Production of acidic xylo-oligosaccharides by a family 10 endoxylanase from Thermoascus aurantiacus and use as plant growth regulators

Neutral and acidic oligosaccharides were obtained from birchwood xylan by treatment with an endoxylanase, family 10 class, from Thermoascus aurantiacus. The main acidic xylooligosaccharide (aldotetrauronic acid) was separated from the hydrolysate by anion-exchange and size-exclusion chromatography and the primary structure was determined by ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The aldotetrauronic yield was 15% (w/w) of the total solubilised sugars. The addition of purified aldoterauronic acid at 1.6–16 mg l^–1 growth medium, induced callus and somatic embryogenesis in culture explants of common mallow (Malva silvestris L.) and cotton (Gosssypium hirsutum).     

Lung tissue mechanics and extracellular matrix composition in a murine model of silicosis.

The dynamic mechanical properties of lung tissue and its contents of collagen and elastic fibers were studied in strips prepared from mice instilled intratracheally with saline (C) or silica [15 (S15) and 30 days (S30) after instillation]. Resistance, elastance, and hysteresivity were studied during oscillations at different frequencies on S15 and S30. Elastance increased from C to silica groups but was similar between S15 and S30. Resistance was augmented from C to S15 and S30 and was greater in S30 than in S15 at higher frequencies. Hysteresivity was higher in S30 than in C and S15. Silica groups presented a greater amount of collagen than did C. Elastic fiber content increased progressively along time. This increment was related to the higher amount of oxytalan fibers at 15 and 30 days, whereas elaunin and fully developed elastic fibers were augmented only at 30 days. Silicosis led not only to pulmonary fibrosis but also to fibroelastosis, thus assigning a major role to the elastic system in the silicotic lung.     

Distribution of matter in the current-carrying plasma and dense core of the discharge channel formed upon electrical wire explosion

Distribution of matter in the discharge channel formed upon a nanosecond electrical explosion of a single wire in air and vacuum was studied experimentally. Simultaneous use of optical, UV, and X-ray diagnostics made it possible to distinguish qualitatively different regions of the discharge channel, such as the current-carrying layers and the region occupied by a weakly conducting cold plasma. Several series of experiments with 25-μm-diameter 12-mm-long wires made of different materials were performed. The charging voltage and the current amplitude were varied in the ranges of U ₀ = 10–20 kV and I _max ∼ 5–10 kA, respectively. Explosion regimes with a current pause and with and without current interruption, as well as with wire preheating in air and vacuum, were studied. Shadow and schlieren images of the discharge channel were obtained using optical probing at the second harmonic of a YAG: Nd⁺³ laser (λ = 0.532 μm, τ ∼ 10 ns). In the experiments carried out in vacuum, X-ray images of the discharge channel were also obtained using an X-pinch as a point source of probing radiation and UV images were recorded using a four-frame MCP camera.     

Disseminated nocardiosis in three macaque monkeys

Extrapulmonary nocardiosis was diagnosed at necropsy in two rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and one pigtailed monkey (M. nemestrina) over a four-year period in a large primate center. Typical lesions were multiple pyogranulomatous foci in the liver, intestines, peritoneum, lung and brain. Partially acid-fast, branching, filamentous organisms were seen in all lesions. Nocardia sp. was isolated from two cases. We postulate that two of the monkeys were infected by the oral route because of the distribution of lesions.     

The first vitamin B6 zinc complex, pyridoxinato-zinc acetate: A 1D coordination polymer with polar packing through strong inter-chain hydrogen bonding

The biologically important pyridoxinato(1−) ligand (anionic vitamin B₆) shows the rare phenolate-hydroxymethyl chelation plus bridging mode through the pyridine-nitrogen atom towards zinc(II) to give the one-dimensional (1D) coordination polymer {(acetato-κO)-aqua-μ-[2-methyl-3-oxy-4,5-di(hydroxymethyl)pyridine-κN:O,O′]zinc(II)}·monohydrate with polar packing of adjacent chains along the polar c axis (in space group Pc) through strong inter-chain hydrogen bonding.     

