An enhanced humoral immune response against the swimbladder nematode, Anguillicola crassus, in the Japanese eel, Anguilla japonica, compared with the European eel, A. anguilla.

The humoral immune response in the two eel species, Anguilla japonica and Anguilla anguilla against two fractions of antigens in Anguillicola crassus were studied. Within species, both eel species showed significantly elevated titres compared with controls when immunized with antigens from Anguillicola crassus. In interspecific comparison, Anguilla japonica showed significantly elevated titres in comparison with Anguilla anguilla. Immunization of Anguilla anguilla caused a significantly decrease in the plasma levels of protein in comparison with control fish and all groups of Anguilla japonica. In contrast, Anguilla japonica showed significantly lower plasma levels of Ig in all groups compared with Anguilla anguilla. The different susceptibilities to Anguillicola crassus between the natural host, Anguilla japonica, and the naive, Anguilla anguilla, is partly due to differences in the ability of the two eel species to mount a humoral immune response.     

Surface motifs by a computer vision technique: Searches,detection, and implications for protein–ligand recognition

We describe the application of a method geared toward structural and surface comparison of proteins. The method is based on the Geometric Hashing Paradigm adapted from Computer Vision. It allows for comparison of any two sets of 3-D coordinates, such as protein backbones, protein core or protein surface motifs, and small molecules such as drugs. Here we apply our method to 4 types of comparisons between pairs of molecules: (1) comparison of the backbones of two protein domains; (2) search for a predefined 3-D C_α motif within the full backbone of a domain; and in particular, (3) comparison of the surfaces of two receptor proteins; and (4) comparison of the surface of a receptor to the surface of a ligand. These aspects complement each other and can contribute toward a better understandingof protein structure and biomolecular recognition. Searches for 3-D surface motifs can be carried out on either receptors or on ligands. The latter may result in the detection of pharmacophoric patterns. If the surfaces of the binding sites of either the receptors or of the ligands are relatively similar, surface superpositioning may aid significantly in the docking problem. Currently, only distance invariants are used in the matching, although additional geometric surface invariants are considered. The speed of our Geometric Hashing algorithm is encouraging, with a typical surface comparison taking only seconds or minutes of CPU time on a SUN 4 SPARC workstation. The direct application of this method to the docking problem is also discussed. We demonstrate the success of this methodin its application to two members of the globin family and to two dehydrogenases. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A simple topological representation of protein structure: implications for new, fast, and robust structural classification

A topological representation of proteins is developed that makes use of two metrics: the Euclidean metric for identifying natural nearest neighboring residues via the Delaunay tessellation in Cartesian space and the distance between residues in sequence space. Using this representation, we introduce a quantitative and computationally inexpensive method for the comparison of protein structural topology. The method ultimately results in a numerical score quantifying the distance between proteins in a heuristically defined topological space. The properties of this scoring scheme are investigated and correlated with the standard Calpha distance root-mean-square deviation measure of protein similarity calculated by rigid body structural alignment. The topological comparison method is shown to have a characteristic dependence on protein conformational differences and secondary structure. This distinctive behavior is also observed in the comparison of proteins within families of structural relatives. The ability of the comparison method to successfully classify proteins into classes, superfamilies, folds, and families that are consistent with standard classification methods, both automated and human-driven, is demonstrated. Furthermore, it is shown that the scoring method allows for a fine-grained classification on the family, protein, and species level that agrees very well with currently established phylogenetic hierarchies. This fine classification is achieved without requiring visual inspection of proteins, sequence analysis, or the use of structural superimposition methods. Implications of the method for a fast, automated, topological hierarchical classification of proteins are discussed.     

Individual Differences in Inhibitory Control,Not Non-Verbal Number Acuity,Correlate with Mathematics Achievement

Given the well-documented failings in mathematics education in many Western societies, there has been an increased interest in understanding the cognitive underpinnings of mathematical achievement. Recent research has proposed the existence of an Approximate Number System (ANS) which allows individuals to represent and manipulate non-verbal numerical information. Evidence has shown that performance on a measure of the ANS (a dot comparison task) is related to mathematics achievement, which has led researchers to suggest that the ANS plays a critical role in mathematics learning. Here we show that, rather than being driven by the nature of underlying numerical representations, this relationship may in fact be an artefact of the inhibitory control demands of some trials of the dot comparison task. This suggests that recent work basing mathematics assessments and interventions around dot comparison tasks may be inappropriate.     

