Effects of the El Niño southern oscillation on Turbo torquatus (Gastropoda) and their kelp habitat

Abstract Turbo torquatus (hereafter Turbo) were abundant and patchily distributed, especially in algal dominated habitats in shallow water (less then 10 metres) on rocky reefs in central New South Wales, Australia. Although the assemblage of algae was similar in barrens with and without crevices, Turbo were most abundant in crevices, suggesting that shelter was important. Experimental removal of the kelp canopy resulted in a great decrease in the number of Turbo. This was despite cleared patches containing more filamentous food algae, further highlighting the importance of shelter. The density of Turbo in kelp forests ranged from six to seven per square metre in times of abundance and less then one per square metre at other times over a 12‐year period. Variation in the resource base (i.e. food algae and kelp cover) was strongly linked to the abundance of Turbo. Abundance of Turbo was lowest when the density of adult kelp was low (less than 14 plants per square metre). The condition of kelp was severely affected during the 1997–1998 and 2002 El Niño events and was compromised 2–4 years after each event. These pulse events and related loss of shelter probably contributed to a decline in abundance of Turbo. This model was further supported when Turbo abundance increased with a subsequent increase in the density of kelp.     

Kinetics of Root Elongation of Maize in Response to Short-Term Exposure to NaCl and Elevated Calcium Concentration

To study the effect of salt (NaCl) on root elongation we developeda device that measures this effect by means of a Linear VariableDifferential Transformer (LVDT). To test the efficacy of thedevice we performed experiments demonstrating that (a) ratesof elongation of primary maize (Zea mays L.) roots were comparableto elongation rates of primary roots growing freely in solutionculture; and (b) chilling and low O₂ concentrations of the solutionelicited the expected responses. Inhibition of root elongation by 75 mol m^–3 NaCl was gradual.At an iso-osmotic concentration, mannitol did not inhibit rootgrowth, suggesting that the inhibition was not due to osmoticfactors but rather to effects of salt on metabolism. The additionof supplemental Ca (10 mol m^–3) ameliorated this stressfulcondition. Timing of the application of Ca was critical. Treatmentwith Ca after addition of NaCl only partially restored growth,but pretreatment with Ca completely prevented the inhibitionof growth by salt stress. Key words: Root growth, Zea mays L., salinity     

Complications of tattooing

Pathologic consequence of tattooing is relatively rare, but in light of the great number of persons in military service, where tattooing seems to be popular, consideration of the complications seems worth while.Four unusual cases of patients with cutaneous lesions in tattoos are reported. One patient had Boeck's sarcoid, in which the cutaneous eruption was limited solely to the tattooed areas on the body and involved all the various colors of the tattoo. The cutaneous eruption was only a single manifestation of generalized sarcoidosis. Another patient had secondary syphilis with the cutaneous lesions involving multi-colored tattoos, including the red areas. These tattoos were applied in Hawaii, and presumably the red dye was not the usual cinnabar (mercuric sulfide). As a general rule, the cutaneous lesions of secondary syphilis do not involve the red areas because of the treponomicidal action of mercuric sulfide.In the third case the characteristic eruption of discoid lupus erythematosus was present. It began over the red areas of a tattoo on the patient's forearm. It has been stated that mercuric sulfide is a photo-sensitizing agent, and it is believed that this explains the localization of the eruption in this case. The fourth patient had eruption, caused by mercury sensitivity, in an area of tattoo. The eruption was noted soon after the tattooing was done, and it persisted for seven years.     

Extracutaneous manifestations of Kaposi's sarcoma: a systemic lymphoblastoma

Kaposi's sarcoma may affect any system of the body. Serious difficulties occur only when the heart, lungs or gastrointestinal tract are affected. Usually, involvement in other viscera causes no clinical symptoms.This neoplasm is thought to be a low-grade lymphoblastoma. This idea of relationship is based on clinical and histologic association of Kaposi's sarcoma with the lymphoblastomas more commonly than would be anticipated from the rarity of the conditions under consideration. This concept is strengthened by the occasional seeming mutation of Kaposi's sarcoma into a lymphoblastoma. The associated reticuloendothelial hyperplasia in Kaposi's sarcoma is another link in the evidence of relationship.