Palaeosols in Westphalian Coal-bearing and red-bed sequences, central and northern England

Westphalian A-C coal-bearing strata and red-beds in the Pennine Basin of Central and Northern England contain a wide variety of palaeosols. In coal-bearing facies associations alluvial, gley, semi-gley, organic and rare well-drained palaeosols reflect the predominance of poor drainage conditions during deposition. In red-beds more evolved ferruginous and ferallitic palaeosols testify to free drainage conditions during deposition. Catenary relationships can be inferred between most of the palaeosols in both facies associations, providing further information on the palaeogeomorphology of the depositional systems, and assisting in the understanding of the environments and conditions of coal seam formation.     

Isolation and Characterization of Methanogenic Bacteria from Landfills

Methanogenic bacteria were isolated from landfill sites in the United Kingdom. Strains of Methanobacterium formicicum, Methanosarcina barkeri, several different immunotypes of Methanobacterium bryantii, and a coccoid methanogen distinct from the reference immunotypes were identified.     

Streptococcus salivarius strains carry either fibrils or fimbriae on the cell surface

Strains of Streptococcus salivarius were screened by negative staining for the presence of surface structures. Two structural subgroups were found, carrying either fibrils or fimbriae, projecting from the cell surface. Eight strains carried a very dense peritrichous array of fibrils of two distinct lengths. Long fibrils had an average length of 175 nm, and short fibrils had an average length of 95 nm. Two strains carried only long fibrils, one strain carried only short fibrils, and another strain carried a lateral tuft of very prominent fibrils of two lengths, with a fibrillar fuzz covering the remainder of the cell surface. In all the strains in which they were present, the long fibrils were unaffected by protease or trypsin treatment. In contrast, the short fibrils were completely digested by protease and partially removed by trypsin. Neither long nor short fibrils were affected structurally by mild pepsin digestion or by lipase. The Lancefield extraction procedure removed both long and short fibrils. These twelve fibrillar strains were therefore divisible into four structural subgroups. Extracts of all the fibrillar strains reacted with group K antiserum. The second main structural subgroup consisted of nine strains of S. salivarius, all of which carried morphologically identical, flexible fimbriae arranged peritrichously over the cell surface. The fimbriae were structurally distinct from fibrils and measured 0.5 to 1.0 micron long and 3 to 4 nm wide, with an irregular outline and no obvious substructure. There was no obvious reduction in the number of fimbriae after protease or trypsin treatment. Extracts of the fimbriated strains did not react with the group K antiserum. The two serological and structural subgroups could also be distinguished by colony morphology.     

Human lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase gene: complete gene sequence and sites of expression.

The human lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) gene has been sequenced to completion. The gene is divided into six exons spanning approximately 4,200 bp. Exon five codes for amino acids homologous to the interfacial active site of several lipases, and also codes for an amphipathic alpha-helix resembling the carboxy terminus of apolipoprotein E. Blot hybridization data suggest that there is only one LCAT gene in humans. The 1550 base LCAT mRNA can be detected in liver and HepG2 (hepatocyte) cells, but not in small intestine, spleen, pancreas, placenta or adrenal tissue.     

Distribution of cell-derived cholesterol among plasma lipoproteins: a comparison of three techniques

Three fractionation procedures (immunoaffinity chromatography, two-dimensional nondenaturing electrophoresis, and heparin-agarose affinity chromatography) have been compared in determining the kinetics of free and ester cholesterol transfer in normolipemic native plasma. Similar results were obtained in each case. Cell-derived free cholesterol is initially enriched in high density lipoproteins (HDL) (mainly HDL without apoE); at longer time periods (greater than 10 min) greater proportions are observed in very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL). The major part of cholesteryl ester (about 90%) was retained in HDL, while VLDL and LDL, which contained about 75% of total cholesteryl ester mass, received only about 10% of cell-derived cholesteryl ester. Within HDL, almost all cholesteryl ester was in the apoE-free fraction. These data provide evidence that lipoprotein free and esterified cholesterol are not at chemical equilibrium in normal plasma, and that cell-derived cholesterol is preferentially directed to HDL. The techniques used had a comparable effectiveness for the rapid fractionation of labile lipoprotein lipid radioactivity.     

