The polycyclic musks, 7-acetyl-1,1,3,4,4,6hexamethyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphtha-lene (AHTN) and 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexahydro-4,6,6,7,8-hexamethylcyclopenta-γ-2-benzopyran (HHCB), are used as fragrance compounds in laundry detergents, soaps and cosmetics. Their combined global production has been estimated at approximately 6000 t per year. Consequently, these chemicals have the potential to contaminate ...

In intensive fruit production, in order to obtain high yields, it is necessary to use high fertilization rates as well as plant protection products. An alternative to that kind of production is presented by natural stimulators of plant growth and development called biofertilizers, biopreparations, biostimulators or phytostimulators. They are preparations of natural (plant or animal) origin, har...

Members of the IL-1 family are pleiotropic cytokines that are involved in inflammation, immunoregulation, and other homeostatic functions in the body. IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and the IL-1 antagonistic molecule [IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 Ra)] are present in the testis under normal homeostasis, and they further increase upon infection/inflammation. In the present study, we examined the effect o...

Leaf chlorophyll pigment and macronutrient concentrations were quantified for four willow species (Salix cordata (COR), S. discolor (DIS), eriocephala (ERI) interior (INT)) while growing under 2 × factorial of ambient elevated CO2 well-watered drought-stressed soil moisture treatments (Expt. 1). After the first year, we saw no difference in stem biomass between treatments. In following a second...

Male courtship during copulation is common in insects and spiders, and presumably serves to induce the female to fertilize her eggs with the male’s sperm. Fragmentary observations indicate that in Ditemnus acantholobus, typical male and female roles are reversed. The female courts vigorously and persistently during copulation while keeping one portion of the male’s highly modified pronotum insi...

The osmotic challenges facing maturing spermatozoa and their responses to them are discussed in relation to the concept of sperm maturation, defined as the increased ability of more distally recovered epididymal spermatozoa to fertilize eggs when inseminated into the female tract. One explanation could be that the more distal cells are better able to regulate their volume, and reach the oviduct...