Mössbauer spectroscopy of iron-containing dermal granules from Molpadia intermedia

Dermal granules containing hydrous ferric oxide cores from Molpadia intermedia were studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy from 1.5 t0 300 K and in magnetic fields up to 80 kOersted at 4.2 K. A magnetic phase transition to an antiferromagnetically ordered state is observed at 10 K. The results are compared with the magnetic behavior of micellar cores of ferritin from eukaryotes and iron-storage materials from prokaryotes.     

Production of ethanol and biomass from thin stillage by Neurospora intermedia: A pilot study for process diversification

Dry mill ethanol processes produce ethanol and animal feed from whole grains, where the wastewater after the distillation and separation of solid materials is called “thin stillage.” In this work, similar production of ethanol (3.5 g/L) and biomass (5 g/L) from thin stillage was obtained during batch cultivation of the edible fungus Neurospora intermedia in a 2‐m high airlift reactor and bubble column. The fungal biomass, containing 50% w/w protein and 12% w/w lipids, was rich in essential amino acids and omega‐3 and ‐6 fatty acids. In a continuous mode of fermentation, dilution rates of up to 0.2 h^?1 could be applied without cell washout in the bubble column at 0.5 vvm. At 0.1 h^?1, around 5 g/L of ethanol and 4 g/L of biomass containing ca. 50% w/w protein were produced. The fungus was able to assimilate saccharides in the liquid fraction as well as sugar backbones such as xylan and arabinan in the solid fraction. The inclusion of the current process could potentially lead to the production of 11 000 m³ of ethanol (5.5% improvement vs. normal industrial process) and around 6300 tons of high‐quality biomass for animal feed at a typical facility producing 200 000 m³ ethanol per year.     

Aerial Surveys for Estimating Wild Turkey Abundance in the Texas Rolling Plains

Abstract: Aerial surveys have been used to estimate abundance of several wild bird species including wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo). We used inflatable turkey decoys at 3 study sites in the Texas Rolling Plains to simulate Rio Grande wild turkey (M. g. intermedia) flocks. We evaluated detectability of flocks and errors in counting flock size during fixed-wing (Cessna 172) aerial surveys using logistic and linear regression models. Flock detectability was primarily influenced by flock size and vegetative cover, and errors in counting flock size were primarily influenced by size of flocks. We conducted computer simulations to evaluate the accuracy and precision of fixed-wing aerial surveys and examined power to detect trends in population change. Our simulations suggested abundance estimates from fixed-wing aerial surveys may be underestimated by 10-15% (2.0-4.8% CV). Power analyses suggested that fixed-wing aerial surveys can provide sufficient power (>0.80) to detect a population change of 10-25% over a 4-5-year period. We concluded fixed-wing aerial surveys are feasible on ecoregion scales.     

Survival of Rio Grande Wild Turkeys on the Edwards Plateau of Texas

Abstract: The southeastern portion of the Edwards Plateau of Texas, historically a stronghold of Rio Grande wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia), has seen a decline in turkey numbers since the 1970s. Because adult and juvenile survival are key parameters affecting turkey population dynamics, we used radiotagged individuals to compare Rio Grande wild turkey survival in areas of suspected decline versus stable portions of the Edwards Plateau during 2001–2003. Reproductive period (breeding or nonbreeding) had an impact on survival, but differences in age, sex, or region did not influence survival. Model averaged estimates of monthly survival were 0.97 (SE = 0.005) for nonbreeding periods and 0.96 (SE = 0.007) for breeding periods. Our results indicate juvenile and adult survival in the declining areas was similar to survival in the stable areas of the Edwards Plateau. This suggests causes of the decline might be associated with differences during other life-history stages, such as nest success or poult survival, although we cannot rule out the possibility juvenile or adult survival contributed to the decline in the past. This situation demonstrates why wildlife managers should be cognizant of the implications of initiating long-term monitoring programs after changes in population status occur, rather than initiating them in expectation of such changes.     

Immuno-enzyme cytochemical demonstration of mesotocinergic nerve fibres in the pars intermedia of the amphibian hypophysis

Summary Immuno-enzyme cytochemical investigations showed that the whole amphibian pars intermedia of the hypophysis is innervated by an intercellular network of peptidergic varicose nerve fibres which contain mesotocin or (and) parts of the mesotocin molecule. The pars intermedia does not contain vasotocinergic fibres. The mesotocinergic fibres are branches of axons leaving the pituitary stalk and the neural lobe. In animals of which the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory preoptic nuclei had been completely removed, the immuno-reactive mesotocinergic fibres of the pars intermedia had totally disappeared. From this result, it is concluded that the mesotocinergic fibres of the pars intermedia of the amphibian hypophysis are axons of neurosecretory perikarya located in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory preoptic nuclei.Dedicated to Professor Berta Scharrer on the accasion of her 70th birthdayThis investigation was supported by a grant from the Belgian Nationaal Fonds voor Geneeskundig Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek     

Corticotrophic cells in the rostral zone of the pars intermedia and in the adjacent neurohypophysis of the rat and mouse

Summary In the mouse, the rostral zone of the pars intermedia is almost exclusively composed of typical corticotrophic cells. They are located around and even within the neural stalk, at the level of transition between stalk and neural lobe. In the rat, the corticotrophic cells of the rostral zone are found in scattered islets among the MSH producing cells, and also in the neural lobe. In both the rat and mouse, these cells are in direct contact with various types of nerve terminals. Synaptoid contacts with aminergic and neurosecretory nerve fibers are observed. Furthermore they are also closely related to the hypophysial portal vessels. Following adrenalectomy, the cells located in the neurohypophysis always react more intensely than tose in the rostral zone. The functional significance of these corticotrophic cells which are subject to both humoral and neural regulation remains as yet hypothetical. Their participation in neurogenic stress response seems probable.     