Chronic dietary fat and cholesterol inhibit the normal postprandial stimulation of plasma cholesterol metabolism

The response of parameters of plasma cholesterol metabolism was studied in baboons adapted either to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet or a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet. Animals adapted to the low-fat diet responded to a single low-fat or high-fat meal, as do normal humans, by a stimulation of cholesterol transport from blood cells to plasma, a stimulation of esterification of cholesterol, and a stimulation of cholesteryl ester transfer to very low and low density lipoproteins. While fasting rates of esterification and transfer increased as a result of diet-induced hypercholesterolemia, the postprandial response was reversed, so that postprandial metabolism was characterized by a movement of cholesterol from plasma to blood cells, an inhibition of cholesterol esterification, and a net transfer of cholesteryl esters from VLDL and LDL to HDL. These data indicate that the effects of postprandial lipemia on plasma cholesterol metabolism critically depend upon fasting plasma cholesterol levels.     

mtDNA diversity in rhesus monkeys reveals overestimates of divergence time and paraphyly with neighboring species

Reconstructions of the human-African great ape phylogeny by using mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been subject to considerable debate. One confounding factor may be the lack of data on intraspecific variation. To test this hypothesis, we examined the effect of intraspecific mtDNA diversity on the phylogenetic reconstruction of another Plio- Pleistocene radiation of higher primates, the fascicularis group of macaque (Macaca) monkey species. Fifteen endonucleases were used to identify 10 haplotypes of 40-47 restriction sites in M. mulatta, which were compared with similar data for the other members of this species group. Interpopulational, intraspecific mtDNA diversity was large (0.5%- 4.5%), and estimates of divergence time and branching order incorporating this variation were substantially different from those based on single representatives of each species. We conclude that intraspecific mtDNA diversity is substantial in at least some primate species. Consequently, without prior information on the extent of genetic diversity within a particular species, intraspecific variation must be assessed and accounted for when reconstructing primate phylogenies. Further, we question the reliability of hominoid mtDNA phylogenies, based as they are on one or a few representatives of each species, in an already depauperate superfamily of primates.      

Developing a computer control system for a flexible manufacturing cell

This article focuses on the development of a computer control system for a flexible manufacturing cell. The paper outlines the various modules that are required for a computer control system and elaborates on the development of some of these modules. This is part of an ongoing research project at the University of the Witwatersrand. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the viability of flexible manufacturing systems to South African industry. Thus the main constraints of the project were cost, ease of implementation, and ease of maintainability. This necessitated the use of existing machinery and of computer systems and software that were readily available and already familiar to industry.     

Immunoglobulin classes of human serum antibodies in vaginal candidiasis

The titre and immunoglobulin class of antibodies against Candida albicans in serum from 60 non-pregnant women was determined. IgG titres up to 132, IgA titres up to 18, and IgM titres up to 14 were detected in 30 women with vaginal candidiasis. Similar titres were found in 20 women harbouring yeasts in the mouth or rectum, and in 10 women who were not harbouring yeasts in the vagina, mouth or rectum. Serum fractionation confirmed that antibodies to C. albicans are found in the three immunoglobulin classes and that these antibodies reside in highest titre in the IgG class. No secretory IgA antibodies against C. albicans were detected in the serum of these women.     

Inhibition of low density lipoprotein uptake in confluent endothelial cell monolayers correlates with a restricted surface receptor redistribution.

Binding of either low density lipoprotein (LDL) or Concanavalin A (ConA) to actively growing vascular endothelial cells is associated with a redistrubution of the appropriate cell surface receptor sites which form patches and caps. This receptor lateral mobility is greatly restricted when endothelial cells reach confluence and adopt the configuration of a cell monolayer composed of closely apposed and non-overlapping cells. In this case, although the cells still exhibit specific LDL binding to the appropriate cell surface receptor sites, neither the binding of LDL nor of ConA induces a receptor redistribution. The lack of LDL receptor redistribution correlates with a marked decrease in the rate of LDL internalization. In contrast, no such density-dependent changes are observed in cell types which grow on top of each other and form multiple cell layers at confluence. Thus, neither LDL nor ConA induced cap formation in either sparse or confluent smooth muscle cell cultures and the same rate of LDL internalization is observed at both cell densities. Similarly, adsorptive endocytosis of cationized LDL (which enters the cells independently of the LDL receptor sites) was not correlated with a detectable receptor redistribution, nor was it significantly affected by changes in cell density and spatial organization. The formation of a confluent cell monolayer resting on an underlying basement membrane might therefore provide, via a change in membrane dynamics, a mechanism whereby the endothelium of large blood vessels can function as a protective barrier against the high circulating levels of LDL in plasma.