An infant with trisomy 9 mosaicism presenting as a complete trisomy 9 by amniocentesis

We present a case in which amniocentesis performed at 33 weeks' gestation because of symmetrical intrauterine growth retardation and decreased amniotic fluid volume led to the prenatal diagnosis of a fetus with a karyotype of 47,XX,+9, t(1;20)(q42;p11.2) pat, i.e., with an extra chromosome 9 and a balanced translocation between chromosomes 1 and 20. At delivery, the baby showed clinical features of trisomy 9, yet chromosome analysis of the cord blood revealed no trisomy 9 cells, a finding confirmed by neonatal blood karyotyping. The balanced translocation was present in all cells. A skin biopsy confirmed trisomy 9 mosaicism with 10 per cent trisomy 9 cells. The baby died at 6 weeks and an autopsy was obtained. Chromosome analysis of different organs demonstrated different frequencies of the mosaicism of trisomy 9. The possible underlying mechanism for the discrepancy between the karyotype results by amniocentesis and those of other tissues is discussed.     

Discordant findings in chorionic villus direct preparation and long term culture—mosaicism in the fetus

Prenatal cytogenetic study of chorionic villi showed a discrepancy between a normal female karyotype 46,XX in the direct preparation after short-term incubation, and a 45,X karyotype in the long-term culture. The subsequent amniocentesis revealed a normal karyotype in three cultures and a 45,X/46,XX mosaicism in one culture. Cytogenetic analysis of chorionic villi after termination of the pregnancy showed a normal karyotype in the direct preparation and a 45,X/46,XX mosaicism in the long-term culture. Fetal lymphocytes showed normal karyotypes, whereas fibroblast cultures revealed a 45,X/46,XX mosaicism.     

Use of pheromone traps to suppress populations of Scolytus multistriatus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) in three isolated communities of elms

The technique of mass trapping as a pest management tool was evaluated for its potential in reducing populations of Scolytus multistriatus. More than two million beetles were caught on traps baited with a synthetic attractant composed of both aggregation pheromones and host tree volatiles. Trends in trap catches over a period of 4 years (1976–1979) in three small isolated towns of similar size and with a similar number of elms, suggest that there was little or no reduction of the beetle population. Patterns in the number of beetles captured and the dispersion of trap catches indicate that pheromonebaited traps may be deployed to help identify local infestations and to focus sanitation efforts.     

Prairie Landscape Change and Flooding in the Mississippi River Valley

Extensive landscape alteration of prairie in the U.S. from agricultural expansion has reduced waterfowl populations and increased precipitation runoff into regional river basins. Satellite imagery shows that prairie landscapes have been less altered in Canada than in the U.S. Long-term, broad-scale precipitation data indicate that in both countries precipitation has varied widely but has not increased over time. Nevertheless, flow rates of unregulated U.S. rivers have increased, but there have been no detectable changes in flow rates of Canadian rivers. Neither of two competing hypotheses advanced to explain increasing flood magnitudes—climate change and channel confinement—can account for these results. Thus, the increased magnitudes of floods in the Mississippi River Valley over the last several decades may be at least partially related to extensive changes in agricultural land use resulting in reduction of natural upland vegetation and wetland drainage in the upper reaches of this watershed.     

Widespread mass mortalities of the green sea urchin in Nova Scotia,Canada

Mass mortalities of sea urchins exceeding 84 000 t live weight or 2 900 t organic weight occurred during the autumns of 1980 and 1981 along the southern coast of Nova Scotia, Canada. The kill was nearly complete along 160 km of shoreline (straight-line distance) and was inter-mittent along another 280 km. Sea urchins in a variety of rocky habitats were affected, including areas exposed to and sheltered from ocean swell, with both dense and no macrophyte cover, and from 0–13 m depth. The cause of the mortalities was presumed to be a biological agent and was transferable in the laboratory. Colonization of the habitat by subtidal macroalgae and a subsequent large increase in benthic primary production is expected to follow.     

