Do nine-primaried passerines have nine or ten primary feathers? The evolution of a concept

The number of primary feathers in a birds wing has been used as a systematic character since the first half of the nineteenth century. During the years, though, the definition of which feathers to count as a primary has changed and today the species historically denoted as having only nine primaries are instead said to have, for example, nine functional primaries. In this study, I investigated the borderline between nine-primaried and ten-primaried birds to search for a proper definition of the term nine-primaried. A total of 161 specimens of 104 bird species, mainly passerines, were examined. All species examined had ten primaries although the nine-primaried species had primary ten more or less concealed under primary covert nine. The number of primary coverts has decreased over time, with ten primary coverts as the ancestral state within Passeriformes and nine primary coverts among most oscine species. In conclusion, a proper definition of nine-primaried might be with primary ten concealed by primary covert nine. This definition includes all taxa historically denoted nine-primaried, i.e. systematically it is a definition of a paraphyletic group. The term nine-primaried is thus too inclusive to be of more than very limited systemtic value and, consequently, the New World nine-primaried oscines group might gain from a new denotation.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available for this article at     

Pitiriasis versicolor por malassezia ovalis

In a randomly collected series of 175 cases of pityriasis versicolor in residents of the central-northern part of Venezuela, 13% of the patients were infected with ovoid unicellular units of the causal fungus (Malassezia ovalis) and 87% with globous unicellular units in the scales (M. furfur). Only globous unicellular units (Pityrosporum orbiculare) were seen outside the active lesions and in these, after the successful treatment with ketoconazole. The median age of 40 ovalis patients was 37.5 years; the same in 40 furfur patients was 24.5 years. The median age at the moment of discovering the first lesions among ovalis patients was 31; among furfur patients this was 20 years. There were 16 male patients among the ovalis and 24 among the furfur groups of 40. The topographic distribution of the lesions varied according to the type of the invader. M. ovalis prevailed on the trunk below the waist-line and on the limbs, mainly on buttocks and upper legs. M. furfur prevailed on the chest, neck, face and upper limbs.The hypothesis is offered that the ovoid agent of pityriasis versicolor preferentially occupies the less sweating and sebum-producing parts of the body in older (and drier) persons than the globous type does.     

On age morphological changes of males of Chydoridae (Cladocera)

Summary Young and adult males of 11 species of Chydoridae are studied, their figures being published here (fig. 1–15). The necessity is stressed to distinguish young forms of males and gynandromorphic individuals.Pleuroxus balatonicus is considered to be described from the population ofPleuroxus unicatus having under Balaton Lake conditions retarded transformation of young males into adult form, and accordingly having unusually numerous young males. \qO\qs\qn\qo\qv\qn\qy\ye \qr\ye\qz\qu\ql\Qj\qt\qa\qt\qy 11 (. 1–15). . , Pleuroxus uncinatus , Pleuroxus balatonicus.     

Interrelation between HeLa-S3 cell transfection and hemolysis in red blood cell suspension using pulsed ultrasound of various duty cycles

We have studied the in vitro transfection of a plasmid DNA with the lacZ gene to HeLa-S3 cells and hemolysis in a red blood cell (RBC) suspension under pulsed ultrasound with duty cycles of 10, 20 and 30% using a digital sonifier at a frequency of 20 kHz and an intensity of 6.2 W/cm² on the surface of a horn tip. Cultured HeLa-S3 cells in suspension were exposed to pulsed ultrasound for an apparent exposure time t from 0 to 60 s. HeLa-S3 viability decreased as a single exponential function of the total exposure time t=t with a common time constant =3.8 s for three duty cycles. Transfection was evaluated by counting the number of -galactosidase(-Gal)-positive cells relative to the total number of cells. Pulsed ultrasound provided an enhanced transfer of the -Gal plasmid to HeLa-S3 cells, 3.4-fold as compared with that in the case of the control. The optimal transfection efficiencies were 0.75, 0.80 and 0.74% near t= with =10, 20 and 30%, respectively. The number ratio of -Gal-positive cells to the surviving cells after exposure increased with t according to a modified logistic equation. The degree of hemolysis also increased exponentially with t at a time constant =₀/ for the RBC suspension in physiological saline at a hematocrit concentration of 0.5% with ₀=0.9 s. Thus the total exposure time for the optimal transfection efficiency was , that is, nearly four times of ₀. Hemolysis in the RBC suspension may be a useful model for determining optimal transfection by pulsed ultrasound of various duty cycles.     

