Relationship between the lingual fossa depth, mesiodistal and bucolingual diameter of dental crown in permanent maxillary incisors with the living Slovenians.

On 311 dental stone casts of living children aged from 8 to 12 years, were measured the lingual fossa depth, MD diameter, and the BL diameter of the permanent maxillary incisors. The correlations and the differences of measured variables between left and right incisors, centrals and laterals, male and female incisors as well as the correlations between measured variables themselves were analysed. High left-right symmetry was established, except for directional asymmetry in female centrals. A significant positive correlation in terms of positive allometry between the lingual fossa depth and MD diameter was found. In the light of these results, the significance of the lingual fossa depth as a factor of strength is discussed.     

The depth of the lingual fossa in permanent incisors of Norwegians. I. Method of measurement, statistical distribution and sex dimorphism

The depth of the incisor lingual fossa in permanent extracted incisors and plaster casts of Norwegians was examined. It was shown that plaster casts are well suited for measurements of lingual fossa depth, and that the measurements can be performed with great accuracy. Skewness values showed the symmetry of the distribution to decrease with decreasing mean lingual fossa depth. Kurtosis was found small in maxillary incisors, in mandibular outside the limits for normal theory. The distribution of the depth of the lingual fossa cannot generally be described as normal. No sex differences were found. The inheritance of this trait in Norwegians is probably not sex linked.     

The depth of the lingual fossa in permanent maxillary incisors of Norwegian Lapps

The depth of the lingual fossa in permanent maxillary incisors of three groups of Norwegian Lapps was measured. No statistically significant sex differences or group differences were found. The assembled weighted estimates for lingual fossa depth of three groups of Norwegian Lapps were for I₁ sup: 0.44 mm and I₂ sup: 0.30 mm. Mean lingual fossae depths in Norwegian Lapps clearly fall within the Caucasoid range.     

Distribution of enamel on the incisors of Old World monkeys

Longitudinal ground sections of 29 Old World monkey central lower incisors were studied histologically and metrically. Labiolingual incisor width tended to scale isometrically with body weight but with important deviations in relative incisor size, which appeared to be correlated with diet in accord with work by Hylander. Lower incisors of the predominantly folivorous colobine monkeys had a substantial layer of enamel on both lingual and labial aspects and consequently had blunt incisal edges. These teeth in both cercopithecins and papionins, which are omnivorous or frugivorous, had little or no enamel on the lingual aspect, resulting in sharp incisal edges. It is suggested that colobine incisors are used mainly in gripping and tearing leaves, whereas cercopithecine incisors are better adapted to cutting and scraping. Crown height showed a positive allometric relationship with overall incisor height, so that the tall incisors of papionins, especially Papio and Mandrillus, were more hypsodont than the shorter incisors of colobines and cercopithecins. This appears to be related to differences in the rates of incisor wear between the groups.     

The genetics of shovel shape in maxillary central incisors in man.

From dental casts of 94 parent-offspring and 127 full-sib pairs, sampled from two Chilean populations, shovelling indices are computed to measure the degree of shovelling of maxillary central incisors quantitatively. Genetic correlations are computed to determine the role of genetic factors in explaining the variation in this trait. Assuming only hereditary factors to be responsible for the transmission of shovel shape, 68% of total variability is ascribed to the additive effect of genes.     

Scoring mitotic activity in longitudinal sections of mouse embryonic incisors: significant differences exist for labial and lingual inner dental epithelia.

The incisors of rodents (e.g., mice and rats) have an enamel-free lingual surface. It is not known how position specific differential evolution of labial versus lingual inner dental epithelium (IDE) is regulated. The patterns of mitotic activity of lingual and labial preodontoblasts and IDE were determined on sagittal sections of embryonic mouse incisors. No statistical differences were observed for the preodontoblasts. On the other hand the lingual IDE withdraw from the cell cycle before the corresponding labial cells. The incapacity of lingual IDE to differentiate into functional ameloblasts might be a consequence of a failure of cell kinetic dependent acquisition of competence to respond to specific epigenetic control mechanisms.     

