Serologic evidence for novel poxvirus in endangered red Colobus monkeys, Western Uganda.

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot, and virus neutralization assays indicated that red colobus monkeys in Kibale National Park, western Uganda, had antibodies to a virus that was similar, but not identical, to known orthopoxviruses. The presence of a novel poxvirus in this endangered primate raises public health and conservation concerns.

Suggested guidelines for use of avian species as biomonitors.

An animal's suitability as a biomonitor of environmental change can be determined by biological, reproductive and ecological characteristics determined at the class, order and species level. The animal's habitat where the research is to be performed and the form, function and structure of the environmental change being studied within that habitat also determines suitability. Non-threatened populations of large, non-migratory, long-lived, seasonally-breeding tertiary avian predators, whose dietary preferences are narrow and known, can be useful as monitors of environmental chemical contaminants.

The contribution of edaphic heterogeneity to the evolution and diversity of Burseraceae trees in the western Amazon.

Environmental heterogeneity in the tropics is thought to lead to specialization in plants and thereby contribute to the diversity of the tropical flora. We examine this idea with data on the habitat specificity of 35 western Amazonian species from the genera Protium, Crepidospermum, and Tetragastris in the monophyletic tribe Protieae (Burseraceae) mapped on a molecular-based phylogeny. We surveyed three edaphic habitats that occur throughout terra firme Amazonia: white-sand, clay, and terrace soils in eight forests across more than 2000 km in the western Amazon.

Phylogenetic relationships in Peniocereus (Cactaceae) inferred from plastid DNA sequence data.

The phylogenetic relationships of Peniocereus (Cactaceae) species were studied using parsimony analyses of DNA sequence data. The plastid rpl16 and trnL-F regions were sequenced for 98 taxa including 17 species of Peniocereus, representatives from all genera of tribe Pachycereeae, four genera of tribe Hylocereeae, as well as from three additional outgroup genera of tribes Calymmantheae, Notocacteae, and Trichocereeae. Phylogenetic analyses support neither the monophyly of Peniocereus as currently circumscribed, nor the monophyly of tribe Pachycereeae since species of Peniocereus subgenus Pseudoacanthocereus are embedded within tribe Hylocereeae.

Leave it to the leaves: a molecular phylogenetic study of Malaxideae (Epidendroideae, Orchidaceae).

Nuclear ITS and plastid matK sequences were collected for 71 taxa of Malaxideae (Orchidaceae). Resulting cladograms are highly resolved and well supported by jackknife analyses. These indicate that the traditional classification system of the tribe using characters primarily related to floral morphology does not reflect the evolutionary history of these taxa.

An overview of the phylogenetic relationships within Epidendroideae inferred from multiple DNA regions and recircumscription of Epidendreae and Arethuseae (Orchidaceae).

Phylogenetic relationships within the epidendroid orchids with emphasis on tribes Epidendreae and Arethuseae were assessed with parsimony and model-based analyses of individual and combined DNA sequence data from ITS nuclear ribosomal DNA and plastid trnL intron, the trnL-F spacer, matK (gene and spacers), and rbcL regions. Despite the absence of boostrap support for some of the relationships, a well-resolved and supported consensus was found, for which most clades were present in more than one individual analysis. Most clades of this consensus attained high posterior probabilities with a Bayesian approach.

Clinical pathology of nestling marabou storks in Uganda.

Packed cell volumes (PCV) and plasma chemistry parameters were measured in 20 nestling marabou storks (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) in January 2003 that were a part of a colony located in the center of the city of Kampala, Uganda. There were no significant differences (P> or =0.05) in plasma chemistry values or PCV between sexes with the exception of globulin and total plasma protein values, which were higher in females.

Clinical pathology and morphometrics of African fish eagles in Uganda.

Packed cell volumes (PCVs) and plasma chemistry parameters were measured in 15 adult and 18 nestling African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) sampled from June 2002 through January 2003 in Uganda. Morphologic measurements were obtained from 15 adult eagles. All eagles were examined for blood parasites and sexed by examination of DNA from red blood cells.

