Models for coupling of salt and water transport; Proximal tubular reabsorption in Necturus kidney

Models for coupling of salt and water transport are developed with two important assumptions appropriate for leaky epithelia. (a) The tight junction is permeable to both sale and water. (b) Active Na transport into the lateral speces is assumed to occur uniformly along the length of the channel. The proposed models deal specifically with the intraepithelial mechanism of proximal tubular resbsorption in the Necturus kidney although they have implications for epithelial transport in the gallbladder and small intestine as well. The first model (continuous version) is similar to the standing gradient model devised by Diamond and Bossert but used different boundary conditions. In contrast to Diamond and Bossert's model, the predicted concentration profiles are relatively flat with no sizable gradients along the interspace. The second model (compartment version) expands Curran's model of epithelial salt and water transport by including additional compartments and considering both electrical and chemical driving forces for individual Na and Cl ions as well as hydraulic and osmotic driving forces for water. In both models, ion and water fluxes are investigated as a function of the transport parameters. The behavior of the models is consistent with previously suggested mechanisms for the control of net transport, particularly during saline diuresis. Under all conditions the predicted ratio of net solute to solvent flux, or emergent concentration, deviates from exact isotonicity (except when the basement membrane has an appreciable salt reflection coefficient). However, the degree of hypertonicity may be small enough to be experimentally indistinguishable from isotonic transport.     

The Phlesirtes complex (Orthoptera,Tettigoniidae, Conocephalinae,Conocephalini) reviewed: integrating morphological,molecular, chromosomal and bioacoustic data

The tettigoniid genus Phlesirtes Bolivar and its allies are reviewed. Morphological, ecological and molecular data prompt the erection of the new genus Chortoscirtes gen.n. with type species Xiphidion meruense Sjöstedt. The genera Phlesirtes, Chortoscirtes, Karniella and Naskreckiella are characterized by morphological characters supported by molecular, acoustic, ecological and chromosomal data. Four species, Chortoscirtes pseudomeruensis sp.n. , C. masaicus sp.n. , C. puguensis sp.n. and C. serengeti sp.n. , are described from localities in northern and coastal Tanzania and one Karniella, K. crassicerca sp.n. , is described from Uganda. The following comb n. are proposed: Phlesirtes kibonotensis (Sjöstedt) and Phlesirtes kilimandjaricus (Sjöstedt). Subtribal status is proposed for the four investigated African genera. A key to the Chortoscirtes species is provided.     

Karyomorphology of six taxa in Chrysanthemum sensu lato (Anthemideae) in Egypt and their genetic relationships by Giemsa C‐banding

Abstract Giemsa C‐banding was applied to the chromosome complements of six diploid species belonging to six genera in Chrysanthemum sensu lato (Anthemideae) distributed in Egypt. Four types of C‐banding distribution were observed in the taxa as follows: (i) negative C‐banding in Anacyclus monanthos (L.) Thell.; (ii) all bands in terminal regions in Achillea fragrantissima (Forssk.) Sch. Bip, which showed 32 bands on 18 chromosomes; (iii) all eight bands at centromeric regions on eight chromosomes in Matricaria recutita L.; and (iv) bands at terminal and centromeric regions in Brocchia cinerea Vis. (12 terminal and six centromeric bands on 12 chromosomes), Cotula barbata DC. (four terminal, six centromeric, and eight short arm bands on 16 chromosomes), and Glebionis coronaria (L.) Cass. ex Spach. (eight terminal on the short arms and four large bands in centromeric regions on 12 chromosomes).     

Energy and greenhouse gas balance of bioenergy production from poplar and willow: a review

Short‐rotation woody crops (SRWC) such as poplar and willow are an important source of renewable energy. They can be converted into electricity and/or heat using conventional or modern biomass technologies. In recent years many studies have examined the energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) balance of bioenergy production from poplar and willow using various approaches. The outcomes of these studies have, however, generated controversy among scientists, policy makers, and the society. This paper reviews 26 studies on energy and GHG balance of bioenergy production from poplar and willow published between 1990 and 2009. The data published in the reviewed literature gave energy ratios (ER) between 13 and 79 for the cradle‐to‐farm gate and between 3 and 16 for cradle‐to‐plant assessments, whereas the intensity of GHG emissions ranged from 0.6 to 10.6 g CO₂ Eq MJ_biomass^?1 and 39 to 132 g CO₂ Eq kWh^?1. These values vary substantially among the reviewed studies depending on the system boundaries and methodological assumptions. The lack of transparency hampers meaningful comparisons among studies. Although specific numerical results differ, our review revealed a general consensus on two points: SRWC yielded 14.1–85.9 times more energy than coal (ER_coal～0.9) per unit of fossil energy input, and GHG emissions were 9–161 times lower than those of coal (GHG_coal～96.8). To help to reduce the substantial variability in results, this review suggests a standardization of the assumptions about methodological issues. Likewise, the development of a widely accepted framework toward a reliable analysis of energy in bioenergy production systems is most needed.     

