Ultrastructure features of the midgut of the female adult Amblyomma cajennense ticks Fabricius, 1787 (Acari: Ixodidae) in several feeding stages and subjected to three infestations

The digestive tract of Amblyomma cajennense, as well as other species of ticks, is divided into the anterior, medium and posterior intestines and is the organ responsible for digestion of blood ingested during the meal on the host. The anterior and posterior regions are derived from the ectoderm and the medium one from the endoderm. In the present ultrastructural study, we analyzed the midgut of females in a semi- and fully engorged stages, on the rabbit host, which was subjected to three infestations, where were analyzed the changes that the epithelial cells went through. The results showed that during the feeding period the outermost layer the intestine is composed of muscle fibres, as observed in those semi-engorged and engorged ones in the 1st infestation and semi-engorged in the 2nd infestation. The cytoplasm of digestive cells of feeding females, and those of the semi-engorged and fully engorged in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd infestations showed some intact regions (preserved organelles) with others were disorganized. Large lipid droplets and protein granules were observed in the cytoplasm of the cells of the intestine in all phases of feeding process. Cytoplasmic spherocrystals were only observed in the semi-engorged and engorged females in the 1st and 2nd infestations. Intense vacuolation was observed in the digestive cells of the midgut of semi-engorged and engorged A. cajennense females in the 2nd infestation and those engorged in the 3rd infestation. The data showed that the gut of the females of the A. cajennense tick is actually going through big changes during the feeding period, which become more pronounced when reinfesting. These changes are probably due to the host immune response that returns antibodies to the ectoparasite and thus acquires resistance to their secreted products.     

Morphological, histological, and ultrastructural characterization of degenerating salivary glands in females of the cattle-tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus (CANESTRINI, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae)

The present study describes the morphology and ultrastructure of the salivary glands of semi-engorged females of the southern cattle-tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus. The acini that compose these glands, at that specific feeding stage, show cells featuring degenerative process of the salivary glands, such as: vacuolated cytoplasm, condensed chromatin, fragmented nuclei, and presence of apoptotic bodies. In addition, the presence of microorganisms was detected, with morphology typical of protozoa, inside these organs.     

Chromatin code, local non-equilibrium dynamics, and the emergence of transcription regulatory programs

Chromatin is a, if not the, hallmark of eukaryotic life. Any molecular process entailing genomic DNA or the nucleus by default provokes or depends on chromatin structural dynamics on various space and time scales. Chromatin dynamics are result of changes in the physico-chemical properties of the chromatin constituents themselves or the nuclear environment. Chromatin has been found in the former case to undergo many different covalent enzyme-mediated chemical modifications. Their identification sheds light on the molecular mechanisms and the physico-chemical properties underlying chromatin dynamics, and allows the development of quantitative models for the chromatin fiber. The abundance of the different modifications, their dynamics, and short- as well as long-range correlation phenomena between different modifications also point to a second layer of genomic coding implemented at the level of chromatin. Especially, gene regulatory coding seems to depend on such a second-level code. The information-theoretical properties of chromatin in the context of gene regulatory coding are discussed. A model for the emergence of cellular differentiation from the intricate interplay between genomic and chromatin code is presented and discussed in light of recent experimental insights.     

Morphology of the European species of the aphid genus Eulachnus (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae) – A SEM comparative and integrative study

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) methods were used for the first time to elucidate the external morphology of the European species of the genus Eulachnus (Hemiptera: Aphididae: Lachninae), a representative genus of the conifer-feeding aphids tribe Eulachnini. We examined and compared the external morphology of apterous and alate viviparous females from the parthenogenetic generation as well as oviparous females and alate males belonging to the sexual generation. FE-SEM images based on HMDS and cryo-SEM preparation techniques revealed better image quality than the CPD technique in regard to surface tension and morphological signs of cell deteriorations (i.e., existence of depressions, drying artifacts and membrane blebs). Three morphologically different species groups “agilis”, “brevipilosus” and “cembrae” were proposed due to the differences in head, antennae, legs and dorsal chaetotaxy as well as dorsal sclerotization. The most characteristic features and differences of representatives of these groups are presented and discussed.     

