Hydrologic Modification and the Loss of Self-organized Patterning in the Ridge–Slough Mosaic of the Everglades

The ridge–slough landscape of the Everglades (Florida, USA), is characterized by elevated ridges dominated by sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) interspersed among deeper sloughs dominated by floating, submerged and emergent macrophytes and calcareous periphyton. Interactions among hydrologic conditions (water depth, hydroperiod), plant composition and production, and respiration are hypothesized to create alternative peat accretion equilibria at the point scale, while spatial interactions among patches create regular pattern at the landscape scale. Despite significant research on these interactions, few studies have examined the hypothesis that the ridge–slough landscape consists of spatially coupled alternative stable patch states, and none has used diagnostic indicators thereof to assess landscape resilience to hydrologic change. Dense random sampling of water depths (a proxy for soil elevation) along a gradient of hydrologic impairment of drained to relatively natural to impounded conditions was used to evaluate four predictions related to this hypothesis: (1) bimodal soil elevation distributions show strong fidelity to community type; (2) positive autocorrelation at short distances with negative values at longer distances; (3) strong anisotropy (diagnostic of flow orientation), and spatial structure (diagnostic of the strength of landscape self-organization); and (4) loss of these features with hydrologic modification. Our results support the hypothesis that soil elevations are strongly bimodal and anisotropic in areas with minimal hydrologic impact, and spatial autocorrelation patterns indicate the operation of scale-dependent feedbacks. These metrics change markedly with hydrologic modification, although with differences between drainage and impoundment. Moreover, changes in landform precede associated changes in vegetation, suggesting their utility as diagnostic indicators of landscape degradation and recovery.     

Simultaneous reconstruction of the secondary bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity: Abbé flap revisited

The purpose of this retrospective study was to review the method of using the Abbé flap for correction of secondary bilateral cleft lip deformity in selected patients with tight upper lip, short prolabium, lack of acceptable philtral column and Cupid's bow definition, central vermilion deficiency, irregular lip scars, and associated nasal deformity. A total of 39 patients with the bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity received Abbé flap and simultaneous nasal reconstruction during a period of 6 years. Mean patient age at the time of the operation was 19.1 years, and ranged from 6.6 to 38.5 years. The average follow-up period was 1.8 years. Fourteen patients had prior orthognathic operations. The Abbé flap was designed 13 to 14 mm in length and 8 to 9 mm in width and contained full-thickness tissue from the central lower lip, with a slightly narrow reverse-V caudal end. The prolabium, including the scars and central vermilion, was excised. Lengthening procedures of the upper lip segments were performed if vertical deficiency existed. Part of the prolabial skin was preserved and mobilized for columellar elongation, if indicated. Open rhinoplasty was carried out with or without cartilage graft for columella and nasal tip reconstruction. Reduction of the alar width and nostrils was achieved by a Z-plasty or excision of scar tissue at the nostril floor. The Abbé flap was then transposed cephalad, insetting into the median defect and sutured in layers. The results demonstrated no flap problems or perioperative complications. Seven patients needed further minor revisions on the nose and/or lip. Laser treatment was used to improve the lip scars in three patients. The patients were satisfied with the final outcome and found the lower lip scars acceptable. In conclusion, the described technique of Abbé flap and simultaneous rhinoplasty is an effective reconstructive method for select patients with bilateral cleft lip and nasal deformity.     

Naiveté and an aquatic-terrestrial dichotomy in the effects of introduced predators

There is much evidence that suggests that freshwater systems are more sensitive to introduced predators than are terrestrial or marine systems. We argue here that this dichotomy reflects widespread naiveté toward introduced predators among freshwater prey. Continental terrestrial animals are seldom naive toward novel predators owing to the homogenizing effects of historical biotic interchanges. Comparable biotic interchanges might have also precluded prey naiveté in most marine systems. By contrast, freshwater systems exhibit persistent large- and small-scale heterogeneity in predation regimes. This heterogeneity promotes naiveté at multiple spatial scales in freshwater prey, thereby producing a systemic vulnerability to introduced predators that is not seen in continental terrestrial or marine systems.     

Modification of the structure of plasmatic membranes of the liver by the action of α-tocopherol in vitro

Biophysics - The effect of the natural antioxidant α-tocopherol in a broad concentration range (10?4–10?25 M) on the viscosity characteristics and thermally induced...     

