Quantitation of drug content in a low dosage formulation by transmission near infrared spectroscopy

A transmission near infrared (NIR) spectroscopic method has been developed for the nondestructive determination of drug content in tablets with less than 1% weight of active ingredient per weight of formulation (m/m) drug content. Tablets were manufactured with drug concentrations of ∼0.5%, 0.7%, and 1.0% (m/m) and ranging in drug content from 0.71 to 2.51 mg per tablet. Transmission NIR spectra were obtained for 110 tablets that constituted the training set for the calibration model developed with partial least squares regression. The reference method for the calibration model was a validated UV spectrophotometric method. Several data preprocessing methods were used to reduce the effect of scattering on the NIR spectra and base the calibration model on spectral changes related to the drug concentration changes. The final calibration model included the spectral range from 11 216 to 8662 cm⁻¹ the standard normal variate (SNV), and first derivative spectral pretreatments. This model was used to predict an independent set of 48 tablets with a root mean standard error of prediction (RMSEP) of 0.14 mg, and a bias of only −0.05 mg per tablet. The study showed that transmission NIR spectroscopy is a viable alternative for nondestructive testing of low drug content tablets, available for the analysis of large numbers of tablets during process development and as a tool to detect drug agglomeration and evaluate process improvement efforts. Published: March 24, 2006     

Biomass allocation in herbaceous plants under grazing impact in the high semi-arid Andes

Among the plant traits that affect performance, vitality and herbivore resistance in rangeland vegetation, biomass partitioning ranks top, commonly outweighing processes at single leaves (e.g., photosynthesis, respiration). We explored the allometry of a broad sample of herbaceous species from two high elevation sites in the Andes in order to explain biomass partitioning under harsh climatic conditions and risk of biomass losses under strong camelid grazing pressure. We combined data from NW-Argentina and W-Bolivia from elevations between 4200 and 4250 m in a landscape dominated by tall Festuca orthophylla tussocks and a drought driven seasonality (rainfall only between November and March). Across 10–20 taxa per region we found less investment in leaves with a mean leaf mass fraction of only 11% and instead a massive storage in below-ground compartments (rhizomes, tap roots), particularly at the colder Argentinean site. Though grazing pressure was much greater in Bolivia, the foliage mass fraction was there larger than in Argentina. The inter-tussock space in these open, dry plains (‘pajonal’) was dominated by rosette forming species with a below-ground shoot apex and massive tap roots (70% of all species), rendering these species less sensitive to grazing and trampling. The storage organs of these species represented more than 50% of total biomass. Llamas, which represented the main vertebrate herbivore in these open plains at the Bolivian site, preferred non tap-root herbs and species with low leaf nitrogen concentration. Palatable forbs for llamas (22% of all species at the Bolivian site) only survived when nested (facilitated) in the rigid, tall Festuca orthophylla tussocks or thorny shrubs. In conclusion, these extremely high elevation rangeland herbs invest preferentially in structures for persistence (K-strategy) rather than maximizing carbon gain.     

国产润楠属植物的叶表皮特征及其系统学意义

对45种国产润楠属(Machilus Nees)植物的叶表皮进行光学显微镜和扫描电镜观察,其中31种为首次报道.结果表明:润楠属植物叶表皮细胞形状为多边形或不规则形,气孔复合体均为平列型且仅分布在下表皮;上下表皮细胞的垂周壁式样有5种类型:平直、圆滑、浅波、波状、平直-弓形;下表皮毛被有(稀疏、密集或非常密集)或无;上表皮平周壁纹饰类型有:点状、平滑、条纹(或波浪条纹);下表皮内面平周壁纹饰类型有:不规则、平滑、粗糙网状、微毛状、颗粒状、鳞片状.这些特征在本属种间存在较显著的差异,可作为区分种类的辅助特征和种间亲缘关系,因而对润楠属植物的分类学研究和亲缘关系的确定有较大意义.     

The foliar micromorphology of Solanum pseudocapsicum

Foliar micromorphology of Solanum pseudocapsicum was investigated by electron microscopical examination. The leaves are characterized by anisocytic stomata which are more abundant on the abaxial surfaces. The leaves have short multicellular glandular trichomes sparsely distributed over the entire leaf surfaces. Crystal deposits were also observed on the surfaces above the stomata. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy-SEM showed that Al, K, Na and Si were the major constituents of the crystals analyzed. The presence of glandular trichomes in this plant could be the source of poisonous compounds that are characteristic of this species.     

Comparison of the physiology, morphology, and leaf demography of tropical saplings with different crown shapes

Branch architecture, leaf photosynthetic traits, and leaf demography were investigated in saplings of two woody species, Homolanthus caloneurus and Macaranga rostulata, co-occurring in the understory of a tropical mountain forest. M. rostulata saplings have cylindrical crowns, whereas H. caloneurus saplings have flat crowns. Saplings of the two species were found not to differ in area-based photosynthetic traits and in average light conditions in the understory of the studied site, but they do differ in internode length, leaf emergence rate, leaf lifespan, and total leaf area. Displayed leaf area of H. caloneurus saplings, which have the more rapid leaf emergence, was smaller than that of M. rostulata saplings, which have a longer leaf lifespan and larger total leaf area, although M. rostulata saplings showed a higher degree of leaf overlap. Short leaf lifespan and consequent small total leaf area would be linked to leaf overlap avoidance in the densely packed flat H. caloneurus crown. In contrast, M. rostulata saplings maintained a large total leaf area by producing leaves with a long leaf lifespan. In these understory saplings with a different crown architecture, we observed two contrasting adaptation strategies to shade which are achieved by adjusting a suite of morphological and leaf demographic characters. Each understory species has a suite of morphological traits and leaf demography specific to its architecture, thus attaining leaf overlap avoidance or large total leaf area.     

