Histotopography and ultrastructure of the thin limbs of the loop of Henle in the hamster

Summary In the kidney of the Syrian hamster the descending thin limbs of both the short and long loops of Henle are not spatially separated from each other and descend between the vascular bundles.Ultrastructurally, five different epithelial types are distinguished in the thin limbs of the short and long loops of Henle. Short loops possess only a descending thin limb with a simply organized epithelium (type 1). Long loops comprise an upper and a lower part of the descending thin limb and the ascending thin limb. The upper part of the long descending thin limb is equipped with a complex and highly interdigitating epithelium with shallow junctions (type 2), which gradually transforms into the simple noninterdigitating type-3 epithelium of the lower part. In a minor portion of long descending thin limbs, however, the upper part begins with an even more complexly organized epithelium (type 2a) than type 2. Type-2a epithelium is conspicuously thicker and possesses a more elaborate mode of cellular interdigitation. Along the descent of this tubular part through the inner stripe of the outer medulla, type-2a epithelium transforms into type-2 epithelium. It is suggested that the long descending thin limbs, which start with type-2a epithelium, belong to the longest loops. The type-4 epithelium of the ascending thin limbs is characterized by flat and extensively interdigitating cells with shallow junctions.The unique pattern of the type-2 a epithelium favors the assumption that solute secretion essentially contributes to the increase in concentration of tubular fluid in long descending thin limbs.This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; project Kr 546 Henlesche Schleife     

Two types of PS II centres as manifested by light saturation of delayed fluorescence from DCMU-treated chloroplasts

Intensity of 2 s delayed fluorescence (DF) as a function of steady-state actinic light intensity was investigated in pea chloroplasts in the presence of 10 M DCMU. The light saturation curve of DF was approximated by a sum of two hyperbolic components which differ by an order of magnitude in the half-saturating incident light intensity. The relative contribution of the amplitudes of the components was practically independent of cation (Na⁺ and Mg²⁺) concentration and a short-term heating of the chloroplasts at 45°C. The component saturating at low incident light intensity was selectively suppressed by 100 M DCMU or by 1 mol g^-1 Chl oleic acid. DF intensity following excitation by a single saturating 15 s flash was equal to the intensity of the component saturating at a low incident light intensity. Upon flash excitation, the maximum steady-state DF level was found to be attained only after a series of saturating flashes. It is concluded that the two components of the DF light saturation curves are related to PS II centres heterogeneity in quantum yield of stabilization of the reduced primary quinone acceptor.Abbreviations DF Delayed fluorescence - L₁- and L₂-components DF components saturating at low and high incident light intensity, respectively - I incident light intensity - L DF intensity - P₆₈₀ reaction centre chlorophyll of PS II - Q_A and Q_B primary and secondary quinone acceptors of PS II, respectively     

Vertical signal flow and oscillations in a three-layer model of the cortex

A model of vertical signal flow across a layered cortical structure is presented and analyzed. Neurons communicate through spikes, which evoke an excitatory or inhibitory postsynaptic potential (spike response model). The layers incorporate two anatomical features - dendritic and axonal arborization patterns and distance-dependent time delays. The vertical signal flow through the network is discussed for various stimulus conditions using two different, but typical, axonal arborization patterns. We find stationary as well as oscillatory response, but the oscillatory response may be restricted to a single layer. Confronted with conflicting stimuli the network separates the patterns through phase-shifted oscillations. We also discuss two hypothetical animals, to be called cat and mouse. These have different axonal arborizations, which give rise to a different oscillatory response (if any) of the various layers.     

Do cells in a reproductive state exhibit a fermi-pasta-ulam-fröhlich resonance and emit electromagnetic radiation?

