Variation in the number of presacral vertebrae in bantu-speaking South African Negroes

Variation in number of presacral vertebrae (PSV) was examined in 462 vertebral columns in four populations drawn from tribal groups of Southern African Negroes. The total incidence of numerical variants (23 PSV and 25 PSV) was 19% in males and 12.1% in females. Males have a higher frequency of 25 PSV and females a higher frequency of 23 PSV, a sex difference reported by previous workers. Significant differences in the incidence of 25 PSV in males were present between S.A. Negroes, American Negroes and other racial groups. The total number of variants (23 PSV and 25 PSV) is significantly higher in S.A. Negro males (and higher but not significantly in females) than in the other groups; owing mainly to the findings in the Nguni-speaking sub-samples of the S.A. Negro. These findings support a previous suggestion based on combined-sex data that the frequency of numerical variations of PSV are characteristic of a population. It is suggested here that such frequencies are even more characteristic when males and females are considered separately.     

Ontological (in)Security and African Pentecostalism in Ireland

The last number of years has seen the mushrooming of African Pentecostal churches, especially Prosperity Gospel churches, in the post-recession industrial landscapes of Ireland. This article aims to explore the growth of African Pentecostalism in Ireland from both the perspective of embodied and affective religious experience and the conditions for the possibility of those religious experiences. This article is based on several years of ethnographic research among African Pentecostals in Ireland. It attends especially to the sensorious forms of worship and the Jesus walks that Pentecostals organise to transform the Irish symbolic landscape. Drawing on recent anthropological theory, the article draws out the contradictions, doubts, boundaries and limitations perceived and lived in totalising Pentecostal discourses and practices. Here, we develop the concept of ontological (in)security in order to theorise these doubts and limitations as well as the power of contemporary Pentecostalism in late modernity.     

Middle Triassic carbonate deposits and calcareous algae from the Sasca zone (Southern Carpathians,Romania)

Summary The Sasca zone situated in the innermost part of the Getic Domain from the South Carpathians comprises mainly Triassic deposits of Scythian-Anisian (?Ladinian) age that can be ascribed to four different members forming the Sasca Formation. Three of the members consist of carbonate deposits. Their study permitted a brief characterization of the main microfacies types, and especially in the Valea Susara Limestone Member the identification of a relatively rich association of foraminifers and calcareous algae. The assemblage withMeandrospira dinarica, Pilammina densa, Oligoporella pilosa andPoncetella hexaster identified in these limestones indicates a Middle Anisian age (Pelsonian-Lowermost Illyrian). Difficulties arise in differentiating between the forms belonging to theOligoporella-Physoporella group for which a taxonomic revision is necessary. The morphologic characteristics of the three varieties ofDiplopora subtilis allow a splitting into different species.Teutloporella peniculiformis Ott, 1963 is regarded as anomen nudum.     

Temporal and Spatial Patterns of Epibenthic Macroinvertebrates (EMI) from the San Pedro Shelf,California: Ten-Year Study

Temporal and spatial changes of epibenthic macroinvertebrates (EMI) were described from a ten-year (1985–1995) trawl study on the San Pedro Shelf, California. Community measures including number of species, individuals, biomass, dominance (DI), evenness (J'), and diversity (H' and SR) per trawl were computed for eight trawl stations representing four isobaths. Two reference stations and a test station (located at an ocean outfall) were featured in statistical analyses examining whether the outfall had any effect on EMI. During the ten-year period 127,389 individuals provided 106 EMI taxa. Water depth was the most important factor affecting EMI composition. Although some statistically significant differences in EMI community measures among trawl stations were found. differences between the outfall and both reference stations were either insignificant or inconsistent, providing no obvious ecological impacts attributable to the outfall.     

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-immunoreactive neuronal structures in the brain and pituitary of the African catfish,Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Summary The distribution of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) immunoreactivity was studied in the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, by means of immunofluorescence and immunoperoxidase techniques. Immunoreactive neurons were found throughout the preoptic nucleus (NPO). However, only a portion of the secretory perikarya in the NPO showed a positive reaction by use of an anti-LHRH serum. Numerous immunoreactive fibres were found to enter the pituitary and to terminate in its proximal pars distalis, the site of concentration of the gonadotropic cells. Since GnRH is present in the brain and pituitary of the African catfish, the lack of spontaneous ovulation in captivity is apparently due to an insufficient release of GnRH.     

