Correlative fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy: An elegant tool to study the actin cytoskeleton of whole-mount (breast) cancer cells

Elucidating the structure and dynamics of lamellipodia and filopodia in response to different stimuli is a topic of continuing interest in cancer cells as these structures may be attractive targets for therapeutic purposes. Interestingly, a close functional relationship between these actin-rich protrusions and specialized membrane domains has been recently demonstrated. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the fine organization of these actin-rich structures and examine how they structurally may relate to detergent-resistant membrane (DRM) domains in the MTLn3 EGF/serum starvation model. For this reason, we designed a straightforward and alternative method to study cytoskeleton arrays and their associated structures by means of correlative fluorescence (/laser)- and electron microscopy (CFEM). CFEM on whole mounted breast cancer cells revealed that a lamellipodium is composed of an intricate filamentous actin web organized in various patterns after different treatments. Both actin dots and DRM's were resolved, and were closely interconnected with the surrounding cytoskeleton. Long actin filaments were repeatedly observed extending beyond the leading edge and their density and length varied after different treatments. Furthermore, CFEM also allowed us to demonstrate the close structural association of DRMs with the cytoskeleton in general and the filamentous/dot-like structural complexes in particular, suggesting that they are all functionally linked and consequently may regulate the cell's fingertip dynamics. Finally, electron tomographic modelling on the same CFEM samples confirmed that these extensions are clearly embedded within the cytoskeletal matrix of the lamellipodium.

Thermal-mechanical interface crack behaviour of a surface mount solder joint

The effect of thermal-mechanical loading on a surface mount assembly with interface cracks between the solder and the resistor and between the solder and the printed circuit board (PCB) was studied using a non-linear thermal finite element analysis. The thermal effect was taken as cooling from the solder eutectic temperature to room temperature. Mechanical loading at the ends of the PCB was also applied. The results showed that cooling had the effect of causing large residual shear displacement at the region near the interface cracks. The mechanical loading caused additional crack opening displacements. The analysis on the values of J-integral for the interface cracks showed that J-integral was approximately path independent, and that the effect of crack at the solder/PCB interface is much more serious than that between the component and solder.

Micropropagacion de dos clones de caña de azucar (Saccharum sp.) ISA 96-110 e ISA 96-111

El presente estudio se realizó con el objetivo de desarrollar metodología para la micropropagación a partir de ápices caulinares, utilizando la técnica Spinder, y posteriormente aclimatación de las vitroplantas de dos clones de caña de azúcar (Saccharum sp.) (ISA 96-110 e ISA 96- 111). Se estudió el efecto que sobre el establecimiento tendrian 4 variantes del medio de cultivo MS (1962), suplidas con 0.0, 0.2 y 0.6 mg/1 de 6-BAP. Se utilizaron 15 réplicas por tratamiento. Se evaluó el efecto que sobre la brotación tuvieron 4 variantes del medio MS (1962), a las que se les adicionó 0.0, 0.1 y 0.5 mg/1 de 6 BAP durante tres subcultivos sucesivos. Se utilizaron 5 réplicas por variante en estudio. Para inducir el mayor enraizamiento se probaron 4 variantes líquidas del medio MS ( 1962), suplidas con 0.0, 1.0 y 1.6 mg/1 de AlA. Para el estudio de aclimatación se emplearon 30 plantas por cultivar y se establecieron en un sustrato de lombrices Californiana (Eisenia foetida). El clon ISA 96-110 presentó mayor porcentaje de fenolización y menor curvatura que el clon ISA 96-111. El medio de cultivo MS + 0.60 m g/1 de 6-BAP indujo al menor porcentaje de fenolización (33.0) y mayor de curvatura (60.0) en el clon ISA 96-110, el medio MS + 0.20 mg/1 de 6- BAP en el clon ISA 96-111. La sobrevivencia de las plantas del clon ISA- 111 fue de 100 % en todos los medios de cultivo, para el ISA 96-11O sólo los medios MS + 0.20 y MS + 0.00 mg/1 de 6-BAP. No hubo aumento de los valores de las variables altura de la planta, número de brotes y de hojas con el aumento del número de subcultivos. El medio de cultivo que indujo mayor brotación para el clon ISA 96-11 O fue el MS + 0.30 mg/1, mientras que para el clon ISA 96-111 fue el MS + 0.1 mg/1 de 6- BAP. El clon ISA 96-111 reportó resultados superiores en longitud (5.75 cm) y número de raices (7.4) por planta. El medio de cultivo MS + 1.3 mg/1 de AlA indujo los mejores resultados en ambos clones. El comportamiento de las plantas del clon ISA 96-1 11 fueron superiores a las del clon ISA 96-11O al momento de la aclimatación

