Molecular interaction of acrylonitrile and potassium cyanide with rat blood

The interaction of acrylonitrile (VCN) with rat blood has been investigated at the molecular level in an attempt to understand the possible mechanism of its toxicity. The results obtained were compared to those with potassium cyanide (KCN), a compound known to liberate cyanide (CN^?) in biologic conditions. The radioactivity derived from K¹⁴CN was eliminated faster than that from [1-¹⁴C]VCN. Up to a maximum of 94% of ¹⁴C from VCN in erythrocytes was detected covalently bound to cytoplasmic and membrane proteins, whereas 90% of the radioactivity from KCN in erythrocytes was found in the heme fraction of hemoglobin. Determination of specific activity showed that binding occurred more in vivo than in vitro which indicated that the VCN molecule was bioactivated inside erythrocytes. These results indicate that KCN interacts mainly through CN^? liberation and binding to heme, whereas VCN, which binds to cytoplasmic and membrane proteins, may cause damage to red cells by mechanisms other than release of CN^?.     

Two- and three-phase mixing in a concentric draft tube gas-lift fermentor

Two- and three-phase mixing studies were carried out in a 44-L concentric draft tube gas-lift fermentor. It was proposed to use the fermentor for the production of solvents using immobilized bacteria. Bubble size, gas holdup, liquid velocities, circulation, and mixing times were determined for various superficial gas velocities in distilled water, starch, carboxymethyl cellulose, and ethanol solutions. The observed trends for two phase mixing were similar to other studies but the results were found to be more sensitive to liquid properties. This was possibly due to the large value of downcomer to riser area used in this study. Mixing in three phases highlighted the difficulty in predicting the effect of adding solids to the gas-liquid system. Results showed that the gas-lift fermentor was ideally suited to dealing with three phases but more work is necessary before accurate models can be developed to account for the effect of solids.     

Ultrastructure of the micropyle and its relationship to pollen tube growth and synergid degeneration in sunflower

Summary Ultrastructural studies made on the micropyle of sunflower before and after pollination resulted in the following observations. (1) The micropyle is closed instead of a hole or canal. The inner epidermis of the integument on both sides of the micropyle is in close contact at the apex of the ovule. The boundary between the two sides consists of two layers of epidermal cuticle. (2) The micropyle contains a transmitting tissue. The micropyle is composed of an intercellular matrix produced by the epidermal cells of the integument. (3) The micropyle is asymmetrical, and is much wider on the side proximal to the funicle. On the funicle side the cells adjacent to the micropyle are similar to those of the transmitting tissue: they have large amounts of intercellular matrix and contain abundant dictyosomes, rough ER, and starch grains, and provide an appropriate environment for growth of the pollen tubes. The cells distal to the funicle are rich in rough ER and lipid bodies; they lack large intercellular spaces. (4) The micropyle is variable in the axial direction, i.e., it is much larger and more asymmetric at the level distal to the embryo sac than at a level close to the embryo sac. After pollination, one to four pollen tubes are seen in a micropyle. During their passage through the micropyle, most pollen tubes are restricted to the side proximal to the funicle. There is a greater tendency (81%) for the degenerate synergid to be located toward the funicle, i.e., at the same side as the pollen tube pathway. The data indicate a close relationship between micropyle organization, orientation of pollen tube growth, and synergid degeneration.     

多效唑连用其它植物激素对水稻试管苗生长的影响

本实验采用继代多年的花培体细胞无性系Hu18再生绿芽(0.5mm)为起始材料,研究多效唑(MET)与其它激素配合使用对试管苗的调控作用,结果指出:(1)单独使用MET对绿芽生长有毒害作用,除2,4-D、GA,外,MET与适宜浓度的其它激素配合使用才能发挥增苗、壮苗作用,其中以MET与BA配合使用的培养效果最好,MET与NAA,C_2H_4配合使用的效果次之;(2)MET与其他激素配合使用不但能降低植株高度,促进根系发育,而且可以延长试管苗的保存时间;(3)MET与乙烯利配合使用能加速绿芽成苗速度,而与其他激素配合使则延缓绿芽成苗速度,如与2,4-D配合使用则延缓2,4-D对绿芽的脱分化进程;(4)在本实验条件下,以MET 2.5mg/L+BA 2mg/L+NAA 0.2mg/L配合使用有利根芽的协调生长。本文还从植株干物质累积,叶细胞结构,细胞活力等方面进行了探讨。     

Corolla tube formation in six species of apocynaceae

Corolla tube formation inTrachelospermum asiaticum, Nerium indicum var.leucanthum, Anodendrom affine, Vinca major, Catharanthus roseus andAmsonia elliptica was investigated anatomically. The corolla tube formation among these species is basically similar. The bases of petal primordia extend laterally to the interprimordial regions, the upward growth occurrig at those regions just beside the petal bases. The extending petal bases connect with each other at the bases of the abaxial side of stamen primordia in the early stage of the corolla development. The upward growth at the coonnected regions results in the formation of a short corolla tube but is weakened rapidly. At the stage of the mutual connection of petal bases, a common base of petal and stamen primordia is initiated. This common base develops into the lower portion of the corolla tube, i.e. the portion below the stamen insertion. In a relatively late stage, adjacent margins, of the corolla lobes fuse postgenitally at their lower portions, resulting in the formation of almost all of the upper portion of the corolla tube. The corona inNerium andVinca is initiated by the active adaxial growth of the upper portion of the corolla tube.     