Macaca fuscata develops thin enamel on lingual sides of lower incisors

Among the cercopithecids, papionins were believed to have unique lower incisors without enamel on the lingual surfaces based on analyses by light microscopy. We examined unerupted lower permanent incisors ofMacaca fuscata with scanning electron microscopy and found a lingual thin enamel layer. This seems to be the case for all papionins. Thus, all cercopithecines can be regarded to share this trait which distinguishes cercopithecines from colobines who have substantial enamel layer on the lingual sides of lower incisors. Further study will support this hypothesis. This trait produces self-sharpening chisel-like edges on lower incisors. And the adaptive significance of this chisel-like edged incisor could be understood for scraping and cutting to prepare foods for consumption.     

Comparison of Quasielastic Light Scattering and Laser Diffractometry as Nondestructive Probes into the Structure of Bacillus sphaericus Spores Produced at Different Temperatures

Volume 62, no. 5, p. 1702, column 2, equation 3: the equation should read as follows. g(sup1)((tau)) = [g(sup2)((tau)) - 1](sup1/2) = exp[-K(sup2)(D(inf1) cos(sup2)(alpha) + D(inf2) sin(sup2)(alpha))(tau)] (3) [This corrects the article on p. 1699 in vol. 62.].     

Activity and Distribution of Methane-Oxidizing Bacteria in Flooded Rice Soil Microcosms and in Rice Plants (Oryza sativa)

The activity and distribution of CH(inf4)-oxidizing bacteria (MOB) in flooded rice (Oryza sativa) soil microcosms was investigated. CH(inf4) oxidation was shown to occur in undisturbed microcosms by using (sup14)CH(inf4), and model calculations indicated that almost 90% of the oxidation measured had taken place at a depth where only roots could provide the O(inf2) necessary. Slurry from soil planted with rice had an apparent K(infm) for CH(inf4) of 4 (mu)M and a V(infmax) of 0.1 (mu)mol g (dry weight)(sup-1) h(sup-1). At a depth of 1 to 2 cm, there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in numbers of MOB between soil from planted and nonplanted microcosms (mean, 7.7 x 10(sup5) g [fresh weight](sup-1)). Thus, the densely rooted soil at 1 to 2 cm deep did not represent rhizospheric soil with respect to the number of MOB. A significantly increased number of MOB was found only in soil immediately around the roots (1.2 x 10(sup6) g [fresh weight](sup-1)), corresponding to a layer of 0.1 to 0.2 mm. Plant-associated CH(inf4) oxidation was shown in a double chamber with carefully washed intact rice plants. Up to 90% of the CH(inf4) supplied to the root compartment was oxidized in the plants. CH(inf4) oxidation on isolated roots was higher and had a larger variability than that in soil slurries. Roots had an apparent K(infm) for CH(inf4) of 6 (mu)M and a V(infmax) of 5 (mu)mol g (dry weight)(sup-1) h(sup-1). The average number of MOB in homogenized roots was larger than on the rhizoplane and increased with plant age. MOB also were found in surface-sterilized roots and basal culms, indicating the ability of these bacteria to colonize the interior of roots and culms.     

Methylmercury Oxidative Degradation Potentials in Contaminated and Pristine Sediments of the Carson River, Nevada

Sediments from mercury-contaminated and uncontaminated reaches of the Carson River, Nevada, were assayed for sulfate reduction, methanogenesis, denitrification, and monomethylmercury (MeHg) degradation. Demethylation of [(sup14)C]MeHg was detected at all sites as indicated by the formation of (sup14)CO(inf2) and (sup14)CH(inf4). Oxidative demethylation was indicated by the formation of (sup14)CO(inf2) and was present at significant levels in all samples. Oxidized/reduced demethylation product ratios (i.e., (sup14)CO(inf2)/(sup14)CH(inf4) ratios) generally ranged from 4.0 in surface layers to as low as 0.5 at depth. Production of (sup14)CO(inf2) was most pronounced at sediment surfaces which were zones of active denitrification and sulfate reduction but was also significant within zones of methanogenesis. In a core taken from an uncontaminated site having a high proportion of oxidized, coarse-grain sediments, sulfate reduction and methanogenic activity levels were very low and (sup14)CO(inf2) accounted for 98% of the product formed from [(sup14)C]MeHg. There was no apparent relationship between the degree of mercury contamination of the sediments and the occurrence of oxidative demethylation. However, sediments from Fort Churchill, the most contaminated site, were most active in terms of demethylation potentials. Inhibition of sulfate reduction with molybdate resulted in significantly depressed oxidized/reduced demethylation product ratios, but overall demethylation rates of inhibited and uninhibited samples were comparable. Addition of sulfate to sediment slurries stimulated production of (sup14)CO(inf2) from [(sup14)C]MeHg, while 2-bromoethanesulfonic acid blocked production of (sup14)CH(inf4). These results reveal the importance of sulfate-reducing and methanogenic bacteria in oxidative demethylation of MeHg in anoxic environments.     

