Some measures of reducing leaching loss of nitrates beyond potential rooting zone

Summary Soil nitrate profiles under seven treatments of an experiment on intercropping in row crops were studied at sowing and the after harvesting of different crops. The estimates of NO₃ ^––N in these profiles indicate that intercropping in the row crops grown during the rainy season considerably reduced leaching loss of nitrates. Where the main crop receives the recommended fertilizer amount and the intercrop a small additional application, intercropping greatly reduced the amount of unutilized nitrates and hence their leaching beyong root zone.     

Delineation of two distinct 6p deletion syndromes

Deletions of the short arm of chromosome 6 are relatively rare, the main features being developmental delay, craniofacial malformations, hypotonia, and defects of the heart and kidney, with hydrocephalus and eye abnormalities occurring in some instances. We present the molecular cytogenetic investigation of six cases with 6p deletions and two cases with unbalanced translocations resulting in monosomy of the distal part of 6p. The breakpoints of the deletions have been determined accurately by using 55 well-mapped probes and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The cases can be grouped into two distinct categories: interstitial deletions within the 6p22–p24 segment and terminal deletions within the 6p24–pter segment. Characteristics correlating with specific regions are: short neck, clinodactyly or syndactyly, brain, heart and kidney defects with deletions within 6p23–p24; and corneal opacities/iris coloboma/Rieger anomaly, hypertelorism and deafness with deletions of 6p25. The two cases with unbalanced translocations presented with a Larsen-like syndrome including some characteristics of the 6p deletion syndrome, which can be explained by the deletion of 6p25. Such investigation of cytogenetic abnormalities of 6p using FISH techniques and a defined set of probes will allow a direct comparison of reported cases and enable more accurate diagnosis as well as prognosis in patients with 6p deletions. Received: 29 July 1998 / Accepted: 28 October 1998     

Blastomycosis: Report of the first case from Alberta,Canada

The first known case of laboratory confirmed blastomycosis in Alberta occurred in 1970. The patient, who is believed never to have left Alberta, presented with of headaches, sore neck and impaired intellect. Initially, tuberculous or cryptococcal meningitis was suspected, but laboratory findings did not support the diagnosis. A fungus resembling Blastomyces dermatitidis was isolated from the venticular cerebrospinal fluid and lung at autopsy. A few yeast cells suggestive of B. dermatitidis were seen in lung and brain tissue sections. Initial attempts at in vitro conversion of the mycelial form of the isolate into yeast form on several enriched media were unsuccessful. The fungus gave ± to ++ reactions with B. dermatitidis specific conjugate by the direct fluorescent antibody technique, it was not pathogenic for mice and guinea pigs, and no asexual spores were produced in slide cultures. Further investigation indicated that the mycelial form of the fungus converted into its yeast form when an actively growing inoculum was used, although the yeast cells varied considerably in size. The yeast form produced disseminated infection in mice within 10 days. Exoantigenic analysis demonstrated an A antigen specific for B. dermatitidis, which revealed the identity of this organism as an atypical strain of B. dermatitidis.

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Zusammenfassung Der erste Fall in Blastomycosis von einem Laboratorium wurde 1970 in Alberta bestätigt. Der Patient — der wahrscheinlich Alberta nie verlassen hat — klagte über Kopfschmerzen, Genickschmerzen und zeigte beeinträchtigte Verstand. Anfänglich wurde TBC — oder cryptococcal meningitis vermutet, laborfunde unterstutzten jedoch nicht die Diagnose. Ein Fungus — ahnlich zum Blastomyces dermatitidis wurde von venticular cerebrospinal Flüssigkeit und von der Lunge nach der Autopsie isoliert. Wenige Hefezellen hinweisend auf B. dermatitidis wurden gewebschnitten von Lunge und Gehirn festgestellt. Anfängliche Versuche die isolierten mycel Form in die Hefe Form in vitro mit Hilfe verschiedener angereicherter Nahrboden was erfolglos. Der Fungus ergab in der Direct Fluorescent Antibody Technik. ± zu ++ Reaktion mit dem B. dermatitidis specifische Konjugate; es war nicht pathogen fur Mause und Meerschweinchen, asexual Sporen wurden in der objecttrage Kultur produziert. Weitere Untersuchungen zeigten, dass sich die mycel Form des Fungus in die Hefeform umwandelte wenn ein gut wachsendes Inoculum gebraucht wurde. Die Hefezellen zeigten jedoch beträchtliche Grossenunterschiede. Die Hefeform verursachte in Mauseneine generallisierte Infektion in inerhalb von 10 Tagen. Exoantigenik Analyse zeigte ein A Antigen, specifisch für B. dermatitidis, welches die Identität des Organismus als atypischen Stamm des B. dermatitidis aufwies.

