ALBERT

Notes: A simple photographic technique was developed to indirectly estimate body mass data for southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) cows (postlactation), yearlings, and immature males and females. Regressions of mass on both photographic and morphometric variables (together and separately) yielded useful, predictable models. Using such variables, the best estimation of the actual mass was for postlactation cows, with a 95% confidence interval of ± 2.66% of the predicted body mass. Although combining photographic and morphometric variables produced the most reliable models specifically for cows and yearlings, the most practical model contained only the morphometric variables length and girth squared. Side area was the best correlated single photographic variable and this corresponded with other studies. Photogrammetry could be useful when animals cannot be sedated and are located on a flat surface, but it does require animals to be motionless when approached. Thus, the procedure may be more suited to bulls rather than other age classes and could have a role in studies where large numbers of mass estimations are rapidly required. If sedation is utilized in smaller animals, then the use of body length and girth is the most suitable indirect mass estimation technique to avoid the use of heavy weighing equipment.

Notes: Abstract The affinity of hemoglobin for lipopolysaccharides (LPS) was exploited in its use as an inexpensive capture agent for LPS antigens in the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) of Gram negative bacteria. Two EIA formats were examined. In one, the macroporous solid phase PolymacronTM coated with hemoglobin was used to capture cholate-heat extracted LPS antigens from broth cultures of representative Gram negative bacteria, including different Salmonella serotypes, which were then detected immunoenzymatically using specific antibodies. This provided a rapid, simple and inexpensive dot blot assay for these bacteria which minimized the requirement for laboratory equipment. In another format, a microtiter plate EIA was developed in which cholate-heat extracted Salmonella. LPS antigens were captured in hemoglobin-coated wells. The microtiter plate format is automatable and will therefore be useful in laboratories with high sample throughputs. While most of the results reported here focus on the detection of Salmonella spp., we also demonstrate the applicability of this system in the assay of Escherichia coli O157 LPS antigens.

Notes: Mutants of Pisum sativum L. with seeds containing low-amylose starch were isolated by screening a population derived from chemically mutagenized material. In all of the mutant lines selected, the low-amylose phenotype was caused by a recessive mutation at a single locus designated lam. In embryos of all but one mutant line, the 59 kDa granule-bound starch synthase (GBSSI) was absent or greatly reduced in amount. The granule-bound starch synthase activity in developing embryos of the mutants was reduced but not eliminated. These results provide further evidence that amylose synthesis is unique to GBSSI. Other granule-bound isoforms of starch synthase cannot substitute for this protein in amylose synthesis. Examination of iodine-stained starch granules from mutant embryos by light microscopy revealed large, blue-staining cores surrounded by a pale-staining periphery. In this respect, the low-amylose mutants of pea differ from those of other species. The differential staining may indicate that the structure of amylopectin varies between the core and peripheral regions.

Notes: The Patras area lies in the western part of central Greece. It is an area characterized by high seismicity and complex neotectonics. Several devastating earthquakes have occurred in the region since 600 BC. Contemporary crustal deformation is examined in this area using microearthquake data recorded over a lengthy period, during 1983–84, by the Patras Seismic Network, principally, and to a lesser extent by the Volos Seismic Network.The microseismicity (1.8–3.9 ML) defines a zone deepening to the NE, which justifies a possible extension of the Gulf of Corinth major graben towards the Trikhonis Lake to the NW.Spectra of 108 well-located microearthquakes are estimated, using P-waves obtained by selective windowing designed to include only the P-phase; seismic moments in the range 0.3–45.7 × 1012 Nm are obtained, accompanied by estimates of seismotectonic source parameters including source radii, average stress drop and average coseismic slip.Poor correlation is found between seismic moment and magnitude, and the likely reason is the complex nature of the neotectonic regime existing in the area.Two zones differing in crustal deformation characteristics are observed. The Corinth-Trikhonis zone reveals two sets of characteristic faults. The first set is represented by microearthquakes showing distinctive and relatively higher seismic moments in conjunction with lower stress drops and seismic slips. This set of faults shows greater source radius than the second set, and therefore the faults are longer. The second set is characterized by an almost constant source radius within the range of uncertainty, and a wide range of seismic moments, stress drops and seismic slips. The Rio zone is characterized by low seismic slip, stress drop and fault radii, with the exception of the locality south of the city of Patras, where relatively higher seismic slip, stress drop and fault radius are observed.

Notes: Pavliani is an area of high microseismicity in northern central Greece. There is no evidence in the historical record of large damaging earthquakes in this area since at least 600 BC. We examine contemporary crustal deformation in this area using microearthquake data recorded during 1983–84 by the Volos seismic network, principally, and to a lesser extent by the Patras seismic network.The microseismicity (1–4.6 ML) defines an approximately vertical fault zone trending WSW-ENE, of 55 km length and 25 km depth. the fault-plane solution for the 4.6 ML earthquake shows a strike consistent with the trend of the microseismicity zone, and an extension direction consistent with many large earthquakes in central Greece associated with the extensional greater Aegean. Spectra of the microearthquakes are estimated using P waves obtained by selective windowing designed to exclude other P phases from the coda; seismic moments in the range 1–95 x 1012 N m are obtained, accompanied by estimates of seismotectonic source parameters, including source radii, average stress drop and average coseismic slip. of prime utility is an excellent correlation found between seismic moment and magnitude, and with coseismic slip. This allows heterogeneity in the distribution of individual microearthquake source parameters to be mapped onto the vertical fault-zone plane and the history of coseismic deformation for the whole seismicity observed during 1983–84 to be examined using cumulative slip and moment-release rate. Peaks of high moment-release rate occur in the east and centre of the fault zone. That in the east is dominated by a few large moment-release events; that in the centre by a large number of small events. Both moment-release-rate peaks, despite their different component seismicity, are associated with high cumulative coseismic slip. Only the eastern peak is also associated with high stress drop; it is also shallower, and therefore any surficial interaction is less likely to be attenuated. the surface projection of this peak is within 3 km of a mapped normal fault coincident with an Alpine thrust front delineated by a major scarp of Mesozoic limestone. Surface evidence of recent movement on this normal fault is only slight. Friable fault gouge is seen at a few localities. Displacement could not be determined because the limestone surfaces are deeply weathered and lack kinematic indicators. However, considering the whole fault zone as a cohesive entity, and using a Brune estimate of slip at the current moment-release rate throughout the present extensional tectonic regime, suggests a total vertical displacement of order 175 m, similar to the elevation of the scarp.

