Geochemical controls for Al, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn during experimental acidification and recovery of Little Rock Lake, WI, USA

Concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were measured in thereference and treatment basins of Little Rock Lake (Vilas County, Wisconsin), alow-alkalinity, seepage system (pH 6.1, alkalinity25eq/L) during six years of a whole-basinacidificationand the first four years of the lake's recovery. The treatment basin wasacidified with H₂SO₄ in three two-year steps to pH5.6, 5.1, and 4.7. By the end of year 4 of recovery, treatmentbasin pH increased to 5.3 as a result of internal alkalinity generation.During acidification, dissolved Mn and Fe (0.4mpore-size filters) increased at pH 5.6; dissolved Al, Cd, and Zn becameelevated at pH 5.1; and dissolved Pb at pH 4.7. Dissolved Cu remainedsimilar in both basins to pH 4.7. Al, Fe and Mn levels declinedsignificantly during the recovery period, approaching values at pH 5.3intermediate between the concentrations at pH 5.6 and 5.1 during acidification.Dissolved Al and Fe in the reference basin were near the equilibrium levels forsolubility of gibbsite (Al(OH)₃) and amorphousFe(OH)₃(s).The acidified basin was undersaturated relative to gibbsite, and dissolved Alwas limited by pH disequilibrium between the water column and sediments andpossibly by Al-DOC precipitation. Dissolved Fe apparently was controlled bysolubility of amorphous Fe(OH)₃(s) and Fe-DOC precipitation.Dissolved Mn levels in both basins were consistent with manganite[-MnOOH(s)] solubility. Elevated levels of Cd, Pb, and Zn in thetreatment basin during acidification probably resulted from less efficientscavenging of atmospherically-deposited Cd, Pb, and Zn by settling particles.     

The chemical and histochemical properties of Alcian blue

Summary A histochemical report is presented on the differential staining of acid glycosaminoglycans in tissues. Connective and epithelial structures synthesizing one or more acidic polyanions were investigated. The method is based on the reversal of acid glycosaminoglycans-dye-complexes on addition of increasing concentration of electrolytes to dye solutions. This is, essentially, the same technique for the selective precipitation of acid polysaccharides (Scott, 1960).Differentiation of acidic carbohydrates having the chemical characteristics of keratosulfate, chondroitinsulphate and heparin has been made. Furthermore, variations in the tissue localization of the acid polysaccharides were reported.The application of this technique to mucin-secreting epithelia was quite efficient in discriminating between sulfated and carboxylated glycoproteins provided the charge density of one or the other polyanion was sufficient to impart substantial basophilia to the tissue involved.Supported by Research Grant DE-01952(02) of the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.     

The influence of horn and body size on the reproductive behavior of the horned rainbow scarab beetlePhanaeus difformis (Coleoptera: scarabaeidae)

The reproductive behavior of horned rainbow scarab beetles,Phanaeus difformis, was studied to determine the influence of morphological traits on intersexual and intrasexual interactions.Phanaeus difformis is a sexually dimorphic dung beetle in which males possess much larger horns than females, and males can be grouped into major and minor male morph categories based on horn size. Male-female pairs cooperated in nest construction and provisioning. In the laboratory, males of both morphs assisted females and were equally successful at copulating. However, in the field larger individuals had a pairing advantage due to greater success in intrasexual competition. Some males used an alternative mating tactic which involved sneaking copulations with paired females. In most cases the sneak male was smaller than the paired male.     