     

Generation of mice deficient for Lbx2, a gene expressed in the urogenital system, nervous system, and Pax3 dependent tissues

Lbx2 is a member of the ladybird family of homeobox genes. The first murine ortholog identified, Lbx1, is required for hypaxial musculature and dorsal spinal cord neuron development. The second murine ortholog, Lbx2, is expressed in the developing urogenital and nervous systems. To elucidate the function of Lbx2, we generated a gene-targeted allele of Lbx2 in mice. Lbx2 deficiency did not impair mouse development, and Lbx2 null mice appeared healthy and fertile. Replacement of Lbx2 by the lacZ gene provides a valuable histological marker for Lbx2-expressing cells. Given the important role of Pax3 in neural crest, we intercrossed our Lbx2 deficient mice with Splotch Pax3 mutant mice to determine if Pax3 affects Lbx2 expression. There was reduced Lbx2 expression in dorsal root ganglia and cranial nerve ganglia with Pax3 deficiency, but not in the genital tubercle. This suggested that Pax3 is required for Lbx2 expression in affected neural crest-derived tissues.     

Comparative shotgun proteomic analysis of Clostridium acetobutylicum from butanol fermentation using glucose and xylose

Background

Cytokinin is a plant hormone that plays a crucial role in several processes of plant growth and development. In recent years, major breakthroughs have been achieved in the elucidation of the metabolism, the signal perception and transduction, as well as the biological functions of cytokinin. An important activity of cytokinin is the involvement in chloroplast development and function. Although this biological function has already been known for 50 years, the exact mechanisms remain elusive.

Results

To elucidate the effects of altered endogenous cytokinin content on the structure and function of the chloroplasts, chloroplast subfractions (stroma and thylakoids) from transgenic Pssu-ipt and 35S:CKX1 tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) plants with, respectively, elevated and reduced endogenous cytokinin content were analysed using two different 2-DE approaches. Firstly, thykaloids were analysed by blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by SDS-PAGE (BN/SDS-PAGE). Image analysis of the gel spot pattern thus obtained from thylakoids showed no substantial differences between wild-type and transgenic tobacco plants. Secondly, a quantitative DIGE analysis of CHAPS soluble proteins derived from chloroplast subfractions indicated significant gel spot abundance differences in the stroma fraction. Upon identification by MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry, these proteins could be assigned to the Calvin-Benson cycle and photoprotective mechanisms.

Conclusion

Taken together, presented proteomic data reveal that the constitutively altered cytokinin status of transgenic plants does not result in any qualitative changes in either stroma proteins or protein complexes of thylakoid membranes of fully developed chloroplasts, while few but significant quantitative differences are observed in stroma proteins.     

Pumping action on blood by a magnetic field

We report here an analysis of pumping of blood by means of a non-invasive circulatory-assist device using the principle of Magnetohydrodynamics. This study shows that such a pump would require the application of a slowly moving axial magnetic field of strength of about 10⁸ amp turns/m (approximately 10⁶ oersteds). The results indicate that the temperature rise on account of induced currents is within permissible range.