Note on Sestrosphaera liasina (Pia, 1920) from the Lowermost Jurassic of Malga Mandrielle (type-locality, Southern Alps - Italy)

New paleontological data on Sestrosphaera liasina (Pia) based on material collected in the type-locality, Malga Mandrielle (Italian Southern Alps) are supplied. All the features of the alga are reexamined; the occurrence in the stalk region of an unusual primary lateral inner swelling is confirmed. The structure formed by the inner enlarged portion of the laterals is here indicated as inner pseudocortex. A new diagnosis of S. liasina is proposed and a lectotype is chosen from Pia's material. Finally, a paleontological reconstruction is supplied taking into account all the main biometrical values.     

Dasycladalean green algae from the Upper Triassic of Mt. Rotonda (Verbicaro Unit, Calabria-Lucania Border, Southern Italy)

Summary A rich and diverse dasycladalean algae association is described from the Upper Triassic succession of Mt. Rotonda (Calabria-Lucania border, Southern Italy). This association consists of:Neoteutloporella rajkae n.sp.,Griphoporella bechst?dti n.sp.,Physoporella zamparelliae n.sp.,Spinaporella andalusica Flügel & Flügel-Kahler, 1984,S.? granadaensis Flügel & Flügel-Kahler, 1984,Chinianella? sp.,Gyroporella sp.,Griphoporella? sp. andPhysoporella aff.leptotheca. Neoteutloporella rajkae n.sp. is characterised by an undulated calcareous skeleton with short acrophore primary laterals bearing a tuft of 4–6 elongate, segmented, trichophore secondary laterals. This species allows to extend back to the Upper Triassic the stratigraphic range of the genusNeoteutloporella, previously known only from Upper Jurassic levels. Griphoporella bechst?dti n.sp. has a cylindrical calcareous skeleton and primary laterals only, consisting of a thin proximal part followed by a swollen portion that pinches out distally and finally opens outward with a cup-like swelling. Physoporella zamparelliae n.sp. is characterised by a calcareous skeleton made by partly welded thin individual sheaths enclosing the laterals. The laterals are piriferous, vertically compressed, roughly triangular both in vertical and in verticillar section. In some specimens they end with a spine-like thin apophysis. This species confirms that the typical Middle Triassic genusPhysoporella survived up into the Norian. The dasycladalean algal association of the Norian of Mt. Rotonda shows some similarities with the algal association found in the Upper Triassic of the Betic Cordillera whereas it is markedly different from the rich association occurring in the Upper Triassic of Sicily and of the Northern Calcareous Alps. This pattern is coupled with a different composition of the platform margin communities: microbial/serpulids bioconstructions in the Upper Triassic of the Calabria-Lucania border and of Alpujarridevs. Dachstein-type reefs in Sicily and the Northern Calcareous Alps. This indicates that the palaeoceanographic and palaeogeographic conditions controlled both the development of the different platform margin and of the different algal assemblages.     

向下转膜法在乙肝病毒Southern杂交中的应用

目的评价向下转膜法在乙肝病毒(HBV)Southern杂交中的应用效果。方法用带有1.3倍HBV基因的真核表达载体转染HepG2细胞,使其产生瞬时HBV表达,72小时收集细胞并提取细胞总DNA,琼脂糖凝胶电泳后,以向上和向下两种方式转移在尼龙膜上;用化学发光标记和检测试剂盒将乙肝病毒基因片段标记成探针,再与向上和向下转膜后的尼龙膜进行杂交,判断产生明显HBV杂交条带所需的细胞总DNA量,从而验证向下转膜法在乙肝病毒Southern杂交中的应用效果。结果发现向下转膜后,检测HBV表达所需的细胞总DNA量极少,灵敏度高,0.5μg细胞总DNA电泳后转膜,即可检测出HBVDNA的表达,凝胶中仅有8%的DNA残留;而向上转膜所需的总DNA量大,灵敏度低,25μg的细胞总DNA电泳后转膜,仅能检测出弱的条带。结论向下转膜法是一种较好的转膜方式,适于对乙肝病毒的Southern杂交,值得推广应用。     

The effects of aromatizable androgens,non-aromatizable androgens,and estrogens on gonadotropin release in castrated African catfish,Clarias gariepinus (Burchell)

Summary To study the feedback mechanism of gonadal hormones on GTH secretion in male African catfish, the effects of castration and steroid replacement on GTH release, pituitary GTH content, and ultrastructural appearance of gonadotropes were investigated.Castration resulted in an increase in plasma GTH levels, a decrease in pituitary GTH content, and a degranulation of many gonadotropes. The aromatizable androgens testosterone and androstenedione were able to abolish the castration-induced increase in plasma GTH. This was accompanied with a restoration of pituitary GTH content and a regranulation of gonadotropes. The non-aromatizable androgens 5-dihydrotestosterone and 11-hydroxyandros tenedione did not have these effects. Replacement with estrone or estradiol resulted in an increase in pituitary GTH, however, without abolishing the elevated plasma GTH levels; ultrastructurally, many gonadotropes showed a welldeveloped granular endoplasmic reticulum together with a regranulation.The results of the present study indicate the significance of androgen aromatization in the feedback mechanism of gonadal steroids on the brain-pituitary axis.     

