Catawba Indians: morphology, genetics, and history

The Catawba Indians of South Carolina appear to be descendants of the once flourishing Siouan tribe now admixed primarily with Whites of the area. Study of physical traits and blood types was made in 1962 at the time they terminated reservation status. The data permit comparisions with other populations and an estimation of the genetic contribution of presumed parental populations to the hybrid. Skeletal remains of Siouan Indians from archeological sites in the area provide a basis for morphological comparisons. Similar ties of the Catawba to the Indian Knoll people of Kentucky and to the Occaneechi people of early historic times are noted. Results of blood typings of these ancient bones also enable some tentative serological comparisons with the present day Catawba Indians. Certain unusual factors in the history of the present population have affected their isolation and admixture, and this interaction of culture and biology is explored.     

Total evidence: molecules, morphology, and the phylogenetics of cichlid fishes

We present a most comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of the family Cichlidae. New data analyzed include mitochondrial 16S rRNA sequences and two nuclear loci (Tmo-M27 and Tmo-4C4) for a large taxonomic sampling with emphasis on South American species. We also incorporate a published morphological data set for a total evidence analysis. Character congruence among mitochondrial (74 taxa) and nuclear data (50 taxa) was high. However, partition-homogeneity tests suggest significant heterogeneity among molecular and morphological data. In agreement with results obtained from molecular data alone, total evidence analysis (1,460 characters for 34 taxa) supports a robust phylogenetic hypothesis for the family Cichlidae that is congruent with drift-vicariance events associated with the fragmentation of Gondwana. Our analyses confirm the placement of Malagasy/Indian cichlids as the most basal lineages, with a sister-group relationship to the monophyletic African and Neotropical clades. Total evidence suggests that the controversial African genus Heterochromis is at the base of the African radiation. Among more than 50 Neotropical genera analyzed, Retroculus is identified as the basal taxon, with successive branching of Cichla, Astronotus, geophagines (including crenicichlines) + chaetobranchines, and cichlasomines + heroines. Relative rate tests applied to mitochondrial DNA suggest significantly higher rates of genetic variation in Neotropical than in African taxa, and both mitochondrial and nuclear sequences show that rate heterogeneity among Neotropical lineages is confined to the geophagine cichlids.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Hewardieae, Petrosavieae, and Tricyrteae

The young pistils in the melanthioid tribes, Hewardieae, Petrosavieae and Tricyrteae, are uniformly tricarpellate and syncarpous. They lack raphide idioblasts. All are multiovulate, with bitegmic ovules. The Petrosavieae are marked by the presence of septal glands and incomplete syncarpy. Tepals and stamens adhere to the ovary in the Hewardieae and the Petrosavieae but not in the Tricyrteae. Two vascular bundles occur in the stamens of the Hewartlieae and Tricyrtis latifolia. Ventral bundles in the upper part of the ovary of the Hewardieae are continuous with compound septal bundles and placental bundles in the lower part. Putative ventral bundles occur in the alternate position in the Tricyrteae and putative placental bundles in the opposite. position in the Petrosavieae. The dichtomously branched stigma in each carpel of the Tricyrteae is supplied by a bifurcated dorsal bundle.     

Cosmos 1887: morphology, histochemistry, and vasculature of the growing rat tibia

Light microscopy, electron microscopy, and enzyme histochemistry were used to study the effects of spaceflight on metaphyseal and cortical bone of the rat tibia. Cortical cross-sectional area and perimeter were not altered by a 12.5-day spaceflight in 3-month-old male rats. The endosteal osteoblast population and the vasculature near the periosteal surface in flight rats compared with ground controls showed more pronounced changes in cortical bone than in metaphyseal bone. The osteoblasts demonstrated greater numbers of transitional Golgi vesicles, possibly caused by a decreased cellular metabolic energy source, but no difference in the large Golgi saccules or the cell membrane-associated alkaline phosphatase activity. The periosteal vasculature in the diaphysis of flight rats often showed lipid accumulations within the lumen of the vessels, occasional degeneration of the vascular wall, and degeneration of osteocytes adjacent to vessels containing intraluminal deposits. These changes were not found in the metaphyseal region of flight animals. The focal vascular changes may be due to ischemia of bone or a developing fragility of the vessel walls as a result of spaceflight.     

