Environmental and Physiological Influences to Isotopic Ratios of N and Protein Status in a Montane Ungulate in Winter

Winter severity can influence large herbivore populations through a reduction in maternal proteins available for reproduction. Nitrogen (N) isotopes in blood fractions can be used to track the use of body proteins in northern and montane ungulates. We studied 113 adult female caribou for 13 years throughout a series of severe winters that reduced population size and offspring mass. After these severe winters, offspring mass increased but the size of the population remained low. We devised a conceptual model for routing of isotopic N in blood in the context of the severe environmental conditions experienced by this population. We measured δ¹⁵N in three blood fractions and predicted the relative mobilization of dietary and body proteins. The δ ¹⁵N of the body protein pool varied by 4‰ and 46% of the variance was associated with year. Annual variation in δ¹⁵N of body protein likely reflected the fall/early winter diet and winter locations, yet 15% of the isotopic variation in amino acid N was due to body proteins. Consistent isotopic differences among blood N pools indicated that animals tolerated fluxes in diet and body stores. Conservation of body protein in caribou is the result of active exchange among diet and body N pools. Adult females were robust to historically severe winter conditions and prioritized body condition and survival over early investment in offspring. For a vagile ungulate residing at low densities in a predator-rich environment, protein restrictions in winter may not be the primary limiting factor for reproduction.     

Organic Fertilization and Sufficient Nutrient Status in Prehistoric Agriculture? – Indications from Multi-Proxy Analyses of Archaeological Topsoil Relicts

Neolithic and Bronze Age topsoil relicts revealed enhanced extractable phosphorus (P) and plant available inorganic P fractions, thus raising the question whether there was targeted soil amelioration in prehistoric times. This study aimed (i) at assessing the overall nutrient status and the soil organic matter content of these arable topsoil relicts, and (ii) at tracing ancient soil fertilizing practices by respective stable isotope and biomarker analyses. Prehistoric arable topsoils were preserved in archaeological pit fillings, whereas adjacent subsoils served as controls. One Early Weichselian humic zone represented the soil status before the introduction of agriculture. Recent topsoils served as an additional reference. The applied multi-proxy approach comprised total P and micronutrient contents, stable N isotope ratios, amino acid, steroid, and black carbon analyses as well as soil color measurements. Total contents of P and selected micronutrients (I, Cu, Mn, Mo, Se, Zn) of the arable soil relicts were above the limits for which nutrient deficiencies could be assumed. All pit fillings exhibited elevated δ¹⁵N values close to those of recent topsoils (δ¹⁵N>6 to 7‰), giving first hints for prehistoric organic N-input. Ancient legume cultivation as a potential source for N input could not be verified by means of amino acid analysis. In contrast, bile acids as markers for faecal input exhibited larger concentrations in the pit fillings compared with the reference and control soils indicating faeces (i.e. manure) input to Neolithic arable topsoils. Also black carbon contents were elevated, amounting up to 38% of soil organic carbon, therewith explaining the dark soil color in the pit fillings and pointing to inputs of burned biomass. The combination of different geochemical analyses revealed a sufficient nutrient status of prehistoric arable soils, as well as signs of amelioration (inputs of organic material like charcoal and faeces-containing manure).     

The role of posture on the changes in plasma atrial natriuretic factor and arginine vasopressin levels during immersion

In seven healthy male volunteers we investigated changes in plasma atrial natriuretic factor [( ANF]), arginine vasopressin [( AVP]) and plasma volume (PV) during supine immersion. Twenty minutes head-out water immersion in a supine position in a thermo-neutral water bath attenuated the increase in PV induced by 20 min in a supine position in air, but increased the mean plasma [ANF] from 32.0 pg.ml-1, SEM 5.1 to 53.3 pg.ml-1, SEM 3.6 and decreased the mean plasma [AVP] from 1.4 pg.ml-1, SEM 0.1 to 0.9 pg.ml-1, SEM 0.04. Simultaneously, diuresis and natriuresis increased markedly. During a 20-min control period in the supine posture without immersion, PV, plasma [ANF] and [AVP] remained unaffected while diuresis and natriuresis did not increase to the same extent. These data suggest that an increase in the central blood volume induced by a weak external hydrostatic pressure during supine immersion triggered the changes in plasma [ANF] and [AVP] and that the increase was probably due to a shift of blood volume from peripheral to central vessels. The changes in plasma [ANF] contributed to the changes in natriuresis.     

