A doubly resonant cavity for detection of RF demodulation by living cells

We describe the design, construction, and operating characteristics of a doubly resonant cylindrical microwave cavity. This cavity has been developed to allow a search for nonlinear RF energy conversion in biological cells. Cells with a diode-like nonlinearity could demodulate a modulated RF carrier wave and generate low frequency signals in an exposed biological preparation. The cavity is designed to be resonant on the TE(111) mode at about 890 MHz and on the TE(113) mode at about 1780 MHz. The cavity performs exactly as designed and has proved capable of detecting the nonlinearity in a microscopic Schottky diode test structure. The sensitivity is sufficient to detect any nonlinearity in a collection of biological cells that could have any potential biological significance.     

Ultrastructure of Microvillar Coelomocytes from the Trunk Coelom of Thysanocardia nigra Ikeda, 1904 (Sipuncula) from the Sea of Japan

This research is part of a study on the ultrastructure of coelomocytes and cellular complexes from the body cavity of sipunculans. New free-swimming elements called microvillar cells in the trunk coelom of Thysanocardia nigra Ikeda, 1904 are examined using transmission electron microscopy. The cell harbors a giant vesicle filled with a fibrous matrix and rosettes of minute osmiophilous granules. The nucleus is peripheral, and a few cell organelles are situated between the cell membrane and the vesicular membrane. The cell membrane bears numerous microvilli with enlarged apical points. Numerous small microvillar vesicles swimming in the coelomic fluid separate from the microvillar cells. The functional morphology of coelomocytes and cellular complexes is discussed.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Maiorova, Adrianov.     

天麻的营养繁殖茎及其抑菌功能

天麻9Gastrodia elata Bl.）与蜜环菌（Armillaria mellea (Vahl.ex Fr.)Quel.)营共生生活,在正常情况下蜜环菌只侵染种麻及分化生长出的营养繁殖茎的表皮、皮层及大型细胞层。种麻的大型细胞层及营养繁殖茎隔离区的空腔细胞层和木栓细胞层,都是种麻与新生麻的防御结构,它们保护新生麻不遭蜜环菌病理侵染而正常生长。冬季,天麻进入冬期,隔离区的木栓细胞层形成断裂层,此层细胞是新生麻能够安全越冬的最后一道防御结构。     

What determines nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus?

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus is an important risk factor for infection by this organism in both community and hospital settings; this article reviews the role of host and bacterial factors in carriage. A host genetic influence appears likely but the phenotypic determinants are unknown. Possibilities include variability in host adhesins, immune response or secretion of antimicrobial molecules. Colonization resistance by S. aureus, together with the observation that persistent carriers often carry a single strain whereas intermittent carriers can be colonized with unrelated strains over time, suggests that bacterial factors could also be involved.     

The ethmoid and presphenoid of cetaceans

A cribriform plate, a perpendicular plate, and two lateral masses are major components of the ethmoid bone of mammals. Notwithstanding the noticeable bone, virtually sitting in the center of the skull, extensive modifications of the skull of modern cetaceans, especially odontocetes (toothed whales), and the lack of clarity as to what characteristics delimit each element of the ethmoid has made the problem of the nature of the cetacean ethmoid more complicated and elusive than in other, less modified mammals. Furthermore, contention as to whether a perpendicular plate of the ethmoid, or the mesethmoid, exists in all mammals including cetaceans has remained unsettled. In odontocetes, the mesethmoid has been variably identified not only as the osseous nasal septum but also as the mediodorsal region of the posterior wall of the nasal passage below the nasals, as a mass of bone encased by the vomer in front of the osseous nasal cavity at the base of the rostrum, and as a combination of some portions mentioned above. The presence or absence of the mesethmoid in various groups of mammals has attracted the attention of some biologists, and here, I demonstrate that cetaceans have no mesethmoid. The close inspection of the ontogenetic changes of the basicranial elements in cetaceans reveals that a mass of bone ensheathed by the vomer in front, or at the level of the osseous nasal cavity is actually the presphenoid. It is highly likely that in odontocetes the posterior wall of the nasal passages below the nasals consists of the combination of the frontal, the imperforated cribriform plate, the paired ectethmoids, and the vomer, the latter three of which partially concealing the presphenoid dorsally and laterally as the ontogeny proceeds. In contrast, mysticetes clearly display ethmoturbinates and a cribriform plate, which are morphologically similar to those in terrestrial mammals. J. Morphol. 277:1661–1674, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

A structured decision making analysis to increase a Red-cockaded Woodpecker population and balance stakeholder objectives for a National Forest

