Enzyme immunometric assay for the determination of pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) with the antigen as solid phase (conjoint IEMA)

Summary Purified pregnancy associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) can be effectively bound to polystyrene microtitre plates. This immobilized antigen competes with the added serum PAPP-A of unknown concentration for the limited amount of peroxidase-labeled monospecific anti-PAPP-A antibody incubated simultaneously. The sensitivity is 0.2 WHO unit/ml and non-specific binding is 1.0%.Acknowledgments. My thanks go to the Janggen-Pöhn-Stiftung, St. Gallen, Switzerland, for the reception of a fellowship grant which enabled this work to be carried out. I would also like to thank Arnold Klopper, Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology, for many stimulating discussions, Garry Luke for excellent technical assistance, and the Department of Medical Illustration of the University of Aberdeen for the preparation of the graphics. The donkey serum was generously supplied by the Scottish Antibody Production Unit, Carluke, Lanarkshire.     

Sterols of the lobster (Homarus americanus) and the shrimp (Pandalus borealis)

Summary In this study we have analyzed the sterol compositions of two continental shelf species of crustacea, the lobster (Homarus americanus) and the shrimp (Pandalus borealis). Cholesterol was found to be the most abundant sterol in these two species with smaller amounts of desmosterol, 24-methylcholesterol, 24-ethylcholesterol, 24-methylenecholesterol and 22-dehydrocholesterol. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Contribution Number 3494. This work was supported by the Office of Sea Grant of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. Special thanks are extended to Ms.R. Beebe-Center, who was responsible for a large part of the isolation work described here.     

聚合质量比对Sr0．7La0．15Ce0．15Fe11.7Zn0．3O19／PAn复合体系微波吸收性能的影响

用原位聚合法制备了Sr0．7La0．15Ce0．15Fe11.7Zn0．3O19铁氧体／聚苯胺（PAn）复合材料。采用X射线衍射（XRD）、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）对样品的结构、微观表面形貌和粒子大小进行了表征,用微波矢量网络分析仪测量样品在2～12．4GHZ频率范围内复介电常数和复磁导率,根据测量数据计算微波反射率R与频率f的关系。研究结果表明：PAn包覆于掺杂锶铁氧体表面,PAn／Sr0．7La0．15Ce0．15Fe11.7Zn0．3O19复合材料具有良好的吸波性能,随着掺杂锶铁氧体含量的增加,微波吸收匹配厚度和吸收带宽发生变化：当Sr0．7La0．15Ce0．15Fe11.7Zn0．3O19聚合质量比为40％时,最佳匹配厚度为2．6mm,吸收峰值接近-40dB,峰值频率高于12．4GHz,大于10dB吸收带宽预计达到55GHz。     

Role of the Lewis (Le-le) and secretor (Se-se) systems in the rejection of kidney grafts]

ABH and Lewis antigens are secreted in distal convoluted and collector tubes of the kidney. The renal ABH secretion is genetically controlled by the Se-se system, while the Lewis specificities are controlled by the Le-le system. The secretory status of the recipient does not modify the probability of graft survival, while the Lewis phenotype seems to play a major role in rejection. The probability of graft survival at 2 years in le-le homozygous recipients (29%) is much lower than that of Le recipients (58%) p less than 0.01.     

Effects of Si and Ce on the microstructure and hydrogen storage property of Ti_(26.5)Cr_(20)V_(45)Fe_(8.5)Ce_(0.5) alloy

In this paper,the effects of Si and Ce on the microstructure and hydrogen storage property of Ti26.5 Cr20V45Fe8.5Ce0.5 alloy were studied,respectively.First of all,effects of Si on the microstructure and hydrogen storage properties of Ti26.5Cr20(V45Fe8.5)1-xSixCe0.5(x=0,0.5,1.0,1.5 and 2.0 at%)alloys were studied by X-ray diffraction,scanning electron microscopy and P-C isotherm measurements.As the Si addition increases,the hydrogen absorption capacities of alloys decrease but the equilibrium pressure incre...     

Some surprising facts about (the problem of) surprising facts: (from the Dusseldorf Conference,February 2011)

A common intuition about evidence is that if data x have been used to construct a hypothesis H, then x should not be used again in support of H. It is no surprise that x fits H, if H was deliberately constructed to accord with x. The question of when and why we should avoid such “double-counting” continues to be debated in philosophy and statistics. It arises as a prohibition against data mining, hunting for significance, tuning on the signal, and ad hoc hypotheses, and as a preference for predesignated hypotheses and “surprising” predictions. I have argued that it is the severity or probativeness of the test—or lack of it—that should determine whether a double-use of data is admissible. I examine a number of surprising ambiguities and unexpected facts that continue to bedevil this debate.     

3-Methyl-2-hexanone from the triatomine bugDipetalogaster maximus (Uhler) (Heteroptera; Reduviidae)

Summary The occurrence of 3-methyl-2-hexanone as a major component of the secretion and possible alarm substance from the metasternal scent glands in the triatomine bugDipetalogaster maximus is reported.The authors are indebted to Mr B.O.C. Gardiner of the Zoology Department, Cambridge, for a supply of livingDipetalogaster. They would like also to thank Dr D.E. Games for the provision of mass spectral facilities under support from the S.E.R.C.     

ß-(p-hydroxyphenyl) ethanol in the chest gland secretion of a galago (Galago crassicaudatus)

Summary ß-(p-hydroxyphenyl)ethanol is present in the chest gland secretion of the galago Galago crassicaudatus.     

