Linkage of bovine erythrocyte antigen loci B, C, L, S, Z, R' and T' and the serum protein loci post-transferrin 2 (PTF 2), vitamin D binding protein (GC) and albumin (ALB) to DNA microsatellite markers

Seven bovine erythrocyte antigen loci and three serum protein loci were tentatively assigned to chromosomes or synteny groups by linkage analysis to previously assigned microsatellite DNA markers. The erythrocyte antigen locus EAB was mapped to synteny group U27; EAC to chromosome 18, synteny group U9; EAL to chromosome 3, synteny group U6; EAS to chromosome 21, synteny group U4; EAZ to chromosome 10, synteny group U5; EAR' to chromosome 16, synteny group U1; and EAT' to chromosome 19, synteny group U21. The vitamin D binding protein (GC) and albumin (ALB) loci were assigned to chromosome 6, synteny group U15 and post-transferrin 2 (PTF 2) to chromosome 19, synteny group U21.     

Integrating the porcine physical and linkage map using cosmid-derived markers

An essential part in the development of informative linkage maps is to include genetic markers that have been anchored by physical mapping. Here a set of 18 porcine cosmid-derived genetic markers are reported that have been mapped by linkge analysis, and that also have been physically localized by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Three different strategies were used to establish polymorphic markers from the cosmid clones. Firstly, dinucleotide microsatellite loci were derived by sequencing cosmid subclones containing (CA), repeats. Secondly, variable SINE 3′ poly(A) tracts (SINEVA) were identified by direct SINE-PCR amplification of cosmid clones. Thirdly, the cosmids were used in Southern blot hybridization to detect restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs). Compared with the most recent consensus compilation of the porcine gene map, the present assignment of markers to chromosomes Zp, 3, 4, 10, 12q, and 16 represents the first loci mapped to these chromosomes, for which linkage as well as in situ data are now available.     

Conservation of two predator species for biological control ofChrysophtharta bimaculata (Col.: Chrysomelidae) in tasmanian forests

Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) is a major defoliator of regeneration eucalypt trees in Tasmania causing a significant reduction in height and diameter increment of trees which reduces wood volume per hectare. A study to conserve and enhance the efficiency of coccinellid species chieflyCleobora mellyi (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae), and the cantharid,Chauliognathus pulchellus (Macleay) (Coleoptera: Cantharidae), for the biological control ofC. bimaculata was conducted in young regeneration forests in southern Tasmania from 1991–92. Cantharid adults and coccinellid adults and larvae feed onC. bimaculata eggs and, to a lesser extent, young larvae. The study found that coccinellids were more active throughout the egg and early (1^st and 2^nd) stage ofC. bimaculata. The cantharid, however was active only during the egg stage of the prey and then disappeared from the plantation. The coccinellids were therefore the most useful predators, but their population declined when the prey reached the 3^rd and 4^th stages. As shortage of food may account for this decline, supplementary food was provided in the form of sucrose sprays or sugar granules at a feeding station. This resulted in the retention of both predators and particularly the coccinellids and enhanced their efficacy.     

Scheduling algorithms for a two-machine flexible manufacturing system

The flexible manufacturing system (FMS) considered in this paper is composed of two CNC machines working in series—a punching machine and a bending machine connected through rollers acting as a buffer system of finite capacity. The main difference between the present problem and the standard two-machine flow shop problem with finite intermediate capacity is precisely the buffer system, which in our problem consists of two stacks of parts supported by rollers: the first stack contains the output of the punching machine, while the second stack contains the input for the bending machine. When the second stack is empty, the first stack may be moved over. Furthermore, the capacity of each stack depends on the particular part type being processed. The FMS can manufacture a wide range of parts of different types. Processing times on the two machines are usually different so that an unbalance results in their total workload. Furthermore, whenever there is a change of the part type in production, the machines must be properly reset—that is, some tools need to be changed or repositioned. A second important difference between the present problem and the usual two-machine flow shop problem is the objective. Given a list ofp part types to be produced in known quantities, the problem considered here is how to sequence or alternate the production of the required part types so as to achieve various hierarchical targets: minimize the makespan (the total time needed to complete production) and, for instance, compress the idle periods of the machine with less workload into a few long enough intervals that could be utilized for maintenance or other reasons. Although Johnson's rule is optimal in some particular cases, the problem addressed in the paper isNP-hard in general: heuristic procedures are therefore provided.     

Effect of medium composition, agitation and the presence of EDTA on the antimicrobial activity of cryptolepine

The antimicrobial activity of cryptolepine is influenced by the type of medium employed, agitation and the presence of non-inhibitory concentrations of EDTA. The use of Mueller–Hinton broth (MHB), iso-sensitest broth and tryptone soya broth (TSB) produced lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for some of the test organisms compared with nutrient broth or yeast dextrose broth (YDB). For example, a fourfold drop in MIC was recorded for Saccharomyces cerevisiae in MHB compared with the same organism tested in YDB. Agitation of the broths during incubation nearly always produced lower MICs for the bacteria, an eightfold decrease in MIC being recorded for Escherichia coli cultured in nutrient broth with agitation compared with a statically maintained culture. A non-inhibitory concentration (10⁻³ mol l⁻¹) of disodium EDTA enhanced the antimicrobial activity of cryptolepine. Against E. coli NCTC 11560, an eightfold decrease in MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was recorded when tested in the presence of EDTA.     

Association of LHIα(B870) Polypeptide with Phospholipids During Insertion in the Photosynthetic Membrane of an LHII− Mutant of Rhodobacter capsulatus

Membranes from in vivo labeled cells of Rhodobacter capsulatus U43[pTX35] grown photosynthetically carried 60% of the [³²P]-Pi in the “heavy” fraction (HM) after sucrose gradient sedimentation. Metal-chelating chromatography of either “heavy” or “light” (LM) membrane fractions rendered similar Bchl-protein complex profiles after octyl-glucoside treatment, including most of the radioactivity in the same corresponding elution fraction (F II). Similar labeling distribution of pigment-protein complexes was obtained for membranes of dark-grown cells induced by lowering oxygen tension. Fractions derived from HM showed highly labeled LHIα, whereas the same complex from LM was essentially [³²P]-Pi-free, as revealed by SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography. Phospholipid analysis showed a similar pattern for membranes isolated from cells photosynthetically or semiaerobically grown, being the most abundant: phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, cardiolipin, and phosphatidylcholine. Part of the phospholipids from HM comigrated with LHIα during SDS-PAGE and dissociated from the complexes only after solvent extraction and hydrophobic chromatography. However, a small amount remained always attached to LHIα, indicating an unusual strong interaction. These results suggest the existence of two operationally defined membrane regions carrying LHIα complexes differing in phosphorylation status and protein-phospholipid interaction. Received: 10 August 1996 / Accepted: 10 September 1996