The presence or absence of light during flotation restricted environmental stimulation: Effects on plasma cortisol,blood pressure,and mood

This study examined the effect of light on relaxation associated with flotation restricted environmental stimulation therapy (REST), as measured by plasma cortisol, mean arterial pressure, and psychometric parameters. Twenty-one subjects were paired by baseline cortisol levels into two groups: one experiencing flotation REST in the presence of light (REST-L) and one experiencing flotation REST in the absence of light (REST-D). Subjects were 15 male and 6 female students aged 22–28 in normal health who had not experienced REST. Repeated flotation REST (8 sessions) either with light or without light was associated with a decrease in plasma cortisol and a decrease in mean arterial pressure, with no differences in effectiveness between groups. The psychometric assessment of mood, using the POMS scale, before and after sessions 1 and 8 revealed mood state improvement in both REST-L and REST-D groups. These data suggest that the presence of light did not compromise the flotation REST experience, as evidenced by the lack of difference between REST-L and REST-D groups.     

Statistische Methoden zur Untersuchung der Ausbreitung von Organismen

Zusammenfassung Für die Untersuchung der Ausbreitung von Organismen in der Ebenen werden statistische Methoden ausgearbeitet, die eine Untersuchung der systematischen Ortsveränderung und der Dispersion ermöglichen. Dabei wird einmal ein spezieller, einmal ein allgemeiner Fall einer zweidimensionalen Normalverteilung angenommen. Bei Konjunktionen von Aussagen über Parameter werden simultane Konfidenzbereiche angegeben. In einem Anhang werden aufgestellte Behauptungen bewiesen.Mit 4 Textabbildungen.     

Zur Biologie vonSpongomorpha aeruginosa (Linnaeus) van den Hoek

Zusammenfassung 1. Durch wiederholte Versuchsserien während des Winters 1963/64 wurde bestätigt, daßChlorochytrium inclusum undCodiolum petrocelidis Sporophyten vonSpongomorpha aeruginosa sind.2. Unter den ökologischen Gegebenheiten von Helgoland ist der jahreszeitliche Rhythmus der heteromorphen Generationen durch die Reife des Gametophyten im Mai bis Juni, des Sporophyten im Dezember bis Januar bestimmt.3. Nur ein kleiner Teil der Sporophyten wird im Alter von etwa 8 Monaten fertil, die meisten benötigen etwa 18 Monate. Zu jeder Jahreszeit sind Endophyten in vegetativem Zustand vorhanden.

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On the biology ofSpongomorpha aeruginosa (Linnaeus) van den Hoek

The results of my formerly published investigation on the life-cycle ofSpongomorpha aeruginosa (= Sp. lanosa) are confirmed:Codiolum petrocelidis from Helgoland as type-locality is the sporophytic stage of the above mentioned alga. The development of the gametophyte both from zoospores ofCodiolum petrocelidis and ofChlorochytrium inclusum is quite identical. This was proved by numerous series of cultures during the period of fertility of these two endophytes in the winter 1963/64. There is no relation betweenCodiolum petrocelidis andAcrosiphonia arcta, as stated byJónsson on the basis of his experiments performed at Roscoff. Unfortunately, he did not observe the complete life-history of these algae in culture. It is possible, however, thatCodiolum petrocelidis from Roscoff represents the sporophytic stage of anotherSpongomorpha-species.

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Herrn Professor Dr.Adolf Bückmann zum 65. Geburtstag in Verehrung gewidmet.     

The effects of X-rays on the proliferation dynamics of cells in the imaginal wing disc ofDrosophila melanogaster

Summary We report on the size distribution of clones marked by mitotic recombination induced by several different doses of X-rays applied to 72 h oldDrosophila larvae. The results indicate that the radiation significantly reduces the number of cells which undergo normal proliferation in the imaginal wing disc. We estimate that 1000 r reduces by 40–60% the number of cells capable of making a normal contribution to the development of the adult wing. Part of this reduction is due to severe curtailment in the proliferative ability of cells which nevertheless remain capable of adult differentiation; this effect is possibly due to radiation-induced aneuploidy. Cytological evidence suggests that immediate cell death also occurs as a result of radiation doses as low as 100 r. The surviving cells are stimulated to undergo additional proliferation in response to the X-ray damage so that the result is the differentiation of a normal wing.     

Characterization of B and H blood-group active glycosphingolipids from human B erythrocyte membranes

Two blood group B active glycosphingolipids (B-I and B-II) previously isolated and highly purified from human B erythrocytes [21] were analysed first by degradation with α-D-galactosidase from coffee beans, α-L-fucosidase from bovine kidney and with 0,1 N trichloracetic acid; the native B-glycolipids as well as their degradation products were then investigated by methylation analysis with combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, by thin layer chromatography, twodimensional immunodiffusion and by the hemagglutination inhibition technique. Together with the results obtained by mass spectrometry of permethylated glycolipids [26] the following structures were elucidated: α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[α-L-fucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminosyl-(1 → 3)-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 1)-ceramide for the B-I glycosphingolipid and α-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 3)-[α-L-fucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)]-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminosyl-(1 → 3)-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminosyl-(1 → 3)-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 1)-ceramide for the B-II glycosphingolipid. A H active glycolipid fraction from B erythrocytes further purified by thin layer chromatography was also investigated by methylation analysis. The pattern of its partially methylated alditol acetates was essentially the same as that of the α-galactosidase treated and permethylated B-I glycolipid. It also exhibited strongly precipitating and hemagglutination inhibiting H properties as well as the two α-galactosidase treated B-I and B-II glycosphingolipids. Based upon these data the following tentative structure was proposed: α-L-fucopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminosyl-(1 → 3)-D-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 1)-ceramide. Gas chromatographic analysis revealed sphingosine and lignoceric, nervonic and behenic acids to be the main components of the ceramide residues of the three glycosphingolipids. From the data presented the H active substance very probably can be regarded as the immediate precursor of the B-I glycosphingolipid from human B erythrocyte membranes.     

Spider mites of sugarcane in Australia: a review of grass-feeding Oligonychus Berlese (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae)

Abstract In many areas of the world, spider mites are significant pests of sugarcane. Australia is currently fortunate in lacking the most destructive species, and usually suffers only sporadic damage. Herein, we provide a key to the genera of spider mites associated with sugarcane, review the most significant genus, Oligonychus Berlese, and provide a key to the species of grass-feeding Oligonychus in the Australasian region. The species O. araneum Davis, O. digitatus Davis, O. grypus Baker and Pritchard, O. orthius Rimando, and O. oryzae (Hirst) are redescribed, while the Australian O. zanclopes sp. n. Beard and Walter from sugarcane and rice, O. turbelli sp. n. Beard and Walter, O. ephamnus sp. n. Beard and Walter and O. festucolus sp. n. Beard and Walter from other grasses, are newly described. Previous records of O. grypus in Australia appear to be misidentifications of what is described here as the new species O. zanclopes .