Effects of temperature and moisture on urease activity in semi-arid tropical soils

Summary Studies of urease activity in an Indian Vertisol and Alfisol using both buffer (THAM pH 9.0) and non-buffer methods for assay of the urease activity showed that activity increased with increase in temperature from 10°C to a maximum at 60°C (Vertisol) and 70°C (Alfisol). Further increase in temperature decreased urease activity which was nearly totally inhibited at 100°C. Urease activity was not detected in soil samples collected in late summer when the soil moisture content was far below — 15 bar pressure. Urease activity increased with increase in moisture content up to field capacity and remained constant with further increase in moisture content. The relevance of these findings to the ICRISAT improved management practices for Vertisols, which involve seeding of crops into dry soil just before the onset of rains is discussed. Approved as Journal Article No. 288 by the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT).     

Characteristics of microsomal reduction of benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide

NADPH-reduction of benzo[a]pyrene 4,5-oxide (BP-4,5-oxide) to BP required four components from rat liver: cytochrome P-450, NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase, phosphatidylcholine and a soluble, heat-sensitive factor which was present in 105 000 × g supernatant and was also released from microsomes by sonication. The requirement for this factor contrasts with recently reported results from Sugiura et al. (Cancer Res., 40 (1980) 2910). Oxide-reduction was 40 times faster under anaerobic conditions, but oxygen did not affect the stimulation factor. This stimulation was highest (× 15) at low concentrations of microsomal protein (<0.1 mg/ml) and was almost absent at high concentrations of microsomal protein (>1 mg/ml). Oxide-reduction activity was proportional to microsomal protein concentration in the presence of added 105 000 × g supernatant, but for microsomes alone (>0.1 mg/ml) exhibited a parallel plot with an intercept at 0.08 mg/ml microsomal protein. Stimulation was highest at high concentrations of BP-4,5-oxide and a linear plot of V⁻¹ vs. [BP-4,5-oxide]⁻¹ was only obtained in the presence of 105 000 × g supernatant (K_m = 3 μM, V_max = 3.3 nmol/mg/min). Microsomal hydration of BP-4,5-oxide (inhibited in reductase assays) was unaffected by 105 000 × g supernatant, suggesting that stimulation of oxide-reduction did not derive from solubilization of BP-4,5-oxide. Stimulation was observed in the initial rate of reaction and was independent of incubation time. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation, removal of peroxides and deoxygenation were all excluded as explanations of the stimulatory effect.     

深圳市西海岸和海域生物资源多样性的管护

本文着重介绍生物多样性管护区的基本含义和要求,结合深圳市西海岸和海域的特点,提出建立珠江口南海海岸和海洋生物多样性管护区,以发挥该区域的资源优势和持续利用,为建设深圳特区做出应有的贡献。     

乙型肝炎血源疫苗不同免疫剂量阻断新生儿母婴传播的效果观察

用乙型肝炎血源疫苗,按0、1、6程序,分5种不同剂量免疫HBsAg和HBeAg均阳性(双阳性)母亲和仅HBsAg阳性母亲的新生儿,井于首针后8～12个月采血,用放射免疫(RIA)法检测他们的HBsAg和抗-HBs、抗-HBc,以比较不同剂量乙肝疫苗阻断母婴传播的效果。结果,10μg×3组对双阳性和仅HBsAg阳性母亲的新生儿的保护率,分别是42.9％和53.5％;20μ×3组为67.4％和69.7％;30μg、10μg、10μg组为75.6％和79.8％,30.20、20μg(含30、30、10μg)组为80.2％和81.5％;30μg×3组为82.3％和83.7％。随疫苗剂量增加保护率逐渐增加,抗-HBs阳转率也是如此。     

^137Cs,^134Cs在人工海洋小生境中的行为

在自行建立的人工海洋小生境中,采用示踪法综合地研究~(137)Cs、~(134)Cs在人工小生境中的行为。结果表明,~(137)Cs和~(134)Cs具有共同的生理生态行为,并表现出相似的规律、沉积物对~(137)Cs、~(134)Cs的吸附能力甚低,~(137)Cs、~(134)Cs在海洋动物体内趋于全身性的分布。各主要生化物质均能检出~(137)Cs、~(134)Cs。排泄实验后,海洋动物的胃肠、肝(消化腺)~(137)Cs、~(134)Cs损失显著。沉积物表现为解吸-重吸附的过程。     

The role of protective understorey in the regeneration system of a heavily browsed woodland

The paper tests an apparent relationship between young understorey of Ilex aquifolium and the presence of seedlings of the canopy species Fagus sylvatica and Quercus species, in heavily browsed woodland in the New Forest, southern England. A small block of woodland was searched and mapped, and the information collected subject to graphical and statistical analyses.Regeneration, though of low frequency, is present and shows non-random patterns of distribution. Older seedlings appear to be located in or near areas of understorey, or near fallen branches, logs, etc. Principal components analysis of woodland characteristics suggests six main habitat types are available to seedlings, and predictions are made about likely regeneration patterns associated with these habitats, according to a model based on the hypothesis of a protective understorey and heavy browsing pressure. Chi-square tests of actual seedling occurrences versus habitat types demonstrate marked associations of regeneration with non-trampled areas, including young Ilex understorey but also other forms of protective barrier. The association is more marked for larger seedlings.The implications for a wider understanding of regeneration processes and community dynamics in heavily browsed forest are discussed. It is concluded that regeneration theories appropriate to such forests are required, since the dominant gap-phase theories are not successful in predicting regeneration patterns when browsing is a major factor.     

Quantitation of Rat Dopamine Transporter mRNA: Effects of Cocaine Treatment and Withdrawal

Dopamine transporter mRNA levels in the rat substantia nigra were quantified using a sensitive nuclease protection assay with a highly homologous human dopamine transporter cDNA clone. The same probe was also used to visualize dopamine transporter mRNA in the substantia nigra by in situ hybridization. Repeated cocaine administration (15 mg/kg, twice a day for 6.5 days) resulted in a greater than 40% decrease in nigral dopamine transporter mRNA levels. In contrast, dopamine transporter mRNA levels were unchanged after either acute treatment (4 h before death) or repeated cocaine treatment followed by a 72-h withdrawal period. Thus, blockade of the dopamine transporter by repeated cocaine administration may result in the down-regulation of dopamine transporter gene expression in dopamine neurons.     

Pollen placement and reproductive isolation between two brazilianPolygala species (Polygalaceae)

Polygala vauthieri andP. monticola var.brizoides have secondary pollen presentation from a basket-like structure on the style apex. This basket is loaded after the first visit by a bee. Pollen reception, therefore, can precede the issue of pollen. A sticky stigma secretion glues the pollen from the basket under the head of the bee visitor in an exactly predetermined spot on the left side only. This position mostly forms a kind of safe spot, where the bee can not remove the pollen. The exact position on the bee's head is determined by the species specific distance between style tip and nectary in the visited flower. In this way the two sympatric species deposit the pollen 2 mm apart on the visitor and so can avoid hybridization pollination, while being visited by the same group of bees.