Kinematic and kinetic analysis of the fouetté turn in classical ballet

The fouetté turn in classical ballet dancing is a continuous turn with the whipping of the gesture leg and the arms and the bending and stretching of the supporting leg. The knowledge of the movement intensities of both legs for the turn would be favorable for the conditioning of the dancer's body. The purpose of this study was to estimate the intensities. The hypothesis of this study was that the intensities were higher in the supporting leg than in the gesture leg. The joint torques of both legs were determined in the turns performed by seven experienced female classical ballet dancers with inverse dynamics using three high-speed cine cameras and a force platform. The hip abductor torque, knee extensor and plantar flexor torques of the supporting leg were estimated to be exerted up to their maximum levels and the peaks of the torques were larger than the peaks of their matching torques of the gesture leg. Thus, the hypothesis was partly supported. Training of the supporting leg rather than the gesture leg would help ballet dancers perform many revolutions of the fouetté turn continuously.     

Diversity and ecology of desmids of peat bogs in the Jizerské hory Mts

The present study focuses on diversity and ecological preferences of desmids in peat bogs in the Jizerské hory Mts (Czech Republic). Altogether 76 desmid algae taxa have been recorded at 18 sites of the study area during our investigation in 2003–2006. Taxa Actinotaenium crassiusculum (De Bary) Teiling, Hyalotheca dissiliens var. tatrica Racib., Staurastrum avicula var. subarcuatum (Wolle) West & G. S. West, S. borgeanum Schmidle, S. simonyi var. semicirculare Coesel, Staurodesmus extensus var. isthmosus (Heimerl) Coesel, S. extensus var. vulgaris (Eichler & Racib.) Croasdale and S. spencerianus (Mask.) Teiling are new for the Czech Republic. In addition, several rare and remarkable taxa were also encountered. The species richness was relatively high in comparison to similar localities in the Czech Republic. Desmid distribution was influenced by pH and conductivity. Presented at the International Symposium Biology and Taxonomy of Green Algae V, Smolenice, June 26–29, 2007, Slovakia.     

Chemical Modification of Sulfhydryl Groups in Porcine Pancreatic α-Amylase,and Purification and Properties of the Modified Amylase

The behavior of SH groups of porcine pancreatic α-amylase, called PPA II, was studied by chemical modification with 5,5′-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid) (DTNB). Only two SH groups in PPA II reacted, in a pseudo-first-order reaction, and the modification was accompanied with the inactivation of the amylase. The reactivity of SH groups with DTNB was influenced by the ionic strength of the medium. The SH groups were protected against modification by the addition of some substrate analogs; maltopentaitol, maltotetraitol, maltotriitol and cyclomaltohexaose were effective analogs, whereas maltitol, d-glucitol and methyl α-d-glucoside did not protect these groups. The modified enzymes (M₁ and M₂), in which one and two SH groups reacted with DTNB, respectively, were purified in an electrophoretically homogeneous state by chromatography on Bio-Gel P-2 and TSK-Gel DEAE-Toyopearl 650S. The optimum pH of the modified enzyme (M₂) was 6.9~7.0, which was the same as that of the native PPA II. The isoelectric points of M₁ and M₂ were estimated to be 5.8 and 5.2, respectively, by the method of Catsimpoolas. The CD spectrum of PPA II was altered partially by the modification of SH groups with DTNB. Moreover, a precipitin line with a spur was observed in a double immunodiffusion test of PPA II and M₂ to rabbit antiserum of PPA II. It is concluded that the free SH group(s) in PPA II, located near the substrate binding site, don’t participate directly in its catalytic activity, but that the SH group(s) are involved in the antigenicity of PPA II.     

Post-translational Modification of κ-Casein in the Golgi Apparatus of Mid-lactating Mammary Glands from Rat and Cow

Bovine κ-casein, a phosphoglycoprotein, has mucin-type carbohydrate chains. Subcellular distribution of enzymes that take part in the post-translational modification of κ-casein was examined. In lactating mammary glands from rats and cows, N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferase, galactosyl transferase, sialyl transferase, and casein kinase were localized specifically in the Golgi apparatus.

