Beobachtungen zum Bearbeiten von L?rchenzapfen (Larix decidua) in einer Schmiede des Buntspechts (Dendrocopos major)

Zusammenfassung Ein Buntspecht(Dendrocopos major) wurde beim Bearbeiten von Lärchenzapfen(Larix decidua) beobachtet; verschiedene Verhaltensweisen wurden gemessen. Die Bearbeitungsdauer ist bei trockener Witterung länger als bei nasser (Abb. 2). Während des Bearbeitens wird der Zapfen in regelmäßigen Zeitabständen gedreht (Abb. 3 unten); das heißt, daß mit zunehmender Bearbeitungsdauer die Häufigkeit des Drehens linear anwächst (Abb. 4). Für das Heranholen eines neuen Zapfens benötigt der Specht durchschnittlich 43 sec. Die Daten werden mit solchen vom Fichtenkreuzschnabel(Loxia curvirostra) verglichen.

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Observations on the Great Spotted Woodpecker(Dendrocopos major) when working on larch cones(Larix decidua) in a cleft

Summary Different activities of a Great Spotted Woodpecker working on larch cones forced into a cleft (Spechtschmiede) were measured. Dry cones are worked on longer than wet ones (Fig. 2). During the work the Woodpecker turns the cone at regular intervals of time (Fig. 3, below); i. e. the frequency of turning grows in a linear manner with increasing duration of the work on one cone (Fig. 4). To take a fresh cone, the Woodpecker takes generally 43 seconds. The results are compared with those obtained with the common crossbill(Loxia curvirostra).

     

Functional Overlay: An Illegitimate Diagnosis?

Functional overlay is not a recognized psychiatric diagnosis. Evaluating functional overlay and differentiating between this concept and organic conditions is important in medicolegal areas in which financial values are placed on pain and disability. Functional overlay is not malingering: the former is based on preconscious or unconscious mechanisms, the latter is consciously induced.In considering psychologic reactions to pain and disability, a gradient of simulation, malingering, symptom exaggeration, overvaluation, functional overlay and hysteria is useful. The dynamics of overlay are a combination of anxiety from body-image distortion and depression from decreased efficiency of the body, as well as the resulting psychosocial disruption in a patient''s life.     

The genusPicris (Asteraceae,Lactuceae) in Tropical Africa

Three species of the genusPicris L. are native in Tropical Africa:P. abyssinica Sch. Bip. (Ethiopia),P. xylopoda Lack, spec. nova (Nigeria, Ethiopia) andP. humilis DC. (Senegal, Mali). There are indications that the two perennial species,P. abyssinica andP. xylopoda, are related to and have evolved from a primitive Central Asiatic stock in a manner parallel to many African species ofCrepis L.P. humilis, on the other hand, is a small annual plant with a high number of derived characters. The introduced species of European origin growing south of the Sahara are briefly mentioned.     

Membrane surface properties of sheep erythrocytes,an immunological reagent,after different treatments as reflected by partition in two-polymer aqueous phases

Sheep erythrocytes (E) which, with or without certain treatments, are currently used as “immunological reagents” to detect cells with specific receptors (by rosette-formation) have been partitioned in two-polymer aqueousphase systems selected so as to reflect charge-associatedor lipid-related membrane surface properties. We have found that the partitioning behavior of E is not affected in these phases by reacting the cells with anti-E antibody (either IgG or IgM), forming EA. The additional binding of complement to the cell-antibody complex, forming EAC, results, however, in a marked decrease in the partition coefficient,K. Apparently both the charge-associated and hydrophobic properties reflected by partitioning remain accessible to the phase polymers when the cells are coated with antibody, but are not with the addition of complement. It is interesting that EA can still rosette with T-lymphocytes (14), a property of E, while the additional coating with complement results in EAC which does not appreciably do so (26). Neuraminidase or trypsin treatments of E, which yield Es having quite different rosetting properties with T-lymphocytes (14), cause increasedKs and unchangedKs, respectively, in phases reflecting lipid-related surface properties. Either treatment causes reducedKs of E in charged-phase systems. Neuraminidase treatment also results in a reduced electrophoretic mobility of E, while trypsin treatment is not detectable by cell electrophoresis (25). We are currently studying the possible usefulness of employing cell electrophoresis and cell partitioning in charged-phase systems jointly to obtain information on events occurring at the shear plane versus those occurring deeper in the membrane.     

Relationship between subunit size and number of rare electrophoretic alleles in human enzymes

Data from published sources were used to compare the numbers of different electrophoretic alleles of 29 monomeric and dimeric human enzymes to their respective subunit molecular weights. Only those human enzymes were considered for which the total sample sizes were in excess of 2000 individuals. Correlations between these two variables were determined within sample size ranges of 2000≤n≤3000 and 4000≤n≤5000 individuals, and separately by quaternary class. There was no statistically significant correlation observed for the smaller sample size range in monomers; however, the correlations for the larger sample size range in monomers and both ranges in dimers were significant. Since there is no relationship between subunit size and heterozygosity, the relationships are due primarily to the incidence of rare alleles. These findings demonstrate the effect of locus-specific mutation rates, expected as a consequence of variation of cistron sizes, and imply that other forces are responsible for the relative frequencies of common alleles at some of the loci.