Changes in Rabbit Brain Cytosolic and Membrane-Bound Gangliosides During Prenatal Life

The present study deals with the developmental profile of cytosolic and membrane-bound gangliosides in rabbit whole brain from the 21st day of pregnancy, the time at which brain could be macroscopically recognized and handled, till birth. In this period of prenatal life the content of membrane-bound gangliosides showed a 2.5-fold increase, referred to fresh and dry brain weight and to membrane-bound protein; the content of cytosolic gangliosides reached a maximum at 21-22 days of pregnancy, and then underwent to birth a threefold diminution. The qualitative pattern of membrane-bound gangliosides, in the same period of life, was characterized by an increase of G_D1a and G_M1 (more marked for G_D1a), a decrease of G_T1a, G_T1b and G_Q1b and a constant level of G_D3 and G_D1b. At 21 days of pregnancy the most abundant gangliosides were G_T1b, and G_Q1b, followed by G_D1a and G_D1b; at birth it was G_D1a followed by G_T1b G_D1b, and G_M1 The qualitative pattern of cytosolic gangliosides closely resembled, during the entire period of prenatal life examined, that of membrane-bound gangliosides.     

Changes in the Carotenoid Pattern During the Synchronous Life Cycle of Scenedesmus

The wild type (WT) of Scenedesmus obliquus and a mutant lacking chlorophyll b and the light-harvesting complexes (WT-LHC₁) were synchronized by a light-dark regime. Both cultures contained the same type of carotenoids. However, concentrations and patterns of carotenoids were different during their synchronous life cycles. The concentration of total carotenoids followed more or less that of chlorophyll. The WT contained more carotenoids per cell mass, but slightly less per chlorophyll. It is discussed that part of the carotenoids of the mutant, lacking the peripheral antenna of PSII, might be located in the chlorophyll b-less apoprotein or in an enlarged core antenna of PSII. During the life cycle of Scenedesmus the carotenes are initially synthesized and most of the α-carotene is immediately oxidized to lutein which is inserted in the antennae systems of PSII and PSI. The further oxidation of lutein to loroxanthin seems to depend on both the change from dark to light, and on stages of the life cycle itself. Although the major part of β-carotene appears to be inserted in the reaction centers, a fraction of the total pool is rapidly converted to violaxanthin, following the onset of illumination. The conversion may serve to protect against photooxidation. Further conversion of violaxanthin to neoxanthin occurs to a greater extent in the mutant, WT-LHC₁. The results demonstrate (1) the close connection between the carotenoid pattern and the modulation of the photosynthetic apparatus during the life cycle of Scenedesmus and (2) the flexibility of the organism in compensating for the absence of the light-harvesting complexes of photosystems II by adjusting the carotenoid distribution.     

假苍耳的生活史进程中几种生理生化指标的变化

本文试图从生理生化的角度对假苍耳(Iva xanthifolia)生活史进程中可溶性糖类、赤霉素、单宁以及黄酮的变化进行探讨。通过对假苍耳在生长发育期间几种生理生化指标的测定, 结果表明, 在假苍耳生活史进程的不同阶段, 其体内各种代谢产物的含量基本都在种子或芽阶段具有最高含量。此外, 不同发育阶段可溶性还原糖含量的变化规律相似: 芽>花序>苗>成株>种子。除在花序和苗阶段没有测到海藻糖, 其他各阶段海藻糖的含量变化如下: 芽>成株>种子。另外, 只有在种子阶段检测到棉子糖, 其含量为15.43 mg.g-1。赤霉素含量的变化规律如下: 种子＞芽≈苗≈花序＞成株。单宁含量的变化趋势: 种子＞成株＞苗＞芽＞花序。黄酮含量的变化趋势: 种子＞芽＞成株≈花序＞苗。值得注意的是, 当单宁/黄酮的比值接近1时, 植物体内需要的单宁和黄酮的含量则相对较低; 相反, 当单宁/黄酮的比值接近0时, 植物体内需要的单宁和黄酮的含量则较高。     

假苍耳的生活史进程中几种生理生化指标的变化

本文试图从生理生化的角度对假苍耳(Iva xanthifolia)生活史进程中可溶性糖类、赤霉素、单宁以及黄酮的变化进行探讨。通过对假苍耳在生长发育期间几种生理生化指标的测定,结果表明,在假苍耳生活史进程的不同阶段,其体内各种代谢产物的含量基本都在种子或芽阶段具有最高含量。此外,不同发育阶段可溶性还原糖含量的变化规律相似：芽＞花序＞苗＞成株＞种子。除在花序和苗阶段没有测到海藻糖,其他各阶段海藻糖的含量变化如下：芽＞成株＞种子。另外,只有在种子阶段检测到棉子糖,其含量为15.43 mg·g~(-1)。赤霉素含量的变化规律如下：种子＞芽≈苗≈花序＞成株。单宁含量的变化趋势：种子＞成株＞苗＞芽＞花序。黄酮含量的变化趋势：种子＞芽＞成株≈花序＞苗。值得注意的是,当单宁/黄酮的比值接近1时,植物体内需要的单宁和黄酮的含量则相对较低;相反,当单宁/黄酮的比值接近0时,植物体内需要的单宁和黄酮的含量则较高。     

