Anthropological studies in Assam, India. 2. Observations on Muslims

Six Muslim groups from various parts of Assam (Goalpara, Kamrup, Darrang, Nowgong, Sibsagar and Dibrugarh) have been analysed for the distribution of anthropometric and dermatoglyphic traits as well as for that of AB0 blood groups and PTC taste sensitivity. The intergroup variability in the distribution of all these anthropological characters is considerable. The possible reasons therefore are discussed.     

Anthropological studies in Assam, India. 6. Differentiation processes among Assamese populations

In 1978-79 13 Assamese populations--two Muslim groups, five Mongoloid groups and 6 Hindu caste groups--have been investigated for the distribution of anthropometric, anthroposcopic and dermatoglyphic traits as well as for the distribution of ABO blood groups and PTC taste sensitivity. Except for finger ridge patterns all traits under investigation showed a marked intergroup variability. For anthropometric, anthroposcopic and dermatoglyphic traits a clear differentiation in Mongoloid populations on one hand and Hindu caste groups on the other could be observed and be substantiated by results of corresponding distance analyses. With regard to Muslims it has to be distinguished between Marias who seem to be more closely related to Mongoloid populations and Sheikhs whose phenotypic appearance is more like that of the Hindu caste groups. The results are discussed.     

Properties of amidated pectins. II. Polyelectrolyte behavior and calcium binding of amidated pectins and amidated pectic acids

The intrinsic pK values, as well as the free fractions of sodium and calcium counterions, were determined on salt-free solutions of amidated pectinates and amidated pectates. The apparent pK values were non dependent of the degree of amidation but only to the effective charge density of the pectic polymers and an unique value of 2.9 ± 0.1 was found for the intrinsic pK value. The results obtained by conductimetry and with (sodium and calcium) specific electrodes showed a blockwise distribution of amide and acid groups in amidated pectates and a blockwise distribution of amide groups and a rather statistical distribution of acid groups in amidated pectinates.     

Anthropological studies in Assam, India. 3. Observations on three Brahmin groups

Three Brahmin groups from Lower, Middle and Upper Assam (Kamrup, Darrang, Sibsagar) have been investigated for the distribution of anthropometric and dermatoglyphic traits as well as for that of ABO blood groups and PTC taste sensitivity. The intergroup variability is discussed.     

Anthropological studies in Assam, India. 1. Observations on five Mongoloid populations

Five Mongoloid population groups from Upper Assam (Ahom, Chutia, Deuri, Mishing and Moran) have been investigated for the distribution of anthropometric and dermatoglyphic traits as well as for that of ABO blood groups and PTC taste sensitivity. The results are discussed with special reference to extent and causes of intergroup variability.     

The effect of delayed preconditioning on connexin 43 in ischemic myocardium.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of preconditioning on the restoration and distribution of connexin 43 (Cx43) in ischemic myocardium in dogs. In this study, 40 dogs were randomly divided into 5 groups of 8 as follows: control, 0hI-R (ischemia followed by 0 h reperfusion), 6hI-R (ischemia followed by 6 h reperfusion), 24hI-R (ischemia followed by 24 h reperfusion), and 48hI-R (ischemia followed by 48 h reperfusion). Four dogs in each group were preconditioned with brief episodes of ischemia prior to the respective treatments and were referred as the PC groups, while the other 4 were not preconditioned and were referred as the nonPC groups. The myocardial ischemia was induced by ligation of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The expression and distribution of Cx43 within the ischemic myocardium were measured by Western blot analysis and studied using laser confocal microscopy using a double-label immunohistochemistry technique. Compared with the control group, there was a significant reduction in Cx43 content within ischemic myocardium of all test groups both with and without PC (P < 0.01, P < 0.05). Within the 0hI-R, 6hI-R, and 24hI-R groups, an insignificant difference was found in the expression and distribution of Cx43 within the ischemic region between the PC and the nonPC groups. However, in the 48hI-R group, the area and intensity of Cx43 staining within the ischemic region of the PC dogs were significantly larger and more intense than those of the nonPC dogs (P < 0.01), and the ratio of Cx43 pixel density in intercalated disk areas to that in side-to-side junction areas in the PC dogs was significantly greater than that in nonPC dogs (P < 0.01). Our results suggest that preconditioning has a significant effect on the restoration and distribution of Cx43 in the ischemic myocardium in dogs after 48 h. Hence, preconditioning may be a plausible cause for the observed reductions in cardiac arrhythmias.     

Wolbachia bacteria of filarial nematodes.

The finding that the intracellular bacteria of filarial nematodes are related to the Wolbachia symbionts of arthropods has generated great interest. Here, Mark Taylor and Achim Hoerauf review recent studies by several groups on the structure, distribution and phylogeny of these endosymbionts, and discuss the potential role for these bacteria in filarial disease and as a target for chemotherapy.     

