Search

Most applications of xMAP™ (Luminex®) bead-based assay technology in diagnostics and drug discovery use immobilized antigens or antibodies. Here the authors describe the development of novel assay systems in which [...]

Chk1 is a key regulator of the S and G2/M checkpoints and is activated following DNA damage by agents such as the topoisomerase I inhibitor camptothecin (CPT). It has been [...]

Identification of HIV-1 transcription inhibitors was previously performed using infectivity assays. As de novo HIV-1 infection is highly sensitive to even minor compound toxicities, these assays are plagued by extremely [...]

Although the majority of oscine species acquire a song repertoire by imitating songs they have been exposed to, some species also improvise and invent songs. To test the hypothesis that American Robins (Turdus migratorius) both imitate and invent the elements of their whistle songs, I analyzed the song repertoires of wild robins at three locations in western Massachusetts and the song development of five tutor-trained nestling robins. Robins appear to invent or improvise most of the elements in their repertoires (75-82%), but as fledglings and juveniles they acquire the remaining elements by imitating the songs of neighboring birds., Although it is generally agreed that birdsong serves two basic functions, mate attraction and territory maintenance (Catchpole and Slater 1995), there are striking differences in how various songbirds acquire the [...]

Habitat degradation caused by feral grazers has been identified as a possible limiting factor for the endangered San Clemente Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus mearnsi). In 1999, we installed supplemental foraging perches within shrike breeding territories on San Clemente Island and observed shrike foraging behavior before and after perches were installed. Shrike foraging efficiency, determined by measuring foraging attack distances and success rates, was not improved when supplemental perches were present; however, shrikes shifted their focal foraging sites to areas where perches were installed. Shrike home ranges did not change size when supplemental perches were installed, indicating that foraging areas made available by adding supplemental perches were not of higher quality than those that were previously available. However, the addition of supplemental perches may have increased the total foraging habitat available to this endangered subspecies., Habitat deficiencies have been identified as possible limiting factors in populations of Loggerhead Shrikes (Lanius ludovicianus; Yosef 1994, Cade and Woods 1997). In the 1980s, Scott and Morrison (1990) studied [...]

We studied the movement patterns of European Robins (Erithacus rubecula) at stopovers during spring and fall migration on the southeastern Baltic Coast, Russia. On the 1st, and sometimes the 2nd, day after arrival at a stopover site, robin movements were less aggregated than those made on subsequent days. Search/settling time varied between several hours and 2 days. During this period, migrants either occupied a defined stopover area or left the site. Stopover duration was 1 to 12 days in spring (mean = 2.4 days ± 0.31 SE) and 1 to 14 days in fall (mean = 3.4 days ± 0.50). The home-range size of European Robins on the southeastern Baltic Coast did not differ between seasons (spring: 4,320 [m.sup.2] ± 545, n = 15; fall: 3,562 [m.sup.2] ± 598, n = 15) and was similar to that at a central European site in fall (4,264 [m.sup.2] ± 241, n = 14). These home ranges were not defended territories. We found no relationship between the robins' spatial behavior and their fat stores on arrival, although in spring more lean than fat robins stopped for >2 days. The pattern of movements at the stopover was variable, both in birds that arrived lean and those that arrived with much more fat. Stopover duration estimates based on radio-tagging are superior to those based on capture-mark-recapture., Passerines spend at least 90% of their time during migration at migratory stopover sites. Stopover variables (e.g., rates of fat deposition, predation risk, habitat suitability) strongly influence migration strategies and [...]

A widely held belief is that only through interdisciplinarity can academics effectively address today's complex ecological problems, because these problems demand cross-disciplinary efforts and specialized knowledge from natural and social [...]

Grasshoppers are insect herbivores common to grassland ecosystems worldwide. They comprise important components of biodiversity, contribute significantly to grassland function, and periodically exhibit both local and large-scale outbreaks. Because of [...]

The molecular targets for trace amines (TAs) such as p-tyramine and β-phenylethylamine have been recently discovered and have been shown to comprise a family of G-protein-coupled receptors based on DNA [...]