Interaction of synthetic Alzheimerβ-protein-derived analogs with aqueous aluminum: A low-field27Al NMR investigation

Synthetic peptides corresponding to the soluble Alzheimer-protein, i.e., 1–40 and 6-25, were utilized to investigate the association of aluminum using low-field²⁷Al nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC). Addition of 1-40 or 6-25 to aqueous Al³⁺ gives rise to a²⁷Al NMR signal corresponding to the association of Al³⁺ with the peptides; this effect is not easily reversed by EDTA. Based on the relative intensity of the Al³⁺-peptide signal between pH 4 and 6, there are at least 4 Al³⁺ ions associated with each peptide molecule. Microheterogeneity is observed with RP-HPLC on incubating solutions of Al³⁺ with 1-40 and 6-25. The²⁷Al NMR spectra of chromatographically pure fractions of 1-40 and 6-25 indicate that the peptide-associated Al³⁺ is released below pH 3.5. We propose that soluble 1-40 provides an anchor for Al³⁺ to bind, eventually leading to an increased deposition of amyloid in the Alzheimer brain.     

Death of serum-free mouse embryo cells caused by transforming growth factor beta 1 and effects of nutritional factors

Transforming growth factor beta 1 (1 ng/ml) caused death of serum-free mouse embryo cells cultured in a medium consisting of a 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F12 medium supplemented with fibronectin, insulin, transferrin, epidermal growth factor, and high density lipoprotein. Cell death occurred in the presence of polyunsaturated fatty acids including linoleic acid in the absence of selenium. The death could be reversed by adding -tocopherol to the culture indicating a mechanism involving fatty acid peroxidation. Butylated hydroxytoluene was a poor suppressor of cell death in contrast to -tocopherol. High density lipoprotein and fatty acid-free albumin also suppressed cell death at the level of 20 g/ml and 1 mg/ml, respectively. Transforming growth factor 1 also caused a low rate of cell growth after heat treatment of the cells at 45°C.Abbreviations HDL high density lipoprotein - SFME cell serum-free mouse embryo cell - TGF1 transforming growth factor 1     

Methodological problems in evolutionary biology VIII. Biology and culture

Biology cannot accommodate all aspects of culture. Aspects of culture that a biological approach can take into account can be covered by the biological categories of phenotype and environment. There is no need to treat culture as a separate category. Attempts to elaborate biological explanations of cultural variation will meet with success only if biologists expand theories of development, and integrate them in evolutionary biology. The alternative — elaborating the idea of so-called cultural inheritance — makes little sense from a biological point of view.     

Stochastic aggregative responses and spatial patterns of parasitism in patchy host-parasitoid interactions

Summary Assuming random search by parasitoids within host-containing patches, and a constant search rate, current host-parasitoid models suggest that positive searching time aggregation by parasitoids in patches of high host density should tend to produce spatially density dependent parasitism at the patch level. However, these models view the aggregative response as a deterministic process, ignoring variability in searching time (T _s) allocation among patches of equal host density, and it is not clear that stochastic analogues of these deterministic models would predict the same result.This question is examined by adding a stochastic aggregative response to the well-known random parasitoid equation, the deterministic equation on which most existing models have been based. Simulations, based on data collected in an earlier laboratory study, indicate that this stochastic model generates very different relationships between parasitoid searching behavior and spatial patterns of parasitism than are predicted using the deterministic approach. The stochastic model suggests that positive aggregative responses, in which patches of high host density receive larger allocations of searching time (on the average) than patches containing lower densities, may fail to produce spatially density dependent parasitism at the patch level if searching time allocation is also more variable at the higher densities. Similarly, a flat response, in which mean searching times do not vary among patches of different host density, may lead to density dependent, density independent, or inversely density dependent parasitism, depending on the variance of the searching time values among patches at different density levels. The different predictions generated by the deterministic and stochastic models can be explained on purely mathematical grounds.When models are written in units of total foraging time (T _TOT), different equations are usually required to describe the spatial features of host-parasitoid and predator-prey interactions. Because the model considered here is written in units of active searching time (T _s) it should, in cases in which the underlying assumptions hold, be capable of describing these different interactions in the framework of a single (unified) equation. This equation may also apply to some plant-herbivore systems and, to indicate its potential generality, might be referred to as a random forager equation.     

