Protein content of leaf-cutting ant queens before the nuptial flight and during the post-claustral phase

Protein content of leaf-cutting ant queens before the nuptial flight and during the post-claustral phase. This study evaluated the crude protein content of queens of Atta sexdens before the nuptial flight and after the claustral phase in laboratory and field colonies. The hypothesis was that protein is used for survival of the queen and for early colony growth during the claustral phase. Additionally, the nest morphology, live biomass and adult population of field colonies were evaluated. Crude protein was determined by digestion of the organic material with sulfuric acid at high temperatures. The mean crude protein content was 123.23 ± 11.20 mg for females before the nuptial flight and 70.44 ± 12.21 mg for laboratory-reared queens after the claustral phase. The post-claustral crude protein content of field-collected queen was 55.90 ± 9.18 mg. With respect to the loss of crude protein as a function of duration of the claustral phase, laboratory-reared queens lost 52.79 mg and field-collected queens lost 67.33 mg compared to females before the nuptial flight. A positive linear correlation was observed between the weight of field-collected queens (256.4 ± 36.3 mg) and colony biomass (13.02 ± 9.12 g), but there was no correlation between biomass and nest depth (13.11 ± 3.82 cm). As expected, the present results support the hypothesis that protein is used for survival of the queen and for early colony growth, as demonstrated by the reduction in crude protein content as a function of duration of the claustral phase. To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide data of the dynamics of protein reserves in leaf-cutting ant queens during the claustral phase.

Post- och telegrafstyrelsen 12.1.1963

Kirje

Thyroid hormone enhances transected axonal regeneration and muscle reinnervation following rat sciatic nerve injury.

Improvement of nerve regeneration and functional recovery following nerve injury is a challenging problem in clinical research. We have already shown that following rat sciatic nerve transection, the local administration of triiodothyronine (T3) significantly increased the number and the myelination of regenerated axons. Functional recovery is a sum of the number of regenerated axons and reinnervation of denervated peripheral targets. In the present study, we investigated whether the increased number of regenerated axons by T3-treatment is linked to improved reinnervation of hind limb muscles. After transection of rat sciatic nerves, silicone or biodegradable nerve guides were implanted and filled with either T3 or phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) were analyzed on gastrocnemius and plantar muscle sections stained with rhodamine alpha-bungarotoxin and neurofilament antibody. Four weeks after surgery, most end-plates (EPs) of operated limbs were still denervated and no effect of T3 on muscle reinnervation was detected at this stage of nerve repair. In contrast, after 14 weeks of nerve regeneration, T3 clearly enhanced the reinnervation of gastrocnemius and plantar EPs, demonstrated by significantly higher recovery of size and shape complexity of reinnervated EPs and also by increased acetylcholine receptor (AChRs) density on post synaptic membranes compared to PBS-treated EPs. The stimulating effect of T3 on EP reinnervation is confirmed by a higher index of compound muscle action potentials recorded in gastrocnemius muscles. In conclusion, our results provide for the first time strong evidence that T3 enhances the restoration of NMJ structure and improves synaptic transmission.

Why Would the Deuteronomists Tell about the Sacrifice of Jephtah's Daughter?

It is commonly assumed that the story of Jephthah's vow refers to an 'old tradition' that was integrated into the Deuteronomistic History. But such a view is contrary to Dtr ideology which is absolutely hostile to any human sacrifice (2 Kgs 16.3; 17.17, 31; 21.6 etc.). A literary-critical approach to Judges 11 shows that vv. 30-31 [32] and 34-40 may be considered as post-Dtr. The author of Judg. 11.30-40 seems to know the story of the Aqedah, but he is not willing to make a happy ending. There is a tragic dimension in the story and quite an Hellenistic atmosphere (the best parallels to Judg. 11.30-40 may be fou Hellenistic nd in texts). So this text should be considered an insertion from the end of the Persian or beginning of the Hellenistic periods. The author tends to show that Jewish classics can be as tragic as Greek ones.

Fractures non traumatiques en fin de grossesse: s'agit-il toujours d'une ostéoporose? A propos de deux cas [Non-traumatic fractures at the end of a pregnancy: are there always of osteoporotic origin].

Pregnancy-associated osteoporosis usually appears during the first pregnancy and does not affect the followings. We report two cases where non-traumatic fractures have been diagnosed shortly after delivery of second pregnancies. Wide investigations could not find a cause of secondary osteoporosis. In the first case we came to the diagnosis of pregnancy-associated osteoporosis and an intravenous treatment of ibandronate has been prescribed. In the second case the bone mineral density (BMD) being almost normal and the localisation of the fracture being atypical, we concluded to a fracture of non-osteoporotic origin, probably due to mechanical stress during pregnancy. No therapy against osteoporosis has been prescribed.