Innate immune system stimulants (innate adjuvants) offer complementary approaches to vaccines and antimicrobial compounds to increase host resistance to infection. The authors established fetal bovine intestinal epithelial cell (BIEC) cultures [...]

Cell cycle analysis using flow cytometry (FC) to measure cellular DNA content is a common procedure in drug mechanism of action studies. Although this technique lends itself readily to cell [...]

Several protocols for bacterial isolation and techniques for aerobic plate counting rely on the use of a spiral plater to deposit concentration gradients of microbial suspensions onto a circular agar [...]

Reporter cell lines have been developed for the identification of inhibitors of gene expression enhanced by hypoxia-inducible factor 2, which has been implicated as a transcription factor involved in the [...]

High-throughput screening (HTS) of large chemical libraries has become the main source of new lead compounds for drug development. Several specialized detection technologies have been developed to facilitate the cost- [...]

Abstract: During interphase, histone amino-terminal tails play important roles in regulating the extent of DNA compaction. Post-translational modifications of the histone tails are intimately associated with regulating chromatin structure: phosphorylation [...]

Abstract: In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, H3 methylation at lysine 4 (H3K4) is mediated by Set1. Set1 is a large protein bearing a conserved RNA recognition motif in addition to its catalytic [...]

Abstract: In the midst of an increasingly detailed understanding of the molecular basis of genome regulation, we still only vaguely understand the relationship between molecular biochemistry and the structure of [...]

Abstract: N-Myristoyltransferase (NMT) is an essential eukaryotic enzyme that catalyzes the co-translational and (or) post-translational transfer of myristate to the amino terminal glycine residue of a number of important proteins, [...]

Bachman's Sparrows (Aimopbila aestivalis) occupy fire dependent, longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) ecosystems of the southeastern United States. Their populations have declined, due, in part, to fire suppression and degradation of longleaf pine forests. Populations decline when longleaf stands go more than 3 years without fire. The influence of fire on breeding productivity, however, is poorly understood because territories are large and it is difficult to find the well hidden nests of this ground-nesting sparrow. In an earlier study, densities of Bachman's Sparrows were similar across pine stands burned l to 3 years previously, but declined significantly by the 4th year since burning. To assess whether the decline in density might be associated with a decline in breeding success, in 2001 we used a reproductive index to estimate breeding productivity of 70 territorial males, and from 1999 to 2001 we monitored 28 nests. We examined the influence of (1) season (growing versus dormant) when last burned and (2) years since burning on breeding productivity of Bachman's Sparrows in longleaf pine stands in the Conecuh National Forest, Alabama. Reproductive indices were greater (Z = 1.99, P = 0.047) during the first 3 years after burning (mean 3.8, SE = 0.4, n = 10) than they were 4 years after burning (mean = 2.0, SE = 0.5, n = 3), similar to the pattern of change in Bachman's Sparrow density. We found no effect of burn season on the breeding productivity index (Z = 0.075, P = 0.94). The parallel patterns of declining density and lower breeding success suggest that Bachman's Sparrow density may be positively correlated with habitat quality. We conclude that burning longleaf pine forests on a 2-3 year rotation will best maintain populations of Bachman's Sparrows., Bachman's Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) is one of the bird species most characteristic of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) forests and it ranks high among species of management concern in the southeastern [...]

We conducted mist netting each October from 1994 to 2004 on Guana Island, British Virgin Islands, and recorded bird sightings to develop a more complete inventory of the island's resident and migrant species. During our study, we recorded four new species for the British Virgin Islands: Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia; 1996), Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera; 1997), Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus; 2000), and Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus; 2004). Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) was the most frequently captured Neotropical migrant landbird, despite only being first detected in the region in 1989. Captures and detections of other Neotropical migrant landbirds suggest that many species may be more common in the region than previously believed, or, as speculated by other researchers, that migrant routes may be shifting eastward due to habitat degradation on western Caribbean islands. We also used recapture data to establish longevity records of resident species, including Caribbean Elaenia (Elaenia martinica; ≥ 7 years), Bananaquit (Coereba flaveala; 7 years), Black-faced Grassquit (Tiaris bicolor; ≥ 9 years), and Zenaida Dove (Zenaida aurita; 5 years). Longevities of other resident species were similar to, or slightly less than, those reported elsewhere. Received 22 February 2005, accepted 30 November 2005., Ornithological research conducted in the West Indies has covered an array of topics, including avian species occurrence and distribution, ecology of individual species, effects of hurricanes on island bird populations, [...]

The Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) is a Nearctic-Neotropical migratory bird species that has declined significantly over the long-term. Poor reproductive success may be an important factor contributing to the observed decline, but reproductive output has been measured for very few breeding populations. From 2003 to 2005, I intensively monitored 22-23 breeding territories/year in each of two large forest habitats in southwestern Michigan: oak- (Quercus spp.) hickory (Carya spp.) (2003: Barry State Game Area) and black locust- (Robinia pseudoacacia) black cherry (Prunus serotina) (2004-2005: Fort Custer U.S. Army Michigan National Guard Reservation). I also gathered descriptive data on nonsong vocalizations and age of territorial males. I describe four distinctive call notes, by sex, including the social and environmental contexts in which they were used. Using two independent methods of aging, there was a strong preponderance of after-second-year males at both study sites. Only 9 (n = 7 nests), 12 (n = 14), and 30 (n = 25) fledglings were produced during the 2003, 2004, and 2005 breeding seasons, respectively. Nest heights were the highest recorded for this species (mean = 19 20 m). During the same period, male reproductive success was 0.30, 0.32, and 0.80 male fledglings/breeding male and 0.60, 0.63, and 1.58 fledglings/breeding pair. Productivity estimates, not thought to be self-sustaining, were even lower than those of a well-studied Cerulean Warbler population in southern Ontario. Thus, reproductive output was low in two geographic regions--representing three different forest types--in the northern portions of the Cerulean Warbler's breeding range. The preponderance of after-second-year males at the Michigan study sites and in southern Ontario suggests a need for regional models of Cerulean Warbler population dynamics., The population declines and conservation status of Nearctic-Neotropical migratory bird species are the subjects of much debate (Askins 1993, Martin and Finch 1995, Robinson et al. 1995, James et al. [...]

We estimated apparent annual survival and recapture probabilities for adult Black-headed Grosbeaks (Pheucticus melanocephalus) and Spotted Towhees (Pipilo maculatus) at four sites along the Sacramento River, California. To calculate our estimates, we used capture-recapture mist-net data collected over two time periods at four study sites: from 1993 to 1995 at Flynn, Ohm, and Sul Norte, and from 1995 to 2000 at Ohm and Phelan Island. Our primary objective was to determine whether there were site-specific differences in adult survival and recapture probabilities for each species. Such differences are rarely investigated, yet, if present, suggest site-specific differences in habitat quality, with important implications for source/sink dynamics. We found site-specific variation in Black-headed Grosbeak survival within both the 1993-1995 dataset (Flynn = 0.797 ± 0.496, Ohm = 0.158 ± 0.191, Sul Norte = 0.773 ± 0.131) and the 1995-2000 dataset (Ohm = 0.088 ± 0.090, Phelan Island = 0.664 ± 0.111). For Spotted Towhees (1993-1995 data), the most supported model assumed constant survival across sites (0.602 ± 0.240), but there was some support for site variation in survival, as well (Flynn = 0.653 ± 0.365, Ohm = 0.214 ± 0.253, Sul Norte = 0.632 ± 0.258). These results clearly suggest site variation for Black-headed Grosbeaks, and weak evidence of site variation for Spotted Towhees. For both species, the general pattern was low survival at Ohm, suggesting low-quality habitat there and/or reduced site fidelity. The magnitude of site-to-site variation in survival observed in the Black-headed Grosbeak, and suggested for Spotted Towhee, has strong implications for determining source versus sink population status. To determine source versus sink status, we conclude that investigators must not only take into account site variation in reproductive success, but also consider site-specific estimation of adult survival., Measuring adult survival--the probability that an adult will survive from one year to the next--is a critical step toward understanding population dynamics, as low survival rates may be responsible for [...]

