Effects of angiotensin II and dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate on phosphatidylinositol metabolism, 45Ca2+ fluxes, and aldosterone synthesis in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells

Angiotensin II (AII) and N6,O2'-dibutyryladenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (dibutyryl cyclic AMP) both stimulated aldosterone synthesis in bovine adrenal glomerulosa cells. AII altered 45Ca2+ fluxes and increased 32PO4 incorporation into phosphatidylinositol in these cells, whereas dibutyryl cyclic AMP did not affect either process. Neither AII nor dibutyryl cyclic AMP increased the mass of phosphatidylinositol. Both agents are known to stimulate pregnenolone synthesis. Thus, although dibutyryl cyclic AMP and AII may increase aldosterone synthesis at a common site (pregnenolone synthesis), they do so by different mechanisms. AII stimulation of phosphatidylinositol labeling by 32PO4 (the "PI effect") was blocked when cells were incubated in a medium containing both EGTA and the calcium antagonist, 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl 3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzoate hydrochloride (TMB-8), suggesting a calcium requirement for the PI effect.     

Intracellular recording of cerebral cortical actions of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α)

Our reported data on the cortical inhibitory actions of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) and the diversity of data in the literature on cerebral PG actions are examined here in the light of intracellular recording which provides the requisite membrane data for the first time. Thus, 1) intracellular recording from the cat cerebral cortex is obtained for the actions of PGF_2α and for norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5HT). 2) The parallel changes in firing and polarization and the simultaneous transmembrane conductance changes are qualitatively identical for PGF_2α, NE and 5HT. 3) The reduction in firing accompanied by hyperpolarization indicates that PGF_2α, NE and 5HT all inhibit these cells. 4) The ionic species responsible for this inhibition is such that it increased the transmembrane resistance, and this was true for all three. 5) The changes in membrane parameters, identical in direction for PGF_2α and NE, but stronger for the latter, constitute conditions that can lead to competitive inhibition and therefore conote, presumably, actions at the same or related receptors. Such competition with evoked cortical field potentials is shown in the preceding paper.     

Phylogeography of the Australian freshwater turtle Chelodina expansa reveals complex relationships among inland and coastal bioregions

We examined range‐wide mitochondrial phylogeographical structure in the riverine freshwater turtle Chelodina expansa to determine whether this species exhibits deep genetic divergence between coastal and inland hydrological provinces, as seen in co‐distributed freshwater taxa. We sequenced two mitochondrial loci, genealogical relationships were assessed using a network approach, and relationships among biogeographical regions were tested using analyses of molecular variance. Population history was evaluated using neutrality tests, indices of demographic expansion, and mismatch analyses. Twenty‐one haplotypes were recovered across two mitochondrial haplogroups separated by approximately 4% nucleotide divergence. The haplogroups have discrete geographical boundaries but only partially support a hypothesis of deep divergence between coastal and inland bioregions. The first haplogroup comprises populations from the inland Murray‐Darling Basin and from coastal catchments south of the Mary River in south‐east Queensland. The second haplogroup comprises populations from coastal catchments north of the Mary River. Cryptic phylogeographical barriers separating adjacent coastal populations are congruent with those demonstrated for other freshwater taxa and may result from the combined influences of the Conondale Range and alluvial deposits at the mouth of the Mary River. The findings of the present study demonstrate that freshwater taxa commonly display genetic differentiation within a biogeographical region where no boundaries have been recognized, highlighting the need to uncover cryptic microbiogeographical regions to aid conservation of freshwater biota. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2014, 111 , 789–805.     