Ultrastructural localization of ‘anixiopsin’: a lectin of the fungus Anixiopsis stercoraria (Hansen) Hansen

In order to localize the anixiopsin, a lectin of the keratinolytic fungus Anixiopsis stercoraria, the authors used a monospecific antiserum prepared by immunization of rabbits with their own erythrocytes coated in vitro with anixiopsin. In light and scanning electron microscopies, lectinic sites were visualized by means of latex microspheres sensitized with anti-rabbit IgG antibodies. In transmission electron microscopy using the IgG fraction of the rabbit anti-anixiopsin immune sera and protein A-gold, anixiopsin seemed mainly present on the outermost cell wall layer of the ascospores, in a pseudomembraneous structure dense to electrons. Implications of these results on physical and biological properties of the lectin are discussed.     

Microspore cultures as donor tissue for the initiation of embryogenic cell suspensions in barley

We have initiated embryogenic cell suspension cultures of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Igri from isolated microspore cultures. Data were obtained on the time required for establishment, frequency of establishment, i.e. number of calluses out of the total number of initiations giving rise to suspensions, and embryogenic capacity of the suspension cultures. For comparison, establishment of embryogenic cell suspensions from callus derived from immature zygotic embryos of Igri, Dissa and Golden Promise was also carried out. The results revealed that embryogenic suspension cultures were established in half the time and with a seven-fold higher frequency from microspore cultures than from zygotic embryo-derived calluses. The suspension cultures were still capable of embryo formation after two years. However, only albino plantlets were regenerated. For comparison, long term callus cultures derived from microspores, anthers and zygotic embryos were established. From the anther and zygotic embryo-derived callus cultures green plants were continuously regenerated, whereas the microspore-derived callus cultures lost this ability after the second subculture.     

The influence of increasing chlorine content on the accumulation and metabolism of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by Paul's Scarlet Rose cells

Four radiolabled congeners of biphenyls with increasing chlorine content (biphenyl; 1-monochlorobiphenyl; 2,2,4,4-tetrachlorobiphenyl; and 2,2,4,4,5,5-hexachlorobiphenyl) were provided to suspension cultures of rose (Rosa sp. cv. Paul's Scarlet) for 4 days. Both the kinetics of ¹⁴C exchange between the cells and medium, and the metabolism of the parent compounds depended on the chlorine content of the congeners. Analysis of both the cells and their medium showed that of the recovered radioactivity 88%, 86%, and 3% of the biphenyl, 1-PCB, and 2,2,4,4-PCB were metabolized respectively to polar and insoluble residue products. The 2,2,4,4,5,5-PCB did not appear to be metabolized.     

Genetic analysis of brown planthopper resistance in twenty varieties of rice,Oryza saliva L.

Summary The inheritance of resistance to brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stol.), of 20 rice cultivars was studied. Single dominant genes that are allelic to Bph 3 condition the resistance in cultivars Ptb 19, Gangala (Acc. 7733), Gangala (Acc. 15207), Horana Mawee, Kuruhondarwala, Mudu Kiriyal and Muthumanikam. Single recessive genes that are allelic to bph 4 govern the resistance in cultivars Gambada Samba, Heenhoranamawee, Hotel Samba, Kahata Samba, Kalukuruwee, Lekam Samba, Senawee, Sulai, Thirissa and Vellai Illankali. The resistance in Ptb 33, Sudu Hondarwala, and Sinna Sivappu is governed by one dominant and one recessive gene which segregate independently of each other. The dominant resistance genes in these cultivars appear allelic to either Bph 1 or Bph 3. Similarly, the recessive genes in these cultivars seem allelic to either bph 2 or bph 4. Further investigations are needed to conclusively determine the allelic relationships of resistance genes in Ptb 33, Sudu Hondarwala and Sinna Sivappu.     

Heritable variation in the phaseolin protein of nondomesticated common bean,Phaseolus vulgaris L.

Summary Crude protein extracts from single seeds of nondomesticated Mexican bean accessions were analysed by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis for variability in phaseolin protein. Six new phaseolin types; M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M6, which contained polypeptides within the same range of molecular weights (51,000 to 45,000 daltons) as occur in the S, T and C phaseolin types of cultivated beans were identified. No T and C types were found among the non-domesticated Mexican accessions, and the S type occurred in less than 7% of the seeds screened. Genetic analyses of F₂ progenies from crosses between Sanilac (S), and five of the M types showed that each M phaseolin phenotype was allelic to the S type and expressed codominantly.     

