Cytokinin activity in Lupinus albus

The distribution and metabolism of {8-¹⁴C}zeatin incorporated into the transpiration stream of fruiting white lupin plants ( Lupinus albus L.) has been studied. The distribution pattern of ¹⁴C in the different aerial organs suggests that the amount of cytokinin being incorporated into any one organ may have been a function of its transpiration rate. Once in these organs, particularly the leaves, zeatin was rapidly metabolised and or utilised. This resulted in the formation of a number of labelled compounds that did not give a response with the soybean callus bioassay. Substances co-eluting with zeatin glucoside and ribosylzeatin appeared to be the principal biologically active metabolites. From the present evidence it can be concluded that the leaf and side shoots received a major proportion of the applied labelled cytokinin. However, the presence of a small amount of radioactivity co-eluting with zeatin and ribosylzeatin in the fruits indicates that the high levels of cytokinins normally associated with these organs need not necessarily all have been synthesised in situ.     

Stimuli for cuticle formation and ecdysis in vitro of the infective larva of Anisakis sp. (Nematoda: Ascaridoidea)

Third-stage larvae of the genus Anisakis from the fish Leionura atun (Trichiuroidei: Perciformes) form a new cuticle and moult in vitro in about 72 h. If the culture medium is Krebs-Ringer under 5% carbon dioxide in air at 37°C, relatively few moult and survival is poor. But more moult and survival is enhanced if worms are incubated in tissue culture medium 199, even if the gas phase is air, although they moult more quickly if it contains 5% carbon dioxide. In both Krebs-Ringer and 199 the benefits of high concentrations of carbon dioxide only accrue if the gas is present during the first 40 h of incubation. Worms do not feed in these media until they have moulted.     

Structural and functional dynamics of oogenesis in Glossina austeni: vitellogenesis with special reference to the follicular epithelium.

Morphological changes of the oocyte, follicle cells and nurse cells of the ovaries of the viviparous fly Glossina austeni during vitellogenesis and postvitellogenesis are outlined. During vitellogenesis, material is pinocytosed and incorporated into yolk spheres by subsequent fusions. Various lines of evidence are presented that indicate much of this material is derived from the follicular epithelium. The ultrastructure of the follicular cells throughout the 9 day cycle and their role in protein synthesis is presented. Subsequent to vitellogenesis, the follicle cells synthesize the secondary envelopes.     

The heterogeneity of arylsulphatase-A and arylsulphatase-B in normal human urine and urine from cancer patients

Arylsulphatase-A and arylsulphatase-B heterogeneity in normal and cancer patient urine was investigated using high resolution agarose isoelectricfocusing. Normal urine contained up to nine forms of arylsulphatase-A activity with isoelectric points from 4.45 to 5.43 and at least 5 forms of arylsulphatase-B between 8.58 and 9.15 along with a broad zone of activity between pH 6.5 and 7.6. Although cancer patients had significantly higher levels of arylsulphatase-A and arylsulphatase-B activity, their pattern of activity was essentially the same as for the normals with only minor quantitative differences in some peaks.     

Faunistic control of Enteromorpha blooms: A field experiment

Gobies, Pomatoschistus microps (Krøeyer), were introduced to a series of cages on an estuarine mud-flat during the period in which the cover of Enteromorpha sp. was declining. They fed selectively on the grazers which either ingested Enteromorpha directly or browsed on micro-organisms attached to it and, therefore, significantly affected the breakdown rate of the alga. It is suggested that the balance between grazers and their predators may be at least partially responsible for the irregular development of Enteromorpha on estuarine mud-flats from year to year.     

