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The scales of three species of fishes, yellow perch Perca flavescens, walleye Sander vitreus and Atlantic salmon Salmo salar, were acidified and the isotopic signatures were compared to non-acidified scales from the same fishes. No significant acidification effects on either carbon or nitrogen isotope signatures were found. Results contrast with earlier literature findings noting significant acidification effects and suggest acidification tests be undertaken before scales are used for temporal reconstruction of fish food web positions.

The skeletal remains described in this paper are those of a possible early sufferer of von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis, a tumour-forming disorder that occurs quite commonly today. This case is the earliest described from archaeological remains. As such, it provides possible confirmation for the problematical literary documentation of the disorder's presence and allows direct appraisal of its skeletal manifestations.

The crypts outside St Bride's Church, London, contain a documented collection of skeletal remains dating from the mid-18th century. Some of these remains became mixed during post-war restoration work on the church. The worst example of such mixing involves ten infants that were boxed all together with their corresponding coffin plates. All the infants were aged between 1 and 4 years at death. Recognized skeletal aging criteria proved unsuccessful in identifying the bodies. A more precise method of age estimation was utilized in order to separate these individuals. Age was determined using the incremental markers found in dental microstructure which are thought to be formed in circadian and circaseptan rhythms. The resulting age estimates were compared with the real ages obtained from the coffin plates and death certificates. Confident identification was achieved in eight out of ten cases. This study illustrates the potential value of a little-known aging method in circumstances where commonly used methods have proved unsuccessful. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Interspecific analyses of infant growth and the time to maternal reconception (or weaning) demonstrate a consistent threshold for weaning weight at close to four times neonate weight, irrespective of the duration of lactation (Lee et al., [1991] J. Zool. Lond. 225:99–114). Intraspecific variation in the attainment of a threshold weaning weight was determined in a sample of 31 captive infant rhesus macaques, where growth between birth and subsequent parturition was measured along with information on maternal size, weight, and social characteristics. A threshold weaning weight was found, with infants attaining approximately 1,335 g at the time of reconception. Birth weights of the infants were influenced by maternal physical and social variables in that larger mothers, and alpha ranking mothers, produced larger neonates. Postnatal growth rate, which determined the attainment of the threshold weight, was independent of maternal size or condition, but was influenced by offspring sex and the probability of reconception. Future reproductive status of mothers was specifically related to differences in patterns of growth among the infants. Mothers who conceived again at 30 weeks had infants who grew more slowly after the first 12 weeks of life, especially if these infants were sons. Mothers in this colony appeared to make decisions about the need to sustain their infants' growth in relation to their ability to invest in current offspring, which may compromise their subsequent reproduction. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The observed variation in the number of cross-striations between Striae of Retzius in a sample of teeth from juveniles buried in the crypts of a London City church is presented. Estimates of intra-and inter-observer error in making such cross-striation counts are discussed, together with implications for the estimation of age from perikymata counts on the tooth surface.

A skull from the St Bride's collection showing evidence of gunshot wounds is described. The position of the wounds suggests that they were self‐inflicted. Examination of historical records confirms that the individual committed suicide by shooting himself in the mouth. The fact that this individual was buried in the crypt of St Bride's church in 1821 is discussed in relation to early 19th century attitudes to suicide.

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Hb Chicago is a newly discovered hemoglobin variant which was present in a Black newborn baby and her father. The leucine residue at alpha 136, which normally participates in the contact with the heme group, is replaced by a methionine residue. The two heterozygotes were clinically well with normal hematological data. Isolation of the alpha X and alpha A chains by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and hydrolysis of these chains with dilute formic acid at 110 degrees C for 24 hours, followed by separation of the resulting peptides by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, greatly facilitated the final identification of the abnormality. The baby and both parents had a -G gamma-G gamma-globin gene arrangement on one chromosome (normal: -G gamma-A gamma-) which explains the high G gamma values in the Hb F of these three persons.

The effect of 13 herbicides, alone or in combination, on the seedling disease of soybeans (Glycine max cv. Williams), caused by Rhizoctonia solani, was studied in the glasshouse. Seedlings grown in soil infested with R. solani and treated with alachlor, chloramben, dinoseb, fluchloralin, or naptalam significantly decreased aspects of seedling development in one or more experiments. Metolachlor, metribuzin, oryzalin, pendimethalin, profluralin, as well as the combinations of alachlor + chloramben, trifluralin + chloramben and trifluralin + metribuzin did not significantly affect any aspect of seedling development. Treatment with trifluralin gave mixed results. No herbicide consistently improved seedling development in the presence or absence of the pathogen. Zusammenfassung Einflus von Herbiziden auf die Rhizoctonia-Samlingskrankheit der Sojabohne in Gewachshausuntersuchungen Im Gewachshaus wurde der Einflus von 13 Herbiziden, allein oder in Mischungen, auf die Samlingskrankheit der Sojabohne (Glycine max, Sorte Williams), die durch Rhizoctonia solani verursacht wird, untersucht. In R. solani-verseuchter Erde entwickelten sich Samlinge nach einer Alachlor-, Chloramben-, Dinoseb-, Fluchloralin- oder Naptalambehandlung deutlich schlechter in einem oder mehreren Versuchen. Die Samlingsentwicklung wurde durch Behandlungen mit Meto-lachlor, Metribuzin, Oryzalin, Pendimethalin, Profluralin, sowie die Mischungen Alachlor + Chloramben, Trifluralin + Chloramben und Trifluralin + Metribuzin nicht beeinflust. Eine Trifluralinbe-handlung fuhrte zu schwankenden Ergebnissen. Eine stetige Verbesserung der Samlingsentwicklung nach einer Herbizidbehandlung, bei Vorhandensein oder NichtVorhandensein des Pathogens, konnte nicht ermittelt werden.