Two new subspecies of birds from the slopes of Mount Pirri, eastern Panama

The two subspecies described below were part of the rich collection made by E. A. Goldman in Eastern Panama, during the season of 1912, while engaged in the Smithsonian Biological Survey of Panama. Other new birds from this collection were described in a recent paper...(Document contains 4 pages)

Tratado de limites das conquistas entre os muito altos, e poderosos senhores D. João V, Rey de Portugal, e D. Fernando VI, Rey de Espanha, pelo qual abolida a demarcação da linha meridiana, ajustada no Tratado de Tordesilhas de 7 de junho de 1494, se determina individualmente a raya dos domínios de huma e outra corôa na America Meridional :a de Portugal renuncia o direito, que allegava ter das Ilhas Filippinas, pelo dito Tratado de Tordesilhas, e pela escritura de Saragoça de 22 de abril de 1529 ; e cede a Espanha a Colonia do Sacramento, e o Territorio da margem septentrional do Rio da Prata, que lhe pertencia pelo Tratado de Utrecht de 6 de fevereiro de 1715, como também a Aldea de S. Christóvão, e terras adjacentes, que tinhão occupado os portuguezes entre os rios Japurá, e Isa, que desaguão no das Amazonas; a de Espanha renuncia todo o direito, que pelo dito Tratado de Tordesilhas allegava ter as terras possuidas pelos portuguezes na America Meridional ao Occidente da Linha Meridiana, ajustada naquelle Tratado ; e cede a Portugal todas as terras, e povoações da margem oriental do rio Uruguay, desde o rio Ibicuí para o norte, e a aldea de Santa Rosa, e outra qualquer estabelecida pelos espanhoes na margem oriental do rio Guaporé; com os plenos-poderes, e ratificações dos dous Monarchas, assignado em Madrid a 13 de janeiro de 1750

Referência: Diccionario Bibliographico Portuguez / Innocencio Francisco da Silva, 1862. v. 7, p. 386.

Mount Pinatubo's effects on Philippine fisheries

An examination is made of the effects of the eruption of Mount Pinatubo on Luzon Island, northwestern Philippines in June 1991 on the Country's fisheries, considering in particular the coral reef environment, inland fisheries and aquaculture.

SOCIAL-DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS OF MACACA-THIBETANA AT MOUNT-EMEI, CHINA

The development of infant Macaca thibetana was studied at Mount Emei, China, and compared to that of other macaque species. It was found that there are many common features in the process of infant socialization in species of the genus Macaca: mothers play an important and active role, other group members influence the infants' development to a greater or lesser extent and play is a major activity in the life of infants. Some differences were found to exist, however, between macaque species. These included differences in maternal care behaviour such as 'len', leaving time and weaning time. Paternal behaviours were also found to vary within and among species. Tibetan macaque males care for infants extensively, and they may use infants as an agonistic buffer. The natural and social environment may also influence differences between macaque species in infant development.

NATURAL FOODS AND THEIR ECOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR MACACA-THIBETANA AT MOUNT EMEI, CHINA

Natural food plants of partly provisioned groups of Macaca thibetana included about 196 species belonging to 135 genera and 72 families. The macaques consumed mainly bamboo shoots and fruits for about 2 months in autumn, whereas they relied on active or passive provisions from visitors, a variety of structural parts of plants and a small amount of invertebrates in late spring and summer and ate mainly mature leaves and bark for the rest of the year. About half of the species eaten came from the dense herb and shrub layers. This forest-dwelling species shows a distinctive feeding and foraging pattern in comparison with other macaques, explaining why M. thibetana has the largest body weight of all macaques.

DRAMATIC CONSEQUENCES OF FOOD HANDOUTS TO MACACA-THIBETANA AT MOUNT-EMEI, CHINA

Food handouts to Macaca thibetana at Mt. Emei have had dramatic consequences for both man and monkey as tourism has increased over the last decade. Food handouts and human submissive behaviour facilitate beg-robbing by the monkeys. which can be regarded as a mixed conditioning chain. Because of their lack of understanding of primate behaviour and resulting inappropriate responses, many visitors have lost possessions and have been severely frightened or even injured; in fact there have been 1 0 deaths as an indirect result over that past 8 years. The appropriate human response proved to be the display of dominance to maintain a distance from a beg-robbing monkey. Road-ranging macaques have also been injured or killed by visitors to obtain meat or bones or merely for amusement. Attempts should be made to eliminate the negative effects of food handouts by increasing visitors' awareness of behavioural and ecological aspects and through aversive conditioning of the macaques.