Blends of Pheromones, With and Without Host Plant Volatiles, Can Attract Multiple Species of Cerambycid Beetles Simultaneously.

Pheromone components of cerambycid beetles are often conserved, with a given compound serving as a pheromone component for multiple related species, including species native to different continents. Consequently, a single synthesized compound may attract multiple species to a trap simultaneously. Furthermore, our previous research in east-central Illinois had demonstrated that pheromones of different species can be combined to attract an even greater diversity of species. Here, we describe the results of field bioassays in the northeastern, midwestern, southeastern, south-central, and southwestern United States that assessed attraction of cerambycids to a 'generic' pheromone blend containing six known cerambycid pheromone components, versus the individual components of the blend, and how attraction was influenced by plant volatiles. Nineteen species were attracted in significant numbers, with the pheromone blend attracting about twice as many species as any of the individual components. The blend attracted species of three subfamilies, whereas individual components attracted species within one subfamily. However, some antagonistic interactions between blend components were identified. The plant volatiles ethanol and α-pinene usually enhanced attraction to the blend. Taken together, these experiments suggest that blends of cerambycid pheromones, if selected carefully to minimize inhibitory effects, can be effective for sampling a diversity of species, and that plant volatiles generally enhance attraction. Such generic pheromone blends may serve as an effective and economical method of detecting incursions of exotic, potentially invasive species.

Isolation of enamelinlike proteins from blue shark (Prionace glauca) enameloid.

A sequential dissociative extraction scheme was used to extract proteins from developing Blue Shark enameloid. The first extraction solution (4 M guanidine HC1) solubilized the polypeptides, mainly collagenous, not closely associated with the hydroxyapatite. The next extraction solution (4 M guanidine HC1, 0.5 M ethylenediaminetetraacedic acid (EDTA] solubilized the proteins more closely associated with the tooth mineral component. After extraction, the proteins were separated and isolated with gel electrophoresis. Protein molecular weights were determined and selected proteins were isolated for amino acid composition analysis. The two proteins isolated were tested for mammalian enamel protein antigenic determinants by a "Dot" immunobinding assay. The isolated proteins were enamelinlike by extraction criteria and amino acid composition. Further, the two proteins share antigenic determinants with mammalian enamel proteins.

Protein biosynthesis during spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) enameloid formation.

Little is known about protein biosynthesis during enameloid formation. The purpose of this study was to characterize protein biosynthesis during selachian amelogenesis. Experiments were conducted on intact shark tooth organs, surgically removed from the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias. These organs were cultured in medium labelled with [35S]-methionine during time periods ranging from 1 to 6 h in pulse/chase experiments. The proteins were extracted at the conclusion of the experiments for analysis by gel electrophoresis and fluorography. In addition, tooth organs were fixed and examined by light microscopic autoradiography. Through this outlined experimental strategy, protein biosynthesis during amelogenesis was examined. The findings suggest the ameloblasts, at early bell stage of tooth development, are biosynthetically more active than the incipient odontoblasts; and they are secreting two polypeptides, 55 and 43 kd, into the developing tooth extracellular matrix.

A probable submandibular gland defect in a prehistoric mandible.

The mandible of a prehistoric male Indian, 35 to 40 years old at death, displays a probable bilateral submandibular gland defect. This defect is described, its incidence in prehistoric and modern populations is reviewed, and a possible genetic etiology is proposed.

Decreasing postpartum sexual abstinence time.

Postpartum sexual abstinence time can be safely shortened for most patients when episiotomy repair is done meticulously with fine PGA suture on small needles. The time preferred by patients for resumption of intercourse seems to be between the second and third postpartum week. We have seen no ill effects from this, and we feel that sexual intercourse at these early dates does not influence the healing of the episiotomy in any way.