A technique to continuously measure arteriovenous oxygen content difference and P50 in vivo

In hypoxemic high-altitude polycythemic natives whose arterial O2 saturation (SaO2) normally ranges between 70 and 80%, three polyurethane catheters with both optical and polarographic sensors were inserted into the radial artery to measure SaO2 and O2 tension (PaO2), and three thermodilution fiber-optic balloon-tipped catheters were floated into the pulmonary artery to measure mixed venous O2 saturation (SvO2). Correlation of the in vivo SaO2, PaO2, and SvO2 values with the in vitro measurements was high (r = 0.97, 0.99, and 0.98, respectively). Both catheters were inserted in one polycythemic subject before and 4 days after isovolemic hemodilution. Data from the sensors were used to calculate arteriovenous O2 content difference (CaO2 - CvO2) and the O2 half-saturation pressure of hemoglobin (P50). The mean +/- 1 SD of the in vivo and in vitro P50 calculated with the Hill equation was 27.61 +/- 2.15 Torr and 27.35 +/- 1.60 Torr, respectively. The mean +/- 1 SD of the absolute difference between the in vivo and in vitro measurements was 1.16 +/- 1.21 Torr. The in vivo CaO2 - CvO2 correlated well with the in vitro measurements (r = 0.93), and the mean +/- 1 SD of the error in the catheter CaO2 - CvO2 measurements was 0.47 +/- 0.50 ml/dl. This technique appears to provide a useful measurement of blood gas exchange parameters and should be applicable to the study of exercise physiology and clinical regulation of O2 transport.     

Stability of tissue culture medium pH as a function of autoclaving,time, and cultured plant material

Autoclaving is a standard procedure for sterilizing nutrient media for plant tissue cultures. Most tissue cultures are grown at pH 5.2 to 5.8 with pH adjustments being made prior to autoclaving. This paper reports that there are significant differences between initial pH levels and pH levels following autoclaving, particularly in the pH range of 5.7 to 8.5. This effect is noted with and without agar. In addition, we report that with time the pH of the medium drifts into the acid range. When Cucumis callus was added to the medium, the pH was changed significantly within 48 hours. The amount and direction (increase or decrease of pH) was significantly correlated with the original pH. This suggests that researchers should be wary of the true pH situation in their medium. In addition, in publications authors should specify whether their medium pH value was determined before or after autoclaving.     

Biophysical and Biochemical Studies on Rhinovirus and Poliovirus II. Chemical and Hydrodynamic Analysis of the Rhinovirion

Chemical analysis of rhinovirus 14 revealed a ribonucleic acid (RNA) content of 29.8% and a high adenylic acid content (35%). A partial specific volume of 0.682 cm³/g was obtained for the rhinovirion. Rhinovirus and poliovirus had identical sedimentation coefficients of 158S. A diffusion coefficient of 1.71 × 10⁻⁷ cm²/sec was consistent with a hydrated diameter of 25 nm for the rhinovirion. The calculated molecular weights of the rhinovirion and its genome were 7.1 × 10⁶ and 2.1 × 10⁶ daltons, respectively. Sedimentation analysis of infectious RNA confirmed the similarity of the molecular size of the poliovirus and rhinovirus genomes.     

