Quantitative trait loci conferring grain mineral nutrient concentrations in durum wheat × wild emmer wheat RIL population

Mineral nutrient malnutrition, and particularly deficiency in zinc and iron, afflicts over 3 billion people worldwide. Wild emmer wheat, Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides, genepool harbors a rich allelic repertoire for mineral nutrients in the grain. The genetic and physiological basis of grain protein, micronutrients (zinc, iron, copper and manganese) and macronutrients (calcium, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and sulfur) concentration was studied in tetraploid wheat population of 152 recombinant inbred lines (RILs), derived from a cross between durum wheat (cv. Langdon) and wild emmer (accession G18-16). Wide genetic variation was found among the RILs for all grain minerals, with considerable transgressive effect. A total of 82 QTLs were mapped for 10 minerals with LOD score range of 3.2–16.7. Most QTLs were in favor of the wild allele (50 QTLs). Fourteen pairs of QTLs for the same trait were mapped to seemingly homoeologous positions, reflecting synteny between the A and B genomes. Significant positive correlation was found between grain protein concentration (GPC), Zn, Fe and Cu, which was supported by significant overlap between the respective QTLs, suggesting common physiological and/or genetic factors controlling the concentrations of these mineral nutrients. Few genomic regions (chromosomes 2A, 5A, 6B and 7A) were found to harbor clusters of QTLs for GPC and other nutrients. These identified QTLs may facilitate the use of wild alleles for improving grain nutritional quality of elite wheat cultivars, especially in terms of protein, Zn and Fe.     

Exogenous salicylate application affects the lead and copper accumulation characteristics of Lemna gibba L

Previous studies have shown that salicylates can change the ion permeability of root cells. Therefore the possible effects of exogenous salicylate application on lead (Pb) and copper (Cu) accumulation and its protective role against DNA damage due to metal exposure in Lemna gibba were studied. L. gibba was exposed to 5, 10, and 25 microM Pb and Cu for six days in the presence and absence of sodium salicylate (SA) (0.1, 0.5, and 1 mM). At all concentrations tested, SA application decreased Pb accumulation. On the other hand, application of 0.5 mM SA increased Cu accumulation. SA did not reduce DNA damage resulting from Pb and Cu toxicity. In summary, SA may be useful for reducing Pb accumulation, and application of SA at 0.5 mM may be useful for the phytoextraction of Cu.     

Clustering of halophytic species from Cyprus based on ionic contents

This paper presents the work conducted on the chemical constituents of some common and widely distributed halophyte taxa from Cyprus with the aim that these studies will help in the evaluation of halophytes for different economical purposes. The plant species of Crithmum maritimum L., Limbarda crithmoides (L.) Dumort, Atriplex portulacoides L., Salsola kali L., Atriplex halimus L., Limonium oleifolium Mill., L. meyeri (Boiss.) Kuntze; and Tetraena alba (L.f.) Beier & Thulin were collected in the middle of July. The shoot tissue and leaf samples were collected from the natural habitats and left for drying under air circulation followed by placing them in oven at 60 °C for 96 hours. The material was crushed using mortar and pestle and subjected to an analysis of macro- and micro-nutrients and biochemical compounds. K⁺/Na⁺ in the leaf tissues of the dicot species showed relatively high values depicting their behavior as Na+ includes but very low Cl- levels were recorded. Out of the species investigated here in 4 TFAA content was rather high. Values ranging from 0.5% to 1% dry weight were exhibited in one species. However, only 3 species showed very low TFAA values. Later may be due to low nitrogen availability in their environment. The phenetic analyses of eight halophyte species performed on the data matrix using Ntsys-pc program version 2.1 revealed that, cluster analysis of the overall results obtained here leads to 2 clusters. This discrimination appears to be as a result of their different abilities to accumulate either proline or glycine betaine.     

Effects of cell density and temperature on oxygen consumption rate for different mammalian cell lines.

Oxygen consumption rates were measured in a respirometer for different mammalian cell lines (BHK, murine hybridoma, and CHO), and the effects of cell density (1-20 million cells/mL) and temperature (6 to 37 degrees C) on specific oxygen consumption rate were investigated. The specific oxygen consumption was cell line dependent. For a given temperature, the murine hybridoma cells had the lowest and the CHO cells had the highest oxygen consumption rate. The specific oxygen consumption rate was not affected by the cell concentration for cell densities between 1 and 20 million cells/mL. However, artificial trends implicating the effects of cell density were obtained when traditional analysis was used and the probe response time was neglected. A detailed mathematical analysis was presented to investigate the magnitude of errors originating from neglecting the probe response time for the calculation of oxygen consumption rate. The error was significant, especially when the probe response was slow and/or the oxygen consumption was fast. Temperature influenced the specific oxygen consumption rate similarly for the cells studied, and about 10% decrease was observed in specific oxygen consumption by 1 degrees C decrease in the temperature. Between 6 and 37 degrees C, the effect of temperature on oxygen consumption rate could be described using an Arrhenius model, i.e., qO2 = qoO2. e-E/RT. The activation energy, E, in this equation was similar for different cells (between 80 and 90 kJ/mol), indicating the action of a similar mechanism for the effect of temperature on oxygen consumption.     

Morphometric alteration of femoral condyles due to knee osteoarthritis

Aim of this study was to estimate how knee osteoarthritis (OA) affects the shape of femoral condyles by comparing the radiuses of condylar curves between healthy and OA knees. Seventeen female and five male patients with established diagnosis of knee OA were included in the study. Radiuses of medial and lateral condylar curves were calculated from the side view knee X-ray by original mathematical equation and compared to referent values of healthy knees, after adjusting to body height. The average radiuses of condylar curves were between 52.6 +/- 6.2 and 17.6 +/- 3.5 mm medially, and between 43.3 +/- 8.4 and 15.4 +/- 3.7 mm laterally for 0 degrees and 90 degrees femoral flexion contact points, respectively The OA knees had longer curve radiuses medially and laterally at 0 degrees, 10 degrees, and 20 degrees femoral flexion contact points in comparison to the healthy sample (P < 0.001; t-test). Our results suggest that the shape of the femoral condyles in OA knees is changed. It should be aware not only in researching of OA etiology, but also in designing of knee endoprostheses, in a manner to achieve better individual sizing.