Isolation and partial characterization of proteoglycans from rat incisors.

Newly synthesized proteoglycans of rat incisors were labelled in vivo for 6h with [35S]-sulphate in order to facilitate their detection during purification and characterization. Proteoglycans were extracted from non-mineralized portions (predentine) of rat incisors with 4M-guanidinium chloride and subsequently from dentine by demineralization with a 0.4M-EDTA solution containing 4M-guanidinium chloride. Both extractions were performed at 4 degrees C in the presence of proteinase inhibitors. Purification of proteoglycans was achieved with a procedure involving gel-filtration chromatography, selective precipitation of phosphoproteins, affinity chromatography and ion-exchange chromatography. Two proteoglycan populations were found in the initial extract (Pd-PG I and Pd-PG II), whereas only one fraction (D-PG) was obtained after demineralization. The minor proteoglycan fraction from the first extract, Pd-PG I, although not totally characterized, differed sharply from the other proteoglycans in that it had a larger molecular size with larger glycosaminoglycan chains composed of chondroitin 4- and 6-sulphate isomers. In contrast, the major proteoglycans Pd-PG II and D-PG had smaller hydrodynamic sizes with smaller glycosaminoglycan chains (but larger than those from bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycans) composed exclusively of chondroitin 4-sulphate. The major proteoglycans were incapable of interacting with hyaluronic acid. In general, the amino acid compositions of the major proteoglycans of rat incisors resembled that of bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycans, but the former had lower proline, valine, isoleucine, leucine, and higher aspartic acid, contents.     

Reduction of Selenium Oxyanions by Enterobacter cloacae SLD1a-1: Isolation and Growth of the Bacterium and Its Expulsion of Selenium Particles

A facultative bacterium capable of removing the selenium (Se) oxyanions selenate (SeO(inf4)(sup2-)) and selenite (SeO(inf3)(sup2-)) from solution culture in flasks open to the atmosphere was isolated and studied with the goal of assessing its potential for use in bioremediation of seleniferous agricultural drainage water. Elemental Se (Se(sup0)) was confirmed as a product of the reaction. The organism, identified as Enterobacter cloacae and designated strain SLD1a-1 (ATCC 700258), removed from 61.5 to 94.5% of added SeO(inf4)(sup2-) (the primary species present in agricultural drainage water) at concentrations from 13 to 1,266 (mu)M. Equimolar amounts of nitrate (NO(inf3)(sup-)), which interferes with SeO(inf4)(sup2-) reduction in some organisms, did not influence the reaction in growth experiments but had a slight inhibitory effect in a washed-cell suspension. Washed-cell suspension experiments also showed that (i) SeO(inf3)(sup2-) is a transitory intermediate in reduction of SeO(inf4)(sup2-), being produced and rapidly reduced concomitantly; (ii) NO(inf3)(sup-) is also reduced concomitantly and at a much higher rate than SeO(inf4)(sup2-); and (iii) although enzymatic, reduction of either oxyanion does not appear to be an inducible process. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that precipitate particles are <0.1 (mu)m in diameter, and these particles were observed free in the medium. Evidence indicates that SLD1a-1 uses SeO(inf4)(sup2-) as an alternate electron acceptor and that the reaction occurs via a membrane-associated reductase(s) followed by rapid expulsion of the Se particles.     

