Flow‐injection chemiluminescence determination of diazepam by oxidation with N‐bromosuccinimide

A rapid and sensitive flow‐injection chemiluminescence (FI–CL) method is described for the determination of diazepam based on its reaction with N‐bromosuccinimide (NBS) in alkaline medium in the presence of dichlorofluorescein (DCF) as an effective energy‐transfer agent. Under optimum conditions, the proposed method allowed the measurement of diazepam over the range of 2.0 × 10^?6 to 2.0 × 10^?4 mol/L with a detection limit of 5.0 × 10^?7 mol/L. The relative standard deviation for 11 parallel measurements of 2.0 × 10^?5 mol/L diazepam was 2.1%. The method was applied satisfactorily for the determination of diazepam in pharmaceutical preparations, and the results agree well with those obtained by spectrophotometry. The use of the proposed system for the determination of diazepam in urine and plasma samples was also tested. The possible mechanism of the chemiluminescence reaction is discussed briefly. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rainfall in prior breeding seasons influences population size of a small marsupial

The imposition of the stresses of climate change (higher temperatures and in many regions lower rainfall) on existing stressors, such as habitat loss and degradation, will increase pressures on native fauna already experiencing declines. We focused on assessing how the ‘Big Dry’ (severe drought, 1997–2010) in south‐eastern Australia affected populations of a small marsupial carnivore, the yellow‐footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), in box‐ironbark forests, which suffer a range of anthropogenic disturbances. Trapping of the mammal was conducted on 136 (0.25 ha) sites in two box‐ironbark forests in 2004, 2005 and 2011 (46 or 64 sites per year). Capture rates of all distinct individuals, males and second‐year females with suckled teats, and the number of suckled teats were positively associated with rainfall in the previous September (time of lactation and deposition of young in nests). Despite differences between forests in capture rates of all individuals, the positive effect of rainfall was evident in both forests. Populations in one forest, Chiltern, were substantially larger than other locations surveyed in 2004 and 2005, yet crashed to small numbers in 2011. This crash was most likely due to low rainfall in the preceding years including the lowest recorded annual rainfall (2006), below‐average annual rainfall (2007, 2008 and 2009) and well‐below‐average rainfall in September (2006, 2007 and 2008). The predicted drying and warming climate in south‐eastern Australia and habitat loss and degradation pose a threat to the viability of the yellow‐footed antechinus in box‐ironbark forests. An integrated approach to small‐mammal management is necessary given that the region may be facing additional losses, especially during droughts, to those already experienced since the early 1800s. Our work emphasizes the need to identify specific effects of stressors on vital demographic characteristics of species.     

Multi-Scale Assessment of Male Northern Yellow Bat Roost Selection

Knowledge of roost selection by northern yellow bats (Lasiurus intermedius) is limited to a small number of known roost locations. Yet knowledge of basic life history is fundamental to understanding past response to anthropogenic change and to predict how species will respond to future environmental change. Therefore, we examined male northern yellow bat roost selection on 2 Georgia, USA, barrier islands with different disturbance histories. Sapelo Island has a history of extensive disturbance and is dominated by pine (Pinus spp.) forests; Little Saint Simons Island has a limited disturbance history with maritime oak (Quercus spp.) forest as the dominant cover type. From March–July 2012 and 2013, we radio-tracked 35 adult male northern yellow bats to diurnal roosts and modeled roost characteristics at the plot and landscape scales. We located 387 roosts, of which 95% were in Spanish moss (Tillandsia usneoides) hanging in hardwood trees. On both islands, bats selected roost trees with larger diameters than surrounding trees and selected roost locations with greater open flight space (i.e., low midstory clutter) underneath. Roosts were located farther from open areas on Sapelo and closer to fresh water on Little Saint Simons compared to random locations. Lower availability of hardwood forest on Sapelo may have resulted in small-scale roost site selection (i.e., plot level) despite potential increased costs of commuting to water and open areas for foraging. In contrast, greater availability of hardwood forest on Little Saint Simons likely allowed selection of roosts closer to fresh water, which provides foraging and drinking opportunities. Our results indicate that mature hardwood trees in areas with low midstory clutter are important in male northern yellow bat roost selection, but landscape-level features have varying influences on roost selection, likely as a result of differences in disturbance history. Therefore, management will differ depending on the landscape context. Further research is needed to examine roost selection by females, which may have different habitat requirements. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.     

