Estimating Population Size and Density Using Line Transect Sampling

ANDERSON and POSPAHALA (1970) investigated the estimation of wildlife population size using the belt or line transect sampling method and devised a correction for bias, thus leading to a class of estimators with desirable characteristics. This work was given a basic and rigorous mathematica framework by BURNHAM and ANDERSON (1976). In the present article we use this mathematical framework to develop an estimator of population size and density using weighted least squares. The approach is a two-stage Method.     

A case of congenital factor XIII deficiency

The case of a 53 years old woman was described in whom a congenital factor XIII deficiency was suspected because of deforming scars and hemorrhagic diathesis. A thromboelastographic declination of elasticity as well as decreased factor XIII level up to 5% of normal range were only found in all hemostatic examinations. In 2 children factor XIII decreased to half of its normal level, whereas in the youngest daughter that level was 25%. Sporadically the girl had mild diathesis. No changes in thromboelastograms were observed in members of the patient's family. The platelet function was unchanged in all examined cases.     

An in-depth look at pressure sores using monolithic silicon pressure sensors

Three-dimensional scalar pressure distributions were measured in solid tissue near bony prominences in vitro in meat and in vivo in pigs using silicon pressure sensors. Data are in accord with previous theoretical models and indicate that pressure is three to five times higher internally near a bony prominence than it is at the skin over the prominence. Pressure sores are thus thought to begin internally; by the time they are evident at the skin, the sore has worked its way completely from bone to skin. This conclusion is in accord with previous clinical data. Future measurement of local vector forces is needed to fully characterize the force distribution in vivo.     

Circannual fluctuations of the serum cortisol in the European ground squirrel, Citellus citellus L

1. Serum cortisol levels were measured throughout an annual cycle in male European ground squirrels, Citellus citellus L. 2. A circannual rhythm of these levels in euthermic animals was found: the highest being in late October, November and December, the lowest in May, early October and March. 3. The levels varied in the hibernating period as well: strongly reduced during the first part (October-December) and significantly elevated in the second one (January-March). 4. A significant elevation of the cortisol levels was marked 18-20 hr after full arousal from hibernation in October.     

Ultrastructure of the developing pigment strand of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in relation to its role in solute transport

Summary The developing pigment strand of rice (Oryza sativa L.) was studied by conventional electron microscopy and also by use of thick sections post-fixed with zinc iodide and osmium (ZIO).When the rice caryopsis achieves maximum length, a suberised adcrusting wall layer is laid down over the original primary walls of the pigment strand. Concomitant with suberin deposition a proliferation of tubular endoplasmic reticulum occurs in the cytoplasm giving rise to numerous interconnected vesicles which bear ribosomes. The vesicles in the general cytoplasm retain their ribosomes while those close to the wall become smooth and contain an electron-opaque granular material which is eventually deposited to the outside of the plasmalemma. This granular material may be the precursor(s) from which suberin is polymerised. The suberised wall attains about six times the width of the original primary wall and plasmodesmata, which traverse both primary wall and suberised wall layers, become greatly elongated.Lipid bodies increase in both size and frequency during development, eventually coalescing to form a complete plug across the pigment strand and occluding the symplast of this tissue. The significance of these ultrastructural observations is discussed in relation to the previously demonstrated role of the pigment strand as a translocation pathway for water and assimilates during grain filling.Abbreviations ER endoplasmic reticulum - ZIO zinc iodide-osmium fixation     

Metabolism of palmitate in cultured rat Sertoli cells

Isolated rat Sertoli cells were incubated in the presence of [1-14C]palmitate at a cell concentration of 1.54 +/- 0.31 mg protein/flask (n = 7). The oxidation of palmitate was concentration dependent and maximal oxidation was obtained at 0.35 mM-palmitate. At a saturating concentration of palmitate the oxidation was linear for at least 6 h. About 65% of the total amount of palmitate oxidized during 5 h at 0.52 mM-palmitate (109 +/- 44 nmol/flask, n = 5) was recovered as CO2 and the rest as acid-soluble compounds. Almost all radioactive acid-soluble compounds which were secreted by the Sertoli cells were shown to be 3-hydroxybutyrate and acetoacetate. The palmitate recovery in cellular lipids and triacylglycerols was 9.4 +/- 5.1 nmol/flask (n = 5) and 3.5 +/- 2.8 nmol/flask (n = 5) respectively. Addition of glucose had no significant effect on palmitate oxidation but caused a 9-fold increase in esterification of palmitate into triacylglycerols. We conclude that cultured rat Sertoli cells can oxidize palmitate to CO2 and ketone bodies and that fatty acids appear to be a major energy substrate for these cells.