The Behaviour of Dasyuroides byrnei (Marsupialia) in Captivity

Das Verhalten des Beuteltiers Dasyuroides byrnei in Gefangenschaft wurde untersucht. Dasyuroides ist nachtaktiv und verbirgt sich tagsüber in einem Bau oder Schlupfwinkel. Körperhaltung, Fortbewegungsarten, Höhlengraben, Beutefang und andere Verhaltensweisen sind beschrieben. Das Duftmarkieren hat Mitteilungswert. Beide Geschlechter setzen Duftstoff ab, indem sie ihre Sternaldrüsen und Kloakengegend an Gegenständen reiben. Freundschaftliche, kämpferische, sexuelle und mütterliche Verhaltensweisen werden beschrieben. Dasyuroides scheint kein geselliges Tier zu sein; Angriffe gegen Artgenossen führen selten zu Verletzungen, weil das Angriffsverhalten stark stilisiert ist. Wachstum und Entwicklung der Jungen wurden verfolgt. Die durchschnittliche Wurfgröße beträgt fünf oder sechs; die Jungen bleiben an den Zitzen des ♀ bis zum 56. Lebenstag. Mit 100 Tagen können sie entwöhnt werden. Das Verhalten dieser Art wird mit anderen Arten der Familie Dasyuridae verglichen, auch mit Plazentaliern.     

Deoxyribonucleic Acid of Adeno-associated Satellite Virus

Staining patterns suggest that in the adeno-associated satellite virion there exist quasi single-stranded regions which are renatured after extraction to exhibit double strandedness.     

Physical Assay and Growth Cycle Studies of a Defective Adeno-Satellite Virus

Electron microscopic particle counting of the defective adeno-satellite virus (ASV), by use of pseudoreplication and negative staining with phosphotungstic acid, was shown to be a reproducible quantitative assay procedure. Particles of satellite type 4 that were counted in fluids from infected cultures had the same morphology as particles that banded at a buoyant density of 1.43 g/cc in cesium chloride. Other satellite virus serotypes examined in the same manner had a buoyant density of 1.37 to 1.38 g/cc. A comparison of satellite titers obtained by complement fixation and by particle counting demonstrated that an increase in satellite particles resulted in a corresponding increase in CF titers; however, electron microscopy was at least 10 times more sensitive than complement fixation for detecting satellite virus. Growth cycle studies of satellite virus in cells co-infected with adenovirus, as assayed by particle counting, indicated that the kinetics of satellite virus production closely followed the kinetics of its helper adenovirus production, with an eclipse period of 12 to 16 hr. The eclipse period of the satellite remained the same when cultures were preinfected with satellite 24 hr prior to adenovirus inoculation. However, when cultures were infected with adenovirus 12 hr before satellite virus, the eclipse period of the satellite was shortened to between 4 and 6 hr. Thus, satellite virus replication seems dependent upon a relatively late event in the adenovirus replication cycle. When cells were co-infected with adenovirus and its defective satellite, the yield of adenovirus was markedly reduced from that obtained in cells singly infected with adenovirus.     

Tissue culture of Ecklonia radiata (Phaeophyceae,Laminariales): effects on growth of light,organic carbon source and vitamins

The effects of light quality and irradiance, and supply of organic carbon and vitamins on the growth of two forms of Ecklonia radiata in tissue culture were examined. A callus of unpigmented cells developed over the cut surface of newly excised explants of stipe. This growth was best in the dark but stopped after 10 weeks. Pigmented, mainly filamentous clumps of cells developed from explants after several weeks in culture. These required light for growth, with growth being enhanced by increasing photon flux density up to 30 μmol photon m^-2 s^-1, with the active spectral component being red light (> 600 nm). The addition to the medium of a range of organic carbon sources or vitamins did not stimulate growth of either culture type in the dark. author for correspondence     

Growth of food-borne pathogenic bacteria in oil-in-water emulsions: I—Methods for investigating the form of growth

Methods are presented for investigating the site and form of growth of bacteria in model oil-in-water emulsions and in dairy cream. Following growth of the bacteria, the continuous aqueous phase is gelled using agarose and the oil phase removed using a mixture of chloroform and methanol. Using this method, the authors have found that Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium and Yersinia enterocolitica grow in the form of colonies in concentrated oil-in-water emulsions. Colonies of L. monocytogenes and Y. enterocolitica also form in artificially-inoculated fresh and tinned dairy cream. If information about the precise site of growth is not required, the authors have discovered that intact colonies can be liberated from the model emulsions by dissolving away the oil phase with chloroform: methanol.