Weather patterns and asthma epidemics in New York City and New Orleans,U.S.A.

Twenty-five years of data on asthmatic attacks in New Orleans (covering approximately 170,000 asthma attacks) have been analyzed to identify asthma epidemic days, defined as days on which an unusually high number of asthmatic individuals had attacks. Similar data covering three years was obtained for New York City. A preliminary examination of detailed meteoroligical data revealed a consistent meteorological pattern preceding and associated with such asthma epidemic days which consisted of a cold front preceding an asthma epidemic by one to three days followed by a high pressure system. The significance of these meteorological findings and their relationship to other environmental agents such as natural or man-made atmospheric pollutants that are likely to be associated with asthma attacks will be discussed.Presented at the Eighth International Congress of Biometeorology, 9–14 September 1979, Shefayim, Israel.     

A correction for food respiration in balancing energy budgets

A calculated correction factor due to food respiration is applied to the consumption term in energy budgets for invertebrates. The factor is expressed as a function of the growth rate of the invertebrates, the food respiration rate and the fraction of food remaining when changed. It is shown that applying this correction factor to several energy budgets balances them.

---

Résumé Il est bien connu que, dans les bilans énergétiques des invertébrés l'assimilation, calculée comme différence entre la consommation et la defécation, est supérieure à celle calculée comme addition de la production et de la respiration. Un terme de correction tenant compte de la respiration de la nourriture a été calculé pour être utilisé dans le calcul de la consommation. Il dépend de la vitesse de croissance des invertébrés, du taux de respiration de l'aliment et de la fraction qui en est consommée. Mais on constate que la vitesse de croissance des invertébrés n'influence que peu ce terme de correction, tandis que les deux autres facteurs, particulièrement la fraction de nourriture consommée, peuvent être très importants. La vitesse de croissance peut donc être considérée comme constante, ce qui permet un calcul exact du terme de correction. En l'appliquant à différents bilans énergétiques, les différences entre les deux estimations qui atteignaient 30% et 250%, se trouvent réduites à moins de 4%.

     

Strukturelle Grundlagen des Parasitismus beiOrobanche III. Die Differenzierung des Xylemanschlusses beiO. crenata

Zusammenfassung Innerhalb des Wirtsxylems wurden Haustorialzellen des WurzelparasitenOrobanche lichtund elektronenoptisch untersucht. Diese Zellen durchlaufen eine ungewöhnliche Differenzierung bis sie wasserleitendes Xylemanschlu\element sind. Von Haustorialzellen mit stark verdickten FrontwÄnden entwickeln sie sich bei Eintritt in das Wirtsxylem zu einer typischen Transferzelle mit polar zum Holzelement des Wirts angelegtem Wandlabyrinth. Erst durch einen zweiten Differenzierungsschritt wird die Transferzelle zum Wasserleitelement, indem die typischen SekundÄrwandverdickungen des Xylems in der Zelle angelegt werden. Diese entstehen teilweise innerhalb des Wandlabyrinths und sind stets gegenüber denjenigen des Wirtselements angelegt. Zuletzt wird das Labyrinth — bis auf gelegentliche Reststrukturen — abgebaut, der Protoplast degeneriert, und es entsteht ein haustoriales Wasserleitelement, das über kommunizierende Tüpfel an das Wirtselement angeschlossen ist.

---

Structural features of parasitism ofOrobanche III. The differentiation of xylem connexion ofO. crenata

Summary Haustorial cells of the root parasiteOrobanche within the xylem of the host tissue were investigated by light- and electronmicroscopy. Coming into contact with the tracheary elements of the host these cells show an unusual differentiation before turning into a water conducting xylem element. From haustorial cells with thickened front walls they develop into typical transfer cells, bearing wall ingrowth in those parts of the wall orientated towards the tracheary elements of the host. During further differentiation the transfer cell changes into a water conducting element by developing the typical secondary wall thickenings of xylem elements within the cell. Partly these wall thickenings are formed inside the labyrinth structures of the transfer cell, always situated opposite those of the tracheary element of the host. Simultaneously the labyrinth disintegrates—some small remnants of wall ingrowths may persist. The protoplast degenerates, and finally a haustorial water conducting element results. Host- und parasitic tracheary elements are connected by pits.

---

---

Wir danken FrauChristl Glockmann für ihre stets verantwortungsvolle Mitarbeit. Den GÄrtnern des Botanischen Gartens in Kiel sei Dank für die oft schwierige Anzucht des Pflanzenmaterials. Die Untersuchungen wurden durch Mittel der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft gefördert.     