Human population genetic studies of five hypervariable DNA loci.

Population genetic studies were performed using DNA probes that recognize five hypervariable loci (D2S44, D14S1, D14S13, D17S79, and DXYS14) in the human genome. DNA from approximately 900 unrelated individuals, subdivided into three ethnic groups (American blacks, Caucasians, and Hispanics) were digested with PstI and were successively hybridized to each DNA probe. The number of distinct DNA fragments identified for each of these regions varies from 30 to more than 80. An allele frequency distribution was determined for each locus and each ethnic group. The results show significant differences, between ethnic groups, in the pattern of distribution as well as in the relative frequency of the most common alleles of D2S44, D14S1, and D14S13 but only small differences in others (i.e., D17S79 and DXYS14). The results presented show that the analysis of these loci can have useful applications in population genetics as well as in identity tests.     

中国夏播大豆熟期组归属及地理分布概热研究

栽培大豆品种生育期生态类型分类的主要方法是按生育期长短进行熟期组划分。日长与温度是大豆生育期长短的主要生态因子 ,直接影响大豆生育期生态适应性的形成 ,决定了生育期长度与地理纬度、海拔高度和种植季节类型等有着密切联系。因此 ,对我国大豆进行熟期组划分具有重要意义。美国自 Regional Soybean Laboratory建立后 ,由 Cater等人逐步发展成一套大豆熟期组划分方法 ,迄今已将美国大豆划分为 0 0 0～ 共 1 3个熟期组[5] 。这种划分方法及标准逐渐被世界大豆主产国采纳而成为国际通用方法。随着国际资源交流的日益发展 ,我国愈益需…     

Fine structure of ribosomal RNA. II. Distribution of methylated sequences within Xenopus laevis rRNA.

The distribution of methyl groups in rRNA from Xenopus laevis was analyzed by hybridization of rRNA to subfragments of either of two cloned rDNA fragments, X1r11 and X1r12, which together constitute a complete rDNA repeat unit. Using a mixture of 3H-methyl plus 32P-labelled rRNA as probe, the molar yield of methyl groups per rRNA region in hybrid could be calculated. For this calculation the length of the rRNA coding region in each DNA subfragment is needed, which was determined for X1r11 subfragments by the nuclease S1 mapping method of Berk and Sharp. The results show that both in 18S and 28S rRNA the methyl groups are nonrandomly distributed. For 18S rRNA, clustering was found within a 3' terminal fragment of 310 nucleotides. For 28S rRNA, clustering of methyl groups was found within a region of 750 nucleotides in length, which ends 500 nucleotides from the 3' end. In contrast, the 28S rRNA 5' terminal region of 900 nucleotides is clearly undermethylated. The general position of methyl groups in 28S rRNA correlates with the location of evolutionarily conserved sequences in this molecule, as recently determined in our laboratory.     

Telomeric repeats of Tetrahymena malaccensis mitochondrial DNA: a multimodal distribution that fluctuates erratically during growth.

The linear mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Tetrahymena malaccensis has tandem 52-base-pair repeats at its telomeres. The mtDNA has a multimodal distribution of telomeres. Different groups in the distribution have different numbers of telomeric repeats. The standard deviation of the size of each end group is independent of the mean size of the end group. The two sides of the mtDNA have different multimodal distributions of repeats. Cloned cell lines have multimodal distributions of mtDNA telomeres distinct from that of the original cell line. The number of telomere end groups and the average size of the end groups change in an erratic fashion as the cells are passaged and do not reach a stable equilibrium distribution in 185 generations. We propose that the mean size of a telomere end group and the size distribution of an end group are independently regulated. The system controlling the average size of end groups may be defective in T. malaccensis, since a closely related species (T. thermophila) does not have a multimodal distribution of mtDNA telomeres. T. hyperangularis, which has different telomeric repeats on each side of its mtDNA, has a multimodal distribution of mtDNA telomeres on only one side, suggesting that the mechanism controlling the average number of repeats in an end group can be sequence specific. These mitochondrial telomeres provide a new example of the more general phenomenon of expansion and contraction of arrays of repeated sequences seen, for example, with simple-sequence "satellite" DNAs; however, the mitochondrial telomeres change on a very short time scale.     

Biostatics of the tibial shaft.