Cells in the reproductive state seem to act like small signal generators and emit radiation which is detectable by small polarizable particles nearby in a medium of suitable osmolarity, but very low conductivity. Evidence for this was seen upon using mouse sarcoma (ascites) cells, and by comparing rapidly dividing mouse "L" fibroblasts with confluent ones. Reproducing cells attracted many more highly polarizable BaTiO₃ particles than they did of the much less polarizable BaSO₄ (dielectric constants 4000 and 11, respectively).This preferential attraction of certain cells for highly polarizable small particles is interpreted as due in large measure to the action of dielectrophoresis on a very small scale.evoked by the presence of nonuniform electric fields of cellular origin acting upon the nearby neutral, polarizable particles.a process called microdielectrophoresis. Consideration of the conductive nature of the surrounding medium forces the conclusion that the cell-generated fields must be oscillatory in nature and have a frequency in the order of a megaherz. These observations recall predictions made earlier by Szent-Györgyi on cellular electronic processes, and by Fröhlich on the possibility of Bose-Einstein condensations to a single quantum state of oscillatory ferroelectric character, due to cooperative long-range interactions among dipolar features of cells. The persistence of oscillatory energy in the lower modes is reminiscent of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam problem.     

The thin limbs of Henle's loop in the rabbit

Summary The thin limbs of short and long loops of Henle of the rabbit kidney were studied by freeze fracture techniques. According to TEM studies of thin sections four segments are discernible: descending thin limbs of short loops, descending thin limbs of long loops, subdivided into an upper and a lower part, and ascending thin limbs (Kaissling and Kriz 1979). This division is supported by findings obtained with the freeze fracture technique and based on differences in the organization of the junctional complexes as well as on differences in the internal morphology of the cell membranes. The descending thin limbs of short loops have junctional complexes established by several closely arranged junctional strands and numerous desmosomes. The upper parts of the long descending thin limbs have tight junctions consisting of a variable number of strands; their outstanding characteristic after freeze fracture is a high density of intramembrane particles in both luminal and baso-lateral membranes. The tight junctions of the lower part of the long descending thin limbs consist of several anastomosing junctional strands, which are, in contrast, loosely arranged; the cell membranes contain only a sparse population of intramembrane particles. The ascending thin limbs are characterized by shallow tight junctions (frequently consisting of only one single junctional strand). Moreover, the epithelial cells of this segment are heavily interdigitated; thereby the tight junctions are correspondingly lengthened.In addition, this study presents further evidence that remarkable species differences occur among thin limb epithelia. The junctional complexes of the long descending thin limbs of the rabbit are organized quite differently from those of small rodents (e.g., rat, Psammomys).The data of this study support the concept that the tight junctions are the main determinant of ionic conductances of the paracellular pathway. However, with reference to recent findings from microperfusion studies, it becomes obvious that a correlation of the junctional morphology with the transepithelial water permeability is lacking, at least for the thin limbs.This investigation was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft; project Kr 546 Henlesche Schleife     

Fast- and Slow-Gating Modes of the Sodium Channel Are Altered by a Paramyotonia Congenita-Linked Mutation

We have studied the expression in frog oocytes of the subunit of the rat skeletal muscle sodium channel mutation T1306M, homologous to the mutation T1313M of the human isoform that causes the muscular hereditary disease paramyotonia congenita. Wild-type (WT) channels show a bimodal behavior, with two gating modes characterized by inactivation time constants that differ at least by one order of magnitude and with voltage dependencies shifted by +27 mV in the slow mode (M2) relative to the fast (M1) mode. In the myopathy-linked mutant the propensity of the channel for the mode M2 is increased fourfold and the kinetics and voltage dependence of inactivation in both modes are altered. In mode M1, the onset of inactivation is faster and the recovery from inactivation is slower whereas both processes are slowed in mode M2. The half-inactivation potential of both modes is shifted by the mutation to positive potentials. Coexpression of subunit causes a threefold reduction of the M2 propensity of both WT and T1306M channels, with small changes in the voltage dependency and kinetic properties of inactivation. All the changes are consistent with the hyperexcitability of the muscle fibers observed in patients affected by potassium-aggrevated myotonia (PAM).     

