The ecology of a late Visean forest at Catcraig (East Lothian,Scotland) based on multiproxy study of paleosol and root-casts

The Middle Longcraig Limestone (late Visean) at Catcraig, Scotland, is densely covered with large (about 1 m in diameter) hollows, which are surrounded by numerous fossilized roots. The latter represent the positions of tree-sized plants belonging to a fossil forest. This paper aims to reconstruct its ecology based on paleosol properties, size and spatial distribution of root-casts, rooting system morphology and characteristics of coalified plant remnants. The obtained data are consistent with the supposition that the Visean peat wetland forest of Catcraig represents a Cordaitalean dominated community composed of mono-sized, most probably, even-aged giant trees. The peaty paleosol (Histosol) contains pyrite and siderite, indicating reducing and acidic conditions, whilst the abundant presence of gypsum testifies periods of elevated salinity. The adaptation of trees to such conditions is supported by morphologically evident large root mass (typically more than 1000 individual roots per cast). Good preservation of plant tissues in peat, in addition to other paleosol and rooting system characteristics allow us to conclude that the trees occupied seacoast settings or lagoons, which were not permanently flooded.     

Fluorescent (Au@SiO2)SiC Nanohybrids: Influence of Gold Nanoparticle Diameter and SiC Nanoparticle Surface Density

Gold@silica core–shell nanoparticles were prepared with various gold core diameters (ranging from 20 to 150 nm) and silica thicknesses (ranging from 10 to 30 nm). When the gold diameter is increased, the size dispersion became larger, leading to a broader plasmon band. Then, silicon carbide (SiC) nanoparticles were covalently immobilized onto silica to obtain hybrid (Au@SiO₂) SiC nanoparticles. The absorption properties of these hybrid nanoparticles showed that an excess of SiC nanoparticles in the dispersion can be identified by a strong absorption in the UV region. Compared to SiC reference samples, a blue shift of the fluorescence emission, from 582 to 523 nm, was observed, which was previously attributed to the strong surface modification of SiC when immobilized onto silica. Finally, the influence of several elaboration parameters (gold diameter, silica thickness, SiC concentration) on fluorescence enhancement was investigated. It showed that the highest enhancements were obtained with 10 nm silica thickness, low concentration of SiC nanoparticles, and surprisingly, with a 20-nm gold core diameter. This last result could be attributed to the broad plasmon band of big gold colloids. In this case, SiC emission strongly overlapped gold absorption, leading to possible quenching of SiC fluorescence by energy transfer.     

Effect of Metalaxyl on the incidence and severity of Pearl millet downy mildew disease in Northern Nigeria

Pearl millet downy mildew (DM) incidence, severity and yield losses of two pearl millet varieties (local and improved) due to the disease were determined in the field. Significant differences in the disease incidence and severity were recorded in the plots sown with metalaxyl-treated seeds and those sown with non-treated seeds, indicating the efficacy of the fungicide on the fungus. Yield losses due to non-treatment of seeds with metalaxyl was 40.88 and 45.39% in a local variety and 43.00 and 18.60% in an improved variety in the 2000 and 2001 cropping seasons respectively. Significant differences between plots sown with metalaxyl-treated and those sown with non-treated seeds were obtained for other yield components such as 1000-grains weight, panicle length and weight.     

Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis. Structure of cytochrome c-cardiolipin complex

One of the functions of cytochrome c in living cells is the initiation of apoptosis by catalyzing lipid peroxidation in the inner mitochondrial membrane, which involves cytochrome c bound with acidic lipids, especially cardiolipin. In this paper the results of studies of cytochrome c-cardiolipin complex structure carried out by different authors mainly on unilamellar cardiolipin-containing phospholipid liposomes are critically analyzed. The principal conclusion from the published papers is that cytochrome c-cardiolipin complex is formed by attachment of a cytochrome c molecule to the membrane surface via electrostatic interactions and the subsequent penetration of one of the fatty-acid cardiolipin chains into the protein globule, this being associated with hydrophobic interactions that break the >Fe…S(Met80) coordinate bond and giving rise to appearance of cytochrome c peroxidase activity. Nevertheless, according to data obtained in our laboratory, cytochrome c and cardiolipin form spherical nanoparticles in which protein is surrounded by a monolayer of cardiolipin molecules. Under the action of cooperative forces, the protein in the globule expands greatly in volume, its conformation is modified, and the protein becomes a peroxidase. In extended membranes, such as giant monolayer liposomes, and very likely in biological membranes, the formation of nanospheres of cytochrome c-cardiolipin complex causes fusion of membrane sections and dramatic chaotization of the whole membrane structure. The subsequent disintegration of the outer mitochondrial membrane is accompanied by cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and triggering of a cascade of programmed cell death reactions.