Production estimates of the benthic invertebrate community in a small Danish stream

Quantitative samples were used to investigate density, biomass and annual production of the benthic invertebrate fauna in a small Danish stream. Forty-eight taxa were found and the total invertebrate densities varied from 3 810 m^?2 in July to 20 040 m^?2 in December. The total mean annual biomass of the invertebrate fauna was 6.1 g ash-free dry wt m^?2. The annual production of the invertebrates was estimated from their mean annual biomass and their annual P/B ratio. Production of the primary consumers (herbivores and detritivores) was 21.4 g ash-free dry wt m^?2 y^?1 and of secondary consumers (carnivores) 1.1 g m^?2 y^?1. The amount of invertebrate production available to the trout population and the importance of the species as food for trout are discussed.     

Ciliated Receptors in the Pharyngeal Terminal Buds of Larval Lampetra planeri (Bloch) (Cyclostomata)

Terminal buds on the gill arches of larval Lampetra planeri have been investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Each terminal bud is composed of two types of elongated cells, which extend from an apical depression to the basal lamina; one type bears a pair of cilia and the other, microvilli. In addition there are peripheral and basal cells. Nerve-fibre profiles are lacking within the terminal bud epithelium and contacts between nerves and ciliated cells are established through holes in the basal lamina. The presence of ciliated receptor cells with such a mode of innervation presents a distinct contrast to the morphology of the taste buds of gnathostome vertebrates.     

Norepinephrine Metabolism in Humans Studied by Deuterium Labelling: Turnover of 4–Hydroxy-3–methoxyphenylglycol

Abstract: D, L(±)-4-Hydroxy-3-methoxyphenylglycol (HMPG) labelled with three deuterium atoms was used to study turnover of plasma free HMPG following an intravenous injection. Ten healthy men were given a pulse dose of either 4.3 μmol or 2.2 μmol of labelled HMPG ([²H₃]HMPG piperazine salt). Plasma and urine levels of both endogenous and labelled HMPG were subsequently followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with selected ion detection. Kinetic calculations based upon a single-compartment model were consistent with a monoexponential elimination of plasma free HMPG. The half-life of HMPG was 0.46 and 0.78 h (mean values in the two dose groups). The HMPG production rate was 2.01 and 2.35 μmol/hour, and the urinary excretion rate of HMPG (free and conjugated) was 0.48 and 0.47 μmol/h. The endogenous plasma level of free HMPG was 25 and 33 nmol/L. The results show that HMPG turns over rapidly and that HMPG is further metabolized extensively. About one-fourth of the HMPG produced is excreted in urine as free and conjugated HMPG.     

Caprolactam,a light-promoted growth inhibitor in sunflower seedlings

A neutral growth inhibitor, isolated from methanolic extracts of sunflower seedlings, was characterized by spectral data as caprolactam. Light-grown se     

The effect of triacontanol on growth, photosynthesis and photorespiration in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Anacystis nidulans

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangerad 11–32(90) (−), which exhibits C3 properties, and Anacystis nidulans (Strain no. UTEX 625), which exhibits C4 properties, were used to study the effects of triacontanol on growth, photosynthesis and photorespiration. Photosynthetic rate was measured as CO2 uptake and the O2 inhibition of photosynthesis was used as a measure of photorespiration. Triacontanol dissolved in chloroform and dispersed in Tween-20 and triacontanol colloidally dispersed in an aqueous solution of sodium tallow alkyl sulfate were tested. Chlamydomonas cultures increased significantly in cell number after 4 days, and in chlorophyll content after 3 days of treatment with 2.3 × 10⁻⁸ M TRIA in chloroform/Tween-20. In cultures of Anacystis the chlorophyll content became significantly higher 3 days after treatment with 2.3 × 10⁻⁹ M TRIA and the cell number was noticeably higher than the controls.
CO₂ uptake by triacontanol-treated Chlamydomonas cultures was about the same in both 2 and 21% O2, and the O2 inhibition was significantly reduced as compared with the controls. Photosynthesis in Anacystis was O2-insensitive under the experimental condition used. When Anacystis was treated with triacontanol there was no change in the rate of CO2 uptake and no change in the O2 sensitivity of its CO2 uptake. It appears that triacontanol affects some process which regulated the balance between photosynthesis and photorespiration, but other processes which result in increased growth are probably also affected.     

Maintenance of protein synthesis in spite of mRNA breakdown in interferon-treated HeLa cells infected with reovirus.