The effects of four herbicides and hand weeding and no weeding on soybean disease development and seed quality were studied in the field. Chloramben, dinoseb, fluchloralin, and trifluralin were preplant incorporated at recommended rates. In addition, the effect of an in-furrow oat (Avena sativa L.) amendment used as an inoculum carrier was studied in all treatments. Compared with the hand-weeded control, yield, incidence of Septoria leafspot (Septoria glycines), and the recovery of Phomopsis spp. from pod and stem tissues were reduced in the week-infested control and dinosebtreated plots. Recovery of Alternaria spp. was greater from crown tissues of plants grown in chloramben- and fluchloralin-treated plots compared with, either the weed-infested or hand-weeded control. Septoria leafspot ratings and recovery of Phomopsis spp. from various plant tissues were higher in plants from hand-weeded plots compared with weed-infested plots, whereas the opposite was truefor, the recovery of Fusarium spp. Chloramben-treated plots were high-yielding and had the best weed control of all herbicide treatments. Seed quality was not affected by herbicide treatment. Plants from furrows with autoclaved oats had a lower incidence of Septoria glycines, a greater recovery of Fusarium spp. from pod and stem pieces, and produced seed with lower quality than plants from rows with no oat amendment.

A modification of the acid elution procedure for the demonstration of fetal hemoglobin in red cells using fast green stain is described. This technique not only permits improved visual estimation of the amount of fetal hemoglobin in red cells, but allows for the direct quantitation of fetal hemoglobin content of individual cells, using a scanning and integrating microdensitometer. As an application of this method, the distribution of fetal hemoglobin in populations of red cells of individuals was determined. Distributions were examined in sickle cell anemia patients with different proportions of fetal hemoglobin.

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(1841). XLI.—On the Natural Terraces on the Eildon Hills being formed by the Action of Ancient Glaciers. Annals and Magazine of Natural History: Vol. 6, No. 38, pp. 346-351.

A shock tube has been used to investigate the attenuation of a plane shock wave when it passes through a wire gauze, the plane of which is parallel to the shock front. A gauze having a solidity ratio of about 50% reduced the over pressure behind a shock of strength 1.65 moving into air at atmospheric pressure from 9.4 lb m-2 to 7.9 lb m-2. This result is compared with available data for the steady flow of air through screens.

Examination of blood samples from 1,183 individuals from Cameroon indicates that sickle cell trait frequencies and G6PD deficiency frequencies were heterogeneous among villages as well as within geographic areas and ethnic groups. Mean parasite counts were significantly correlated with Hb AS frequencies for children 6 years of age and under, although no correlation was found for mean parasite counts and G6PD deficiency frequencies. The mean age of sickle cell trait individuals was found to be significantly greater than the mean age of Hb AA individuals. The mean age of G6PD-deficient males did not differ from the mean age of G6PD-normal males. Hb AA and Hb AS children did not differ significantly in mean positive parasite counts. Falciparum malaria appears to be a selective pressure keeping Hb S frequencies high; yet it may not be the major selective force maintaining the G6PD polymorphism.

Hb Chicago is a newly discovered hemoglobin variant which was present in a Black newborn baby and her father. The leucine residue at alpha 136, which normally participates in the contact with the heme group, is replaced by a methionine residue. The two heterozygotes were clinically well with normal hematological data. Isolation of the alpha X and alpha A chains by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography and hydrolysis of these chains with dilute formic acid at 110 degrees C for 24 hours, followed by separation of the resulting peptides by reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography, greatly facilitated the final identification of the abnormality. The baby and both parents had a -G gamma-G gamma-globin gene arrangement on one chromosome (normal: -G gamma-A gamma-) which explains the high G gamma values in the Hb F of these three persons.

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We report a case of "naturally-occurring" (nonred blood cell stimulated) anti-K1. The patient had never received a blood transfusion. Red blood cell antibody screening panels showed agglutination with K:1 red blood cells at room temperature and not in the anti-globulin test. Testing with 2-mercaptoethanol showed the antibody to be IgM. The antibody is "naturally-occurring" and may be associated with pulmonary tuberculosis.

HAEMOLYTIC reactions following the ingestion of drugs such as primaquine and the broad bean (Vicia faba) have been shown to be due to an inherited abnormality of the erythrocytes which can be detected by an in vitro glutathione stability test devised by Beutler1. The use of this test in surveys has established that the incidence of the defect varies with peoples and race. American Negroes, Sephardic Jews and Sardinians have a much higher incidence of sensitive individuals than Ashkenazic Jews or American Caucasians. Beutler has recently reviewed the subject2. Many cases of favism have been seen locally during the past few years, and it was reasonable to assume that a survey of the glutathione stability of the erythrocytes in Iranians would show the presence of the abnormality in this area.

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