Avian somatotrophs: differentiation, morphology, distribution, and regulation

Growth hormone (GH) is primarily synthesized, stored, and released by pituitary somatotrophs. These cells comprise a highly labile population that continuously undergoes proliferation, differentiation, and morphogenesis in response to changing physiological stimuli. They are also functionally and morphologically heterogeneous with distinct spatial and temporal distribution within the pituitary gland. The characteristics of these cells are discussed in this brief review.     

Turbellaria Lecithoepitheliata: morphology,systematics, phylogeny

A review of the literature on the world fauna of lecithoepitheliata and Prolecithophora and extensive observations by the author on species of the Prorhynchidae, including cosmopolitan species as well as some endemic to Lake Baikal, and on endemic species of Baicalarctiinae (Prolecithophora) show that the Prorhynchidae and Gnosonesimidae are properly classified in the Neoophora. The morphological similarity of the Prorhynchidae and Prolecithophora proves these taxa are closely related. A hypothesis relating the Lecithoepitheliata Prorhynchidae to primitive prolecithophorans appears to be the only tenable hypothesis on the phylogeny of Lecithoepitheliata. The question of whether the Lecithoepitheliata is monophyletic still needs investigation; more evidence on the phylogeny of the Gnosonesimidae is needed.     

Bracelet salt glands of the recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor: Distribution,morphology, and induction

Halophytes complete their life cycles in saline environments. The recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor has evolved a specialized salt secretory structure,the salt gland, which excretes Na⁺to avoid salt damage. Typical L. bicolor salt glands consist of 16 cells with four fluorescent foci and four secretory pores. Here, we describe a special type of salt gland at the base of the L. bicolor leaf petiole named bracelet salt glands due to their beaded-bracelet-like shape of blue auto-fluoresc...     

Methods for the study of amphipod swimming: behavior,morphology, and fluid dynamics

A thorough hydrodynamic approach to the study of swimming in amphipods demands a multipronged attack. A possible first step would be to gather swimming behavior data and determine the biomechanics and kinematics of pleopod beat. This requires careful observation of the swimming modes, swimming speeds, body positions and other aspects of behavior and limb motion that are crucial to swimming. Secondly, it is important to describe the morphology of the body and swimming appendages. Detailed drawings of body shape and design, skeletomusculature, condylic structure, and setal density and distribution on the pleopods and pereopods, are the tools required to ascribe hydrodynamic function to specific limb and body morphology. Finally, the information gathered from behavioral observations bolstered by functional morphology studies is applied to fluid dynamic calculations of drag, lift, and thrust. The theoretical calculations are then compared with empirical determinations of drag, wake generation, vortex shedding frequency, and flow patterns around an amphipod. The fluid dynamic facet of this research is the most challenging and requires an excellent grasp of the fundamental concepts of fluid flow and access to some highly technical equipment. The proposed tripartite approach for the study of amphipod swimming is by no means an exhaustive review of all the techniques that can be employed to quantify amphipod swimming. It will nevertheless permit a rigorous and systematic study of amphipod swimming.     

Metamerism,heterochrony, and inflorescence morphology of the Pithecellobium-complex (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae: Ingeae)

The diverse inflorescence morphology of species in the Pithecellobium-complex is shown to be a result of: 1) the organization of the components of the inflorescence and their relative positions; 2) the hierarchical relationship of the axes of the inflorescences and the position they assume in total tree architecture; and 3) heterochronic development of the components of the inflorescence. It is shown that the typological system of nomenclature of inflorescences leads to false assumptions of homology and therefore must be discarded. The morphology of inflorescences is discussed in terms of metamerism, and the term Repeating Growth Unit (RGU) is introduced and is defined as the smallest complete sequence of metamers produced by a meristem. A module is defined as the sequence of RGUs produced by a meristem. An inflorescence is defined as that sequence of metamers in an RGU which participates in the production and/or presentation of flowers and fruit. Heterochrony, proleptic and sylleptic buds, and shoot dimorphism are discussed and their role in modifying inflorescence morphology in the Pithecellobium-complex is illustrated. Examples from the Pithecellobium-complex are provided which demonstrate the various modifications of the inflorescence that result from the interaction of these various phenomena.     

