WOMAN'S AUXILIARY: MEET YOUR AUXILIARY OFFICERS 1958-1959

Clinical observations have indicated that patients who are in shock and who have coexisting acidosis respond relatively poorly to sympathomimetic amines. In experiments with dogs, it was found that, in the presence of acidosis, the pressor action of epinephrine, norepinephrine and metaraminol was considerably reduced. The effect on cardiac rhythm was also considerably lessened after the pH value of the blood had been lowered. In view of these observations in animals, six human patients with profound shock and acidosis were studied. All had a considerably lessened pressor response to vasopressor agents; then, after elevation of the blood pH by intravenous infusion of a 1-molar solution of sodium lactate, responsiveness was restored. These observations emphasize the desirability of close observation of the acid-base status, and early treatment of acidosis, as an important aspect in the management of patients with shock.     

Studies in the Physiology of the Onion Plant: V. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE GROWTH SUBSTANCE CONTENT OF BULBING ONIONS

Extracts have been prepared from induced and non-induced onionplants. These extracts have been fractionated and the ether-soluble,acidic components investigated using the wheat coleoptile straight-growthassay, colorimetric determination of 3-indolylacetic acid (IAA),and a new bioassay which has been introduced and modified togive reproducible results. This last is an assay of substanceswhich will cause ‘bulbing’ (swelling of the leafbases) of onion plants, and it has been used to demonstratea number of factors which influence the initiation of bulbingin the onion. It has been shown that substances are presentin extracts of onion tissue which will cause an increase inthe ‘bulbing ratio’ of test onion seedling sections. Results indicate that there is an increase in the IAA contentto a very high level during the first week following induction—beforethere is any visible sign of swelling of the leaf bases—butthat this falls off rapidly after 5–7 days and eventuallyfalls below the level found in non-induced plants.     

Silurian fungal remains: probable records of the Class Ascomycetes

Among the abundant plant microfossils obtained from the late Silurian Burgsvik Sandstone are spores and filaments whose morphology suggests a fungal origin. These include large multiseptate spores resembling conidia of present-day Fungi Imperfecti; ovate, reniform, rugulately ornamented unicellular spores; branched filaments with perforate septa; and filaments with flask-shaped appendages resembling phialides. We suggest that these microfossils represent the remains of the imperfect stages of terrestrial Ascomycetes, and provide evidence for an origin of this group at least contemporaneous with the earliest land plants. Larger, ovoid and cylindrical heterogeneous bodies composed of hyphal fragments resemble the fecal pellets of mycophagous microarthropods. The implications of these in terms of early terrestrial ecosystems are discussed.     

Phylogeny of the Aphnaeinae: myrmecophilous African butterflies with carnivorous and herbivorous life histories

The Aphnaeinae (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae) are a largely African subfamily of 278 described species that exhibit extraordinary life‐history variation. The larvae of these butterflies typically form mutualistic associations with ants, and feed on a wide variety of plants, including 23 families in 19 orders. However, at least one species in each of 9 of the 17 genera is aphytophagous, parasitically feeding on the eggs, brood or regurgitations of ants. This diversity in diet and type of symbiotic association makes the phylogenetic relations of the Aphnaeinae of particular interest. A phylogenetic hypothesis for the Aphnaeinae was inferred from 4.4 kb covering the mitochondrial marker COI and five nuclear markers (wg, H3, CAD, GAPDH and EF1α) for each of 79 ingroup taxa representing 15 of the 17 currently recognized genera, as well as three outgroup taxa. Maximum Parsimony, Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference analyses all support Heath's systematic revision of the clade based on morphological characters. Ancestral range inference suggests an African origin for the subfamily with a single dispersal into Asia. The common ancestor of the aphnaeines likely associated with myrmicine ants in the genus Crematogaster and plants of the order Fabales.     

Optimum plant densities for three semi-leafless combining pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars under contrasting field conditions

Yield and yield components of three semi-leafless pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars, of contrasting seed type/growth habit, were assessed at target planting densities of 40–140 plants/m² on nine sites over three years. Flat-topped parabolic/asymptotic yield/density relationships were obtained. The plant density required to maximise (p max) and optimise (p opt) yield differed between cultivars: Helka, small blue, p max 126 plants/m², p opt 101 plants/m²; Solara, large blue, p max 124 plants/m², p opt 94 plants/m²; and Countess, white-seeded, p max 104 plants/m², p opt 71 plants/m². Near-maximum yields were maintained between 70 and 140 plants/m² due to the ability of the pea crop to make compensatory increases in the number of pods per plant as density declined. Yield/density responses were influenced by site (e.g. soil type) more than by seasonal factors. The risk of yield reductions occurring at densities below 70 plants/m² was greater on a mineral soil than on a fertile organic soil. On the basis of agronomic and economic considerations, there was no evidence that target plant densities required to optimise yield should necessarily be higher for semi-leafless cultivars studied than for conventional leafed peas.     