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savanna is a biodiverse ecosystem native to the southeastern United States. Due to fire suppression and timber harvest, longleaf pine has declined to 3% of its original range. The extant forest provides habitat for many threatened and endangered species, including the endangered Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis; RCW), a cavity-nesting bird that co-evolved with fire-maintained forest, resulting in savanna-like old-growth forest as the bird’s preferred habitat. Our study site, the Oakmulgee Ranger District of the Talladega National Forest, harbors the largest RCW population in Alabama and is managed with an emphasis on RCW conservation. The United States Forest Service (USFS) also manages the Oakmulgee for uses such as wildlife conservation, recreation, and timber harvest. Despite efforts to restore RCW habitat and install artificial cavities in the Oakmulgee, the number of RCW groups has not exceeded 123, although the Recovery Plan objective is 394 groups. Our project was motivated by the USFS expressing interest in determining why the RCW population has not exceeded 123 groups. We proposed using structured decision making (SDM) with the USFS and other stakeholders to address this problem. Our goals were to explicitly define management objectives, build a Bayesian belief network with a model of how decision alternatives are believed to affect management objectives, and use a sensitivity analysis to determine the part of the model to which RCW population growth was most sensitive. Therefore, results from the analysis were expected to give insights into 1) ecological factors limiting RCW population growth, 2) how management can overcome these limits, plus 3) the relative expected ability of different decision alternatives to satisfy multiple objectives in addition to increasing RCW group number. We held four SDM workshops with representatives from the USFS, the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Longleaf Alliance, the Birmingham Audubon Society, and local residents. Stakeholder objectives consisted of maximizing the following: RCW group number, forest health, recreational enjoyment, community economic health, and aesthetics. Cavity insert installation had the greatest probability of increasing the number of RCW groups. The number of RCW groups was most affected by cavity availability, adult survival, reproductive output, food availability, and herbaceous understory. Prescribed burning was most likely to meet the combination of stakeholder objectives, followed by midstory removal. Our findings suggest that cavity installation efforts may need to be increased in the Oakmulgee to increase RCW group number. Also it could be beneficial to investigate how RCWs select cavity tree locations with the goal of increasing the chance that RCWs use artificial cavities to form new groups. The Bayesian belief network provided insights into factors limiting RCW population growth and how management can overcome these limits. The Bayesian belief network also can be used to prioritize management methods in the Oakmulgee given stakeholder objectives and time constraints.     

Principles and pitfalls in designing site-directed peptide ligands

An immunoglobulin light chain dimer with a large generic binding cavity was used as a host molecule for designing a series of peptide guest ligands. In a screening procedure peptides coupled to solid supports were systematically tested for binding activity by enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Key members of the binding series were synthesized in milligram quantities and diffused into crystals of the host molecule for X-ray analyses. These peptides were incrementally increased in size and affinity until they nearly filled the cavity. Progressive changes in binding patterns were mapped by comparisons of crystallo-graphically refined structures of 14 peptide–protein complexes at 2.7 Å resolution. These comparisons led to guidelines for ligand design and also suggested ways to modify previously established binding patterns. By manipulating equilibria involving histidine, for example, it was possible to abolish one important intramolecular interaction of the bound ligand and substitute another. These events triggered a change inconformation of the ligand from a compact to an extended form and a comprehensive change in the mode of binding to the protein. In dipeptides of histidine and proline, protonation of both imidazolium nitrogen atoms was used to program anend-to-end reversal of the direction in which the ligand was inserted into the binding cavity. Peptides cocrystallized with proteins produced complexes somewhat different in structure from those in which ligandswere diffused into preexisting crystals. In sucha large and malleable cavity, space utilization was thus different when a ligand was introduced before the imposition of crystal packing restraints. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Impaired local intrinsic immunity to SARS-CoV-2 infection in severe COVID-19

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Advertising individual identity by mother and adolescent contact calls in Siberian wapiti Cervus elaphus sibiricus

Individualistic contact calls facilitate mother‐offspring reunion after separation. However, in many mammals, both the acoustic structure and individuality of contact calls differ between mother and young. In contrast, in Siberian wapiti Cervus elaphus sibiricus, contact calls are similar in the acoustics between mother and young, whereas effects of this similarity on vocal individuality were not investigated. In this study, we analyzed acoustic differences between closed‐mouth (nasal) and open‐mouth (oral) contact calls and examined individuality of the most usual oral calls of 19 Siberian wapiti (9 hinds and 10 5–6‐month adolescents) emitted in response to mother‐offspring separation. In the oral calls, the values of frequency and power variables were higher than in the nasal calls. Calls of hinds and adolescents did not differ by the maximum fundamental frequency and duration, whereas the peak frequency was higher in the young. Discriminant function analysis (DFA) based on 11 acoustic variables of oral calls accurately classified to individual 92.5% of hind calls and 96.9% of adolescent calls (chi‐square test for differences between hinds and adolescents, p = 0.19). Variables mainly contributing to vocal identity (duration, start, and maximum fundamental frequency) were the same in calls of mothers and adolescents. We conclude that similarities in the acoustics calls of mothers and adolescents mean that they do not differ in their potential for encoding individual identity, suggesting a mutual process of mother‐offspring vocal recognition in Siberian wapiti.