The separation and purification of rat liver UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards testosterone and oestrone.

1. Reconstitution of UDP-glucuronyltransferase preparations with phosphataidylcholine liposomes facilitated the purification of testosterone UDP-glucuronyltransferase. 2. Transferase activity towards testosterone co-purifies with that towards 4-nitrophenol. 3. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity towards oestrone was separated from that towards testosterone. 4. These results suggest that testosterone and 4-nitrophenol may be glucuronidated by a different form of UDP-glucuronyltransferase from the one glucuronidating oestrone.     

Nest-mate recognition in Manuelia postica (Apidae: Xylocopinae): an eusocial trait is present in a solitary bee

In eusocial Hymenoptera, females are more tolerant towards nest-mate than towards non-nest-mate females. In solitary Hymenoptera, females are generally aggressive towards any conspecific female. Field observations of the nest biology of Manuelia postica suggested nest-mate recognition. Experiments were performed involving two live interacting females or one live female interacting with a dead female. Live females from different nests were more intolerant to each other than females from the same nest. Females were more intolerant towards non-nest-mate than towards nest-mate dead females. When dead females were washed with pentane, no differences in tolerant and intolerant behaviours were detected between non-nest-mate and nest-mate females. Females were more intolerant towards nest-mate female carcasses coated with the cuticular extract from a non-nest-mate than towards non-nest-mate female carcasses coated with the cuticular extract from a nest-mate. The compositions of the cuticular extracts was more similar between females from the same nest than between females from different nests. The results demonstrate for the first time nest-mate recognition mediated by cuticular chemicals in a largely solitary species of Apidae. The position of Manuelia at the base of the Apidae phylogeny suggests that nest-mate recognition in eusocial species apical to Manuelia represents the retention of a primitive capacity in Apidae.     

Effect of others' attentional states on vocalizations in Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata)

We investigated the effects of other's attentional states on vocalizations in monkeys. The subjects were 14 Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata), which vocalized spontaneously in the feeding context. In the initial experiment, an experimenter moved towards and away from the subject monkeys. The monkeys vocalized more frequently when the experimenter moved away rather than towards them. To examine the effects of the experimenter's body orientations and moving directions separately, additional experiments were conducted. When the experimenter stood facing towards and facing away from the subject monkeys, the monkeys vocalized more frequently when the experimenter stood facing away rather than facing towards. When the experimenter moved towards and away from the subject monkeys while facing them, the monkeys vocalized more frequently when the experimenter moved away from them rather than towards them. These results suggested that the monkeys vocalized more frequently when the situation changed to that where the monkeys were not likely get food from the experimenter. It seems that monkeys recognize the attentional states of others by body orientation and modify their vocalizing behavior accordingly.     

Nestmate recognition in Camponotus floridanus callow worker ants: are sisters or nestmates recognized?

Callow workers of the Florida carpenter ant, Camponotus floridanus Buckley, reared with their sisters displayed more aggressive acts towards unrelated unfamiliar foragers than towards related unfamiliar foragers. When callows were reared with foreign nurses they were more aggressive towards their own unfamiliar sisters than towards the unfamiliar sisters of their nurses. Thus callow workers recognized the sisters of the workers they were reared with as nestmates. This ability was not dependent on whether or not callows received cues from older ants during their emergence. Similarly, a forager was less aggressive towards unfamiliar callows reared with its sisters than towards those reared with nurses unrelated to itself. In addition, foragers were less aggressive towards their callow sisters than towards unrelated callows, regardless of the relatedness between the foragers and the rearing nurses.     

Responses to urinary stimuli in pigtailed (Macaca nemestrina) and stumptailed (Macaca arctoides) macaques

Responses to different urine samples were studied in pigtailed (M. nemestrina) and stumptailed (M. arctoides) macaques. Both species exhibited more interest towards urine samples from their own species than neutral stimuli. Responses towards urine samples from other macaque species did not significantly differ from those towards neutral stimuli. In stumptailed macaques, no differential interest was observed between urine samples from a known (the adult male of the group) and an unknown adult male conspecific.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) studies of the interaction between mammalian and avian anti-thermogenin antibodies and brown-adipose-tissue mitochondria from different species

Three different antibody preparations, rabbit anti-hamster and rabbit anti-rat thermogenin sera and chicken anti-rat thermogenin IgG, were tested for cross-reactivity towards isolated thermogenin and BAT mitochondria from different mammalian species using an ELISA-technique. It was found that the antibody preparations readily cross-reacted with different species, but that the affinity of the antibody preparations was greater towards the homologous species than the other species. The reactivity of an antibody preparation towards mitochondria from different tissues from the homologous species was also tested, and the exclusive occurrence of thermogenin in BAT could be confirmed.     

