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Complementary Experiments (complementary + experiment)
Selected AbstractsBiological and biochemical differences between in vitro- and in vivo-reared Exorista larvarumENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 3 2006Maria Luisa Dindo Abstract Quantitative and qualitative parameters of Exorista larvarum (L.) (Diptera: Tachinidae) reared on two insect-material-free artificial media and in the factitious host Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) were compared. Significantly higher puparial yields and weights were obtained in both a milk-based and a veal homogenate-based medium than in the factitious host. Longevity and parasitization rates were not different between the in vitro- and in vivo-reared flies. Despite the greater puparial weight of the veal medium-reared E. larvarum females, the number of eggs laid by these females on host larvae was not higher than that of females reared under the other two rearing conditions. Moreover, in a complementary experiment, with homogeneous puparial weights of milk medium- and host-reared females, the former oviposited fewer eggs. Hence, puparial weight alone is not a reliable quality parameter for E. larvarum reared on artificial media. Lower amino acid content, with a deficiency in aromatic amino acids and an excess in proline, was found for in vitro third instar parasitoid larvae reared on both media compared to the in vivo-reared ones. These results suggest a correlation between the amino acid deficiency and imbalance of medium-reared larvae and the lower number of eggs laid by the females obtained. [source] Sex-dependent use of information on conspecific feeding activities in an amphibian urodelianFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2009Pedro Aragón Summary 1Animals can make decisions by observing the behaviour of others. Their decisions vary depending on whether the benefits of using such information exceed the costs. Thus, it is worthwhile to explore the potential costs associated with different sources of information to understand the consequences of sociality. Previous studies focused mainly on the costs inherent to information gathering, whereas sex differences with regard to the costs arising from information use have received less attention. 2To explore this further I performed two complementary experiments. The first experiment aimed to examine individual responses to different combinations of information types that are likely to appear in nature, to test whether there is a sex-dependent response in the Bosca's newt, Lissotriton boscai. I tested the time needed for individuals to eat food items by trial-and-error tactics (personal information), and when a conspecific, which was eating or not, was added to the food cue. The second experiment aimed to evoke social interactions that are likely to arise after the choice of using information on conspecific feeding activities is made. I examined the potential costs associated with direct competition between same-sex pairs in food-limited conditions. 3Results of experiment 1 revealed that in both sexes the latency to eat food items was shorter in the presence of non-feeding conspecifics, but only females took advantage when information related to feeding activities where added to the food cue. Results of experiment 2 showed that when faced with a limited resource of food, females were more prone to engage in costly interactions. 4This study suggests that the balance between costs and benefits associated with the short-term use of information on conspecific feeding behaviour in combination with food cues may differ between sexes. Differential information uses by sexes might have profound consequences in intraspecific relationships and in the evolution of vertebrates' social systems. [source] Exploring the predictability of the ,Short Rains' at the coast of East AfricaINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 11 2004Stefan Hastenrath Abstract The boreal autumn ,Short Rains' at the coast of East Africa are deficient when there is weak development of a zonal circulation cell along the Indian Ocean equator, an anomalously low sea-surface temperature in the western portion of the basin, and in the high phase of the southern oscillation. Such large-scale circulation departures and their precursors are described by compact indices. September values of these indices for the period 1958,96 are used to explore the predictability of an index (RON) of October,November rainfall at the coast of East Africa. Regressions with cross-validation over the entire 1958,96 period are evaluated for the early (1958,77) and late (1978,96) halves of the record. In complementary experiments, the entire record is separated into 1958,77 as a training period and 1978,96 as a verification period. In all experiments, correlation of calculated versus observed rainfall is high for the early record and low