First specimen records for Ruffed Grouse in Colorado

We report the first specimen records for Ruffed Grouse ( Bonasa umbellus ) collected in Colorado, provide the location, describe the habitat, and briefly discuss the rarity of this species within the state. Three Ruffed Grouse were collected, an adult male in September 1988 and a juvenile male and adult female in September 1990, on Hoy Mountain, Moffat County, Colorado, within 0.6 km of Utah. The habitat is primarily open Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) forest with scattered clumps of quaking aspen ( Populus tremuloides ) and Utah serviceberry ( Amelanchier utahensis ). Habitats to the north, east, and south are primarily dominated by sagebrush ( Artemisia spp.) steppe and pionjuniper ( Pinus spp.-- Juniperus spp.) woodland. We hypothesize that natural expansion of Ruffed Grouse further east, north, and south is prohibited by unsuitable habitat exacerbated by the limited flight range capability of the species.     

The influence of a new antitumor agent on hemopoietic colony forming cells

The cytostatic and immunsuppressive agent N'-methyl-N'-beta-chloroethylbenzaldehyde hydrazone (B1) in in-vitro experiments has a stimulating effect on colony-forming culture (CFUc) of bone marrow from C57BL mice. This unusual behaviour, which is in contrast to other cytostatics, could also be observed in vitro with CFUc obtained from mice treated with therapeutic doses of B1 for 2 weeks. This stimulation is not a particular effect of B1 alone but seems to depend on a synergistic effect of the combination of B1 and the colony-stimulating activity (CSA) present in the serum from endotoxin-treated mice (MP) in the testing system. The results suggest that the described effect of B1 is due to an interference at the cell membrane of CFUc or their precursor cells.     

Sharply increased mass loss from glaciers and ice caps in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago

Mountain glaciers and ice caps are contributing significantly to present rates of sea level rise and will continue to do so over the next century and beyond. The Canadian Arctic Archipelago, located off the northwestern shore of Greenland, contains one-third of the global volume of land ice outside the ice sheets, but its contribution to sea-level change remains largely unknown. Here we show that the Canadian Arctic Archipelago has recently lost 61?±?7?gigatonnes per year (Gt?yr(-1)) of ice, contributing 0.17?±?0.02 mm?yr(-1) to sea-level rise. Our estimates are of regional mass changes for the ice caps and glaciers of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago referring to the years 2004 to 2009 and are based on three independent approaches: surface mass-budget modelling plus an estimate of ice discharge (SMB+D), repeat satellite laser altimetry (ICESat) and repeat satellite gravimetry (GRACE). All three approaches show consistent and large mass-loss estimates. Between the periods 2004-2006 and 2007-2009, the rate of mass loss sharply increased from 31?±?8?Gt?yr(-1) to 92?±?12?Gt?yr(-1) in direct response to warmer summer temperatures, to which rates of ice loss are highly sensitive (64?±?14?Gt?yr(-1) per 1?K increase). The duration of the study is too short to establish a long-term trend, but for 2007-2009, the increase in the rate of mass loss makes the Canadian Arctic Archipelago the single largest contributor to eustatic sea-level rise outside Greenland and Antarctica.     

New species of Splendidofilaria and Chandlerella (Filarioidea: Nematoda), with keys to the species, from the band-tailed pigeon ( Columba fasciata fasciata ) in the Rocky Mountain Region

One male each of Splendidofilaria columbensis n. sp. and S. hibleri n. sp. was found in the subcutaneous fascia of the thighs of a single band-tailed pigeon. The relationship of female worms could not be correlated with the males. Chandlerella robinsoni n. sp. was recovered from the blood vessels of the liver and the fascia of the thighs of six birds. Keys to the males of the species of both genera, together with drawings of the spicules of each species, when available, are included.     

Discharge pattern analysis suggests existence of a low-threshold calcium channel in cold receptors

Summary The regular periodic activity patterns of mammalian cold receptors have been quantitatively studied. Analysis of the timing of either single impulses or impulse groups demonstrated that the periodic receptor process is maintained independently of impulse generation and continues to operate under conditions when afferent impulses are not initiated. These results imply that the underlying conductances must be operational at threshold potentials related to impulse generation. In addition to temperature, the periodic process is considerably sensitive to calcium, which affects mainly the probability of impulse generation during each cycle. Reduction of external calcium and application of calcium entry blockers with relative selectivity for low-threshold calcium channels are similarly effective in modulating cold receptor activity. The data imply the existence of a low-threshold calcium conductance at the sensory terminal.     

Heterozygous mutations in ANKH, the human ortholog of the mouse progressive ankylosis gene, result in craniometaphyseal dysplasia

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) is a bone dysplasia characterized by overgrowth and sclerosis of the craniofacial bones and abnormal modeling of the metaphyses of the tubular bones. Hyperostosis and sclerosis of the skull may lead to cranial nerve compressions resulting in hearing loss and facial palsy. An autosomal dominant form of the disorder (MIM 123000) was linked to chromosome 5p15.2-p14.1 (ref. 3) within a region harboring the human homolog (ANKH) of the mouse progressive ankylosis (ank) gene. The ANK protein spans the outer cell membrane and shuttles inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi), a major inhibitor of physiologic and pathologic calcification, bone mineralization and bone resorption. Here we carry out mutation analysis of ANKH, revealing six different mutations in eight of nine families. The mutations predict single amino acid substitutions, deletions or insertions. Using a helix prediction program, we propose for the ANK molecule 12 membrane-spanning helices with an alternate inside/out orientation and a central channel permitting the passage of PPi. The mutations occur at highly conserved amino acid residues presumed to be located in the cytosolic portion of the protein. Our results link the PPi channel ANK with bone formation and remodeling.     

Identification of the gene that, when mutated, causes the human obesity syndrome BBS4

Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS, MIM 209900) is a heterogeneous autosomal recessive disorder characterized by obesity, pigmentary retinopathy, polydactyly, renal malformations, mental retardation, and hypogenitalism. The disorder is also associated with diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and congenital heart disease. Six distinct BBS loci map to 11q13 (BBS1), 16q21 (BBS2), 3p13-p12 (BBS3), 15q22.3-q23 (BBS4), 2q31 (BBS5), and 20p12 (BBS6). Although BBS is rare in the general population (<1/100,000), there is considerable interest in identifying the genes causing BBS because components of the phenotype, such as obesity and diabetes, are common. We and others have demonstrated that BBS6 is caused by mutations in the gene MKKS (refs. 12,13), mutation of which also causes McKusick-Kaufman syndrome (hydrometrocolpos, post-axial polydactyly, and congenital heart defects). MKKS has sequence homology to the alpha subunit of a prokaryotic chaperonin in the thermosome Thermoplasma acidophilum. We recently identified a novel gene that causes BBS2. The BBS2 protein has no significant similarity to other chaperonins or known proteins. Here we report the positional cloning and identification of mutations in BBS patients in a novel gene designated BBS4.     

Potentiating the diabetogenic effect of alloxan by N-sulphonyl-N-butylurea (BZ-55)

Zusammenfassung Es wird festgestellt, dass im voraus verabreichtes BZ-55 die diabetogene Wirkung des Alloxans bei Mäusen potenziert.