Kinetics of Inhibition of Methane Oxidation by Nitrate, Nitrite, and Ammonium in a Humisol

The kinetics of inhibition of CH(inf4) oxidation by NH(inf4)(sup+), NO(inf2)(sup-), and NO(inf3)(sup-) in a humisol was investigated. Soil slurries exhibited nearly standard Michaelis-Menten kinetics, with half-saturation constant [K(infm(app))] values for CH(inf4) of 50 to 200 parts per million of volume (ppmv) and V(infmax) values of 1.1 to 2.5 nmol of CH(inf4) g of dry soil(sup-1) h(sup-1). With one soil sample, NH(inf4)(sup+) acted as a simple competitive inhibitor, with an estimated K(infi) of 8 (mu)M NH(inf4)(sup+) (18 nM NH(inf3)). With another soil sample, the response to NH(inf4)(sup+) addition was more complex and the inhibitory effect of NH(inf4)(sup+) was greater than predicted by a simple competitive model at low CH(inf4) concentrations (<50 ppmv). This was probably due to NO(inf2)(sup-) produced through NH(inf4)(sup+) oxidation. Added NO(inf2)(sup-) was inherently more inhibitory of CH(inf4) oxidation at low CH(inf4) concentrations, and more NO(inf2)(sup-) was produced as the CH(inf4)-to-NH(inf4)(sup+) ratio decreased and the competitive balance shifted. NaNO(inf3) was a noncompetitive inhibitor of CH(inf4) oxidation, but inhibition was evident only at >10 mM concentrations, which also altered soil pHs. Similar concentrations of NaCl were also inhibitory of CH(inf4) oxidation, so there may be no special inhibitory mechanism of nitrate per se.     

Minimal Amino Acid Requirements of the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Pyrococcus abyssi, Isolated from Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents

Vol. 61, no. 3, p. 1138, column 1, line 4 from bottom: "(A(inf600) = 0.1 = 8 x 10(sup8) cells ml(sup-1))" should read "(A(inf600) = 0.1 = 1.8 x 10(sup8) cells ml(sup-1))." [This corrects the article on p. 1138 in vol. 61.].     

Biochemical characterization of guanidinium chloride-soluble dentine collagen from lathyritic-rat incisors.

alpha- and beta-Chains were isolated by sequential ion-exchange and gel-filtration chromatography of guanidinium chloride-soluble dentine collagen obtained from Tris/NaCl-extracted EDTA-demineralized lathyritic-rat incisors. The alpha-chains were identified as alpha 1 I and alpha 2 by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis and amino acid analysis of the intact chains and their CNBr peptides. The dentine alpha-chains exhibited higher lysine hydroxylation and phosphate content, but lower hydroxylysine glycosylation, than alpha-chains from skin. Increased lysine hydroxylation was observed in the helical sequences. The alpha 1 I/alpha 2 ratio was approx. 3:1, and was presumably due to the presence of (alpha 1 I)3 molecules along with (alpha 1 I)2 alpha 2 molecules as shown recently for neutral-salt-soluble dentine collagen [Wohllebe & Carmichael (1978) Eur. J. Biochem. 92, 183--188]. In the borohydride-reduced beta 11- and beta 12-chains from guanidinium chloride-soluble dentine collagen, the reduced cross-links hydroxylysinohydroxynorleucine and hydroxylysinonorleucine were present. A higher proportion of hydroxylysinonorleucine in the reduced beta 12-chain probably reflects differences in extent of hydroxylation of specific lysine residues of the alpha 1 I- and alpha 2-chains.     

