Prolongation of clotting time in the dormant bat (Myotis lucifugus)

Résumé En été, la durée de coagulation du sang augmente notablement si l'on soumet la chauve-souris à une basse température (5°C); elle diminue dès qu'on replace l'animal dans un milieu chaud (23°C). Ceci indique l'existence d'un mécanisme adaptif qui prévient la formation du thrombus.     

Neurosecretion and hydroelectrolytic regulation in Artemia salina (author's transl)]

The activity of Artemia protocerebral median neurosecretory cells is stimulated when animals are grown in media whose tonicity is lower than that of sea weater. The substance liberated by these cells could regulate the tonicity of the internal medium.     

The acidic microenvironment as a possible niche of dormant tumor cells

Although surgical excision, chemo-, and radio-therapy are clearly advanced, tumors may relapse due to cells of the so-called “minimal residual disease”. Indeed, small clusters of tumor cells persist in host tissues after treatment of the primary tumor elaborating strategies to survive and escape from immunological attacks before their relapse: this variable period of remission is known as “cancer dormancy”. Therefore, it is crucial to understand and consider the major concepts addressing dormancy, to identify new targets and disclose potential clinical strategies. Here, we have particularly focused the relationships between tumor microenvironment and cancer dormancy, looking at a re-appreciated aspect of this compartment that is the low extracellular pH. Accumulating evidences indicate that acidity of tumor microenvironment is associated with a poor prognosis of tumor-bearing patients, stimulates a chemo- and radio-therapy resistant phenotype, and suppresses the tumoricidal activity of cytotoxic lymphocytes and natural killer cells, and all these aspects are useful for dormancy. Therefore, this review discusses the possibility that acidity of tumor microenvironment may provide a new, not previously suggested, adequate milieu for “dormancy” of tumor cells.     

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in chick embryos

Summary Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid was found in the kidneys (mesonephros and metanephros) of the chick embryo as well as in the yolk sac membrane. The activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase in the yolk sac membrane suggested that it was the major source of ascorbic acid in the chick embryo.I am grateful to Dr R. Jenness (Univ. of Minnesota) for the generous gift of L-gulonolactone and to Dr B. Sanders (Univ. of Texas) for the chick embryo samples     

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid in chick embryos

Biosynthesis of ascorbic acid was found in the kidneys (mesonephros and metanephros) of the chick embryo as well as in the yolk sac membrane. The activity of L-gulonolactone oxidase in the yolk sac membrane suggested that it was the major source of ascorbic acid in the chick embryo.     

The filtering of transitory noise in earnings numbers

This paper applies the Kalman filtering procedure to estimate persistent and transitory noise components of accounting earnings. Designating the transitory noise component separately (under a label such as extraordinary items) in financial reports should help users predict future earnings. If a firm has no foreknowledge of future earnings, managers can apply a filter to a firm's accounting earnings more efficiently than an interested user. If management has foreknowledge of earnings, application of a filtering algorithm can result in smoothed variables that convey information otherwise not available to users. Application of a filtering algorithm to a sample of firms revealed that a substantial number of firms exhibited a significant transitory noise component of earnings. Also, for those firms whose earnings exhibited a significant departure from the random walk process, the paper shows that filtering can be fruitfully applied to improve predictive ability.     

Advanced optical imaging in living embryos

Developmental biology investigations have evolved from static studies of embryo anatomy and into dynamic studies of the genetic and cellular mechanisms responsible for shaping the embryo anatomy. With the advancement of fluorescent protein fusions, the ability to visualize and comprehend how thousands to millions of cells interact with one another to form tissues and organs in three dimensions (xyz) over time (t) is just beginning to be realized and exploited. In this review, we explore recent advances utilizing confocal and multi-photon time-lapse microscopy to capture gene expression, cell behavior, and embryo development. From choosing the appropriate fluorophore, to labeling strategy, to experimental set-up, and data pipeline handling, this review covers the various aspects related to acquiring and analyzing multi-dimensional data sets. These innovative techniques in multi-dimensional imaging and analysis can be applied across a number of fields in time and space including protein dynamics to cell biology to morphogenesis.     

Phosphoproteinphosphatase activity in sea urchin embryos

Riassunto Si è studiata l'attività fosfoproteinfosfatasica in omogenati totali di uova ed embrioni diParacentrotus lividus e diArbacia lixula. La reazione ha un optimum a pH acido, è stimolata da K⁺ e Na⁺ ed è inibita da Ca⁺⁺ e Mg⁺⁺. L'attività enzimatica aumenta tra la fecondazione e lo stadio a 64 blastomeri; in seguito rimane costante fino a blastula con mesenchima; quindi generalmente decresce.

---

---

This work has been supported by a grant from the Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche to the Laboratory of Comparative Anatomy (Research Group of Embryology).     

Melanocyte precursor cells in the hair follicle germ during the dormant stage (telogen)

Zusammenfassung Der Ursprung der Melanozyten, die in der Haarwurzel während jedes Haarzyklus erscheinen, ist bisher unbekannt gewesen. Helle dendritische Zellen im ruhenden Haarkeim, welche an der Haarpapilla liegen, die sich während der frühen Anagen teilen und während Anagen III–IV Farbkörperchen hervorbringen, sind augenscheinlich die Vorläufer der Haarmelanozyten.     

Stimulation of induction of glucose dehydrogenase by homologous series of aliphatic alcohols in dormant spores ofAspergillus oryzae

Résumé La mise en action de la glucose déshydrogénase dans la spore dormante d'Aspergillus oryzae est stimulée par l'addition de séries homologues des alcools aliphatiques. La concentration de l'alcool nécessaire à cet effet diminue avec l'accroissement de longeur de la chaîne hydrocarbonée, mais augmente avec la ramification de la chaîne.     

The nucleolar chromosome in embryos of Rana pipiens

Summary Karyotype analyses of prometaphases from medullary plate cells derived from mid-neurulae of Rana pipiens have led to the identification of the nucleolar chromosome and nucleolar organizing region, which is located on the longer arm of a small sub-metacentric chromosome (No. 10).Supported in part by research grant GB19631X from the Natioal Science Foundation. This study constituted a portion of a dissertation submitted by G. R. N. to the Medical College of Pennsylvania in partial fulfillment of requirements for a Ph. D. degree.Supported by NDEA and subsequently NSF predoctoral traineeships.To whom reprint requests should be sent.     

The distribution of mitochondria in sea urchin embryos

Zusammenfassung Zytologische Untersuchungen an Embryonen von zwei Seeigelarten haben in bezug auf die Lokalisation der Mitochondrien keinen Unterschied zwischen animaler und vegetativer Hemisphäre ergeben. Vorläufige Versuche, mit Hilfe einer quantitativen Methode die Mitochondrien in Homogenaten zu zählen, ergaben eine starke Zunahme auf dem Stadium der Blastula und eine anschliessende Abnahme der Mitochondrienzahl pro Embryo.

---

---

Research supported by the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service.     

Effects of puromycin on rat embryos in vitro

Summary Somite-staged rat embryos were exposed to varying concentrations of puromycin for 48 h in vitro. Medium concentrations below 0.92 M had no significant effects, while concentrations above 1.84 M were lethal. Between these extremes, there were concentration dependent increases in the incidence of malformations in a close relationship to growth retardation.