The effect of egg incubation temperature on the activity of cytochrome oxidase and anionic ATPase in chicken ontogenesis

The short-term cooling of hen eggs under incubation was studied for its effect on the dynamics of the activity of cytochrome oxidase (CO) and anion ATPase in the brain and liver of 15- and 20-day hen embryos and 5-day chickens. The temperature fall in the embryonal period was established to stimulate the activity of bicarbonate-dependent ATPase in the brain and to suppress it in the liver tissue. The CO activity was also subjected to similar alterations.     

Thermoregulatory uncoupling of oxidation and phosphorylation in the chick brain in embryogenesis]

The cooling of hen incubated eggs to 28 degrees C brings to disconnection of oxidative phosphorylation in brain on the 12th day of development. The addition of DNP (5 x 10(-5) M) takes off the cooling effect.     

immunocytochemical localization of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in lewis lung carcinoma

The invasively growing and metasizing Lewis lung carcinoma consistently contained urokinase-type plasminogen activator (u-PA) enzyme activity. When investigated immunocytochemically with antibodies against u-PA, different parts of individual tumors showed a pronounced heterogeneity in staining intensity. Strong staining was found in areas with invasive growth and degradation of surrounding normal tissue, while other areas were completely devoid of staining. Immunoreactivity occurred both with a perinuclear cytoplasmic localization in tumor cells and associated with apparently extracellular material. SDS PAGE of tumor extracts, under both reducing and nonreducing conditions, followed by immunoblotting, showed only one immunocytochemically stainable band with an electrophoretic mobility corresponding to that of purified proenzyme to u-PA, while no two-chain u-PA was detected. This indicates that the major part of the activator in Lewis lung carcinoma is present as one-chain pro-u-PA.     

Characteristics of the temporal resolution of signals in the visual analyzer in the rabbit

Biopotentials of the retina (ERG), optic tract, lateral geniculate body and visual cortex were recorded in response to repeated photostimulation within the range of 0.1 to 50 c/s and to paired flashes with an interval of 15 to 200 ms between them, to characterize summating and discriminating properties of the rabbit visual system in conditions of photopic and scotopic adaptation. A heterogeneity of studied structures was shown in their ability to temporal signals resolution, though quantitatively the differences were not great. It was found that in photopic conditions, with similar physiological intensity of the stimulus, temporal discrimination is much higher. The analysis of the experimental data showed that the ability to temporal resolution is due not so much to temporal summation processes, as to trace dynamics of excitability.     

Experimental and clinical study test of capreomycin]

Data on the experimental and clinical study of capreomycin in the treatment of tuberculosis are presented. It was shown that capreomycin had low activity with respect to the sensitive strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 Rv in vitro and the respective infection caused by it in mice. The activity of capreomycin in vitro with respect to streptomycin resistant strains was the same as that with respect to the sensitive strains, while in vivo it increased 3 times. Capreomycin showed a tendency to decreasing its activity with respect to strains highely resistant to canamycin only in vitro. The effect of capreomycin on tuberculosis infection caused by strains resistant to different concentrations of canamycin was the same as that on tuberculosis infection caused by sensitive strains. Cross resistance between florimycin (viomycin) and capreomycin was shown. Clinical trails of capreomycin revealed its moderate therapeutic efficiency, relatively low toxicity and an allergenizing effect on the host. Transient ventibulopatia without pronounced signs of ototoxic action was observed. The nephrotoxic effect was moderate and transient. It was observed predominantly at the peak of the allergic reactions to the antitubercle drugs. The data obtained during the study allow recommendation of capreomycin use in clinics as reserve drug when the causative agent is not resistant to florimycin. The drug should be used under regular control of the blood picture, electrolyte metabolism, state of the kidneys, auditory and vestibular apparatus.     

Post-construction avian mortality monitoring at Project West Wind

Abstract

Post-construction avifauna investigations were undertaken at Project West Wind, Meridian Energy Limited's 62-turbine wind farm on the Wellington south coast. These investigations were required in accordance with the resource consent conditions to quantify the level of avian mortalities occurring at the wind farm, particularly in regard to New Zealand falcon (Falco novaeseelandiae), kākā (Nestor meridionalis) and kererū (Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae). This is the first comprehensive study at a New Zealand operating wind farm. The methods included three field components necessary to calculate annual estimates of mortalities across the wind farm site: routine turbine searches; carcass detection trials; and carcass removal trials. Results from years 1 and 2 of a three-year programme are presented. To date, mortalities have been recorded for 17 taxa at 18 of the 24 study turbines. There have been no recorded mortalities of falcon, kākā or kererū. Australasian harrier (Circus approximans) has been the species for which the most mortalities have been recorded. Overall estimated annual mortality rates for years 1 and 2 were calculated to be approximately six and five birds per turbine respectively.     

Genetic architecture of survival and fitness-related traits in two populations of Atlantic salmon

The additive genetic effects of traits can be used to predict evolutionary trajectories, such as responses to selection. Non-additive genetic and maternal environmental effects can also change evolutionary trajectories and influence phenotypes, but these effects have received less attention by researchers. We partitioned the phenotypic variance of survival and fitness-related traits into additive genetic, non-additive genetic and maternal environmental effects using a full-factorial breeding design within two allopatric populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Maternal environmental effects were large at early life stages, but decreased during development, with non-additive genetic effects being most significant at later juvenile stages (alevin and fry). Non-additive genetic effects were also, on average, larger than additive genetic effects. The populations, generally, did not differ in the trait values or inferred genetic architecture of the traits. Any differences between the populations for trait values could be explained by maternal environmental effects. We discuss whether the similarities in architectures of these populations is the result of natural selection across a common juvenile environment.     

The action of infrasound oscillations on the properties of water and of a DNA solution

The effect of mechanical vibrations (MV) electrical conductivity of water and optical density of aqueous DNA solution. Distilled water was treated with MV of several frequencies from 3 to 5000 Hz with an intensity of 90 dB for 30 minutes. Different sensitivities of water specific electrical conductivity (SEC) were determined (the value of distilled water SEC was 209 +/- 2 microS/m). The greatest decrease of SEC (by 15.7%) under the influence of MV was observed at the frequency of 4 Hz. There was no effect at frequencies higher than 100 Hz. The treatment of DNA water solutions with MV of frequencies 4 and 10 Hz decreased its optical density by 4.2 +/- 1.1 and 4.8 +/- 1.2% correspondingly in comparison with control. In cases of treatment with frequencies of 20 and 50 Hz no effect was observed. The mechanism of MV effect on water can be connected with the changes of system structural characteristics. It is confirmed by experiments with DNA solution, where the decrease of optical density (at 260 nm) under MV treatment is conditioned with the increase of the probability of hydrogen binding formation between the bases.     

Radiation diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) of lung

The authors studied the pattern of X-ray changes detectable in the lungs of 41 patients with LCH. The results of classical X-ray study were supplemented by the data of computed tomography, ultrasonography, and 99mTc and 67Ga citrate radioisotopic studies. The diagnostic values of these techniques were compared. X-ray syndromes of changes in the lung in LCH were found to be interstitial, interstitial and granulomatous, tumorous (focal). The authors emphasize the multisystematic character of a lesion, the phasic nature and progression of the disease into fibrosis.