Polarity in higher plant dictyosomes

Summary Dictyosomes in three higher plant cell secretory systems,Zea root cap cells,Tradescantia pollen tubes and digestive glands ofDionaea fly traps, are shown to possess a structural polarity in terms of either the production of secretory vesicles, or the reaction of individual cisternae to the osmium-zinc-iodide impregnation procedure. These observations contradict previous claims that higher plant dictyosomes lack structural polarity. Doubts about the applicability of the endomembrane flow concept to higher plant cell dictyosomes are discussed in relation to the relative balance between carbohydrate and protein in secreted products. The lack of dictyosome-associated endoplasmic reticulum in some of these plant cell systems is confirmed.     

An electron microscopic study on the mating tube formation in the heterobasidiomycete Tremella mesenterica

Ultrastructure of the mating tube formed in yeast haplont of the heterobasidiomycete Tremella mesenterica was studied by electron microscopy. Cell wall of the mating tube emerged as evagination of the inner layers, rupturing outer layers of the mother cell wall. Comparison with budding cells suggested that the tube emergence place at bud scar and the process of tube emergence was the same as that of bud emergence. Electron transparent vesicles of 0.1 m diameter were scattered in the cytoplasm of the mating tube. Nucleus-associated organelle was located at one side of the nuclear envelope which extended towards the mating tube. A few microtubules were detected in the mating tube, but their association with a nucleus was not clear. The cytoplasmic structure of the mating tube was discussed in comparison with that of hyphae of the filamentous fungi.     

Oxypetalum banksii subsp. banksii: a taxon of Asclepiadaceae with an extragynoecial compitum

 The floral morphology of seven Oxypetalum species and, in particular, the spatial relationship between the five stigmatic chambers and two separate ovaries of their flowers with respect to transmission of the pollen tube are studied. In all species, except O. banksii subsp. banksii, floral morphology is similar to that in other Asclepiadeae, and the flowers pollinated with one pollinium develop only one follicle, which means compitum absence. In O. banksii subsp. banksii flowers, the secretory interstaminal tissue lines the inner walls of the stigmatic chambers as in the other species studied, but it also reaches the upper part of the inner surface of the filament tube, where it surrounds the styles, an unprecedented feature for Asclepiadaceae. This tissue secretes nectar and mucilage; the latter acts as transmitting medium for the growth of pollen tubes from pollinia inserted and hydrated in stigmatic chambers (“hyperstigmas”). Mucilage also functions as an extragynoecial compitum: in flowers pollinated with one pollinium both carpels develop into a follicle. Received August 28, 2001; accepted April 9, 2002 Published online: October 14, 2002 Addresses of the authors: Milene Faria Vieira (e-mail: mfvieira@mail.ufv.br), Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Universidade Federal de Vi?osa, 36571-000, Vi?osa, Minas Gerais, Brazil. George John Shepherd, Departamento de Botanica, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, C.P. 6109, 13083-970, Campinas, S?o Paulo, Brazil.     

1D Stretchable Block Copolymer Yarn‐Based Energy Harvesters via BaTiO3/Polydimethylsiloxane Composite‐Carbon Conductive Ink

Highly stretchable self‐powered energy sources are promising options for powering diverse wearable smart electronics. However, commercially existing energy sources are disadvantaged by tensile strain limitations and constrained deformability. Here, 1D thread‐based highly stretchable triboelectric nanogenerators (HS‐TENGs), a crucial step toward overcoming these obstacles, are developed based on a highly stretchable coaxial‐type poly[styrene‐b‐isoprene‐b‐styrene] (SIS) elastomer tube. Carbon conductive ink is injected into the SIS tube as a core 1D electrode that remains almost unaffected even under 250% stretching because of its low Young's modulus. To further facilitate power generation by the HS‐TENG, a composite of barium titanate nanoparticles (BaTiO₃ NPs) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is coated on the initial SIS tube to modulate the dielectric permittivity based on variations in the BaTiO₃ NPs volume ratio. The 1D PDMS/BaTiO₃ NP composite‐coated SIS and a nylon 6‐coated 2D Ni–Cu conductive fabric are selected as triboelectric bottom and top layers, respectively. Woven HS‐TENGs textiles yield consistent power output under various extreme and harsh conditions, including folded, twisted, and washed states. These experimental findings indicate that the approach may become useful for realizing stretchable multifunctional power sources for various wearable electronics.