Do drivers intentionally target wildlife on roads?

Despite frequent reliance on surveys to document public attitudes towards conservation issues (such as invasive‐species control), only rarely do researchers assess the validity of statements made by the public in response to such surveys. Therefore, how well responses match actual behaviour remains an open question. We conducted a survey asking drivers if they had seen and/or run over (intentionally or not) snakes, native frogs or invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) on roads in the Northern Territory of Australia. To compare actual driver behaviour to the survey responses, we also carried out field experiments where we quantified the rates at which model snakes, frogs and toads (and controls) were run over on a rural highway. Our results show a discrepancy between survey responses and driver behaviour: for example, 25% of the people we surveyed indicated that they intentionally run over cane toads, yet field experiments showed that model toads were run over no more frequently than expected by chance, or than any other type of model.     

Expression of Embryonic Haemoglobin in ts AEV-Transformed Embryonic Erythroid Cells During Temperature-Induced Differentiation

Cells prepared from 1-day-old chick blastoderms were infected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of avian erythroblastosis virus ( ts AEV). Clonal strains of transformed erythroblasts were isolated from the infected blastoderm cells. By shift to the nonpermissive temperature, these cells could be induced to differentiate into erythrocyte-like cells which expressed embryonic haemoglobins. Embryonic haemoglobins could not be detected in ts AEV-transformed erythroblasts from adult bone marrow when induced to differentiate under the same conditions. In contrast to normal primitive erythrocytes, ts AEV-infected embryonic erythroblasts differentiated in vitro expressed also adult haemoglobin. These results suggest an influence of the haematopoietic environment on the switch from embryonic to adult erythrocytes.     

Identification and Characterization of Epithelial Cells in Mammalian Tissues by Immunofluorescence Microscopy Using Antibodies to Prekeratin

The occurrence of intermediate-sized filaments containing prekeratin-like proteins ('cytokeratins') has been examined in various organs of rat and cow by electron microscopy and by immunofluorescence microscopy on frozen sections using antibodies to defined constitutive proteins of various types of intermediate-sized filaments (prekeratin, vimentin, desmin). Positive cytokeratin reaction and tonofilament-like structures have been observed in the following epithelia: epidermis; ductal, secretory, and myoepithelial cells of sweat glands; mammary gland duct; myoepithelial cells of lactating mammary gland; milk secreting cells of cow; ductal, secretory, and myoepithelial cells of various salivary glands; tongue mucosa; bile duct; excretory duct of pancreas; intestinal mucosa; urothelium; trachea; bronchi; thymus reticulum, including Hassall corpuscles; mesothelium; uterus; and ciliated cells of oviduct. None of the epithelial cells mentioned has shown significant reaction with antibodies to vimentin, the major component of the type of intermediate-sized filaments predominant in mesenchymal cells. The widespread, if not general occurrence of cytokeratin filaments in epithelial cells is emphasized, and it is proposed to use this specific structure as a criterion for true epithelial character or origin.     

Conformation of O-(L-α-Glyceryl-phosphoryl)-ethanolamine in the Crystal Structure of its Monohydrate

WE have determined the crystal structure and absolute configuration of the monohydrate of O-(L-α-glycerylphosphoryl)-ethanolamine (GPE) and have found that there are close relationships between the conformation of the zwitterion of GPE and those which have been reported for O-(L-α-glyceryl-phosphoryl)-choline (GPC) in two previous crystal structure determinations^1,2. The recurrent features in the observed stereochemistry of GPE (Fig. 1a) and the three conformers of GPC (Fig. 1b, c and d) suggest configurations for the polar moieties of the parent phosphatidyl ethanolamines and cholines which may be involved in the functioning of these molecules as major components of biological membranes. Because of difficulties in growing suitable crystals, the structures of the intact phospholipids have not yet been determined by X-ray methods.