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Tight junctions between cells and adhesion to the substratum maintain the barrier function of epithelia throughout the body. Damage to the epithelial barrier by microbial products allows penetration of bacteria and promotion of infection. We studied the effects of Pseudomonas elastase (PE) on the barrier function of epithelia by using Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cells; these cells form tight junctions (zonula occludens [ZO]) in vitro. PE decreased electrical resistance across the monolayers in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Immunostaining of selected proteins of the ZO and zonula adherens was used to explore the effects of PE on junctional proteins. …

Studies of hatching asynchrony in altricial birds have used several methods to determine if a brood hatches synchronously or asynchronously. The most commonly used methods include making frequent nest visits during the time of hatching and using nestling mass or other measures of size on a given day to estimate nestling age or to describe the extent of the size hierarchy within broods. We made daily nest visits to determine if House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) broods hatched synchronously or asynchronously, and then compared classification of these broods based on discriminant function analysis with that based on mass differences of nestlings. …