Using radiotelemetry, we studied variation in home-range size of the Bachman's Sparrow (Airnophila aestivalis) at the Savannah River Site (SRS), South Carolina, during the 1995 breeding season. At SRS, sparrows occurred primarily in two habitats: mature pine habitats managed for Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis) and pine plantations 1 to 6 years of age. The mean 95% minimum convex polygon homerange size for males and females combined (n = 14) was 2.95 ha ± 0.57 SE, across all habitats. Mean homerange size for males in mature pine stands (4.79 ha ± 0.27, n = 4) was significantly larger than that in 4-year-old (3.00 ha ± 0.31, n 3) and 2-year-old stands (1.46 ha ± 0.31, n = 3). Home-range sizes of paired males and females (n = 4 pairs) were similar within habitat type; mean distances between consecutive locations differed by habitat type and sex. We hypothesize that a gradient in food resources drives home-range dynamics., The Bachman's Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) is a species of concern due to its population decline (Sauer et al. 2004) and large reductions in range (Dunning 1993). The impact of prescribed [...]

Abstract: We previously demonstrated that lactoferrin inhibits adherence of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to HEp-2 cells and decreases invasiveness of Shigella flexneri in HeLa cells by disruption of the type III [...]

Abstract: Lactoferrin (Lf) has been implicated in the regulation of cell growth. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this effect remains to be elucidated. In this study, we show that Lf [...]

Abstract: The lactoferrin protein possesses antimicrobial and antiviral activities. It is also involved in the modulation of the immune response. In a normal healthy individual, lactoferrin plays a role in [...]

Most visitors to salt marshes along the southern California coast will spot Caspian terns, plovers, and sandpipers feasting on snails, crabs, and killifish at low tide. Only Kevin Lafferty and [...]

Although desertification is a global phenomenon and numerous studies have provided information on dynamics at specific sites, spatial and temporal variations in response to desertification have led to alternative, and [...]

Determining the characteristic spatial scales at which species respond most strongly to the amount of available habitat is crucial for developing cross-species scaling rules and for predicting species' responses to [...]

Abstract: Stimulation of adenosine [A.sub.1] receptors in the heart exerts cardioprotective effects by inhibiting norepinephrine (NE) release from sympathetic nerve endings. The intraneuronal signal transduction triggered by presynaptic adenosine [A.sub.1] [...]

We studied the distribution of ABO blood groups among three little known subtribes of the Adi tribe, namely, the Panggi, Komkar, and Padam, of the East and Upper Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh, India. Blood group O was the predominant group in the Komkar and Padam, whereas group A was the predominant group in the Panggi. Blood group AB was found to be the least frequent group in all three studied populations. The populations showed significant differences in blood groups A (43% in Panggi, 23% in Komkar, and 18% in Padam) and O (33% in Panggi, 54% in Komkar, and 61% in Padam). The chi-square test indicated significant deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, suggesting high heterogeneity among the tribes. KEY WORDS: ABO LOCUS, TIBETO-BURMAN POPULATIONS, ADI TRIBES, ARUNACHAL PRADESH, INDIA, ALLELE FREQUENCIES., The Tibeto-Burman-speaking populations of India are morphologically, culturally, and ethnically distinct and are primarily restricted to the northern and northeastern parts of the subcontinent (Grierson 1909; Ruhlen 1991). These populations [...]

In this study of the genetics of dermatoglyphic asymmetry, we collected bilateral finger and palm prints of 824 individuals from 200 families including 2 generations from an endogamous caste (Vaidya) in Barasat, North 24-Parganas District, West Bengal. Two main types of asymmetry (fluctuating asymmetry and directional asymmetry) were calculated between the two hands. The study includes familial correlation between first-degree relatives, principal-components analysis, and maximum-likelihood-based heritabilities (by pedigree analysis). We found, first, that familial correlations in all possible pairs of relationships (except spouse correlation) were weak but positive; some were even statistically significant. No indication of assortative mating was observed, but the influence of maternal environment could not be discarded. The results also showed that X-chromosome linkage does not seem to be involved. A second major finding is that five principal factors could be extracted from all these asymmetric traits, explaining 74.207% of the overall cumulative variance. Asymmetry of finger and palmar areas were clearly separated by factor. In addition, the heritabilities of the extracted five factors were in the range of 8-24%. These estimates are in agreement with some previously published data. The heritabilities of the factors describing palmar asymmetry are slightly lower than those describing finger asymmetry. The present results support the hypothesis that both types of asymmetry have a genetic basis and are influenced by the intrauterine environment. KEY WORDS: INHERITANCE, ASYMMETRY, DERMATOGLYPHICS, ENDOGAMOUS POPULATION, VAIDYA, WEST BENGAL, INDIA, The human body exhibits a variety of bilateral asymmetries (differences in the size and/or shape of supposedly identical right- and left-sided structures). Some of these asymmetries are inborn; others are [...]

