Structure and growth pattern of the bizarre hemispheric prominence on the rostrum of the fossil beaked whale Globicetus hiberus (Mammalia,Cetacea, Ziphiidae)

The rostrum of most ziphiids (beaked whales) displays bizarre swollen regions, accompanied with extreme hypermineralisation and an alteration of the collagenous mesh of the bone. The functional significance of this specialization remains obscure. With the voluminous and dense hemispheric excrescence protruding from the premaxillae, the recently described fossil ziphiid Globicetus hiberus is the most spectacular case. This study describes the histological structure and interprets the growth pattern of this unique feature. Histologically, the prominence in Globicetus is made up of an atypical fibro‐lamellar complex displaying an irregular laminar organization and extreme compactness (osteosclerosis). Its development is suggested to have resulted from a protraction of periosteal accretion over the premaxillae, long after the end of somatic growth. Complex shifts in the geometry of this tissue are likely to have occurred during its accretion and no indication of Haversian remodeling could be found. X‐ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy indicate that the bone matrix in the premaxillary prominence of Globicetus closely resembles that of the rostrum of the extant beaked whale Mesoplodon densirostris: apatite crystals are of common size and strongly oriented, but the collagenous meshwork within bone matrix seems to be extremely sparse. These morphological and structural data are discussed in the light of functional interpretations proposed for the highly unusual and diverse ziphiid rostrum. J. Morphol. 277:1292–1308, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Behavioral laterality in captive bonobos (Pan paniscus): Replication and extension

We report observational data on behavioral laterality in 10 captive bonobos (Pan paniscus)at the San Diego Zoo. The unimanual measures include carrying, leading limb in locomotion, self-touching, face-touching, reaching, and gestures. We also recorded bimanual feeding in these subjects. A significant population level left-hand bias exists for carrying. Right-hand biases occur for leading limb in locomotion and gestures. During bimanual feeding, the bonobos hold food items with the left hand while feeding with the right hand. Overall, bonobos exhibit behavioral asymmetries that are similar to previous findings in other pongid ape species. The asymmetries in gestures and bimanual feeding represent novel findings with theoretical implications for the origins of tool use and language.     

Antitumour activities of levans produced by Zymomonas mobilis strains

Levans produced by four Zymomonas mobilis strains showed antitumour activity against sarcoma 180 and Ehrlich carcinoma in Swiss albino mice. Levans from two strains (ZAP and CP4) had the highest effects. NMR analysis showed that the polymers were composed only of fructose units. The results suggested that the antineoplasic effect is associated to the polysaccharide molecular weight and that a particular molecular weight range may be responsible for this effect.     

Protection of the Lactam Function of 2′-Deoxyinosine with A 2-(4-Nitrophenyl)-Ethyl Moiety

Abstract

The reaction of O-protected inosine with p-nitrophenyl ethanol under Mitsunobu conditions yields a mixture of the 1- and 0° -alkylated derivatives. 2′-Deoxyinosine protected on 0⁶ -, can be synthesized fairly easy from deoxyguanosine with a Mitsunobu reaction followed by reductive deamination.     

Serotonin transporter gene,childhood emotional abuse and cognitive vulnerability to depression

Meta‐analyses evaluating the association between the serotonin transporter polymorphism (5‐HTTLPR) with neuroticism and depression diagnosis as phenotypes have been inconclusive. We examined a gene–environment interaction on a cognitive vulnerability marker of depression, cognitive reactivity (CR) to sad mood. A total of 250 university students of European ancestry were genotyped for the 5‐HTTLPR, including SNP rs25531, a polymorphism of the long allele. Association analysis was performed for neuroticism, CR and depression diagnosis (using a self‐report measure). As an environmental pathogen, self‐reported history of childhood emotional abuse was measured because of its strong relationship with depression. Participants with the homozygous low expressing genotype had high CR if they had experienced childhood emotional maltreatment but low CR if they did not have such experience. This interaction was strongest on the Rumination subscale of the CR measure. The interaction was not significant with neuroticism or depression diagnosis as outcome measures. Our results show that 5‐HTTLPR is related to cognitive vulnerability to depression. Our findings provide evidence for a differential susceptibility genotype rather than a vulnerability genotype, possibly because of the relatively low levels of abuse in our sample. The selection of phenotype and environmental contributor is pivotal in investigating gene–environment interactions in psychiatric disorders.     

Chromomycin, mithramycin, and olivomycin binding sites on heterogeneous deoxyribonucleic acid. Footprinting with (methidiumpropyl-EDTA)iron(II)

The DNA binding sites for the antitumor, antiviral, antibiotics chromomycin, mithramycin, and olivomycin on 70 base pairs of heterogeneous DNA have been determined by using the (methidiumpropyl-EDTA)iron(II) [MPE x Fe(II)] DNA cleavage inhibition pattern technique. Two DNA restriction fragments 117 and 168 base pairs in length containing the lactose operon promoter-operator region were prepared with complementary strands labeled with 32P at the 3' end. MPE x Fe(II) was allowed to partially cleave the restriction fragment preequilibrated with either chromomycin, mithramycin, or olivomycin in the presence of Mg2+. The preferred binding sites for chromomycin, mithramycin, and olivomycin in the presence of Mg2+ appear to be a minimum of 3 base pairs in size containing at least 2 contiguous dG x dC base pairs. Many binding sites are similar for the three antibiotics; chromomycin and olivomycin binding sites are nearly identical. The number of sites protected from MPE x Fe(II) cleavage increases as the concentration of drug is raised. For chromomycin/Mg2+, the preferred sites on the 70 base pairs of DNA examined are (in decreasing affinity) 3'-GGG, CGA greater than CCG, GCC greater than CGA, CCT greater than CTG-5'. The sequence 3'-CGA-5' has different affinities, indicating the importance of either flanking sequences or a nearly bound drug.