Colour symbolism in the lower Congo — A review article

Red‐White‐Black as a Mode of Thought: A Study of Triadic Classification by Colours in the Ritual Symbolism and Cognitive Thought of the Peoples of the Lower Congo. Anita Jacobson‐Widding. (Uppsala Studies in Cultural Anthropology, 1.) Uppsala: Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis, distributed by Almqvist & Wiksell International, Stockholm, 1979. 396 pp., bibliography, index; 8 plates, map.     

Temporal,cell-specific,and tissue-preferential expression of myrosinase genes during embryo and seedling development in Sinapis alba

The expression of the genes for two types of myrosinase (EC 3.2.3.1), designated MA and MB, during embryo and seedling development was investigated in Sinapis alba L. by in-situ and RNA slot-blot analyses. The expression of MA and MB genes followed similar temporal profiles during embryogenesis, but MB mRNA was present in considerably higher amounts than MA mRNA. In the embryo, both MA and MB genes are activated in cotyledons and axis. The MB genes are preferentially expressed in the cotyledons whereas MA genes are preferentially expressed in the axis. In the developing seedling, MA mRNA was not present in the organs investigated. By contrast, MB mRNA was found in appreciable amounts in hypocotyls, cotyledons and developing leaves. The MB genes seem to be activated preferentially in tissues undergoing rapid cell division and — or cell expansion.Abbreviations DAP days after pollination - MA, MB A type, B type myrosinases in Sinapis alba Anna-Stina Höglund (Uppsala Genetic Center) is gratefully acknowledged for valuable discussion, Anders Gobl (Department of Immunology, Uppsala University) for kindly advice with the labeling of probes and Qingzhu Zhai (Department of Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Uppsala University) for help with seed harvest. This work was supported by grants from the Swedish Research Council for Forestry and Agriculture.     

Beyond Territory and Scarcity: Exploring Conflicts over Natural Resource Management

Beyond Territory and Scarcity: Exploring Conflicts over Natural Resource Management. Quentin Gausset, Michael A. Whyte, and Torben Birch-Thomsen, eds. Uppsala: Nordiska Afrikainstitutet, 2005. 218 pp.     

Tribes of Boraginoideae (Boraginaceae) and placement of Antiphytum, Echiochilon, Ogastemma and Sericostoma: A phylogenetic analysis based on atpB plastid DNA sequence data

 The genera Antiphytum, Echiochilon, Ogastemma and Sericostoma, which have been difficult to place within the tribes of the subfamily Boraginoideae (Boraginaceae), are analysed using plastid atpB sequence data. A selection of Boraginaceae genera was used to obtain a framework for the phylogenetic position of Antiphytum, Echiochilon, Ogastemma and Sericostoma. Sericostoma is found to belong within Echiochilon. The new tribe Echiochileae, Boragineae and Lithospermeae are monophyletic but the tribes Eritrichieae and Cynoglosseae are paraphyletic. The biogeography of Echiochileae (Echiochilon and Ogastemma from Africa and western Asia, and Antiphytum from America) is discussed. Received November 27, 2001; accepted March 20, 2002 Published online: November 14, 2002 ? Springer-Verlag 2002 Addresses of the authors: Elisabeth L?ngstr?m (e-mail: elisabeth.langstrom@ebc.uu.se), Department of Systematic Botany, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyv?gen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden. Mark W. Chase, Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, TW9 3DS, UK.     

The anthropological dilemma of the small town: A review article

Jonathan Baker (ed.). 1997. Rural‐Urban Dynamics in Francophone Africa. Uppsala: Scandinavian Institute of African Studies. 201 pp.     

Freezing dog semen in presence of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene improves postthaw sperm membrane integrity

In an attempt to evaluate the protective effect of a lipid-soluble antioxidant (butylated hydroxytoluene; BHT), semen from four dogs (Canis familiaris) was frozen in two different extenders (Uppsala or INRA-96 plus glycerol) with or without 1 mM BHT. Sperm membrane integrity using flow cytometry and motility using a computerized system were evaluated in each experimental group. The Uppsala extender was superior in all aspects of sperm function. The percentage of sperm membranes was significantly higher in semen samples frozen in presence of BHT. Our results suggest that the Uppsala extender can be improved with the addition of BHT.     

Patrilateral lineation in transition

Reindeer‐Herd Management in Transition: The Case of Tuorpon Saameby in Northern Sweden. Hugh Beach (Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis/Uppsala Studies in Cultural Anthropology, 3). Stockholm: Almqvist and Wiksell International, 1981. xix + 542 pp., fold‐out map, other maps, figures, charts, index.     

