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Cladoceran remains were analysed in a 1344 cm long sediment core from Sägistalsee (Swiss Alps, 1935 m asl) which covered the last 9000 years. Planktonic Cladocera were almost exclusively represented by Daphnia species, which occurred throughout the core. The chydorid fauna consisted of four species: Alona quadrangularis, Alona affinis, Acroperus harpae and Chydorus sphaericus of which the former was by far the most frequent species. The chydorid succession was characterised by disappearance and re-appearance of Acroperus harpae and Chydorus sphaericus at about 8400 and 3340 cal. BP, respectively. As a result, there was a long period of about 5000 years in which only two chydorid species were present with strong predominance (88.9%) of Alona quadrangularis. There was also a long-term trend of an increase of Alona affinis at the expense of Alona quadrangularis throughout the core. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatoms, Cladocera, and chironomids preserved in the sediments of Lake Dalgoto were studied to reconstruct the history of the lake ecosystem in the context of the vegetation history as represented by the pollen stratigraphy. Younger Dryas silty sediments at the base of the core are characterized by low diversity of aquatic organisms. The transition to the Holocene is indicated by a sharp change from silt to clay-gyttja. The migration and expansion of trees at lower elevations between 10200 and 8500 14C-yr BP, along with higher diversities and concentrations of aquatic organisms and the decreased proportion of north-alpine diatoms, point to rapidly rising summer temperatures. After 6500 14C-yr BP the expansion of Pinus mugo in the catchment coincides with signs of natural eutrophication as recorded by an increase of planktonic diatoms. In the late Holocene (4000–0 14C-yr BP) Pinus peuce and Abies are reduced and Picea expands. Cereal grains and disturbance indicators suggest late-Holocene human modification of the vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study which evaluated the effects of fasting on resting metabolic rate, respiratory quotient, muscle uncoupling protein-3 (Ucp-3) expression and mitochondrial proton leak in wild-type and Ucp-3(-/-) mice. Experimental procedures; Overall kinetics of muscle mitochondrial proton leak in Ucp-3(-/-) mice and wild-type mice; Effect of fasting on fatty acid composition of muscle mitochondria in wild-type and Ucp3(-/-) mice.

Remains of chironomids and cladocerans were studied in a profundal sediment core, which covered a time period since the Oldest Dryas. The aim was to observe long-term variability in the structure of the aquatic fauna. The most dramatic change in the chironomid fauna occurred at the end of the Younger Dryas when the predominating cold-stenothermal Sergentia coracina disappeared due to both climatic amelioration and eutrophic conditions. The chydorids showed a distinct response to the changing temperature at the end of the Oldest Dryas as evidenced by an increase in species diversity, whereas no effect was discernible in the Younger Dryas. A decrease in the proportion of ‘clear water species’ occurred in the Boreal. In the planktonic Cladocera, Bosmina longispina became extinct in the Atlantic and two Eubosmina morphs of uncertain taxonomic state very recently invaded the lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which determined the overall kinetics of the mitochondrial proton leak, respiratory chain and adenosine triphosphate turnover in skeletal muscle mitochondria from uncoupling protein 1-deficient mice. Isolation of mitochondria from skeletal muscle; Experimental procedure; Results and discussion.

Presents information on a study which determined the tissue-specific metabolic effects of lipoprotein lipase in adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and cardiac muscle. Methodology; Results and discussion.

Fifteen compounds of composition MPd Pn ( M = alkaline earth or rare earth metal, Pn = As, Sb, Bi) were prepared. Their Guinier powder patterns show that the arsenides crystallize with the ThCrSi type structure, the bismuthides with the closely related CaBeGe type structure. The antimonides most likely also have the CaBeGe structure as is demonstrated by a structure refinement of EuPdSb from single crystal X ray data ( R = 0.039 for 366 independent structure factors and 15 variable parameters). The structure of SrPdAs (ThCrSi type) was refined to a residual of R = 0.020 for 182 F values and 9 variables. EuPdSb is paramagnetic and a metallic conductor. A comparison of the cell volumes suggests intermediate valency for Eu in EuPdAs. Chemical bonding and especially the reasons for the adoption of the ThCrSi or CaBeGe type structures by these compounds are discussed. It is suggested that in going from the phosphides to the bismuthides the ThCrSi structure is loosing and the CaBeGe structure is gaining stability due to decreasing Pd-Pd bonding and increasing Pd-pnictogen bonding. This trend is caused by the increasing size of the pnictogen component. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A late glacial population of Bosmina longispina Leydig from the Lobsigensee (Swiss Plateau) showed significant morphological variation, particularly in the number of antennule segments, in the period from the Oldest Dryas to the Preboreal. As there was no indication of introgressive hybridisation it is presumed that the variation is a result of environmental changes. The subfossil Bosmina longispina resembles recent fennoscandian and late glacial north German forms rather than recent alpine populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]