Coral-reef sounds enable nocturnal navigation by some reef-fish larvae in some places and at some times

At Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef, catches of fish larvae by light traps that broadcast nocturnal reef sounds (noisy traps) were compared with catches by quiet traps over two 2·5 week new-moon periods in November (XI) 2000 and January (I) 2001. Three areas were sampled: near-reef (NR, 500 m from the shore) in I, middle (M, 650 m) in I and XI and offshore (O, >1000 m) in XI. The most abundant taxa captured were Apogonidae, Blenniidae, Chaetodontidae, Lethrinidae, Mullidae and Pomacentridae. Significant differences in catch were found between areas, and a position effect was found at the O and M areas. At the NR and M areas, no taxa had significantly greater catches in quiet traps, but larvae of five taxa had significantly greater catches in noisy traps. These were (areas and times of greater catches): Apogonidae (NR; M XI), Mullidae (M I & XI), Pomacentridae (NR; M I & XI), Serranidae (M I) and Sphyraenidae (NR). At the offshore area, five taxa (Apogonidae, Blenniidae, Chaetodontidae, Mullidae and Pomacentridae) had significantly greater catches in quiet traps and only Lethrinidae had significantly greater catches in noisy traps. Thus some taxa (particularly apogonids and pomacentrids which had catches up to 155% greater in noisy traps, but also lethrinids and mullids, and perhaps others), were attracted to reef sounds at night, but this apparently varied with location and time. The sound-enhanced catches imply a radius of attraction of the sound 1·02–1·6 times that of the light. More than 65 m from the speaker,the broadcast sound levels at frequencies typical of fish hearing were equivalent to background levels, providing a maximum radius of sound attraction in this experiment.     

People's concerns about biotechnology: some problems and some solutions

Pharmaceuticals and vaccines made by genetic engineering are well accepted all over the world. In contrast, there are many people, particularly in Europe, who are worried that food, made by the same new technology, may harm their health or cause damage to the environment. This is despite the growing evidence that genetically modified crops have the potential to improve world food security and the fact that there have, as yet, been no adverse results of their use in the food chain. Because of these worries and the mechanisms of politics, agricultural biotechnology has become the target of concerns about food safety (BSE, Foot & Mouth Disease), along with globalisation and the power of multinational companies. These concerns will, hopefully, be overcome by a more open and well-informed dialogue between scientists, opinion leaders, educators and the public. If judiciously applied, genetically modified crops will help increase sustainability and the fight against hunger in the world.     

Antifungal activity of some plant extracts on some pathogenic fungi

The inhibitory activity of five plant extracts viz. Artemisia absinthium L., Rumex obtusifolius L., Taraxacum officinale Weber ex Wiggers, Plantago lanceolata L. and Malva sylvestris L. were evaluated against the mycelial growth of three fungi Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissler, Penicillium expansum Link ex Thom. and Mucor piriformis Fisher that cause rot diseases in fruits and vegetables resulting in low yield and quality of fruits and vegetables. Results revealed that all the concentrations of plant extracts brought about significant inhibition in the mycelial growth of these pathogenic fungi. However, the highest concentration caused maximum inhibition in the mycelial growth followed by lower concentrations of plant extracts. The extract of A. absinthium leaves at highest concentration (S) proved highly effective in inhibiting the mycelial growth of all these pathogenic fungi followed by other plant extracts. These plants thus may have potential as the new natural fungicide for management of fungal rot diseases.     

Introductory review some new thoughts about some old malaria models

Simple models for the dynamics of endemic malaria are reviewed. A reanalysis of Ross's models explains Lotka's interpretation of them, and finds a historical context for the vectorial-capacity construction of an inoculation rate. Important epidemiological parameters are scrutinized. Inference problems are discussed concerning estimating mosquito density, recognizing the maternal-antibody effect, choosing among models for superinfection, and accounting for diagnostic error.     