Adaptation to phenylacetamide as a growth substrate by an acetanilide-utilizing mutant of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Mutants able to utilize phenylacetamide as sole nitrogen source were isolated from the acetanilide (N-phenylacetamide)-utilizing Pseudomonas aeruginosa mutant strain AI3 and from its parent strain L10. Growth properties of the mutants (Ph strains) on amide media and the physicochemical properties of their amidases in cell free extracts indicated that their phenylacetamidase activities were attributable to alterations in their amidases. Differences in amide hydrolase specificities between the AI3-and the L10-Ph mutants were observed. The AI3 group had a high level of activity towards 4-nitrophenylacetamide, activity towards phenylacetyl-4-nitroaniline but, unlike strain AI3, no activity towards acetyl-4-nitroaniline; the L10 group had a low activity towards 4-nitrophenylacetamide, no activity towards phenylacetyl-4-nitroaniline but retained the low level of activity towards acetyl-4-nitroaniline exhibited by strain L10. Confirmation of the association between these altered specificition of alterations in amidases was obtained from analysis of the properties of phenylacetamidases purified from an AI3-Ph mutant (pH5) and an L 10-Ph mutant (Ph14). The original mutation in the amidase gene of strain AI3 appeared responsible for the differences between the two groups of Ph mutants and the binding interactions with acetanilide that it determined were eliminated in AI3-Ph mutants.     

Secondary Growth in Bougainvillea

The anomalous secondary growth was studied in roots and stemsof two species of Bougainvillea. The anomalous cambia arisesuccessively in centrifugal order, each originating among thederivatives of the preceding cambium. Each cambium layer functionsbidirectionally producing xylem towards the inside of the axisand phloem towards the outside. The sequence of production ofvascular cells is the following: (1) conjunctive tissue andxylem fibres towards the inside; (2) phloem towards the outside;(3) additional xylem with vessels towards the inside and additionalphloem towards the outside. The new cambia arise outside theoldest phloem cells of a given increment. This phloem may benonfunctional and crushed at that time. The phloem and the xylemdifferentiate from radially seriated derivatives produced sequentiallyby tangential divisions in the cambium. Divisions among thephloem initials and growth readjustments in the differentiatingxylem obscure the radial seriation to a moderate extent.     

Cloning and characterization of two α-glucosidases from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bifidobacterium adolescentis</Emphasis> DSM20083

Two alpha-glucosidase encoding genes (aglA and aglB) from Bifidobacterium adolescentis DSM 20083 were isolated and characterized. Both alpha-glucosidases belong to family 13 of the glycosyl hydrolases. Recombinant AglA (EC 3.2.1.10) and AglB (EC 3.2.1.20), expressed in Escherichia coli, showed high hydrolytic activity towards isomaltose and pnp-alpha-glucoside. The K(m) for pnp-alpha-glucoside was 1.05 and 0.47 mM and the V(max) was 228 and 113 U mg(-1) for AglA and AglB, respectively. Using pnp-alpha-glucoside as substrate, the pH optimum for AglA was 6.6 and the temperature optimum was 37 degrees C. For AglB, values of pH 6.8 and 47 degrees C were found. AglA also showed high hydrolytic activity towards isomaltotriose and, to a lesser extent, towards trehalose. AglB has a high preference for maltose and less activity towards sucrose; minor activity was observed towards melizitose, low molecular weight dextrin, maltitol, and maltotriose. The recombinant alpha-glucosidases were tested for their transglucosylation activity. AglA was able to synthesize oligosaccharides from trehalose and sucrose. AglB formed oligosaccharides from sucrose, maltose, and melizitose.     

7 alpha-hydroxylation of 27-hydroxycholesterol in human liver microsomes.