Transmission of peanut yellow spot virus (PYSV) by Thrips,Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood in groundnut †

Peanut yellow spot virus (PYSV) was efficiently transmitted by Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood in groundnut. Larvae could acquire the virus in 30 min and the maximum percentage transmission of 43.8% by individual insects resulted following two days AAP. Single adult Thrip transmitted the virus after minimum IAP of 30 minutes. The percentage transmission (33.3%) increased linearly with an increase in IAP up to 1.5 days and maximum up to 55 h of IAP (36.1%). PYSV persistently transmitted more than 75% of their life span.     

Study of resistance components of some promising wheat lines to yellow rust disease in the seedling stage

The most reliable method to control the wheat yellow rust disease is cultivation of resistance cultivars. To provide resistance, it is necessary to be aware of the amount and the quality of pathogenesis of disease factors and resistant specifications. In this study, 82 wheat promising lines with Bolani susceptible cultivar in randomised complete block design were tested in the seedling stage. This experiment was carried out in greenhouse condition, and it was assessed by two races: 166E254A+Yr27+ and 6E150A+, which were more and less pathogenic, respectively. The attributes of resistance were measured for infection type (IT), latent period (LP), pustule size (PS) and density. Results of variance analysis relating two races between wheat genotypes for these four attributes of resistance showed that there is a difference in the probability at 1% level. The statistical analyses for these components of resistance indicated that there is negative and high solidarity between IT and LP, and also among the number and density of pustules. The correlation between IT and LP and both races were -0.90 and -0.98, respectively. Cluster analysis of lines to each race was classified as resistant, semi-resistant and susceptible. The first group of the resistant lines were 27 lines in which their ITs of 0–2, mean LP of 18?days PS of 2.8 and pustule density of 1.1 were recorded.     

Physical mapping and cloning of RAD56

Here we report the physical mapping of the rad56-1 mutation to the NAT3 gene, which encodes the catalytic subunit of the NatB N-terminal acetyltransferase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Mutation of RAD56 causes sensitivity to X-rays, methyl methanesulfonate, zeocin, camptothecin and hydroxyurea, but not to UV light, suggesting that N-terminal acetylation of specific DNA repair proteins is important for efficient DNA repair.     

怀孕前后酒精摄入对雌鼠植入前胚胎DNA甲基化模式建立的影响

女性怀孕前后饮酒会对胎儿的发育及神经系统造成不利影响,称为“胎儿酒精综合征”（fetal alcohol spectrum disorders,FASD）。小鼠通常作为研究该病的动物模型。该实验采用体外培养技术及体内冲胚法研究雌鼠怀孕前后酒精摄入对各期植入前胚胎全基因组DNAT基化模式建立的影响。小鼠植入前胚胎体外培养实验发现,体外实验组I（怀孕前酒精处理组1,除8-cell外,其他各期胚胎的DNA甲基化水平明显低于体外对照组;体外实验组II（正常胚胎在含乙醇的培养基中培养）,各期植入前胚胎DNA甲基化水平均明显低于体外对照组。体内实验发现,体内实验组I（怀孕前酒精处理组）与体内的实验组II（怀孕后酒精处理组）,各期植入前胚胎DNA甲基化水平明显低于体内对照组。体内、外实验结果表明：受精前后酒精对各期植入前胚胎DNA甲基化模式的正确建立造成紊乱,该结果可为进一步揭示FSAD发病机制提供一定的实验基础。     

Functional analysis and tissue-differential expression of four FAD2 genes in amphidiploid Brassica napus derived from Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea

Fatty acid desaturase 2 (FAD2), which resides in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), plays a crucial role in producing linoleic acid (18:2) through catalyzing the desaturation of oleic acid (18:1) by double bond formation at the delta 12 position. FAD2 catalyzes the first step needed for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids found in the glycerolipids of cell membranes and the triacylglycerols in seeds. In this study, four FAD2 genes from amphidiploid Brassica napus genome were isolated by PCR amplification, with their enzymatic functions predicted by sequence analysis of the cDNAs. Fatty acid analysis of budding yeast transformed with each of the FAD2 genes showed that whereas BnFAD2-1, BnFAD2-2, and BnFAD2-4 are functional enzymes, and BnFAD2-3 is nonfunctional. The four FAD2 genes of B. napus originated from synthetic hybridization of its diploid progenitors Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea, each of which has two FAD2 genes identical to those of B. napus. The BnFAD2-3 gene of B. napus, a nonfunctional pseudogene mutated by multiple nucleotide deletions and insertions, was inherited from B. rapa. All BnFAD2 isozymes except BnFAD2-3 localized to the ER. Nonfunctional BnFAD2-3 localized to the nucleus and chloroplasts. Four BnFAD2 genes can be classified on the basis of their expression patterns.