Metabolism of Melamine by Klebsiella terragena

Experiments were conducted to determine the pathway of melamine metabolism by Klebsiella terragena (strain DRS-1) and the effect of added NH(inf4)(sup+) on the rates and extent of melamine metabolism. In the absence of added NH(inf4)(sup+), 1 mM melamine was metabolized concomitantly with growth. Ammeline, ammelide, cyanuric acid, and NH(inf4)(sup+) accumulated transiently in the culture medium to maximal concentrations of 0.012 mM, 0.39 mM, trace levels, and 0.61 mM, respectively. In separate incubations, in which cells were grown on either ammeline or ammelide (in the absence of NH(inf4)(sup+)), ammeline was metabolized without a lag while ammelide metabolism was observed only after 3 h. In the presence of 6 mM added NH(inf4)(sup+) (enriched with 5% (sup15)N), ammeline, ammelide, and cyanuric acid accumulated transiently to maximal concentrations of 0.002 mM, 0.47 mM, and trace levels, respectively, indicating that the added NH(inf4)(sup+) had little effect on the relative rates of triazine metabolism. These data suggest that the primary mode of melamine metabolism by K. terragena is hydrolytic, resulting in successive deaminations of the triazine ring. Use of (sup15)N-enriched NH(inf4)(sup+) allowed estimates of rates of triazine-N mineralization and assimilation of NH(inf4)(sup+)-N versus triazine-N into biomass. A decrease in the percent (sup15)N in the external NH(inf4)(sup+) pool, in conjunction with the accumulation of ammelide and/or triazine-derived NH(inf4)(sup+) in the culture medium, suggests that the initial reactions in the melamine metabolic pathway may occur outside the cytoplasmic membrane.     

Innervation of the incisors and periodontal ligament in several rodents: an immunohistochemical study of neurofilament protein and glia-specific S-100 protein

The present immunohistochemical study by use of antisera against neurofilament protein (NFP) and S-100 protein dealt with the innervation of the upper incisors and periodontal ligament in five species of rodents including the guinea pig, hamster, Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguicularis), mouse and squirrel (Tamias sibiricus). The innervation pattern of the periodontal ligament and dental pulp in the incisors of five rodents was fundamentally identical to that in the rat, which we have previously demonstrated by the same method. The NFP-positive Ruffini-like corpuscles were concentrated in the middle region of the lingual periodontal ligament in all the species examined, suggesting that this particular arrangement of Ruffini-like corpuscles, possibly stretch receptors, was essential to the rodent incisor. The labial periodontal ligament, on the other hand, contained less numerous NFP-positive nerves, these terminating among collagen fibers as free endings. The gerbil and squirrel in particular possessed only a few nerve fibers in the labial periodontal ligament. It was thus presumed that the labial periodontal ligament might be less significant as a mechanoreceptive site than the lingual periodontal ligament. The NFP-positive pulpal nerves, beaded or smooth in shape, ran parallel to the tooth axis, but never extended to the odontoblastic layer; no subodontoblastic plexus was found in the incisors of any of the rodents. S-100-immunopositive nervous elements were distributed in the periodontal ligament and dental pulp of all the rodent species examined, showing a distribution pattern similar to the NFP-positive nerves. Only in the squirrel did odontoblasts show an intense S-100 immunoreactivity.     

Comparison of the Efficacies of Chloromethane, Methionine, and S-Adenosylmethionine as Methyl Precursors in the Biosynthesis of Veratryl Alcohol and Related Compounds in Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The effect on veratryl alcohol production of supplementing cultures of the lignin-degrading fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium with different methyl-(sup2)H(inf3)-labelled methyl precursors has been investigated. Both chloromethane (CH(inf3)Cl) and l-methionine caused earlier initiation of veratryl alcohol biosynthesis, but S-adenosyl-l-methionine (SAM) retarded the formation of the compound. A high level of C(sup2)H(inf3) incorporation into both the 3- and 4-O-methyl groups of veratryl alcohol occurred when either l-[methyl-(sup2)H(inf3)]methionine or C(sup2)H(inf3)Cl was present, but no significant labelling was detected when S-adenosyl-l-[methyl-(sup2)H(inf3)]methionine was added. Incorporation of C(sup2)H(inf3) from C(sup2)H(inf3)Cl was strongly antagonized by the presence of unlabelled l-methionine; conversely, incorporation of C(sup2)H(inf3) from l-[methyl-(sup2)H(inf3)]methionine was reduced by CH(inf3)Cl. These results suggest that l-methionine is converted either directly or via an intermediate to CH(inf3)Cl, which is utilized as a methyl donor in veratryl alcohol biosynthesis. SAM is not an intermediate in the conversion of l-methionine to CH(inf3)Cl. In an attempt to identify the substrates for O methylation in the metabolic transformation of benzoic acid to veratryl alcohol, the relative activities of the SAM- and CH(inf3)Cl-dependent methylating systems on several possible intermediates were compared in whole mycelia by using isotopic techniques. 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid was a much better substrate for the CH(inf3)Cl-dependent methylation system than for the SAM-dependent system. The CH(inf3)Cl-dependent system also had significantly increased activities toward both isovanillic acid and vanillyl alcohol compared with the SAM-dependent system. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that the conversion of benzoic acid to veratryl alcohol involves para hydroxylation, methylation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, meta hydroxylation of 4-methoxybenzoic acid to form isovanillic acid, and methylation of isovanillic acid to yield veratric acid.     