In all, 56 tibiae from Lapps and 56 tibiae from Norwegians have been studied. These ethnic groups represent different weight bearing situations. Only measurements referring to the diaphysis are presented. The bones are studied in the AP and ML planes and at different transverse sections. The material is analyzed statistically. The distribution form is examined. Chiefly positive skewness occurs. Platykurtosis is found twice as often as leptokurtosis. A differentiated pattern of distribution seems to be the case regarding measurements in the lower extremities. This corresponds to the influence of variable hereditary and external factors. Divergencies from standard normal distribution is compared with differences between groups. In some cases differences are influenced by platykurtosis and skewness. Divergence from standard normal distribution could not be traced back to measuring errors, special features of the bone or special sex characteristics. The divergencies are not supposed to affect the results to any noteworthy extent. Female Lapps show small variances, female Norwegians great variances. In linear variables Lapps generally show smaller values than Norwegians, females smaller values than males. Regarding linear measurements, sex differences are a little more marked than differences between the two ethnic groups. The opposite is the case regarding the angular measurements and the indices. The sex differences in linear measurements are smaller in Lapps than in Norwegians. The opposite is the case regarding the length of the bone. In Lapps, angular measurements and indices show no significant sex differences. Regarding linear measurements, differences between the ethnic groups are mostly due to differences between the males. The opposite may be said about the indicnes. The variations of the tibia recorded and discussed in the present paper are the results of mechanical factors influencing the basic processes in functional bone remodelling. The periosteal ossification is particularly involved in the dimensions of the shaft, the epiphyseal cartilage in the length dimensions. Particularly important is the relation between the weight bearing line and the diaphysial axis of the bone, and the muscles activated by variation is this relation.     

www.freshwaterecology.info – An online tool that unifies,standardises and codifies more than 20,000 European freshwater organisms and their ecological preferences

Species’ ecological preferences are progressively important for understanding distribution patterns, for conserving biodiversity or for assessing and evaluating the status of freshwater ecosystems. Comprehensive databases compiling species traits are already established in the terrestrial realm, but widely missing in freshwater science. We established a database for European taxa of five aquatic organism groups by compiling information on taxonomy, ecology and distribution based on extensive literature surveys, which were performed by experts for the targeted organism groups. The database includes fishes (654 taxa/21 ecological preferences), macro-invertebrates (8586/40), macrophytes (1083/5), diatoms (8868/36) and phytoplankton (1976/4). It is available online with various options and tools for finding information and has currently over 800 users. The reviewed literature as well as examples given in this paper, highlight the importance of the general availability of knowledge on ecological preferences for various aspects in ecological assessment. Freshwaterecology.info is considered a service for basic research, applied scientists, water managers or other stakeholders. It serves as base for bioassessment and monitoring.     

Genetic studies of low abundance human plasma proteins. II. Population genetics of coagulation factor XIIIB.

Plasma samples from a large number of different ethnic groups, consisting of U.S. whites, U.S. blacks, Eskimos from Kodiak and St. Lawrence Island, Aleuts of the Pribilof Islands, and three Amerindian groups from Canada and Mexico have been analyzed by isoelectric focusing followed by immunoblotting to determine the magnitude of genetic variation at the F XIIIB structural locus. The synthesis of published data and our new data demonstrate remarkable variation in the distribution of the three common alleles at this locus and establishes F XIIIB as an extremely informative marker for population differentiation and evolutionary studies. Genetic distance analysis based on this variation separates Caucasian, black, and Mongoloid populations into three distinct clusters.     

5. Biogeography of desmids

Compared with other groups of unicellular freshwater algae, desmids lend themselves well to biogeographical studies since, at species level, identification is often relatively easy, whereas high ecological demands use to curtain their geographical distribution. Considering some ten desmid floral regions as distinguished in the beginning of this century, Indo-Malaysia/Northern Australia, tropical America, and equatorial Africa come to the fore as most pronounced. Also well typified are Eastern Asia, New Zealand/Southern Australia, and North America. Less endemic species are met with in Southern Africa and extratropical South America, whereas temperate Eurasia, with respect to the other continents, is mainly negatively characterized. The so-called arctic-alpine desmid flora may be encountered on all continents, provided that adequate minimum temperatures occur. Its distribution seems to be determined microclimatologically rather than macroclimatologically. Arguments for a tropical origin of the desmids as an algal group are adduced.     

Posttranslational modifications to human bone sialoprotein determined by mass spectrometry.

Bone sialoprotein (BSP) is an acidic 301 amino acid protein expressed by osteoblasts and at a low level by hypertrophic chondrocytes. Its expression is highest during early stages of bone formation, and it is particularly abundant in the cells lining the surface of newly formed trabeculae. BSP contains numerous substituents which are anionic in nature and apparently essential for the function of the protein. Thus, the proposed role of BSP in hydroxyapatite nucleation and growth may depend on such modifying groups. The posttranslational modifications include several acidic oligosaccharides as well as phosphate and sulfate groups. This work combines matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry with selective enzyme treatment of BSP to provide new information on the precise distribution and structure of oligosaccharides, sulfate, and phosphate groups in BSP isolated from human bone. The results provide a high level of detail in the location of these modifying groups toward the end of providing a basis for further understanding the function of BSP in bone nucleation.     

