USE OF SENSORY EVALUATION FOR MEASURING DEODORIZING EFFECTS OF AN AIR CONDITIONER

The application of sensory methodology for measuring deodorizing effect of an air conditioner equipped with electric plasma was introduced. Deodorizing effect was measured using chemical and sensory methods at different time (0, 30 and 60 min) and mode (control, blowing and cooling) of an air conditioner. Smoke from a roll of cigarette in a closed room was used as a source of odor and the concentrations of acetic acid and ammonia were measured as odorous chemical components. As one of the sensory methods triangle test was used and as a first step to obtain deodorizing effects by triangle test, the threshold of each panelist was obtained as the log dilution ratio of odor concentration at which the difference from odorless air was detected. The odor concentration at each time and mode was calculated using the threshold of the panel and the deodorizing effect was obtained on the basis of the odor concentration. In addition to a triangle test, scaling methods such as category scaling or magnitude estimation were used to measure deodorizing effect of an air conditioner. Deodorizing effects by scaling methods were calculated based on odor intensity with time at each mode. The regression analysis was done between the efficacy of deodorizing effect by sensory test and those by acetic acid and ammonia, the R² values of the regression equations for triangle test, category scale, and magnitude estimation were 0.84, 0.72 and 0.69, respectively. Deodorizing effect by triangle test explained the decrease of acetic acid and ammonia better than those by category scaling or magnitude estimation while high cost and time consuming labor involved in triangle tests reduced the merit. The results of this study demonstrated that various sensory methods could be used to measure deodorizing effect of air conditioners and further researches on fast and reliable methods are needed to establish the official procedures.     

Mapping of resistance to the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis from the wild potato species Solanum vernei

A population of diploid potato (Solanum tuberosum) was used for the genetic analysis and mapping of a locus for resistance to the potato cyst nematode Globodera rostochiensis, introgressed from the wild potato species Solanum vernei. Resistance tests of 108 genotypes of a F₁ population revealed the presence of a single locus with a dominant allele for resistance to G. rostochiensis pathotype Ro1. This locus, designated GroV1, was located on chromosome 5 with RFLP markers. Fine-mapping was performed with RAPD and SCAR markers. The GroV1 locus was found in the same region of the potato genome as the S. tuberosum ssp. andigena H1 nematode resistance locus. Both resistance loci could not excluded to be allelic. The identification of markers flanking the GroV1 locus offers a valuable strategy for marker-assisted selection for introgression of this nematode resistance.Abbreviations BSA bulked segregant analysis - RAPD random-amplified polymorphic DNA - RFLP restriction fragment length polymorphism - SCAR sequence-characterized amplified region     

A genetic map of potato (Solanum tuberosum) integrating molecular markers,including transposons,and classical markers

A genetic map of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) integrating molecular markers with morphological and isozyme markers was constructed using a backcross population of 67 diploid potato plants. A general method for map construction is described that differs from previous methods employed in potato and other outbreeding plants. First, separate maps for the female and male parents were constructed. The female map contained 132 markers, whereas the male map contained 138 markers. Second, on the basis of the markers in common the two integrated parental maps were combined into one with the computer programme JoinMap. This combined map consisted of 175 molecular markers, 10 morphological markers and 8 isozyme markers. Ninety-two of the molecular markers were derived from DNA sequences flanking either T-DNA inserts in potato or reintegrated maize transposable elements originating from these T-DNA constructs. Clusters of distorted segregation were found on chromosomes 1,2,8 and 11 for the male parent and chromosome 5 for both parents. The total length of the combined map is 1120 cM.     

