Incorporation of 14CO2, into cardenolide and sapogenin steroids of Digitalis purpurea

The relative rates of biosynthesis of cardenolide and sapogenin steroids of Digitalis purpurea were estimated by their uptake of ¹⁴CO₂. The incorporation of label into both groups, although initially slow, indicated that biosynthesis occurs even at the end of the growing season. The sapogenins were produced more rapidly than the cardenolides at this stage of plant development. Within the group of sapogenins, digitogenin, the trihydroxy compound, was produced at a greater rate than the dihydroxy steroid gitogenin. In the case of the cardenolides, the trihydroxy gitoxigenin was produced at a slower rate than the dihydroxy digitoxigenin.     

Expression of human plasma protein genes in ageing transgenic mice

Introduction of human plasma protein genes into the mouse genome to produce transgenic mice furnishes an in vivo model for correlating chromosomal DNA sequences with developmental and tissue-specific expression. The liver produces an array of plasma proteins that circulate throughout the body contributing to homeostasis. Non-hepatic tissue sites of synthesis have been identified where a local provision of plasma proteins in needed. Analysis of expression of human plasma protein genes in ageing transgenic mice appears especialy promising in identifying DNA sequences that respond to environmental adversities such as inflammatory factors, hormonal changes and metal toxicity. The results indicate that human genes encoding and controlling liver plasma proteins serve as useful models for studying genetic regulation in the background of development and ageing.     

Cytoplasmic free calcium concentration in porcine platelets: Regulation by an intracellular nonmitochondrial calcium pump and increase after thrombin stimulation

Mechanisms are assumed to exist in the resting platelet which maintain the concentration of cytoplasmic free calcium below that level required to activate cellular responses. To assess such processes the porcine platelet plasma membrane was selectively lysed with digitonin and the uptake (or flux) of free calcium monitored by an extracellular calcium electrode. Lysis resulted in an immediate lowering of the extracellular free calcium, due to the action of intracellular organelle(s) acting on the extracellular space through the permeabilized plasma membrane. In resting platelets, the rate of calcium uptake was first order with respect to the extracellular prelytic calcium concentration, and hence the cytoplasmic free concentration was found to be 1·10^?7 M by extrapolation to a point of zero flux (i.e., the null point). This approach could not be used with thrombin-stimulated platelets, as external calcium was required for both secretion of ATP + ADP and aggregation. Nevertheless, evidence for an increase in cytoplasmic free calcium after thromin stimulation was obtained. Metabolic inhibitors and agents known to inhibit calcium uptake by mitochondria had no effect on the calcium flux following lysis, indicating different mechanisms for calcium homeostasis in the platelet when compared with other cell types (e.g., liver). Levels of ionophore A23187, which caused platelet aggregation, gave a massive release of the nonmitochondrial pool of calcium into the cytoplasmic space. Thus, in porcine platelets an intracellular energy-requiring calcium pump, which sequesters calcium in a nonmitochondrial membranous compartment, is crucial for intracellular calcium homeostasis.     

Nine decades of fish movement research in southern Africa: a synthesis of research and findings from 1928 to 2014

Unprecedented concern over the biological effects of over-exploitation, together with rapid technological advances in biotelemetry, have provided the impetus for much research, on a global scale, into the movement of marine animals. We reviewed 101 marine and estuarine fish movement studies from southern Africa, published from 1928 to 2014, with the aim of synthesising research trends and findings. Trends showed an increasing emphasis on fish movement research in publications in the sub-tropical and warm-temperate biogeographic regions along the south and east coasts of southern Africa. Although 63 % of publications featured only marine studies, research into fine-scale habitat use in estuaries has been on the increase, concomitant with increasing accessibility of biotelemetry. Overall, 26 families were identified in the surveyed literature with regionally endemic sparids featuring in 32 % of the publications. Ten movement themes were identified in the surveyed literature, including broad-scale movement patterns, which featured in 68 % of studies, followed by fine-scale habitat usage (33 %) and protected areas (26 %). The most prominent phenomenon, emerging from this research, is that of partial migration, which describes the occurrence of resident and migratory behaviour within a coexisting animal population. Substantial progress has also been made in unravelling the complexities of fine-scale habitat usage in marine reserves and in estuaries. While this knowledge has enabled more effective management of South Africa’s multi-user, multi-species fisheries, focus should now be directed at improving our understanding of the commonalities in movement behaviour, the associated driving forces behind this behaviour and the nature of movement across reserve boundaries.     

Meaning in Nature: Organic Manufacture?

