Observations on the formation and persistence of radiopaque transverse lines

The formation and persistence of radiopaque transverse lines have been assessed in the living in clinical studies of growth, nutrition, and disease. Lines have also been used by many researchers in the analysis of patterns of childhood stress in prehistoric skeletal materials, although most of this research has been undertaken on adult bones. However, how reliable and useful are transverse lines for interpretations of stress? The precise etiologies for their appearance are varied and controversial, and lines are also known to resorb during both childhood and the adult years. Sex differences in both their formation and persistence have also been reported. To assess better the viability of lines as indicators of stress, the present research analyzes rates of formation, distribution frequencies, and the persistence of transverse lines in individuals aged birth to 50 + years from a single archaeological population. The results suggest that while transverse lines may be analytically useful as subsidiary criteria for more fully understanding the biological well-being of prehistoric populations, caution should be exercised in the interpretations made concerning childhood stress, particularly when using adult bones.     

Lines of descent in the diffusion approximation of neutral Wright-Fisher models

This paper studies lines of descent in the diffusion approximation of neutral Wright-Fisher models where the mutation rate away from each gene per generation is the same. Here a line of descent begins with a single gene and has branches at each generation where genes are reproduced from a parent in the line. New mutations are not included in a line of descent but are considered to begin a new line. The joint distribution of the number of lines of descent surviving in a population from time 0 to time t and the frequencies in these lines is derived. Expected times between loss of lines of descent are found. The distribution of the number of lines of descent in a sample from the population is derived. This leads to the distribution of the number of types in a sample from a nonstationary infinite alleles population.     

A review of the occurrence in British mammals of the major organisms of zoonotic importance

The occurrence of the major zoonoses in British mammals is discussed. The distribution of leptospiral serotypes across the British Isles and North–West Europe, together with the current absence of rabies, plague and other pathogenic organisms in Britain suggests conditions inimical to their maintenance in the British Isles. It is suggested that this region may represent the end of a geographical line of success for these organisms and the term 'pathocline' is proposed.     

The frequency of appearance of transverse lines in the tibia in relation to childhood illnesses

The hypothesis that transverse lines of increased density in growing bones are caused by illnesses and other traumas of childhood was investigated using tibial x-rays and medical records of 107 boys and 94 girls in the Fels longitudinal series. There is not a one to one relationship between even severe illnesses and line formation. The frequency of appearance of lines at each age interval, one month through fourteen years, was calculated for both sexes separately and combined, in order to show periods of maximum formation. That transverse lines are “growth arrest” lines which cause ultimate growth retardation was discounted since no significant difference in finally attained adult stature was noted between heavily and lightly lined subjects.     

Transverse lines in long bones of prehistoric California Indians

Radiopaque transverse lines (lines of arrested growth, Harris's lines) were counted on X-rays of the distal end of 102 adult femurs from prehistoric California Indian populations representing three archaeological Horizons. The sample from Early Horizon has the highest frequency of lines, the Middle Horizon the next, and the sample from Late Horizon has the lowest frequency of lines. These differences are statistically significant. Archaeological evidence indicates that the Indians improved and broadened their subsistence economy from Early to Late Horizon. It is concluded that the differences in the frequency of lines among the three California Indian populations probably are associated with differences in morbidity and/or nutritional status of the people. If this hypothesis is correct, then frequency distribution of transverse lines represents a valuable tool for the paleopathologist and the archaeologist.     

Testing the Generality of a Trophic-cascade Model for Plague

Climate may affect the dynamics of infectious diseases by shifting pathogen, vector, or host species abundance, population dynamics, or community interactions. Black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) are highly susceptible to plague, yet little is known about factors that influence the dynamics of plague epizootics in prairie dogs. We investigated temporal patterns of plague occurrence in black-tailed prairie dogs to assess the generality of links between climate and plague occurrence found in previous analyses of human plague cases. We examined long-term data on climate and plague occurrence in prairie dog colonies within two study areas. Multiple regression analyses revealed that plague occurrence in prairie dogs was not associated with climatic variables in our Colorado study area. In contrast, plague occurrence was strongly associated with climatic variables in our Montana study area. The models with most support included a positive association with precipitation in April–July of the previous year, in addition to a positive association with the number of “warm” days and a negative association with the number of “hot” days in the same year as reported plague events. We conclude that the timing and magnitude of precipitation and temperature may affect plague occurrence in some geographic areas. The best climatic predictors of plague occurrence in prairie dogs within our Montana study area are quite similar to the best climatic predictors of human plague cases in the southwestern United States. This correspondence across regions and species suggests support for a (temperature-modulated) trophic-cascade model for plague, including climatic effects on rodent abundance, flea abundance, and pathogen transmission, at least in regions that experience strong climatic signals.     

