Simulating Microdosimetry in a Virtual Hepatic Lobule

The liver plays a key role in removing harmful chemicals from the body and is therefore often the first tissue to suffer potentially adverse consequences. To protect public health it is necessary to quantitatively estimate the risk of long-term low dose exposure to environmental pollutants. Animal testing is the primary tool for extrapolating human risk but it is fraught with uncertainty, necessitating novel alternative approaches. Our goal is to integrate in vitro liver experiments with agent-based cellular models to simulate a spatially extended hepatic lobule. Here we describe a graphical model of the sinusoidal network that efficiently simulates portal to centrilobular mass transfer in the hepatic lobule. We analyzed the effects of vascular topology and metabolism on the cell-level distribution following oral exposure to chemicals. The spatial distribution of metabolically inactive chemicals was similar across different vascular networks and a baseline well-mixed compartment. When chemicals were rapidly metabolized, concentration heterogeneity of the parent compound increased across the vascular network. As a result, our spatially extended lobule generated greater variability in dose-dependent cellular responses, in this case apoptosis, than were observed in the classical well-mixed liver or in a parallel tubes model. The mass-balanced graphical approach to modeling the hepatic lobule is computationally efficient for simulating long-term exposure, modular for incorporating complex cellular interactions, and flexible for dealing with evolving tissues.     

Allelopathic effects of nicotine on maize

Nicotine treatment of maize seeds at 5.0 and 7.5 mM concentrations caused an increase of 6.2 and 18.7% in amylase activity, respectively. It is being suggested that the positive effect of nicotine on maize is, at least, partially due to increased solubilization of the stored starch through induction of the synthesis or the activity of amylase.     

Simian immunodeficiency virus RNA is efficiently encapsidated by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 particles.

Packaging of retroviral RNA is attained through the specific recognition of a cis-acting encapsidation site (located near the 5' end of the viral RNA) by components of the Gag precursor protein. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) are two lentiviruses that lack apparent sequence similarity in their putative encapsidation regions. We used SIV vectors to determine whether HIV-1 particles can recognize the SIV encapsidation site and functionally propagate SIV nucleic acid. SIV nucleic acid was replicated by HIV-1 proteins. Thus, efficient lentivirus pseudotyping can take place at the RNA level. Direct examination of the RNA contents of virus particles indicated that encapsidation of this heterologous RNA is efficient. Characterization of deletion mutants in the untranslated leader region of SIV RNA indicates that only a very short region at the 5' end of the SIV RNA is needed for packaging. Comparison of this region with the corresponding region of HIV-1 reveals that both are marked by secondary structures that are likely to be similar. Thus, it is likely that a similar higher-order RNA structure is required for encapsidation.     

Nanostructured material-based optical and electrochemical detection of amoxicillin antibiotic

The penicillin derivative amoxicillin (AMX) plays an important role in treating various types of infections caused by bacteria. However, excessive use of AMX may have negative health effects. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to detect and quantify the AMX in pharmaceutical drugs, biological fluids, and environmental samples with high sensitivity. Therefore, this review article provides valuable and up-to-date information on nanostructured material-based optical and electrochemical sensors to detect AMX in various biological and chemical samples. The role of using different nanostructured materials on the performance of important optical sensors such as colorimetric sensors, fluorescence sensors, surface-enhanced Raman scattering sensors, chemiluminescence/electroluminescence sensors, optical immunosensors, optical fibre-based sensors, and several important electrochemical sensors based on different electrode types have been discussed. Moreover, nanocomposites, polymer, and MXenes-based electrochemical sensors have also been discussed, in which such materials are being used to further enhance the sensitivity of these sensors. Furthermore, nanocomposite-based photo-electrochemical sensors and the market availability of biosensors including AMX have also been discussed briefly. Finally, the conclusion, challenges, and future perspectives of the above-mentioned sensing techniques for AMX detection are presented.     

Fecal pellet measurements of manipur brow-antlered deer with respect to sex and age classes

Measurements were made of fecal pellets for captive brow-antlered deer (Cervus eldi eldi) from different age and sex classes. Pellet measurements increased linearly with increases in age, except for length and width measurements in males. Differences in dimensions were statistically significant between sexes and among some age classes. This procedure may be useful in differentiating between the sexes, and to some extent between ages, of wild-living individuals. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Biochemical and Physiological Responses of Cucumis sativus Cultivars to Different Combinations of Low-Temperature and High Humidity