Acregoliathidae (Osteichthyes, Teleostei), a new family of fishes from the Cenozoic of Acre State, Brazil

A new fossil fish family (Acregoliathidac) with only one known species ( Acregoliathidac rancii gen. et sp.n.) is described. The material consists of large Scales coming from the Plio-Pleistocene of Acre State, Northern Brazil. Studies involving X-ray radiograph, SEM and optical microscopic methods demonstrated the peculiarity of the new materia1. whose affinities with the classical fish scale models are hardly evident. The scales of A. rancii are round, with large exposed and emberddted areas. They bear concentric circuli and the posterior fields is covered with many layers of a glassy and birefringent tissue. Two bony layers are clearly distinguishable: the basal isopedin and, above, an important cell-containing spongiosa (protohaversian bone tissue). The affinities of the fossil with both sarcopterygian and actinoplerygian fishes are discussed and the Acregoliathidac are considered to be teleostean fishes of uncertain systematic relationships with other families or oders of this subdivision.     

Shoot growth, radiation interception and dry matter production and partitioning during the establishment phase of Miscanthus sinensis'Giganteus' grown at two densities in the UK

Photosynthetic area index (PAI), radiation interception (I) and dry matter partitioning between shoots and roots were measured for Miscanthus sinensis‘Giganteus' grown from micro-propagated transplants on a fertile peaty loam soil in eastern England. In the establishment year, Miscanthus plants produced 35 and 70 shoots plant^-1 at densities of 4.0 and 1.8 plants m^-2 respectively. At the higher density, there were 140 shoots m^-2 with the largest reaching a height of 1.8 m; these canopies attained a maximum PAI of 5.45, intercepting 94% of incident radiation. Leaf lamina contributed c. 90% of total photosynthetic area with stems contributing the remainder. At the lower density, maximum PAI and I values were 2.88 and 86% respectively. PAI was related to I by calculating attenuation coefficients (k); these indicated that Miscanthus canopies were more effective at intercepting radiation per unit PAI at the lower density (k= -0.31) compared with the higher density (k= -0.20). Radiation interception was related to dry matter accumulated by calculating conversion efficiencies (e). At 4 plants m^-2, × for shoot dry matter production was 1.17g MJ^-1. Miscanthus partitioned a relatively large amount of total dry matter into below-ground biomass. By plant senescence, c. 30% of total dry matter had been partitioned into root and rhizome; rhizome biomass contributed 80% of below-ground dry matter, × increased to 1.62 g MJ^-1 when calculated on a total dry matter basis (shoot + root + rhizome). Total dry matter production was increased 68% by a 2.2-fold increase in plant density.     

Leaf Spots Induced by Ascochyta pisi and Mycosphaerella pinodes

The leaf-spot pathogens, Ascochyta pisi and Mycosphaerella pinodes,both cause limited, necrotic lesions in detached pea leafletssuspended above water. When leaflets were floated on water A.pisi lesions were still limited, but those caused by M. pinodesspread rapidly to occupy all the leaflet tissue. Increasing the numbers of spores in inocula decreased numbersof mature lesions caused by A. pisi, but increased numbers ofspreading lesions caused by M. pinodes. Older leaflets weremore susceptible to both pathogens. Studies of penetration and colonization of leaves with the aidof light and electron microscopy showed that cell-wall-degradingenzymes were involved in the formation of A. pisi lesions andin spreading lesions caused by M. pinodes. There was littleevidence of cell-wall degradation in limited M. pinodes lesionsin which penetration of walls by hyphae seemed to be mechanicalin nature. No physical barriers developed in tissues surrounding limitedlesions. Nevertheless, A. pisi was rarely found beyond the necroticarea. This suggested that tissues beyond the lesion had becomeresistant to the parasite. In contrast, M. pinodes often grewoutside the necrotic area, sometimes many days after this hadstopped growing, but when it did so it caused no more necrosisunless leaflets were placed in conditions in which the spreadingtype of lesion could develop.