Ultrastructural Changes of the Mitochondrion During the Life Cycle of Trypanosoma brucei

The mitochondrion is crucial for ATP generation by oxidative phosphorylation, among other processes. Cristae are invaginations of the mitochondrial inner membrane that house nearly all the macromolecular complexes that perform oxidative phosphorylation. The unicellular parasite Trypanosoma brucei undergoes during its life cycle extensive remodeling of its single mitochondrion, which reflects major changes in its energy metabolism. While the bloodstream form (BSF) generates ATP exclusively by substrate-level phosphorylation and has a morphologically highly reduced mitochondrion, the insect-dwelling procyclic form (PCF) performs oxidative phosphorylation and has an expanded and reticulated organelle. Here, we have performed high-resolution 3D reconstruction of BSF and PCF mitochondria, with a particular focus on their cristae. By measuring the volumes and surface areas of these structures in complete or nearly complete cells, we have found that mitochondrial cristae are more prominent in BSF than previously thought and their biogenesis seems to be maintained during the cell cycle. Furthermore, PCF cristae exhibit a surprising range of volumes in situ, implying that each crista is acting as an independent bioenergetic unit. Cristae appear to be particularly enriched in the region of the organelle between the nucleus and kinetoplast, the mitochondrial genome, suggesting this part has distinctive properties.     

枸杞体细胞胚发生中DNA代谢动态的立体计量

本文以宁夏枸杞无菌苗叶片为材料,离体培养,并诱导体细胞胚胎发生。根据细胞形态计量学原理,应用数学图像处理软件计量由光学底片经Ａ／Ｄ转换成的数学图像中的ＤＮＡ大分子,对枸杞体细胞胚发生过程中ＤＮＡ分子的代谢动态进行量化分析。结果表明：在整个体细胞胚发和过程中ＤＮＡ代谢呈现动态变化。非胚性细胞与胚性细胞期的量化值分别为１．８２％和１．９１％;在二细胞胚、四细胞胚、多细胞胚时期ＤＮＡ缓慢增长,随着胚性愈     

枸杞体细胞胚发生中DNA代谢动态的立体计量

本文以宁夏枸杞无菌苗叶片为材料,离体培养,并诱导体细胞胚胎发生。根据细胞形态计量学原理,应用数字图像处理软件计量由光学底片经A/D转换成的数字图像中的DNA大分子,对枸杞体细胞胚发生过程中DNA分子的代谢动态进行量化分析。结果表明：在整个体细胞胚发生过程中DNA代谢呈现动态变化。非胚性细胞与胚性细胞期的量化值分别为1.82%和1.91%;在二细胞胚、四细胞胚、多细胞胚时期DNA缓慢增长,随着胚性愈伤组织的发育,DNA的含量在梨形胚时期达到高峰;成熟胚的DNA含量虽有所下降,但仍维持较高水平。因此DNA的合成动态变化与体胚生长发育和细胞增殖密切相关。     

Incorporating Estimates of Group Size in Sightability Models for Wildlife

ABSTRACT Sightability models have been used to estimate population size of many wildlife species; however, a limitation of these models is an assumption that groups of animals observed and counted during aerial surveys are enumerated completely. Replacing these unknown counts with maximum observed counts, as is typically done, produces population size estimates that are negatively biased. This bias can be substantial depending on the degree of undercounting occurring. We first investigated a method-of-moments estimator of group sizes. We then defined a population size estimator using the method-of-moments estimator of group sizes in place of maximum counts in the traditional sightability models, thereby correcting for bias associated with undercounting group size. We also provide associated equations for calculating the variance of our estimator. This estimator is an improvement over existing sightability model techniques because it significantly reduces bias, and variance estimates provide near nominal confidence interval coverage. The data needed for this estimator can be easily collected and implemented by wildlife managers with a field crew of only 3 individuals and little additional flight or personnel time beyond the normal requirements for developing sightability models.     

Quantitative Determination of Changes in the Number and Size of Chloroplasts in Naturally Senescing Leaves of Rice Seedlings

Changes in the number and size of chloroplasts in senescingleaves of rice seedlings were determined. The method employedinvolves electron microscopic examination of large numbers ofcells and chloroplasts in the mesophyll of leaves at differentstages of senescence with the aid of a microcomputer. Analysisshowed that, once leaves had been fully expanded, the numberand size of the mesophyll cells remained unaltered throughoutthe course of senescence. By contrast, the quantity of chloroplastspresent in leaves decreased with advancing senescence. Whencompared with the newly expanded 6th leaves, the chloroplastnumber per unit area of mesophyll section was reduced by 40%and the mean cross section area of chloroplasts by 23% in theoldest leaves (3rd leaves) of seedlings. Chloroplasts occupied33% of the mesophyll section area in the 6th leaves and thepercentage decreased slightly in the 5th leaves and markedlyin lower leaves to reach 17% in the 3rd leaves. The rate ofoxygen evolution decreased approximately in parallel to thedecline in the chloroplast content. Thus, sequential decreasein the amount of chloroplasts is a main cause of loss of photosynthesisduring foliar senescence of rice seedlings. (Received May 31, 1989; Accepted October 17, 1989)     