Interferon induces the synthesis of an enzyme which synthesizes 2',5'-oligoadenylate [2',5'-oligo(A)] when activated by double-stranded RNA. The 2',5'-oligo(A) in turn activates an endonuclease (RNase L). Concentrations of 2',5'-oligo(A) sufficient to activate RNase L are formed in interferon-treated HeLa cells infected with reovirus, and a large fraction of cellular mRNA is degraded (T. W. Nilsen, P. A. Maroney, and C. Baglioni, J. Virol. 42:1039-1045, 1982). We report here that in spite of this mRNA degradation, protein synthesis was not significantly inhibited in these cells. When mRNA synthesis was inhibited with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole, protein synthesis was markedly decreased, as shown by reduced incorporation of labeled amino acids and a decrease in polyribosomes. This suggested that the turnover of mRNA could be compensated for by increased production of mRNA. The relative concentration of specific mRNAs was measured with cloned cDNA probes. The amount of these mRNAs present in control cells was comparable to that in interferon-treated cells infected with reovirus, whereas it was decreased in the latter cells treated with 5,6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole.     

Foraminifera from the Silberberg Formation («Lower Oligocene») at Silberberg,near Helmstedt (Germany)

From the Silberberg Quarry, type locality of the Silberberg Formation (Martini &Ritzkowski 1968), some planktonic foraminifera are described:Globigerina officinalis Subbotina, Globigerina ouachitaensisHowe &Wallace,G. praebulloides leroyi Blow &Banner, G.praebulloides occlusa Blow &Banner which taxa are here suggested to form intergrading morphotypes within the range of variation of a population dominated byG. officinalis. In addition,G. cf.danvillensis Howe &Wallace is found. The planktonic fauna, together with some elements in the benthonic fauna, suggests a possible correlation with the Danville Landing Member of the Jackson Formation, Louisiana, traditionally ascribed to the Upper Eocene. There is some similarity with European Uppermost Eocene — Lower Oligocene faunas described by various authors. The Silberberg Formation was suggested to be a Neostratotype for the Latdorfian Stage of the Lower Oligocene byMartini &Ritzkowski (1968). It is suggested that the Silberberg Formation may well be coeval with the Upper Priabonian as proposed byCita 1969.     

Feedback regulation of the alpha electroencephalogram activity through control of the internal and external parameters

Summary Experiments with feedback stimulation triggered from the subject's electroencephalogram result in changing the sequential time series of intervals of occipital alpha and intervals of little or no alpha EEG activity. The rate of recurrence of alpha and no-alpha EEG can be changed by regulating the external feedback stimuli or by asking the subject to change his internal state. Four different paradigms were investigated and the results interpreted in terms of the hypothesis that oculomotor functions regulate the occurrence and nonoccurrence of alpha.This work was supported by NIGMS Grants 5 PO1 GM 14940-04 and GM 15006-03.Most of this research was conducted at the Perception Laboratory, Veterans' Administration Hospital, Bedford, Massachusetts, with the cooperation of Dr. Thomas B. Mulholland.     

Die Schätzung der Varianzkomponenten beim Fixwertmodell der Varianzanalyse

Zusammenfassung Die Schätzung der Varianzkomponenten bei Versuchen mit festen Variabilitätsursachen, z. B. bei der Prüfung von Sorten, Behandlungen usw., ist nur dann sinnvoll, wenn die Varianzkomponenten so definiert sind, daß ihre Summe der Gesamtvarianz gleich ist, d. h. daß sie sich additiv verhalten. Will man die so definierten Varianzkomponenten erwartungstreu schätzen, muß man die Überhöhung der mittleren Quadrate, die durch Division mit Freiheitsgraden statt mit der Gruppenzahl entstanden ist, wieder korrigieren. Diese Korrektion entfällt bei der Schätzung der Varianz von Zufallswirkungen.Die Erwartungswerte der mittleren Quadrate der üblichen varianzanalytischen Zerlegung und die erwartungstreuen Schätzungen der additiv definierten Varianzkomponenten werden am Beispiel eines Versuches mit zwei konstanten Variabilitätsursachen und einer Zufallseinwirkung dargelegt.

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Estimating variance components in a fixed model of variance analysis

Summary The partition of a variance into components in experiments with fixed effects, i.e. experiments with varieties, treatment etc., is meaningful only if components are defined as additive parts of a whole. This also demands that the sum of the components of variance be equal to the total variance. Such additivity of the components of variance is achieved by appropriate definitions of the components of variance. Unbiassed estimates of the additively defined components of variance are obtained by a simple correction which eliminates the influence of degrees of freedom on the calculation of mean squares. This correction is not needed for the estimation of variances of random effects.The expected values of mean squares for the partition of variance and formulas for unbiassed estimates of additively defined components of variance are demonstrated in an experiment with two fixed effects and one random effect.