Abstract: Acid-induced conformational changes were studied in human placental cystatin (HPC) in terms of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, the binding of hydrophobic dye 1-anilinonapthalene-8-sulphonic acid (ANS), and intrinsic fluorescence measurements. [...]

ABSTRACT Germlings of the green alga Ulva sp. were developed as a diet for juvenile Haliotis laevigata (≥3.5 mm shell length) and compared with a current commercial diet consisting of [...]

ABSTRACT Abalone aquaculture is dependent on cultured algae to induce larval settlement and as a food source for the early life stages of abalone until formulated feed or macroalgae such [...]

ABSTRACT Domoic acid (DA) the toxin responsible for amnesic shellfish poisoning (ASP) has proven problematic for king scallop Pecten maximus fisheries and aquaculture in Ireland. Toxin concentration in hepatopancreas of [...]

ABSTRACT The effects of salinity, Na/K ratio and their interaction on growth, molting, nutrient retention and food conversion of Litopenaeus vannamei were investigated. The test shrimp were reared in artificial [...]

ABSTRACT Using the percentage of mature females as an index, the reproductive period of the brown shrimp, Farfantepenaeus californiensis, off the coast of Sonora in Mexico, has been shown to [...]

ABSTRACT Perkinsus (=Dermocystidium) marinus is a major cause of mortality in eastern oysters, Crassostrea virginica. Because initiation of infection and progression of disease are favored by high temperature and high [...]

ABSTRACT Light and electron microscopical studies were carried out to characterize the hemocytes of the oyster, Crassostrea ariakensis. Three types of hemocytes were recognized: granulocytes, large hyalinocytes and small hyalinocytes. [...]

ABSTRACT Shell height at age estimates from Suminoe (Crassostrea ariakensis) and Pacific (C. gigas) oysters from a natural oyster reef in Laizhou Bay, China were compared with shell height at [...]

ABSTRACT Two infaunal species, the purple clam Amiantis purpurata and the razor clam Solen tehuelchus, are common species in the 15-20 m sandy bottom sediments between southern Brazil and central [...]

ABSTRACT The hard clam (Meretrix lusoria) is one of the most important cultured molluscs in Taiwan. Although it is mainly cultured in ponds and supplemental feeding of artificial feed is [...]

ABSTRACT We review the variety of methods that have been used over the last 50 y in the Former Soviet Union, Eastern and Western Europe, and recently in North America [...]

I. Introduction II. Transcriptional Control by Glucose A. Introduction B. Transcriptional regulation of metabolism by high glucose levels C. Transcriptional regulation of metabolism by low glucose levels III. Transcriptional Control [...]

I. Introduction II. Odorant Molecular Features and Perceived 'Odor' III. Two-Dimensional Representation of Odorant Receptor Maps in the Olfactory Bulb IV. Individual Glomeruli Represent a Specific Combination of Molecular Features [...]

I. Introduction II. Changes in the Regulation of Energy Intake A. Comparisons of young and elderly adults B. Reduced hunger and increased satiation as mediators of impaired defense against energy [...]

The 1536-well microplate format has widely supplanted the 384-well microplate format for high-throughput screening and for [IC.sub.50] assays. Previously, liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) analyses of such samples required manual transfers [...]

The authors have developed an efficient method to measure cellular activity of ATP synthesis. Although ATP is a major energy source of biological reactions, it has been difficult to measure [...]

The 14-3-3 proteins mediate phosphorylation-dependent protein-protein interactions. Through binding to numerous client proteins, 14-3-3 controls a wide range of physiological processes and has been implicated in a variety of diseases, [...]