Big Moose Basin: simulation of response to acidic deposition

The ILWAS model has been enhanced for application to multiple-lake hydrologic basins. This version of the model has been applied to the Big Moose basin, which includes Big Moose Lake and its tributary streams, lakes, and watersheds. The basin, as defined, includes an area of 96 km², with over 20 lakes and ponds, and 70 km of streams. Hydrologic and chemical calibrations have been made using data from seven sampling stations. When total atmospheric sulfur loading to the basin is halved, the model predicts, after four years of simulation, a decreasing sulfate concentration and to a lesser extent a rising alkalinity at Big Moose Lake outlet. At the end of four years, the results show an increase in pH of 0.1 to 0.5 pH units depending upon season.     

Implications for cytoplasmic pH,protonmotice force,and amino-acid transport across the plasmalemma of Riccia fluitans

By means of pH-sensitive microelectrodes, cytoplasmic pH has been monitored continuously during amino-acid transport across the plasmalemma of Riccia fluitans rhizoid cells under various experimental conditions. (i) Contrary to the general assumption that import of amino acids (or hexoses) together with protons should lead to cytoplasmic acidification, an alkalinization of 0.1–0.3 pH_c units was found for all amino acids tested. Similar alkalinizations were recorded in the presence of hexoses and methylamine. No alkalinization occurred when the substrates were added in the depolarized state or in the presence of cyanide, where the electrogenic H⁺-pump is inhibited. (ii) After acidification of the cytoplasm by means of various concentrations of acetic acid, amino-acid transport is massively altered, although the protonmotive force remained essentially constant. It is suggested that H⁺-cotransport is energetically interconnected with the proton-export pump which is stimulated by the amino-acid-induced depolarization, thus causing proton depletion of the cytoplasm. It is concluded that, in order to investigate H⁺-dependent cotransport processes, the cytoplasmic pH must be measured and be under continuous experimental control; secondly, neither pH nor the protonmotive force across a membrane are reliable quantities for analysing a proton-dependent process.Abbreviations 3-OMG 3-oxymethylglucose - pH_c cytoplasmic pH - _m electrical potential difference across the respective membrane, i.e. membrane potential - _H+/F (=pmf) electrochemical proton gradient     

Seasonal growth lines in pleistocene scleractinians from barbados: Record potential and diagenesis

Growth line analysis of diagenetically altered scleractinians is only possible if carbonate diagenesis has followed the pathway of aragonite leaching and coeval formation of low magnesium calcite. All other possibilities of aragonite transformation into calcite exclude the preservation of this growth line banding. Examples of these diagenetic patterns are found in the Pleistocene of Barbados.     

Amyloplasts are necessary for full gravitropic sensitivity in roots of Arabidopsis thaliana

The observation that a starchless mutant (TC7) of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. is gravitropic (T. Caspar and B.G. Pickard, 1989, Planta 177, 185–197) raises questions about the hypothesis that starch and amyloplasts play a role in gravity perception. We compared the kinetics of gravitropism in this starchless mutant and the wild-type (WT). Wild-type roots are more responsive to gravity than TC7 roots as judged by several parameters: (1) Vertically grown TC7 roots were not as oriented with respect to the gravity vector as WT roots. (2) In the time course of curvature after gravistimulation, curvature in TC7 roots was delayed and reduced compared to WT roots. (3) TC7 roots curved less than WT roots following a single, short (induction) period of gravistimulation, and WT, but not TC7, roots curved in response to a 1-min period of horizontal exposure. (4) Wild-type roots curved much more than TC7 roots in response to intermittent stimulation (repeated short periods of horizontal exposure); WT roots curved in response to 10 s of stimulation or less, but TC7 roots required 2 min of stimulation to produce a curvature. The growth rates were equal for both genotypes. We conclude that WT roots are more sensitive to gravity than TC7 roots. Starch is not required for gravity perception in TC7 roots, but is necessary for full sensitivity; thus it is likely that amyloplasts function as statoliths in WT Arabidopsis roots. Furthermore, since centrifugation studies using low gravitational forces indicated that starchless plastids are relatively dense and are the most movable component in TC7 columella cells, the starchless plastids may also function as statoliths.Abbreviations S2 story two - S3 story three - WT wild-type     

Appearance of lectin-binding sites during vascularization of the primordium of the central nervous system in 10 to 12-day-old mouse embryos