The substrate specificities indicate that these enzymes are actually responsible for the processing of κ-casein.

The presence of a phosphate group attached to κ-casein did not affect the rate of glycosylation by N-acetyl-galactosaminyl transferase, while the presence of carbohydrate chains attached to κ- casein strongly reduced the rate of phosphorylation by casein kinase. These results suggest that in the Golgi apparatus, phosphorylation of κ-casein precedes glycosylation.     

Role of termites in the restoration of soils and plant richness on bowé in West Africa

Bowé (hardened ferricrete soils formed by erosion, drought or deforestation) are often associated with termite mounds, but little is known about these mounds and their role in the restoration of soils and plant biodiversity on bowé. This study examined termite mounds on bowé and their effects on soil depth and plant richness. Sixty-four sampling plots were laid out randomly on bowé sites with mounds and on adjacent bowé sites without mounds. The height and circumference of each mound were measured. Species inventories were made and soil depth measured in each plot. Linear mixed effects and generalised mixed effects models with Poisson error distribution were used to assess the variation in soil depth and plant species richness in mound and nonmound microsites. Two types of mounds (small vs. large) associated with different termite species were observed on bowé, with the small mounds being most common. Plots with either large or small mounds had deeper soils and higher plant richness than the adjacent plots without mounds. Conservation of termite mounds is important for restoring soils and plant richness on bowé, and termite mounds should be taken into consideration in biodiversity and soil management strategies for bowé.     

Comparison of the Homologous SfeI and LlaBI Restriction–Modification Systems

A fragment containing the SfeI restriction–modification system (RMS) operon was cloned from a Streptococcus faecalis SE72 plasmid. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed its high (99.2%) homology to the operon for Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris W56 LlaBI RMS recognizing the same site, 5"-CTRYAG-3". A substantial difference was that SfeI RMS operon had an additional 198-bp segment in the methylase gene and a larger gene for the putative control protein. No homology was observed between operon-flanking sequences of the two closely related species, suggesting horizontal transfer of the operon.     

Biomass and element pools of understory vegetation in the catchments of Čertovo Lake and Plešné Lake in the Bohemian Forest

This paper presents data on species composition, biomass, and element pools (C, N, P, Ca, Mg, Na, K, Al, Fe, Mn) of the understory vegetation of spruce forests in the catchments of lakes ?ertovo jezero (CT) and Ple?né jezero (PL) in the Bohemian Forest (?umava, Czech Republic). Calamagrostis villosa was the most abundant species in the CT catchment, while Vaccinium myrtillus was the most abundant species in the PL catchment. The catchments weighted mean (CWM) of above-ground biomass of the understory vegetation was 288 and 723 g m^?2 in the CT and PL catchments, respectively. The significant difference in the biomass between the catchments was caused by the much higher abundance of V. myrtillus in the PL catchment. The CWM of below-ground biomass of the fine roots was 491 and 483 g m^?2 in the CT and PL catchments, respectively. The respective CWM element pools of biomass in the CT and PL catchments were: C (33 and 51 mol m^?2), N (0.8 and 1.0 mol m^?2), P (24 and 34 mmol m^?2), Ca (53 and 113 mmol m^?2), Mg (24 and 41mmol m^?2), Na (3.7 and 6.5 mmol m^?2), K (83 and 109 mmol m^?2), Al (50 and 42 mmol m^?2), Fe (13.3 and 7.3 mmol m^?2), and Mn (4.2 and 8.8 mmol m^?2).     

Modification at the 5-Position of 4-Deoxypyridoxol and α4-Norpyridoxol

In an attempt to relate structure to anticoccidial activity, a number of 5-modified analogs of 4-deoxypyridoxol (4-DOP) and α⁴-norpyridoxol have been synthesized and their biological activities examined. The compounds prepared include the 5-(3-hydroxypropyl), 5-(2-hydroxyethyl), 5-(1-hydroxyethyl), formyl and acetyl analogs of 4-DOP, and 5-(3-hydroxypropyl), formyl, ethoxycarbonyl, carbamoyl and hydroxyl analogs of α⁴-norpyridoxol. Among these compounds, 4-deoxyisopyridoxal and α⁴-norisopyridoxal were found to exhibit anticoccidal activity.