Timing of sperm shedding and release of aggregates in the salp Thalia democratica (Urochordata: Thaliacea)

Many holoplanktonic forms, such as medusae, spawn in response to environmental cues such as light or temperature. Few observations of the time of reproduction have been made in salps. Small groups of mature aggregates of the salp Thalia democratica (Forskal, 1775), collected off the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, were held under constant light in early to mid-December in the years 1990, 1993 and 1994. Sperm were shed between 0300 and 0600 hrs each day with a mean time of about 0450 hrs for all individuals for all years combined. Solitary stages released chains of fertilizable female individuals between 0500 and 0700 hrs each day, with a mean time of 0540 hrs. Field observations suggested that similar timing occurred in nature. Advancing the time of dusk from 1900 to 1700 or 1800 hrs. did not significantly alter the mean time of sperm shedding or chain release. T. democratica aggregates, collected in the Mediterranean Sea in 1995 and maintained in constant light, had a broader distribution of individual spawning times, with a mean time of 0625 hrs, which differed significantly from that of the Australian population. Coordination of the events of sexual reproduction in T. democratica may improve fertilization success and be responsible for recognizable age cohorts within blooms of this species. Received: 27 May 1997 / Accepted: 20 June 1997     

Dynamics of prion disease transmission in mule deer.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD), a contagious prion disease of the deer family, has the potential to severely harm deer populations and disrupt ecosystems where deer occur in abundance. Consequently, understanding the dynamics of this emerging infectious disease, and particularly the dynamics of its transmission, has emerged as an important challenge for contemporary ecologists and wildlife managers. Although CWD is contagious among deer, the relative importance of pathways for its transmission remains unclear. We developed seven competing models, and then used data from two CWD outbreaks in captive mule deer and model selection to compare them. We found that models portraying indirect transmission through the environment had 3.8 times more support in the data than models representing transmission by direct contact between infected and susceptible deer. Model-averaged estimates of the basic reproductive number (R0) were 1.3 or greater, indicating likely local persistence of CWD in natural populations under conditions resembling those we studied. Our findings demonstrate the apparent importance of indirect, environmental transmission in CWD and the challenges this presents for controlling the disease.     

Sperm chemotaxis in the hydromedusae. II. Some chemical properties of the sperm attractants

Gel filtration on highly cross-linked molecular sieves of the sperm attractants of some hydromedusae revealed that the active agents differ in their molecular weights. These differences fall roughly along taxonomic lines, at least at the order level. Anthomedusae have attractants with molecular weights greater than 5,000, while the Leptomedusae attractants have weights less than 1,000. The Limnomedusae and Trachymedusae attractants have weights above 5,000. All the attractants are heat-stable, but only those of the Leptomedusae can pass across a dialysis membrane with a molecular weight cut-off of 14,000.     

Sperm chemotaxis in the hydromedusae. I. Species-specificity and sperm behavior

Egg extracts from 32 species of marine hydromedusae, siphonophores and sessile hydroids were tested for sperm attracting activity using the sperm of all species in both homo- and heterospecific combinations. Species-specific sperm chemotaxis could be demonstrated in nearly every species tested. Of the 1,024 possible combinations, 272 could not be attempted for lack of material. Of the 752 which were carried out, only 13 heterospecific cross-reactions were found. The bulk of these involved reactions which were either weaker in the heterospecific direction or unidirectional. The sperm behavior in response to both homospecific and heterospecific egg extracts is described. In the latter case, no changes in sperm motility or direction of movement were observed. In the former case, the sperm show turning behavior which brings them closer to the source of the extract. Since most of the Hydrozoa tested share the same habitat and are reproductively active at the same time of year, it appears that species-specific sperm chemotaxis may be a significant mechanism for both ensuring fertilization in an environment which subjects the gametes to massive dilution and preventing hybridization.     

In vitro genotoxicity of exhaust emissions of diesel and gasoline engine vehicles operated on a unified driving cycle

Acetone extracts of engine exhaust particulate matter (PM) and of vapor-phase semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) collected from a set of 1998-2000 model year normal emitter diesel engine automobile or light trucks and from a set of 1982-1996 normal emitter gasoline engine automobiles or light trucks operated on the California Unified Driving Cycle at 22 [degree]C were assayed for in vitro genotoxic activities. Gasoline and diesel PM were comparably positive mutagens for Salmonella typhimurium strains YG1024 and YG1029 on a mass of PM extract basis with diesel higher on a mileage basis; gasoline SVOC was more active than diesel on an extracted-mass basis, with diesel SVOC more active on a mileage basis. For chromosomal damage indicated by micronucleus induction in Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts (V79 cells), diesel PM expressed about one-tenth that of gasoline PM on a mass of extract basis, but was comparably active on a mileage basis; diesel SVOC was inactive. For DNA damage in V79 cells indicated by the single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay, gasoline PM was positive while diesel PM was active at the higher doses; gasoline SVOC was active with toxicity preventing measurement at high doses, while diesel SVOC was inactive at all but the highest dose.