Autotrophic energy sources for Paracheirodon axelrodi (Osteichthyes, Characidae) in the middle Negro River, Central Amazon, Brazil

The cardinal tetra (Paracheirodon axelrodi) is the most abundant species of the Brazilian ornamental fish trade, constituting more than 80% of the ornamental fish collected in the middle Negro River basin. Stable isotope analyses were used to identify the autotrophic carbon sources and trophic position for the cardinal in relation to the plant groups at the base of its foodchain. Filamentous algae, tree and plant leaves and cardinals were collected in stream habitats, flooded forest and interfluvial swamps (campos) during peak flood, falling water and low water periods. δ¹⁵N values of the cardinal in relation to the plants at the base of the food chain indicated a trophic position of omnivore. Values of δ¹³C for the plants ranged from −43.1 to −26.4‰, with averages of −37.6, −30.4, and −29.4‰ for filamentous algae, flooded forest leaves, and campo leaves, respectively. The δ¹³C values for the cardinal ranged from −35.0 to −27.9‰, with an average of −31.4‰. Relative contributions of plants to fish carbon were estimated in a two end-member mixing model which determined that the leaves (flooded forest and campo leaves combined) and filamentous algae had average relative contributions to cardinal carbon of 71% and 29%, respectively. However, seasonal variation in the relative contributions was encountered throughout the hydrological cycle. The cardinals least enriched in ¹³C were encountered in November during the falling water period, indicating that they had perhaps recently migrated down from interfluvial campos where filamentous algae production is significant. Considering that algal production has been reported to be less than 1% of total primary production in the Negro River, these results could suggest some evidence of selective herbivory in the cardinal’s food chain. Handling editor: J. M. Melack     

Anthropogenic impact of mercury accumulation in fish from the Rio Madeira and Rio Negro rivers (Amazonia)

Fish is an important concentrator of mono-methyl mercury and the main route to human contamination. We compared fish Hg bioaccumulation (within similar weight ranges) in two Amazonian river habitats during high-water seasons. The Rio Madeira has been greatly impacted by agriculture, alluvial gold extraction, and a hydroelectric reservoir, whereas the Rio Negro is much less affected by these human activities. The species at the top of the food web, Hoplias malabaricus (piscivorous; 80-668 ng Hg/g) and Cichla spp. (piscivorous; 42–747 ng Hg/g) showed the highest range of Hg concentrations. Nonpiscivorous species with comparable weight range, such as Potamorhina latior (detritivorous; 20–157 ng Hg/g) and Myleus torquatus (herbivorous; 2–182 ng Hg/g), had lower Hg concentrations. Triportheus elongatus (omnivorous; 5–350 ng Hg/g), with the lowest weight range, also showed a low range of Hg concentrations. Despite the Rio Madeira's higher sediment load as well as environmental impacts (deforestation, agriculture, hydroelectric reservoir, and alluvial gold mining) on natural Hg release, fish Hg bioaccumulation was no different between the two river habitats for nonpiscivorous species. In this small observational study only the species at the top of the food web (M. torquatus, Cichla spp, T. elongatus) showed higher mean Hg concentrations in the Rio Madeira than the dominantly wilderness habitat of the Rio Negro.     

Stratigraphy and facies of an oligocene fringing reef (Castro Limestone,Salento Peninsula,Southern Italy)

Summary The coastline of the Salento Peninsula (Apulia region, Southern Italy) is characterized by a rocky shore with spectacular cliffs where the investigated fringing reef complex, the so called Castro Limestone, spectacularly outcrops for at least 40 km. As reconstructed from several measured sections, the Castro Limestone, which is Middle Chattian in age from our own data, disconformably mantles a tectonically deformed falaise of Cretaceous-Eocene rocks and is overlain by a remarkable erosional surface characterized by a very peculiar rhodolite rudstone. The Castro Limestone unit can be considered as a classic unconformity bounded depositional sequence representing, most probably, a shelf margin prograding complex, related to the major Middle Oligocene sea level lowstand. Stratigraphic and sedimentologic features, together with paleontological characters, allow recognition of a virtually complete range of reef environments across the reef profile. Several geomorphic zones and associated facies are described, from the most landward reef area (‘back reef’) across the reef flat and reef from downward to the fore reef slope, contributing to a better knowledge of the evolution of Oligocene reefs and reef communities in Italy and in the Mediterranean area.     