Sex,size, competition and escape—strategies of reproduction and dispersal in Lasallia pustulata (Umbilicariaceae,Ascomycetes)

The lichen Lasallia pustulata has a mixed strategy of asexual and sexual reproduction. Close-dispersed, asexual, symbiotic isidia are produced early, when the thalli are small. The asexual propagules are subsequently supplemented by far-dispersed, sexually generated ascospores when the thalli grow larger. This observation is consistent with evolutionary stable strategy (ESS) models of dispersal allocations in heterocarpic plants accordin to which the production of far-dispersed propagules should increase as clutch size and sibcompetition in the local habitat increases. The observation is also consistent with the tangled bank or elbow room hypothesis for the maintenance of sexuality, according to which sex, by generating genetic variation, represents an escape from competition in biologically saturated environments. Thus the advantage of sex is density dependent. L. pustulata grows in densely packed populations where intraspecific competition results in self-thining and the development of distinct sizehierarchies.     

α-and β-Glycosidases in maize roots

Four glycosidases were analyzed in 10 mm apical segments prepared from growing roots (15 mm) of Zea mays L. The pH optima were found to be 5.8 for -glucosidase, 4.4 for -galactosidase, 6.4 for -glucosidase and 6.0 for -galactosidase. The -glucosidase showed 4-fold higher activity than the -galactosidase. The distribution of the -glucosidase activity was signifcantly different from that of the -galactosidase, -glucosidase and -galactosidase.Abbreviations -Glu -glucosidase - -Gal -galactosidase - -Glu -glucosidase - -Gal -galactosidase     

Histoenzymatic characterization of sub-types of Type I fibres in fast muscles of rats

Summary The histochemical activities of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), myofibrillar Adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and alpha glycerophosphate dehydrogenase were studied in serial sections of rat vastus lateralis (red) (RVL), gastrocnemius and diaphragm muscles. Three main fibre-types were distinguished. The Type I fibres of RVL and gastrocnemius muscles fell into two distinct groups: one category-Type IA showed very low ATPase activity. The second category of Type IB fibres displayed moderate ATPase reaction. The Type IA fibres were divisible into two sub-groups when tested for SDH reaction. Type IA₁ fibres possessed a homogenous distribution of diformazan·granules throughout the fibre: Type IA₂ fibres displayed characteristic moth-eaten pattern of diformazan localization. The diaphragm muscle did not show either Type IB or Type IA₂ varieties. The great majority of Type I fibres were sub-type IA₁ in the three fast muscles studied. It is also demonstrated here that an inherent heterogeneity exists between Type I fibres of diaphragm and leg muscles in regard to -GPD localization. This histochemical data emphasizes the fact that subdivision of Type I striated muscle fibres of mammalian animals into two sub-types is only approximate and that a further subcategorization is possible.     

Histochemical demonstration of Δ5-3 ß-OHD activity in the granulosa cells of ovarian follicles of immature and mature mice correlated with some ultrastructural observations

