Cerumen in American Indians: genetic implications of sticky and dry types

Occurrence of sticky and dry cerumen was determined in 483 Indians from various tribes of the United States. The elevated frequencies of the allele for dry cerumen, found in Indians of pure ancestry, support the theory of the mongoloid origin of the American Indian. Potential application of cerumen quality as a marker for genetic and anthropological studies is discussed.     

Hemoglobin Gun Hill: deletion of five amino acid residues and impaired heme-globin binding

Hemoglobin Gun Hill, a new variant of adult hemoglobin, was found in a Caucasian and one of his three daughters. The abnormal hemoglobin had only half of the expected number of heme groups. Five amino acid residues appeared to be missing from the beta-globin chains. These residues occur in linear sequence in normal beta-chains in a region involved in heme-globin binding. A deletion of five amino acids in the beta-chains of hemoglobin Gun Hill is postulated. The most likely mechanism for the origin of such a hemoglobin variant would appear to be unequal crossing-over during meiosis.     

Food value of red tide (Gonyaulax polyedra)

Two harvests of ocean-growing red tide, comprised mainly of Gonyaulax polyedra, were evaluated in limited trials of rat feeding. The protein of red tide (25 to 30 percent, dry basis) supported growth satisfactorily. The essential amino acid composition of the protein closely resembles that of casein, the major protein of milk. As a marine resource, plankton represents a challenge for research.     

Radio tracking of homing bats

Neotropical bats, Phyllostomas hastatus, were released 10 kilometers from their home roost, and their homeward flights were tracked by radio. Flights of bats with unimpeded vision were strongly oriented in the homeward direction, while the flights of blindfolded bats did not show this marked orientation.     

Hemoglobin variants in Koreans: hemoglobin G Taegu

Hemoglobin G Taegu, an electrophoretically slow hemoglobin with a structural anomaly believed to be in the beta-T-3 section of the beta chain, was the only variant found among 6700 normal Koreans. Four subjects, 0.06 percent, had the G-hemoglobin variant in addition to normal hemoglobin A. Hemoglobin E, known in numerous groups from Southeast Asia and the variant most frequently seen in Chinese subjects, was not found among the Koreans we tested.     

Virus-induced peliosis hepatitis in rats

Inoculation of newborn Fischer, W/Fu, or Lewis rats with the 9H virus recently isolated from leukemic rat tissues resulted in the development of peliosis hepatis. The virus was recoverable from the peliotic livers. The cystic lesions were of the parenchymal peliosis type and appeared to be the result of focal hepatic necrosis followed by hemorrhage.     

Voluntary control of microsaccades during maintained monocular fixation

A contact-lens technique was used to record eye movements made by two subjects instructed either to "fixate" stationary white-light targets or to "hold" their eyes in position in the presence of the same targets. A marked reduction in saccade rate, frequently reaching zero throughout 9.8-second trials, was observed under the "hold" instruction.     

Indium variations in a petrologic suite of L-group chondrites

Indium concentrations have been determined by neutron activation in four members of each of the L3, L4, L5, and L6 chondritic meteorite classes. The range of concentrations is found to be from 0.14 to 22 parts per billion, with the highest values in L3 chondrites and the lowest values in the L5 and L6 classes. Plots of indium concentration versus relative mean deviation of pyroxene iron content, total carbon concentration, and primordial argon-36 concentration show positive correlations to varying degrees. Indium concentration appears to be a valuable parameter relating to variable formation conditions of the chondritic meteorites during the early history of the solar system.     

Modulation of elicited behavior by a fixed-interval schedule of electric shock presentation

Responding elicited in the squirrel monkey by electric shocks presented every 60 seconds was gradually altered in temporal patterning, especially when the shock was also produced by responses under a 30-second fixed-interval schedule. The initially elicited pattern of maximal responding just after each shock was altered by the recurrent shock and by the added fixed-interval schedule to a pattern of maximal responding just before each shock. Most shocks were produced by responses and the response pattern was maintained for several months, but little responding occurred when shocks were omitted.     

Bistatic-radar detection of lunar scattering centers with lunar orbiter I

Continuous-wave signals transmitted from Lunar Orbiter I have been received on Earth after they have been reflected from the surface of the moon. The frequency spectrum of the reflected signals is used to locate discrete, heterogeneous, scattering centers on the lunar surface. The scattering centers are probably distinguished from the surrounding terrain by a higher surface reflectivity. Continuous-wave bistatic radar could provide an important new method for the study and mapping of planetary surfaces.