Metabolism of dibenzofuran and dibenzo-p-dioxin by the biphenyl dioxygenase of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 and Comamonas testosteroni B-356

We examined the metabolism of dibenzofuran (DF) and dibenzo-p-dioxin (DD) by the biphenyl dioxygenase (BPDO) of Comamonas testosteroni B-356 and compared it with that of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400. Data showed that both enzymes oxygenated DF at a low rate, but Escherichia coli cells expressing LB400 BPDO degraded DF at higher rate (30 nmol in 18 h) compared with cells expressing B-356 BPDO (2 nmol in 18 h). Furthermore, both BPDOs produced dihydro-dihydroxy-dibenzofuran as a major metabolite, which resulted from the lateral oxygenation of DF. 2,2,3-Trihydroxybiphenyl (resulting from angular oxygenation of DF) was a minor metabolite produced by both enzymes. Deuterated DF was used to demonstrate the production of 2,2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl through angular oxygenation of DF. When tested for their ability to oxygenate DD, both enzymes produced as sole metabolite, 2,2,3-trihydroxybiphenyl ether at about the same rate, indicating similar catalytic properties toward this substrate. Altogether, although LB400 and B-356 BPDOs oxygenate a different range of chlorobiphenyls, their metabolite profiles toward DF and DD are similar. This suggests that co-planarity influences the regiospecificity of BPDO toward DF and DD to a higher extent than the presence of an ortho substituent on the molecule.     

Interconversion of fast and slow gating modes of GCAC1, a Guard Cell Anion Channel

For guard-cell protoplasts of Vicia faba L. we elucidated whether the slow (S-type) and rapid (R-type) activating anion channels represent different gating modes of GCAC1, the Guard Cell Anion Channel. In the whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp technique, GCAC1 was activated in a Ca²⁺- and nucleotide-dependent manner. Cell-free outside-out membrane patches were isolated to determine the relative contribution of different gating modes or channel types to the overall anion current in this cell type. Within 2–15 min after the loss of cytoplasmic control through patch excision, depolarization-activated 38-pS channels characterized by flickering openings in the millisecond range convert into a channel of similar conductance but prolonged open times (hundreds of milliseconds) and lack of pronounced voltage-dependence. The rapid (R-type) and slow (S-type) gating modes exhibited similar ion selectivity but different susceptibility towards block by the stilbene derivative DNDS (4,4-dinitrostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid). On R-type channels DNDS caused a flickering block and a shift in the threshold potential of activation whereas S-type channels remained unaffected. Because of the striking similarities of both channels with respect to single-channel conductance and relative permeability sequence on the one hand, but time-dependent conversion of R- into S-type gating after patch-excision on the other, we conclude that the mode of action of GCAC1 is under the control of cytoplasmic factors.Abbreviations DNDS 4,4-dinitrostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid - GCAC guard cell anion channel 1 - NPPB 5-nitro-2-(3-phenyl-propylamino) benzoic acid - R-type rapid type - SITS 4-acetamido-4-isothiocyanostilbene-2,2-disulfonic acid - S-type slow type We thank the DFG for financial support to R.H.     

The role of DNA polymerase I, II and III in the replication of the bacteriocinogenic factor Clo DF13

Summary The replication of the bacteriocinogenic factor Clo DF13 was studied in Escherichia coli mutants which lack either DNA polymerase I (polA1 and resA1 mutants), DNA polymerase II (polB1 mutant) or DNA polymerase III (dnaE mutant). DNA polymerase I is required for Clo DF13 replication. The Clo DF13 factor, however, can be maintained in a strain carrying the polA107 mutation and thus lacking the 53 exonucleolytic activity of DNA polymerase I. DNA polymerase II is not required for transfer replication and maintenance of the Clo DF13 plasmid. In the temperature sensitive dnaE mutant, Clo DF13 can replicate at the nonpermissive temperature during the first two hours after the temperature shift from 30°C to 43°C. During this period DNA polymerase III seems not to be essential for Clo DF13 replication.     

