The modern reef complex,Jeddah area,Red Sea: a facies model for carbonate sedimentation on embryonic passive margins

The modern reef complex north of Jeddah comprises an offshore knoll platform and a fringing reef, subdivised into several depositional zones: tops and upper flanks of offshore reefs; lower flanks of offshore reefs and nearby inter-reef areas; fringing forereef, reef flat and backreef zones, and beach. Sixty-seven sediment samples were collected from the different zones and have been analysed in order to define relationships between the distribution of sedimentary facies and the depositional environments, and to furnish a reliable facies model by using multivariate analysis. Six types and subtypes have been objectively differentiated on the basis of total biogenic component and foraminiferal associations. Grain size data allowed us to discriminate three textural types, whereas five chemotypes have been recognized according to trace element concentration. Regarding the offshore reef platform, poorly sorted, medium sands of molluscan-coralline algal-Amphistegina and Cd types are restricted to the lower flanks of buildups and to the adjacent inter-reef deposits, whereas the tops and upper flanks of theses buildups are characterized by moderately sorted, coarse sands of coralline algal-Tubipora-Amphistegina-encrusting foraminiferal-bryozoan types, with a Mn chemotype. Concerning the fringing reef system, backreef areas exhibit poorly sorted, fine sands of molluscan-Ammonia-Peneroplis and Fe-Cu types. Moderately sorted, coarse sands of coralgal-Calcarina-Spiroloculina and Fe-Zn types are found on the reef flat. The forereef zone is characterized by poorly sorted, fine sand of Triloculina-encrusting foraminiferal-bryozoan and Zn-Mn types. The lateral limits of the various biotypes roughly coincide with the distribution of the relevant living organic communities. Trace elements appear to be either bound to the reef-associated silicate fractions or incorporated into the carbonate skeletons. On the basis of prevailing water conditions, physiography, biological and sedimentological attributes, the fringing reef can be regarded as an asymmetrical structure, with bidimensional (lateral and vertical) facies zonation; in contrast, the offshore platform is a symmetrical structure, with one dimensional (depth-dependent) facies zonation. This system is believed to represent a modern example of a laterally undifferentiated, offshore reef tract in a relatively enclosed basin, at an embryonic passive continental margin.     

Phytoplankton species composition and abundance in the Indian sector of the Antarctic Ocean

Summary Water samples collected in the southwestern Indian Ocean between Africa and Antarctica in March 1980 were analyzed quantitatively for phytoplankton. Diatoms dominate the phytoplankton in this region and their numbers generally increase southward with peaks of abundance in both the northern Antarctic Zone and south of the Antarctic Divergence. Average cell numbers (i.e., 6.1×10⁵ diatoms l^-1 in the Antarctic Zone) are comparable to maximum numbers previously reported for the Southern Ocean. Dinoflagellates, flagellates and monads occur in highest concentrations north of the Polar Front. Their numbers are somewhat reduced south of the Antarctic Divergence, and are lowest in the Antarctic Zone. Various diatom assemblages are characteristic of different latitudinal zones. Waters north of and in the vicinity of the Polar Front are rich in the Nitzschia, Pseudonitzschia group of species. In the Antarctic Zone, Nitzschia nana and Dactyliosolen tenuijunctus dominate. Nitzschia species of the Fragilariopsis group are most numerous at stations south of the Antarctic Divergence. Striking differences are noted between the species compositions of quantitative and net-haul samples. A few nanoplanktonic diatoms (e.g. Nitzschia nana and single cells of Chaetoceros spp.) and the weakly silicified Dactyliosolen tenuijunctus, which are dominant in the quantitative samples, are either entirely absent or present only as solitary cells in the net collections.     

Isolation of a Specific Potato Tuber-Inducing Substance from Potato Leaves

Potato tuberization is induced by an unidentified "tuberizationstimulus" which is produced in the leaves. Recently, we confirmedthe occurrence of two acidic substances in the leaves whichappear to be the stimulus (Koda and Okazawa 1988). We reporthere the isolation of one of the substances from potato leaves.The molecular weight of the substance is 388. The substanceis active in inducing tuberization in vitro at a concentrationof 0.01 mg- liter^-11 (ca. 3 ? 10^-8 M). (Received April 15, 1988; Accepted June 28, 1988)     

Use of a colorimetric system to detect enzymes expressed by germinating conidia of entomopathogenic fungi

An apiZYM system, with 19 substrates, was used to detect enzymes expressed by germinating conidia of Nomuraea rileyi (5 isolates), Nomuraea atypicola, Nomuraea anemonoides, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae. Similar enzyme profiles were obtained for two of the N. rileyi isolates (Mississippi, Ecuador) regardless of whether culture medium (Sabouraud-maltose-yeast) or cuticle (from larvae of Trichoplusia ni, Heliothis zea or Heliothis virescens) were used as substrates. Centroid-clustering analysis revealed three distinct enzyme profiles.Mention of a proprietary product in this paper does not consitute a recommendation for use by USDA.     