Influence of X-ray on the autophagic-lysosomal system in rat pancreatic acini

Lysosomes have an important role in radiation injury of cells and tissues. Activation of autophagy is frequently observed in different types of pathological tissue degeneration. In radiation response it increases in some cases, and lysosomes are responsible for regulated degradation of the autophagic vacuoles. Lysosomes are also involved in ionizing radiation induced cell death. In apoptosis lysosomes degrade content of the phagocytotic vacuoles derived from engulfed apoptotic blebs. On the other hand lysosomal enzymes discharged from disintegrated cells have a key role in induction of necrotic changes. In this work we investigate autophagy and lysosomal protein degradation in the relatively radiation insensitive exocrine pancreatic acini in vivo and in vitro. Type of cell death induced by X-ray was also examined in relation to the changes of the lysosomal processes. In 5h after 16 Gy in vivo whole body irradiation we observed significant increase in the cytoplasmic volume fraction of autophagic vacuoles and in the number of apoptotic cells in vivo. But in the acini isolated from irradiated rats we could not detect a change in the lysosomal degradation of intracellular proteins. Therefore irradiation probably influences the autophagy in an earlier step than lysosomal degradation. Extended necrotic lesions were not observed in vivo as long as 48 h. Isolated pancreatic acini usually contain more autophagic vacuoles than in vivo, but we could not observe additional increase in autophagy after 8 Gy, in vitro irradiation. Lysosomal degradation of intracellular proteins was also unaltered after 8 Gy, in vitro irradiation. Other biochemical functional parameters of the isolated pancreatic acini, like protein synthesis and amylase secretion were not changed either after 8 Gy, in vitro X-ray treatment. These results indicate that pancreatic acinar cells in vitro have a high tolerance to irradiation. The observed in vivo radiation induced changes of the exocrine pancreas are possibly indirectly induced by injuries of more sensitive mechanisms.     

An acoustic analysis of fluctuations in the voices of normal adult speakers across three times of day

The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of variation for several vocal parameters across three times of the day (morning, noon, and afternoon). Connected speech samples from normal adult males (N = 10) and females (N = 10) were recorded during morning, early afternoon, and late afternoon. Results showed that males produced a statistically significant increase in speaking fundamental frequency (SFF) from morning to afternoon. Females did not demonstrate a statistically significant change in SFF across the three time periods. Vocal amplitude did not change significantly for either group. The SFF variability was higher for the females than for the males. Analysis of individual data revealed that the patterns of vocal change across the three times of day were not consistent among the subjects.     

Perception of the [m]-[n] distinction in consonant-vowel (CV) and vowel-consonant (VC) syllables produced by child and adult talkers

The contribution of the nasal murmur and vocalic formant transition to the perception of the [m]-[n] distinction by adult listeners was investigated for speakers of different ages in both consonant-vowel (CV) and vowel-consonant (VC) syllables. Three children in each of the speaker groups 3, 5, and 7 years old, and three adult females and three adult males produced CV and VC syllables consisting of either [m] or [n] and followed or preceded by [i ae u a], respectively. Two productions of each syllable were edited into seven murmur and transitions segments. Across speaker groups, a segment including the last 25 ms of the murmur and the first 25 ms of the vowel yielded higher perceptual identification of place of articulation than any other segment edited from the CV syllable. In contrast, the corresponding vowel+murmur segment in the VC syllable position improved nasal identification relative to other segment types for only the adult talkers. Overall, the CV syllable was perceptually more distinctive than the VC syllable, but this distinctiveness interacted with speaker group and stimulus duration. As predicted by previous studies and the current results of perceptual testing, acoustic analyses of adult syllable productions showed systematic differences between labial and alveolar places of articulation, but these differences were only marginally observed in the youngest children's speech. Also predicted by the current perceptual results, these acoustic properties differentiating place of articulation of nasal consonants were reliably different for CV syllables compared to VC syllables. A series of comparisons of perceptual data across speaker groups, segment types, and syllable shape provided strong support, in adult speakers, for the "discontinuity hypothesis" [K. N. Stevens, in Phonetic Linguistics: Essays in Honor of Peter Ladefoged, edited by V. A. Fromkin (Academic, London, 1985), pp. 243-255], according to which spectral discontinuities at acoustic boundaries provide critical cues to the perception of place of articulation. In child speakers, the perceptual support for the "discontinuity hypothesis" was weaker and the results indicative of developmental changes in speech production.     

