The reproductive stages

The circulating levels of l,25(OH)2D3 rise progressively towards the end of pregnancy, probably in response to the increased mineral demands. At the same time, an extra-renal synthesis of l,25(OH)2D3 takes place in the fetoplacental unit [4,47,48]. This synthesis is thought to occur in the decidual cells rather than in the placenta itself, although some controversy still remains upon the exact location of this process. Placental tissues have also been shown to contain specific receptors for l,25(OH)2D3 [49] as well as the faculty to synthesize the small calbindin (9 kDa) [50], However, the transplacental calcium transport is independent of the overall maternal vitamin D status [51]. The hypothesis of a differential regulation of calcium transport within the feto/placental unit may be in relation with the in situ synthesis of l,25(OH)2D3 or the fetal synthesis of this hormone. 

Receptors for l,25(OH)2D3 have also been described in the mammary gland [26,27], where a major calcium and phosphorus translocation must take place in order to provide the essential amounts of these minerals for milk synthesis. However, this process does not seem to be under the dependence of vitamin D since, at least in small mammals (rat, mouse) the mineral content of milk is not significantly affected by the vitamin D-deficiency of the mother [52]. 

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Parasitic worms are multicellular organisms, which are not always microscopic and are difficult to eliminate by the immune system. They do elicit an immune reaction, mostly by production of immunoglobulin E (IgE) and attack by eosinophils, which can be harmful to the host. With few exceptions, the reproductive stage is either free in the environment or in another host, for example insects or snails. This means that in humans most infestations, in terms of numbers, are self-limiting. 

The differences in the tissue hormone concentrations in various animals and the dissimilarities in the age changes of the tissue levels may be related to the fact that the presence of hormones in the endocrine glands presumably is chiefly the result of genetic factors. For the survival of an animal species, adequate biochemical functions are required only to ensure continuation of life until the reproductive stage has been reached. It may be presumed that several other biological features merely are the consequences of evolutionary coincidences they have been classified as evolutionary freaks or evolutionary relics by some biologists. 

The accessory system in male and female rodents then, is susceptible to a variety of modulatory influences, which in turn affects the functions of the reproductive system. The interactions of hormones with transmitters at each stage along the AOS pathway (Fig. 5.9) form the... 

Season of collection (Fowler and Oregioni 1976 Sanders etal. 1991) and latitude (Anderlini 1974) also influenced silver accumulations. Seasonal variations in silver concentrations of Baltic clams (Macoma balthica) were associated with seasonal variations in soft tissue weight and frequently reflected the silver content in the sediments (Cain and Luoma 1990). Oysters from the Gulf of Mexico vary considerably in whole-body concentrations of silver and other trace metals. Variables that modify silver concentrations in oyster tissues include the age, size, sex, reproductive stage, general health, and metabolism of the animal water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen,... 

The second main purpose of this book is to develop an alternative interpretation of the reproduction schema in which money plays a key role. Some degree of formalization is required here with respect to circulation of money, which takes on various often contradictory guises in Marx s work. As Foley (1973 viii) commented, Marx s writings on money remain in a pre-model stage. My objective is to develop a coherent model of how the circulation of money intertwines with the reproduction of commodities. 

Our philosophy was instead top-down . We decomposed the molecular TAE (total atomization energy TAEe at the bottom of the well, TAEo at absolute zero) into all components that can reasonably affect it at the kl/mol level. Then we carried out exhaustive benchmark calculations on each component separately for a representative training set of molecules. Finally, for each component separately, we progressively introduced approximations up to the point where reproduction of that particular component started deteriorating to an unacceptable extent. Thus, experimental data entered the picture only at the validation stage, not at the design stage. 

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