Summary A systematic study of ⁵-3-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase in the granulosa cells of immature and mature mice was made. The histochemical results were compared with the ultrastructural findings on the same cells in an attempt to determine whether the granulosa cells are capable of a steroidogenic role.In newborn and immature mice the granulosa cells of a great amount of follicles demonstrated a moderate or strong histochemical activity. In mature mice the granulosa cells demonstrated a weak or moderate activity normally only in preovulatory follicles and in some other atretic follicles. The granulosa cells of the normal developing follicles did not show such activity. In addition the histological control of numerous parallel sections demonstrated particularly in immature ovaries the presence of a great amount of atretic follicles.In the cytoplasm of the granulosa cells of the follicles in immature ovaries only clusters of lipid droplets with ribosomes were noted; while in the preovulatory follicles of mature animals there started to appear mitochondria with tubular cristae, smooth membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and irregular lipid droplets. In the obviously atretic follicles several granulosa cells as well as theca interna cells showed numerous lipid droplets and ribosomes together with different degenerating organelles. The granulosa cells of the normal developing follicles showed a well developed Golgi complex, granular endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes.The histochemical and ultrastructural findings suggest a steroidogenic role of the granulosa cells only in the larger preovulatory follicles (probably related to an early luteinization of this layer) but this role was not demonstrated in the same cells in normal developing follicles.In addition, since an histochemical positivity was demonstrated also in the granulosa cells of some obviously atretic follicles, it is possible that many of the follicles having granulosa cells filled with lipid droplets and attached ribosomes and histochemically positive might be, in the immature ovaries, in a very precocious stage of atresia.It is to precise for these cells whether a cytoplasm with these two strictly correlated components (lipid droplets and attached ribosomes) and showing an histochemical positivity could carry-on all the biochemical steps involved in steroid biosynthesis or only has only a temporary capability to produce some precursors of steroids.The present results were partially presented to the 56^ème Congrès de l'Association des Anatomistes (Nantes, 4–8/4/1971) and to the 66° Verhandlungen der Anatomischen Gesellschaft (Zagreb, 2/4/1971).     

The development of the compound eyes ofPenaeus duorarum (Crustacea: Decapoda) with remarks on the nervous system

Summary The development of the compound eyes and nervous system of the penaeid shrimp,Penaeus duorarum, from the first nauplius to the first postlarva, has been studied. The first anlage of the compound eyes is a pair of optic discs on the front of the animal. These increase in size through cell-division until the second protozoea stage, where the eye-stalks appear with ommatidia and optic neuropiles developed. The original neuroectoderm of the optic discs is retained in the shape of a proliferation zone throughout the life of the animal. From the optic discs, develop the ommatidia, the lamina ganglionaris, and the medulla externa. The medullae interna and terminalis develop from cells coming from the brain anlage. From the second protozoea and onwards, the development is less rapid. The final shape of the adult eye is reached during the postlarval stages and includes the appearance of a few more pigments and a perfecting of several features. A scheme for the development of crustacean compound eyes is laid down. Further, the medulla externa of the Malacostraca and the single medulla of non-malacostracan crustaceans are homologized.The continuous growth of the nervous system is traced in the development of the neuropile. The appearance of glomeruli structures is reported, as are also, to some extent, neurosecretory organs. The development of the SPX-organ conforms to that of other decapods.For the sake of simplicity, the findings reported below in Results are grouped under two headings, namely the eye-stalk and the nervous system. Under the eye-stalk will be described both the structures coming from the optic discs comprising the ommatidia, the lamina ganglionaris, and the medulla externa, and the contributions from the nervous system comprising the medulla terminalis and medulla interna. Under the nervous system will be described the rest of the nervous system. The term anlage of the compound eyes is the same as the optic discs and denotes all contributions from this area in the early larva.     

Precision of neural timing: effects of convergence and time-windowing

We study the improvement in timing accuracy in a neural system having n identical input neurons projecting to one target neuron. The n input neurons receive the same stimulus but fire at stochastic times selected from one of four specified probability densities, f, each with standard deviation 1.0 msec. The target cell fires if and when it receives m inputs within a time window of msec. Let _n,m, denote the standard deviation of the time of firing of the target neuron (i.e. the standard deviation of the target neuron's latency relative to the arrival time of the stimulus). Mathematical analysis shows that _n,m, is a very complicated function of n, m, and . Typically, _n,m, is a non-monotone function of m and and the improvement of timing accuracy is highly dependent of the shape of the probability density for the time of firing of the input neurons. For appropriate choices of m, , and f, the standard deviation _n,m, may be as low as . Thus, depending on these variables, remarkable improvements in timing accuracy of such a stochastic system may occur.     