A Simple, High-Precision, High-Sensitivity Tracer Assay for N(inf2) Fixation

We describe a simple, precise, and sensitive experimental protocol for direct measurement of N(inf2) fixation using the conversion of (sup15)N(inf2) to organic N. Our protocol greatly reduces the limit of detection for N(inf2) fixation by taking advantage of the high sensitivity of a modern, multiple-collector isotope ratio mass spectrometer. This instrument allowed measurement of N(inf2) fixation by natural assemblages of plankton in incubations lasting several hours in the presence of relatively low-level (ca. 10 atom%) tracer additions of (sup15)N(inf2) to the ambient pool of N(inf2). The sensitivity and precision of this tracer method are comparable to or better than those associated with the C(inf2)H(inf2) reduction assay. Data obtained in a series of experiments in the Gotland Basin of the Baltic Sea showed excellent agreement between (sup15)N(inf2) tracer and C(inf2)H(inf2) reduction measurements, with the largest discrepancies between the methods occurring at very low fixation rates. The ratio of C(inf2)H(inf2) reduced to N(inf2) fixed was 4.68 (plusmn) 0.11 (mean (plusmn) standard error, n = 39). In these experiments, the rate of C(inf2)H(inf2) reduction was relatively insensitive to assay volume. Our results, the first for planktonic diazotroph populations of the Baltic, confirm the validity of the C(inf2)H(inf2) reduction method as a quantitative measure of N(inf2) fixation in this system. Our (sup15)N(inf2) protocols are comparable to standard C(inf2)H(inf2) reduction procedures, which should promote use of direct (sup15)N(inf2) fixation measurements in other systems.     

Nitrogen Transformations in Wetland Soil Cores Measured by (sup15)N Isotope Pairing and Dilution at Four Infiltration Rates

The effect of water infiltration rate (IR) on nitrogen cycling in a saturated wetland soil was investigated by applying a (sup15)N isotope dilution and pairing method. Water containing [(sup15)N]nitrate was infiltrated through 10-cm-long cores of sieved and homogenized soil at rates of 72, 168, 267, and 638 mm day(sup-1). Then the frequencies of (sup30)N(inf2), (sup29)N(inf2), (sup15)NO(inf3)(sup-), and (sup15)NH(inf4)(sup+) in the outflow water were measured. This method allowed simultaneous determination of nitrification, coupled and uncoupled denitrification, and nitrate assimilation rates. From 3% (at the highest IR) to 95% (at the lowest IR) of nitrate was removed from the water, mainly by denitrification. The nitrate removal was compensated for by the net release of ammonium and dissolved organic nitrogen. Lower oxygen concentrations in the soil at lower IRs led to a sharper decrease in the nitrification rate than in the ammonification rate, and, consequently, more ammonium leaked from the soil. The decreasing organic-carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (from 12.8 to 5.1) and the increasing light A(inf250)/A(inf365) ratio (from 4.5 to 5.2) indicated an increasing bioavailability of the outflowing dissolved organic matter with increasing IR. The efflux of nitrous oxide was also very sensitive to IR and increased severalfold when a zone of low oxygen concentration was close to the outlet of the soil cores. N(inf2)O then constituted 8% of the total gaseous N lost from the soil.