The paper examines Marcello Barbieri’s (2007) Introduction to Biosemiotics. Highlighting debate within the biosemiotic community, it focuses on what the volume offers to those who explain human intellect in relation to what Turing called our ‘physical powers.’ In scrutinising the basis of world-modelling, parallels and contrasts are drawn with other work on embodied-embedded cognition. Models dominate biology. Is this a qualitative fact or does it point to biomechanisms? In evaluating the 18 contributions, it is suggested that the answers will shape the field. First, they will decide if biochemistry and explanatory reduction can be synergised by biosemantics. Second, they will show if our intellectual powers arise from biology. Does thinking use—not a language faculty—but what Marko? and colleagues call semiosis by the living? Resolution of such issues, it is suggested, can change how we view cognition. Above all, if the biomechanists win the day, cultural models can be regarded as extending natural meaning. On such a view, biomechanisms prompt us to act and perceive as we model our own natural models. This fits Craik’s vision: intellect gives us the alphanumerical ‘symbols’ that allow thoughts to have objective validity. For the biomechanist, this is explained—not by brains alone—but, rather, by acting under the constraints of historically extended sensoria.     

Effectiveness of Hospital-Wide Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Infection Control Policies Differs by Ward Specialty

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of preventable nosocomial infections and is endemic in hospitals worldwide. The effectiveness of infection control policies varies significantly across hospital settings. The impact of the hospital context towards the rate of nosocomial MRSA infections and the success of infection control is understudied. We conducted a modelling study to evaluate several infection control policies in surgical, intensive care, and medical ward specialties, each with distinct ward conditions and policies, of a tertiary public hospital in Sydney, Australia. We reconfirm hand hygiene as the most successful policy and find it to be necessary for the success of other policies. Active screening for MRSA, patient isolation in single-bed rooms, and additional staffing were found to be less effective. Across these ward specialties, MRSA transmission risk varied by 13% and reductions in the prevalence and nosocomial incidence rate of MRSA due to infection control policies varied by up to 45%. Different levels of infection control were required to reduce and control nosocomial MRSA infections for each ward specialty. Infection control policies and policy targets should be specific for the ward and context of the hospital. The model we developed is generic and can be calibrated to represent different ward settings and pathogens transmitted between patients indirectly through health care workers. This can aid the timely and cost effective design of synergistic and context specific infection control policies.     

Causes and consequences of human induced impacts on a ubiquitous estuary-dependent marine fish species

Decreasing populations of common estuary-associated marine fishes are being documented globally and red flags associated with such declines are often ignored due to the high relative abundance of these species when compared to more rare and threatened taxa. The Cape stumpnose Rhabdosargus holubi (Steindachner 1881) is an abundant and widespread southern African sparid that is dependent on estuaries as a primary nursery area. Historical and current information on the species is comprehensive and the accumulated evidence strongly suggests that this ubiquitous fish is under pressure, mainly due to degradation of estuaries and associated catchments, increasing fishing pressures from recreational and subsistence anglers, habitat loss relating to reduced submerged macrophyte areas in many systems, industrial and agricultural pollution, infrastructural developments in and around estuaries, and climate change. In particular, the temporary loss of Lake St Lucia, which accounts for approximately 50% of the estuarine surface area in South Africa, has drastically reduced the nursery area availability for R. holubi on the subcontinent. Overall we present strong evidence to support the hypothesis that present-day stocks of R. holubi are much smaller than those in the pristine state and that urgent management measures need to be considered and implemented to prevent current depleted populations of the species from declining further.     

Synthesis of 4-O-β-D-mannopyranosyl-L-rhamnopyranose

The title disaccharide (16) has been synthesized in 50% overall yield by way of condensation of 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-O-carbonyl-α-D-mannopyranosyl bromide 5 with methyl 2,3-O-isopropylidene-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (1) in chloroform solution, in the presence of silver oxide. The disaccharide was characterized as the crystalline isopropyl alcoholate of methyl 4-O-β-D-mannopyranosyl-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (11) and as 1,2,3-tri-O acetyl-4-O- (2,3,4,6-tetra-O-acetyl-β-D-mannopyranosyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranose (15). Methyl β-D-mannopyranoside isopropyl alcoholate 7 was readily obtained in 85% yield via the reaction of bromide 5 with methanol.Reduction of 2,3-di-O-methyl-L-rhamnose with sodium borohydride, followed by acetylation, may result in the formation of an appreciable proportion of a boric ester, namely 1,5-di-O-acetyl-4-deoxy-2,3-di-O-methyl-L-rhamnitol-4-yl dimethyl borate, depending on the procedure used.