for the late half of the record, a behaviour not noted in cross-validation over the entire 39 year time span. The 11-year sliding correlations of the indicated circulation indices with RON all reveal a drastic deterioration of relationships from the early to the late half of the record, although the equatorial zonal circulation cell appears to remain strong throughout. Copyright © 2004 Royal Meteorological Society [source] Two new lipoaminoacids with complementary modes of action: new prospects to fight out against skin agingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF COSMETIC SCIENCE, Issue 1 2010S. Dumont Synopsis The mode of action of two cosmetic active ingredients (AIs), palmitoyl glycine (PG) and cocoyl alanine (CA) was studied with cDNA array experiments and quantitative PCR confirmations, which were performed on experimentally aged human fibroblasts. These preliminary studies revealed complementary profiles. Thus, specific supplementary investigations were then carried out for each AI. Protocols used were based either on in vitro models: (i) biochemical assays, (ii) monolayer cell culture (primary human fibroblasts and keratinocytes) and (iii) the model of capillary-like tube formation by human endothelial cells or on ex vivo models, i.e. topically treated skin explants and both immunohistochemical and ChromameterTM investigations. New prospects are proposed to fight out against skin aging. Indeed, PG and CA showed complementary properties and thus enabled a regulation or a restoration effect on main aging-associated disorders. Thus, they can not only act on tissue architecture, cell,cell interactions and extracellular matrix protection but also on inflammation, cell longevity, skin immune system protection, skin radiance and stem cell survey. Finally, a clinical trial performed on Caucasian women confirmed AI anti-wrinkle efficacy, which was superior to that of a market reference ingredient. In the future, complementary experiments enabling a better understanding of the aging-induced decline of epidermal stem cells would be of a great interest. Résumé Le mode d'action de deux actifs cosmétiques, Palmitoyl glycine (PG) et Cocoyl Alanine (CA), a été déterminéà l'aide d'expériences de cDNA arrays et de confirmations par qPCR, réalisées sur des fibroblastes humains vieillis expérimentalement. Ces études préliminaires ont révélé des modes d'action complémentaires. Des expériences supplémentaires spécifiques ont donc ensuite été réalisées pour chaque actif. Les protocoles utilisés étaient basés sur des modèles in vitro: i) études biochimiques, ii) cultures cellulaires en monocouches (cultures primaires de fibroblastes et de kératinocytes humains) et iii) modèle de formation de pseudo-tubules par des cellules endothéliales humaines; ou sur des modèles ex-vivo, i.e. des explants de peau traités de manière topique et analysés à l'aide d'études immuno-histochimiques et d'un ChromamètreTM. De nouvelles perspectives s'ouvrent pour combattre le vieillissement cutané. En effet, PG et CA montrent des propriétés complémentaires et permettent ainsi une régulation ou une restauration des principaux dysfonctionnements liés à l'âge. Ainsi, ils peuvent agir non-seulement sur l'architecture des tissus, l'interaction entre les cellules et la protection de la matrice extracellulaire mais aussi sur l'inflammation, la longévité cellulaire, la survie des cellules souches, le système de protection immunitaire et l'éclat de la peau. Finalement, des essais cliniques réalisés sur des femmes de type Caucasien ont confirmé l'efficacité antirides des actifs, laquelle était supérieure à celle d'une référence anti-âge du marché. Dans un futur proche, des tests complémentaires pourraient permettre une meilleure compréhension de la dégradation des cellules souches épidermiques au cours du vieillissement. [source] "Doubly Selective" Antimicrobial Polymers: How Do They Differentiate between Bacteria?CHEMISTRY - A EUROPEAN JOURNAL, Issue 43 2009Karen Lienkamp Dr. Abstract We have investigated how doubly selective synthetic mimics of antimicrobial peptides (SMAMPs), which can differentiate not only between bacteria and mammalian cells, but also between Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, make the latter distinction. By dye-leakage experiments on model vesicles and complementary experiments on bacteria, we were able to relate the Gram selectivity to structural differences of these bacteria types. We showed that the double membrane of E. coli rather than the difference in lipid composition between E. coli and S. aureus was responsible for Gram selectivity. The molecular-weight-dependent antimicrobial activity of the SMAMPs was shown to be a sieving effect: while the 3000,g,mol,1 SMAMP was able to penetrate the peptidoglycan layer of the Gram-positive S. aureus bacteria, the 50000,g,mol,1 SMAMP got stuck and consequently did not have antimicrobial activity. [source] | ||||||||||