Air flow and convective heat loss from small mammals in laboratory metabolism chambers

1. 1.Thermal conductance was determined from cooling curves of Mus domesticus carcasses at air flow rates ranging from still air to 0.91·min⁻¹ STP. Thermal conductance was constant over this range of air flows. This indicates that free convection predominates over forced convection at these air flow rates.

2. 2.While non single set of conditions will be appropriate for all experiments, free convection conditions are appropriate for determination of minimal thermal conductance.

The effect of kinetin on chlorophyll synthesis in ageing etiolated barley leaves exposed to light

Etiolated barley seedlings lose the ability to produce chlorophyll and soluble protein on exposure to light with increasing age. Similarly, the production of δ-aminolaevulinic acid-dehydratase and succinyl-CoA synthetase is decreased in older etiolated leaves exposed to light. The rate of protochlorophyllide₆₅₂ regeneration decreased well before the rates of exogenous δ-aminolaevulinic acid conversion to protochlorophyllide₆₃₂ was affected by ageing. Application of kinetin retarded these ageing symptoms in the etiolated leaves.     

Mineral composition of Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen leaves

Mineral composition ofHalimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen leaves was studied. The leaves accumulate salt, which is partly compensated by succulence. The ratio K/Na is less than 1. No distinct correlation between salt content in the soil and the mineral content at different stations could be found. Communication no. 148 of the Delta Institute for Hydrobiological Research, Yerseke, The Netherlands.     

Ultrastructural detection of sucrose synthase distribution in developing maize leaves

Summary A developing maize leaf grows by the activity of a basal meristematic region and an adjacent elongating zone, resulting in a morphological and functional gradient along the leaf. We have used this system to detect the spatial and temporal expression of an enzyme, sucrose synthase, which plays a pivotal role in the sucrose import-export transition which occurs along a monocotyledon leaf. Immunogold labeling was used to detect the cellular and sub-cellular distribution of sucrose synthase (SS) at the electron microscopical level; the protein was visualized using a polyclonal antiserum on embedded tissue sections. Immunolabel was observed in the cytosol of dividing meristematic cells, expanding cells of the elongation zone, and in differentiating cells of young photosynthetic tissue. In fully differentiated leaf tissue, however, the protein was no longer immuno-detectable in photosynthetic cells, but was present in the guard and subsidiary cells of stomata and in companion cells within the phloem tissue of vascular bundles. The tissue- and cell-specific localization of sucrose synthase changes along the growing leaf as a function of the developmental state and the associated need for sucrose import or export.     

Retention of nutrients by the different wastes produced by the kaolin mining industry in Cornwall

Summary The chemical composition and leaching loss of applied fertilizers were measured from four waste materials derived from china clay extraction. Two waste materials, overburden and mica, had a higher nitrogen and calcium concentration, and were more efficient than sand wastes for the retention of these elements when applied as fertilizers. The possibility of using overburden and mica wastes as amendments for sand waste reclamation is briefly discussed.     

Adventitous bud induction in vitro from juvenile leaves of Cupressus arizonica Green

Juvenile leaves of Cupressus arizonica Green (3–5 mm in length) from eight week old seedlings, were cultured on liquid medium supplemented with isopentenyladenine (2 mgl^-1). Buds formed from the explants after three weeks of culture, but further growth occurred only after transfer to half-strength medium without plant growth regulators. Histological analysis at different times of culture, showed an early mitotic activity within transfusion tissue, followed by dedifferentiation of epidermal and mesophyll parenchyma cells at the basal zone of the leaves. The differentiation of vascular nodules always preceded bud formation. The difficulty of conifers to root and grow beyond plantlet stage is discussed.     

Mechanisms affecting load size determination inAtta cephalotes L. (Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Summary The size of leaf-cutting ant foragers correlates more closely with the weight than the area of the leaf fragments they cut. This implies that the mechanism of load size determination is not a simple function of body geometry. Ants were found not to adjust the radius of cut to compensate for experimental changes in leaf weight during the process of cutting. However, ants changed their cutting behaviour according to the thickness of the region of the fragment being cut. Ants decreased their cut radius when cutting through leaf veins. Similarly, when cutting artificial laminae of varying thicknesses, ants reduced the cut arc radius when traversing thicker regions.Cut radius was not principally controlled by the position of the rear legs nor the overall body length but by mechanisms associated with the head and thorax of the ant.     

Light-modulation of nitrate reductase activity in leaves and roots of maize

The nuclear DNA content in ray cells from the 1-year-old vascular cambium of white ash ( Fraxinus americana L.) trees was determined at intervals during the annual cycle of cambial activity and dormancy by using Feulgen microspectrophotometry. By 10 September, these cells had entered dormancy in G₁ with a normal DNA distribution and a minimal average DNA content of 2.65 pg. The average amount of DNA increased to 3.51 pg by 30 November, remained at this elevated value until at least 30 March, when the cambium was still dormant, then declined to the minimum level on 1 May and 10 June, when the cells were mitotically active. The springtime decline appeared to occur both before and during cell division. Between 1 May and 10 June, the prophase (4C) and telophase (2C) DNA contents decreased significantly. The amount of nuclear DNA measured by microspectrophotometry was verified by using flow cytometry and image analysis. The results support the view that there is an annual oscillation in the nuclear genome size of shoot meristematic cells in tree species native to the northern temperate zone.     

Alopecia in Rhesus macaques correlates with immunophenotypic alterations in dermal inflammatory infiltrates consistent with hypersensitivity etiology

Background Although alopecia is a commonly recognized problem affecting many captive Rhesus macaque colonies, there is no consensus as to the underlying etiology or appropriate course of management. Methods We performed skin biopsies to assess underlying pathology in alopecic Rhesus macaques and performed immunohistochemical and metachromatic staining of these biopsies to assess the cellular infiltrates. Results Alopecia is associated with superficial dermal perivascular mononuclear cell infiltrates and skin pathology consistent with chronic hypersensitivity dermatitis. The inflammation is primarily composed of CD4+ cells admixed with histiocytes and mast cells. Inflammation is correlated with degree of alopecia. Further analysis in different groups of macaques revealed that animals born outdoors or infected with lung mites had reduced dermal inflammatory cell infiltrates and a lower incidence of alopecia. Conclusions These findings support a hypothesis that an altered housing status resulting in decreased pathogen burden in Rhesus macaque colonies may contribute to dermal immunophenotypic alterations and subsequent development of dermatitis with resultant alopecia.