The fragmentation of 670A MeV neon-20 as a function of depth in water. II. One-generation transport theory

The results of an experiment to study the interaction of a beam of 670A MeV neon ions incident on a water column set to different thicknesses were compared with a "first principles" transport calculation in the straight-ahead approximation. This calculation assumes that the nuclear interactions of the incident particles lead to a secondary particle with the velocity of the incident projectile at the interaction point moving in the direction of the incident projectile. Subsequent nuclear interactions of the fragments were taken into account partially, by calculating the nuclear attenuation of the fragments in the residual material, but were not taken into account as a source of further nuclear interaction products. Fluence spectra were calculated per unit incident neon fluence for 14 absorber thicknesses. The acceptance for each fragment was calculated based on a knowledge of the material in the beam and of the beam extraction energy. The theoretical spectra were multiplied by the calculated acceptance and convoluted with the LET resolution associated with the experiment. The stopping power used in the transport calculation was found to predict a range approximately 1.6% shorter than that given by experiment; this small difference resulted in significant discrepancies between theory and experiment in the stopping region. For particles not stopping in the absorber, the transport calculation was accurate to within 30% for depths less than approximately 15 cm; the effects of tertiary particles become significant at greater depth.     

Extending CD spectra of proteins to 168 nm improves the analysis for secondary structures

The CD spectra for 10 proteins with known secondary structure have been extended from 178 to 168 nm. Combined with the data for 6 other proteins investigated previously, this produces a basis set of 16 proteins, which can be used to analyze CD spectra for secondary structure. Extending the spectra adds another CD band to the data and increases the information content from the equivalent of five to six. Analyzing the CD for each of the 16 proteins in the basis set with the 15 other proteins shows a modest improvement in the prediction of secondary structure with the extended CD spectra.     

Relationship between calcium and agar on vitrification and shoot-tip necrosis of quince (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) shoots in vitro

Shoot-tip cultures of Quince C (Cydonia oblonga Mill.) initiated on Murashige & Skoog (MS) medium containing 5 M BA and 0.6% Phytagar showed both shoot-tip necrosis and severe vitrification. Culturing explants on medium containing 1.2% Phytagar and Ca levels of 3 mM (MS medium), 18 mM and 30 mM showed a decrease in growth with increasing medium Ca levels, being especially severe at 30 mM. The Ca content of the explants increased linearly with increasing medium Ca. Culturing explants on medium containing 3 mM, 9 mM, and 18 mM Ca at 0.6, 0.9, and 1.2% agar resulted in reduction in growth, shoot-tip necrosis, and vitrification when either factor was increased. The reduction in shoot-tip necrosis could be accounted for primarily by an increase in medium Ca levels but may also be affected by a change in explant growth. Increasing Ca concentration in the medium resulted in a linear increase in explant K, Ca, Mg, and B levels and a decrease in Mn and Na. Although increasing medium Ca or agar levels reduced vitrification, it is unclear whether they were the direct cause of the reduction in vitrification or whether this response was an effect of the reduction in culture fresh weight.Approved by publication by the Director, West Virginia Agriculture anf Forestry Experimental Station as Scientific Article No. 2199     

Circular dichroism and laser Raman spectroscopic analysis of the secondary structure ofCerebratulus lacteus toxin B-IV

The secondary structure ofCerebratulus lacteus toxin B-IV, a neurotoxic polypeptide containing 55 amino acid residues and four disulfide bonds, was experimentally estimated by computer analyses of toxin circular dichroism (CD) and laser Raman spectra. The CD spectrum of the toxin displayed typical α-helical peaks at 191, 208, and 222 nm. At neutralpH, the α-helix estimates from CD varied between 49 and 55%, when nonrepresentative spectrum analytical methods were used. Analysis of the laser Raman spectrum obtained at a much higher toxin concentration yielded a 78% α-helix estimate. Both CD and Raman spectroscopic methods failed to detect any β-sheet structure. The spectroscopic analyses revealed significantly more α-helix and less β-sheet for toxin B-IV than was predicted from its sequence. To account for the difference between the 49–55% helix estimate from CD spectra and the 78% helix estimate from the Raman spectrum, we postulate that some terminal residues are unfolded at the low toxin concentrations used for CD measurements but form helix at the high toxin concentration used for Raman measurements. Our CD observations showing thatCerebatulus toxin B-IV helix content increases about 15% in trifluoroethanol or at highpH are consistent with this interpretation.     