Thielavia gigaspora, a new thermotolerant ascomycete from Egypt

Thielavia gigaspora sp. nov. from herbivore dung is described and illustrated. The new taxon by comparison with previously known species is distinguished by relatively large ascospores (25-38x15-21mum), each showing an apical, protuberant germ pore and a longitudinal dark band. A brief comparison with morphologically related species is given.     

Kidney esterases of Mus musculus: Further polymorphism of esterase-6, esterase-9, and a new esterase,esterase-20

The comparison of results obtained by different separation and staining techniques permits the definition of esterase-6 in comparison with esterase-9 and a new esterase, esterase-20. Alleles of Es-6 affect the product's ability to aggregate. Esterase-20 may be an aggregated product of Es-9. The close linkage of Es-6 and Es-9 is confirmed. Homology of esterase-6 with esterases from other mammalian species is also suggested.HRN was supported by the Medical Research Council. This is communication No. 32 of a research program devoted to the cellular distribution, genetics, and regulation of nonspecific esterases.     

Sensory Spots of Echinoderes capitatus (Zelinka, 1928) (Kinorhyncha,Cyclorhagida)

The sensory spots of Echinoderes capitatus from the Gulf of Trieste were examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Their arrangement is bilaterally symmetrical and is species-specific. At the cuticle surface the sensory spot appears as a rounded to ovoid area of small cuticular papillae in which two pores open. The sensory organ consists of two different sensory cells, the monociliary receptor and the collar receptor, and one sheath cell. The course of the axons and their connections to the nervous system are described. A survey of collar receptors among invertebrates is given. A comparison of the sensory spots within Kinorhyncha and a comparison with the flosculi of Priapulida and the N-flosculi of Loricifera is made. A possible homology of these three structures is discussed.     

Lack of renal effects of DOCA, ACTH, spironolactone, and angiotensin II in Squalus acanthias

Angiotensin II was infused intravenously in spiny dogfish sharks (Squalus acanthias). There were no significant effects on arterial blood pressure, glomerular filtration rate, urine flow, or Na excretion either in comparison with pre- and postinfusion values or in comparison with values measured in a control group of fish given elasmobranch saline intravenously. In other dogfish, glomerular filtration rate, urine flow, and Na and K excretory rates were measured for 3 days following implantation of desoxycorticosterone (DOCA), adrenocorticotropin (ACTH), or spironolactone; a control group was given no drug. There were no significant differences between these four groups of fish with respect to any of the measured parameters. These results suggest that the dogfish kidney is not a target organ for several substances known to affect renal function, either directly or indirectly, in other animals.     

Peptidase E, a peptidase specific for N-terminal aspartic dipeptides, is a serine hydrolase

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium peptidase E (PepE) is an N-terminal Asp-specific dipeptidase. PepE is not inhibited by any of the classical peptidase inhibitors, and its amino acid sequence does not place it in any of the known peptidase structural classes. A comparison of the amino acid sequence of PepE with a number of related sequences has allowed us to define the amino acid residues that are strongly conserved in this family. To ensure the validity of this comparison, we have expressed one of the most distantly related relatives (Xenopus) in Escherichia coli and have shown that it is indeed an Asp-specific dipeptidase with properties very similar to those of serovar Typhimurium PepE. The sequence comparison suggests that PepE is a serine hydrolase. We have used site-directed mutagenesis to change all of the conserved Ser, His, and Asp residues and have found that Ser120, His157, and Asp135 are all required for activity. Conversion of Ser120 to Cys leads to severely reduced (10(4)-fold) but still detectable activity, and this activity but not that of the parent is inhibited by thiol reagents; these results confirm that this residue is likely to be the catalytic nucleophile. These results suggest that PepE is the prototype of a new family of serine peptidases. The phylogenetic distribution of the family is unusual, since representatives are found in eubacteria, an insect (Drosophila), and a vertebrate (Xenopus) but not in the Archaea or in any of the other eukaryotes for which genome sequences are available.     

Molecular logic: complementarity, learning, and comparison of images in molecular world

It was shown that, using intramolecular transformations and based on the complementarity principle, it is possible to carry out the learning of a molecular system (memorizing of a complex input influence) and subsequent multiple comparison of a new signal with this signal.     