Attraction ofScolytus scolytus (F.) to the components of Multilure,the aggregation pheromone ofS. multistriatus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

Summary The attraction ofS. scolytus to the components of Multilure is described. 4-Methyl-3-heptanol is an attractant which is synergised bya-cubebene. Multistriatin appears to be an inhibitor. A combination of 4-methyl-3-heptanol and cubeb oil is more effective as a bait forS. scolytus than Multilure.We thank Mr A. K. Hughes and Mr J. Boswell for their cooperation in allowing us to conduct experiments on Parham Estate; Mr D. Mobbs and Mr C. Thorne for the statistical analyses; Dr J. W. Peacock for samples of mixed isomers of multistriatin and distilled cubeb oil; Mrs J. Allsop and Mr N. J. Fielding for technical assistance. We are grateful to Mr D. Bevan, Dr J. H. Borden, Dr J. F. Grove and Prof. A. W. Johnson for their interest and encouragement.     

Oriential orchid (Cymbidium pumilum) attracts drones of the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana japonica) as pollinators

The discovery that drones of the Japanese honeybee (Apis cerana japonica) pollinate the oriental orchid (Cymbidium pumilum) is reported. Drones are attracted to the orchid flower aroma mainly during their mating flights in April through May. Some drones cluster on the flower racemes and others insert their heads deep into the flowers. Drones with pollinia on their scutellum visit other orchids, which facilitates pollination. Individual workers and swarming colonies are also strongly attracted by the flower aroma, but the allopatric western honeybee (Apis mellifera) is not attracted.     

Experiments on the sense of time inTalitras saltator (Montagu) (crustacea-amphipoda)

Riassunto Il Crostaceo AnfipodeTalitrus saltator (Montagu) possiede un meccanismo di orientamento solare che gli permette, mediante una variazione regolare e continua dell'angolo di orientamento nel corso del giorno, di mantenere una direzione di fuga praticamente costante. Esemplari del litorale tirrenico, trasportati in Argentina, hanno assunto un angolo di orientamento col sole conforme all'ora italiana nel momento della esperienza. Ciò dimostra che la regolazione dell'angolo di orientamento è dovuta ad un fattore endogeno e cioè che esiste inTalitrus un senso del tempo.     

Activation with (±)N-n-propyl-nor-apomorphine (NPA) of the male rat copulatory behavior

Summary I.p. (±)N-n-propyl-nor-apomorphine HCl (NPA) influences copulatory behavior of vigorous adult male rats in the same ways as apomorphine, i.e., it reduces the latency to ejaculation as well as mount and intromission frequency. Furthermore, NPA administered to impotent male rats restores normal mating behavior in some of them.     

Increase in muscle fibres in the lateralis muscle (white portion) of Mugilidae (Pisces,Teleostei)

Summary A cycle of postlarval growth is described in the white portion of the lateralis muscle of Mugilidae. The cycle was identified histochemically by the myosin-ATPase reaction.This work was supported by a CNR grant (Oceanografia e fondi marini project).     

Theory (In-)Equivalence and conventionalism in f(R) gravity

f(R) Gravity is the most natural extension of General Relativity within Riemannian Geometry. Due to (inter alia) its potential capacity for a unified treatment of early and late-time cosmic expansion, it has enjoyed recent attention in astrophysics and cosmology. I critically examine three inter-related claims found in the pertinent physics literature, of general interest to the philosopher of science. 1. f(R) Gravity is equivalent to a particular Brans-Dicke Theory. 2. The spacetime geometry underpinning f(R) Gravity has substantial conventional elements. 3. f(R) Gravity is an instance of a theory in which the distinction between matter and spacetime is conventional. Whilst the first claim can be vindicated in precise terms, the remaining two claims, I submit, are unwarranted – at least for the reasons usually adduced. On different grounds, though, the case for conventionalism about spacetime geometry in f(R) Gravity (as well as General Relativity) turns out to be considerably stronger.     

Host-plant oligosaccharins in the honeydew ofSchizaphis graminum (Rondani) (Insecta,Aphididae)

Summary The honeydew of the aphidSchizaphis graminum (Rondani) contains hetero-oligosaccharides (mol. wt>2200 D) having neutral sugar and uronic acid compositions similar to the pectic substances of the host plant,Sorghum biocolor (L.) Moench. These oligosaccharides are pectic fragments which result from the depolymerization of pectic substances in the phloem by aphid salivary polysaccharases.     

Moult inhibition in the insectDysdercus cingulatus (Insecta: Heteroptera) by the cerebral glands of the millipedeJonespeltis splendidus (Myriapoda,Diplopoda)

Summary Implantation of 2 pairs of cerebral glands of the diplopodJonespeltis into the newly-moulted 4th or 5th instar nymphs of the insectDysdercus delayed the moulting of these insects for a fairly long time. Implantation of cerebral glands into 1-day old 5th instars postponed the subsequent moult for a shorter period, whereas implantation of cerebral glands into 2-day old 5th instars had no effect. These observations suggested that a neurosecretory factor from the cerebral glands inhibited moulting in this insect, and in the case of 5th instar nymphs there was a critical period before which implanted glands were effective in moult inhibition.Acknowledgments. Prof. V.K.K. Prabhu is thanked for suggesting the topic and for guidance. The University of Kerala is thanked for the fellowship awarded. The laboratory facilities afforded are also gratefully acknowledged.     

Chromosomes of the black abalone (Haliotis cracherodii)

Summary The chromosomes of the black abalone Haliotis cracherodii are described for the first time. The diploid number is 36, with no apparent sexual dimorphism.This work was performed under the auspices of the U. S. ERDA Contract No. W-7405-ENG-48.I thank Dr Florence Harrison for her expert dissections.