中国鼠疫宿主鼠类丰富度格局及疫区环境因子分析

鼠疫等媒介疾病地理分布规律的认识对于疫病防控具有重要意义,分析影响疾病地理分布的因素进而预测疾病发生趋势已经成为目前研究的热点。本文在分析鼠间鼠疫及其宿主鼠类地理分布数据以及相关环境数据的基础上,探讨了鼠疫宿主丰富度与环境因子的关系以及影响鼠间鼠疫发生的主要环境因素。我国的鼠疫宿主鼠类在干旱区和季风区过渡带的县级行政单元中物种丰富度最高,物种丰富度与高度差正相关性最高。发生鼠间鼠疫的地区,宿主鼠类丰富度较高,未发生鼠间鼠疫的地区,宿主鼠类丰富度较低。影响鼠间鼠疫发生的主要环境因子包括蚤类物种数、年均气温、年降雨量、年均相对湿度和年日照时数和气候因子,其次是包括高度差、植被类型数、土壤类型数和地貌类型数的景观因子,以及反映海拔和宿主鼠类物种数的地形和宿主鼠类因子。在未来全国气候变干变暖条件下,我国鼠间鼠疫发病区可能随宿主鼠类的迁移而扩展。     

Multinucleation of cultured canine epithelial and lymphoma cell lines

The frequency distribution patterns of monuclear and multinuclear giant cells were determined for two canine lymphoma cell lines (DT-5 and 11028), and a normal canine kidney epithelial cell line (DK). The proportion of multinuclear cells in the DK line (1.53%) was approximately twice those of the DT-5 (0.75%) and 11028 (0.73%) cell lines. The observed frequency distributions of cells with single and various numbers of multiple nuclei were compared to Poisson distributions using the chi-square test. For each cell line, the number of cells with three or more nuclei far exceeded the number predicted by the Poisson distribution. Hence, the occurrence of multinuclear cells in these canine cell lines does not follow a random distribution pattern. Possible explanations for the nonrandom accumulation of multinuclear giant cells are discussed.     

Ecology and geography of plague transmission areas in northeastern Brazil

Plague in Brazil is poorly known and now rarely seen, so studies of its ecology are difficult. We used ecological niche models of historical (1966-present) records of human plague cases across northeastern Brazil to assess hypotheses regarding environmental correlates of plague occurrences across the region. Results indicate that the apparently focal distribution of plague in northeastern Brazil is indeed discontinuous, and that the causes of the discontinuity are not necessarily only related to elevation-rather, a diversity of environmental dimensions correlate to presence of plague foci in the region. Perhaps most interesting is that suitable areas for plague show marked seasonal variation in photosynthetic mass, with peaks in April and May, suggesting links to particular land cover types. Next steps in this line of research will require more detailed and specific examination of reservoir ecology and natural history.     

Faunistic analysis of the fleas on small mammals in the trans-Aral Sea area

Materials on occurrence and abundance of 36 species of fleas on 17 species of small mammals are systematized. A great similarity between the faunas of ectoparasites of rodents and predators has been shown by means of special indices. The conception of parasitic field is formulated which implies the phenomenon of community of the fauna of plague vectors parasitic on its potential carriers. Some aspects of the formation of parasitic field and its possible effect the epizootic process are considered. It is established that the similarity between the faunas of fleas from different animals is ensured in this region first of all by a wide distribution of specific parasites of gerbils.     

Neuromast morphology and lateral line trunk canal ontogeny in two species of cichlids: an SEM study

A study of neuromast ontogeny and lateral line canal formation in Oreochromis aureus and Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum reveals the existence of two classes of neuromasts: those that arise just before hatching (presumptive canal neuromasts, dorsal superficial neuromasts, gap neuromasts, and caudal fin neuromasts) and pairs of neuromasts that arise on each lateral line scale lateral to each canal segment at the same time as canal formation. In the anterior trunk canal segment, each presumptive canal neuromast is accompanied by a dorsoventrally oriented superficial neuromast forming an orthogonal neuromast pair. It is suggested that each of these dorsoventrally oriented superficial neuromasts is homologous to the transverse superficial neuromast row described by Münz (Zoomorphology 93:73-86, '79) in other cichlids. It is further suggested that the longitudinal lines described by Münz (Zoomorphology 93:73-86, '79) are derived from the pair of superficial neuromasts that arise during canal formation. Distinct changes in neuromast topography are documented. Neuromast formation, scale formation, and lateral line canal formation are three distinct and sequential processes. The distribution of neuromasts is correlated with myomere configuration; there is always one presumptive canal neuromast on each myomere. A single scale forms beneath each presumptive canal neuromast. Canal segment formation is initiated with the enclosure of each presumptive canal neuromast by an epithelial bridge which later ossifies. The distinction of these three processes raises questions as to the causal relationships among them.     

