from the type localities of both species (South Africa and Madagascar, respectively). This has prompted us to test the taxonomic boundaries of these two nominal species using molecular (the mitochondrial COII and the nuclear Amyrel genes), chromosomal, morphological (internal and external genitalia), and reproductive isolation analyses. The results suggest Z. spinipilus to be a junior synonym to Z. vittiger.

Morphometrical, biochemical and molecular tools for assessing biodiversity. An example in Plebeia remota (Holmberg, 1903) (Apidae, Meliponini)

We see today many efforts to quantify biodiversity in different biomes. It is very important then to develop and to apply other methodologies that allow us to assess biodiversity. Here we present an example of application of three tools with this goal. We analyzed two populations of Plebeia remota from two distinct biomes that already showed several differences in morphology and behavior. Based on these differences, it has been suggested that the populations of Cunha and Prudentopolis do not represent a single species. In order to verify the existence or absence of gene flow between these two groups, we characterized the patterns of mtDNA through RFLP, the patterns of wing venation through geometric morphometry, and the cuticular hydrocarbons through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. We used bees collected in these two locations and also from colonies which have being kept for around 9 years at Sao Paulo University. We found six different haplotypes in these specimens, of which three of them occurred exclusively in the population of Cunha and three only in the Prudentopolis population. The fact that the populations do not share haplotypes suggests no maternal gene flow between them. The two populations were differentiated by the pattern of the wing veins. They also had different mixtures of cuticle hydrocarbons. Furthermore it was shown that the colonies kept at the university did not hybridize. These two groups may constitute different species. We also show here the importance of using other methodologies than traditional taxonomy to assess and understand biodiversity, especially in bees.

Taxonomic review of Haliclystus antarcticus Pfeffer, 1889 (Stauromedusae, Staurozoa, Cnidaria), with remarks on the genus Haliclystus Clark, 1863

Difficulties concerning the taxonomy of stauromedusae are long known, and there is a clear need for taxonomic revision of the genus Haliclystus, as well as the reevaluation of some species. Haliclystus antarcticus Pfeffer, 1889 is recorded from Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Due to the lack of detailed information on this species, we provide a redescription, presenting new data on the cnidome, morphometry, geographical distribution and intraspecific variation. Based on these characters, we propose that our specimens and Haliclystus auricula from Chile and Argentina are synonymous and should be classified as H. antarcticus. We also review the worldwide distribution of the genus Haliclystus Clark, 1863 and discuss taxonomic issues, concluding that some characters traditionally used in the taxonomy of the group should be used cautiously.

Exercise changes the size of cardiac neurons and protects them from age-related neurodegeneration

Aging leads to changes in cardiac structure and function. Evidence suggests that the practice of regular exercise may prevent disturbances in the cardiovascular system during aging. We studied the effects of aging on the morphology and morphometry of cardiac neurons in Wistar rats and investigated whether a lifelong moderate exercise program could exert a protective effect toward some deleterious effects of aging. Aging caused a significant decline (28%) in the number of NADH-diaphorase-stained cardiac Animals submitted to a daily session of 60 min, 5 day/week, at 1.1 km/h of running in treadmill over the entire life span exhibited a reversion of the observed decline in the number of cardiac neurons. However, most interesting was that the introduction of this lifelong exercise protocol dramatically altered the sizes of cardiac neurons. There was a notable increase in the percentage of small neurons in the rats of the exercise group compared to the sedentary animals. This is the first time that a protective effect of lifelong regular aerobic exercise has been demonstrated on the deleterious effects of aging in cardiac neurons. (C) 2009 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Morphological and quantitative study of ganglionated plexus of Calomys callosus trachea

Calomys callosus is a wild, native forest rodent found in South America. In Brazil, this species has been reported to harbour the parasitic protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The ganglionated plexus of this species was studied using whole-mount preparations of trachea that were stained using histological and histochemical methods. The histological methods were used to determine the position of the ganglia with respect to the trachea muscle and to determine the presence of elastic and collagen fibers. The histochemical method of NADH-diaphorase was used for morphometric evaluations of the plexus. The tracheal plexus lies exclusively over the muscular part of the organ, dorsal to the muscle itself. It varies in pattern and extent between animals. The average number of neurons was 279 and the cellular profile area ranged from 38.37 mu m(2) to 805.89 mu m(2). Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) histochemistry verified that both ganglia and single neurons lie along nerve trunks and are reciprocally interconnected with the plexus. Intensely AChE-reactive neurons were found to be intermingled with poorly reactive ones. Two longitudinal AChE-positive nerve trunks were also observed and there was a diverse number of ganglia along the intricate network of nerves interconnecting the trunks. A ganglion capsule of collagen and elastic fibers surrounding the neurons was observed. Under polarized light, the capsule appeared to be formed by Type I collagen fibers. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Expression of metallothionein in ameloblastoma. A regulatory molecule?