Size Estimates in Ebbinghaus Illusion in Adults and Children of Different Age

Psychophysical experiments were performed with the participation of 297 subjects (adults and 6- to 17-year-old children and adolescents). Perception of the size of a central stimulus surrounded by other stimuli was studied. Subjects had to estimate the size of a circle with a diameter of 22 angular min, which was surrounded by four similar figures with a diameter of either 11 or 44 angular min at a distance of either 11 or 33 angular min. The misperception of the stimulus size was dependent on the subject's age, the distance between the circles, and the size of the flanking circles. The smaller flanking circles located at any distance produced size underestimation in younger children; these circles led to size overestimation in case of their location at a short distance in most adults and adolescents. The larger flanking circles produced underestimation in all age groups, but, in adults, unlike children, this illusion decreased with increasing distance. The illusion mechanism and its possible connection with selective attention are discussed.     

Further Studies on the Changes of Chicken Brain Gangliosides During Prenatal and Postnatal Life

The developmental profiles of the gangliosides and those of the fatty acids and long-chain bases of the total ganglioside mixture of the brain of chicken were followed from the 10th day of incubation to the 63rd posthatching day. One O-acetylated polysialoganglioside that seems specific of the earlier embryonic stage and up to 21 alkali-stable components could be recognized by high-resolution two-dimensional TLC procedures and quantified by computer-assisted two-dimensional TLC densitometry. Besides a number of gangliosides identified by co-chromatography with reference standards, 10 were of unidentified structure, and within these 4 did not belong to the gangliotetrahexosyl series. Throughout embryonic life, the ceramide portion of gangliosides was found to contain the long-chain base species with 18 carbons. Those with 20 carbons, approximately 10% of the total, were found to be present only after hatching.     

串番茄果实货架期间与耐贮性有关的生理特性的变化

串番茄品种随着货架期延长,果实硬度、果肉硬度、原果胶含量逐渐下降;可溶性果胶含量逐渐上升;多聚半乳糖醛酸酶(PG)活性呈峰值变化,变化幅度小于普通番茄.     

Changes in Esophageal Gland Activity During the Life Cycle of Nacobbus aberrans (Nemata: Pratylenchidae)

Electron and light microscopy were used to study the dorsal gland (DG) and the two subventral glands (SvG) of seven developmental phases of Nacobbus aberrans: pre-parasitic second-stage juveniles (J2), parasitic J2, third- (J3) and fourth- (J4) stages, migratory females, young sedentary females, and mature sedentary females. In each developmental phase the level of esophageal gland activity, was estimated by the abundance of organelles associated with secretory pathways, including endoplasmic reticulum, ribosomes, Golgi, multivesicular bodies, and secretory granules. All esophageal glands were metabolically active in all J2 examined, although only in parasitic J2 were there numerous secretory granules in the esophageal gland extensions and ampullae. No evidence of secretory activity was observed in the esophageal glands of the coiled and relatively inactive J3 and J4, nor in migratory females; these stages apparently do not feed. Observations suggest that reserves stored by J2 sustain three ecdyses and the migratory female''s search for a feeding site and induction of a syncytium. Feeding activity is resumed in young and mature sedentary females, in which the DG is highly active and enlarged. The SvG are metabolically active, but with little synthesis of secretory granules, suggesting that in sedentary females the SvG may have physiological roles other than digestion.     

猪产仔数性状基因效应与有效基因数的研究

利用太湖猪（Ｐ１）、长白猪（Ｐ２）、杂交一代（Ｆ１）、杂交二代（Ｆ２）、杂交三代（Ｆ３）;和回交一代（Ｂ２）等６个世代产仔数的材料,分析了猪产仔性状的基因效应和基因数。结果表明上位效应不显著,猪产仔数性状符合加性－显性遗传模式,受一个有效基因控制。太湖猪产仔数性状基因加性值比长白猪高１．３９头,太湖猪高产仔数基因对长白猪等位基因呈显性,显性度为０．８１。     

Absolute Risk and Loss-of-Lifetime Estimates for Quantitative Risk Assessment

Quantitative risk assessments in public health settings intend to describe the hazard of a specific exposure in a given population on the basis of epidemiological and/or experimental results. Two different risk quantities, the absolute lifetime excess risk and the loss-of-lifetime, which differ in their definition of hazard, are discussed and compared. For both measures estimation procedures are derived and the relationship between the various estimates which are currently in use are investigated. It is shown that the two most common estimators can be written as special cases of a more general concept. This leads to conclusions about the assumptions on which different estimation procedures are implicitly based. For all discussed estimators variance estimates are derived. The analytical results for both risk parameters will be elucidated by an example on lung cancer risk due to residential radon in Germany.