A review of the taxonomy and systematics of the pentastomid genus Raillietiella Sambon, 1910 with a description of a new species

Systematic Parasitology - Four previously established Raillietiella spp. are redescribed. Two of these, R. kochi and R. shipleyi from African monitor lizards, cannot be reliably separated, R....     

Effect of cooling rate,cryoprotectant and holding time at different transfer temperatures on the survival of cryopreserved cell suspension culture (Puccinellia distans (L.) Parl.)

Reflexed saltmarsh-grass suspension cultures produced by seed callus were frozen to the liquid nitrogen temperature. Cooling rates, cryoprotectants and holding times were taken as a function of transfer temperatures. The highest survival of cells (45%) was found at a freezing rate of 1°C min^-1, without cryoprotectant treatments. The cryoprotectants (proline, dimethyl sulphoxide, glycerol), used at different concentrations and transfer temperatures, increased the survival rate. The maximum value was 78% at 12.5% (w/v) of proline with –30°C transfer temperature. Considerable improvement of viability (from 0% to 95%) among the 12.5 and 15.0% (v/v) dimethyl sulphoxide cryopreserved cells was achieved by holding them at – 20°C for 10–30 min before plunging into the liquid nitrogen. A 20 min holding time at 15.0% (v/v) glycerol level and – 30°C transfer temperature significantly enhanced the viability of the explants from 42% to 92%. Plants were successfully regenerated from cells cryopreserved with proline (w/v) and dimethyl sulfoxide (v/v) levels of 12.5 and 15.0%, respectively.     

The dynamics of sparse random networks

Recurrent neural networks with full symmetric connectivity have been extensively studied as associative memories and pattern recognition devices. However, there is considerable evidence that sparse, asymmetrically connected, mainly excitatory networks with broadly directed inhibition are more consistent with biological reality. In this paper, we use the technique of return maps to study the dynamics of random networks with sparse, asymmetric connectivity and nonspecific inhibition. These networks show three qualitatively different kinds of behavior: fixed points, cycles of low period, and extremely long cycles verging on aperiodicity. Using statistical arguments, we relate these behaviors to network parameters and present empirical evidence for the accuracy of this statistical model. The model, in turn, leads to methods for controlling the level of activity in networks. Studying random, untrained networks provides an understanding of the intrinsic dynamics of these systems. Such dynamics could provide a substrate for the much more complex behavior shown when synaptic modification is allowed.     

Studies on dehydro-l-ascorbic acid 2-arylhydrazone 3-oximes: Conversion into substituted triazoles and isoxazolines

l-threo-2,3-Hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(arylhydrazones) (2) were prepared by condensation of dehydro-l-ascorbic acid with various arylhydrazines. Reaction of 2 with hydroxylamine gave the 2-(arylhydrazone) 3-oximes (3). On boiling with acetic anhydride, 3 gave 2-aryl-4-(2,3-di-O-acetyl-l-threo-glycerol-l-yl)-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxylic acid 5,4¹-lactones (4). On treatment of 4 with liquid ammonia, 2-aryl-4-(l-threo-glycerol-l-yl)-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxamides (5) were obtained. Acetylation of 5 with acetic anhydride-pyridine gave the triacetates, and vigorous acetylation with boiling acetic anhydride gave the tetraacetyl derivatives. Periodate oxidation of 5 gave the 2-aryl-4-formyl-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxamides (8), and, on reduction, 8 gave the 2-aryl-4-(hydroxymethyl)-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxamides, characterized as the monoacetates and diacetates. Controlled reaction of 2 with sodium hydroxide, followed by neutralization, gave 3-(l-threo-glycerol-l-yl)-4,5-isoxazolinedione 4-(arylhydrazones), characterized by their triacetates. Reaction of 2 with HBr-HOAc gave 5-O-acetyl-6-bromo-6-deoxy-l-threo-2,3-hexodiulosono-1,4-lactone 2-(arylhydrazones); these were converted into 4-(2-O-acetyl-3-bromo-3-deoxy-l-threo-glycerol-l-yl)-2-aryl-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxylic acid 5,4¹-lactones on treatment with acetic anhydride-pyridine.     

Mitochondrial DNA evolution in lagomorphs: Origin of systematic heteroplasmy and organization of diversity in European rabbits

Summary A characterization was conducted on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules extracted separately from 107 European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) both wild and domestic, 13 European hares (Lepus capensis), and 1 eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus). Experimentally this study took into account restriction site polymorphism, overall length variation of the noncoding region, and numbers of repeated sequences. Nucleotide divergences indicate that the mtDNAs from the three species derived from a common ancestor some 6–8 million years (Myr) ago. Every animal appeared heteroplasmic for a set of molecules with various lengths of the noncoding region and variable numbers of repeated sequences that contribute to them. This systematic heteroplasmy, most probably generated by a rate of localized mtDNA rearrangements high enough to counterbalance the cellular segregation of rearranged molecules, is a shared derived character of leporids.The geographic distribution of mtDNA polymorphism among wild rabbit populations over the western European basin shows that two molecular lineages are represented, one in southern Spain, the second over northern Spain, France, and Tunisia. These two lineages derived from a common ancestor some 2 Myr ago. Their present geographical distribution may be correlated to the separation of rabbits into two stocks at the time of Mindel glaciation.Finally the distribution of mtDNA diversity exhibits a mosaic pattern both at inter- and intrapopulation levels.     

Some histochemical studies on the prostate, urethral and bulbourethral glands of the one-humped camel (Camelus dromedarius)

Synopsis The histochemical localization of carbohydrates, ribonucleoproteins (RNA), lipids, some hydrolytic enzymes, succinate and lactate dehydrogenase and acetylcholinesterase were investigated in the prostate, urethral and bulbourethral glands of the camel. These glands probably secrete carbohydrate-protein complexes. In the bulbourethral glands, they are sulphated mucopolysaccharides. RNA was seen in the cytoplasm of the prostate and urethral glands. Neutral lipids were cytoplasmic and present in moderate amounts in the prostate and urethral glands and in traces, in the bulbourethral gland. Acid phosphatase-containing granules were abundant in the prostate, moderate in the urethral glands and in traces in the bulbourethral glands. Alkaline phosphatase was observed in the apical cytoplasm of the prostate and bulbourethral glands and in the ducts of the urethral glands. ATPase and adenosine 5-monophosphatase were seen in the basal laminae and interstitial tissue. In the urethral glands, adenosine 5-monophosphatase was distributed diffusely in the cytoplasm. Succinate dehydrogenase was seen in the urethral and bulbourethral glands. Varying degrees of lactate dehydrogenase activity was observed in all the glands. Acetylcholinesterase was confined to neural elements. The pars disseminata and the urethral glands were considered as two distinct glandular zones along the pelvic urethra. The significance of these histochemical results is discussed.