Summary In the present study lectin-binding sites were investigated for the lectins Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA I), wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), soya bean agglutinin (SBA), concanavalin A (Con A), Lotus tetragonolobus(LTA) and Limulus polyphemus agglutinin (LPA) during the initial stages of vasculogenesis of the CNS-anlage in 10 to 12-day-old NMRI mouse embryos. Specific binding sites for the lectins RCA I (sugar specificity: -D-galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine), WGA (sugar specificity: N-acetylglucosamine, sialic acid), and SBA (sugar specificity: N-acetylgalactosamine, -D-galactose) were detected in the newly formed capillaries within the neuroepithelial cell layer. In contrast, binding sites for Con A, LTA and LPA could not be observed at the start of the vascularization of the CNS-anlage. From these results, the conclusion can be drawn that glycoconjugates containing D-galactose, N-acetylgalactosamine and N-acetyl-glucosamine moieties are involved in the early vasculogenesis of the embryonic CNS-anlage of the mouse.     

Oxidation of glycerol,lactate, and propionate by Propionibacterium freudenreichii in a poised-potential amperometric culture system

Growth of Propionibacterium freudenreichii was studied with glycerol, lactate, and propionate as energy sources and a three-electrode poised-potential amperometric electrode system with hexacyanoferrate (III) as mediator. In batch culture experiments with glycerol and lactate as substrates, hexacyanoferrate (III) was completely reduced. Growth yields increased and the fermentation patterns were shifted towards higher acetate formation with increasing hexacyanoferrate (III) concentrations (0.25–8.0 mM). In experiments with regulated electrodes, glycerol, lactate, and propionate were oxidized to acetate and CO₂, and the electrons were quantitatively transferred to the working electrode. Growth yields of 29.0, 13.4 and 14.2 g cell material per mol were calculated, respectively. The high cell yield obtained during propionate oxidation cannot be explained solely by substrate level phosphorylation indicating that additional energy was conserved via electron transport phosphorylation. Furthermore, this result indicated complete reversibility of the methyl-malonyl-CoA pathway in propionic acid bacteria.     

Immunocytochemical demonstration of the neurosecretory systems containing putative moult-inhibiting hormone and hyperglycemic hormone in the eyestalk of brachyuran crustaceans

Summary By use of antisera raised against purified moultinhibiting (MIH) and crustacean hyperglycemic hormone (CHH) from Carcinus maenas, complete and distinct neurosecretory pathways for both hormones were demonstrated with the PAP and immunofluorescence technique. By double staining, employing a combination of silver-enhanced immunogold labelling and PAP, both antigens could be visualized in the same section. Immunoreactive structures were studied in Carcinus maenas, Liocarcinus puber, Cancer pagurus, Uca pugilator and Maja squinado. They were only observed in the X-organ sinus gland (SG) system of the eyestalks and consisted of MIH-positive perikarya, which were dispersed among the more numerous CHH-positive perikarya of the medulla terminalis X-organ (XO). The MIH-positive neurons form branching collateral plexuses adjacent to the XO and axons that are arranged around the CHH-positive central axon bundle of the principal XO-SG tract. In the SG, MIH-positive axon profiles and terminals, clustered around hemolymph lacunae, are distributed between the more abundant CHH-positive axon profiles and terminals. Colocalisation of MIH and CHH was never observed. The gross morphology of both neurosecretory systems was similar in all species examined, however, in U. pugilator and M. squinado immunostaining for MIH was relatively faint unless higher concentrations of antiserum were used. Possible reasons for this phenomenon as well as observed moult cycle-related differences in immunostaining are discussed.     

Studien zur Paläopathologie der Invertebraten III: Parasitismus bei Ammoniten

The anomalies known from ammonites (forma-types sensu Hölder) are, as far as possible, divided in possible groups of causes and reviewed with reference to possible parasitism. Previous interpretations of anomalies as caused by parasitism are discussed: forma juxtacarinata-juxtalobata, f. juxtalobata, f. verticata, f. inflata, pearls, hypertrophy; other anomalies like forma cacoptycha, f. juxtacarinata or f. chaotica may be caused only partly by parasitism. The biological evidence and plausibility of assumed parasitism is discussed. Additionally terminological suggestions for the use of “anomaly”, “Mißbildung” and the names of forma-types are made.