Factors controlling the population dynamics of the clonal helophyte Ranunculus lingua

Abstract. Two marginal and two central populations of the pseudo-annual aquatic plant Ranunculus lingua were studied over four years. The main purpose was to quantify potentially influential abiotic and biotic factors and to derive predictions about life-history differences between the populations. Variation in abundance and height of R. lingua ramets at different depths were related to water-level fluctuations, to abundance of other helophyes (emergent macrophytes), and to the occurrence of invertebrate grazing and fungal pathogens. Clear differences between marginal and central populations were shown in the depth distribution of ramet numbers and ramet heights, as well as in the dynamic patterns, where marginal populations had a higher flux of ramets. These patterns and regression analyses indicated that abiotic factors have a greater influence in marginal populations, whereas biotic factors are more important in central populations. It is suggested that marginal habitats for R. lingua would favour life-histories with a high reproductive capacity, whereas a large size of ramet would be the most important life-history feature in central habitats. This was supported by the fact that ramets in marginal populations, in spite of their smaller size, produced higher number of rhizomes than ramets in central populations. Variation in regional abundance was finally related to differences in demographic processes and dispersal potential between the populations.     

Facile technique of protein precipitation by application of electric current

Summary Precipitation of proteins has been achieved following passage of direct electric current in various protein solutions. Application of as low as 3 V of electric current showed precipitation but the rate increased with increase in electric current. With 9 V there was more than 85% precipitation of protein within 15 min. Precipitation occurred at a wide range of pH and temperature. Electrophoretic analysis of precipitated proteins show that they are not denatured by application of electric current. Proteins thus precipitated can be easily recovered by centrifugation.     

Synthesis of (+)-(R)- and (−)-(S)-5-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-dipropylaminotetralin: Effects on rat hippocampal output of 5-HT, 5-HIAA,and DOPAC as determined by in vivo microdialysis

Racemic 5-methoxy-2-methyl-2-dipropylaminotetralin ( 3 ) has been prepared by a short synthetic route, in which the N,N-dipropyliminium perchlorate of 5-methoxy-2-tetralone ( 4 ) is a key intermediate. Racemic 3 was resolved by crystallization of the corresponding diastereomeric di-p-toluoyltartrates. The enantiomeric excess (%ee) of the phenolic derivatives of (+)-(R)- and (?)-(S)-3 [(+)-(R)- and (?)-(S)-2] was determined by ¹HNMR spectroscopic analysis of the corresponding diastereomeric (?)-(R)-1,1′-binaphthyl-2,2′-diylphosphoric acid salts utilizing ¹³C satellites. X-ray crystallography established the absolute configuration of (?)-(S)-2 · HCl. The enantiomers of 2 were tested for hippocampal output of 5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, and dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in rats by use of in vivo microdialysis. The (?)-(S)-enantiomer appeared to affect 5-HT-turnover, whereas (+)-(R)- 2 was inactive. Results obtained provide support for the previously reported hypothesis that the inactivity of (?)-(S)- 2 at central DA receptors is caused by the steric bulk of the C(2)-methyl group. This makes it possible to define a “DA D2 receptor essential volume.” © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

A Histological Evaluation of Induced Resistance to Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in Potato Leaves

Systemically induced resistance against Phytophthora infestans in the potato cultivar ‘Bintje’ was studied histologically at the light microscopy level on the leaf surface, in the epidermis and in the mesophyll of challenged potato leaves. Systemic disease resistance was induced by a local pre-infection with the same fungus. On the leaf surface of induced plants, the germination of cysts was enhanced. In the epidermis of induced plants, papilla deposition increased and penetration decreased, whereas in the mesophyll of induced plants the spread of hyphae was reduced. It is suggested that the reduction of disease severity in induced plants is the result of the combined action of several successive defence reactions.     

Novel Miscanthus hybrids: Modelling productivity on marginal land in Europe using dynamics of canopy development determined by light interception

New biomass crop hybrids for bioeconomic expansion require yield projections to determine their potential for strategic land use planning in the face of global challenges. Our biomass growth simulation incorporates radiation interception and conversion efficiency. Models often use leaf area to predict interception which is demanding to determine accurately, so instead we use low-cost rapid light interception measurements using a simple laboratory-made line ceptometer and relate the dynamics of canopy closure to thermal time, and to measurements of biomass. We apply the model to project the European biomass potentials of new market-ready hybrids for 2020–2030. Field measurements are easier to collect, the calibration is seasonally dynamic and reduces influence of weather variation between field sites. The model obtained is conservative, being calibrated by crops of varying establishment and varying maturity on less productive (marginal) land. This results in conservative projections of miscanthus hybrids for 2020–2030 based on 10% land use conversion of the least (productive) grassland and arable for farm diversification, which show a European potential of 80.7–89.7 Mt year⁻¹ biomass, with potential for 1.2–1.3 EJ year⁻¹ energy and 36.3–40.3 Mt year⁻¹ carbon capture, with seeded Miscanthus sacchariflorus × sinensis displaying highest yield potential. Simulated biomass projections must be viewed in light of the field measurements on less productive land with high soil water deficits. We are attempting to model the results from an ambitious and novel project combining new hybrids across Europe with agronomy which has not been perfected on less productive sites. Nevertheless, at the time of energy sourcing issues, seed-propagated miscanthus hybrids for the upscaled provision of bioenergy offer an alternative source of renewable energy. If European countries provide incentives for growers to invest, seeded hybrids can improve product availability and biomass yields over the current commercial miscanthus variety.     