Untersuchungen zum C′3-Polymorphismus (β 1c-Globulin)

Zusammenfassung Serumproben von 1322 Blutspendern aus Hessen, 40 Familien mit 89 Kindern, 20 Mutter-Kind-Kombinationen und 268 Sera einer Bantupopulation aus Portugiesisch Angola wurden mit einer modifizierten Technik der Hochspannungs-Dünnschichtelektrophorese auf Agarosegel hinsichtlich des C3-Polymorphismus untersucht. Die Genfrequenzen für Weiße (C3^S=0.779, C3^F=0.215) und Neger (C3^S=0.95, C3^F=0,048) stimmen gut mit den Werten anderer Autoren überein. Insgesamt ließen sich bei Weißen 9 Phänotypen sicher abgrenzen, bei Negern 3. Familienstudien bestätigten den für die Allele C3^S und C3^F angenommenen Vererbungsmodus (autosomal codominant) ausnahmslos. Die Frage der Lagerungsstabilität des C3 wurde abschließend untersucht.

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Investigations on C3-polymorphism ( _1c-Globulin)Gene frequencies and family studies in blood donors from Hessen and a Bantu population

Summary Serum samples of 1322 unrelated individuals from Hessen (Germany), 40 families with 89 children, 20 mother-child-combinations and 268 sera of a Bantu population from Angola were examined for C3 polymorphism using a modified technique of high voltage agarose gel electrophoresis. The gene frequencies for Caucasians (C3^S=0.779, C3^F=0.215) and negroes (C3^S=0.95, C^F=0.048) are in good accordance with those obtained by other authors. In total 9 different phenotypes were observed in Caucasians, 3 phenotypes in negroes. Family studies verify the supposed way of inheritance (autosomal codominant for C3^S and C3^F) without exception. Finally the problem of C3-inactivation by storage was investigated.

     

Oligo-riboprobes

Summary In situ hybridisation detection of mRNAs using riboprobes has become a widely used technique. However, the identification of cells producing closely-related yet distinct mRNAs is difficult with the usual size probes. More-over, it is not always easy to obtain the required cDNA essential for cRNA probe synthesis. To avoid these problems, we have used synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides to generate short, single stranded RNA probes (oligo-riboprobes). These probes can be labelled to very high (10⁹ cpm/g) specific activity and can be prepared for any published nucleotide sequence. We have used these probes to localise (preprotachykinin) PPT mRNA producing neurons in rat hypothalamus and bowel. The results were compared to that obtained with cRNA probes generated from preprotachykinin cDNA.     

Accumulation of 3H-glycine in interneurons of the cat spinal cord

Summary After in vivo njections of ³H-glycine into the cat spinal cord autoradiography at the light and electron microscopic level revealed high concentrations of radioactivity over certain nerve endings, often containing flat vesicles, over glial cells and over neuronal cell bodies probably representing spinal interneurons. Motoneurons, on the other hand, showed only a low activity.     

Polymorphism of the HLA DR1 haplotype in the Israeli population investigated at the serological,cellular, and genomic levels

In the present report, we used serological, cellular, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to investigate the DR1 haplotype in the Israeli population. We describe an Israeli homozygous typing cell (HTC), HLA-DwLVA, which defines a new lymphocyte-activating determinant associated with Bw65, DR1 and distinct from Dwl. The parents of this donor, non-Ashkenazi Algerian Jews, are first cousins and share HLA-Cw8, Bw65, BfS, DR1, DQw1, DPw4. No specificity could be assigned to HLA-DwLVA using the 91 Ninth Workshop HTCs. Two families and forty unrelated DR1 individuals were studied with DwLVA and a panel of DR1/Dw1 HTCs. HLA-DwLVA showed segregation as a single determinant within families. This new specificity was present in 24 out of 40 (60%) unrelated DR1 individuals, indicating that in the Israeli population DwLVA is the main lymphocyte-defined determinant associated with the serologically defined DRI specificity, in contrast to non-Jewish Caucasoids where DR1 is significantly associated with Dw1. The vast majority of DwLVA-positive carriers were also Bw65 carriers, indicating that Bw65, DR1, DwLVA may represent a typical allele combination in the Israeli population. The RFLP analysis established the correlation of certain RFLPs with Dw1 and DwLVA. In addition, we describe a cluster of RFLPs that may correspond to a new Dw subtype associated with DR1, for which no serological and cellular reagents have been described so far.     