Dust and ammonia in horse stalls with different ventilation rates and bedding

Airborne particles and ammonia were monitored in horse stalls managed under four conditions. Two ventilation rates, high (27 air changes per h) and low (5 air changes per h) and two bedding types, paper and straw, were employed. At both ventilation rates, the number of airborne particles generated while the stalls were mucked out was higher with straw than with paper. Particles were more efficiently cleared at the higher ventilation rate in both the straw and paper stalls. Ammonia measurements reflected an accumulation over time. In the stalls with low ventilation, ammonia levels were significantly higher than in those stalls with high ventilation regardless of bedding type. Management decisions and their relationships to respiratory disorders are discussed.     

Survey of leaf anatomy,especially secretory structures,of tribeCaesalpinieae (Leguminosae,Caesalpinioideae)

We studied leaflet anatomy, emphasizing secretory structures, from herbarium specimens of 128 species of 44 genera of tribeCaesalpinieae, using clearings, resin sections, and scanning electron microscopy. These observations, combined with those from our three earlier papers, provide a survey of 210 species representing all genera. Seventy-three species had secretory structures: 21 had glands or gland-like trichomes, 40 had living mesophyll idioblasts, and nine had cavities (three species each had two different types). Five additional species, all inCercidium (Caesalpinia group), had paired or clustered large spheroidal, thick-walled, empty cells (veinlet idioblasts) interconnected by perforation plate-like gaps. Secretory structures have systematic significance at various taxonomic levels.     

Gamma-ray-induced changes in hypodermal mesocarp tissue plasma membrane of pre- and post-storage muskmelon

Gamma irradiation (1.0 kGy) of intact, newly harvested, mature muskmelon fruit (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus Naud.) appears to have an immediate deleterious effect, but also a long-term beneficial effect, on the integrity and function of the plasma membrane (PM) of hypodermal mesocarp tissue. The initial consequences of gamma irradiation included an increase in the free sterol:phospholipid ratio, resulting at least in part from deglycosylation of steryl glycosides, a decrease in the spinasterol:7-stigmastenol ratio in each of the PM steryl lipids (free sterols, steryl glycosides, and acylated steryl glycosides), and a decrease in H⁺-ATPase activity. Irradiation did not increase protein loss, suggesting that the decrease in H⁺-ATPase activity resulted from either direct inactivation of the enzyme or altered PM ordering caused by the steryl lipid modifications. The long-term beneficial effects of irradiation, observed following 10 days of commercial storage, included greater retention of total PM protein, a diminished decline in total PM phospholipids (PL) and in the PL:protein ratio, and maintenance of greater overall H⁺-ATPase activity (activity was the same as in controls on a per mg protein basis, but there was > 30% more protein in the PM of stored irradiated fruit). These results indicate that 1 kGy gamma irradiation administered prior to storage slowes the progression of two key parameters of senescence, PM protein loss and PL catabolism.     

Molecular basis and haplotyping of the alphaII domain polymorphisms of spectrin: application to the study of hereditary elliptocytosis and pyropoikilocytosis.

Hereditary elliptocytosis (HE) and hereditary pyropoikilocytosis (HPP) are inherited disorders of erythrocyte shape that are frequently associated with abnormalities in alpha-spectrin, one of the principal structural proteins of the erythrocyte membrane skeleton. Five polymorphisms of the alpha-spectrin gene, located in a 6-kb interval of genomic DNA, were identified and analyzed in normal and mutant alpha-spectrin alleles. Three of these polymorphisms are due to single nucleotide substitutions in the alpha-spectrin gene coding region that lead to changes in the amino acid sequence. In combination, these three polymorphisms are responsible for the different peptide phenotypes of the alphaII domain previously observed following limited tryptic digestion of spectrin protein. The most common haplotype, type 1, was found predominantly in Caucasians and was the only haplotype identified in Asians. Haplotypes 2, 3, and 4 were identified predominantly in individuals of African ancestry and were commonly found in patients with HE or HPP. Analysis of coinheritance of alphaII domain polymorphisms with alpha-spectrin gene mutations causing HE or HPP in African-American patients with HE and HPP suggests that, with one exception, a given HE/HPP mutation is present in an alpha-spectrin gene of only one haplotype, indicating a founder effect. The other two polymorphisms located in this region of the alpha-spectrin gene do not change the amino acid sequence of the encoded alpha-spectrin chain and are not in linkage disequilibrium with three of the four alphaII domain haplotypes. A model is proposed for the evolutionary origin of the different haplotypes.     

