The Separation and Characterization of Carbohydrate Rich Component from Ovomucin in Chicken Eggs

We investigated the effects of near-infrared irradiation on the photoconversion of Chenopodium album water-soluble chlorophyll-binding protein (CaWSCP) in the presence of sodium hydrosulfite and found a further photoconversion from CP742 to CP763, a novel form of CaWSCP. Interestingly, one-third of the absorption peak at 668 nm was recovered in CP763, but re-irradiation under oxidative conditions eliminated the photo convertibility of CaWSCP.     

Vegetation mapping with the aid of low-altitude aerial photography

Abstract. A technique for fine-scale vegetation mapping with the aid of low-altitude aerial photography was developed. The procedure is as follows: 1. The site is divided into a lattice pattern - in case the site is too large to fit into a single photograph with satisfactory resolution. The coordinates of every lattice point are surveyed to be used as control points for geometric correction. A photograph of each block of the lattice is taken using a remote-controlled camera system lifted by a captive helium balloon. 2. The vegetation is classified on the basis of a phytosociological survey. 3. The shapes and locations of vegetation patches appearing in the photographs are entered into a computer, using a digitizer. A geometric correction is carried out through coordinate transformation referring to the coordinates of the control points and subsequently a draft vegetation map is produced. Finally, discrepancies are corrected and the map is coloured to produce the final version of the vegetation map. This technique was applied to vegetation mapping at a bar, 500 m wide and 2 km long, in the river Yoshino in Shikoku, Japan. A fine-scale vegetation map was obtained and used to analyse the influence of plants on geomorphic processes and community-specific hydrogeomorphic conditions on the bar.     

Salicylate-promoted permeation of cefoxitin, insulin and phenylalanine across red cell membrane. Possible mechanism

Uptake of sodium cefoxitin, D-phenylalanine and insulin into human red blood cells was significantly enhanced by the presence of salicylate and 5-methoxysalicylate in the medium. The mechanism of adjuvant action appeared to depend on an affinity between the adjuvant and the protein fraction in the erythrocyte membrane. The inhibitory effect of DIDS and phlorizin on the salicylate-enhanced uptake of these compounds strongly suggests that the ability of salicylate to permeate the membrane may be essential for it to act as an adjuvant.     

Mutations in {beta}-Tubulin Block Transhyphal Migration of Nuclei in Dikaryosis in the Homobasidiomycete Coprinus cinereus

ß-Tubulins from fourteen benomyl-resistant strainsof the homobasidiomycete Coprinus cinereus, which carry thebenA, benB, benC or benD mutations, were analyzed by urea SDS-PAGEor isoelectric focusing and subsequent immunoblot analysis.Electrophoretic aberrations in a major ß-tubulin isotype,denoted ß1 were found in two strains, BEN154 and BEN215,both of which carry benomyl resistance mutations in benA ⁺ Theaberrations of ß1 in BEN154 and BEN215 cosegregatedwith benomyl resistance among the progeny of outcrosses of BEN154 and BEN215 to wild type, indicating that the ß1aberrations were caused by the benA mutations. Both the mutantand wild-type ß1 tubulins were present in the heterozygousdikaryons, BEN 154/wild-type and BEN215/wild-type, ruling outpost-translational modification as a possible cause for theaberrations in ß1. Thus, we conclude that benA isa structural gene for ß1. Transhyphal migration ofnuclei in dikaryosis was blocked in the mycelia of BEN 154 andin its progeny that carried benA (ß1 mutation), demonstratingthat microtubules are involved in the migration process. Nuclearmigration in dikaryosis seems to differ in terms of mechanism,at least in part, from the migration of tetrad nuclei from basidiainto prespores during formation of basidiospores and from themigration of nuclei from basidiospores into hyphae during germination,because a benA mutation blocked the former without affectingthe latter two processes. (Received May 19, 1989; Accepted August 30, 1989)     

A theory of gene-culture coevolution of parental preference and sex ratio in humans

A theory on the evolution of human primary sex ratio is proposed. Effects of parental preference for sons, reflected in birth control based on offspring sex ratio and female biased infanticide, on the evolution of primary sex ratio are analyzed. Both are shown to select for female bias in primary sex ratio. The gene-culture coevolution of female infanticide and primary sex ratio is also studied and it is shown that female infanticide develops more in societies in which the father plays a more important role in the transmission of culture than the mother does.     

Lung burden of green nickel oxide aerosol and histopathological findings in rats after continuous inhalation

There are few inhalation studies of nickel carcinogenesis. In this study, Wistar male rats were exposed to green nickel oxide (NiO(G)) aerosols (mass median aerodynamic diameter, 0.6 μm) for 7 h/d, 5 d/wk for up to 12 mo. The average exposure concentration was controlled at 0.3 and 1.2 mg/m³ during the exposure. For histopathological examination and measurement of the nickel concentration in rat organs, the rats were sacrificed at 3, 6, and 12 mo of exposure and 8 mo clearance period following 12 mo of exposure. The nickel content in rat lungs that was observed up to 2.6 mg after 12 mo exposure, was proportional to the exposure concentration during the exposure. The clearance of the nickel from the lungs was very slow and the biological half time was determined 7.7 mo. Although the rats were exposed continuously to NiO(G), for 12 mo and kept for 8 mo clearance period, there were no malignant tumors in any of the exposed animals.     

Morphology and Hormone Levels of Tobacco and Carrot Tissues Transformed by Agrobacterium tumefaciens I. Auxin and Cytokinin Contents of Cultured Tissues Transformed with Wild-Type and Mutant Ti Plasmids

Carrot and tobacco plants were transformed with Agrobacteriumtumefaciens harboring wild-type, aux^– or cyt^– Tiplasmids. In tobacco, these wild and mutant Ti plasmids inducedthe formation of non-morphogenic galls, galls with shoots, andgalls with roots, respectively. In carrot, however, transformationwith any of these plasmids resulted in only the formation ofamorphous tumors. Determination of IAA and cytokinin contentsshowed that in tobacco, significantly high amounts of cytokininsor IAA are present in the cells transformed with Ti plasmidspossessing cytokinin or IAA biosynthetic genes, respectively.In carrot, cytokinin contents were also high in the cells transformedwith Ti plasmids having cytokinin biosynthetic genes, whereasIAA contents of the cells were similar regardless of the plasmidsused for transformation. These results suggest that the mechanism regulating IAA metabolismmay be different in tobacco and carrot. (Received June 25, 1987; Accepted February 1, 1988)