Auxin-Modulated Protein Disulfide-Thiol-Interchange Activity from Soybean Plasma Membranes

The renaturation of scrambled (oxidized and inactive) RNase A is catalyzed by soybean (Glycine max cv Williams 82) plasma membranes. The catalysis is stimulated by the auxin herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or by the natural auxin indole-3-acetic acid. The inactive auxin analog, 2,3-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, is without effect. The activity occurs in the absence of external electron acceptors or donors and therefore appears to be a true disulfide-thiol-interchange activity between protein disulfides and thiols of RNase A and those of plasma membrane proteins. The activity is not affected by a mixture of reduced and oxidized glutathione. However, no auxin-stimulated activity was observed in the presence of either oxidized glutathione or reduced glutathione alone, a response characteristic of the previously described auxin-stimulated NADH oxidase activity of soybean plasma membranes. Taken together, the results suggest the operation in the plant plasma membrane of a protein disulfide-thiol-interchange activity that is stimulated by auxins. The auxin stimulations of the interchange activity are prevented by glutathione, reduced glutathione, and brefeldin A at concentrations that also prevent auxin stimulation of NADH oxidation by isolated plasma membranes and inhibit, as well, the auxin-stimulated elongation of excised segments of soybean hypocotyls.     

Perilymphatic Fistula—A Definitive and Curable Cause of Vertigo Following Head Trauma

Vertigo or disequilibrium occurring in patients after concussive and nonconcussive head trauma may be due to a pathologic perilymphatic fistula from the inner ear through the oval and round window areas of the middle ear. Of 33 patients who had successful grafting of the fistulous area at middle ear exploration, 32 had resolution of vertigo, and 12 of 23 who had an associated hearing loss had improved hearing. Perilymphatic fistulas associated with vertigo and hearing loss after head trauma can be diagnosed with great certainty and are surgically curable in the great majority of cases. Patients with post-concussive syndrome, whose symptoms include vertigo or disequilibrium, should have a thorough otologic evaluation for the possibility of a perilymphatic fistula.     

Inhibitor studies with adenohypophyseal granule membrane ATPase. Evidence for a membrane environment which modulates sensitivity to inhibitors

The limiting membranes of pituitary growth hormone and prolactin secretory granules contain a Mg2+-ATPase sensitive to anions. This enzyme is in many ways similar to mitochondrial ATPase. The enzyme was potently inhibited by oligomycin (Ki 6.5 X 10(-9) M), and was much more sensitive to the inhibitor than pituitary mitochondrial ATPase (Ki 2.7 X 10(-7) M). In contrast, the enzyme activity of intact secretory granules was only sparingly inhibited by oligomycin (maximal inhibition close to 30% at 5 X 10(-4) M). However, oligomycin (5 microM) did diminish to basal levels the enhanced granule ATPase activity observed in the presence of a stimulatory anion (25 mM sodium sulfite). Other compounds known to inhibit the proton translocating mitochondrial ATPase were also tested for their ability to inhibit the secretory granule ATPase. A similar pattern of limited inhibition in granules and greater sensitivity in isolated membranes was seen with the inhibitors N,N-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and efrapeptin. In contrast, tri-n-butyltin chloride was a potent inhibitor of the ATPase of intact granules, and the susceptibility of the enzyme to inhibition by this compound was less after isolation of membranes. These observations suggest that pituitary secretory granule membrane ATPase may have a proton pumping function similar to that of the mitochondrial enzyme. In addition, the data imply that the inhibitor binding site(s) may be masked, inaccessible, or ineffective in intact granules, but exposed (or activated) in isolated membranes. The greater sensitivity of granule ATPase to tri-n-butyltin chloride, in contrast to the greater sensitivity of membrane ATPase to the other inhibitors, indicates that the tin compound may be effective at a membrane site(s) distinct from the others, or that the mechanism of inhibition is different.     

Progress in cellular engineering of plants: biochemical and genetic assessment of selectable markers from cultured cells

Summary Recent availability of stable and well characterized selectable markers and ability to combine alien genomes parasexually have contributed to the development of molecular biology in higher plants, including gene expression and genetic manipulation.Several types of biochemical mutants (resistant to inhibitory concentrations of aminoacid(s) or aminoacid analogs as well as deficient for enzyme activity) have recently been isolated and characterized biochemically and genetically. Among them, mutants with alterations in the nitrogen and aminoacid metabolism, or in the activity of alcohol dehydrogenases are being used in the development of more efficient techniques of gene transfer.The manipulation of whole genomes by sexual or somatic cell fusion offers new potential in this field, but refinement of transfer techniques is desirable. The new set of selectable markers obtained through advanced cellular technology, as well as our ability to regenerate plants from manipulated cell lines are expected to play a major role in cellular engineering.