Pollen-based biome reconstruction for southern Europe and Africa 18,000 yr bp

Pollen data from 18,000 ¹⁴C yr bp were compiled in order to reconstruct biome distributions at the last glacial maximum in southern Europe and Africa. Biome reconstructions were made using the objective biomization method applied to pollen counts using a complete list of dryland taxa wherever possible. Consistent and major differences from present‐day biomes are shown. Forest and xerophytic woods/scrub were replaced by steppe, both in the Mediterranean region and in southern Africa, except in south‐western Cape Province where fynbos (xerophytic scrub) persisted. Sites in the tropical highlands, characterized today by evergreen forest, were dominated by steppe and/or xerophytic vegetation (cf. today’s Ericaceous belt and Afroalpine grassland) at the last glacial maximum. Available data from the tropical lowlands are sparse but suggest that the modern tropical rain forest was largely replaced by tropical seasonal forest while the modern seasonal or dry forests were encroached on by savanna or steppe. Montane forest elements descended to lower elevations than today.     

Parametric and Nonparametric Analyses of Repeated Ordinal Categorical Data

We compare two models for the analysis of repeated ordinal categorical data: the classical parametric model for means of scores assigned to the categories of the response variable and a nonparametric model based on relative effects derived from the marginal distribution functions of the response. An example in the field of Dentistry is used to illustrate and to compare the models. We also consider a simulation study to evaluate the type‐I error rates and the power of tests under both models in a balanced design setup. The simulation results suggest that both approaches behave similarly for equally spaced scores but may perform differently otherwise. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Experimental study of the influence of errors of genetic correlation estimates on unrestricted,optimum, and desired gains selection indices

Summary Effects of errors in estimates of the genetic correlation on the accuracy of unrestricted, optimum, and desired gains selection indices were examined experimentally in Tribolium castaneum. Three lines were selected for three generations for pupal weight at 21 days and adult weight at 31 days, using unrestricted (I9), optimum (O9), and desired gains (G9) index selection methods. The genetic correlation between pupal and adult weights in the base population was 0.95. The optimum index was designed to set the response of pupal weight by a fixed amount, while in the desired gains index the responses of pupal and adult weights were specified as being equal to 31. Three other indices were constructed using a deliberately incorrect genetic correlation (0.25), i.e., unrestricted (I2), optimum (O2), and desired gains (G2). Responses observed in unrestricted index lines (I9 versus I2) and optimum index lines (O9 versus O2) did not differ significantly, even though lines I9 and I2 differed in a practical sense. Responses in desired gains index lines (G9 versus G2) differed significantly. Responses obtained for aggregate genotype (pupal weight + adult weight) and for the component traits were greater in line I9 than those obtained in line I2. Responses obtained in the O9 and O2 lines for pupal and adult weights were similar, while those obtained in the G9 and G2 lines were similar for pupal weight but not (P<0.05) for adult weight. Therefore, underestimation of the genetic correlation seems to affect the efficiency of a desired gains index more than that of unrestricted or optimum indices.     

Analysis of polyadenylated RNA from brain synaptosomes and mitochondria

We have isolated RNA from sheep brain synaptosomes and mitochondria separated by an aqueous two-phase system composed of dextran and poly(ethylene glycol). RNA was fractionated through oligo(dT)-cellulose columns and analyzed by electrophoresis through agarose slab gels containing methylmercuric hydroxide and stained with ethidium bromide. The electrophoretic patterns of the poly(A)-containing RNA fraction from synaptosomes and mitochondria are very similar although some high molecular weight RNA species, clearly visible in the synaptosomal fraction, are scarcely detected in the mitochondrial preparations. The electrophoretic analysis of a cleaner RNA preparation from digitonin-treated free mitochondria (mitoplasts) showed that all the poly (A)-RNA species of the synaptosomal preparation are also present in mitoplast. These results strongly suggest that all the discrete poly(A)-RNA species identified in brain synaptosomes are of mitochondrial origin.     

Protonmotive force and photophosphorylation in single swollen thylakoid vesicles

Swollen vesicles generally 40 micron in diameter were prepared from spinach chloroplasts. These vesicles appear to originate from thylakoids. The present study reports results obtained with individual vesicles using micromanipulative procedures. The electric potential across the membrane was measured with microelectrodes and the pH of the internal space was calculated from the fluorescence of the pH indicator pyranine. The individual vesicles photophosphorylate as measured with luciferin-luciferase. Impalement with microelectrodes did not affect the ability of individual vesicles to photophosphorylate. However, there was no significant membrane potential either with continuous illumination or light flashes. In contrast, we found a delta pH of 3.7 under photophosphorylative conditions and the incubation with the appropriate buffers blocked photophosphorylation presumably by preventing formation of a pH gradient. We propose that, in these vesicles, the membrane potential plays no role in photophosphorylation, whereas a pH gradient is obligatory.     

The presence of bovine papillomavirus type 4 DNA is not required for the progression to, or the maintenance of, the malignant state in cancers of the alimentary canal in cattle.

In the Western Highlands of Scotland there is a very high incidence of alimentary cancers in cattle. The carcinomas of the upper alimentary canal are found in association with virus-induced benign papillomas, and transformation of papillomas to carcinomas has been observed. Strong circumstantial evidence suggests that the progression to malignancy is due to the interplay between the virus, bovine papillomavirus type 4 (BPV-4), and carcinogen(s) present in bracken fern, which infests the marginal upland grazing grounds. The carcinomas are often accompanied by adenomas and adenocarcinomas of the lower bowels. To elucidate the role of the virus in the transformation process, we have analysed several malignancies of the alimentary canal, and have detected the viral genome in only one case of transforming papilloma of the oesophagus and one case of carcinoma of the tongue. We conclude that, although required for the induction of papillomas, the presence of the BPV-4 DNA is not necessary for the progression to, or the maintenance of, the transformed state.