Technical note: calculation of age at formation of radiopaque transverse lines

A simple method for determining the age of an individual at the time of radiopaque transverse (Harris) line formation is presented. To use this method, only two measurements are required: total bone length and distance of line to nearest bone end; these are put into formulae that calculate the percent of total bone growth when the line appeared. The result of this calculation is compared with tables of percent bone growth per year (one to 16 years in females and one to 18 years in males) to arrive at estimations of age at line formation. Since these tables are presented for the femur, tibia, humerus, and radius, this technique can be used on any one of the major long bones exhibiting lines.     

Discrimination between lumenal and cytosolic sites of deglycosylation in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation of glycoproteins by using benzyl mannose in CHO cell lines

Recent studies demonstrated that deglycosylation step is a prerequisite for endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-associated degradation of misfolded glycoproteins. Here, we report the advantages of using benzyl mannose during pulse-chase experiments to study the subcellular location of the deglycosylation step in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell lines. Benzyl mannose inhibited both the ER-to-cytosol transport of oligomannosides and the trimming of cytosolic-labeled oligomannosides by the cytosolic mannosidase in vivo. We pointed out the occurrence of two subcellular sites of deglycosylation. The first one is located in the ER lumen, and led to the formation of Man8GlcNAc2 (isomer B) in wild-type CHO cell line and Man4GlcNAc2 in Man-P-Dol-deficient cell line. The second one was revealed in CHO mutant cell lines for which a high rate of glycoprotein degradation was required. It occurred in the cytosol and led to the liberation of oligosaccharides species with one GlcNAc residue and with a pattern similar to the one bound onto glycoproteins. The cytosolic deglycosylation site was not specific for CHO mutant cell lines, since we demonstrated the occurrence of cytosolic pathway when the formation of truncated glycans was induced in wild-type cells.     

New records of sylvatic plague in Kansas

Sylvatic plague, or plague of wild rodents is caused by Yersinia pestis and entered California (USA) from Asia about 1899. Extensive sampling during the 1930's and 1940's documented the spread of plague to approximately its current distribution in North America. Records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document plague in Kansas (USA) between 1945 and 1950, but since then there has been no documentation of plague in the state. Following a die-off of a black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colony on the Cimarron National Grassland, in the southwestern corner of Kansas (3710'N, 10145'W), we sampled fleas from burrows in June 1997, and tested them for Yersinia pestis. Twelve of 13 pools of Oropsyla hirsuta and one of two Pulex sp. were positive. A similar sample of fleas, from another colony where black-tailed prairie dogs were active at the time, yielded no positive fleas.     

The Occurrence and Age Distribution of Harris Lines in Turkey

Harris lines are widely accepted as indicators of physiological stress and provide valuable data for determining the extent and nature of the physiological stress factors acting on a human community. Traditionally, Harris lines are studied in skeletal populations. In the study reported here, data were collected on living children to eventually clarify if stress is basically chronic or acute in nature, if it has a greater impact on children or adults, and if it is correlated with increased rates of mortality. The existence of Harris lines was determined in a sample of 400 children, 210 males and 190 females, randomly selected from those under examination in the radiology services of hospitals. Radiological analysis was used to analyze Harris lines. The age of Harris line formation and variations in the number of lines with age were established to determine at which age the densest line population was present. For this sample, the formation of Harris lines is around 2–3 years of age, in agreement with published literature. It should be taken into consideration that Harris lines are the end result of multiple factors, rather than a single stress factor, and are influenced by an individual’s immune system and resistance to stress.     

American Marten Respond to Seismic Lines in Northern Canada at Two Spatial Scales