Human liver microsomes were found to catalyze 7 alpha-hydroxylation of 27-hydroxycholesterol at a rate of up to about 0.2 nmol/mg protein per min. The product of the reaction, 5-cholestene-3 beta, 7 alpha, 27-triol, was identified by means of combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Liver microsomes from two patients with an upregulated cholesterol 7 alpha-hydroxylase, did not have higher 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity towards 27-hydroxycholesterol than those from untreated patients, suggesting that the 7 alpha-hydroxylase active towards 27-hydroxycholesterol is not the same as that active towards cholesterol. The mitochondrial fraction of liver from untreated patients and patients treated with cholestyramine, had negligible 7 alpha-hydroxylase activity towards 27-hydroxycholesterol less than 0.01 nmol/mg protein per min). The results are in accord with the possibility that there is a pathway to bile acids in human liver in which the first step is a 27-hydroxylation of cholesterol.     

In-vitro antibiotic resistance of hospital and non-hospital strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa]

The AA report about the resistence towards antibiotics of 42 stocks of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from hospitalized patients and of 18 stocks isolated from non hospitalized patients. The most active antibiotics are Gentamicine, Neomicine and Streptomicine. Interestingly towards Tobramicine no resistence has been detected. The stocks isolated from hospitalized patients have generally shown a higher resistence.     

Experiences and attitudes towards dependence among students in Vukovar, Croatia

The sample consisted of 104 students (male and female) from Croatian town of Vukovar, which was heavily destroyed during the Homeland war in 1991. Through self-report, author researches their experiences and attitudes towards different dependences, from so-called light to so-called heavy dependences. The conclusions of the survey are as following: a) experiences of Vukovar' students differ a lot depending on potential danger of particular dependence, so students prefer so-called light dependences than so-called heavy dependences b) Vukovar' students attitudes towards noxiousness/ usefulness also differ according the potential danger of particular dependence and, again, so-called light dependences are more acceptable for students. c) Students have the same attitudes and experiences towards dependences, apart from gender or educational program. Suggesting the practical preventive usefulness, author stresses that basic conclusion of the survey is that students have positive attitude towards so-called light dependences, which should be changed by better information and education of students.     

Is racism the new sectarianism? Negativity towards immigrants and ethnic minorities in Northern Ireland from 2004 to 2015

Negativity towards ethnic minorities is a serious problem in Northern Ireland. Its history of the Troubles around religious identities makes Northern Ireland a special case in Europe. This paper examines negativity towards Muslims, Eastern Europeans and immigrants in Northern Ireland using data from the Northern Ireland Life and Times Survey and the British Social Attitudes Survey. The results from regressions show that anti-immigrant negativity is no more prevalent in Northern Ireland than elsewhere in the UK. However, levels of negativity towards Muslims and Eastern Europeans are significantly higher than in Great Britain and have increased in recent years, particularly among young adults aged 18–24 years, although older cohorts are more intolerant on average. Our regression analyses found strong positive relationships between anti-immigrant negativity, sectarianism and perceived neighbourhood segregation. Higher education, contacts with minority members and (religiously) mixed schooling are negatively related to negativity towards immigrants.     

Reversible ATP-induced inactivation of branched-chain 2-oxo acid dehydrogenase.

1. Antiserum was raised against purified Wistar-rat liver UDP-glucuronyltransferase. 2. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol, bilirubin, 1-naphthol and morphine were co-immunoprecipitated from solubilized Wistar-rat liver preparations. 3. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards 1-naphthol, 2-aminophenol and 4-nitrophenol were precipitated from solubilized Gunn-rat liver preparations by this antiserum. 4. UDP-glucuronyltransferase activities towards 1-naphthol, 4-nitrophenol and bilirubin, from Wistar-rat liver, were slightly inhibited by antiserum, whereas 1-naphthol UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity from Gunn-rat livers was greatly inhibited. 5. Measurable Wistar-rat liver glucuronyltransferase activities in washed immunoprecipitates indicate that the enzyme(s) were not merely inhibited by antiserum. 6. Immunoglobulin G purified from this antiserum immunoprecipitated transferase activities towards 4-nitrophenol, bilirubin and 1-naphthol. 7. The washed immunoprecipitates from both rat strains, containing UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity, appear to be similar when analysed by sodium dodecyl sulphate/polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis. 8. Radial-immunodiffusion studies suggest that a smaller amount of UDP-glucuronyltransferase protein is present in Gunn-rat liver than in Wistar-rat liver. 9. The significance of these results in relation to the genetic deficiency in the Gunn rat is discussed.     

Synthesis of new 7-chloroquinolinyl thioureas and their biological investigation as potential antimalarial and anticancer agents

New 7-chloroquinolinyl thiourea derivatives derived from the corresponding 4,7-dichloroquinoline isothiocyanate were synthesized and evaluated for in vitro antimalarial and anticancer activity. The most active compound from the series displayed an inhibitory IC(50) value of 1.2 microM against the D10 strain of Plasmodium falciparum. Lack of cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells indicates selectivity towards parasites.     