Spontaneous otoacoustic emissions in heterosexuals, homosexuals, and bisexuals

Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions (CEOAEs) were previously shown to be significantly less strong in homosexual and bisexual females than in heterosexual females. Here it is reported that the spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) of those same 60 homosexual and bisexual females were less numerous and weaker than those in 57 heterosexual females. That is, the SOAEs of the homosexual and bisexual females were intermediate to those of heterosexual females and heterosexual males. The SOAE and CEOAE data both suggest that the cochleas of homosexual and bisexual females have been partially masculinized, possibly as part of some prenatal processes that also masculinized whatever brain structures are responsible for sexual orientation. For males of all sexual orientation, the SOAEs were less numerous and weaker than for the females, and there were no significant differences among the 56 heterosexual, 51 homosexual, and 11 bisexual males. All subjects passed a hearing screening test. When all SOAEs above 3000 Hz were excluded (as a control against incipient, undetected hearing loss) the same results were obtained as with the full range of data (550-9000 Hz). The differential use of oral contraceptives by the heterosexual and nonheterosexual females also could not explain the differences in their OAEs.     

Sub-zero cooling synchronizes post-diapause development of codling moth,Cydia pomonella

Sub-zero cooling treatments of -10 degree C and -15 degree C for 2-6 days were evaluated as a means of meeting the chilling requirement of diapause and to synchronize post-diapause development in larvae which were held in diapause for less than 6 months. Sub-zero cooling did not affect male longevity. After six months in diapause, diapause/cooled females were longer lived than diapause control females but not longer than non-diapause females. In general, diapause-cooled males passed more spermatophores than males from control diapause and non-diapause groups. In general, sub-zero cooling did not consistently affect fecundity and % egg hatch. Non-diapause females laid the most eggs after six months in diapause, and diapause-cooled females laid the most eggs after seven months in diapause. The duration of sub-zero cooling had a significant effect on post-diapause emergence in relation to the duration that the larvae were in diapause. Sub-zero cooling for 4 days at -10 degree C significantly reduced the number of days to adult emergence of larvae which had been in diapause for 0-4 months. Sub-zero cooling at -15 degree C for durations of 2, 4, and 6 days had more variable effects on emergence, but in most cases, sub-zero cooling reduced the amount of time to and span of adult emergence.     

Ultrastructural study of spermiogenesis and the spermatozoon of Cavisoma magnum (Southwell, 1927) (Acanthocephala, Palaeacanthocephala, Cavisomidae), from Siganus lineatus (Pisces, Teleostei, Siganidae) (Valenciennes, 1835) in New Caledonia

This paper presents an ultrastructural study of Cavisoma magnum (Acanthocephala, Cavisomatidae) with a Transmission Electron Microscopy tool. This parasite of the fish Siganus lineatus is here reported for the first time from off New Caledonia, South Pacific. It is the first study describing the ultrastructure, spermiogenesis and spermatozoon of a species of the family Cavisomatidae. The young spermatid of C. magnum possesses a centriole constituted of doublets without a central element. After the elaboration of a flagellum of 9+2 pattern, the centriole migrates in a nuclear groove. Then the flagellum migration occurs and gives rise to a spermatozoon. The distribution and the size of the protein granules are reported and the posterior extremity appears like a chromatin lamina wave. Comparative ultrastructural data are presented on sperm and spermiogenesis of the Acanthocephala and Rotifers examined to date and the phylogenetic implications are discussed.     

Mouthparts of Megaselia scalaris (Loew) (Diptera: Phoridae)

Mouthparts of adult Megaselia scalaris (Loew), a fly species of medical importance, were examined using scanning electron microscopy. Sexual dimorphism of the labellum was observed in the mouthpart structures of this species. The labella of males were clothed with a dense covering of microtrichia, but these were found to be entirely absent from the labella of females. Aside from this difference, trichoid and conical sensilla that are most likely used as taste or contact chemoreceptors appear on the labellum and labrum of both sexes. In addition, five pairs of sharply pointed teeth at the ventral surface of the labellum is another feature that is shared by the two sexes. A plausible feeding mechanism for this fly is also advanced.     

Pitch-Synchronous Changes in the Anterior Cricothyroid Space During Singing

Pitch-synchronous changes in the anterior cricothyroid (CT) space were registered with ultrasonography (USG) for ten healthy subjects (5 males, 5 females) during the production of musical fifths throughout the whole voice range. One of the males and one of the females were trained amateur singers, the other subjects were choir singers. The average decrease in CT space per a musical fifth was 1.3-2.4 mm for the males and 1.0-1.8 mm for the females; the average decrease was smaller in the middle of the pitch range for both genders. The results suggest that (1) USG can be used for detection of pitch-synchronous changes in the CT space; (2) these changes are dependent on pitch range; and (3) more trained singers tend to have somewhat smaller changes than less trained subjects at certain frequencies. The results seem to indicate that F0 control mechanism varies according to pitch range and register, and possibly according to individual structure and vocal technique related differences.     

