Effect of fertilizer levels on grain yield,incidence and severity of downy mildew in pearl millet

The effect of various levels of nitrogen (0.0, 30.0, 60.0, 120.0) and phosphorus (0.0, 6.5, 13.0, 36.0) on the incidence and severity of downy mildew of pearl millet and yield of two pearl millet varieties (Zango and GB8375) were studied under field conditions in 2000 and 2001 respectively. Both nitrogen and phosphorus significantly increased incidence and severity of the disease in the two varieties. Grain yield and 1000 grain weight of the varieties also increased with nitrogen and phosphorus levels.     

Polymorphism and phene geography of the blue rock pigeon in Europe

The variation of blue rock pigeon plumage color has been studied in 192 settlements of Europe. As in earlier studies, six color phenotypes have been distinguished, the main of which are blue, intermediate and melanistic. The phenotype frequency distribution patterns in urban and rural landscapes have been determined. Pigeon populations with increased density are the most melanistic. Rural populations are less melanistic than urban ones. The frequency of birds with aberrant plumage colors varies randomly and is increased in some localities. The phenotypic structure of synanthropic populations of the blue rock pigeon in Europe displays a latitudinal gradient.     

Polymorphism and phene geography of the blue rock pigeon in Europe

The variation of blue rock pigeon plumage color has been studied in 192 settlements of Europe. As in earlier studies, six color phenotypes have been distinguished, the main of which are blue, intermediate and melanistic. The phenotype frequency distribution patterns in urban and rural landscapes have been determined. Pigeon populations with increased density are the most melanistic. Rural populations are less melanistic than urban ones. The frequency of birds with aberrant plumage colors varies randomly and is increased in some localities. The phenotypic structure of synanthropic populations of the blue rock pigeon in Europe displays a latitudinal gradient.     

Electroencephalographic correlates of a pathologic inert motor reaction in dogs]

Changes in EEG were examined during setting in of a pathological inert motor reaction in dogs with parts of the tongue brought out and electrodes implanted in the motor cortical area and limbic structures. The reaction was formed when combining stimulation by a salt solution of the part of the tongue with electrical stimulation of the paw. The inert motor reaction is characterized by enhanced synchronization (theta-rhythm) in the hippocampus and increased amplitude of the beta-rhythm in the motor cortical areas. A frequency-amplitude analysis of the summary EEG has shown that the highest correlation was established at the beginning of elaboration of the inert motor reaction only between a small number of limbic structures (the hippocampus, the hypothalamus and the cingulate gyrus), then between all the examined structures of the brain; when the inert reaction became elaborated the number of structures with a high correlation coefficient diminished again and was reduced to the hippocampus, the hypothalamus and the cortical motor area.     

Characteristics of residual neurons during retrograde degeneration in the cat lateral geniculate body

The dynamics of structural and functional characteristics of residual neurons in the degenerating lateral geniculate body was studied in cats during the 4–12 months after division of all cortico-subcortical projection connections, including axons of relay cells of the lateral geniculate body [9]. Spontaneous and evoked activity of the residual cells, their number, and also the dimensions of the cell bodies were investigated. With lengthening of the postoperative period a decrease in the number of cells of the lateral geniculate body responding to photic stimulation and also destruction of their receptive fields were observed; 12 months after the operation the residual neurons of the lateral geniculate body lose their sensitivity to photic stimulation. Morphological investigation revealed a progressive reduction in the number of neurons in the degenerating lateral geniculate body and predominance of small neurons among them. The nature of interneuronal relations in the lateral geniculate body are discussed on the basis of the results.Research Institute of Experimental Medicine, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Leningrad. Translated from Neirofiziologiya, Vol. 9, No. 6, pp. 575–582, November–December, 1977.     

Antioxidative activity of lipids in mice during aging and administration of an antioxidant with gerontological protective action

Changes in the antioxidative activity (AOA) of the liver were studied during natural aging in noninbred and C3HA mice and during administration of the synthetic anti-oxidant 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine hydroxypyridine hydrochloride to the animals, and the effect of the doses of this compound on the level of AOA in the liver of animals aged 2 months also was investigated. Liver AOA in mice was found to decrease during aging; the decreae in animals with tumors was found to be two or three times slower than in animals without tumors. Administration of the compound after the age of 8 months led to a considerable increase in liver AOA, and this may evidently account for the considerable lengthening of the life of the experimental animals.     

Evolution of the relaxin-like peptide family

Background  

The relaxin-like peptide family belongs in the insulin superfamily and consists of 7 peptides of high structural but low sequence similarity; relaxin-1, 2 and 3, and the insulin-like (INSL) peptides, INSL3, INSL4, INSL5 and INSL6. The functions of relaxin-3, INSL4, INSL5, INSL6 remain uncharacterised. The evolution of this family has been contentious; high sequence variability is seen between closely related species, while distantly related species show high similarity; an invertebrate relaxin sequence has been reported, while a relaxin gene has not been found in the avian and ruminant lineages.