施肥对金盏菊生长、开花及养分吸收的影响

研究了氮、磷、钾不同施肥处理对金盏菊（Calendula officinalisL.）生长、开花、干物质积累量及养分吸收的影响。结果表明：推荐施肥[N-P2O5-K2O：（0.4-0.2-0.3）g/kg]能有效促进金盏菊的生长及花朵开放,其中干物质积累量和总花朵数,分别比不施肥处理增加了264.3%和323.1%,比习惯施肥增加了16.0%和25.0%;不施肥、习惯施肥和推荐施肥三者干物质日积累量高峰均出现在移栽后29～35 d,分别为0.15、0.43、0.42 g/d;各处理氮、磷、钾吸收量之间均存在显著差异,推荐施肥处理N、P、K养分累积量分别为0.33、0.04、0.39 g/株,分别是不施肥处理的6.93倍、3.94倍和3.61倍,为习惯施肥的1.49倍、1.35倍和1.24倍,各处理金盏菊对N、P、K养分吸收比例变幅为1∶（0.13～0.24）∶（1.20～2.30）,平均比例为1∶0.17∶1.65。     

Intraspecific allometry of basal metabolic rate: relations with body size, temperature, composition, and circadian phase in the kestrel, Falco tinnunculus

The relationship between body size and basal metabolic rate (BMR) in homeotherms has been treated in the literature primarily by comparison between species of mammals or birds. This paper focuses on the intraindividual changes in BMR when body mass (W) varies with different maintenance regimens. BMR varied in individual kestrels in proportion to W1.67, which is considerably steeper than the mass exponents for homomorphic change (0.667; Heusner, 1984) for interspecific comparison among all birds (0.677) or raptors (0.678), for interindividual comparison of kestrels on ad libitum maintenance regimens (0.786), and for mass proportionality (1.00). The circadian range of telemetered core temperature also varied more strongly with intraindividual than with interspecific (Aschoff, 1981a) variation in mass. This was due to reduced nocturnal core temperature at low-maintenance regimens, which was, however, insufficient to account for the excessive reduction in BMR. kidney lean mass at Carcass analysis of eight birds sacrificed revealed a disproportionate reduction in heart and kidney lean mass at low-maintenance regimens. We surmise that variation in BMR primarily reflects variation in these metabolically highly active tissues. This may account for positive correlations found between heart, kidney, and BMR residuals relative to interspecific allometric prediction, and between alpha and rho residuals, as expected on the basis of the constant excess of BMR during alpha above BMR during rho (Aschoff & Pohl, 1970a).     

A portable, low-cost, multipurpose, surface-subsurface plankton sampler

This note describes a portable, low-cost, pump-based, multi-purpose,surface–subsurface, phytoplankton and zooplankton sampler.It is self-powered by a small 12 V DC battery, and is portableand ideal for use from a small boat in a river, estuary, orsea. The sampler is equipped with a very sensitive microprocessor-controlledflow sensor for precise determination of the volume of waterprocessed by the sampler. A study was carried out to evaluatethe performance of this sampler in comparison to the conventionaltowed plankton net. The results of this study suggest that thispump-based sampler is as efficient in collecting plankton asusing conventional plankton nets, with little damage to theorganisms.     

Extremitätenreste einer Mönchsrobbe (Phocidae,Carnivora, Mammalia) aus dem Miozän von Bocholt (Niederrhein)

From the Reinbekian deposits of Bocholt (Lower Rhine) a left femur and the distal fragment of a left tibia are described. A comparison with known fossil specimens results no direct conformity. The morphological relationship of the limb bones is nearest to the Monachinae. They are introduced with the termMonotherium sp. Due to their stratigraphical age, in comparison to younger relations, they own some primitive features.     

Growth and secular trend in school-children from Cento, Ferrara, Italy

Growth parameters were surveyed in a sample of 296 Italian children, 6-9 years old, from Cento (Ferrara, Emilia-Romagna). The comparison with children from the same town measured in 1974-75 show changes in some parameters, suggesting an ongoing secular trend. To better understand the observed weight increase and the sex difference, we also evaluated body composition and motricity. The analysis of the present sample is a preliminary part of a longitudinal study dealing with modifications of body composition and motor capacity induced by growth. In our sample the children are growing according to the Italian reference standard. The females present weight, height and Body Mass Index (BMI) values comparable to the 50th centile, while the males present higher values of weight, skinfold thicknesses and BMI. Sex differences in the motor performance were noted. A methodological comparison of obesity assessments based on BMI and percentage of body fat (%F) shows similar conclusions but somewhat different results.     