Leaf gas exchange of trees in old-growth and young secondary forest stands in Sulawesi, Indonesia

In the tropics, old-growth forests are converted to other land cover types at a high rate and young secondary forest may gain in importance. Information on associated changes in leaf gas exchange and other leaf traits can be valuable for modelling biogeochemical fluxes under altered land-use patterns. We studied in situ photosynthetic parameters and stomatal conductance for water vapour in eight abundant tree species of young secondary forest and eight tree species of natural old-growth forest in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. In sun leaves, the average maximal stomatal conductance (g _smax) in the secondary forest (SF) species was 2.1 times higher than in the old-growth forest (OGF) species. Species with a high g _smax reduced g _s sharply when vapour pressure deficit of the air increased, whereas species with a low g _smax were much less sensitive to air humidity. For area-based photosynthetic capacity (A _max-area), the SF species had a 2.3 times higher average than the OGF species. For both, g _smax and A _max-area the variation among species was higher in the OGF than in the SF. When all tree species (n=16) are considered, species means of specific leaf area (SLA), leaf N concentration and leaf P concentration were significantly correlated with g _smax and A _max-area. The strong correlation between A _max-area and foliar P (r ²=0.8) is remarkable as the alluvial soils in the study region are rich in nutrients. If the eight OGF species are analysed separately, the only significant correlation was observed between SLA and mass-based A _max; in the SF species strong correlations were found between leaf size and A _max-area and g _smax. These results show that the conversion of old-growth forest to young secondary forest in Sulawesi significantly alters tree leaf gas exchange characteristics and that chemical and structural leaf traits can be used for the prediction of these changes. The best correlations between leaf gas exchange parameters and leaf traits were obtained by different traits in the SF species, the OGF species and the entire pool of studied species.     

The Effects of Gibberellin4+7 on the Vase Life and Flower Quality of Alstroemeria Cut Flowers

Leaf yellowing is a major problem in Alstroemeria and absence of leaf senescence symptoms is an important quality attribute. Two Alstroemeria cultivars ‘Yellow King’ and ‘Marina’ were sourced from a commercial farm and harvested when sepals began to reflex. Stems were re-cut under water and kept in vase solutions of gibberellin A₄₊₇ (0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0, 12.5 or 15.0 mg l⁻¹ [Provide^r]). Treatments and cultivars were combined in a factorial fashion and arranged in a completely randomised design. Application of GA₄₊₇ in the holding solution at 2.5–10.0 mg l⁻¹ significantly delayed the onset of leaf senescence by around 7 days and significantly increased days to 50% petal fall by ca. 2 days. Additionally, these GA₄₊₇ concentrations resulted in higher retention of leaf nitrogen, leaf chlorophyll and also increased leaf water content, while reducing leaf dry weight, all relative to untreated controls. Cultivar ‘Yellow King’ had significantly longer vase life and a better retention of leaf quality than ‘Marina’. Our results suggest that a concentration of 10 mg l⁻¹ GA₄₊₇ can be used to prolong vase life, delay leaf senescence and enhance post-harvest quality of Alstroemeria cut flowers during their transport to market.     

石蒜属12种植物叶片比较解剖学研究

对石蒜属（Lycoris Herb．）12种植物叶片的比较解剖学研究表明：（1）石蒜属植物叶片横切面的端部、中部及基部的轮廓基本呈浅“W”或“V”字型,有些种的表皮细胞上具有明显的尖刺状乳突;（2）石蒜属植物均为异面叶,叶肉组织有一定的栅栏组织和海绵组织分化,但二者的厚度、叶肉中所占比例及栅栏组织的细胞层数在种间有一定的差异;（3）海绵组织发达、具有大而明显的薄壁细胞或细胞裂溶后形成空腔（分泌腔或气腔）;（4）叶片中维管束数目大多为奇数,叶脉维管束鞘由薄壁细胞组成;（5）石蒜属植物横切面上叶缘的形状分为圆弧形和楔形两种类型。石蒜属植物叶的解剖结构具有许多相似特征;同时又具有一定的种间差异,可为石蒜属槽物的种间关系和开发利用提供有价值的信息。     

tRNA residues that have coevolved with their anticodon to ensure uniform and accurate codon recognition

The structure, phylogeny and in vivo function of the base pair formed between nucleotides 32 and 38 of the tRNA anticodon loop are reviewed. The A32-U38 pair, which is highly conserved in tRNA2(Ala) and sometimes observed in tRNA2(Pro), was recently found to decrease the affinity of tRNAs to the ribosomal A site relative to other 32-38 combinations. This suggests that the role of 32-38 pair is to tune the tRNA affinity in the A site to a uniform value. New experiments presented here show that the U32C mutation in tRNA1(Gly) increases its affinity to the cognate codon and to codons with third position mismatches in the A site. This suggests that one reason for uniform tRNA binding to evolve was to avoid incorrect codon recognition.