Differences in black pigmentation in lepidopteran cuticles as revealed by light and electron microscopy

Summary Black cuticles of larvae and pupae from various Lepidoptera were studied by light and electron microscopy. There are striking differences in the representation of black pigmentation, especially at the ultrastructural level. Two types may be described: 1. With the light microscope black melanin-like grana, electron-dense electron microscopically, are found in the distal parts of the exocuticle. This type is demonstrated in larvae of Celerio euphorbiae, Papilio machaon, and Phalera bucephala. 2. With the light microscope a dark homogeneous layer in the distal exocuticle can be recognized, however, electron microscopically no structures correlated with this dark pigment layer. This type of pigmentation was present in pupae of Pieris brassicae and Aglais urticae; in Pieris larvae the dark pigmented layer appeared to be limited to the epicuticle. In Celerio processes of the epidermal cells are involved in transporting precursors to the exocuticle. The conclusion was reached that black pigmentation in cuticles is based on different mechanisms as proposed by structural features. The two likely mechanisms are melanization and sclerotization.This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (SFB 87, project A1, granted to Prof. Bückmann)     

Energy-dependent accumulation of iron by isolated rat liver mitochondria. IV. Relationship to the energy state of the mitochondria

1. The energy-dependent accumulation of iron by isolated rat liver mitochondria, respiring on endogenous substrates, is strongly dependent on the efficiency of energy coupling in the respiratory chain as measured by respiratory control with ADP and the endogenous energy dissipation. The accumulation reached a saturation level at respiratory control with ADP values (with succinate as the substrate) of approx. 4.0.2. In the presence of exogenous substrate, the energy-dependent accumulation of iron was markedly reduced, primarily due to binding of iron as carboxylate complexes having less favourable dissociation constants than the iron(III)-sucrose complex(es).3. The effect of added ATP was at least 2-fold, i.e. that of providing energy and that of chelating iron. When the mitochondria respired on endogenous substrate, the energy-dependent accumulation of iron increased at low concentrations of ATP, whereas higher concentrations (> 50 μM) gradually inhibited the uptake.4. Energization of the mitochondria by the generation of an artificial K⁺ gradient across the inner membrane with valinomycin in a K⁺-free medium increased the energy-dependent accumulation of iron.     

Energy-dependent accumulation of iron by isolated rat liver mitochondria V. Effect on factors controlling respiration and oxidative phosphorylation

1. Depending on the metabolic state, the addition of iron(III)-sucrose induces an inhibition or a stimulation of the respiration rate when added to isolated rat liver mitochondria.2. Under conditions identical to those used in the accumulation studies (Romslo, I. and Flatmark, T. (1973) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 305, 29?40), the ferric complex induces a decrease in the oxygen uptake concomitant to an oxidation of cytochromes c (+c₁) and a (+a₃). These results suggest that ferric iron is reduced to ferrous iron by the respiratory chain prior to or simultaneously with its energy-dependent accumulation.3. On the other hand, the addition of iron(III)-sucrose induces a stimulation of respiration in State 4 and State 3 provided Mg²⁺ is present in the suspending medium. In contrast to Ca²⁺, iron stimulates State 4 respiration in a cyclic process only within narrow concentration limits; at concentrations of iron above 100 μM the respiration remains in the activated state until anaerobiosis. The stimulation of State 4 respiration is more pronounced with succinate than with NAD-linked substrates, a difference which partly may be attributed to a stimulation of the succinate dehydrogenase complex.4. The stimulation of respiration by iron is approx. 3 times higher in State 3 than in State 4 and this difference can be attributed to a stimulation of the adenine nucleotide exchange reaction in State 3 with a concomitant increase in the rate of oxidative phosphorylation, although the $\text{P}\text{O}$ ratio is slightly diminished.     

Estimation of the Use of Antibiotics in the Small Ruminant Industry in the Netherlands in 2011 and 2012

The aim of this study was to estimate the quantity of antibiotics and classes of antibiotics used in the small ruminant industry in the Netherlands in 2011 and 2012. Twelve large veterinary practices, located throughout the Netherlands were selected for this study. All small ruminant farms associated with these practices that had complete records on the quantity of antibiotics prescribed were included. The veterinary practices provided data on all antibiotics prescribed, and the estimated animal used daily dose of antibiotics per year (AUDD/Y) was calculated for each farm. The median AUDD/Y in small ruminant farms was zero in both years (mean 0.60 in 2011, and 0.62 in 2012). The largest quantity of antibiotic use was observed in the professional goat industry (herds of ≥32 goats) with a median AUDD/Y of 1.22 in 2011 and 0.73 in 2012. In the professional sheep industry (flocks of ≥32 sheep), the median AUDD/Y was 0 in 2011 and 0.10 in 2012. In the small scale industry (flocks or herds of <32 sheep or goats), the median AUDD/Y never exceeded 0. The most frequently prescribed antibiotics in the small scale industry and professional sheep farms belonged to the penicillin class. In professional goat farms, antibiotics of the aminoglycoside class were most frequently prescribed. This study provides the first assessment on the quantity of antibiotic use in the small ruminant industry. Given a comparable attitude towards antibiotic use, these results might be valid for small ruminant populations in other north-western European countries as well. The antibiotic use in the small ruminant industry appeared to be low, and is expected to play a minor role in the development of antibiotic resistance. Nevertheless, several major zoonotic bacterial pathogens are associated with the small ruminant industry, and it remains important that antibiotics are used in a prudent way.