The distribution of hydroxycinnamic acid amides in flowering plants

Hydroxycinnamic acid amides have been identified as the main phenolic constituents in the reproductive organs of a range of flowering plants.     

6-d-glucopyranosyl fatty acid esters from Brassica napus pollen

6-d-Glucopyranosyl esters of palmitic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids were identified in Brassica napus (rape) pollen. These esters are inactive as plant growth promoters in the bean second-internode bioassay.     

龙牙百合3个地方品种的形态特征及核型分析

采用经典测量和染色体常规压片法,对龙牙百合（Lilium brownii var.viridulum Baker）3个地方品种的形态特征及核型进行研究。植株形态分析结果显示：‘江西’龙牙的株高、开花口径、种球重量和周长、中外层鳞片重量和长度以及鳞片扦插产生小鳞茎数等指标均显著大于‘大叶’龙牙和‘平头’龙牙;‘大叶’龙牙的叶片最长,均值为14.54 cm。花粉、叶表皮气孔及鳞片淀粉粒的微形态特征分析结果显示：‘江西’龙牙的花粉粒径最大,均值达111.76 μm;‘平头’龙牙的叶表皮气孔最长,气孔密度也最大（约47.6个/mm²）;‘大叶’龙牙的淀粉粒径最大,均值为47.61 μm;‘江西’龙牙的淀粉粒大小分布更集中,差异性小。染色体核型分析结果显示：龙牙百合3个品种的染色体数目均为2n=2x=24,为二倍体,其中‘江西’龙牙核型公式为2n=2x=24=2m（2SAT）+6sm（2SAT）+12st（4SAT）+4t;‘平头’龙牙核型公式为2n=2x=24=4m+8sm+10st（4SAT）+2t;‘大叶’龙牙核型公式为2n=2x=24=2m（2SAT）+6sm+14st（4SAT）+2t,三者核型均为3B型。     

Testing of different antibiotics against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolated from plant tissue culture

Different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Staphylococcus xylosus, S. aureus, S. cohnii, Bacillus sp., Corynebacterium sp., Pseudomonas vesicularis) were isolated from homogenized shoot tips of Drosera rotundifolia, Spatiphyllum sp., Syngonium cv. White butterfly, Nephrolepis exaltata cv. Teddy Junior. Growth inhibition of selected bacterial strains was examined using 28 different single antibiotics and 7 antibiotic mixtures. It was found that with the two mixtures Imipenem/Ampicillin and Imipenem/Penicillin G at concentrations of 5 mg l^–1 each, bacterial growth inhibition was most effective. Because of the lack of toxic effects on in vitro plants of 7 species it was proposed that these antibiotic mixtures can be applied advantageously to inhibit bacterial growth in tissue culture.     

A new DNA profiling system for cell line identification for use in cell banks in Japan

Summary Using the polymorphic DNA probes, ChdTC-15, ChdTC-114, pYNH24, and λTM-18, a DNA profiling system was developed that verified identities of individual cultured cell lines collected in the Japanese cell banks, JCRB, RCB, and IFO. These highly polymorphic DNA probes include both VNTR (Variable Number of Tandem Repeats) sequences and substantial lengths of unique regions. In the mixed probe system, several distinct bands from four to eight can be used for cell line identification. These bands were widely spread in a range of molecular sizes, and were stable and reproducible under stringent conditions of Southern blot hybridization. Because the DNA profile was specific for each individual human cell line, it is useful not only to authenticate many existing cultured cell lines but also to monitor their identity during propagation in a laboratory, and to confirm newly established lines as unique.     

Identification of bacterial chemoattractants for oyster (Crassostrea virginica) hemocytes

The cytoplasmic and cell wall components of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus megaterium and the cytoplasmic and cell envelope components of the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli were assayed for chemotactic activity for the hemocytes of Crassostrea virginica. The cellular components were separated by differential centrifugation and gel filtration was used to determine the approximate molecular weights of the chemoattractant molecules. Active fractions were assayed for glycoproteins and lipoproteins. As a result, it is known that hemocytes are chemotactically attracted to proteins of approximately 10,000 daltons which are associated with the cell wall of B. megaterium and the cell envelope of E. coli.     

Fragmentation pattern of permethyl 6-C-glycosylflavones in electron impact mass spectrometry

A mass spectral fragmentation pattern of permethyl 6-C-glycosylflavones is proposed from the MS data of permethyl derivatives mono-O-deuteriomethylated in the 2″-, 3″-, 4″- or 6″-positions. The synthesis of these compounds via O″-glycosyl-6-C-glucosylflavones is described.     

A new method for assessing the sex of fragmentary skeletal remains: femoral shaft circumference

A simple discriminant function using midshaft femoral circumference for the determination of sex has been tested with 114 skeletons from the Libben Site, Ontario County, Ohio. The results have been shown to be 85% consistent with other, accepted means of determining sex. Femur circumference an be an aid to the sexual identification of poorly preserved and fragmentary skeletal remains.     

Parameter identification of the calvin photosynthesis cycle

Summary This article is concerned with the determination of kinetic parameters of the Calvin photosynthesis cycle which is described by seventeen nonlinear ordinary differential equations. It is shown that the task requires dynamic data for several sets of initial conditions. The numerical technique is based upon an algorithm for non-linear optimization and Gear's numerical integration scheme for stiff systems of differential equations. The sensitivity of the parameters to noise in the data is tested with a method adapted from Rosenbrook and Storey. A preliminary set of parameters has been obtained from a preliminary set of experimental data. The numerical methods are then tested with synthetic data derived from these parameters. The mathematical model and the results obtained in the simulation are used as an aid in designing new experiments.     

Xanthones and 4-phenylcoumarins of Mesua thwaitesii

The constituents of the bark, timber and seeds of Mesua thwaitesii were examined by column chromatography and GC-MS. 1,5-Dihydroxyxanthone, 1,7-dihydroxyxanthone (euxanthone), 1,3-dimethoxy-5-hydroxyxanthone, 1,5,6-trihydroxyxanthone, mammeisin, (4-phenylcoumarin) and sitosterol have been characterized. Nine 4-phenylcoumarins including mammeigin, mesuagin, mammeisin, mesuol, or its isomers, have been identified in the seed extract. One coumarin has not been previously reported.