Low-temperature and high humidity are typical environmental factors in the plastic tunnel and solar greenhouse during the cold season that restricts plant growth and development. Herein, we investigated the impact of different combinations of low-temperature and high humidity (day/night: T1 15/10 °C?+?95%, T2 12/8 °C?+?95%, and T3 9/5 °C?+?95%) along with a control (CK 25/18 °C?+?80%) on cucumber cultivars viz: Zhongnong37 (ZN37: resistant) and Shuyanbailv (SYB: sensitive). The low-temperature and high humidity stresses increased electrolyte leakage (EL), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and intercellular concentration of carbon dioxide (Ci), and reduced morphological indices, relative water content (RWC), net photosynthesis rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E) and leaf pigments in both cultivars as compared to control (CK). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR), dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), and glutathione reductase (GR) were decreased in cv. SYB under stress conditions as compared to cv. ZN37. Low-temperature and high humidity treatments showed an increase in proline and soluble protein content in cv. ZN37 as compared to cv. SYB. Abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) were augmented while indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), zeatin (ZT), zeatin riboside (ZR), and gibberellic acid (GA) were decreased in both cultivars. Under T3 (9/5 °C?+?95%), Pn, protoporphyrin, and ZT were extremely decreased by 71.3%, 74.3%, and 82.4%, respectively, in cv. SYB compared to control. Moreover, principal component analysis (PCA) based on physiochemical traits confirmed that cv. ZN37 had the strongest correlation with antioxidant enzymes, proline, and soluble protein content than cv. SYB under low-temperature and high humidity treatments. Our results suggest that a stress-tolerant cultivar mitigates stress damage in cucumber transplants by regulating photosynthetic efficiency, antioxidant capacity and hormonal profile when compared to a stress-sensitive cultivar.

     

Investigation on the role of nodule cytokinins in regulation of nitrate reductase activity ofPhaseolus mungo (L.)

The effects of some nodular cytokinis, zeatin (Z), zeatin riboside (ZR), N⁶ (²-isopentenyl) adenine (IPA), and N⁶ (²-isopentenyI) adenosine (IPAS) on nitrate reductase (E.C 1.9.6.1) activity of root nodules ofPhaseolus mungo were investigated. The cytokinis were also tested for their effect on nitrate uptake by nodules. The results show that IPAS is the most effective of all the four cytokinins tested. Z and IPA, which caused higherin vivo activity than ZR and IPAS, stimulated uptake of nitrate by nodules. The other two (ZR and IPAS) while inhibiting uptake showed greaterin vitro activity than Z and IPA. It may be concluded that some cytokinins, in addition to their direct effects on the enzyme, may increase the substrate availability to it, whereas others may have only an direct effect on the enzyme activation or degradation.Deceased.     

Effect of alkylation on the secondary structure of DNA

S1 nuclease hydrolysis and bezoylated naphthoylated DEAE-cellulose (BND-cellulose) chromatography have been used to demonstrate that alkylation of DNA by dimethyl sulfate at neutral pH leads to the production of partially denatured molecules under conditions where no significant depurination occurs. DNA was alkylated with increasing concentrations of the alkylating agent, and subjected to enzymatic degradation and binding to BND cellulose. An increasing degree of DNA hydrolysis and adherence to BND cellulose was seen. On hydroxyapatite chromatography the alkylated DNA still eluted at the position of double-stranded molecules suggesting the presence of partially denatured regions. The presence of salt had a preventive effect on such denaturation.     

Ant community composition and functional traits in new grassland strips within agricultural landscapes

1. Ongoing intensification and fragmentation of European agricultural landscapes dramatically reduce biodiversity and associated functions. Enhancing perennial noncrop areas holds great potential to support ecosystem services such as ant‐mediated pest control.
2. To study the potential of newly established grassland strips to enhance ant diversity and associated functions, we used hand collection data and predation experiments to investigate differences in (a) ant community composition and (b) biocontrol‐related functional traits, and (c) natural pest control across habitats in cereal fields, old grasslands, and new grassland transects of three years of age.
3. Ant species diversity was similar between new and old grasslands, but significantly higher in new grasslands than in surrounding cereal fields. Contrary, ant community composition of new grasslands was more similar to cereal fields and distinct from the species pool of old grasslands. The functional trait space covered by the ant communities showed the same distribution between old and new grasslands. Pest control did not differ significantly between habitat types and therefore could not be linked to the prevalence of functional ant traits related to biocontrol services in new grasslands.
4. Our findings not only show trends of convergence between old and new grasslands, but also indicate that enhancing ant diversity through new grasslands takes longer than three years to provide comparable biodiversity and functionality.
5. Synthesis and applications: Newly established grasslands can increase ant species richness and abundance and provide a consistent amount of biocontrol services in agroecosystems. However, three years after their establishment, new grasslands were still dominated by common agrobiont ant species and lacked habitat specialists present in old grasslands, which require a constant supply of food resources and long colony establishment times. New grasslands represent a promising measure for enhancing agricultural landscapes but must be preserved in the longer term to promote biodiversity and resilience of associated ecosystem services.

     

Fungi intercepted from Afghanistan

Fungi obtained and isolated from plant material coming in from Afghanistan and intercepted at Quarantine Station, Jamrud have been described. Out of eight species of fungi isolated from different seeds, at least one is not known to occur in Pakistan. Importance of studying seed borne fungi from Quarantine point of view is discussed.

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Zusammenfassung Pilze, die von Pflanzenmaterial von Afghanistan erhalten, isoliert und bei der Auarantänestelle Jamrud erwischt worden sind, sind hier beschrieben. Von acht Pilzarten, die von verschiedenen Samen isoliert worden sind, ist eine in Pakistan noch nicht vorgefunden worden. Die Wichtigkeit der Untersuchung von den mit den Pilzen behafteten Samen vom Standpunkt der Quarantäne ist diskutiert.

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Department of Plant Protection