Genetics of Glossina morsitans morsitans (Diptera: Glossinidae). X. A mutant (sabr) having long scutellar apical bristles in females

A line of Glossina morsitans morsitans Westwood was established in which females have scutellar apical bristles approximately three times as long as normal. In other respects the flies appear normal. The mutant allele, sabr, is recessive to the wild-type allele. The locus for sabr is located in linkage group III, 50 or more map units from the locus for malic dehydrogenase. Scutellar apical bristles in mutant flies are longer in flies emerging from puparia maintained at 30 degrees C than in flies emerging from puparia maintained at 25 degrees C.     

Building ruggedness into HPLC quality control procedures

HPLC methods for protein and peptide analysis are excellent in terms of resolution, selectivity and recovery. They are, however, complex procedures involving multiple parameters including instrumentation, columns and mobile phases that may lead to inter- or intra-laboratory deviations. The factors that contribute to differences in retention, selectivity and sensitivity are discussed, followed by suggestions for eliminating or compensating for the differences.     

Development and Validation of a Behavioral Acclimation Protocol for Cats to Respiration Chambers Used for Indirect Calorimetry Studies

Cats exposed to novel environments initiate stress responses by behavioral and physiological changes that modify metabolism and lead to the collection of unreliable data. Fourteen cats (10 ± 2 months) were subjected to an 11-week acclimation procedure to adapt to restriction within chambers used for indirect calorimetry studies. Cats were acclimated to chambers in their home environments, to chambers in the study room, and to increasing periods of restriction within chambers. Ten additional cats (11 ± 1 month), used as controls, were subjected to a single 5-hr restriction without any prior exposure. Stress level, feed intake, fearfulness, and eliminations were recorded. Latencies to approach a novel object peaked on Weeks 4 and 8 (p < .05). Cat-Stress-Scores (CSS) declined with exposure and on Week 11, stress levels were low and consistent (p < .05). CSS was greater in unacclimated versus acclimated cats (p < .05). In conclusion, acclimation protocols prepare cats for repeated, temporary restriction within chambers, whereas short acclimations do not. A step-up acclimation procedure with behavioral indices of stress should be utilized to prepare cats for research that necessitates restriction.     

Proteinase inhibition of the detection of Listeria monocytogenes in milk using the polymerase chain reaction

The direct detection, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), of Listeria monocytogenes added to cows' milk was inhibited at some milk concentrations. This inhibitor was moderately heat-stable. Inhibition could be prevented by the addition of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) or proteinase inhibitors to the PCR and the evidence suggests that the inhibitor was plasmin.