Prediction of a moving target's position in fast goal-directed action

 Subjects made fast goal-directed arm movements towards moving targets. In some cases, the perceived direction of target motion was manipulated by moving the background. By comparing the trajectories towards moving targets with those towards static targets, we determined the position towards which subjects were aiming at movement onset. We showed that this position was an extrapolation in the target’s perceived direction from its position at that moment using its perceived direction of motion. If subjects were to continue to extrapolate in the perceived direction of target motion from the position at which they perceive the target at each instant, the error would decrease during the movements. By analysing the differences between subjects’ arm movements towards targets moving in different (apparent) directions with a linear second-order model, we show that the reduction in the error that this predicts is not enough to explain how subjects compensate for their initial misjudgements. Received: 10 February 1995/Accepted in revised form: 30 May 1995     

Localization of rat striatal monoamine oxidase activities towards dopamine,serotonin and kynuramine by gradient centrifugation and nigro-striatal lesions

Subfractionation of the crude synaptosomal-mitochondrial fraction of rat striatum in a continuous sucrose gradient in a zonal rotor led to the following results. The distribution pattern of monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity towards dopamine (DA) was very similar to the pattern of MAO activity towards serotonin (5HT), but differed from the pattern of MAO activity towards kynuramine (KYN). As 5HT is specifically deaminated by MAO-A while KYN is a common MAO substrate, this supports earlier suggestions that in rat striatal preparations DA is deaminated preferentially by MAO-A. The patterns of the MAO activities towards DA and 5HT were clearly dissimilar, despite considerable overlap, to the patterns of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and DOPA decarboxylase (DD) activity, both marking the presence of striatal dopaminergic synaptosomes. The peak activities were separated and all patterns were symmetrical without showing a shoulder. This indicates that rat striatal MAO activity towards DA and 5HT is not specifically or for the greater part localized in dopaminergic terminals. We also investigated the effects of electrolytic and 6-hydroxydopamine lesions of the substantia nigra, both causing extensive degeneration of striatal dopaminergic terminals as appeared from the large decrease of striatal TH and DD activity. However, neither type of lesion induced a reduction of the MAO activity towards any of the substrates used. It is concluded towards DA and 5HT (probably MAO-A activity) present in dopaminergic terminals is very low compared with the total activity of this enzyme in rat striatal tissue.     

Le Mésolithique. Continuité et développement métaphysique

The Mesolithic is a fascinating period, where ancient traditions are tilting towards a new paradigm. Many changes can be recognised without being able to establish a real split with the Palaeolithic. Far from being just a bridge towards the Neolithic, the Mesolithic is truly a new and stable metaphysical structure. In our article, we are interested in the structural mechanisms by which Palaeolithic metaphysics slides towards the Mesolithic, where the individual occupies a central role.     

A stereoscopic analysis of the centrosome structure in tissue culture cells under the action of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone and ouabain]

The action of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) and ouabain results in significant increase of the quantity of microtubules with attached and free proximal end around the centrosome. The majority of free microtubules are oriented with their proximal ends towards the heads of pericentriolar satellites or towards the walls of centriolar cylinders. The increasing of total number of microtubules is the result of the increasing of microtubules attached to or oriented towards the pericentriolar satellites. Comparing the action of FCCP and ouabain from one side and taxol from the other side it is possible to conclude that FCCP and ouabain promote the initiation of microtubule growth in the centrosome of they have an influence on the frequency of separation of the microtubules from microtubule nucleating centers.     

植物绿叶粗蛋白在SDS—PAGE中向负极泳动的富含苯丙氨酸的碱性蛋白的测定

提取菜心(BrassicacampestrisL.ssp.chinensis(L.)Makinovar.utillisTsenetLee)和生菜(LactucasativaL.)绿叶粗蛋白,经SDS-变性后作醋酸纤维素薄膜电泳,证实这两种蔬菜含有分别向负极泳动和向正极泳动的蛋白。菜心绿叶粗蛋白经SDS-PAGE电泳后,从负极电泳缓冲液中获得向负极泳动的蛋白,其苯丙氨酸含量为57.05%,碱性/酸性氨基酸残基的比例为3.04,表明是富含苯丙氨酸的碱性蛋白。