Release of galactosyltransferase from peritoneal macrophages during acute inflammation

Peritoneal cells harvested from mice injected with Salmonella enteritidis or thioglycollate released large amounts of galactosyltransferase (GT), but not sialyltransferase, into their culture supernatants. Maximum release of GT (using ovalbumin as acceptor) occurred from cells harvested 2-4 days after primary injection, but little GT was released from cells elicited by a secondary injection of salmonella or ovalbumin in sensitised mice or during intraperitoneal allogeneic reactions. Enzyme release in culture did not parallel GT levels in serum. Most enzyme was released by large, poorly adherent, macrophage-enriched, Fc receptor-bearing peritoneal cells of low density. Normal monocytes, bone marrow cells, and platelets also produced large amounts, and normal spleen cells or polymorphonuclear leukocytes moderate amounts, of GT. Lymphocytes, dead cells, mast cells, red blood cells, or whole populations of lymph node and thymus cells released very low levels of enzyme. Very little GT was bound to the cell surface and was not passively absorbed from serum or platelets. Release of GT was prevented at 4 degrees C but was not markedly affected by a variety of metabolic inhibitors except pretreatment of the cells with thrombin, which increased release and trypsin which decreased release.     

Ti Plasmid Homologous Sequences Present in Tissues from Agrobacterium Plasmid-transformed Petunia Protoplasts

Suspension cell protoplasts of albino Petunia hybrida have beentransformed by isolated Agrobacterium tumefaciens Ti plasmid.Uptake of octopine Ti plasmid (pTiACH5) into protoplasts wasstimulated by poly-L-ornithine and polyethylene glycol (PEG).The frequency and efficiency of transformation of protoplaststo phytohormone autotrophy was compared using the two uptakeagents with various concentrations of plasmid. Transformationwas most efficient with PEG-mediated uptake, 5 µg of Tiplasmid per 10⁶ protoplasts giving a frequency of 6?10^–5.Octopine was not synthesised in any of the transformants afterthe second subculture on hormone-free medium. DNA-DNA hybridisationshowed the presence of DNA homologous to the T-DNA region ofpTiACH5 in all clones analysed. (Received November 9, 1981; Accepted January 29, 1982)     

Visitors' Effects on the Welfare of Animals in the Zoo: A Review

Since the 1970s, research about zoo visitors' effects on the welfare of nonhuman animals in captivity has intensified. Numerous studies have shown that characteristics such as visitor presence, density, activity, size, and position are associated with animal behavioral and—to alesser extent physiological—changes. Studies usually interpret these changes as negative (undesirable) or positive (enriching), but it remains unclear whether they significantly impinge on animal welfare. To make confident conclusions about visitors' effects necessitates more studies using (a) a wider range of animal groupings, (b) measures of stress, (c) visitor-animal variables, and (d) other methodological improvements In the meantime, in addition to further research, individual zoos need to emphasize (a) monitoring the stress indicators of their captive animals, (b) observing visitor behavior, and (c) ensuring that staffs are aware of the “visitor effect” concept.     

Engagement with HIV Prevention Treatment and Care among Female Sex Workers in Zimbabwe: a Respondent Driven Sampling Survey

Objective(S)

To determine the HIV prevalence and extent of engagement with HIV prevention and care among a representative sample of Zimbabwean sex workers working in Victoria Falls, Hwange and Mutare.

Design

Respondent driven sampling (RDS) surveys conducted at each site.

Methods

Sex workers were recruited using respondent driven sampling with each respondent limited to recruiting 2 peers. Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and provided a finger prick blood sample for HIV antibody testing. Statistical analysis took account of sampling method.

Results

870 women were recruited from the three sites. HIV prevalence was between 50 and 70%. Around half of those confirmed HIV positive were aware of their HIV status and of those 50-70% reported being enrolled in HIV care programmes. Overall only 25-35% of those with laboratory-confirmed HIV were accessing antiretroviral therapy. Among those reporting they were HIV negative, 21-28% reported having an HIV test in the last 6 months. Of those tested HIV negative, most (65-82%) were unaware of their status. Around two-thirds of sex workers reported consistent condom use with their clients. As in other settings, sex workers reported high rates of gender based violence and police harassment.

Conclusions

This survey suggests that prevalence of HIV is high among sex workers in Zimbabwe and that their engagement with prevention, treatment and care is sub-optimal. Intensifying prevention and care interventions for sex workers has the potential to markedly reduce HIV and social risks for sex workers, their clients and the general population in Zimbabwe and elsewhere in the region.