Feeding response of adultTribolium to carbohydrates in relation to their utilisation

Zusammenfassung Die Fütterungsreaktionen beim erwachsenenTribolium castaneum (Herbst.) zeigen, dass keine der verschiedenen Kohlenhydrate das Fressen besonders anregt. Der Nährwert dieser Kohlenhydrate nimmt in folgender Reihenfolge ab: Stärke und Maltose; Glukose, Melibiose und Milchzucker; Rohrzucker, Fruchtzucker, Melezitose, Raffinose und Cellobiose.     

The use of metabolomics to dissect plant responses to abiotic stresses

Plant metabolism is perturbed by various abiotic stresses. As such the metabolic network of plants must be reconfigured under stress conditions in order to allow both the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis and the production of compounds that ameliorate the stress. The recent development and adoption of metabolomics and systems biology approaches enable us not only to gain a comprehensive overview, but also a detailed analysis of crucial components of the plant metabolic response to abiotic stresses. In this review we introduce the analytical methods used for plant metabolomics and describe their use in studies related to the metabolic response to water, temperature, light, nutrient limitation, ion and oxidative stresses. Both similarity and specificity of the metabolic responses against diverse abiotic stress are evaluated using data available in the literature. Classically discussed stress compounds such as proline, γ-amino butyrate and polyamines are reviewed, and the widespread importance of branched chain amino acid metabolism under stress condition is discussed. Finally, where possible, mechanistic insights into metabolic regulatory processes are discussed.     

Binding of cyanide to methemoglobin

Riassunto È stata studiata l'interazione tra metemoglobina e cianuro. Il cianuro sembra legarsi ad un solo eme e l'equilibrio non sembra influenzato da interazioni eme-eme.     

Adhesion of blood platelets to subendothelial surface: Distinct from adhesion to collagen

Zusammenfassung Das subendotheliale Gewebe von Kaninchenaorten besteht zur Hauptsache aus Mikrofibrillen, Elastin und amorphem Material. Die Adhesion von Blutplättchen an subendothelialem Gewebe ist von der Präsenz von Erythrozyten und chelierbaren Ionen abhängig. Dies steht im Gegensatz zur Adhesion von Plättchen an Kollagen.     

CCCTC-binding factor: to loop or to bridge

Eukaryotic genomes have complex spatial organization in the nucleus. The factors and the mechanisms involved in this organization remain an enigma. Among the many proteins implicated in such a role, the ubiquitous Zn-finger protein CTCF stands out. Here we summarize the evidence placing CTCF in the enviable position of a master organizer of the genome. CTCF can form loops in cis, and can bridge sequences located on different chromosomes in trans. The thousands of CTCF binding sites, identified in recent genome-wide localization studies, and their distribution along the genome further support a crucial role of CTCF as a chromatin organizer. Received 10 October 2008; received after revision 11 December 2008; accepted 16 December 2008     

Fine ways to fail to secure local realism

Since he proved his theorem in 1982, Fine has been challenging the traditional interpretation of the experimental violation of the Bell Inequalities (BI). A natural interpretation of Fine's theorem is that it provides us with an alternative set of assumptions on which to place blame for the failure of the BI, and opens to a new interpretation of the violation of the BI. Fine has a stronger interpretation for his theorem. He claims that his result undermines the traditional interpretation in terms of local realism. The aim of this paper is to understand and to assess Fine's claim. We distinguish three different strategies that Fine uses in order to support his view. We show that none of these strategies is successful. Fine fails to prove that local realism is not at stake in the violation of the BI by quantum phenomena.     

The use of indentometry to study the effect of agents known to increase skin c-AMP content

Local, externally applied pharmacological agents which are assumed to raise the c-AMP level, decrease the low pressure indentation value of the forehead skin of certain human volunteers.     

Adaptation of the guinea-pig to histamine. sensitivity of the guinea-pig's ileum to histamine and acetylcholine

Résumé L'adaptation des cobayes à l'histamine par voie intrapéritonéale diminue la sensibilité de leur jéjunum isolé à l'histamine. En même temps le jéjunum isolé de cobayes adaptés réagit à l'acétylcholine sans changer remarquablement de susceptibilité. L'activité de l'histaminase dans le jéjunum adapté ne démontre pas la différence en relation avec celle du jéjunum non adapté.

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The study was supported by the Polish Academy of Sciences.     

The use of indentometry to study the effect of agents known to increase skin c-AMP content

Summary Local, externally applied pharmacological agents which are assumed to raise the c-AMP level, decrease the low pressure indentation value of the forehead skin of certain human volunteers.