湖北咸宁飞仙洞新发现的大熊猫化石

<正> 1987年9月,咸宁市古田乡新铺村农民周远文在飞仙洞采石场采集到一较完整的大熊猫头骨化石,即交我馆.我们随即来到现场进行清理,在距头骨采集地点约1米处,找到了大熊猫下颌骨及少量肢骨化石,包括肱骨、髂骨、肘骨、腰带骨等.本文仅对大熊猫头骨及下颌骨化石作一简要的报道.     

Analysis of differences in amino acid substitution patterns, using multilevel G-tests

In this paper, a new algorithm is presented, which makes possible multilevel comparison of BLOSUM protein substitution matrices based on data from different groups of organisms. As an example, a comparison between substitution matrices based on data from two groups of bacterial genomes with different GC content is presented. Our approach includes evaluating the number of amino acid pairs in BLOCKS databases created separately for the two groups of bacteria using protein sequences deposited in the COG database. Differences of distributions of amino acid pair counts are tested using the chi-squared based G-test. Different analysis levels make it possible to distinguish different patterns of amino acid substitution. Application of the algorithm reveals statistically significant differences in amino acid substitution patterns between AT-rich and GC-rich groups of bacterial organisms. The differences are particularly visible in the overall substitution pattern, amino acid conservation pattern and in comparison of substitution patterns for single amino acids. The algorithm presented in this paper can be considered a novel method for multi-level comparison of amino acid substitution patterns. The presented approach is not limited to bacterial organisms and BLOSUM substitution matrices. Statistically significant differences between substitution patterns in the two groups of bacterial organisms with respect to amino acid conservation pattern can be the evidence of different rate of evolutionary change between AT-rich and GC-rich bacterial organisms.     

EFFECT OF GROWTH RATE,MORPHOGENIC ACTIVITY,AND PHYLOGENY ON SHOOT APICAL ULTRASTRUCTURE IN OPUNTIA POLYACANTHA (CACTACEAE)

Dormant short shoot apices of Opuntia polyacantha were cultured under three conditions: cytokinin and high sucrose to stimulate the formation and rapid growth of a leafy long shoot; cytokinin and no sucrose (slow growth of a leafy long shoot); gibberellic acid and high sucrose (rapid growth of a spiny short shoot). These meristems, and also dormant (uncultured) ones, were analyzed by stereological, ultrastructural techniques. By comparing meristems growing with cytokinin but with or without sucrose, correlations between metabolic rate and apical ultrastructure were studied; comparison of leaf-producing and spine-producing meristems permitted examination of correlations with morphogenic role; comparison with published data for four other species permitted study of phylogenetic effects, and comparison with dormant apices revealed information about meristem activation. Ultrastructure varied according to each condition: metabolic rate, morphogenic activity and species can be distinguished by quantitative methods. Apical ultrastructure is most strongly correlated with rate of growth such that apices of differing species resemble each other if growing at similar rates, whereas apices of a single species differ markedly if growing at differing rates or if performing different morphogenic activities. Hyaloplasm is an excellent indicator of metabolic rate; mitochondria, nuclei, and vacuoles are not.     

Effects of prefeeding, extinction, and distraction during sample and comparison presentation on sensitivity to reinforcer frequency in matching to sample

The present experiment examined the effects of several test manipulations on discrimination, accuracy and sensitivity to reinforcer frequency in a conditional discrimination. Four pigeons responded on a multiple schedule of matching to sample procedures in which the reinforcer-frequency ratio for correct comparison choice responding was varied across components within session from 1:9 to 9:1. Following stability, the effects of prefeeding, extinction, and distraction during sample and comparison presentation were assessed. Discrimination accuracy decreased under prefeeding, extinction, and distraction during sample presentation. Sensitivity to reinforcer frequency decreased under prefeeding and extinction. Decreases in sensitivity were positively related to decreases in discrimination accuracy. The decreases in discrimination accuracy and sensitivity under prefeeding and extinction are interpreted as being due to decreases in attending to the sample and comparison stimuli, respectively, possibly mediated by motivational effects of these manipulations. This interpretation is consistent with current conceptualizations of the contingencies that govern conditional-discrimination performance.