Timelessness in Sleep: Multidimensional Scope

Sleep and Biological Rhythms -     

The Dutch N-cascade in the European perspective

The Netherlands is "well known" for its nitrogen problems; it has one of the highest reactive nitrogen (Nr) emission densities in the world. It is a small country at the delta of several large European rivers. Ever since the industrial revolution, there has been a growing excess of nutrients and related emissions into the atmosphere (ammonia, nitrogen oxides and nitrous oxide) and into groundwater and surface water (nitrate), leading to a large range of cascading environmental impacts. Vehicular traffic, sewage and animal husbandry are the main sources of oxidized and reduced forms of Nr. This paper provides an overview of the origin and fate of nitrogen in the Netherlands, the various reported impacts of nitrogen, the Dutch and European policies to reduce nitrogen emissions and related impacts. In addition, ways are presented to go forward to potentially solve the problems in a European perspective. Solutions include the improvement of nitrogen efficiencies in different systems, technological options and education.     

Synemin Isoforms in Astroglial and Neuronal Cells from Human Central Nervous System

The intermediate filament (IF) synemin gene encodes three IF proteins (H 180, M 150, L 41 kDa) with overlapping distributions. Synemin M was present early with vimentin and nestin. Synemin H was found later in the nervous system and mesodermic derivatives concomitantly with angiogenesis and the migration of neural crest cells. Synemin L appeared later in neurons. A series of in vitro cell cultures were done to identify the linkage between synemin isoforms and specific cell types of the central nervous system (CNS). The neurons and glia from the brains of humans and rats were cultured and double immunostaining done with antibodies against the H/M or L synemin isoforms and neural cell types (βIII-tubulin or NeuN) or astrocyte intermediate filaments (GFAP or vimentin). In neurons of the CNS, synemin H/M were co-expressed with GFAP, vimentin or nestin in glial cells, whereas synemin L was found in neurons.     

Mitochondrial DNA evolution in the Montium-species subgroup of Drosophila

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) restriction-site maps for six species (10 strains) of the Drosophila montium subgroup were established. A total of 50 restriction sites were mapped, corresponding to 1.67% of the mtDNA genome. On the basis of differences in the restriction sites, nucleotide divergence (delta) was calculated for each pair of species (strains), and phylogenetic trees were constructed by using distance- matrix and parsimony methods. Comparison of the resultant phylogenetic trees shows that the sibling species D. auraria and D. quadraria are closely related. At the other extreme, considerable divergence was observed between the two strains of D. serrata and between D. serrata and D. birchii, a finding that contrasts with their grouping within the same species complex. Nevertheless, our data indicate that these six oriental montium species are rather closely related.      

Ensiling whole-crop wheat and corn in large containers with Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus buchneri

The effect of applying Lactobacillus buchneri, alone or in combination with Lactobacillus plantarum, at ensiling, on the aerobic stability of wheat and corn silages was studied in 50-l plastic containers. Treatments comprised control (no additives), L. plantarum, L. buchneri and a combination of L. plantarum+L. buchneri. After 3 months of storage, the wheat silages treated with L. buchneri had higher acetic acid contents than the control or L. plantarum-treated silages, and were free of mold, whereas the top layers of the control or L. plantarum-treated silages were moldy. In an aerobic stability test the L. buchneri-treated silages were stable, whereas those treated with L. plantarum deteriorated. In the corn silages the effects of L. buchneri were not as clear and the top layer was moldy in all silages. However, L. buchneri also improved the aerobic stability of the corn silage, as indicated by lower yeast numbers, less CO₂ production and stable pH. It is concluded that L. buchneri has a potential as a silage additive that protects the silage upon aerobic exposure. The 50-l plastic containers can serve as an appropriate model to test silage additives before conducting full-scale farm experiments. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2002) 28, 7–11 DOI: 10.1038/sj/jim/7000207 Received 17 April 2001/ Accepted in revised form 25 August 2001