BACKGROUND: Ameloblastoma is a benign odontogenic tumor, exhibiting local invasiveness and high rate of recurrence. Metallothionein is a protein associated with tumorigenesis, serving as prognostic factor in different neoplasms. We are interested in mechanisms underlying ameloblastoma local invasiveness. Thus, we decided to analyze expression of metallothionein in this tumor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An immunohistochemical evaluation of metallothionein in ameloblastoma was carried out. As control, we assessed expression of the same molecule in calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT), a non-invasive odontogenic neoplasm with ameloblastomatous epithelium. RESULTS: We studied 12 cases of solid/multicystic ameloblastomas. Metallothionein was observed in all samples. This molecule was observed in columnar cells in the periphery and in central polyhedral cells. CCOT (four cases) also showed the presence of metallothionein. Morphometry of stained areas showed that expression of metallothionein in ameloblastoma was significantly higher compared to CCOT (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This protein may have an impact on ameloblastoma behavior. Metallothionein would act as a zinc reservoir for important proteases related to ameloblastoma biology, such as MMPs. This protein could also display pro-mitotic and anti-apoptotic features in the tumor. J Oral Pathol Med (2011) 40: 516-519

Morphometric analysis of the urethra of castrated female rats treated with tamoxifen

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on the weight and thickness of the urethral epithelium of castrated female rats. Methods: Forty castrated adult female Wistar-Hannover rats were randomly divided into two groups: Group I (n = 20) in which the animals received only the vehicle (propylene glycol) and Group 11 (n = 20) in which the rats received tamoxifen 250 mu g/day by gavage. After 30 days of treatment, all animals were sacrificed and the urethra was immediately removed for weighing. Next, the urethra was divided into the proximal and distal segments, which were fixed in 10% formaldehyde and submitted to routine histological techniques for morphometric study. The data were analyzed using the weighted minimum mean-square error method and Student`s t-test for two independent samples (p < 0.05). Results: There was a significant increase in the mean weight of the urethra in the rats of Group 11 compared to the control group, 32.0 +/- 2.0 mg and 22.0 +/- 1.6 mg, respectively (p < 0.001). The mean thickness of the distal urethral epithelium of the animals treated with tamoxifen was significantly greater than that of the control group, 42.8 +/- 2.0 mu m and 36.6 +/- 1.5 mu m, respectively (p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups with respect to the epithelial thickness of the proximal urethra (p = 0.514). Conclusion: Treating castrated adult rats with 250 mu g/day of tamoxifen for 30 days may increase the weight of the urethra and the thickness of the distal urethral epithelium. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Polymorphisms in genes involved in neurodevelopment may be associated with altered brain morphology in schizophrenia: Preliminary evidence

An abnormality in neurodevelopment is one of the most robust etiologic hypotheses in schizophrenia (SZ). There is also strong evidence that genetic factors may influence abnormal neurodevelopment in the disease. The present study evaluated in SZ patients, whose brain structural data had been obtained with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the possible association between structural brain measures, and 32 DNA polymorphisms,located in 30 genes related to neurogenesis and brain development. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells of 25 patients with schizophrenia, genotyping was performed using diverse procedures, and putative associations were evaluated by standard statistical methods (using the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences - SPSS) with a modified Bonferroni adjustment. For reelin (RELN), a protease that guides neurons in the developing brain and underlies neurotransmission and synaptic plasticity in adults, an association was found for a non-synonymous polymorphism (Va1997Leu) with left and right ventricular enlargement. A putative association was also found between protocadherin 12 (PCDH12), a cell adhesion molecule involved in axonal guidance and synaptic specificity, and cortical folding (asymmetry coefficient of gyrification index). Although our results are preliminary, due to the small number of individuals analyzed, such an approach could reveal new candidate genes implicated in anomalous neurodevelopment in schizophrenia. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.