Role of the accompanying anion in the effect of calcium salts on potassium uptake by excised barley roots

The effect of addition of Ca salts on accumulation of K from 5 mN KCl or K₂SO₄ solutions was found to depend on whether Ca was added as Cl or SO₄ salt. Chloride as well as K uptake was increased when Ca and Cl concentrations in culture solutions were increased. Pre-treatment of roots with CaCl₂ stimulated subsequent K uptake from K₂SO₄ solutions as compared to pre-treatment with distilled water but pre-treatment with CaSO₄ did not. The results indicate that addition of Ca salts to KCl or K₂SO₄ solutions increased anion uptake and the effect of the addition of the Ca salts on K uptake was in part the result of increased anion uptake and not entirely a direct effect of Ca.     

Secretion of phytase from the roots of several plant species under phosphorus-deficient conditions

Phosphorus (P) deficiency increased the secretion of phytases from roots of various plant species. The secretory phytases were collected with a dialysis membrane tube for 24 hours from roots of sixteen plant species grown with low or adequate supply of P in nutrient solutions. The activity of not only secretory phytase, but also acid phosphatase, increased with the low P treatment in all of the plant species examined. Secretion of phytase by the roots under P-deficient conditions was highest in Brachiaria decumbens CIAT 606, Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 184 and tomato, moderate in Brachiaria brizantha CIAT6780, Stylosanthes guianensis CIAT 2950, alfalfa, white clover and orchard grass, and lowest in Andropgon gayanus CIAT 621, Stylosanthes capitata CIAT 10280, upland rice, timothy, redtop, alsike clover, red clover and white lupin plants. An immunoreactive protein band that reacted with a polyclonal antibody raised against wheat bran phytase, corresponding to molecular weight 35–40 kD, could be detected in seven of the species tested. These results indicate that the secretory phytase may provide an efficient mechanism for certain plants to utilize inositol hexaphosphate in soil.     

Nutritional characteristics in leaves of native plants grown in acid sulfate,peat, sandy podzolic,and saline soils distributed in Peninsular Thailand

Acid sulfate soils, peat soils, sandy podzolic, and saline soils are widely distributed in Peninsular Thailand. Native plants adapted to such problem soils have grown well, and showed no symptom of mineral deficiency or toxicity. Dominant plants growing in low pH soils (acid sulfate and peat) were Melastoma marabathricum and Melaleuca cajuputi. Since M. marabathricum accumulated a huge amount of aluminum (Al) in leaves, especially in new growing leaves, it can be designated an Al accumulator plant. While M. cajuputi did not accumulate Al in shoot, it can be designated an Al excluder plant. Both plant species adapted well to low pH soils, though a different strategy was used for Al. On the other hand, in acid sulfate and peat soils, M. cajuputi, Panicum repens, Cyperus haspan, and Ischaemum aristatum accumulated large amounts of Na in the leaves (or shoots), even in soil with low exchangeable Na concentration. Thus, when growing in the presence of high Al and Na concentration in soils, plant species have developed two opposite strategies: (1) Al or Na accumulation in the leaf and (2) Al or Na exclusion from the leaf. Al concentration in leaves had a negative relationship with the other mineral nutrients except for N and Mn, and Na concentration in leaves also had a negative relationship with P, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Al. Consequently, Al and Na accumulator plants are characterized by their exclusion of other minerals from their leaves.     

Distribution and chemical speciation of aluminum in the Al accumulator plant,Melastoma malabathricum L.

The Al accumulation mechanisms in an Al accumulator plant, Melastoma malabathricum L. (Melastoma), was investigated. Al was located in the upper epidermal cells and also distributed in mesophyll cells in leaf sections. In root sections, Al was found in all the root tissues, particularly in the epidermis and endodermis. Al concentrations in young leaves, mature leaves, old leaves, and roots were 8.0, 9.2, 14.4, and 10.1 mg g¹, respectively. Approximately 45% of total Al in oldest leaves, and approximately 60% of total Al in leaves of other positions and roots were extracted in Tris-HCl buffer (pH 7.0). Since Al in the residual parts was mostly dissolved in hot 0.5 M H₂SO₄ containing 2% cetyl trimethylammonium bromide, residual Al seemed to consist mainly of monomeric Al and Al bound to pectic substances and hemicellulose. Al in the Tris-HCl extract consisted of non-monomeric Al (complexed form). Oxalate concentration in the Tris-HCl extract in leaves was significantly higher in the +Al treatment than in the –Al treatment and there was a positive correlation between the Al concentration and oxalate concentration. ²⁷Al NMR spectrum of fresh leaves indicated the presence in the order of monomeric Al, Al-oxalate, Al-(oxalate)₂, and Al-(oxalate)₃ in intact leaves.     

