Monthly incidence of Theileria cervi and seroconversion to Babesia odocoilei in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Texas.

Monthly monitoring of fawns collected from an area in Texas endemic for Theileria cervi and Babesia odocoilei showed that transmission of T. cervi occurred during July and August, a time period consistent with the occurrence of Amblyomma americanum. Seroconversion to B. odocoilei occurred during October to December and possibly continued through January and February. The time of seroconversion was more suggestive of transmission of B. odocoilei by Ixodes scapularis than by Amblyomma americanum.     

The effect of haemorrhage on erythropoietin concentration in the mature ovine fetus.

This study examines the response in plasma erythropoietin values to haemorrhage of 20% of the estimated blood volume in chronically cannulated ovine fetuses, of gestational ages 128-144 days. Blood samples were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 24h with respect to the haemorrhage. In 5 control experiments there was no significant change in plasma erythropoietin concentration, across this time period, values being 6.1 +/- 2.3 and 6.4 +/- 2.4 mU/ml at 0 and 24h respectively. Values are mean +/- SEM. Haemorrhage reduced the haematocrit and haemoglobin values, significantly, to 83 +/- 6% and 85 +/- 4% (n = 5) of the initial value, respectively, but did not cause a statistically significant increase in plasma erythropoietin concentrations (7.2 +/- 2.4 and 20.7 +/- 8.2 mU/ml; P = 0.131). A larger degree of haemorrhage, in four fetuses reduced the haematocrit to 64 +/- 2.8% of initial, over 24-54h and increased erythropoietin values very significantly (from 11.9 +/- 3.6 to 91 +/- 8.3 mU/ml; P = 0.001).     

Dark inhibition of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in legumes: A biosystematic study

2-carboxyarabinitol 1-phosphate (CA 1-P) is a naturally occurring inhibitor of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco). Members of the Fabaceae exhibit a particularly wide range in the extent of CA 1-P accumulation during darkness and include Phaseolus vulgaris, whose dark/light regulation of Rubisco activity is principally achieved by synthesis/degradation of CA 1-P. An extensive survey of the degree of dark inhibition of Rubisco was undertaken for the subfamily Papilionoideae to elucidate evolutionary patterns in the occurrence of this regulatory mechanism. Seventy-five species from 21 tribes were examined. Dark inhibition of Rubisco was found in ancestral tribes such as the Sophoreae, but was substantially reduced or absent in representative species of three more recently evolved tribes, Cicereae, Hedysareae and Vicieae. We conclude that regulation of Rubisco by CA 1-P is neither of recent origin nor of restricted distribution among the Papilionoideae. On the contrary, it becomes lost or less pronounced only in a minority of the more evolutionarily advanced species in this important subfamily.     

Conditions for selective degradation of lignin by the fungus Ganoderma australis

Summary The white-rot fungus Ganoderma australis selectively degrades lignin in the ecosystem palo podrido. Using conditions that simulate those of palo podrido in the laboratory, it was found that low nitrogen content and low O₂ tension stimulate the productio of manganese peroxidase and lignin degradation, and depress cellulose degradation and cellulase production. The inverse is found at high nitrogen concentration and high O₂ tension. This agrees with previous results indicating that low O₂ tension and low nitrogen stimulate selective lignin degradation by this fungus. Correspondence to: J. Eyzaguirre     

Complete amino acid sequence of tenebrosin-C, a cardiac stimulatory and haemolytic protein from the sea anemone Actinia tenebrosa

The complete amino acid sequence of the cardiac stimulatory and haemolytic protein tenebrosin-C, from the Australian sea anemone Actinia tenebrosa, has been determined by Edman degradation of the intact molecule and fragments produced by treatment of the polypeptide chain with cyanogen bromide and enzymatic cleavage with endoproteinase Asp-N, thermolysin and trypsin. The molecule is a single-chain polypeptide consisting of 179 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 19,797 Da. Tenebrosin-C shows a high degree of amino acid sequence similarity (63%) with Stoichactis helianthus cytolysin III [Blumenthal, K. M. and Kem, W. R. (1983) J. Biol. Chem. 258, 5574-5581] and is identical to a partial sequence (90 residues) reported for equinatoxin, a cardiostimulatory and haemolytic protein isolated from the European sea anemone Actinia equina [Ferlan, I. and Jackson, K. (1983) Toxicon Suppl. 3, 141-144]. No amino acid sequence similarity was detected between tenebrosin-C and other protein sequences stored in available databases. The predicted secondary structure of tenebrosin-C suggests that it is a compact, highly structured molecule.     

The chronostratigraphic position of the Camping Francas section(Neogene of Tarragona,Spain)

The presence of Cirsotrema (s.s.) pumiceum (BROCCHI) and Chlamys (Manupecten) pesfelis (LINNE) in the section of Camping Francás (Province of Tarragona, Spain) suggests that the age of the deposits be changed from the upper Miocene (Tortonian) to the Pliocene. The change is of particular significance as the site is one of the classic localities of Pectinidae of the Neogene in North East Spain, and is type locality of Pecten (Flabellipecten) constisulcatus ALMERA & BOFILL.     

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES OF THE MITRAL VALVE ASSOCIATED WITH A LARGE PERICARDIAL EFFUSION

Features of mitral stenosis and systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve were observed on the echocardiogram of a patient with a large posterior pericardial effusion. The abnormal findings disappeared with resolution of the fluid. Because pericardial effusion may result in the echocardiographic alteration of cardiac structures, repeat study is necessary after the effusion has cleared.     

Parameter identification of the calvin photosynthesis cycle

Summary This article is concerned with the determination of kinetic parameters of the Calvin photosynthesis cycle which is described by seventeen nonlinear ordinary differential equations. It is shown that the task requires dynamic data for several sets of initial conditions. The numerical technique is based upon an algorithm for non-linear optimization and Gear's numerical integration scheme for stiff systems of differential equations. The sensitivity of the parameters to noise in the data is tested with a method adapted from Rosenbrook and Storey. A preliminary set of parameters has been obtained from a preliminary set of experimental data. The numerical methods are then tested with synthetic data derived from these parameters. The mathematical model and the results obtained in the simulation are used as an aid in designing new experiments.     

Der Zug des Sperbers(Accipiter nisus) auf Helgoland

Zusammenfassung Der Sperber ist auf Helgoland nur Durchzügler. Im langjährigen Mittel werden pro Jahr im Winter 0,4, auf dem Heimzug 2,1 und im Herbst 23,0 Fänglinge festgestellt. Der Zugablauf läßt eine Trennung der Zugzeiten der Alt- und Jungvögel einerseits sowie der und andererseits erkennen. Altvögel stellen 14,1%, 40,1% der Fänglinge. Anhand der Flügelmaße und Gewichte läßt sich mit fortschreitender Zugzeit keine klinale Variation nachweisen. Ältere Literaturangaben, Helgoland betreffend, werden teils korrigiert, teils präzisiert. Der geringe Anteil der Altvögel bzw. wird auf deren geringer ausgeprägten Zugtrieb zurückgeführt.

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The migration of the sparrow-hawk on Heligoland

Summary On Heligoland the Sparrow-Hawk occurs as a passage visitor only. Mean numbers (17 years) of birds trapped are 0.4 in winter, 2.1 during spring and 23.0 in autumn. Adults and juveniles as males and females as well show different periods of migration. Among birds trapped there are 14.1% adults and 40.1% females. No clinal variation of wing length and weight according to time of passage could be found. Former literature concerning Heligoland is partly corrected, partly rendered more precise. The low proportions of adults and females respectively are caused by weaker migratory urge.