Post-detection analysis for grating-based ultra-small angle X-ray scattering.

Until recently, the hard X-ray, phase-sensitive imaging technique called grating interferometry was thought to provide information only in real space. However, by utilizing an alternative approach to data analysis we demonstrated that the angular resolved ultra-small angle X-ray scattering distribution can be retrieved from experimental data. Thus, reciprocal space information is accessible by grating interferometry in addition to real space. Naturally, the quality of the retrieved data strongly depends on the performance of the employed analysis procedure, which involves deconvolution of periodic and noisy data in this context. The aim of this article is to compare several deconvolution algorithms to retrieve the ultra-small angle X-ray scattering distribution in grating interferometry. We quantitatively compare the performance of three deconvolution procedures (i.e., Wiener, iterative Wiener and Lucy-Richardson) in case of realistically modeled, noisy and periodic input data. The simulations showed that the algorithm of Lucy-Richardson is the more reliable and more efficient as a function of the characteristics of the signals in the given context. The availability of a reliable data analysis procedure is essential for future developments in grating interferometry.

Kohti post-absoluuttista valtiota? : EU-tutkimus haasteena politiikan tutkimukselle

Niilo Kauppi

Dépressivité maternelle au post-partum et symptomatologie du bébé à trois mois : l'effet modérateur de l'alliance familiale et de la satisfaction conjugale

Les troubles de l'humeur sont très fréquents dans la période périnatale. Ils se manifestent sous forme d'une humeur dépressive « sub-clinique » voire sous la forme d'une dépression post-partum avérée. Cette « dépressivité » provoque des perturbations des comportements de parentage, des troubles de la relation à l'enfant et débouchent sur des difficultés émotionnelles, cognitives et comportementales de l'enfant. Plusieurs facteurs peuvent néanmoins tempérer cet enchaînement. L'étude présentée dans cet article évalue dans quelle mesure l'alliance familiale et la satisfaction conjugale modèrent le lien entre dépressivité et développement de l'enfant. Cinquante-sept familles ont participé à l'étude avec leur bébé de trois mois. La dépressivité maternelle a été évaluée par entretien et par questionnaire. L'alliance familiale a été évaluée dans le Jeu Trilogique de Lausanne. La satisfaction conjugale et les symptômes de l'enfant sont rapportés par questionnaires par la mère. Les résultats montrent que (i) le niveau de dépressivité dans notre population est conforme à celui rapporté dans la littérature, (ii) il y a un lien entre dépressivité et difficultés de l'enfant, (iii) ces liens sont effectivement modérés par la satisfaction conjugale, qui joue le rôle de facteur protecteur, et par l'alliance familiale, qui joue le rôle de facteur aggravant. Ces résultats montrent qu'il est indispensable de tenir compte du contexte relationnel dans lequel la mère évolue, afin de pouvoir comprendre sous quelles conditions des troubles de l'humeur maternels vont affecter le développement de l'enfant.

The prelude of the end-Permian mass extinction predates a postulated bolide impact

The mass extinction at the Permian-Triassic Boundary (PTB) is said to have been abrupt and probably caused by an extraterrestrial impact. However, evidence from the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) of the base of the Induan at Meishan, China, shows that the biotic crisis began prior to the level, in beds 25 and 26 at which the postulated impact event occurred. Evidence of such an earlier biotic crisis occurs in other sections in South China, and in central and western Tethyan regions. This event is characterized by the extinction of a range of faunas, including corals, deep-water radiolarians, most fusulinids and pseudotirolitidammonoids, and many Permian brachiopods. In all sections, this extinction level is usually a few decimeters to meters below that of the main mass extinction in the event beds (25 and 26) at Meishan, and their correlatives elsewhere. This earlier extinction event happened before the postulated bolide impact at the level of beds 25 and 26, and constrains interpretation of the mechanisms that brought about this greatest mass extinction.

Diabète et insuffisance rénate terminate. Evolution en huit ans dans le canton de Vaud [Diabetes and end stage renal disease. Eight year progression in the Canton de Vaud, Switzerland].

Diabetic nephropathy is the first cause of endstage renal disease. The demographic expansion, the increase in the incidence of diabetes and the prolonged survival rates explain the steep increase observed these last 30 years. In the United States, improved treatment has brought to a decline in the incidence of end-stage renal disease in the diabetic population since the mid nineties. We examined the change in prevalence of diabetics on dialysis from 2001 and 2009 in the Canton de Vaud, Switzerland. The prevalence of diabetics on dialysis increased from 18% to 31% in dialysis centers and increased from 1.1/1000 to 1.9/1000 in the diabetic population. These are strong indicators that efforts are needed to improve the renal outcome of patients with diabetic nephropathy.