Increased proliferation of a human breast carcinoma cell line by recombinant interleukin-2

Two adenocarcinoma cell lines, Breast M25-SF and Breast M, were established from tumor tissue resected surgically from a patient with breast cancer. One, Breast M25-SF, expresses interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R) on the cell surface and the other, Breast M, does not. The effects of recombinant inteleukin-2 (rIL-2) on the proliferation of these cell lines were investigated. The growth of Breast M25-SF was significantly promoted by rIL-2 ranging from 1,25 U/ml to 640 U/ml. Anti-CD25 (Tac) antibody, significantly blocked the growth enhancement of Breast M25-SF by rIL-2. Breast M, however, did not respond to rIL-2. To confirm more directly the promotion of Breast M25-SF growth by rIL-2, cloning of IL-2 responders from parent Breast M25-SF cells was carried out by limiting dilution without feeder cells in 96-well microplates. No colony formation was found in 24 wells without rIL-2. Eleven, 13 and 6 clones were established from groups of 24 wells containing rIL-2 at 200, 20 and 2 U/ml respectively. All of the clones expressed IL-2R and respond to rIL-2. By using a sensitive polymerase chain reaction technique, we demonstrated that Breast M25-SF but not Breast M expressed IL-2 mRNA, and IL-2 secretion from Breast M25-SF but not Breast M was also confirmed by radioimmunoassay. These findings suggest a role for IL-2 in autocrine support of Breast M25-SF growth. IL-2 may play an important role in the growth control of breast carcinoma cells.     

Deletion of ASK1 Protects against Hyperoxia-Induced Acute Lung Injury

Apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a member of the MAPK kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K) family, is activated by various stimuli, which include oxidative stress, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, calcium influx, DNA damage-inducing agents and receptor-mediated signaling through tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR). Inspiration of a high concentration of oxygen is a palliative therapy which counteracts hypoxemia caused by acute lung injury (ALI)-induced pulmonary edema. However, animal experiments so far have shown that hyperoxia itself could exacerbate ALI through reactive oxygen species (ROS). Our previous data indicates that ASK1 plays a pivotal role in hyperoxia-induced acute lung injury (HALI). However, it is unclear whether or not deletion of ASK1 in vivo protects against HALI. In this study, we investigated whether ASK1 deletion would lead to attenuation of HALI. Our results show that ASK1 deletion in vivo significantly suppresses hyperoxia-induced elevation of inflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-1β and TNF-α), cell apoptosis in the lung, and recruitment of immune cells. In summary, the results from the study suggest that deletion of ASK1 in mice significantly inhibits hyperoxic lung injury.     

Cost‐effective development of highly polymorphic microsatellite in Japanese quail facilitated by next‐generation sequencing

Next‐generation sequencing technologies permit rapid and cost‐effective identification of numerous putative microsatellite loci. Here, from the genome sequences of Japanese quail, we developed microsatellite markers containing dinucleotide repeats and employed these for characterisation of genetic diversity and population structure. A total of 385 individuals from 12 experimental and one wild‐derived Japanese quail lines were genotyped with newly developed autosomal markers. The maximum number of alleles, expected heterozygosity and polymorphic information content (PIC) per locus were 10, 0.80 and 0.77 respectively. Approximately half of the markers were highly informative (PIC ≥ 0.50). The mean number of alleles per locus and observed heterozygosity within a line were in the range of 1.3–4.1 and 0.11–0.53 respectively. Compared with the wild‐derived line, genetic diversity levels were low in the experimental lines. Genetic differentiation (F_ST) between all pairs of the lines ranged from 0.13 to 0.83. Genetic clustering analyses based on multilocus genotypes of individuals showed that most individuals formed clearly defined clusters corresponding to the origins of the lines. These results suggest that Japanese quail experimental lines are highly structured. Microsatellite markers developed in this study may be effective for future genetic studies of Japanese quail.     