Immunohistochemical localization of adrenocorticotropin and melanocyte stimulating hormone in pars intermedia of rat hypophysis

Summary The sites of production of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) and melanocyte stimulating hormone (MSH) are studied by the immunoglobulin-peroxidase bridge technique, using antisera prepared against synthetic porcine 1–24 and 17–39 ACTH, and bovine MSH on the rat adenohypophysis. Presence of ACTH all over the pars intermedia (PI) is indicated by staining with antisera _p 1–24 and _p 17-3-9 ACTH. There are darkly stained ACTH cells in the PI and pars tuberalis (PT), similar to those in the pars distalis (PD). With higher dilutions of the ACTH antiserum, staining intensity disappears or reduces markedly in majority of the PI cells, whereas, the ACTH cells in the PI, PD and PT do not vary much in their staining intensity. Therefore, it is concluded that majority of the PI glandular cells (light glandular and dark cells) contain less corticotropin than the ACTH cells. From these observations, it seems to me that the major amount of corticotropin is supplied by the ACTH cells of the PD, PI and PT, and less by the light glandular and dark cells of the PI. The antiserum is ineffective after absorption, so the staining reaction appears to be specific for _p 1–24 and _b 17–39 ACTH.Presence of MSH all over the PI is indicated by staining with antisera to bovine MSH. Majority of the PI cells are highly stained even with higher dilution of the antiserum. The unstained cells in the PI seem to be ACTH cells and/or marginal cuboidal cells. The antiserum was ineffective after absorption, so the staining reaction appears to be specific for _b MSH.Control over the PD corticotropin through the median eminence portal circulation and the PI and PT control through nervous system is also discussed.This study was supported by MRC of Canada Grant nos. MA-3759, and MA-5160.The author gratefully wishes to thank Drs. P. Desaulles and W. Rittel (CIBA, Basle, Switzerland) for the synthetic _p 1–24 ACTH and _b MSH, Dr. R. F. Phifer for _p 17–39 ACTH, and Dr. S. S. Spicer for providing samples of rabbit anti-porcine 17–39 ACTH and anti-human ACTH sera, Drs. George Sétáló and Paul Nakane for their valuable advice. He also acknowledges the help of Mr. Shankar Nayak to prepare the antisera and the skilful technical assistance of Miss. Elise Poiré.     

生态脆弱带不同区域近缘优势灌木的生理生态学特性

小叶锦鸡儿、中间锦鸡儿和柠条锦鸡儿分别为中国北方生态脆弱带典型区域——科尔沁沙地、毛乌素沙地和腾格里沙漠的优势灌木。为了探讨生长在地理位置相距很远的不同气候类型区、但亲缘关系较近的沙漠植物种之间特性的差异及近缘种间引种成功的可能性 ,对 3种灌木在原产地和引种地 (腾格里沙漠 )的气体交换、叶绿素荧光参数、β胡萝卜素和脯氨酸累积等特性进行了对比研究 ,结果显示 :各区优势灌木的气体交换特征不同 ,主要依照区域光照和温湿条件的不同组合而变化 ,各区域的环境条件组合最利于其建群种的生长 ;引进种对引种地环境变化的反应调节较乡土种敏感 ;地理位置相距较近的近缘种间生理特性相近 ,引种易于成功     

Phlebotomine sandfly responses to carbon dioxide and human odour in the field

Responses of Lutzomyia sandflies (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) to carbon dioxide (CO2) and human odour were investigated by field experiments in Parana State, southern Brazil. Catches of two predominant species: Lu. intermedia (Antunes & Coutinho) and Lu. whitmani Lutz & Neiva, were compared between traps baited with a human adult or with CO2 emitted at the human-equivalent rate. When the baits were only 40 cm apart, no difference of attractiveness was detected. When baits were separated by 20 m, however, significantly fewer sandflies (44% Lu. intermedia, 46% Lu. whitmani) were trapped with CO2 compared with human bait. This is the first field evidence that anthropophilic sandflies are attracted by human kairomones in addition to CO2. For both species [Lutzomyia intermedia and Lu. whitmani] [corrected], the proportion of human attractiveness attributable to CO2 was significantly more [corrected] for males than females; for Lu. intermedia males human bait was no more attractive than CO2 alone. Gender differences in sandfly olfactory sensitivity are likely to be associated with behavioural differences on the host, where females feed on blood and males find mates. With traps 20 m apart, both Lutzomyia spp. showed roughly linear increased responses (log-log scale) to 0.08-0.55% CO2 equivalent to 0.5-4 humans. This would explain why host size is generally proportional to attractiveness, as observed for other species of phlebotomine sandflies.     

Coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin in Rathke's cysts of the human pituitary gland

Summary Immunohistochemistry with monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies revealed the presence of cytokeratins in epithelial cells of Rathke's cysts in the pars intermedia of the human pituitary gland. With monoclonal antibodies specific for individual cytokeratins, the expression of CK 18, CK 8, CK 7, and CK 19 could be shown in these cells. Within the hypophysis, CK 19 and CK 7 were restricted to Rathke's cysts and a few epithelial cell clusters in the pars tuberalis, whereas other cytokeratins were also present in endocrine cells of the pars distalis. Furthermore, vimentin and, focally, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected in the cystic epithelia. By double labelling, coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin, GFAP and cytokeratin, and GFAP and vimentin could be demonstrated. Compiled data of all known cases of coexpression of cytokeratin and vimentin in normal cells reveal physiological correlations and suggest a functional significance of this rare type of coexpression of intermediate filament proteins.