Amperometric alcohol electrode with extended linearity and reduced interferences.

Conventional amperometric alcohol electrodes were constructed with oxygen- and hydrogen peroxide-base sensors and a much improved electrode was designed by placing a hydrophobic, gas-permeable membrane over the conventional hydrogen peroxide-based alcohol electrode. The immobilization of alcohol oxidase with glutaraldehyde was also studied and optimized. The upper linear ranges of the conventional and newly designed alcohol electrodes were 0.02 and 0.5% ethanol, respectively. The hydrophobic membrane of the new design eliminated the classical electrochemical interferences of hydrogen peroxide-based electrodes and the typical pH dependence of enzymatic systems.     

Physiological and psychological response to a three-month mental strain period in students

Biochemical and immunological parameters, physical and mental performance, subjective complaints and behavioural characteristics were compared before and after 14 final examinations undertaken by 64 students during a three-month examination period. A decrease in cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol, physical performance and an increase in LDL/HDL cholesterol quotient, lactate level, mental performance were accompanied by a lower frequency of mental complaints and higher frequency of physical complaints. From the multidimensional variance and discriminant analysis 17 of the 44 variables discriminated between the state prior to and after the examination period. The results are interpreted in terms of the psychophysiological adaptation to adequate mental stress.     

Procedure and Analysis of a Useful Method in Determining Mycelial Dry Weights from Agar Plates

The evaluation of growth by dry weight determination of fungus mycelium for agar plates was examined. The data obtained were statistically analyzed. This method was shown to be sufficiently accurate to be used as an investigative tool.     

Feasible mechanisms for algal digestion in the king angelfish

To determine the ability of the king angelfish Holacanthus passer to digest algae, three algal species were immersed in acidic conditions similar to that found in the stomach of fish. Only one of them was not susceptible to acidic lysis; two were affected after 40 and 60 min at pH 2·0. King angelfish have an expanded region of the intestine called here the hindgut chamber (HC) containing populations of micro-organisms. Some of these micro-organisms have the capacity to grow in cellulose, agar, and alginic acid; the main components of algal cell walls. Micro-organisms grew in carboxymethylcellulose cultures under aerobic and micro-aerobic conditions. The HC is highly vascularized, which could increase absorptive efficiency of material digested in it.     

Heat treatment results in a loss of transgene-encoded activities in several tobacco lines.

Heat treatment (37 degrees C) of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants led to a reversible reduction or complete loss of transgene-encoded activities in about 40% of 10 independent transformants carrying the luciferase-coding region fused to the 355 cauliflower mosaic virus or the soybean small subunit promoter and the nopaline synthase promoter driving the neomycin phosphotransferase gene, whereas the other lines had temperature-tolerant activities. Temperature sensitivity or tolerance of transgene-encoded activities was heritable. In some of the lines, temperature sensitivity of the transgene-encoded activities depended on the stage of development, occurring in either seedlings (40% luciferase and 50% neomycin phosphotransferase) or adult plants (both 40%). The phenomenon did not correlate with copy numbers or the homo- or hemizygous state of the transgenes. In lines harboring a temperature-sensitive luciferase activity, reduction of bioluminescence was observed after 2 to 3 h at 37 degrees C. Activity was regained after 2 h of subsequent cultivation at 25 degrees C. Irrespective of the reaction to the heat treatment, the level of luciferase RNA was slightly increased at 37 degrees C. Only in lines showing temperature sensitivity of transgene-encoded activities was the amount of luciferase and neomycin phosphotransferase strongly reduced. In sterile culture, heat treatment for 15 d did not cause visible damage or changes in plant morphology. In all plants tested a slight induction of the heat-shock response was observed at 37 degrees C.     

The Schizosaccharomyces pombe cdc6 gene encodes the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase δ

The cdc6 mutants of Schizosaccharomyces pombe have been classified as being defective in progression through the G2 phase of the cell cycle. We cloned an S. pombe gene that could complement the temperature-sensitive growth of the cdc6-23 mutant. Unexpectedly, the cloned gene was allelic to pol3, which encodes the catalytic subunit of DNA polymerase δ. Integration mapping confirmed that cdc6 and pol3 are identical. The cdc6-23 mutant carries one amino acid substitution in the conserved N3 region of Pol3. Received: 17 October 1996 / Accepted: 19 November 1996     

Externally attached radio transmitters do not affect the parental care behaviour of rock bass

Turning, pectoral fin and caudal fin rates and time spent on the nest of male rock bass Ambloplites rupestris , engaged in parental care, were not affected after the attachment of external radio transmitters. Reproductive success was similar between treatment and control fish. Micro external radio transmitters can be used on small fishes for studying parental care duration and post-care movement without altering their behaviour.