Phylogeny of chromosome races ofFestuca arundinacea andF. mairei (Poaceae) as indicated by seed protein electrophoresis

Seed protein electrophoresis of four chromosomes races ofFestuca arundinacea, F. mairei and their progenitors showed variation in banding patterns. High protein similarities betweenF. arundinacea, F. mairei, F. scariosa, andF. pratensis indicate close phylogenetic relationships of these species. The ancestry ofF. arundinacea cytotypes could be narrowed to three diploid species:F. scariosa, F. pratensis, andF. rubra or to their close relatives.     

Multiple stochastic correlations among some cranioscopic traits

The traditional cranioscopic traits possess undoubted taxonomic value in interpreting interpopulational relationships. However, there is a lack of studies on the correlations between particular traits. In order to fill this gap, the following set of 4 traits was analysed by use of the multiple stachastic correlations method of Wanke: 1. prominence of maxilla, 2. lower margin of nasal aperture, 3. depth of canine fossa and 4. depth of maxillary incisure. These traits were examined by use of the photographic scales of Michalski within the series of 104 crania from a local population of Wislica, Poland, dated to the Early Medieval Period. The significant associations appeared in the combinations 1–2, 1–3, 3–4, 1–2–3, 1–2–4, 1–3–4, 2–3–4 and 1–2–3–4. After removal of all the possible interactions, still significant associations remained in 1–2–4, 2–3–4, and 1–3–4. Moreover, the places of significant surpluses appeared in the extreme places, i.e. those characterising the Europoid and Mongoloid crania.     

Abundance and biomass estimates of the benthic fauna in Admiralty Bay,King George Island,South Shetland Islands

Summary Quantitative benthic samples were collected along three transects in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, South Shetlands. At each of a total of 18 stations, between 15 and 250 m depth, we took 3 replicate samples with a van Veen grab. Animals collected were classed into major groups. Abundance and biomass per m² was calculated for each sampling site. Considerable population densities and high biomass values were found. Most abundant groups were Bivalvia, Polychaeta and Amphipoda, whereas the largest part of the biomass was due to Ascidiacea, Ophiuroidea, Echinoidea, Polychaeta and Bivalvia. The maximum abundance recorded was 36,000 ind m^-2 while the average was approximately 6500 ind m^-2. Maximum biomass was over 2400 g m^-2 with an average of ca. 700 g m^-2. The contribution to the total biomass by groups such as the Oligochaeta, Cumacea and Tanaidacea was higher in the inner shallow part of Admiralty Bay (Ezcurra Inlet) than in the deeper areas of the bay. Our results confirm the reports on an unusually high density and biomass of the Antarctic sublittoral benthic fauna. Sessile suspension feeders belonging to the Bivalvia, Ascidiacea, sedentary Polychaeta, and vagile scavengers of the Ophiuroidea, Amphipoda and errant Polychaeta are the most significant groups in the Antarctic Ecosystem. The total benthic biomass in Admiralty Bay, based on the present preliminary quantitative data, was estimated to be over 600,000 t. This value is probably still an underestimate.     

Levels of linoleic acid and saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids in selected lipid fractions of the serum and platelets in patients with coronary arterial disease

The levels of serum fatty acids in the serum and in the serum fractions of cholesterol esters (ECH) and triglycerides (TG) and the levels of these acids in these fractions of platelets were compared in healthy controls and in patients with clinically manifested coronary arterial disease. Decreased level of linoleic acid was found in the serum and in the ECH fraction of the serum in the patients, with a rise in the level of palmitic acid in the ECH fraction of the serum of these patients. The level of linoleic acid in the ECH and TG platelet fractions in these patients was not different from that in the healthy controls, while in the platelet TG fraction of the patients the level of palmitoleic acid was raised, and the level of oleic acid was increased in the platelet ECH fraction.     

Greater serum GH response to arm than to leg exercise performed at equivalent oxygen uptake

The aim of this study was to provide information concerning the mechanism of exercise-induced stimulation of growth hormone (GH) release in human subjects. For this reason serum GH as well as some hemodynamic variables and blood concentrations of noradrenaline (NA), insulin (IRI), lactate (LA), glucose (BG), and free fatty acids (FFA) were determined in seven healthy male subjects exercising on a bicycle ergometer with arms or legs and running on a treadmill at equivalent oxygen consumption levels. Significantly greater increases in serum GH concentration accompanied arm exercises than those observed during the leg exercises. This was accompanied by greater increases in heart rate, blood pressure, and plasma NA and blood lactate concentrations. Serum IRI decreased during both leg exercises and did not change during the arm exercise. There were no differences in BG and plasma FFA concentrations between the three types of exercise. The role of humoral and neural signals responsible for the greater GH response to arm exercise is discussed. The findings are consistent with the hypothesis that neural afferent signals sent by muscle "metabolic receptors" participate in the activation of GH release during physical exercise. It seems likely that the stimulation of these chemoreceptors is more pronounced when smaller muscle groups are engaged at a given work load. However, a contribution of efferent impulses derived from the brain motor centres to the control system of GH secretion during exercise is also possible.