Euglenoid movement inEuglena fusca: Evidence for sliding between pellicular strips

Summary InEuglena fusca, each pellicular strip carries a row of particles on its surface. The relative displacement of particles on adjacent strips was analysed by video-microscopy and evidence was obtained that adjacent pellicular strips slide relative to each other during euglenoid movement.E. fusca shows two types of euglenoid movement, oscillatory bending and rounding-up of the cell body. During oscillatory bending, the maximum velocity of sliding was 0.4 m/s and the maximum displacement distance between adjacent strips 2.3 m about their mean position. WhenE. fusca exhibited rounding-up of the cell body, particle displacement again occurred and the angle of the pellicular strips to the long axis of the cell body increased because of pellicular sliding. As a result the distance between the cell's anterior and posterior tips was reduced. There was no change in distance either between rows of particles or between particles within the same row. The findings are incompatible with theories of euglenoid movement requiring local contraction of pellicular strips and point to the likely existence of active sliding between adjacent strips.     

Characterization of the three major polymorphic forms and liquid state of tristearin by Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy was used to distinguish the differences in the molecular organization of the α, β′ and β polymorphs, as well as the liquid state, of tristearin with focus placed on the CO, CH and CC Raman-active stretching regions. The ester carbonyl stretching region permitted polymorphic discrimination due to significant differences in the number of modes, their relative frequencies and their full-widths at half-maximum. In the liquid state, the absence of obvious signatures in this region indicated that many local micro-environments likely exist about the ester carbonyl of molten tristearin. The ratio between the symmetrical and asymmetrical CH stretching modes was linearly correlated with the enthalpy of fusion for each polymorph. The CC stretching modes, which provided insight into the trans/gauche content, were polymorph independent, but changed significantly upon transition into the liquid state (p < 0.05). Overall, Raman spectroscopy allowed for the quick discrimination of tristearin polymorphs from a conformational and thermodynamic perspective.     

Natural electrical RF oscillation from cells

Electrical oscillatory rf phenomena are present during the division of cells. These were examined by studying the attraction of cells for polarizable powders. They are understood to occur by a process termed microdielectrophoresis (-DEP), the motion induced by a nonuniform electric field acting on a polarizable body. The suggestion that an electrical oscillatory aspect may also be involved in the contact or density inhibition of cell division and the mechanisms that may cause invasiveness of oncogenic cells are theoretically explored (i.e., changes in either the power level or the frequency of the oscillatory phenomena associated with cell division, or in the degree of electrical insulation of the cell from electrical damping by nearby cells). A number of experiments to test this hypothesis are suggested.     

A new Cu(4,5-diazafluoren-9-one)-capped Keggin derivative: Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal characterization

A new α-Keggin POM derivative (1) (DF = 4,5-diazafluoren-9-one) has been prepared under hydrothermal conditions and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, elemental analysis, IR, XPS spectra, thermogravimetric analysis and cyclic voltammetry. In compound 1, the polyoxoanion cluster is decorated by a single capping {Cu(DF)}²⁺ subunit via four bridging oxygen atoms on a {Mo₄O₄} pit. The isolated copper dimer unit acts as counter cation, in which the organic ligand DF exhibits a rare coordination mode. Furthermore, the capped Keggin polyoxoanions are fused together via the copper dimers through the weak Cu ? O interactions to form chains. Hybrid 1 was used as a solid bulk modifier to fabricate a carbon paste electrode (1-CPE) by direct mixing. The electrochemical and electrocatalytic behaviors of the 1-CPE have been studied in detail.     

Imported Dengue Cases,Weather Variation and Autochthonous Dengue Incidence in Cairns,Australia

Background

Dengue fever (DF) outbreaks often arise from imported DF cases in Cairns, Australia. Few studies have incorporated imported DF cases in the estimation of the relationship between weather variability and incidence of autochthonous DF. The study aimed to examine the impact of weather variability on autochthonous DF infection after accounting for imported DF cases and then to explore the possibility of developing an empirical forecast system.