Effect of tones on vocal attack time in Cantonese speakers

Vocal attack time (VAT) is the time lag between the growth of the sound pressure signal and the development of physical contact of vocal folds at vocal initiation. It can be derived by a cross-correlation of short-time amplitude changes occurring in the sound pressure and electroglottographic (EGG) signals. Cantonese is a tone language in which tone determines the lexical meaning of the syllable. Such linguistic function of tone has implications for the physiology of tone production. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible effects of Cantonese tones on VAT. Sound pressure and EGG signals were simultaneously recorded from 59 native Cantonese speakers (31 females and 28 males). The subjects were asked to read aloud 12 disyllabic words comprising homophone pairs of the six Cantonese lexical tones. Results revealed a gender difference in VAT values, with the mean VAT significantly smaller in females than in males. There was also a significant difference in VAT values between the two tone categories, with the mean VAT values of the three level tones (tone 1, 3, and 6) significantly smaller than those of the three contour tones (tone 2, 4, and 5). The findings support the notion that norms and interpretations based on nontone European languages may not be directly applied to tone languages.     

Voice and Physical Appearance in Female-to-Male Transsexuals

The study aims to investigate if a similar interaction between physical appearance and voice could be found in female-to-male transsexuals as had been observed in male-to-female transsexuals. A panel of judges rated “maleness” of seven female-to-male transsexuals from video-recorded speech samples using three modes of presentation: auditory-only presentation, visual-only presentation, and audiovisual presentation. For the group of transsexuals as a whole, no significant differences were found between scores given in the auditory-only mode or the visual-only mode and those given in the audiovisual mode. Analysis of individual results, however, yielded significant differences in some individuals and there was some relation with hormone treatment. There was no significant correlation between the ratings of “maleness” in the auditory-only mode and fundamental frequency. Physical appearance in female-to-male transsexuals appears not to be a strong influencing factor in general, but may interact with gender recognition based on the voice in some individuals. The absence of a correlation between fundamental frequency and rating of maleness could mean that in female-to-male transsexuals, fundamental frequency is a relatively less important factor for gender expression or perhaps also that a higher voice in males is more accepted than a lower voice in females.     

Sensory Equipment of the Antennal Flagellum of Several Species of Damalinia (Phthiraptera: Trichodectidae)

Sensilla comprising the sensory equipment of the antennal flagellum of eight species of Damalinia were studied using light and scanning electron microscopy. The sensillar complex consists of three pore organs and two sensilla coeloconica in both males and females. No relationship between their relative position in different genera and species has been found. The ‘pit organs' of the sensilla coeloconica have different shapes according to species. In the apex of the male flagellum, teeth are present in the species studied but the number and shapes are different. Adjacent to the teeth is a cluster of sensilla basiconica. At high magnification, no pores were found in the sensilla walls but their more or less blunt tips have small pores. The inner face of the male flagellum can be serrated or non-serrated.     

Cytochemical characterization of Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus salivary gland cells (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae)

The Triatominae subfamily has medical sanitary importance, since these insects are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, etiologic agent of Chagas Disease, and Trypanosoma rangeli, which develops in the salivary glands and it is frequently found in mixed infections with T. cruzi. Triatomines of Triatoma and Panstrongylus genera possess a salivary gland complex composed of a pair with three well differentiated units: the anterior (D1), median (D2) and posterior (D3). Saliva is secreted during blood meal and antagonizes hemostatic, inflammatory and immunological systems imposed by the host, which facilitate the hematophagy. In order to identify nuclear structures, we studied interphase nuclei of salivary gland cells of adult insects, males and females, of Triatoma infestans and Panstrongylus megistus. The glands were removed from insects, fixed in acetic acid (45%) and lactic acid (50%), squashed and submitted to different cytochemical methods: lacto-acetic orcein, silver ion impregnation, Feulgen reaction, Toluidine Blue, Variant method of critical electrolyte concentration and C-banding. The preparations were examined with a Zeiss Jenaval photomicroscope and photographed. The results evidenced predominance of binucleated cells in D1 and D2 glands and mononucleated ones in D3. In all salivary glands were observed bulky and polyploid nucleus, a clear association between nucleolar and heterochromatic corpuscles, cytoplasmatic metachromasy and many pre-secretion vesicles in cytoplasm. Such characteristics were associated with intense synthesis activity to produce the saliva. Species were mainly differentiated by a larger heterochromatic corpuscle observed only in T. infestans (called as chromocenter), while P. megistus showed a predominance of euchromatin, with some heterochromatic corpuscles just in males. Females of both species showed a smaller quantity of heterochromatin, which could be related to the high metabolism because of the oviposition.     