Effects of cuticle source and concentration on germination of conidia of two isolates of Nomuraea rileyi

The effects of cuticle from larvae of Trichoplusia ni, Heliothis zea and H. virescens on rate and extent of germination of conidia of a Mississippian isolate (MS) and an Ecuadoran (EC) isolate of Nomuraea rileyi were studied. Solid substrates generally stimulated more germination than submerged substrates. There was little or no effect of cuticle source (H. zea or H. virescens) on germination of either the EC isolate or the MS isolate cultured on a solid substrate, however, differences in patterns of germination were obtained in submerged substrates. Addition of cuticle of H. zea or H. virescens generally increased the germination time for the MS isolate. Germination time for the EC isolate was significantly increased when H. virescens cuticle was used.This article reports the results of research only. Mention of a proprietary product in this paper does not constitute a recommendation for use by U.S. Department of Agriculture.     

Optical rotation of the second harmonic radiation from retinal in bacteriorhodopsin monomers in Langmuir-Blodgett film: evidence for nonplanar retinal structure

We observed optical rotation of the plane of polarization of the second harmonic (SH) radiation at 532 nm (in resonance with the retinal absorption) generated in reflection geometry in Langmuir-Blodgett film of bacteriorhodopsin (bR). The analysis of the experimental data showed that this effect arises from the nonvanishing contribution of the antisymmetrical part of the hyperpolarizability tensor. This requires that the dipole moment of the resonant electronic transition, the change of the dipole moment upon electronic excitation, and the long axis of the retinal not be coplanar. Such conditions are satisfied only if the retinal has a nonplanar geometry, a conclusion that could lend support to the heterogeneity model of the origin of the biphasic band shape of the linear CD spectrum of the retinal in bR. On the basis of our theoretical analysis, we were able to estimate the angle between the induced dipole moment and the plan that contains the long axis of the chromophore and the transition dipole moment of the retinal absorption.     

Crystallization and preliminary X-ray investigation of the recombinant Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense calmodulin

Bipyramidal crystals of the recombinant calmodulin from Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense were obtained by vapor diffusion against 55% (v/v) 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol in 0.05 M cacodylate buffer, pH 5.6. When few nucleation events occurred, crystals grew to 0.25 × 0.25 × 1.20 mm. The space group of the crystal is I4₁22, with unit cell dimensions a = b = 56.88 Å, c = 230.11 Å, α = β = γ = 90°, z = 16. The molecular mass and volume of the unit cell suggest that there is one molecule in the asymmetric unit. The I/σ(I) ratio for data at 3.0 Å resolution was 3.67, indicating that the final structure can be refined at higher resolution. Molecular replacement methods and the PC-refinement technique have not yet yielded the structure under a variety of search conditions. We are currently investigating the multiple isomorphous replacement approach to determine this crystal structure. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Aspergillus terreus and its toxic metabolites as a food contaminant in some Egyptian Bakery products and grains

A. terreus isolates isolated from some bakery products, corn and rice were found to be able to produce territrems. 90% of theA. terreus isolated from bakery products were able to produce territrem A, with a mean of 0.09 ppm, while 80% ofA. terreus isolates produce territrem B with a mean of 0.24 ppm. On the other hand 31.8% of the isolates ofA. terreus from corn were able to produce territrem A with a mean of 0.44 ppm. ConcerningA. terreus isolates from rice, 66.7% were found to produce territrem A, with a mean of 5.28 ppm, and 77.8% of the isolates produced territrem B with a mean of 1.79 ppm.     

Production of biologically active non-woven textiles from recycled polyethylene terephthalate

Recently, various studies have focused on the development of multifunctional non-woven polyethylene terephthalate (PT; polyester) textiles. Herein, we introduce multifunctional non-woven polyester fabrics by pad dry curing silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and aniline monomer into plasma-pretreated non-woven PT textile. This creates a nanocomposite layer of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and polyaniline (PANi) on the fabric surface. In order to prepare a non-woven fibrous mat, we applied the melt-spinning technique on previously shredded recycled PT plastic waste. On the surface of the cloth, PANi was synthesized by REDOX polymerization of aniline. Due to the oxidative polymerization, the silver ions (Ag⁺) were converted to Ag⁰NPs. PANi acted as a conductor while AgNPs inhibited the growth of microorganisms. Microwave-assisted curing with trimethoxyhexadecylsilane (TMHDS) gave PT textiles with superhydrophobic properties. The morphological studies were performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The stiffness and breathability of finished non-woven PT textile materials were analyzed to establish their comfort levels. Both of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used to test the efficacy of the AgNPs-treated textiles as antimicrobial materials. Moreover, the processed polyester textiles showed excellent electrical conductivity and great ultraviolet-ray blocking.