Notes: Source parameters of the largest three normal faulting earthquakes (MS6.6, 6.3, 6.4), in the 1981 Gulf of Corinth (Greece) sequence are determined using deconvolved broad-band data (recorded by arrays and single stations) and a 2-D finite source model. Such a model enables the spatial extent, rupture velocity and stress drop of the earthquakes to be determined and geological observations of surface slip can be included as a further constraint on the waveform modelling. All three earthquakes were shallow (〈10km) with low stress drops (〈30bars), and exhibited source complexity. The correspondence between the complexity of the earthquake sources and that of the mapped fault breaks implies that the segmentation of surface faulting in Greece is representative of faulting at depth. Tiny initial pulses which correlate across the arrays are seen in the seismograms from the Gulf of Corinth earthquakes at most stations. These initial subevents (〈1 per cent of the total moment) are interpreted as the breaking of small asperities which initiated the main rupture and are used to constrain the attenuation correction (t*= 0.2 s).

Notes: An analysis of Rayleigh waves generated by earthquakes in the broader Aegean is undertaken to estimate variations in the shear-wave velocity structure in the crust and upper mantle down to about 70 km depth. The study centres literally on the vertical-component long-period standard seismograph at Athens (ATH), and is only possible because this station has provided good-quality data over many years of continuous operation. Rayleigh waves from 81 earthquakes during 1963–87, with surface-wave magnitudes in the range 4.2 to 5.4 and epicentral distances of 300–500 km from Athens are analysed. These earthquake epicentres are selected in clusters defining 12 propagation paths across the broader Aegean and radial to Athens. The highest concentration of azimuthal sampling traverses the Hellenic Volcanic Arc. The ensuing group-velocity curves over these radial paths are inverted to shear-wave velocity-depth models using linear and then Monte Carlo Hedgehog inversion schemes. The resulting velocity-depth solutions from both schemes, presented as individual path velocity-depth profiles, 3-D azimuthal perspectives and contoured velocity-depth panoramas over the whole broader Aegean, are corroborative. The western arc of azimuths extending from Chalkidiki, north of Athens, to SW Crete, south of Athens, have velocity-depth profiles which consistently reach sub-Moho velocities at about 45 km depth. The most striking feature revealed by the contoured shear-wave velocity-depth panoramas is an extensive zone of relatively low velocity, about 3.8 km s−1, centred around 30 km depth, which may extend from 20 to 40 km depth. This low-velocity zone is contained in the wedge of paths from Carpathos, Rhodes and SW Turkey which traverse the Hellenic Volcanic Arc and subtend an angle of about 33° at Athens. There is also slight evidence for anomalously low velocities at greater depths (around 4.1–4.2 km s−1 at about 50–60 km depth) but these are at the limits of useful resolution of the available data; nevertheless, these indications are at their strongest in the same wedge below the Hellenic Volcanic Arc.

Notes: The largest increase in gonadosomatic index of American plaice Hippoglossoides platessoides occurred between January and February. Hepatosomatic index was lowest in the spawning season, suggesting cessation of feeding activity during spawning, but rose immediately in July when condition factor recovered from its low spawning level. Increases in white muscle water content during the spawning season suggests protein depletion. Conservation of some white muscle fibres is suspected, but no regular pattern in area conserved was found. Gonad development was advanced in December and in April some gonads were showing evidence of spawning. Ovaries from spawning females showed hydration patterns and histological detail consistent with batch or serial spawning strategy. Evidence of recent spawning activity, including the presence of postovulatory follicles, was found in ovaries that also contained oocytes undergoing exogenous vitellogenesis. Oocyte size frequency distributions show a gap in size between cortical alveoli and vitellogenic oocytes prior to spawning which does not exist during the spawning season. This may represent the ability of plaice to push oocytes through vitellogenesis from a previtellogenic condition during the spawning period. The increased white muscle moisture during June and July may reflect the use of muscle protein to bring oocytes through vitellogenesis for the current spawning season.

Notes: Winter flounder Pleuronectes americanus has a thick epidermis which was removed from scale slips by incubation in a medium including 1% ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) for up to 2 h. Neurally mediated responses of dermal melanophores to K+ and Na+, and to exogenous noradrenaline (10-5 M) were 1·5 to three times faster without the epidermis–mucus barrier; α-melanophore stimulating hormone (MSH) evoked extensive pigment dispersion only without the epidermis. Thus, cellular viability after epidermal removal is not restricted to melanophores, nerve terminals can provide an additional indicator. The sensitivity to α-MSH in vitro, is an important observation since in vivo reports have not indicated that this hormone has a role in the physiological responsiveness of these melanophores in flatfish.