Methodology/principal finds

Data on weather variables, notified DF cases (including those acquired locally and overseas), and population size in Cairns were supplied by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, Queensland Health, and Australian Bureau of Statistics. A time-series negative-binomial hurdle model was used to assess the effects of imported DF cases and weather variability on autochthonous DF incidence. Our results showed that monthly autochthonous DF incidences were significantly associated with monthly imported DF cases (Relative Risk (RR):1.52; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01–2.28), monthly minimum temperature (^oC) (RR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.77–2.93), monthly relative humidity (%) (RR: 1.21; 95% CI: 1.06–1.37), monthly rainfall (mm) (RR: 0.50; 95% CI: 0.31–0.81) and monthly standard deviation of daily relative humidity (%) (RR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.08–1.50). In the zero hurdle component, the occurrence of monthly autochthonous DF cases was significantly associated with monthly minimum temperature (Odds Ratio (OR): 1.64; 95% CI: 1.01–2.67).

Conclusions/significance

Our research suggested that incidences of monthly autochthonous DF were strongly positively associated with monthly imported DF cases, local minimum temperature and inter-month relative humidity variability in Cairns. Moreover, DF outbreak in Cairns was driven by imported DF cases only under favourable seasons and weather conditions in the study.     

Dominance of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhizopogon</Emphasis> sister species corresponds to forest age structure

Rhizopogon vesiculosus and Rhizopogon vinicolor are sister species of ectomycorrhizal fungi that associate exclusively with Douglas-fir (DF). They form tuberculate mycorrhizas and they can be easily distinguished using molecular tools. We are not aware of studies relating their relative abundance in forests with different age classes. Our objective was to determine whether a change in the number or relative abundance of R. vesiculosus and R. vinicolor tubercules and genotypes was related to a change in the percent of DF in a regenerating phase (<50 years old). R. vesiculosus and R. vinicolor were located by excavating tuberculate mycorrhizas from the forest floor. A DNA Alu1 digest was used to distinguish between the two species. Microsatellite markers were used to identify genotypes. The number of R. vesiculosus tubercules correlated positively with an increasing proportion of DF in a regenerating phase, while the number of R. vinicolor tubercules was similar across all forest age structures. The number of R. vesiculosus genotypes did not correlate with forest age structure, whereas the number of R. vinicolor genotypes showed a negative relationship with an increasing proportion of DF in a regenerating phase. When the numbers of R. vesiculosus tubercules and genotypes were expressed as a relative abundance of the two species, there was a positive correlation with an increasing proportion of DF in a regenerating phase for both genotypes and tubercules. Our results suggest that the degree of DF regeneration or ecosystem factors related to DF regeneration affect the population dynamics of R. vesiculosus and R. vinicolor differently.     

