Agronomic use of biotechnologically processed grape wastes

Grape waste was composted by biodegradation and subsequently used as an organic fertilizer for 20 day-corn. Combinations of recently compressed grape waste and hen droppings (10% w/w) were prepared to study the activating effect of hen droppings and the effect of aeration on the composting process. The final hydrogen potential (pH), %C, %N and C/N ratio, indicated an adequate development of the bioprocess. Satisfactory results were observed when the products were applied at several doses (1,000-4,000 kg/ ha) as a soil conditioner for corn seed germination in greenhouses. Only the addition of hen droppings had a significant effect (P < 0.05) on corn dry matter (14% increase). A dose of 3000 kg/ha was considered as optimal and was used supplemented with triple superphosphate (TSP) in agronomic trials. All the treatments produced greater corn dry matter (P < 0.05) than the chemical industrial fertilizer used as a control (0.52-0.71 g/pot for the organic fertilizers vs 0.45 g/pot for the control). Anaerobic conditions and hen droppings addition significantly produced (P < 0.05) higher corn dry matter.     

Sequence, chromosomal location and expression analysis of the murine homologue of human RAD51L2/RAD51C.

The Rad51 protein has been shown to play a vital role in the DNA repair process. In humans, its interaction with proteins like BRCA1 and BRCA2 has provided an insight into the mechanism of how these molecules function as tumor suppressors. Several members of the Rad51-like family have been recently identified, including RAD51L2. This gene has been found to be amplified in breast tumors suggesting its role in tumor progression. Here, we describe the cloning of the murine homologue of the human RAD51L2/RAD51C gene. Sequence analysis has revealed that the murine Rad51l2 protein is 86% identical and 93% similar to its human homologue. In spite of such high sequence conservation, the murine protein lacks the first nine amino acids present in the human protein. We have cloned and confirmed the sequence of the 5' end of the murine Rad51l2 cDNA using 5' RACE technique as well as by sequencing the genomic region flanking the first exon of the murine Rad51l2 gene. Northern analysis shows that Rad51l2 is expressed in several adult tissues as well as in embryos at various developmental stages. The murine Rad51l2 gene maps to chromosome 11 and is located in the syntenic region of human chromosome 17q22-23, where the human RAD51L2 is present.     

Management of feverish children at home.

OBJECTIVES--To compare the acceptability and effects on temperature of advice to unwrap children and give paracetamol or warm sponging treatments in the management of feverish illness at home. DESIGN--A randomised, open, parallel group study using factorial design comparison of unwrapping, warm sponging plus unwrapping, paracetamol plus unwrapping, and paracetamol and warm sponging plus unwrapping. SETTING--Homes of willing families with a feverish child recruited after consulting one of 21 participating general practitioners in Southampton. SUBJECTS--52 children aged from 3 months to 5 years with axillary temperatures before treatment of > or = 37.8 degrees C and < 40 degrees C. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Response to advice assessed over four hours; temperature assessed by continuous data logging from an axillary thermistor; acceptability of treatment to child and parent scored on Likert scales immediately after treatment and on return to health. RESULTS--Response to treatment advice varied; unwrapping alone had little effect on temperature. Paracetamol increased the time below 37.2 degrees C in four hours by 109 (95% confidence interval 74 to 145) minutes compared with unwrapping; warm sponging caused the fastest reduction in temperature. Parents discriminated between treatments, preferring paracetamol. CONCLUSION--Advice to give paracetamol is more effective than sponging or unwrapping in controlling temperature in children at home and is more acceptable to parents. Warm sponging has an additive effect and reduces fever more quickly than paracetamol.     

Microorganisms of the Upper Atmosphere: II. Microorganisms in Two Types of Air Masses at 690 Meters over a City

The viable micropopulation found, at altitude over a city, in a land air mass was significantly higher than that found in a marine-influenced air mass. The percentage distribution of bacteria and fungi was approximately equal in both types of air masses. This indicates that, under the conditions of the experiment, the marine air mass was influenced by the land area over which it traveled during passage from its source to the sampling area. Activities taking place within the city significantly increased the micropopulation at altitude. This increase was quantitatively so small that it was not identifiable when the micropopulation moving into the city was high-as in a land air mass-but was recognizable when the micropopulation was low-as in a marine-influenced air mass. The modification of the micropopulation at altitude by temperature inversions was shown.     

Preliminary results of an experimental study of the effects of mysid predation on estuarine zooplankton community structure

In a shallow estuarine system near Beaufort, North Carolina, a period of high winter abundance of the mysidsMysidopsis bigelowi andNeomysis americana was associated with a change in zooplankton species composition, from dominance byAcartia tonsa to dominance byCentropages spp. andSaphirella sp. Both mysids feed onA. tonsa at higher rates than the other copepods. Experiments were carried out in 600–1 000 liter enclosures, in which the initial mysid density was manipulated and the effects on the enclosed copepod community were monitored. Mysid predation had a significant effect on copepod densities. The effects of mysid predation on species composition appeared to depend on the relationship between their prey preferences and the dominant copepod species present in the communities. Under conditions favoring dominance byA. tonsa, the preferred prey species, the results suggested that mysid predation may reduce dominance and increase diversity. But when the less preferredCentropages was dominant, mysid predation had no effect on species composition.     

Stepwise transformation of the vitelline envelope of Xenopus eggs at activation: a quick-freeze, deep-etch analysis

The extracellular matrix of Xenopus laevis eggs was analyzed at fixed intervals after prick-activation using quick-freeze, deep-etch, rotary-shadow electron microscopy. This technique revealed that the modifications of the matrix seen at fertilization do not occur simultaneously, but that instead there is an orderly progression of alterations at activation. The first modification, conversion of the vitelline envelope (VE) to the altered vitelline envelope (VE), occurs within 2 to 3 min after activation. Intermediate stages of the VE to VE transformation can be visualized traveling around the egg in a wave-like fashion. Upon completion of the wave, the loosely woven outer surface of the VE, believed to be the prefertilization layer, remains unaltered. Subsequent formation of the fertilization (F) layer at this VE-jelly interface occurs between 4 and 8 min postactivation. Finally, between 10 and 15 min postactivation, the smooth (S) layer forms on the tips of the microvilli and surrounds the entire egg.     

A mutant of the plasmid R100.1 capable of producing autonomous circular forms of its resistance determinant

We have isolated a derivative of plasmid R100.1, following integration into and excision from the Escherichia coli chromosome, which exhibits the ability to produce circular copies of its resistance-determinant (r-det) region. The plasmid also shows unusually frequent loss of the r-det resistance genes. Both these phenomena are inheritable plasmid characteristics and are dependent on the host recombination system. The production of r-det can be repressed in trans by the presence in the same cell of a second plasmid closely related to R100.1.