We used fracture-label and surface labeling techniques to characterize the distribution and topology of wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) receptors in the plasma membrane of boar sperm heads. We show that freeze-fracture results in preferential, but not exclusive, partition of WGA-binding sites with the outer (exoplasmic) half of the plasma membrane. Labeling of the inner (protoplasmic) half of the m...

Phenomena previously unknown in free-living spirochetes are reported: large-sized cells with variable diameter (length to 100 microns, width between 0.4 and 3.0 microns), composite structure (smaller spirochetes inside larger ones), and positive phototropic behavior. These bacteria, Spirosymplokos, are compared with all other spirochete genera. The large spirochete, grown in mixed culture, was ...

The present paper reports measurements on the electrolyte content of immature rat uteri before and after the administration of a single dose of estrogen. It has been shown previously that estrogen causes a prompt and striking increase in the weight and water content of rat uteri and that these changes are followed by a further gain in weight associated with an increase in mitotic activity and p...

Smooth septate junctions from the midgut of the cricket, Acheta, and the horseshoe crab, Limulus, as well as Hydra-type septate junctions from the epidermis of Hydra have been studied by freeze-fracture after direct freezing using the liquid helium-cooled copper block/slam freezing method. The exoplasmic fracture face at both types of septate junction exhibits rows of closely packed but irregul...

In this research, the results of comparative analysis of a single fuel droplet evaporation models are presented. Three well-known evaporation models including Spalding, Borman-Johnson and Abramzon-Sirignano models are analyzed using Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD). The original Spalding model is extended to consider the effects of the Stefan flow, unsteady vaporization, and variable propertie...

The structure of the epithelial cells of the alimentary tract of Fasciola hepatica was investigated by means of light and electron microscopy. Tissue prepared for electron microscopy was fixed in 1 per cent osmium tetroxide, buffered with veronal to a pH of 7.4, and embedded in butyl methacrylate with 1 per cent benzoyl peroxide as a catalyst. Polymerisation was carried out at 60 degrees C. The...

We report experimental laboratory studies on developing conductive pathways, or wires, using protoplasmic tubes of plasmodium of acellular slime mould Physarum polycephalum. Given two pins to be connected by a wire, we place a piece of slime mould on one pin and an attractant on another pin. Physarum propagates towards the attract and thus connects the pins with a protoplasmic tube. A protoplas...

For purposes of description, the cells of the Malpighian tubules of the grasshopper may be divided into basal, intermediate, and apical zones. The basal zone of the cell contains what appears to be an elaborate infolding of the cell membrane at the base. This condition results in the basal cell cytoplasm being divided into many compartments. The compartments contain mitochondria that are often ...