Isolation of microsatellite loci in the Capricorn silvereye,Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus (Aves: Zosteropidae)

The Capricorn silvereye (Zosterops lateralis chlorocephalus) is ideally suited to investigating the genetic basis of body size evolution. We have isolated and characterized a set of microsatellite markers for this species. Seven out of 11 loci were polymorphic. The number of alleles detected ranged from two to five and observed heterozygosities between 0.12 and 0.67. One locus, ZL49, was found to be sex‐linked. This moderate level of diversity is consistent with that expected in an isolated, island population.     

Chemical synthesis of a tetradecamer in the deoxyribonucleic acid series

The chemical synthesis of a tetradecadeoxyribonucleotide, d-EtSp(A-T-G-G-A-A-A-C-T-G-C-G-G-C), is described. This oligomer, designated Fragment 4δ, constitutes the 5′-terminus of the plus strand of a projected duplex coding for S-Peptide_2–14 derived from Ribonuclease A. The Fragment was constructed by block condensation via a phosphorothioate anchor. Complications due to inadvertent phosphotriester condensations are discussed. Arguments justifying the sequence selection are presented.     

Fairy wrasses perceive and respond to their deep red fluorescent coloration

Fluorescence enables the display of wavelengths that are absent in the natural environment, offering the potential to generate conspicuous colour contrasts. The marine fairy wrasse Cirrhilabrus solorensis displays prominent fluorescence in the deep red range (650–700 nm). This is remarkable because marine fishes are generally assumed to have poor sensitivity in this part of the visual spectrum. Here, we investigated whether C. solorensis males can perceive the fluorescence featured in this species by testing whether the presence or absence of red fluorescence affects male–male interactions under exclusive blue illumination. Given that males respond aggressively towards mirror-image stimuli, we quantified agonistic behaviour against mirrors covered with filters that did or did not absorb long (i.e. red) wavelengths. Males showed significantly fewer agonistic responses when their fluorescent signal was masked, independent of brightness differences. Our results unequivocally show that C. solorensis can see its deep red fluorescent coloration and that this pattern affects male–male interactions. This is the first study to demonstrate that deep red fluorescent body coloration can be perceived and has behavioural significance in a reef fish.     

Velocity of Lordosis Angle during Spinal Flexion and Extension

The importance of functional parameters for evaluating the severity of low back pain is gaining clinical recognition, with evidence suggesting that the angular velocity of lordosis is critical for identification of musculoskeletal deficits. However, there is a lack of data regarding the range of functional kinematics (RoKs), particularly which include the changing shape and curvature of the spine. We address this deficit by characterising the angular velocity of lordosis throughout the thoracolumbar spine according to age and gender. The velocity of lumbar back shape changes was measured using Epionics SPINE during maximum flexion and extension activities in 429 asymptomatic volunteers. The difference between maximum positive and negative velocities represented the RoKs. The mean RoKs for flexion decreased with age; 114°/s (20–35 years), 100°/s (36–50 years) and 83°/s (51–75 years). For extension, the corresponding mean RoKs were 73°/s, 57°/s and 47°/s. ANCOVA analyses revealed that age and gender had the largest influence on the RoKs (p<0.05). The Epionics SPINE system allows the rapid assessment of functional kinematics in the lumbar spine. The results of this study now serve as normative data for comparison to patients with spinal pathology or after surgical treatment.     

Effect of change in particle number on pulmonary clearance of aerosolized 99mTc-DTPA

Pulmonary clearance (PCl) of inhaled aerosolized 99mTc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) across the alveolocapillary membrane is diffusion limited. Therefore, if the mixing of the 99mTc-DTPA in the aqueous hypophase underlying surfactant is slow or incomplete or if there were no hypophase, an increase in the alveolar surface area occupied by 99mTc-DTPA particles would increase the absorption rate. The aim of this study was to examine whether there is an effect on PCl of changing the number of inhaled particles. The change in particle number was accomplished by a setup of four parallel jet nebulizers feeding a central delivery chamber of 400 cm3. We performed two kinds of experiments in eight healthy nonsmokers between 28 and 52 yr of age. In the first experiment, 99mTc-DTPA in saline was nebulized in one nebulizer, while saline was nebulized in the other three. In the second experiment the number of inhaled particles containing 99mTc-DTPA was increased by a factor of four by nebulizing 99mTc-DTPA in saline in all four nebulizers simultaneously. Increasing the number of inhaled 99mTc-DTPA particles caused an increase in PCl of 24.2% (P less than 0.01). We conclude that there is a slight but significant effect of changing the number of DTPA particles on PCl and that this is probably due to an uneven mixing of the 99mTc-DTPA in the aqueous hypophase underlying the surfactant lining and the alveoli.