A finite-difference electromagnetic deposition/thermoregulatory model: comparison between theory and measurements

The rate of the electromagnetic energy deposition and the resultant thermoregulatory response of a block model of a squirrel monkey exposed to plane-wave fields at 350 MHz were calculated using a finite-difference procedure. Noninvasive temperature measurements in live squirrel monkeys under similar exposure conditions were obtained using Vitek probes. Calculations exhibit reasonable correlation with the measured data, especially for the rise in colonic temperature.     

Effects of growth regulators on light-dependent anthocyanin production in Zea mays seedlings

Rengel, Z. and Kordan, H. A. 1987. Effects of growth regulators on light-dependent anthocyanin production in Zea mays seedlings.
The effects of ethylene, indolyl- and naphthylacetic acids, zeatin, benzyladenine, gib-berellic acid and triiodobenzoic acid on anthocyanin production in seedlings of Zea mays L. cv. Golden Bantam were investigated. Endogenously produced and exogen-ously supplied ethylene, as well as the other growth regulators tested markedly suppressed anthocyanin formation. Except for triiodobenzoic acid, the other growth regulators stimulated ethylene production, the amounts produced in the light being larger than those in the dark. Absorption of ethylene by permanganate as well as inhibition of ethylene production or action by Co²⁺ or Ag⁺ increased anthocyanin formation in maize seedlings above the level found in the control plants. The inhibiting effect of auxins and cytokinins on anthocyanin production was reversed by Co²⁺ or Ag⁺. In contrast, decreased anthocyanin formation caused by gibberellic acid or triiodobenzoic acid seemed unrelated to ethylene and could not be alleviated by Co²⁺ or Ag+.     

Immunochemical and kinetic evidence for two different prostaglandin H-prostaglandin E isomerases in sheep vesicular gland microsomes

Splenic lymphocytes from mice immunized with a partially purified prostaglandin (PG) H-PGE isomerase from sheep vesicular glands were fused with SP2/0-Ag14 myeloma cells. Two spleen cell-myeloma hybrids (hei-7 and hei-26) were selected and cloned. The mouse antibodies secreted by the two hybrids, IgG1 (hei-7) and IgG1 (hei-26), caused immunoprecipitation of a maximum of 45 and 22%, respectively, of the solubilized PGH-PGE isomerase activity of sheep vesicular gland; immunoprecipitation of activity by the two antibodies was additive. The antigens reactive with IgG1 (hei-7) and IgG1 (hei-26) were identified as proteins with Mr = 17,500 and 180,000, respectively, by Western transfer blotting or sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of immunoprecipitated 125I-labeled microsomes. The PGH-PGE isomerase activities precipitated by IgG1 (hei-7) and IgG1 (hei-26) exhibited different kinetic properties with respect to time course, Km for PGH2, and concentration dependence for GSH. No significant GSH-S-transferase activity was present in these immunoprecipitates. These data indicate that there are at least two different proteins in sheep vesicular gland microsomes capable of catalyzing GSH-dependent PGH-PGE isomerase reactions. IgG1 (hei-7), but not IgG1 (hei-26), caused coprecipitation of PGH synthase and PGH-PGE isomerase activities when incubated with intact right-side-out vesicular gland microsomes. Thus, the epitope for IgG1 (hei-7) is located on the cytoplasmic surface of those microsomal spheres which contain PGH synthase. This latter finding suggests that the isomerase reactive with IgG1 (hei-7) is involved in PGE synthesis in sheep vesicular glands.     

Effect of egg cholesterol and dietary fats on plasma lipids, lipoproteins, and apoproteins of normal women consuming natural diets

