Deoxyribonucleic Acid Homology and Relative Genome Size in Mycoplasma

The deoxyribonucleic acid homologies of Mycoplasma laidlawii type A and type B, M. pulmonis (#47 and #63), and M. hominis were determined by membrane methodology. The homology data revealed a difference in genome size between M. laidlawii type A and type B. This difference also held with stringent conditions of annealing (high temperature). Little or negligible homology was shown to exist between the M. laidlawii strains type A and type B and M. pulmonis strains 47 and 63 and M. hominis. M. hominis showed less than 10% homology to the M. pulmonis and M. laidlawii strains. Neither of the M. laidlawii strains showed more than 2% annealing to the M. pulmonis strains. Reaction rate studies are suggested as a means of demonstrating the phylogenetic relationship between the Mycoplasma and other microorganisms.     

Computer-assisted Follow-up Register for the North-East of Scotland

An automated follow-up register for the detection of iatrogenic thyroid disease has been established as a joint venture between the general practitioners in the north-east of Scotland and the thyroid clinic of Aberdeen General Hospitals.The data-processing operations in the system are handled by an International Computers Limited 4/50 computer. Patients are followed up at predetermined intervals and the system has been designed to process, screen, and store clinical and biochemical follow-up data and report results to the patients, general practitioners, and the hospital records department.     

Purine Ribonucleosidase g from Aspergillus foetidus

Nucleosidase g was prepared by growing Aspergillus foetidus on bran, and was purified by passage through a diethylaminoethyl-Sephadex column. The enzyme acted on the purine ribosides (except xanthosine) and on their 5'-phosphates. Action on the latter was a good means for preparing ribose-5-phosphate.     

Effects of Triton X-100 on acid phosphatases with different substrate specificities

Summary The effect of Triton X-100 on the activities of acid phosphatases from wheat germ, potato and human prostate was tested using -glycerophosphate, p-nitro-phenyl phosphate and naphthol AS BI phosphate as substrates. There was little effect on -glycerophosphatase activity at the concentrations of Triton X-100 tested. However at low concen trations of the detergent there was a stimulation of the activities of p-nitrophenyl phosphatase and naphthol phosphatase which were inhibited with the higher concentrations. Triton X-100 was found to enhance colour production between naphthol AS BI and fast red violet LB.Further evidence is presented confirming the presence of more than one acid phosphatase from each of the sources employed.     

Application ofVerticillium lecanii for the control ofAphis gossypii by a low-volume electrostatic rotary atomiser and a high-volume hydraulic sprayer

Verticillium lecanii (Fungi: Deuteromycete) blastospores were applied to a chrysanthemum crop by an ULV electrostatically charged rotary atomiser (APE-80). The deposition of spores and subsequent control ofAphis gossypii were compared to high volume hydraulic application. A full rate treatment (2×10¹³ blastospores per ha.) was applied by the APE-80 at week 1 and reduced spore rates of 1/6^th and 1/12^th applied by both the APE-80 and the hydraulic sprayer once and twice a week respectively for weeks 1 to 6. Untreated plots served as controls. Initial deposits of spores were higher with the electrostatic sprayer and better distributed with respect to the position of the target aphids. Significantly lower aphid populations were recorded on the electrostatically treated plots in week 4. The single full rate treatment had significantly fewer aphids than the untreated plots from week 3 and all treatments had significantly fewer aphids than the untreated plots from week 5 onwards. The proportion of the aphid population killed byV. lecanii was higher on the electrostatically treated plots until week 6.