Positive correlation between superoxide dismutase and resistance to paraquat toxicity in the green alga Chlorella sorokiniana

Paraquat (10–30 μm) exerted a dose-dependent and light-dependent toxicity on Chlorella sorokiniana. Paraquat was also seen to increase the superoxide dismutase content of these cells and to cause the appearance of a new electrophoretically distinct isozyme. Cells grown in the absence of paraquat contained one manganese-superoxide dismutase and two iron-superoxide dismutases, while the paraquat-grown cells contained an additional manganese-superoxide dismutase. Cells which were grown in the presence of 25 μm Paraquat, and which therefore possessed elevated levels of superoxide dismutase, were resistant to 30 μm Paraquat, whereas control cells were bleached and killed by this level of Paraquat. Electron micrography and chemical analysis revealed that Paraquat decreased the starch content of the cells and caused a failure of dividing cells to separate. It appears that Paraquat increases the photoproduction of O₂^? in C. sorokiniana and that an increase in the cell content of superoxide dismutase is an adaptive response which provides protection against this herbicide.     

Experimental production of “septa” and apparent subdivision of muscle mitochondria

The rapid formation (in less than 45 min) of internal septa and the apparent subdivisionin situ of mitochondria from cardiac and skeletal muscle are described following a variety of experimental treatments. For example, the ionophore A23187, caffeine, DNP, ruthenium red, and the insecticide lindane have been applied to intact, glycerinated, and chemically skinned skeletal muscle fibers and to cardiac muscle strips from both amphibians and mammals. In some mitochondria, the two compartments are in the same configuration; in others they are different. The significance of these mitochondrial septa is discussed, and it is suggested that the findings are consistent with the hypothesis that a variety of experimental procedures can promote rapid mitochondrial division.     

Reliability of league tables of in vitro fertilisation clinics: retrospective analysis of live birth rates

Objective: To determine to what extent institutions carrying out in vitro fertilisation can reasonably be ranked according to their live birth rates. Design: Retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on live birth rate after in vitro fertilisation. Setting: 52 clinics in the United Kingdom carrying out in vitro fertilisation over the period April 1994 to March 1995. Main outcome measure: Estimated adjusted live birth rate for each clinic; their rank and its associated uncertainty. Results: There were substantial and significant differences between the live birth rates of the clinics. There was great uncertainty, however, concerning the true ranks, particularly for the smaller clinics. Only one clinic could be confidently ranked in the bottom quarter according to this measure of performance. Many centres had substantial changes in rank between years, even though their live birth rate did not change significantly. Conclusions: Even when there are substantial differences between institutions, ranks are extremely unreliable statistical summaries of performance and change in performance, particularly for smaller institutions. Any performance indicator should always be associated with a measure of sampling variability.     

Evaluating the Qualitative Effectiveness of a Novel Pollinator: a Case Study of Two Endemic Hawaiian Plants

In situations where native mutualists have become extinct, non‐native species may partner with remnant native species. However, non‐native mutualists may differ behaviorally from extinct native mutualists. In the case of pollination, novel relationships between natives and non‐natives could differ both quantitatively and qualitatively from native–native relationships. In Hawai'i, the non‐native Japanese White‐eye (Zosterops japonicus) has largely replaced endemic birds as pollinator of the endemic Clermontia parviflora and C. montis‐loa. We surveyed Clermontia patches and found that they ranged from 106 to 1198 m in diameter. We performed manual pollination of flowers with pollen taken from plants at five distance categories, ranging from 0 (self‐fertilization) to 20 km, and examined the germination of resulting seeds. We used radiotelemetry to estimate daily Japanese White‐eye movement distances. Percent germination of seeds after short‐ to intermediate‐distance pollination crosses (i.e., 20–1200 m, or intra‐patch pollen transfer distances) significantly exceeded germination of seeds from selfed trials for C. parviflora. No significant differences in germination rates among treatments were detected for C. montis‐loa. The maximum daily movement distances of radio‐tracked birds were generally <1 km. Together, these results suggest that this novel pollinator may be an effective mutualist for both Clermontia species. This study serves as an example of research examining qualitative components of novel mutualism, which are generally neglected relative to quantitative components.     

A biomechanical model to assess the contribution of pelvic musculature weakness to the development of stress urinary incontinence

A biomechanical model of the female pelvic support system was developed to explore the contribution of pelvic floor muscle defect to the development of stress urinary incontinence (SUI). From a pool of 135 patients, clinical data of 26 patients with pelvic muscular defect were used in modelling. The model was employed to estimate the parameters that describe the stiffness properties of the vaginal wall and ligament tissues for individual patients. The parameters were then implemented into the model to evaluate for each patient the impact of pelvic muscular defect on the vaginal apex support and the bladder neck support, a factor that relates to the onset of SUI. For the modelling analysis, the compromise of pelvic muscular support was demonstrated to contribute to vaginal apex prolapse and bladder neck prolapse, a condition commonly seen in SUI patients, while simulated conditions of restored muscular support were shown to help re-establish both vaginal apex and bladder neck supports. The findings illustrate the significance of pelvic muscle strength to vaginal support and urinary continence; therefore, the clinical recommendation of pelvic muscle strengthening, such as Kegel exercises, has been shown to be an effective treatment for patients with SUI symptoms.