Nine normal women, 22 to 37 years old, consumed controlled quantities of natural foods to test their responses to dietary cholesterol and saturated fat. All diets contained, as percentage of calories, 14% protein, 31% fat, and 55% carbohydrate. The main sources of polyunsaturated and saturated fats were corn oil and lard, respectively, and egg yolk was used for cholesterol supplementation. All subjects participated in four diet protocols of 15 days duration, and each diet period was separated by 3 weeks without diet control. The first diet (corn) was based on corn oil, had a polyunsaturated to saturated fat ratio (P/S) of 2.14, and contained 130 mg of cholesterol. The second diet (corn+) was identical to the first but contained a total of 875 mg of cholesterol. The third diet (lard) was based on lard, had a P/S ratio of 0.64, and contained 130 mg of cholesterol. The fourth diet (lard+) was identical to the third, but contained 875 mg of cholesterol per day. Changes of the plasma lipid, lipoprotein and apoprotein parameters relative to the corn diet were as follows: the corn+ diet significantly increased total plasma cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and apoB levels; the lard diet significantly increased total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and apoB; and the lard+ diet significantly increased the total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and apoA-I and apoB levels. There were no significant variations in VLDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, or apoE levels with these diets. The diets affected both the number of lipoprotein particles as well as the composition of LDL and HDL. Compared to the corn diet, cholesterol and saturated fat each increased the number of LDL particles by 17% and 9%, respectively, and the cholesterol per particle by 9%. The combination of saturated fat and cholesterol increased particle number by 18% and particle size by 24%. Switching from lard+ to lard, corn+, or corn diets reduced LDL-cholesterol of the group by 18%, 11%, and 28%, respectively, while a large inter-individual variability was noted. In summary, dietary fat and cholesterol affect lipid and lipoprotein levels as well as the particle number and chemical composition of both LDL and HDL. There is, however, considerable inter-individual heterogeneity in response to diet.     

Pliocene hominid partial mandible from Tabarin, Baringo, Kenya

Sediments in the Tugen Hills, west of Lake Baringo, Kenya, form one of the best fossiliferous successions known in Africa spanning the period from 14 my to less than 4 my. Hominoid fossils have previously been recovered from a number of localities in the region. We describe here a new hominid mandible (KNM-TH 13150) from the site of Tabarin, in the Chemeron Formation. Isotopic determinations on a tuff below the fossiliferous horizon gives dates of 4.96 my and 5.25 my. The associated fauna is consistent with these results and independently suggests a minimum age for the specimen of 4.15 my. Although fragmentary, the preserved morphology of the Tabarin mandible is consistent with the diagnosis of the Pliocene hominid Australopithecus afarensis. It can be distinguished from all other currently recognized hominoid taxa.     

Rat corticotropin-releasing hormone gene: sequence and tissue-specific expression

The rat corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) gene has been isolated and characterized by DNA sequence analysis. The gene exhibits a structural organization similar to that of the human CRH gene. The nucleotide sequence encoding the entire rat CRH precursor is located on the second exon, while exon I encodes the 5'-untranslated region of the mRNA. Analysis of the nucleotide sequence homology between the human and rat CRH genes reveals several highly conserved regions including the CRH peptide-encoding sequence and the 5'-flanking sequence. RNA blot analysis demonstrates that CRH mRNA can be observed in numerous regions of the rat brain as well as the spinal cord, adrenal gland, pituitary, and testis.     

Obligately phototrophic Chloroflexus: primary production in anaerobic hot spring microbial mats

Microbial mats which lack cyanobacteria occur at 50° to 65° C in the sulfide-containing Mammoth Springs of Yellowstone National Park. The principal organisms within these mats are filamentous bacteria which resemble Chloroflexus aurantiacus. The incorporation of [¹⁴C]-HCO ₃ ^- into mat material depended upon both light and sulfide, and was not inhibited when complete natural light was replaced with far-red and infra-red radiation. [¹⁴C]-acetate was incorporated in a light-dependent reaction which was stimulated by, but did not require, sulfide. In situ experiments with microelectrodes demonstrated net sulfide uptake by the mat in the light, and net sulfide production by the mat in the dark, suggesting the operation of a sulfur cycle.Filamentous phototrophic bacteria isolated from the mat were incapable of sustained growth in the presence of O₂.Simultaneous exposure of cultures to light and O₂ caused degradation of bacteriochlorophyll c. The stimulation of light-dependent [¹⁴C]-HCO ₃ ^- -uptake by sulfide was more pronounced in these isolates than in strains of Chloroflexus aurantiacus.     

The nucleotide sequence of the tnpA gene of Tn21.

The nucleotide sequence of the tnpA gene of Tn21 is presented. The transposase encoded by this gene is exactly the same length (988 amino acids) as the Tn501 transposase (4), and shows 72% homology overall with this protein, with greater homology towards the C-terminus. The sequence of the transposase is discussed in the context of the evolution of Class II transposable elements and of the characteristics of the enzyme's action.