SITE TO SITE VARIATION IN THE SOAP CHAMBER TEST

This investigation was conducted to examine the contribution of intrasite variation on the volar forearm to the overall variation in irritation under the conditions of a soap chamber test. Six sites on each forearm of human volunteers were patched with an eight percent aqueous solution of a commercial bar soap, known to be moderately irritating. Clinical evaluations of the sites were made independently by two judges twenty-four hours after the first patch application and six hours following applications conducted over the next four consecutive days. Site to site variability was estimated to be only 3.2% of the total variance component. It is suggested that as with any biologic assay, this variance can be reduced by an increase in the number of panelists.     

Aeolid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia) of the families Flabellinidae and Eubranchidae from New Zealand waters

Four aeolid species, all newly recorded for New Zealand waters, are described. Three are known species; they are Tularia bractea (Burn) and Eubranchus rubeolus Burn from Australia and Eubranchus agrius Marcus from Chile; the New Zealand specimens show slight variation. The fourth species, Coryphella albomarginata sp. nov. , is distinguished from close relatives by the opaque white band along the margin of the foot, two centrally placed (in relation to the main reproductive ducts) bursae copulatrices and several small, blunt denticles on the outer edge of the lateral teeth of the radula. The families to which these species belong, the Flabellinidae (Coryphella albomarginata, Tularia bractea) and Eubranchidae (Eubranchus agrius, E. rubeolus), are recognized and defined and the constituent genera examined and reduced in number. A new genus, Paracoryphella , and family, the Paracoryphellidae, are created for Coryphella islandica Odhner. The classification of the aeolids is reviewed:Odhner's order Aeolidacea is considered a very satisfactory major category, but his grouping of the families into tribes is discarded on the grounds that the diagnostic character, the position of the anus in relation to the cerata, is too variable within individual families.     

A Comparison of Mitochondria Isolated from Male-Sterile and Nonserile Cytoplasm Etiolated Corn Seedlings

Toxins from Helminthosporium maydis race T and Phyllosticta maydis have been found to affect the functional processes of corn mitochondria isolated from Texas male-sterile (T) cytoplasm, but not of mitochondria isolated from nonsterile (N) cytoplasm. The effects of chemicals known to induce responses similar to those of the toxin were compared on mitochondria isolated from T and N cytoplasm inbreds (W64A, Zea mays L.). Valinomycin, gramicidin, and decenylsuccinic acid (DSA) each caused more swelling (measured by transmission changes in %) of N mitochondria than of T mitochondira. The stimulation of exogenous NADH oxidation was the same for N and T mitochondria in the valinomycin, DSA, and Ca²⁺ plus phosphate treatments, was greater for T mitochondria than for N mitochondria in the gramicidin and DNP treatments, and was greater for N mitochondrai than for T mitochondira in the Ca⁺² minus phosphate treatment. Sodium azide inhibited NADH oxidation equally for N and T mitochondria. In addition, N and T mitochondria had similar respiration rates for various substrates and equal efficiencies of oxidative phosphorylation. In contrast to the specificity of toxins for T mitochondria, none of the treatment effects were specific for N or T mitochondria. The results indicate that mitochondria isolated from N and T cytoplasm generally respond similarly to various conditions, but that there can be quantitative differences in the response. The extent to which these differences represent cytoplasmically controlled modification of mitochondrial physiology or structure is not known.     

Can Coyotes Affect Deer Populations in Southeastern North America?

ABSTRACT The coyote (Canis latrans) is a recent addition to the fauna of eastern North America, and in many areas coyote populations have been established for only a decade or two. Although coyotes are known predators of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in their historic range, effects this new predator may have on eastern deer populations have received little attention. We speculated that in the southeastern United States, coyotes may be affecting deer recruitment, and we present 5 lines of evidence that suggest this possibility. First, the statewide deer population in South Carolina has declined coincident with the establishment and increase in the coyote population. Second, data sets from the Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina indicate a new mortality source affecting the deer population concurrent with the increase in coyotes. Third, an index of deer recruitment at SRS declined during the period of increase in coyotes. Fourth, food habits data from SRS indicate that fawns are an important food item for coyotes during summer. Finally, recent research from Alabama documented significant coyote predation on fawns there. Although this evidence does not establish cause and effect between coyotes and observed declines in deer recruitment, we argue that additional research should proactively address this topic in the region. We identified several important questions on the nature of the deer—coyote relationship in the East.     

ADJUSTING TASTE SCORES FOR VARIATIONS IN USE OF SCALES

A method is given for adjusting the scores of tasters when continuous graphicrating scales are used. Linear adjustments are made for both the location and scale differences of tasters.