Sensitization of mice with wild-type and cold-adapted influenza virus variants: immune response to two H1N1 and H3N2 viruses

Two A strain influenza viruses, A/Hong Kong/123/77 (A/HK/123/77) (H1N1) and A/Queensland/6/72 (A/Qld/6/72) (H3N2), and the two cold-adapted reassortants which possess the surface antigens of these strains (CR35 and CR6, respectively) were tested for their ability both to induce primary cytotoxic T-cell (Tc cell) responses in mice and to sensitize mice for a second Tc cell response when challenged with a distantly related A strain virus, A/Shearwater/72 (H6N5). After intranasal inoculation, A/Qld/6/72 replicated to higher titers in the lung (1 to 2 log10 50% egg infective doses) than did A/HK/123/77 or either of the reassortants. A/Qld/6/72 induced higher Tc cell responses in the lung than did CR6, and both were more effective than either A/HK/123/77 or CR35 in this respect. When similar doses (10 or 10(3) hemagglutinin units) of each virus were injected intravenously into mice and the spleens were tested for Tc cell activity 6 days later, both A/Qld/6/72 and CR6 were ca. 100-fold better at inducing a primary Tc cell response than A/HK/123/77 or CR35. In contrast, the H1N1 and H3N2 viruses gave rather similar anti-hemagglutinin antibody titers (after intravenous injection) and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions (after subcutaneous injection). If mice were primed with a low dose of these viruses (10(4) 50% egg infective doses intranasally), A/Qld/6/72 and CR6 were more effective than A/HK/123/77 or CR35 at sensitizing for a secondary Tc cell response when challenged with A/Shearwater/72, but if larger doses were given either intranasally (10(6) 50% egg infective doses) or intravenously (10 to 10(3) hemagglutinin units), all viruses sensitized the mice equally well, despite the fact the A/Shearwater/72 gives a poor primary Tc cell response in mice. Thus, the viral glycoprotein antigens can be important in determining the immunogenicity of the virus and, particularly, the class I antigen-restricted Tc cell response of the host.     

Ca2+ channel antagonist actions in bladder smooth muscle: comparative pharmacologic and [3H]nitrendipine binding studies

The actions of a series of 15 Ca2+ channel antagonists including D-600, nifedipine, and diltiazem were examined against K+ depolarization and muscarinic receptor induced responses in guinea pig bladder smooth muscle. Responses of bladder are very dependent upon extracellular Ca2+ and sensitive to the Ca2+ channel antagonists, the tonic component more than the phasic component of response. Regardless of stimulant, K+ or methylfurmethide (MF), or component of response, the same rank order of antagonist activities is expressed, suggestive of a single structure-activity relationship and the existence of a single category of binding site which may, however, exist in several affinity states. High affinity binding of [3H]nitrendipine (KD = 1.1 X 10(-10) M) occurs in bladder membranes, and similar high affinity binding was found in microsomal preparations from other smooth muscles including guinea pig and rat lung, rat vas deferens, uterus, and stomach. [3H]nitrendipine binding in the bladder was sensitive to displacement by other 1,4-dihydropyridines, paralleling their pharmacologic activities and showing excellent agreement with binding data previously obtained for guinea pig ileal smooth muscle. Comparison of pharmacologic data for inhibition of K+- and MF-induced responses by a common series of Ca2+ channel antagonists in bladder and ileum revealed excellent correlations. Neither pharmacologic nor binding studies suggest significant differences in Ca2+ channel antagonist properties in smooth muscle from bladder and intestine.     

Arginine auxotrophs of Candida albicans deficient in argininosuccinate lyase

Auxotrophic mutants of Candida albicans FC18 were induced by a combination of treatments with nitrous acid and UV irradiation. Arginine (Arg-), histidine (His-) and methionine/cysteine (MetA-) auxotrophs were recovered by this means. The Arg- auxotrophs lacked active argininosuccinate lyase (EC 4.3.2.1), the enzyme catalysing the final step in arginine biosynthesis. Thus the locus may be designated arg-4. The mutant strains bearing this mutation did not form germ tubes unless the germination medium contained arginine.     

Habenular modulation of raphe indoleamine metabolism

Anatomical and neurophysiological findings have demonstrated neuronal connections between the diencephalic habenular nuclei and brain stem serotonergic raphe nuclei. Therefore we examined some neurochemical consequences of habenular lesions. Sixteen hours and one week after bilateral lesions serotonin metabolism (as reflected by concentrations of its metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid) was significantly increased in the dorsal but not the median raphe nuclei. Unilateral lesions produced a proportionally smaller augmentation. Motron locomotor activity was enhanced during the light and dark illumination phases in lesioned animals but only attained statistical significance during the day.     

The subunit composition of Portunus trituberculatus hemocyanin polymers

The subunit composition of isolated polymeric forms of Portunus trituberculatus hemocyanin were analysed by immunological techniques. The dodecamers contain four monomeric subunits corresponding to subunits I, II, III and IV, whereas the hexamers are devoid of subunit IV. These results suggest that subunit IV is required as a joining piece for the assembly of dodecamers.