Synthesis of N-linked pentasaccharides with isomeric glycosidic linkage

As part of a program to explore the structural requirement of N-glycans in the carbohydrate-mediated biological interactions, N-linked pentasaccharide core structure was stereochemically modified in terms of glycosidic linkage. Three isomers, -D-Man-(13)-[-D-Man-(16)]--D-Man-(14)--D-GlcNAc-(14)--D-GlcNAc-L-Asn, -D-Man-(13)-[-D-Man-(16)]--D-Man-(14)--D-GlcNAc-(14)--D-GlcNAc-L-Asn, and -D-Man-(13)-[-D-man-(16)]--D-Man-(14)--D-GlcNAc-(14)--D-GlcNAc-L-Asn, were synthesized. Synthesis of the pentasaccharide with natural linkage is also described.     

Spontaneous chlorophyll mutants of Pennisetum americanum: Genetics and chlorophyll quantities

Summary Thirteen spontaneously occurring chlorophyll deficient phenotypes have been described and their genetic basis was established. Ten of these — white, white tipped green, patchy white, white virescent, white striping 1, white striping 2, white striping 4, fine striping, chlorina and yellow virescent showed monogenic recessive inheritance and the remaining three — yellow striping, yellow green and light green seedling phenotypes showed digenic recessive inheritance. The genes for (i) white tipped green (wr) and yellow virescent (yv) and (ii) patchy white (pw) and white striping 1 (wst 1) showed independent assortment. Further, the genes for white (w), white tipped green (wr) and yellow virescent (yv) were inherited independently of the gene for hairy leaf margin (Hm).In the mutants — white tipped green, patchy white, white striping 1, white striping 2, fine striping, chlorina, yellow virescent, yellow striping, yellow green and light green phenotypes total quantity of chlorophyll was significantly less than that in the corresponding controls, while in white virescent there was no reduction in the mature stage. For nine of the mutants the quantity of chlorophyll was also estimated in F₁'s (mutant x control green). In F₁'s of six of the mutants — white tip, patchy white, chlorina, yellow virescent, fine striping and yellow striping the quantity of chlorophyll was almost equal to the wild type. In the F₁'s of three of the mutants — white striping 1, white striping 2 and light green an intermediate value between the mutant and wild types was observed. In yellow virescent retarded synthesis of chlorophyll, particularly chlorophyll a was observed in the juvenile stage. Reduced quantity of chlorophyll was associated with defective chloroplasts. In the mutants — white tipped green, white virescent, fine striping, chlorina, yellow striping, yellow green and light green defective plastids were also observed. In patchy white secondary destruction of chlorophylls and the presence of defective plastids were found to be associated with reduced chlorophyll quantity at maturity.Paper chromatographic studies of leaf flavonoids revealed some variation between the inbreds, but there were three common spots, 7, 8 and 9, except for PDP in which the spot 8 was absent. Chlorophyll deficient mutants differed from their respective controls in the absence of one or more of the spots present in the controls and in the presence of new spots in some of the mutants.Most of the chlorophyll mutants showed higher survival rate in the Kharif season than in Rabi season which was attributed to the higher mean day temperature and longer day light period in the Kharif season than in Rabi season.     

The taxonomic significance of the trunk limbs of the chydoridae (Cladocera)

Summary The differences in the structure of the trunk limbs allow to outline three sections of Chydoridae (see table I and fig. 1), coinciding with the sections distinguished according to the structure of the head pores.

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Chydoridae (Cladocera)

Chydoridae (. ), , .