Elementary Forms and their Dynamics: Revisiting Mary Douglas

Mary Douglas's oeuvre furnishes the social sciences with one of the most profound and ambitious bodies of social theory ever to emerge from within anthropology. This article uses the occasion of the publication of Fardon's two volumes of her previously uncollected papers to restate her core arguments about the limited plurality of elementary forms of social organisation, about the institutional dynamics of conflict, and about conflict attenuation. In reviewing these two volumes, the article considers what those anthropologists who have been sceptical either of Douglas's importance or of the Durkheimian traditions generally, will want from these books to convince them to look afresh at her work. It concludes that the two collections will provide open-minded anthropologists with enough evidence of the creativity and significance of her achievement to encourage them to reopen her major theoretical works. An internal critique of some aspects of Douglas's handling of her arguments is offered, before the conclusion identifies the wider significance of her arguments for the social sciences.     

African species of Chionanthus L.(Oleaceae) hitherto included in Linociera Swartz

Chionanthus L.(1753) and Linociera Swartz (1791) being considered congeneric.nine continental African species and three Madagascan species hitherto included in Linociera are transferred to Chionanthus .Synonymy, concise statements of distribution and a key are provided. Chionanthus richardsiae is a new species from Zambia; a biographical note on its collector, Mary Richards (1885–1977), is included.     

奥杜威工业石制品分类综述

石制品是旧石器时代考古的主要研究对象,其分类是旧石器生产技术和文化研究的基础与前提,然而,中国旧石器时代考古有关石制品分类目前尚无一致标准,这对开展旧石器时代考古学术研究的国际交流产生了负面影响。鉴于似奥杜威(Oldowan-like)或模式I工业在我国古人类石器工业面貌占有非常特殊的地位,因此,本文对以非洲为代表的奥杜威(Oldowan)工业(模式I)石器技术研究中有关石制品的分类体系进行整合和梳理,同时借鉴Mary Leakey、Glynn Isaac和Nicholas Toth等为代表的不同分类系统,并对中国境内有关石制品分类的现状进行讨论。     

Fine Needle Aspiration of Sister Mary Joseph''s Nodule

A case of Sister Mary Joseph's nodule (umbilical metastasis) is described from a primary adenocarcinoma of the transverse colon. Needle aspiration cytology made the diagnosis which was confirmed by immunocytochemical localization of CEA, B72.3, EMA, and cytokeratin in the tumour cells. Extensive mucus production in the tumour cells was demonstrated by alcian blue and mucicarmine stains.     

Effects of prostaglandin F2α on cerebral cortical evoked potentials

The cerebral cortical action of prostaglandin F_2α (PGF_2α) has been determined by recording the effects of intracarotid injections of PGF_2α on cerebral evoked potentials. PGF_2α differentially reduced cortical evoked potentials. The cortical action of PGF_2α appeared to be qualitatively identical with that of norepinephrine (NE) but weaker. A protection of the cortex from the inhibitory action of NE by a preceding dose of PGF_2α was demonstrated. The actions of both PGF_2α and NE appear to be on the same or related postsynaptic receptors. The actions described were at doses that did not reduce oxygen availability. PGF_2α may act as a modulator of adrenergic transmission in the cortex. The intracellular recording in the companion paper supplies the further critical evidence that PGF_2α has a synaptic inhibitory action.     

Brief communication: developmental dysplasia of the hip in medieval London

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is a spectrum of disease starting in childhood and in many cases persisting into adulthood. The spectrum ranges from acetabular dysplasia, through hip subluxation to dislocation. The aim of this research was to determine the prevalence and pathoanatomy of acetabular dysplasia and subluxation in excavated human skeletal remains, to complement past research on dislocation in DDH. The material under study was the medieval cemetery of St. Mary Spital in London, in use from c.1100 to 1539 AD. A series of 572 adults with both hips preserved were analyzed. Acetabular dysplasia was indicated by a shallow acetabulum with upward sloping roof. Subluxation was suggested by degenerative change along the margin of the acetabulum suggestive of labral tears, and degenerative change in the outer part of the acetabular roof suggestive of osteoarthritis. The prevalence of DDH (acetabular dysplasia, subluxation, or dislocation) was 1.7%. Because this a congenital musculoskeletal disorder of relatively high frequency, with significant variation in prevalence between populations around the world, it is a topic that warrants targeted research from physical anthropologists studying past populations.