Mercury and persistent organic pollutant concentrations in African fish eagles, marabou storks, and Nile tilapia in Uganda.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate persistent organic pollutant (POP) and mercury concentrations in tissues of African fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) and Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) from Lake Victoria near Entebbe and Lake Mburo, Uganda. Marabou stork (Leptoptilos crumeniferus) nestlings from urban Kampala (40 km from Entebbe) also were sampled for POPs and mercury. Total mercury was measured in the breast feathers of eight nestling and 10 adult African fish eagles from Lake Mburo, 10 nestling and five adult African fish eagles from Lake Victoria near Entebbe, and 20 nestling marabou storks from Kampala from June 2002 through January 2003.

A molecular phylogenetic study of Graptopetalum (Crassulaceae) based on ETS, ITS, RPL16, and TRNL-F nucleotide sequences.

Nuclear ETS and ITS, as well as plastid rpl16 and trnL-F DNA sequences were used to determine relationships among species of Graptopetalum (Crassulaceae) and closely related genera. Graptopetalum is member of a group of taxa restricted to North America, one of the centers of diversity of Crassulaceae; however, their phylogenetic relationships are not yet understood. Nineteen species of Graptopetalum and 24 species from nine other genera of Crassulaceae were sampled for use in three separate parsimony analyses: ITS alone, ETS alone, and a combined nuclear + plastid DNA analysis using all four gene regions.

Utility of plastid psaB gene sequences for investigating intrafamilial relationships within Orchidaceae.

DNA sequences of the plastid gene psaB were completed for 182 species of Orchidaceae (representing 150 different genera) and outgroup families in Asparagales. These data were analyzed using parsimony, and resulting trees were compared to a rbcL phylogeny of Orchidaceae for the same set of taxa after an additional 30 new rbcL sequences were added to a previously published matrix. The psaB tree topology is similar to the rbcL tree, although the psaB data contain less homoplasy and provide greater bootstrap support than rbcL alone.

Duration of cognitive impairment after sports concussion.

Objective: We sought to determine the duration of cognitive impairment after sports concussion.

Methods: We conducted a study with a prospective design in which 729 athletes underwent preseason baseline testing by being administered a computerized neuropsychological test battery, followed by retesting at regular intervals after they sustained sports-related concussions. A control group consisting of nonconcussed athletes drawn from the same baseline population underwent testing at parallel intervals.

Molecular evidence for the common origin of snap-traps among carnivorous plants.

The snap-trap leaves of the aquatic waterwheel plant (Aldrovanda) resemble those of Venus' flytrap (Dionaea), its distribution and habit are reminiscent of bladderworts (Utricularia), but it shares many reproductive characters with sundews (Drosera). Moreover, Aldrovanda has never been included in molecular phylogenetic studies, so it has been unclear whether snap-traps evolved only once or more than once among angiosperms. Using sequences from nuclear 18S and plastid rbcL, atpB, and matK genes, we show that Aldrovanda is sister to Dionaea, and this pair is sister to Drosera.

Optimization of reaction conditions for REM resin-bound quaternization reactions.

A study into the effect of reaction variables on the quaternization of REM resin-bound tertiary amines was undertaken. The influence of resin matrix, solvent, reaction time, temperature, and amount of quaternization agent on the outcome of reaction was evaluated by reaction monitoring using (19)F NMR. The highest yields of tertiary amine products were seen when DMSO was used as reaction solvent in conjunction with a reaction time of 18 h at room temperature.

Anionic cyclophanes as potential reversal agents of muscle relaxants by chemical chelation.

A series of carboxyl-containing cyclophanes have been designed and synthesised as chemical chelators (or host molecules) of cationic muscle relaxant drugs (or guest molecules). Three of these cyclophane derivatives, 1-3, have been shown by NMR to form 1:1 complexes with the muscle relaxants pancuronium, and gallamine, in D(2)O, with association constants up to 10(4) M(-1). When tested in an in vitro chick biventer muscle preparation, the cyclophanes reversed the neuromuscular block induced by pancuronium and gallamine, with having the most effective reversal against pancuronium (EC(50) 40 microM.