The species of Hymenoptera described by Linnaeus in the genera Sphex, Chrysis, Vespa, Apis and Mutilla

Data are presented on the type-material representing the species described by Linnaeus in his genera Sphex, Chrysis, Vespa, Apis and Mutilla , The names here considered total 158; six are currently applied in the Hymenoptera Parasitica. Of the balance of 147, three are emendations and five are unavailable homonyms or names proposed in the synonymy of other species. Fifteen Linnaean names are here placed as synonyms. One name is attributed to an author other than Linnaeus, and live names remain species incertae sedis. The remainder, 118, are applied as valid names in die Hymenoptera Aculeata. Holotype specimens in London, Uppsala or Stockholm represent 60 names; 55 names are based on lectotype specimens of which 49 are here designated, two by other authors. One name is represented by a neotype specimen in Lund, and one by a lectotype figure. One non-aculeate species is based on syntypes. Specimens appear to be lost with respect to 25 names; three specimens in Uppsala may be the holotypes of a further three species.
Eight new combinations are made, and twelve new synonyms established; three further new combinations and three further new synonymies are suggested. A systematically arranged summary of species treated and of nomenclatural changes made is given. Nomenclatural changes affecting non-Linnaean names are included where relevant; lectotypes are designated for two non-Linnaean species.     

The Anatomy of Oxypolella bergendali sp.n., a New Nemertine from the West Coast of Sweden

Cantell, C.-E. (Zoological Institute, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden.) The anatomy of Oxypolella bergendali sp.n., a new nemertine from the west coast of Sweden. Zool. Scripta 1(2): 79–84, 1972. –Oxypolella bergendali sp.n. belonging to the family Baseodis-cidae is described. It resembles Oxypolella alba Bergendal but differs in the structure of the proboscis and in the bulging of the cerebral organs into the lateral vessels. Oxypolella bergendali has several primitive features and can be regarded as intermediate between the Hubrechtia-hke forms and the primitive lineids.     

Short reviews of Nordic publications

Rydin, H., Snoeijs, P. & Diekmann, M. (eds.) 1999. Swedish plant geography ‐ Dedicated to Eddy van der Maarel on his 65th birthday. 233 pp. Opulus Press, Uppsala. ISBN 91–7210–084–2 (paperback), 91–7210–484–8 (cloth). Price: USD 56.‐ (paperback); xx USD (cloth). Joost: graag even checken     

Über die Bedeutung der Zellstruktur für den harmonischen Verlauf des Stoffwechsels in der Zelle

Ohne ZusammenfassungVortrag, gehalten in der Chemischen Gesellschaft zu Uppsala am 27. September 1940.     

Development and application of a two-tier multiple-choice diagnostic test for high school students’ understanding of cell division and reproduction

Department of Physiological Botany, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden Hydrogen gas is regarded as a potential candidate for a future energy economy. Research and development in the field of hydrogen energy is greatly encouraged on all continents. A wide range of microorganisms are able to produce hydrogen gas, among them photosynthetically active organisms that use light as their sole energy source. These organisms are good candidates for the photobiological production of hydrogen gas. Green algae are of particular interest since they are capable of splitting water during photosynthesis and of releasing hydrogen gas under certain conditions. This article describes a small bioreactor that can be run in the classroom and used to demonstrate the concept of photohydrogen production.     

Biotech Reviews

Cover illustration: Biotech Reviews. This issue of BTJ features six expert reviews in different fields of biotechnology, selected by BTJ Reviews Editor Sophia Hober (Stockholm, Sweden). Highlights include model organism C. elegans, synthetic biology, tissue engineering, biofuels, biofilms and glycobiotechnology. Image: Confocal micrograph of human primary fibroblasts growing on recombinant spider silk fibers (4RepCT). Provided by Dr. Hedhammar, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. The fibers are shown in red, nuclei in bright red and filamentous actin in green. Original magnification: 20x.     

Asclepiadoideae and Periplocoideae (Apocynaceae s.l.) of the Thunberg herbarium

The 141 specimens of Asclepiadoideae and Periplocoideae in the Thunberg herbarium, Uppsala, Sweden, are identified according to the most recent classification of the two subfamilies.     

Relation of size at birth to non-insulin dependent diabetes and insulin concentrations in men aged 50-60 years.

OBJECTIVE: To establish whether the relation between size at birth and non-insulin dependent diabetes is mediated through impaired beta cell function or insulin resistance. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Uppsala, Sweden. SUBJECTS: 1333 men whose birth records were traced from a cohort of 2322 men born during 1920-4 and resident in Uppsala in 1970. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Intravenous glucose tolerance test at age 50 years and non-insulin dependent diabetes at age 60 years. RESULTS: There was a weak inverse correlation (r=-0.07, P=0.03) between ponderal index at birth and 60 minute insulin concentrations in the intravenous glucose tolerance test at age 50 years. This association was stronger (r=-0.19, P=0.001) in the highest third of the distribution of body mass index than in the other two thirds (P=0.01 for the interaction between ponderal index and the body mass index). Prevalence of diabetes at age 60 years was 8% in men whose birth weight was less than 3250 g compared with 5% in men with birth weight 3250 g or more (P=0.08; 95% confidence interval for difference -0.3% to 6.8%). There was a stronger association between diabetes and ponderal index: prevalence of diabetes was 12% in the lowest fifth of ponderal index compared with 4% in the other four fifths (P=0.001; 3.0% to 12.6%). CONCLUSION: These results confirm that reduced fetal growth is associated with increased risk of diabetes and suggest a specific association with thinness at birth. This relation seems to be mediated through insulin resistance rather than through impaired beta cell function and to depend on an interaction with obesity in adult life.     