Urban plant ecology patterns and processes: a case study of the flora of the City of Plymouth, Devon, U. K.

Aim Using a large database that has been created over the past 5 years with the RECORDER package, presence/absence data for 829 species of vascular plants in the 103 1-km² squares that cover the city of Plymouth (pop. 243,373) have been analysed by two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN ) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) to establish the major species assemblages and to examine their spatial distribution across the city in relation to variation in land use. Location The City of Plymouth. Methods Nine groupings of squares emerged and their distribution was mapped across the city. Interpretation of those groups and their variation in relation to the land use ordination axes showed that TWINSPAN groups lying along the first axis of variation correlated floristic variation with the process of urban development and the historical evolution of urban structure. The second axis appeared to be related to particular remnant semi-natural habitats within the city that could be regarded as ‘hot-spots’ for survival of many plant species. Species were categorized into four types on the basis of their recency and mode of arrival in the city and by using the historical flora of Plymouth produced by T. R. Archer-Briggs in 1880. Variations in the sources of species in relation to the TWINSPAN classification groups were then examined. A second ordination was also computed; this time with geological, altitudinal and distance variables. TWINSPAN groups were then superimposed on the ordinations using polygons to assist with biogeographical interpretation. Results and conclusions The results of both the multivariate analyses and distribution of species by source are then discussed in the context of previous research into urban plant ecology, particularly in Central Europe. The problems of inferring process from pattern in this meso-scale study are reviewed and suggestions are made for further research into urban ecology and biogeography in the city.     

Polyethyleneimine in immobilization of biocatalysts.

A variety of polymers with amino pendant groups have been accepted as suitable enzyme carriers. A number of synthesis strategies and techniques are adopted to anchor enzymes. The polymers are activated through derivatization either prior to or during adsorption to facilitate the covalent binding of enzyme. Polyethyleneimine (PEI), with the highest concentration of amino groups, has found acceptance as a carrier in a number of industrial immobilized biosystems. The two forms of PEI known are the linear crystalline type and the more important amorphous branched structure with a distribution of primary, secondary, and tertiary amino groups in the ratio 1:2:1. The primary and secondary amino groups are conveniently modified to generate facile enzyme carriers. A number of patents have been filed on the use of PEI to bind a rich variety of enzymes and whole cells. This review is primarily a compilation of these reports and purports to highlight the potential of PEI.     

Dynamical search for bis-penicillamine enkephalin conformations.

Quenched molecular dynamics is used as a conformational search technique for the constrained cyclic analog [D-Pen2,D-Pen5]enkephalin (DPDPE) in a continuum solvent. The results show a Gaussianlike distribution of conformations as a function of energy, unlike the distributions found for simple liquids which have sharp bands for different crystal forms and broad glasslike states are found. The lowest energy conformers have structural features in common with those obtained from constrained searches based on energy minimization. (Hruby, V. J., L-.F. Kao, B. M. Pettitt, and M. Karplus. 1988. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 110:3351-3359). Many of the low energy configurations are amphiphilic with the carbonyl groups on one surface and the hydrophobic groups on the other. This supports the conclusions from the previous modeling study, which yielded amphiphilic structures as the most probable conformations of DPDPE when NOE data were included.     

Microsatellite-based characterization of the Castanea sativa cultivar heritage of southern Switzerland.

Southern Switzerland has a long tradition of chestnut cultivation as a staple food. Local inhabitants constantly selected varieties according to the ripening period, the type of use, and the adaptability to the territory. As a result, the panorama of chestnut varieties is very complex, as reflected by more than 120 different variety names in an area of 26,000 ha. Since 1994, 47 varieties have been conserved in the chestnut germplasm of southern Switzerland (CSS), including Marroni, Euro-Japanese, and French varieties. A selection of 164 individuals from the CSS was analysed by 8 SSR markers (4 of which were developed in this study). Microsatellite analysis indicated that the CSS was accurately established, as 86% of the individuals grafted were correctly labeled. The identification of 98 genotypes, 10 clonal chestnut groups, 4 synonym groups, and 12 homonym groups reflected the complex ethnogeographical structure of the chestnut distribution. The 17 Marroni individuals considered clustered in 2 differentiated genetic groups instead of only 1 as expected. The fundamental problem of the frequent cases of homonymy and synonymy is discussed, as is the need for criteria for discriminating between polyclonal varieties and distinct homonymous varieties.