Antennal morphology and sensilla ultrastructure of the web-spinning sawfly Acantholyda posticalis Matsumura (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae)

Acantholyda posticalis (Hymenoptera: Pamphiliidae) is an important pine pest with a world-wide distribution. To clarify the olfactory receptive mechanism of A. posticalis, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used to examine the morphology, ultrastructure, and distribution of antennal sensilla of adults from two sites in China. The antennae were filiform, and the flagella comprised 32–35 flagellomeres. Six sensillum types were found. Sensilla chaetica were straight setae with sharply pointed tips and without dendrites in the lumen. Sensilla trichodea were characterized by a parallel-grooved wall and one terminal pore and were innervated by four dendrites at the base. Sensilla basiconica I possessed longitudinally grooved surfaces and multiple terminal pores, with five dendrites in the lumen. Sensilla basiconica II not only had a distinct terminal pore but also had numerous tiny wall pores and many dendritic branches within the sensillum lymph. Sensilla coeloconica had deep longitudinal grooves, one terminal pore and six dendrites, while sensilla campaniformia were thick-walled with a terminal opening and sensory nerve bundles in the lumen. Sensilla chaetica and s. trichodea were most abundant and distributed over the entire antennae, while s. basiconica I and II, s. coeloconica, and s. campaniformia were restricted to the ventral flagellar surfaces. Although the shape and structure of antennae were similar in males and females, females had significantly longer antennae than males, and males had significantly more s. basiconica I than females. We compared the morphology and structure of these sensilla to other Hymenoptera and discussed their possible functions.     

替代反应法测量锕系核(n,f)和(n,xn)截面

对于某些中子反应截面,在直接测量上存在困难。为了获得那些对核能发展极其重要的核数据,人们提出替代反应法,即利用带电粒子代替中子进行反应,从而实现中子反应截面间接测量的方法。现有替代反应一般采用非弹激发、转移等周边反应,涉及的角动量远比中子反应的大,需要理论修正,这造成了一定的困难。有鉴于此,提出利用轻带电离子的俘获反应作为替代反应,其复合核自旋与中子反应的相当,有效避免了自旋修正的困难。根据这个思路,采用236U的（α,f）和（α,2n）反应作为替代反应,成功提取了239Pu的（n,f）和（n,2n）反应截面,与ENDFB7评价库数据在误差范围内符合较好,表明了替代反应法的优越性,可以在核数据测量中推广应用。There are always difficulties in the direct measurement of reactions induced by neutron, in order to obtain the neutron induced nuclear reaction data which are extremely important for nuclear power development, the surrogate reaction method, which uses charged particles instead of neutron, was proposed. The existing surrogate reaction method generally chooses peripheral reaction as the surrogate reaction, such as inelastic scattering excitation or transfer reaction. As a result, the angular momentum involved is always far larger than the neutron induced reaction, which causes difficulties in the theoretical calculation. Because of this, we proposed to use light-ion capture reaction as the surrogate reaction, the compound nuclei spin is similar with that of the neutron induced reaction, so that the difficulties in spin correction can be effectively avoided. Based on this idea, the 239Pu(n, f) and (n, 2n) reaction cross sections were successfully extracted using 236U(α,f) and (α,2n) reactions as the surrogate reaction. The results coincide well with the data of ENDFB7 within the error range, which shows that the surrogate reaction method has its own superiority, and it can be applied in the measurement of nuclear data.     

Effects of chronic ozone (O3) exposure on vocal-fold mucosa in bonnet monkeys

Effects of ambient ozone (O₃) on the respiratory tract have been frequently reported. However, little is known regarding possible effects of chronic exposure to O₃ on the larynx or on vocal-fold mucosa. In this study, six bonnet monkeys were exposed to 1 ppm O₃ 8 h per day, 5 days per week, for 3 months. Three of the monkeys' larynges were examined 4 h after exposure, and three were examined 9 months after exposure. Tissues were subjected to histological staining and morphometric quantification. Results revealed increased thickness of epithelial and connective tissue components of vocal-fold mucosa in the 4-h group and connective tissue changes that persisted in mucosa examined 9 months after exposure. Additional changes indicative of hyperplasia and disorganization of epithelial and connective tissue, as well as disruption of glands and vessels, were also noted in tissues examined at both postexposure intervals. Implications of the data for the larynx and voice quality in humans exposed to similar environmental toxins are discussed.