叶绿体陪伴蛋白在几种藻类中的存在和分布

用豌豆叶绿体陪伴蛋白（ｃｈ－ｃｐｎ６０）的杭体对衣藻和多种蓝藻细胞提取液作Ｗｅｓｔ－ｅｒｎｂｌｏｔ分析表明：真核的衣藻和原核的有异形胞丝状蓝藻的一种鱼腥藻中存在一种与豌豆ｃｈ－ｃｐｎ６０抗体有交叉反应的蛋白,其一个亚基的分子量与豌豆该蛋白的分子量相似,而另一亚基的分子量高于豌豆的β亚基分子量。绿藻和丝状蓝藻中这一蛋白在热处理后含量增加,而经－２０℃冷处理１２ｈ后含量明显下降。在单细胞蓝藻中则检测不到这种蛋白。     

Cytoembryology of some Malaysian dipterocarps, with some evidence of apomixis

KAUR, A., JONG, K., SANDS, V. E. & SOEPADMO, E., 1986. Cytoembryology of some Malaysian dipterocarps, with some evidence of apomixis. Embryological and cytological studies on some members of the Dipterocarpaceae were undertaken. Of the dipterocarps investigated 83% were diploids. Two new polyploids were observed, namely Shorea resinosa (2 n = 3x = 21) and Hopea subalata (2 n = 3x = 21). Multiple seedlings were observed in H. subalata, Shorea agami, S. argentifolia, S. ovalis, S. pauciflora and S. resinosa. For the first time embryological studies have conclusively demonstrated reproduction by agamospermy in 5. ovalis and S. agami. Considerable evidence leads to the inference that H. subalata, S. resinosa and 5. macroptera are also agamosperms. Each of these produces multiple seedlings. Of these apomictic species three are polyploids, namely S. ovalis (2 n = 4x = 28), H. subalata (2 n = 3x = 21) and S. resinosa (2 n = 3x = 21), whereas S. agami (2 n = 14) and S. macroptera (2 n = 14) are diploids.     

A note on some old and some possible new redox indicators

Summary Starting with the frequently used dye 2,6-dichloroindophenol some of the chemical properties of the quinonimide class of dyes are described. Consideration of the effects of completing a hetero-six-membered ring, as in the azine, thiazine and oxazine classes, on the properties of the compounds is suggested as a lead towards the development of some redox indicators perhaps more desirable than the indophenols. This approach developed from a study of the Liebermann nitroso-reaction for phenols. Some properties of the redox indicators which resulted from that work are described in relation to energy transduction in the chloroplast.     

Coronary artery reactivity in human vessels: some questions and some answers

Spasm of a conduit coronary artery, converting it into a major resistance vessel impeding myocardial blood flow, may have severe short- or long-term effects on cardiac rhythm and systolic ejection of blood. It is now clear that human coronary arteries in vitro contract to acetylcholine but that relaxation is the only response observed in dog coronary vessels. Acetylcholine is as powerful a constrictor of human coronary arteries, in terms of tension induced, as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) or histamine and is a substantially more powerful constrictor than norepinephrine. Field stimulation of coronary artery strips caused a vasoconstriction that was partially antagonized by atropine (3.45 X 10(-6) M). An enhanced reactivity of the epicardial arteries of cardiac and older patients to several agonists was also observed and appears to provide a background against which a number of vasoactive agents might induce spasm. Coronary tissue from cardiac patients also contains stores of 5-HT and histamine, and the histamine levels are substantially increased above the values in vessels from noncardiac patients. Coronary artery spasm or contraction probably can be initiated by diverse intrinsic and extrinsic influences, including autonomic discharge from either the parasympathetic or sympathetic nervous system or from histamine or 5-HT, and probably no one agent or entity is causative in all cases.     

Widespread distribution of some minor chlorophyll-protein complexes in some plants and algae

The use of the non-ionic detergent octyl beta-d-glucoside has allowed the demonstration in spinach of a chlorophyll a+b-protein complex of apparent molecular weight 29 kilodaltons (Camm and Green, 1980, Plant Physiol 66: 428-432). Complexes analogous to this one also can be demonstrated in three grasses, in dicots of the Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, and Asteraceae, and in the siphonaceous green alga Acetabularia mediterranea. These complexes are clearly distinguishable from the light harvesting complex on the basis of the chlorophyll a/b ratio, apparent molecular weight, and polypeptide composition. In addition, most plants surveyed contained two, not one, minor chlorophyll a complexes as well as the chlorophyll a complex of Photosystem I.