Shape variation in presacral vertebrae of saltasaurine titanosaurs (Dinosauria,Sauropoda)

Titanosaurs were small- to giant-sized sauropods, highly derived and highly pneumatic. Using morphometric analyses, we studied differences in shape of the presacral vertebral centra in some of these sauropods, especially in saltasaurines, and compared asymmetry patterns in lateral pneumatic foramina (LPF) between these titanosaurs and avian and non-avian theropods. Geometric morphometric analyses showed that the cervical centra tend to be elongated and dorsoventrally short, with an elliptical LPF located in the middle of the centrum; dorsal centra tend to be short and higher than the cervical centra, with the LPF slightly displaced to the anterior region. Shape variation can be described as a result of the ordering of the vertebrae within both the cervical and dorsal sequences, and therefore these methods can be applied to predict the position of isolated vertebrae. A persistent pattern of asymmetry among LPF was observed when length–height indexes were plotted. The right LPF are usually larger than those on the left side in the cervical vertebrae (except in Saltasaurus loricatus) but variable in the dorsal vertebrae. We propose an explanation of this asymmetry based on the asymmetric arrangement of viscera and late development of the respiratory (and air sacs) system.     

Phenotypic integration of the cervical vertebrae in the Hominoidea (Primates)

Phenotypic integration and modularity represent important factors influencing evolutionary change. The mammalian cervical vertebral column is particularly interesting in regards to integration and modularity because it is highly constrained to seven elements, despite widely variable morphology. Previous research has found a common pattern of integration among quadrupedal mammals, but integration patterns also evolve in response to locomotor selective pressures like those associated with hominin bipedalism. Here, I test patterns of covariation in the cervical vertebrae of three hominoid primates (Hylobates, Pan, Homo) who engage in upright postures and locomotion. Patterns of integration in the hominoid cervical vertebrae correspond generally to those previously found in other mammals, suggesting that integration in this region is highly conserved, even among taxa that engage in novel positional behaviors. These integration patterns reflect underlying developmental as well as functional modules. The strong integration between vertebrae suggests that the functional morphology of the cervical vertebral column should be considered as a whole, rather than in individual vertebrae. Taxa that display highly derived morphologies in the cervical vertebrae are likely exploiting these integration patterns, rather than reorganizing them. Future work on vertebrates without cervical vertebral number constraints will further clarify the evolution of integration in this region.     

Norian serpulid and microbial bioconstructions: Implication for the platform evolution in the Lombardy Basin (Southern Alps,Italy)

Summary The development of peculiar margin facies and abundant talus breccias within the Dolomia Principale inner platform is commonly observed in the Lombardy Basin during the Norian. The organisms building these margins are mainly serpulids, benthic microbes, subordinate porostomata and other encrusting forms; typical margin organisms, as sponges or corals, are extremely rare or absent. The build-ups form narrow rims along the borders of tectonic-controlled intraplatform basins. Regional back-stepping and progradation of the margin facies on the talus breccias produced by the erosion of the reef is commonly observed in the uppermost Dolomia Principale depositional system. Widespread occurrence of serpulids and microbial margins in middle-late Norian times is indicative of stressed environmental conditions—fluctuation of salinity and temperature on the inner platform and in the intraplatform basins—controlled by palaeogeographic setting. Physical characteristics allowed the bloom of forms able to develop in a wide range of environmental conditions, such as serpulids. In the Late Norian, major input of fine-grained clastics is recorded; close to the Norian-Rhaetian boundary, carbonate ramps were regionally restored. Locally, small serpulid and microbial bioconstructions still persist in the lowermost part of the shaly succession, even if they are less abundant with respect to the Dolomia Principale. Patch-reefs generally do not build a platform margin, but represent isolated mounds within shaly deposits. These build-ups occur on the edge of former structural highs; the communities survived the environmental change responsible for the siliciclastic input and locally managed to produce mounds during the deposition of the lower part of the upper depositional system (Riva di Solto Shale).     

A comparison of the structure,composition and mechanical properties of anosteocytic vertebrae of medaka (O. latipes) and osteocytic vertebrae of zebrafish (D. rerio)

Medaka (O. latipes) and zebrafish (D. rerio) are two teleost fish increasingly used as models to study human skeletal diseases. Although they are similar in size, swimming pattern and many other characteristics, these two species are very distant from an evolutionary point of view (by at least 100 million years). A prominent difference between the skeletons of medaka and zebrafish is the total absence of osteocytes in medaka (anosteocytic), while zebrafish bone contains numerous osteocytes (osteocytic). This fundamental difference suggests the possibility that the bony elements of their skeleton may be different in a variety of other aspects, structural, mechanical or both, particularly in heavily loaded bones like the vertebrae. Here we report on the results of a comparative study that aimed to determine the similarities and differences in medaka and zebrafish vertebrae in terms of their macro- to nanostructure, composition and mechanical properties. Our results reveal many similarities between medaka and zebrafish vertebrae, making the lack or presence of osteocytes the only major difference between the bones of these two species.     