Selection of the conodont Idiognathodus simulator (Ellison) as the event marker for the base of the global Gzhelian Stage (Upper Pennsylvanian, Carboniferous)

Studies carried out for more than 10 years by the Task Group to establish GSSPs at the base of the Moscovian–Kasimovian and Kasimovian–Gzhelian boundaries have resulted in the proposal that the level at which the conodont species Idiognathodus simulator (Ellison, 1941) first appears be selected to mark the base of the Gzhelian Stage. This expands this eastern European chronostratigraphic unit to a global scale.I. simulator (sensu Barrick et al., 2008) has been identified so far in Midcontinent and eastern North America, the Moscow and Donets basins and southern Urals of eastern Europe, and in south-central China. Correlation of this level based on this species and other conodont species can be reinforced in some areas by ammonoid and fusulinid data.     

Resolution of the enantiomers of various alpha-substituted ornithine and lysine analogs by high-performance liquid chromatography with chiral eluant and by gas chromatography on Chirasil-Val

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method, with L-proline and copper as chiral mobile phase, is described for the enantiomeric resolution of various alpha-substituted ornithine and lysine analogs. Although ornithine gives no separation with the chiral eluant used, excellent resolutions are obtained for various alpha-alkyl-, alpha-halogenomethyl-, alpha-vinyl-, and alpha-ethynyl-substituted ornithines. Similar separations are also observed for the dehydroornithine and lysine analogs. Gas chromatography on a chiral stationary phase, Chirasil-Val, allows the resolution of the ornithine and lysine analogs after derivatization into the monofluoroacyl derivatives of their corresponding lactams. No resolution or only a poor resolution is obtained by GC on Chirasil-Val for the dehydroornithine analogs as their di-N-perfluoroacyl alkyl esters. The chiral eluant HPLC procedure is easily scaled up for the semipreparative resolution of several ornithine analogs, i.e., alpha-fluoromethylornithine, alpha-difluoromethylornithine, alpha-chlorofluoromethylornithine, and alpha-fluoromethyldehydroornithine, which are known as potent ornithine decarboxylase inhibitors in vitro and in vivo.     

High SEPT9_v1 Expression Is Associated with Poor Clinical Outcomes in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

The purpose of this work was to determine SEPT9_v1 expression levels in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to analyze whether SEPT9_v1 expression is relevant to clinical outcomes. Recently, the SEPT9 isoform SEPT9_v1 has been implicated in oncogenesis, and methylation of the SEPT9 promoter region was reported in HNSCC. These findings led us to hypothesize that SEPT9_v1 could be differently expressed in HNSCC. To determine whether SEPT9_v1 is expressed in HNSCC, tissue microarray immunohistochemical analysis was performed using a SEPT9_v1-specific antibody. Tissue microarrays stained with a polyclonal SEPT9_v1-specific antibody was used to determine protein expression levels in HNSCC tissue samples, some with known clinical outcomes. This analysis showed that SEPT9_v1 is in fact highly expressed in HNSCC compared with normal epithelium, and high expression levels directly correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Specifically, a high SEPT9_v1 expression was associated with decreased disease-specific survival (P = .012), time to indication of surgery at primary site (P = .008), response to induction chemotherapy (P = .0002), and response to chemotherapy (P = .02), as well as advanced tumor stage (P = .012) and N stage (P = .0014). The expression of SEPT9_v1 was also strongly correlated with smoking status (P = .00094). SEPT9_v1 is highly expressed in HNSCC, and a high expression of SEPT9_v1 is associated with poor clinical outcomes. These data indicate that SEPT9_v1 warrants additional investigation as a potential biomarker for HNSCC.     

X-linked steroid sulfatase: Evidence for different gene-dosage in males and females

Summary Steroid sulfatase (STS) activities in female fibroblast strains are significantly higher than in male strains, as determined by cleavage of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate. The difference is probably not due to hormonal control of gene expression, but suggests that for this X-linked locus there is no gene dosage compensation.     

Voluntary motor reactions: does stimulus appearance prolong the actual tremor period?

Entrainment of voluntary motor responses by ongoing tremors demonstrates the interaction of motor actions simultaneously performed by the same muscle. In the case of physiological tremor, based on experimental data, Kogan (Determining the influence of a bright stimulus on the ultramicrostructure of the movement control process in highly qualified wrestlers, Tesisi 7, Nautschnometoditscheskoi konferenzii respublik Pribaltiki i Belorussi po woprosam sportivnoi trenirovki, Riga, 1978:56-57) postulated a direct and immediate impact of a 'go' stimulus on the actual tremor cycle. This paper represents a critical replication of this investigation, showing that the effect reported can be simply explained as an inherent statistical consequence of the experimental paradigm.