Relation among plant growth,carbohydrates and flowering time in the Arabidopsis Landsberg erecta × Kondara recombinant inbred line population

Arabidopsis thaliana natural variation was used to study plant performance viewed as the accumulation of photo‐assimilates, their allocation and storage, in relation to other growth‐related features and flowering‐related traits. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis using recombinant inbred lines derived from the cross between Landsberg erecta (originating from Poland) and Kondara (originating from Tajikistan) grown on hydroponics, revealed QTLs for the different aspects of plant growth‐related traits, sugar and starch contents and flowering‐related traits. Co‐locations of QTLs for these different aspects were detected at different regions, mainly at the ER locus; the top of chromosomes 3, 4 and 5; and the bottom of chromosome 5. Increased plant growth was associated with early flowering and leaf transitory starch, and correlated negatively with the levels of soluble sugar at early phases of development. From the significant correlations and the co‐locations of the QTLs for these aspects, we conclude that there is a complex relationship between plant growth‐related traits, carbohydrate content and flowering‐related traits.     

The Effects of a Hydrogel Polymer on the Growth of Certain Horticultural Crops under Saline Conditions

The effects of incorporating a hydrogel polymer into sand onthe development of selected horticultural plants grown undersaline conditions has been demonstrated. In separate experiments,the seeds of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), lettuce(Lactuca sativa L.) and cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) were germinatedin sand/swollen hydrogel polymer mixture (25: 75, v: v) withadded Hoagland nutrient solution. At cotyledon + first trueleaf stage, the plantlets were transplanted into polythene growbagscontaining a range of sand/swollen hydrogel polymer combinations(0: 100, 25: 75, 50: 50, 75: 25 and 100: 0, v: v). Saline solutionscontaining NaCl, CaCl² and MgCl² were prepared as molar solutionsand applied at combined concentrations as follows; Control (Hoagland),2000, 4000, 8000, and 32 000 ppm. Application of the appropriatesolution to the growbags was made twice per week, alternatingwith a comparable watering regime. Harvesting was carried outafter 14 and 28 d. Polymer incorporation encouraged growth ofall species under all saline conditions, the order of effectivenessof the polymer contents being as follows; 75%>50% 25% 100%>0%.At high salinity (32 000 ppm) plants of the test species werereduced in growth but appeared to be tolerant at all levelsof polymer incorporation; in pure sand the level of tolerancein tomato and cucumber was <8000 ppm and in lettuce <4000 ppm. Generally, dry weight, leaf area, succulence, chloroplastpigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoids), photosyntheticactivity, total amino acids, proline, and protein contents wereincreased with polymer incorporation compared with pure sand.This hydrogel polymer appears to be highly effective for useas a soil conditioner in horticulture, to improve crop toleranceand growth in a sand or light gravel substrate under salineconditions. It is intended to confirm the results of these studiesby field trials. Key words: Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.), cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), salinity, hydrogel, polymer, salt tolerance, growth, free amino acid, free proline, and protein     

Investigation of the use of immobilised metal affinity chromatography for the on-line sample clean up and pre-concentration of nucleotides prior to their determination by ion pair liquid chromatography-electrospray mass spectrometry: a pilot study

This study explored an alternative way to enrich and pre-purify biological samples containing nucleoside mono-, di- and triphosphates. These compounds were trapped by immobilised metal affinity chromatography (IMAC) on a Poros 20 MC IMAC-column, which was conditioned with Fe3+. The IMAC-column was implemented in a column switching set-up separating nucleoside mono-, di- and triphosphates on a Hypersil ODS 35 mm x 0.3 mm capillary column hyphenated to electrospray mass spectrometry resulting in the first miniaturised column switching liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) system for nucleotides.