     

Polymerization of nucleotide analogues I: Reaction of nucleoside 5′-phosphorimidazolides with 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridine

Summary 2-Amino-2-deoxyuridine reacts efficiently with nucleoside 5-phosphorimidazolides in aqueous solution. The dinucleoside monophosphate analogues were obtained in yields exceeding 80% under conditions in which little reaction occurs with the natural nucleosides.In a similar way, the 5-phosphorimidazolide of 2-amino-2-deoxyuridine undergoes self-condensation in aqueous solution to give a complex mixture of oligomers.The phosphoramidate bond in the dinucleoside monophosphate analogues is stable for several days at room temperature and pH 7. The mechanisms of their hydrolysis under acidic and alkaline conditions are described.Abbreviations A adenosine - C cytidine - G guanosine - U uridine - T thymidine - U_{N 3} 2-azido-2-deoxyuridine - U_{NH 2} 2-amino-2-deoxyuridine - ImpA adenosine 5-phosphorimidazolide - ImpU uridine 5-phosphorimidazolide - ImpU_{N 3} 2-azido-2-deoxyuridine 5-phosphorimidazolide - ImpU_{NH 2} 2-amino-2-deoxyuridine 5-phosphorimidazolide - pA adenosine 5-phosphate - pU uridine 5-phosphate - pU_{N 3} 2-azido-2-deoxyuridine 5-phosphate - pU_{NH 2} 2-amino-2-deoxyuridine 5-phosphate - UpA uridylyl-[35]-adenosine - UpU uridylyl-[35]-uridine - U_NpA adenylyl-[52]-2-amino-2-deoxy-uridine - U_NpU uridylyl-[52]-2-amino-2-deoxyuridine (pU_N)_n n=2,3,4 [25]-linked oligomers of pU_{NH 2} poly(A) polyadenylic acid - Im imidazole - MeIm l-methylimidazole     

Purification and some properties of Α-amylase from an ectomycorrhizal fungus, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Tricholoma matsutake</Emphasis>

-Amylase from a still culture filtrate of Tricholoma matsutake, an ectomycorrhizal fungus, was isolated and characterized. The enzyme was purified to a homogeneous preparation with Toyopearl-DEAE, gel filtration, and Mono Q column chromatography. The -amylase was highly purified (3580 fold) with a recovery of 10.5% and showed a single protein band by SDS-PAGE. The enzyme was most active at pH 5.0–6.0 toward soluble starch and stable within the broad pH range 4.0–10.0. This -amylase was a relatively thermostable enzyme (optimum temperature, 60°C; thermal stability, 50°C). The molecular mass was 34kDa by size-exclusion chromatography and 46kDa by SDS-PAGE. This enzyme was not inhibited by the Hg²⁺ ion. Measurement of viscosity and TLC and HPLC analysis of the hydrolysates obtained from amylose showed that the amylase from T. matsutake is an endo-type (-amylase). Substrate specificity was tested using amylose with different polysaccharides. This -amylase readily hydrolyzed the -1,4 glucoside bond in soluble starch and amylose A (MW, 2900), but did not hydrolyze the -1,6 bond and cyclic polysaccharides such as - and -cyclodextrin.     

Selection of microorganisms which produce raw-starch degrading enzymes

Summary Microorganisms which produce strong raw-starch degrading enzymes were isolated from soil using a medium containing a unique carbon source, -amylase resistant starch (-RS), which is insoluble in water and hardly digested with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens -amylase. Among the isolates, three strains showing high activities were characterized. Two of them, K-27 (fungus) and K-28 (yeast), produced -amylase and glucoamylase, and the final product from starch was only glucose. The third strain, K-2, was a bacterium and produced -amylase, which produced glucose and malto-oligosaccharides from starch. The enzyme preparation of these strains degraded raw corn starch rapidly.     

Esterase isozymes in rye — characterization,genetic control and chromosomal location

Summary The zymogram phenotypes that Chinese Spring-Imperial, Holdfast-King II and Kharkov-Dakold wheat-rye addition lines presented for esterase isozymes were determined using polyacrylamide gel ectrophoresis. The analyses were carried out with different parts of the dry kernel, namely embryo plus scutellum and endosperm, leaves and roots. In all cases, embryo plus scutellum, endosperm and leaf presented different patterns of esterases. The patterns of leaves and roots were the same. Results indicate that rye esterases exist as monomers and dimers. Dimeric esterases are controlled by one locus located on the 3R chromosomes of Imperial, King II and Dakold rye cultivars. Five loci involved in the production of monomeric esterases have been located on the 6R chromosomes of these cultivars, specifically on the long arm of the King II 6R chromosome. On the basis of these results, considerations concerning chromosome homoeology and homology are made.     

Translocation of cadmium and mercury in straw columns colonized by the fungus Pleurotus cornucopiae Paul ex Fr.