Development of hydrocarbon resources across northwest Canada has spurred economic prosperity and generated concerns over impacts to biodiversity. To balance these interests, numerous jurisdictions have adopted management thresholds that allow for limited energy development but minimize undesirable impacts to wildlife. Used for exploration, seismic lines are the most abundant linear feature in the boreal forest and exist at a variety of widths and recovery states. We used American marten (Martes americana) as a model species to measure how line attributes influence species’ response to seismic lines, and asked whether responses to individual lines trigger population impacts. Marten response to seismic lines was strongly influenced by line width and recovery state. Compared to forest interiors, marten used open seismic lines ≥ 3 m wide less often, but used open lines ≤ 2 m wide and partially recovered lines ≥ 6 m wide similarly. Marten response to individual line types appeared to trigger population impacts. The probability of occurrence at the home range scale declined with increasing seismic line density, and the inclusion of behavioral response to line density calculations improved model fit. In our top performing model, we excluded seismic lines ≤ 2 m from our calculation of line density, and the probability of occurrence declined > 80% between home ranges with the lowest and highest line densities. Models that excluded seismic lines did not strongly explain occurrence. We show how wildlife-derived metrics can inform regulatory guidelines to increase the likelihood those guidelines meet intended management objectives. With respect to marten, not all seismic lines constitute disturbances, but avoidance of certain line types scales to population impacts. This approach provides the ecological context required to understand cause and effect relationships among socio-economic and ecological conservation goals.     

Sex and side differences and correlations between quantitative palmar characteristics in a sample Sardinian population

Differences between the sexes and between the sides and the correlations between four quantitative characteristics of palmar dermatoglyphics in a sample population of 809 individuals (418 males and 391 females) from the city of Cagliari, Sardinia, are tested. Males have a greater number of ridges than females, shown by a greater a-b ridge count and A-d ridge count, and a more transverse slope of the main lines, shown by a greater main line index and papillary number. The left palm shows a greater number of ridges than the right palm between the A line and the triradius d and between the triradii a and b, with a lower main line index and papillary number. The a-b ridge count has a negative correlation with the main line index and with the papillary number and a positive one with the A-d ridge count; these correlations are greater in the left palms, especially in the males.     

Growth Arrest Lines in Long Bones of the Casas Grandes Population

Abstract

One aspect of paleopathology, the examination of growth arrest lines, is suggested as a tool in archeological interpretation. Disruption of the normal growth pattern of long bones may result in the formation of transverse lines of extra-dense bone, visible in ordinary X-rays of the bone shaft. These radio opaque lines, presumed to result from temporary growth arrest caused by illness, are described for a sample of tibias and femurs from Casas Grandes, an archeological site in northern Chihuahua, Mexico. The sex and age of each individual at the time of growth arrest is noted, and the possibility of using this information to supplement or clarify archeological data is discussed.     

Functional analysis of three novel cell lines derived from human papillary thyroid carcinomas with three different clinical courses

Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most frequent thyroid carcinoma. PTC cell lines have been of considerable value in studying aspects of thyroid cancer, such as gene expression, cell proliferation, and differentiation. Here we report three novel PTC lines established from three patients with different backgrounds. Case 1 was a 38-year-old woman with PTC in the right thyroid lobe, with no metastasis. The cell line was established from the resection sample and named D-PTC. The cell line consisted of epithelial cells with few lysosomes and showed a pavement structure and follicular formation at confluency. There was a little pilling up. The secretion of free thyroxin (fT4) and thyroglobulin (Tg) was increased by TSH, or GH and IGF-I treatment. Case 2 was a 22-year-old woman with PTC initially in the right thyroid lobe, but 4 years after the right lobe resection, PTC metastasis was observed in left lobe. The cell line was established from a sample of the second resection and named UD-PTC. This cell line consisted of small epithelial cells with evident lysosomes and exhibited floating cell clusters. The secretion of fT4 and Tg was slightly increased by TSH, or GH and IGF-I treatment. Case 3 was an 85-year-old man with PTC and with acromegaly. Metastasis was observed at cervical lymph nodes. The cell line was derived from the metastasis region and named A-PTC. This cell line consisted of small epithelial cells and many lysosomes. The cells frequently showed pilling up. The secretion of fT4 and Tg was significantly increased by GH and IGF-I treatment. We have established three PTC cell lines with substantial variation in their phenotype. The cell lines may be useful for thyroid cancer research.     

Intraspecific variation ofDrosophila buzzatii larval breeding success onOpuntia: A yeast-plant-insect relationship

The cactophilic species,Drosophila buzzatii, normally breeds in decaying pockets ofOpuntia cladodes, in which there is a complex interaction with the microbial flora, especially yeast species. Isofemale lines were used to estimate genetic variation among larvae reared on their natural feeding substrate. Four naturally occurring cactophilic yeast species isolated from the same Tunisian oasis as theDrosophila population were used. Two fitness components were studied for each line, viability and developmental time. Genetic variations amongD. buzzatii lines were observed for both traits. A significant yeast species x isofemale line interaction for viability was also evidenced, suggesting the occurrence of specialized genotypes for the utilization of breeding substrates. This genetic heterogeneity in the natural population may favor a better adaptation to the patchily distribution of yeasts.