A catalog of bird specimens associated with Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied and potential type material in the natural history collection in Wiesbaden

Bird specimens collected by 19^th century explorer and ornithologist Prince Maximilian of Wied-Neuwied form one of the foundation collections of the American Museum of Natural History in New York. However, parts of his collection remained in Germany and came to the Museum Wiesbaden. Since Wied described numerous new species without designating types, some of these specimens might be type material. Here we present a catalog of the 30 Wiesbaden specimens associated with him and discuss their potential type status. We conclude that 17 individuals in 11 species are potential type specimens that should be considered in future taxonomic work.     

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.     

Contributions to the sociology and chorology of contrasting plant communities in the southern part of the ‘Wienerwald’ (Austria)

Five plant communities contrasting in successional status and human impact from the southern part of the ‘Wienerwald’ (Austria) are analyzed using vegetation relevés, spectra of area types and a newly proposed disjunction quotient. A climax community (Asperulo-Fagetum), a subclimax community (Querco-Carpinetum s.l.), an anthropogenous substitute community (Mesobromion) and two natural, non-climax permanent communities (Euphorbio saxatilis-Pinetum nigrae and Fumano-Stipetum eriocaulis) are recognized. The disjunction quotient is defined as the number of partial (discontinous) areas divided by the size of the total area of distribution of a species. In particular, the average disjunction quotients of the species in the first two communities reflect relatively table environments only slightly influenced by man, with many ancient, stable taxa. These communities are characterized by species with well-delimited, stable distribution areas. The species in the Mesobromion community have very low average disjunction quotients as its component species are widely and continuously distributed and are often promoted by man. In contrast to these communities, the species linked to the natural permanent, non-climax communities of extreme habitats, have high distribution quotients i.e. small, disconinuous areas; this illustrates the relic character of these plant communities and of the eastern edge of the Alps is a whole. Using the highly variable disjunction quotient of all species and communities examined, the concepts of climax and permanent communities (of different origin) are discussed with regard to European conditions.     

The effect of isokinetic dynamometer deceleration phase on maximum ankle joint range of motion and plantar flexor mechanical properties tested at different angular velocities

During range of motion (max-ROM) tests performed on an isokinetic dynamometer, the mechanical delay between the button press (by the participant to signal their max-ROM) and the stopping of joint rotation resulting from system inertia induces errors in both max-ROM and maximum passive joint moment. The present study aimed to quantify these errors by comparing data when max-ROM was obtained from the joint position data, as usual (max-ROM_POS), to data where max-ROM was defined as the first point of dynamometer arm deceleration (max-ROM_ACC). Fifteen participants performed isokinetic ankle joint max-ROM tests at 5, 30 and 60° s⁻¹. Max-ROM, peak passive joint moment, end-range musculo-articular (MAC) stiffness and area under the joint moment-position curve were calculated. Greater max-ROM was observed in max-ROM_POS than max-ROM_ACC (P < 0.01) at 5 (0.2 ± 0.15%), 30 (1.8 ± 1.0%) and 60° s⁻¹ (5.9 ± 2.3%), with the greatest error at the fastest velocity. Peak passive moment was greater and end-range MAC stiffness lower in max-ROM_POS than in max-ROM_ACC only at 60° s⁻¹ (P < 0.01), whilst greater elastic energy storage was found at all velocities. Max-ROM and peak passive moment are affected by the delay between button press and eventual stopping of joint rotation in an angular velocity-dependent manner. This affects other variables calculated from the data. When high data accuracy is required, especially at fast joint rotation velocities (≥30° s⁻¹), max-ROM (and associated measures calculated from joint moment data) should be taken at the point of first change in acceleration rather than at the dynamometer’s ultimate joint position.     

Sensory Neurons Contacting the Cerebrospinal Fluid Require the Reissner Fiber to Detect Spinal Curvature In Vivo

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The effect of starvation on the ultrastructure of the red and white myotomal muscles of the crucian carp (Carassius carassius)

Summary The effect of 16 weeks total starvation on the ultrastructure of the red and white myotomal muscles of the crucian carp (Carassius Carassius) has been investigated. In the white fibres the amount of myofibrillar material fell from 89.6% to 70.7% of the total fibre volume whilst in the red fibres the fall was from 72.2% to 70.3%. The sarcoplasmic reticulum appeared to have become swollen during starvation in both fibre types. In the white fibres the terminal cisternae of some triads seem to have fused. The volume of the red fibres occupied by mitochondria was reduced from 16.2 % to 5.9 %. The concentration of mitochondria in the white fibres was too low to detect any quantitative changes. A marked reduction in the amount of euchromatin material was observed in most white fibre nuclei and many red fibre nuclei. Many of the ultrastructural changes noted in the present study can be correlated with biochemical changes known to occur in the red and white myotomal muscles of fish during starvation. This work was supported by a grant from the Natural Environmental Research Council.     

Advances in alternative DNA delivery techniques

This review describes recent advances in alternative DNA-delivery techniques with particular emphasis on silicon carbide fibers, intact tissue electroporation, electrophoresis and microinjection. The advantages/disadvantages of each method along with a historical overview and theory of practice are discussed.     

Effect of arm-shoulder fatigue on carpenters at work

The purpose of the study was to analyse the effect of arm-shoulder fatigue on manual performance. Ten experienced carpenters performed three standardized tasks (nailing, sawing and screwing). Electromyographic activity was recorded from six arm-shoulder muscles and the performances were video-filmed. After 45 min of standardized arm-cranking (arm-shoulder-fatiguing exercise of approximately 70%-80% maximal oxygen consumption), the tasks were repeated. The number of work movements and the time taken for each task were recorded and the quality of the work performed was compared. After the fatiguing exercise, only nailing was perceived as being harder and more mistakes were made during nailing and sawing. Movement performance was not influenced during nailing but was slightly slower during sawing and faster during screwing. However, there were increased mean EMG amplitudes in the upper trapezius and biceps muscles during nailing, in the upper trapezius, anterior deltoid and infraspinatus muscles during sawing and in the anterior deltoid muscle during screwing. Of the muscles studied the upper trapezius and anterior deltoid muscles increased their activity most after the arm-shoulder-fatiguing exercise.     

Cross-sectional Area-corrected Compression Modulus of Food Gel

The linearity of the stress-strain relationship for food gel is limited to a very narrow range of the strain (usually less than 0.1 as a Cauchy measure). The reason is thought due to the change in cross-sectional area of the gel upon deformation. In this report, the cross-sectional area was approximately corrected of the compressed gel on the assumption that the gel expanded uniformly without changing its volume upon compression. In cases when the initial Young’s modulus was calculated from the thus-corrected area for some food gels, the linearity was increased for a wider range of strain.