Effect of triparanol (Mer 29) on rat liver lysosomes: cytochemical and biochemical study

Summary Rats treated with triparanol (MER-29) develop numerous membranous inclusions-myeloid bodies in the cytoplasm of liver cells. The myeloid bodies did not show cytochemically demonstrable acid phosphatase. Instead diffuse activity was observed throughout the cytoplasm. Biochemically, acid phosphatase was found in the liver lysosomal fraction obtained from triparanol treated rats. This fraction, however, did not show the structure-linked latency of acid phosphatase which is characteristic of normal lysosomes. It is suggested that myeloid bodies are lysosomes with altered membranes.     

Polymorphism of human liver alcohol dehydrogenase: Identification of ADH2 2-1 and ADH2 2-2 phenotypes in the Japanese by isoelectric focusing

Liver homogenate-supernatants from most Japanese exhibit an atypical pH optimum for ethanol oxidation at pH 8.8 instead of 10.5, the typical pH-activity optimum. It has been proposed that atypical livers contain alcohol dehydrogenase isozymes with ₂ subunits while typical livers contain isozymes with ₁ subunits, both produced by the ADH ₂ gene. Because it is difficult to differentiate the atypical ADH₂ 2-2 phenotype from the ADH₂ 2-1 phenotype by starch gel electrophoresis, an agarose isoelectric focusing procedure was developed that clearly separated the atypical Japanese livers into two groups, A1 and A2. The isozymes in A1 and A2 livers were purified. Type A1 livers contained a single isozyme with an atypical pH-rate profile; it was designated ₂₂. Three isozymes were isolated from A2 livers, two of which corresponded to ₁₁ and ₂₂. A third, absent from the typical and the atypical A1 livers, had an intermediate mobility; it was designated ₂₁. Type A1 livers are, therefore, the homozygous ADH₂ 2-2 phenotype, and type A2 livers, the heterozygous ADH₂ 2-1 phenotype. The ADH₂ 2-2 phenotype was found in 53% of 194 Japanese livers, and the ADH₂ 2-1 phenotype, in 31%. Accordingly, the frequency of ADH ₂ ² was 0.68.This study was supported by U.S. Public Health Service Grant AA 02342.     

Oviposition choices by a pre-dispersal seed predator (Hylemya sp.)

Summary Although the importance of pollinators has most often been examined in the evolution of floral characters, seed predators may also play a role in shaping floral evolution. In this study, I examined the role of interplant distance, plant size, and flower morphology on Ipomopsis aggregatás (Polemoniaceae) attractiveness to a pre-dispersal seed predator, Hylemya sp. (Anthomyiidae) and to hummingbird pollinators. The attractiveness of I. aggregata individuals to Hylemya was nonlinearly related to interplant distance in experimental arrays. Clumped and highly dispersed plants were preyed upon more frequently than those at intermediate distances. I found no relationship between interplant distance and visitation rates by hummingbird pollinators in these experimental arrays. However, in natural populations studied, clumped plants were more frequently approached by hummingbirds than those growing more widely dispersed. Display size was unrelated to visitation by Hylemya on inflorescences I clipped and maintained as large, small and control. Display size was also unrelated to the total number of visits by hummingbird pollinators to each of these experimental plants, however large display plants were more likely to be visited first in any given visitation sequence. Of various morphological measurements, corolla length showed the strongest positive correlation with Hylemya egg presence. To the extent that plant spacing and morphology is correlated with pollinator visits and ultimate seed set, Hylemya could be choosing flowers optimally, and playing a role in the evolution of floral traits.