Mixed-function oxidase activity in seabirds and its relationship to oil pollution

1. The hepatic activity of epoxide hydrolase, aldrin epoxidase, aminopyrine N-demethylase, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, benzo(a)pyrene 3-hydroxylase and UDP glucuronyl transferase was determined in adult herring gulls (Larus argentatus) at various stages of the breeding season. 2. MFO activity was measured for adult Leach's storm-petrels (Oceanodroma leucorhoa), guillemot (Uria aalge) and Atlantic puffins (Fratercula arctica). For most assays the values were highest for the puffin. 3. MFO activity in both nestling and adult Atlantic puffins was determined. The degree of induction caused by a single internal dose of Prudhoe Bay crude oil in adult puffins and that caused by multiple internal doses in nestling puffins was measured.     

Technique of pulmonary vein isolation by catheter ablation

In selected patients with atrial fibrillation, the fibrillation episodes may be initiated by single or short bursts of ectopy often originating from one or more pulmonary veins (PVs). Therefore, electrical isolation of these veins by catheter ablation is currently being explored as a treatment modality for patients with paroxysmal and even more permanent types of atrial fibrillation. At present, two different techniques are used: 1) selective ablation of electrical connections between left atrium and myocardial sleeves inside the PVs; and 2) contiguous encircling lesions around and outside the PV ostia. With both techniques, moderate to high success rates have been reported with a limited follow-up duration. Both types of procedure are very complex and require a highly skilful team. With the variable anatomy of the PVs, non-invasively acquired angiographic images may serve as a roadmap for catheter manipulation. Modern three-dimensional catheter navigation techniques can be applied to facilitate accurate catheter positioning with limited fluoroscopic exposure. Experimental and clinical research is needed to define patient selection criteria.     

Post-irradiation thymocyte regeneration after bone marrow transplantation. II. Physical characteristics of thymocyte progenitor cells

Bone marrow cells were separated according to buoyant density, velocity sedimentation and cell surface charge. Fractionated (C3H x AKR)F1 bone marrow cells were transplanted into lethally-irradiated C3H recipients. In all fractions, the CFUs content and the capacity to restore the thymus cell population were determined. For all the physical parameters tested, the thymocyte progenitor cells show the same distribution as CFUs. The relationship between number of thymocyte progenitor cells and number of CFUs is dependent on density. Bone marrow progenitors of PHA responsive cells are of low buoyant density and show a distribution which resembles the distribution of the progenitors of Thy 1 positive cells. After transplantation of large numbers of bone marrow cells into irradiated mice, no significant change in the CFUs content of the thymus was observed.     

Post-Irradiation Thymocyte Regeneration After Bone Marrow Transplantation Ii. Physical Characteristics of Thymocyte Progenitor Cells

Bone marrow cells were separated according to buoyant density, velocity sedimentation and cell surface charge. Fractionated (C3H × AKR)F₁ bone marrow cells were transplanted into lethally-irradiated C3H recipients. In all fractions, the CFUs content and the capacity to restore the thymus cell population were determined. For all the physical parameters tested, thymocyte progenitor cells show the same distribution as CFUs. the relationship between number of thymocyte progenitor cells and number of CFUs is dependent on density. Bone marrow progenitors of PHA responsive cells are of low buoyant density and show a distribution which resembles the distribution of the progenitors of Thy 1 positive cells. After transplantation of large numbers of bone marrow cells into irradiated mice, no significant change in the CFUs content of the thymus was observed.     

Effects of temperature,illumination and node position on stem propagation of Miscanthus × giganteus

The sterile triploid Miscanthus × giganteus is capable of yielding more biomass per unit land area than most other temperate crops. Although the yield potential of M. × giganteus is high, sterility requires all propagation of the plant to be done vegetatively. The traditional rhizome propagation system achieves relatively low multiplication rates, i.e. the number of new plants generated from a single‐parent plant, and requires tillage that leaves soil vulnerable to CO₂ and erosion losses. A stem‐based propagation system is used in related crops like sugarcane, and may prove a viable alternative, but the environmental conditions required for shoot initiation from stems of M. × giganteus are unknown. A study was conducted to investigate the effect of temperature, illumination and node position on emergence of M. × giganteus shoots. Stems of M. × giganteus were cut into segments with a single node each, placed in controlled environments under varied soil temperature or light regimes and the number of emerged shoots were evaluated daily for 21 days. At temperatures of 20 and 25 °C, rhizomes produced significantly more shoots than did stem segments (P = 0.0105 and 0.0594, respectively), but the difference was not significant at 30 °C, where 63% of stems produced shoots compared to 80% of rhizomes (P = 0.2037). There was a strong positive effect (P = 0.0086) of soil temperature on emergence in the range of temperatures studied here (15–30 °C). Node positions higher on the stem were less likely to emerge (P < 0.0001) with a significant interaction between illumination and node position. Planting the lowest five nodes from stems of M. × giganteus in 30 °C soil in the light resulted in 75% emergence, which represents a potential multiplication rate 10–12 times greater than that of the current rhizome‐based system.     

Recontextualising Cellular Respiration in Upper Secondary Biology Education. Characteristics and Practicability of a Learning and Teaching Strategy

Since concepts may have different meanings in different contexts, students have to learn to recontextualise them, i.e. to adapt their meanings to a new context. It is unclear, however, what characteristics a learning and teaching strategy for recontextualising should have. The study aims to develop such a learning and teaching strategy for cellular respiration. The strategy consists of a storyline, consisting of three contexts, with embedded cognitive elements and some episodes focussed on recontextualising cellular respiration. Testing the strategy in two classes in upper secondary biology education showed that the strategy was largely practicable.     

Tail spine length in the Daphnia galeata complex: costs and benefits of induction by fish

We studied the combined effect of fish kairomones and food conditions on the relative tail spine length (RTL) of five Daphnia taxa, and the interaction of these factors with the vertical distribution of the daphnids. The experiment was done in two large-scale indoor containers, the so-called plankton towers in Plön, Germany. We conducted a competition experiment in which food level and the presence of fish chemicals and later fish were varied. A strong response of RTL to fish kairomones (e.g., longer tail spines), significant differences in RTL between species, but no differences in RTL with water depth were found. Further, we observed that these Daphnia taxa produced a higher RTL only under high food conditions. This suggests that there is a cost related to the production of longer tail spines.In a preliminary study in lake Plußsee, we found that Daphnia had longer average RTL than in the towers. Further, we noted significant differences in RTL between the two sampling dates, which may be related to a lower food level. We also detected a strong inverse correlation between RTL and depth. We discuss the implications of these findings for the co-existence of co-occurring Daphnia species and their hybrids.