A bacteriocinogenic factor of Enterobacter cloacae

Summary Enterobacter cloacae strain DF13 produces a bacteriocin which is able to kill other strains of Enterobacter and Klebsiella. This property can be transmitted to Enterobacter cloacae strain O 2 (up to 90% of the acceptor population became bacteriocinogenic), to E. coli K12F^- and E. coli K 12 Hfr. Transfer of chromosome material was never observed, suggesting that the production of the bacteriocin is determined by a plasmid. However all attempts to eliminate this plasmid failed. The plasmid F trp cys Col B Col V could be transferred from E. coli into Ent. cloacae DF13 and subsequently it could be eliminated by acridine orange treatment. Ent. cloacae DF13 harbours in addition two independently transferable R-factors, one determining resistance against streptomycin and sulfanilamide and the other resistance against penicillin.Most but not all Ent. cloacae O2 recombinants which have received only the bacteriocinogenic factor upon conjugation with Ent. cloacae DF 13, can transfer this property to Ent. cloacae O2 but not to E. coli. E. coli F^- recombinants, which have received only the bacteriocinogenic factor cannot transfer this property. The results suggest that the bacteriocinogenic factor cannot mediate its own transfer, but can be transferred when another transmissible plasmid is present. This may be the R(str sul) factor, the F-factor in E. coli Hfr or a transfer factor () in Ent. cloacae O2.Closed circular DNA molecules were selectively isolated from these strains and investigated by electron microscopy and velocity sedimentation. Ent. cloacae DF13 harbours small closed circular DNA molecules ranging from 0.5 to 3.2 in contour length, 98% of which corresponds to a size class of 0.7±0.1 . Ent. cloacae O2 also harbours closed circular DNA ranging from 0.8 to 3.0 in contour length, with major size classes of 0.9 and 1.4 respectively. Circular DNA of a contour length of 3.0±0.2 (S_20,w=26 S) corresponding to a molecular weight of 6.0×10⁶ daltons was transferred to E. coli and Ent. cloacae O 2 concomitantly with the ability to produce the bacteriocin. A significant difference was observed in the number of copies of the plasmid between Ent. cloacae and E. coli.     

The Effect of Natural Multidecadal Ocean Temperature Oscillations on Contiguous U.S. Regional Temperatures

Atmospheric temperature time series for the nine climate regions of the contiguous U.S. are accurately reproduced by the superposition of oscillatory modes, representing the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation (AMO) and the Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO), on a monotonic mode representing, at least in part, the effect of radiant forcing due to increasing atmospheric CO₂. The relative importance of the different modes varies among the nine climate regions, grouping them into three mega-regions: Southeastern comprising the South, Southeast and Ohio Valley; Central comprising the Southwest, Upper Midwest, and Northeast; and Northwestern comprising the West, Northwest, and Northern Rockies & Plains. The defining characteristics of the mega-regions are: Southeastern – dominated by the AMO, no PDO influence; Central – influenced by the AMO, no PDO influence, Northwestern – influenced by both the AMO and PDO. Temperature vs. time curves calculated by combining the separate monotonic and oscillatory modes agree well with the measured temperature time series, indicating that the 1938-1974 small decrease in contiguous U.S. temperature was caused by the superposition of the downward-trending oscillatory mode on the upward-trending monotonic mode while the 1980-2000 large increase in temperature was caused by the superposition of the upward-trending oscillatory mode on the upward-trending monotonic mode. The oscillatory mode, mostly representing the AMO, was responsible for about 72% of the entire contiguous U.S. temperature increase over that time span with the contribution varying from 86 to 42% for individual climate regions.     

Dynamic Flight Stability of a Model Hoverfly in Inclined-Stroke-Plane Hovering

Most hovering insects flap their wings in a horizontal plane,called ‘normal hovering'.But some of the best hoverers,e.g.true hoverflies,hover with an inclined stroke plane.In the present paper,the longitudinal dynamic flight stability of a model hoverfly in inclined-stroke-plane hovering was studied.Computational fluid dynamics was used to compute the aerodynamic derivatives and the eigenvalue and eigenvector analysis was used to solve the equations of motion.The primary findings are as follows.(1) For inclined-stroke-plane hovering,the same three natural modes of motion as those for normal hovering were identified:one unstable oscillatory mode,one stable fast subsidence mode,and one stable slow subsidence mode.The unstable oscillatory mode and the fast subsidence mode mainly have horizontal translation and pitch rotation,and the slow subsidence mode mainly has vertical translation.(2) Because of the existence of the unstable oscillatory mode,inclined-stroke-plane hovering flight is not stable.(3) Although there are large differences in stroke plane and body orientations between the inclined-stroke-plane hovering and normal hovering,the relative position between the mean center of pressure and center of mass for these two cases is not very different,resulting in similar stability derivatives,hence similar dynamic stability properties for these two types of hovering.