Relationship between streaming potential and compressive stress in bovine intervertebral tissue

The intervertebral disc is formed by the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF), and intervertebral tissue contains a large amount of negatively charged proteoglycan. When this tissue becomes deformed, a streaming potential is induced by liquid flow with positive ions. The anisotropic property of the AF tissue is caused by the structural anisotropy of the solid phase and the liquid phase flowing into the tissue with the streaming potential. This study investigated the relationship between the streaming potential and applied stress in bovine intervertebral tissue while focusing on the anisotropy and loading location. Column-shaped specimens, 5.5 mm in diameter and 3 mm thick, were prepared from the tissue of the AF, NP and the annulus–nucleus transition region (AN). The loading direction of each specimen was oriented in the spinal axial direction, as well as in the circumferential and radial directions of the spine considering the anisotropic properties of the AF tissue. The streaming potential changed linearly with stress in all specimens. The linear coefficients k_e of the relationship between stress and streaming potential depended on the extracted positions. These coefficients were not affected by the anisotropy of the AF tissue. In addition, these coefficients were lower in AF than in NP specimens. Except in the NP specimen, the k_e values were higher under faster compression rate conditions. In cyclic compression loading the streaming potential changed linearly with compressive stress, regardless of differences in the tissue and load frequency.     

不同时期叶喷植物生长调节剂对大豆花荚脱落率及多聚半乳糖醛酸酶活性的影响

在大田条件下,以大豆品种‘合丰50＇为材料,比较研究了在V3（第3节龄期,三叶期）、R1（初花期）和R3（始荚期）期叶面喷施DTA-6、S_（3307）和TIBA三种植物生长调节剂对大豆花荚脱落率及多聚半乳糖醛酸酶活性的影响。结果表明：V3期叶喷TIBA、S_（3307）、DTA降低了大豆花荚脱落率,降低了大豆花荚和脱落花荚多聚半乳糖醛酸酶活性;R1期叶喷植物生长调节剂显著降低了大豆花荚及脱落花荚中多聚半乳糖醛酸酶活性,以DTA-6调控效果最佳,S_（3307）次之;R3期叶喷植物生长调节剂降低了大豆荚及落荚的多聚半乳糖醛酸酶活性,以DTA-6调控效果最佳,TIBA次之。综合分析表明,V3、R1和R3期叶面喷施植物生长调节剂能够降低大豆花荚脱落率及多聚半乳糖醛酸酶活性,对大豆花荚的脱落有一定的调控作用,有利于提高产量,其综合调控效果为,V3期：S_（3307）〉DTA-6〉TIBA〉CK;R1期：DTA-6〉TIBA〉S_（3307）〉CK;R3期：DTA-6〉TIBA〉S_（3307）〉CK。     

A simple method for in vivo measurement of implant rod three-dimensional geometry during scoliosis surgery

Scoliosis is defined as a spinal pathology characterized as a three-dimensional deformity of the spine combined with vertebral rotation. Treatment for severe scoliosis is achieved when the scoliotic spine is surgically corrected and fixed using implanted rods and screws. Several studies performed biomechanical modeling and corrective forces measurements of scoliosis correction. These studies were able to predict the clinical outcome and measured the corrective forces acting on screws, however, they were not able to measure the intraoperative three-dimensional geometry of the spinal rod. In effect, the results of biomechanical modeling might not be so realistic and the corrective forces during the surgical correction procedure were intra-operatively difficult to measure. Projective geometry has been shown to be successful in the reconstruction of a three-dimensional structure using a series of images obtained from different views. In this study, we propose a new method to measure the three-dimensional geometry of an implant rod using two cameras. The reconstruction method requires only a few parameters, the included angle θ between the two cameras, the actual length of the rod in mm, and the location of points for curve fitting. The implant rod utilized in spine surgery was used to evaluate the accuracy of the current method. The three-dimensional geometry of the rod was measured from the image obtained by a scanner and compared to the proposed method using two cameras. The mean error in the reconstruction measurements ranged from 0.32 to 0.45 mm. The method presented here demonstrated the possibility of intra-operatively measuring the three-dimensional geometry of spinal rod. The proposed method could be used in surgical procedures to better understand the biomechanics of scoliosis correction through real-time measurement of three-dimensional implant rod geometry in vivo.