Aspergillus in the Papanicolaou stain: morphology, fluorescence and diagnostic feasibility

hettlich c., küpper th., wehle k. and pfitzer p. (1998) Cytopathology 9, 381–388
Aspergillus in the Papanicolaou stain: morphology, fluorescence and diagnostic feasibility
Aspergillus species exhibit a distinct and clear fluorescence in Papanicolaou-stained cytological samples. The Papanicolaou (PAP) stain enhances the autofluorescence of cultured aspergilli and allows better cytological recognition of the fungus by fluorescence microscopy when it is not easily discerned from its surroundings by light microscopy. Morphological properties can be better distinguished and facilitate the differentiation of aspergillus organisms from other filamentous fungi. Neither light nor fluorescence microscopy, the cytological quality nor the presence of phagocytosed hyphae in alveolar macrophages allow distinction between infection and contamination with Aspergillus species. Only the presence of eosinophilic inflammation permits a tentative diagnosis of an Aspergillus infection. In conclusion, PAP fluorescence reduces the need for special stains, is superior to and quicker than other investigative techniques and enhances the sensitivity and specificity of cytological investigation when a rapid and reliable identification of Aspergillus is needed.     

Mini-review: the morphology,mineralogy and microbiology of accumulated iron corrosion products

Despite obvious differences in morphology, substratum chemistry and the electrolyte in which they form, accumulations of iron corrosion products have the following characteristics in common: stratification of iron oxides/hydroxides with a preponderance of α-FeOOH (goethite) and accumulation of metals. Bacteria, particularly iron-oxidizing and sulfate-reducing bacteria have been identified in some accumulations. Both biotic and abiotic mechanisms have been used to rationalize observations for particular sets of environmental data. This review is the first to compare observations and interpretations.     

A hierarchical model of plumage: morphology,development, and evolution

Plumage is a complex component of the avian phenotype. The plumage of an individual is composed of numerous hierarchically arranged developmental and morphological modules. We present a hierarchical model of plumage that provides an intellectual framework for understanding the development and evolution of feathers. Independence, covariation, and interaction among plumage modules create numerous opportunities for developmental and evolutionary diversification of feather complexity and function. The hierarchical relationships among plumage modules are characterized by both top-down and bottom-up effects in which properties of modules at one level of the hierarchy determine or influence the properties of modules at lower or higher levels of the hierarchy. Plumage metamodules are created by covariation or interaction among modules at different levels of the hierarchy.     

Molecules,morphology, and phylogeny

A complicated, almost conflicting situation exists in contemporary biology, i.e., there are two scientific concepts in existence that solve some phylogenetic problems in a different way. These concepts are evolutionary morphology and molecular biology. Modern biology urgently needs these contradictions to be examined and removed.     

Comparative morphology of the carpel in the Liliaceae: Baeometra, Burchardia and Walleria

The pistils in Baeometra, Burchardia and Walleria ate tricarpellate, and their ovules are mostly bitegmic. Baeometra has free styles and deep septal invaginations between the carpels. Its pistil is innervated by three dorsal bundles, three compound septal bundles (each of which may divide into two simple septal bundles above), six placental bundles, and six adjoining auxiliary placental bundles. The pistil of Burchardia resembles that of Baeometra , except that there are six simple septal bundles throughout and no auxiliary placental bundles. In Walleria the wings of adjoining carpels are completely fused (except for rare septal glands); there is a single compound style; additional vascular tissue is present in the central axis of the pistil up to the lowermost ovules; the carpels are fused with the floral cup above the base of the locules; and raphide idioblasts are present. Walleria has six "ventral" bundles, each of which appears to be the fusion product of a placental bundle with a simple septal bundle. Tribal affinities of these genera are discussed.