Some observations on the innervation of the pinna of the ear of the rat

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A study of immunity to rubella in villages in the Fiji islands using the haemagglutination inhibition test

In the villages of Fiji, apart from Viti Levu, rubella is a disease occurring solely in widely spaced epidemics. Some villages may not be infected for over 20 years and will then contain substantial numbers of susceptible women of child-bearing age.Evidence is produced that haemagglutination-inhibiting (H.I.) antibody to rubella is very long lasting in Fijians. The infectivity of the virus is discussed and it is suggested that, on the average, 50% of susceptibles are infected in a Fijian village during a rubella epidemic, but there are large variations.

Effect of biogenic amines and cannabinoids on bacterial chemotaxis

The chemotactic response of Pseudomonas fluorescens was significantly enhanced by the stimulants dl-amphetamine and epinephrine. Acetylcholine, a physiological antagonist of epinephrine, and the cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol inhibited bacterial chemotaxis. It may be possible to use bacterial chemotaxis as a bioassay in biochemical studies of drug action.

An apparatus for the thawing of stored blood in liquid nitrogen

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Negative chemotaxis of marine bacteria to toxic chemicals

The positive chemotactic responses of motile marine bacteria were reversed by the addition of sublethal concentrations of a toxic chemical. The negative chemotactic effect was observed with a wide range of toxicants including heavy metals and hydrocarbons. This phenomenon may be utilized to develop new approaches for control of marine fouling.

Ultrastructural transformations in bean inner mitochondrial membranes

The ultrastructure of inner membrane-matrix mitochondria isolated from bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) shoots was examined in different metabolic states. Gross ultrastructural transformations analogous to the condensed-to-orthodox configurational changes reported in mammalian mitochondria are observed on transistion from nonrespiring to respiring metabolism. With the induction of oxidative phosphorylation, the particles remain in the orthodox configurational state. The reverse orthodox-to-condensed configurational changes observed in mammalian preparations does not occur. Optically monitored absorbancy studies with bean particles show a substrate-supported P(i)-induced swelling under the same conditions that induce the condensed-to-orthodox ultrastructural transformation. The swelling is associated with the net uptake of K(+) and P(i) as well as a small P(i)-induced respiratory stimulation. When phosphorylation is initiated with these swollen particles, the optically monitored volume remains unchanged. Thus a positive correlation exists between the ultrastructural configuration and the osmotic volume changes, which supports the conclusion that configurational changes reflect internal osmotic adjustments.

Storage, retrieval, and inventory control of donor red cells in liquid nitrogen

A system of identification and inventory control of donations and aliquots of human blood stored in liquid nitrogen is described. It is simple and easy to operate. Up to five adequate samples can be obtained from each donation at discrete intervals without the need to recover the main donation or, as is so often the case, the only single aliquot available.

Studies on the phrenic nerve and diaphragmatic plexus in rabbits and gerbils

Studies on nerve fibres within the phrenic nerve and in the diaphragmatic plexus were carried out in one species, the gerbil, a small desert rodent. The resistance of this small mammal to surgical insult enabled experimental intrathoracic transection of the phrenic nerve to be carried out so that the results in 10 animals could be observed within the diaphragmatic plexus, the phrenic nerve, and the phrenic nucleus. The findings in the diaphragmatic plexus and in the nerve trunk strongly resemble corresponding results for other animals with regard to `persisting' fibres. The phrenic nucleus, however, is much more extensive in this mammal than has been found in any other species; it is represented within the second to sixth cervical segment, its rostral extremity occupying the intermediolateral part of the spinal grey matter. The possible functional significance of these findings is discussed in the light of the mixed functions of the diaphragm, either voluntary or involuntary.

Selective sorption of bacteria from seawater

A sequence of sorption of different bacterial types has been observed both on glass slides and electron microscope grids immersed in seawater for periods of up to 24 h. A comparison of morphological groups of bacteria initially attracted to a surface with those subsequently adhering firmly to the surface suggests a selective irreversible sorption of small rods. Firm adhesion of bacteria in the time periods considered does not indicate pili or holdfast structures. The ability of bacteria to produce extracellular polymeric fibrils may be important in such selective sorption.

Chemical detection of microbial prey by bacterial predators

A motile, predacious bacterium which degraded Pythium debaryanum was strongly attracted to substances released into the medium by the fungus. A nonpredacious bacterium was not attracted to these substances. The predator bacterium was specifically attracted to cellulose and its oligomers which are known to be components of the cell wall of Pythium. Ethanol inhibited chemotaxis of the bacterium without affecting either its motility or its ability to degrade cellulose. A second predacious bacterium was isolated for the alga, Skeletonema costatum. The role of chemoreception in the detection of microbial prey by bacterial predators in natural habitats is discussed.

Hyphal wall compositions of marine and terrestrial fungi of the genus Leptosphaeria

Hyphal wall compositions of six Leptosphaeria species were compared to assess whether gross changes have occurred in the hyphal wall chemistry of closely related fungi which have become ecologically restricted to marine or terrestrial habitats. Unfractionated, lipid-extracted hyphal walls of each Leptosphaeria species had qualitatively identical compositions consisting of glucose, mannose, galactose, glucosamine, amino acids, and traces of galactosamine. Quantitative analyses showed that the hyphal wall components varied from species to species. Qualitative compositions of alkali-soluble wall fractions from each species were identical and contained the same sugars found in the unfractionated walls. The alkali-insoluble residues contained glucose, glucosamine, and amino acids. The alkali-soluble fractions were composed predominantly of glucose, galactose, and mannose. The alkali-insoluble fractions contained high concentrations of glucose and glucosamine and relatively low concentrations of amino acids.