Spatial Analysis of the Canopy of Kiwifruit Vines as it Relates to the Physical, Chemical and Postharvest Attributes of the Fruit

The position of individual fruit on kiwifruit vines (Actinidiadeliciosa var. deliciosa) grown on a horizontal trellis (pergola)and on a T-bar trellis was determined using a theodolite. Thephysical, chemical, and postharvest attributes of the fruitwere related to their position on the vine during development. Fruit from the pergola vines were more numerous, of lesser weight,with lower concentrations of most mineral nutrients, but greaterconcentrations of soluble solids, and similar flesh firmnessafter 12 weeks of storage at 0 °C, than fruit from the T-barvines. The position on the vine accounted for most of the variationin the attributes of the fruit. Differences between fruit ona single lateral accounted for 43-56% of the variation. Variationbetween vines was relatively small (< 4% of the total variance). The heavier fruit were located at the apical ends of the laterals,while greater concentrations of soluble solids were associatedwith fruit located closer to the cordon. The larger fruit fromthe pergola vines developed from the early opening flowers.A similar relationship existed initially for the T-bar vines,but a reduction in growth of fruit from the early opening flowers8 weeks after anthesis resulted in a more even distributionof fruit size at harvest. The strongest relationship between mineral composition and postharvestattributes of the fruit was with soluble solids concentration(29-46% of the variance). The relationship with flesh firmnesswas weak (r = -0·14 to -0·32). Individual elementscould not be considered in isolation but rather in groups ofelements. Nitrogen was grouped strongly with phosphorus, sulphur,potassium, and copper, while calcium was linked with a secondgroup which included manganese and zinc. These two groups werenegatively related to one another. The greatest proportion of fruit with superior characteristicswas located in the denser parts of the canopy. Fruit with lessdesirable attributes were from the extremities of the canopywhere the leaf area index was low.Copyright 1994, 1999 AcademicPress Actinidia deliciosa, kiwifruit, fruit position, fruit quality, within-vine variation     

Variable reproductive output among clones of Spartina alterniflora (Poaceae) invading San Francisco Bay,California: the influence of herbivory,pollination, and establishment site

Spartina alterniflora has recently been introduced to San Francisco Bay, California, and is rapidly invading open mud flats, growing in circular patches that we found to be individual genetic clones. We collected spikelet samples from more than 200 clones and observed germination rates ranging from 0% to 59%, indicating substantial variation in reproductive output among clones. Several experiments were performed to explore the cause of variation. Pollination manipulations showed that S. alterniflora is outcrossing, but pollen supplements did not increase spikelet germination rates. Exclusion of the only insect herbivore (a phloem feeder, Prokelisia marginata) from developing inflorescences increased the proportion of spikelets containing seed, but failed to increase germinations per spikelet. Spikelets from Willapa Bay, Washington, grown free of insect herbivores, had germination rates similar to San Francisco Bay. These results suggest herbivory is not limiting reproductive output of S. alterniflora. Spikelet viability was not related to clone size; however, clones located lower in the intertidal or far up a drainage slough averaged fewer germinations per spikelet, suggesting clones in areas with lower genet density may have lower spikelet viabilities. Spikelet samples from different sections of clones growing across wide environmental ranges had similar rates of germination, suggesting some genetic influence on spikelet viability. Differential reproductive output among clones and the novel selective environment of San Francisco Bay are expected to cause gene frequency changes in this rapidly expanding population.