Response of field-grown chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to phosphorus fertilization for yield and nitrogen fixation

Application of phosphorus at 40, 60, 80 and 100 kg P₂O₅ ha^–1 in the presence of a uniform dressing of nitrogen (N) and potash (K₂O) each applied at 20 and 24 kg ha^–1 to chickpea (CM-88) grown in sandy loam soil in a replicated field experiment improved the nodulation response of the crop, increased its grain yield (ka ha^–1) by 18, 59, 40 and 14 percent, biomass yield (ka ha^–1) by 32, 32, 54 and 14 percent, biomass N (kg ha^–1) by 31, 48, 49, 19 percent, and biomass P (kg ha^–1) by 26, 40, 41 and 11 percent, respectively. The effect of phosphorus on the nitrogenase activity of the excised roots of chickpea was, however, inconsistent.     

Synthesis of acetone glycerol acyl esters by immobilized lipase ofMucor miehei

Summary The applications of immobilized lipase ofMucor miehei for the synthesis of acetone glycerol acyl ester from acetone glycerol and fatty acid, which is the first step for monoglyceride production was investigated. With a high oleic acid to acetone glycerol ratio (O/A, mol/mol), a high catalytic activity was observed under low water content in the reaction mixture. By the combination of high O/A ratio (>3) and removal of water which was produced during the reaction, the conversion degree was increased to almost 100%. With the O/A ratio of 3, the approximate half-life of the immobilized lipase and productivity of ester was estimated to be 20 days and 869 g product/g immobilized enzyme per 2 half-lives, respectively.     

Appearance of alpha-smooth muscle actin in human eye lens cells of anterior capsular cataract and in cultured bovine lens-forming cells

Using light and electron-microscopic immunolocalization techniques, and gel electrophoresis combined with immunoblotting, we have examined the expression of cytoskeletal proteins in normal human fetal, child and adult lenses, in human anterior capsular cataract and in bovine lens cells in vivo and in vitro. In this report, we focus our observations on the pattern of actin-isoform expression during normal and pathological situations in vivo and culture conditions. We have noted that cells of developing and mature human lenses as well as bovine lens cells in situ contain only beta- and gamma-actins. In contrast, alpha-smooth muscle (alpha-sm) actin, an isoform typical of smooth muscle differentiation, was demonstrated in bovine lens cells at different times of culture. Moreover, the multilayered cells observed in the subcapsular zone of human anterior capsular cataract were characterized by the presence of alpha-sm actin. Thus, extensive changes in actin-isoform expression take place in lens cells growing in culture and may also occur during cataractogenesis. The biological meaning of the appearance of a marker of myoid differentiation in the ectodermally derived lens-forming cells is discussed.     

Oxidation of n-tetradecane by Candida parapsilosis KSh 21 adsorbed on different glass rings

Summary Living cells of Candida parapsilosis KSh 21 were immobilized by adsorption on different types of glass rings. The presence of n-tetradecane enhanced the cell adsorption especially on normal glass rings. The high adhesion of cellulose-coated glass rings and of sintered glass rings induced a quick adsorption of the cells. The quantity of 1-tetradecanol produced in the cultures of immobilized cells especially on SGR was higher than that of the free cells. Low numbers of free cells released in the immobilized cultures were observed. Better contact between the immobilized cells and oil droplets was noticed.     

Changes in diet,prey size and feeding habit in Bagrus bayad,and possible interactions with B. docmac in a Nile canal

Synopsis Bagrids in Bahr Shebeen Nilotic canal depend mainly on fish, insects and shrimp as well as fish embryos for food and their stomachs included runoff materials (e.g. plant foliage, glass, black crystals, coloured gravel). B. bayad maximised its efficiency of catching prey catfish by face to face attack to avoid damage by the prey's pectoral and dorsal spines. In the size classes of 10 to 30 cm standard length, B. bayad and B. docmac show diet overlap and interact with each other especially with respect to tilapias as prey. After this length, B. docmac, aided by its relatively larger mouth, shifted to larger size of tilapias to coexist with B. bayad.     

Macrophylloside, a flavone glucoside from Primula macrophylla

A new flavone glucoside macrophylloside has been isolated from the whole plant of Primula macrophylla and its structure was determined by spectroscopic methods as 2′-hydroxy-7-O-β- -glucopyranosyloxyflavone. Sitosterol glucoside was also isolated for the first time from this plant.     

Host-vector systems for the thermotolerant methanol-utilizing bacteriaMethylophilus spp. KISRI-Strains

Fourteen recombinant plasmids were constructed by inserting fragments of pSAS, a naturally occurring plasmid ofMethylophilus spp. KISRI-5, into the multiple cloning sites of pUC19. Six recombinants and three knownEscherichia coli plasmids were used to transform three thermotolerant methylotrophic KISRI strains by use of an optimized protocol of electroporation. Analysis of transformants for plasmid DNA showed that all plasmids were stable in the methylotrophic hosts. These studies offer opportunities to developMethylophilus spp. as host-vector systems.     

Role of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli in cattle and buffalo calf diarrhoea

Abstract 273 Strains of Escherichia coli isolated from diarrhoeic and healthy control cattle and buffalo calves in Sri Lanka, were tested for Verocytotoxin (VT) and for heat-stable (ST) and heat-labile (LT) enterotoxins. VT and ST toxigenic E. coli were significantly associated with diarrhoea, accounting for 28% and 18% of diarrhoeic episodes, respectively. LT toxigenic E. coli were not significantly associated with diarrhoea.