Adrenal cortex and stomach lesions associated with stress in wild male African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops) in the post-capture period

The objective of this study was to look for early pathological changes in stress target organs, adrenal glands, and stomachs in captured wild African green monkeys (AGMs). Three wild-caught male AGMs and seven singly housed wild AGMs were euthanized on day 1 and day 45 post-capture, respectively, and compared with four wild males euthanized with a rifle as controls. Morphometric analyses of the adrenal cortices and the cortical zones were done using an image analyzer. By day 45, the confined animals were clinically healthy, but had lost 47% mean body weight despite ad libitum feeding. The width of zona fasciculata in the controls was significantly smaller compared with that of 45-day monkeys (P < 0.05). Numerous acidophilic, hyperplastic and hypertrophic cells were present in the zona fasciculata of the 1-day confined AGMs. In the 45-day monkeys, there was glandular hyperplasia in the zona glomerulosa and the acini were distended and vacuous; yellow, granular pigmentation was distributed in the zona fasciculata. Acute stomach lesions represented by petechiation were seen in one monkey on day 1. Deep, circular, mucosal erosions, one to five in number and measuring from 0.5 to 1 mm in diameter, were present in three monkeys on day 45 post-capture. There were no adrenal cortex or stomach lesions in the rifle-shot monkeys. In conclusion, pathological lesions in the adrenal glands, and stomachs of the wild AGMs and weight loss occurred within the initial 45-day period following capture and confinement.     

Some effects of 4-chloro-5-(dimethylamino)-2-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone (San 9785) on the development of chloroplast thylakoid membranes in Hordeum vulgare L.

Chloroplast ultrastructural and photochemical features were examined in 6-d-old barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Sundance) plants which had developed in the presence of 4-chloro-5-(dimethylamino)-2-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone (San 9785). In spite of a substantial modification of the fatty-acid composition of thylakoid lipids there were no gross abnormalities in chloroplast morphology, and normal amounts of membrane and chlorophyll were present. Fluorescence kinetics at 77K demonstrated considerable energetic interaction of photosystem (PS)I and PSII chlorophylls within the altered lipid environment. An interference with electron transport was indicated from altered room-temperature fluorescence kinetics at 20°C. Subtle changes in the arrangements of chloroplast membranes were consistently evident and the overall effects of these changes was to increase the proportion of appressed to nonappressed membranes. This correlated with a lower chlorophyll a/b ratio, an increase in the amount of light-harvesting chlorophylls as determined by gel electrophoresis and fluorescence emission spectra, and an increase in excitation-energy transfer from PSII to PSI, as predicted from current ideas on the organisation of photosystems in appressed and non-appressed thylakoid membranes.Abbreviations CP1 P700-chlorophyll a protein - F_o, F_m, F_v minimal, maximal and variable fluorescence yield - LHCP light-harvesting chlorophyll-protein complex - PSI, PSII photosystem I, II - San 9785 4-chloro-5(dimethylamino)-2-phenyl-3(2H)-pyridazinone     

The morphology of the lung of the African lungfish,Protopterus aethiopicus

Summary The lung of the African lungfish (Protopterus aethiopicus) is paired, long and cylindrical. It is situated on the dorsal aspect of the coelomic cavity ventral to the ribs. Much of the gas exchange tissue is found in the proximal aspect of the lung with the caudal part largely taken up by a centrally situated air-duct with a few large peripherally located alveoli. Interalveolar septa, arranged at differing hierarchical levels from the air-duct, subdivide the lung into alveoli, the gas exchange compartments. The alveolar surface is covered by some cells characterized by microvilli on their free surface, while others are devoid of such structures. The general organization of the lung of Protopterus aethiopicus is similar to that of the other genera of Dipnoi, Neoceratodus and Lepidosiren, with the interalveolar septa increasing the surface area for gas exchange through pulmonary compartmentation. The abundant septal smooth muscle fibres and elastic tissue may contribute to the physiomechanical compliance of the lung. The undifferentiated alveolar pneumocytes and the double capillary system, observed in Protopterus, in general appear to characterize the very primitive lungs of the lower air-breathing vertebrates.