Summary Using straw columns colonized by the lignocellulytic fungus Pleurotus cornucopiae, translocation of ¹⁰⁹Cd and ²⁰³Hg in the substrate-mycelium complex and via the substrate-mycelium complex into the fruiting bodies was studied. The translocation patterns generated were metal specific and were influenced by the temperature and the physiological conditions of the mycelium (growing mycelium, established mycelium, reproductive stage).Under all conditions, generally more mercury than cadmium was translocated. In growing mycelia, for instance, an average of about seven times more mercury than cadmium was translocated. Translocation was greatly enhanced, when fruiting bodies were present. Up to 7% and 20% (average: 3.5% and 12%) of the applied cadmium and mercury, respectively, were found in the fruiting bodies. In old columns bearing fruiting bodies (colonized for more than 50 days by the fungus) considerably more heavy metal (up to 45% of the applied radioactivity) was released from the point of application than in younger columns.With one exception, no substantial differences in the translocation patterns of the label in relation to the direction of mycelial growth could be detected.     

Bacteriophage lambda replication proteins: formation of a mixed oligomer and binding to the origin of lambda DNA

Summary The purified bacteriophage replication proteins O and P sediment separately in metrizamide gradients of low ionic strength as dimers. Together they interact with each other forming an oligomer, composed of two molecules of O and one molecule of P. The O-P oligomer is active in the in vitro replication of ori-containing DNA.Equilibrium sedimentation in preformed metrizamide density gradients under conditions that separate DNA-protein complexes from free proteins was employed in order to study possible interactions among the replication proteins and ori DNA. It was found that the P protein binds specifically to ori-containing plasmid DNA only in the presence of O protein. About 100 molecules of O and 10 molecules of P form a complex with the ori DNA. The DNA-O-P complex was shown to be active in an in vitro replication system.Since the physical interactions between ori and O and between P and the Escherichia coli dnaB replication protein are well documented, the evidence for a O-P interaction presented in this paper provides the missing link in the molecular mechanism that enables to direct the host replication machinery to the replication of its own DNA.     

Genetic analysis of two wheat cultivars, ‘Sonalika’ and ‘WL 711’ for reaction to leaf rust (Puccinia recondita)

Summary Genetic analysis for leaf rust reaction of two widely adapted cultivars, Sonalika and WL 711, has been done using 21 near isogenic Lr lines and rust culture IL004 — avirulent on the two cultivars and all the Lr lines used. The segregation pattern in the F₂ generation indicated the presence of a recessive gene in Sonalika and of a dominant gene in WL 711. These genes in cultivars Sonalika and WL 711 have been identified as Lr 11 and Lr 13, respectively. Gene Lr 13 is no longer effective in WL 711 but it continues to give field resistance in the backgrounds of Chris, Prelude and Thatcher. There has been no significant change in the virulence spectrum of the leaf rust pathogen in India with the release of WL 711. High susceptibility of WL 711 seems to be due to the evolution of more aggressive forms of the pathogen to this cultivar. The gene Lr 11, which behaves as a recessive in Sonalika, was effective against leaf rust when this cultivar was released. The high susceptibility of Sonalika is probably due to an increase in the frequency of race 77 virulent on Lr 11. Lr 11 has shown a dominance reversal in the background of Sonalika. Present results suggest that interaction of resistance genes with the background genotype must be studied for their effective use in breeding programme.     

Phlorizin binding to isolated enterocytes: Membrane potential and sodium dependence

Summary Phlorizin binding is studied in isolated intestinal epithelial cells of the chick. Cells are ATP depleted to allow extensive manipulation of ionic gradients and membrane potential (). Phlorizin binding is assayed at steady state. Carrier specific phlorizin binding is defined asd-glucose (90 mM) inhibitable binding. Specific binding displays simple Michaelian kinetics as a function of phlorizin. indicating the presence of a single homogeneous binding site. Sodium concentrations and modify the apparent binding affinity but not the maximum number of binding sites. In contrast, the activation curve as a function of sodium concentrations is sigmoid and the apparent maximum number of binding sites at saturating sodium is phlorizin dependent. The rate of phlorizin association is both and sodium-concentration dependent. Dissociation is sodium-concentration dependent but not dependent. Theoretical analysis indicates binding order of substrates is random. In addition, data suggests that the phlorizin/sodium stoichiometry is 2:1. The dependence can be explained by two models: either translocation is the -dependent step and the free carrier is anionic, or sodium binding is the -dependent step.