Affinity-mediated modification of electrical charge on a cell surface: a new approach to the affinity partitioning of biological particles.

Polylysine has been covalently bound to human transferrin in a 1:1 molar ratio over a disulfide bond that can be easily split by reducing agents such as dithiothreitol. The association constant for the binding of the transferrin-polylysine derivative to transferrin receptors present on rat erythroblasts and the number of binding sites were identical to the corresponding values found for native transferrin. The incubation of the cells with transferrin-polylysine affected the partitioning of erythroblasts in a charge-sensitive aqueous two-phase system containing Dextran and polyethylene glycol. The polylysine part introduced a nonspecific influence on the partitioning that could be eliminated by preincubation of the cells with an excess of sialic acid. The partition ratio, G, of the erythroblasts changed with a factor of 1.9 for each set of 100,000 polylysine chains attached per cell.     

Use of nuclear morphometry characteristics to distinguish between normal and abnormal cervical glandular histologies.

This is a methodological study exploring the use of quantitative histopathology applied to the cervix to discriminate between normal and cancerous (consisting of adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma in situ) tissue samples. The goal is classifying tissue samples, which are populations of cells, from measurements on the cells. Our method uses one particular feature, the IODs-Index, to create a tissue level feature. The specific goal of this study is to find a threshold for the IODs-Index that is used to create the tissue level feature. The main statistical tool is Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. When applied to the data, our method achieved promising results with good estimated sensitivity and specificity for our data set. The optimal threshold for the IODs-Index was found to be 2.12.     

Ucon-benzoyl dextran aqueous two-phase systems: protein purification with phase component recycling

Benzoyl dextran with a degree of substitution of 0.18 was synthesized by reacting dextran T500 with benzoyl chloride. A new type of aqueous two-phase system composed of benzoyl dextran as bottom phase polymer and the random copolymer of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (Ucon 50-HB-5100) as top phase polymer has been formed. The phase diagram for the system Ucon 50-HB-5100-benzoyl dextran with a degree of substitution of 0.18 was determined at room temperature. This two-phase system has been used to purify 3-phosphoglycerate kinase from bakers' yeast. The top-phase polymer (Ucon) can be separated from target enzyme by increasing the temperature. The bottom-phase polymer (benzyol dextran) could be recovered by addition of salt. Yeast homogenate was partitioned in a primary Ucon 50-HB-5100-benzoyl dextran aqueous two-phase system. After phase separation the top phase was removed and temperature-induced phase separation was used for formation of a water phase and a Ucon-rich phase. The benzoyl dextran-enriched bottom phase from the primary system was diluted, and the polymer was separated from water by addition of Na₂SO₄.     

Lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: intracellular localization of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin 1β detected with a three-color immunofluorescence technique

 Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can induce monocytes to produce various cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β). In the present study, the kinetics of both intracellular and extracellular accumulation of TNFα and IL-1β in LPS stimulated mononuclear cell (MNC) cultures has been determined. A three-color-immunofluorescence technique was used to detect intracellular accumulation of cytokines. Intracellular accumulation of TNFα in monocytes starts shortly after initiation of the culture; i.e., TNFα is detectable after 1 h, reaching a peak level after 3–4 hours with 50–65% of monocytes staining positive. In parallel with its increased intracellular presence, TNFα was also found in the culture supernatant. The intracellular accumulation of IL-1β in monocytes became detectable after 2 h of culture in the presence of LPS. After 4 h, a plateau was reached, with 90% of the monocytes being positive. In parallel, but with a little delay, IL-1β could be detected in the culture supernatant. TNFα and IL-1β can be produced simultaneously in the same monocytes as was shown by a three-color-immunofluorescence technique. It is concluded that TNFα and IL-1β are good parameters for the early measurement of monocyte activation and that both the intracellular accumulation in monocytes and the amount of secreted cytokines can be used for such a purpose. The intracellular accumulation in monocytes can be measured by the three-color-immunofluorescence technique described. Accepted: 27 August 1996