The use of tooth eruption and wear, body weight and antler characteristics in the age estimation of male wild and park Fallow deer (Dama dama)

The eruption and wear of the cheek teeth of male Fallow deer from a park and wild population has been studied for age determination purposes. It was found possible to age accurately up to 48 months animals whose date of death was known, whether they were from a wild or park population. It was found that up to at least this age individual and environmental differences affecting animals born in successive years did not mask those resulting fromthe restricted seasonal breeding of this species.
Antler development and body weight were studied in relation to the ages obtained and were found to be of limited value for age estimation.     

Serological Studies of the T and Tumor Antigens of the Oncogenic Simian Adenoviruses

Tumor-specific antigens and antisera were prepared for eight of the oncogenic simian adenoviruses. Complement-fixation tests revealed three distinct serological subgroups. This grouping was maintained in studies of virus-infected cells (T antigens) although high titered preparations were obtained for only the major subgroup I. The current grouping is as follows: (I) SV1, SV11, SV25, SV33, SV34, SV38; (II) SV20, SV23; (III) SA 7. Antigens from each subgroup were rapidly inactivated at 56 C, and group II and III antigens were also markedly inactivated at 37 C. One of the tumors (SV1) also contained SV40 T antigen, suggesting origin from a simian adenovirus-SV40 "hybrid."     

Phenylketonuria—Experience at One Center in the First Year of Screening in California

One year''s experience with phenylketonuria during the calendar year 1966, the first year for compulsory newborn screening in California, was reviewed. The over-all prevalence rate from reported cases in California during this period was one case per 19,500 persons tested. Fifty-seven persons suspected of having pku were evaluated, and 25 of them were determined to be phenylketonuric. Eleven of the 25 were infants in whom the abnormality was detected through the newborn screening program or because it was detected in a sibling through a screening program. All the newborn phenylketonuric patients were developing normally at the time of last report (although the follow-up periods were short).In nine of the other children, pku was detected because they were retarded. Five retarded children who were diagnosed as phenylketonuric at another clinic were given dietary assistance.Five additional infants had elevated serum phenylalanines but did not have the classic biochemical findings of pku and are being evaluated further. Nine infants with positive screening tests exhibited biochemical and clinical findings consistent with transient tyrosinemia. Eighteen other children were evaluated and found to have no metabolic abnormality.The newborn screening program for pku is of decided benefit in early identification of a group of infants who have a high rate of potentially serious metabolic disease. Early identification permits treatment soon enough to prevent mental retardation. Newly identified patients should be evaluated in a medical setting capable of careful pediatric, biochemical and nutritional surveillance.     

Experimental studies of variation in hepaticae. I. Induced variation in lophocolea heterophylla

Quantitative analyses of eleven vegetative characters were obtained from five genetically distinct clones of the leafy hepatic,Lophocolea heterophylla, grown in pure culture in a variety of controlled environments.     

Inheritance of quantitative expression of erythrocyte glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity in the Negro—a twin study

Studies have been conducted on eight sets of monozygous and nine sets of dizygous female Negro twins, both members of whom were heterozygous for G-6-PD deficiency. Twins were studied both by assay of erythrocytic G-6-PD activity and by the methemoglobin elution test (MET). The MET is a procedure which identifies histochemically cells with appreciable G-6-PD activity and permits accurate determination of the percentage of such cells in heterozygotes. Monozygous twins showed significantly less within-pair variation than dizygous twins with both the MET and G-6-PD assay.Concerning the significantly greater agreement in MET results in monozygous twins than dizygous twins, our present working hypothesis is that X-chromosomal inactivation in the Negro female is genetically controlled, rather than random. However, certain alternate hypotheses allowing for random X-inactivation have not been excluded; these include somatic cell selection after random X-inactivation, and cell exchange between identical twins in utero/it. Studies in nontwin related heterozygotes now underway should help differentiate among these various possibilities.In addition to the studies on 17 pairs of female twins heterozygous for G-6-PD deficiency, 26 pairs of nondeficient female Negro twins have been studied by G-6-PD assay. Within-pair variation in monozygous twins was significantly less than within-pair variation in dizygous twins in all cases. The genetic influences detected with the G-6-PD assay in the female twins could theoretically be due to nonrandom X-inactivation, to genetically determined quantitative differences in enzyme activity (e.g., isoalleles), or to both. By appropriate calculations, based on the MET results, we have factored out the effects of X-inactivation on overall enzyme activity in the heterozygous deficient twins. After removal of the effect of X-inactivation, monozygous twins heterozygous for enzyme deficiency continue to show significantly less within-pair variation than dizygous twins. This finding indicates significant genetic influences on quantitative G-6-PD activity other than X-inactivation and other than the deficiency allele. This conclusion has been strengthened by studies on male twins where X-inactivation is not present.Supported by USPHS research grants AM-09381, HE-17544, AM-09919, and HE-03341, by USPHS Career Development Award 1-K3-AM-7959 (Dr. Brewer) and by U.S.A.E.C. Contract (11-1)-1552.     

The Microflora of Frozen Passionfruit Nectar Base

A considerable and varied microflora is introduced into passionfruit nectar base under present methods of production. In spite of the great acidity of the nectar base (pH range: 2.8 to 3.2), the high sucrose concentration (approximately 50%), and storage at -20 C, remnants of the microflora persist for a year or longer. During storage, however, there is a steady and gradual decrease, until after about 18 months the microflora is near to extinction. Sample regression lines show straight-line slopes for this diminution in numbers.

A battery of nine media was used to grow a representative aerobic flora. Purified cultures of isolates were identified to genera. Yeasts were the most numerous organisms in all samples, followed by molds, bacteria, and streptomycetes. The bacteria were the first group to disappear during storage. No fecal streptococci or gram-negative bacilli were found in any samples.

     

AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF PINOCYTOSIS IN AMEBA : II. The Cytoplasmic Uptake Phase

This report is devoted principally to a consideration of the fate of the pinocytotic vacuole and its content in the ameba Pelomyxa carolinensis (Chaos chaos). High resolution micrographs of the plasmalemma have shown it to consist of three layers, i.e., an outermost filamentiferous zone, a middle homogeneous zone, and an inner zone which appears to be a unit membrane. The three zones can be identified in the membranes lining the pinoyctotic tunnels and vacuoles of amebas fixed shortly after pinocytosis occurred. The first apparent change in the pinocytotic vacuole is an increase in the surface-to-volume ratio which occurs during the 1st hour of its existence. Within 24 hours the marker substance commonly collects in defecation vacuoles which can be identified by the profiles of bacteria usually found in the lumen. Occasionally, however, thorotrast can be seen in the lumen of the contractile vacuole. The thorotrast appears to enter the two excretory organelles by the coalescence of vesicular fragments of the pinocytotic vacuoles with the limiting membranes of the excretory organelles.