The many faces of plant chromatin: Meeting summary of the 4th European workshop on plant chromatin 2015, Uppsala,Sweden

In June 2015, the fourth European Workshop on Plant Chromatin took place in Uppsala, Sweden, bringing together 80 researchers studying various aspects of plant chromatin and epigenetics. The intricate relationships between plant chromatin dynamics and gene expression change, chromatin organization within the plant cell nucleus, and the impact of chromatin structure on plant development were discussed. Among the main highlights of the meeting were an ever-growing list of newly identified players in chromatin structure establishment and the development of novel tools and approaches to foster our understanding of chromatin-mediated gene regulation, taking into account the context of the plant cell nucleus and its architecture. In this report, we summarize some of the main advances and prospects of plant chromatin research presented at this meeting.     

Zum Vorkommen vonEndoderma perforans Huber im Salzlachengebiet am Neusiedler See

Ohne ZusammenfassungFür wertvolle Hilfe bei der Identifizierung der Alge und wichtige Literaturhinweise möchte ich an dieser Stelle Herrn Doz. MatsWaern vom Pflanzenbiologischen Institut in Uppsala meinen herzlichsten Dank aussprechen.     

A new dissimilarity measure and a new optimality criterion in phytosociological classification

A new dissimilarity measure, Uppsala dissimilarity, is proposed. It is a Manhattan-type measure in between the Canberra and Gower measures, based on the differences between scores in relevés compared, but it also takes both the sums of scores and the difference between maximum and minimum score into account. The measure is considered realistic for phytosociological material.A new optimality criterion has been developed after unsatisfactory results had been obtained with the DOL criterion (Popma et al. 1983) which was developed previously by our group. Problems with DOL were especially met when the criterion was applied to the distribution of only one species over the cluster array obtained. The new criterion takes both internal cluster homogeneity and between-cluster dissimilarity into account. Between-cluster dissimilarity is calculated for all other clusters and not only for the nearest neighbour, as in DOL. The new criterion has both an unweighted form: SOM, and a form with weighting for cluster size: SWOM.This new criterion was successfully applied to the evaluation of the sharpness of distribution of individual species over cluster arrays, under the name of SIM: species indication measure and SWIM, species weighted indication measure.The measures were applied to some test data. Differences between the unweighted and weighted forms were found which could not be easily interpreted.Some remarks are made on the coherence of d-SAHN and h-SAHN approaches in agglomerative clustering within the new strategy proposed.Abbreviations DOL = Detection of Optimal Level - S(W)IM = Species (Weighted) Indication Measure - S(W)OM = Standardized (Weighted) Optimality Measure - UD = Uppsala Dissimilarity measure - WPGMA = Weighted Pair-Group Method Average linking clustering - SAHN = Sequential Agglomerative Hierarchical Non-overlapping clustering     

The Application of “The Uppsala NMR-Window” Concept for Conformational Analysis of Large DNA & RNA by High-Field NMR Spectroscopy

Abstract

A summary of “the Uppsala NMR-window” concept (see refs. 1–9) developed for the high-field NMR studies of the solution structure of biologically functional DNAs and RNAs is presented.     

Radioautographic,ultrastructural and biochemical studies on the effect of fluorouracil on the RNA synthesis in the liver of rats

Summary The effects of fluorouracil and uracil on the ultrastructure and RNA synthesis in the liver of rats have been studied. High doses of uracil, contrary to fluorouracil, had no effects on nucleolar ultrastructure. Fluorouracil, even in low doses, depressed the RNA synthesis as studied after cytidine-³H administration. In the radioautographs the depression was especially seen to affect the cytoplasmic labelling. The biochemical analysis showed signs of a depression of ribosomal RNA synthesis and a block or delay in the maturation of ribosomal RNA. Repeated, high doses of uracil also depressed the RNA synthesis but there did not seem to be any delay in the maturation of ribosomal RNA. The results suggest that fluorouracil may affect the RNA metabolism in the nucleoli.The investigation was supported by grants from the Swedish Medical Research Council (Project K 67–12 X-623-03), the Swedish Cancer Society (Project 67:31) and the Medical Faculty of Uppsala.