The Separation and Characterization of Carbohydrate Rich Component from Ovomucin in Chicken Eggs

We investigated the effects of near-infrared irradiation on the photoconversion of Chenopodium album water-soluble chlorophyll-binding protein (CaWSCP) in the presence of sodium hydrosulfite and found a further photoconversion from CP742 to CP763, a novel form of CaWSCP. Interestingly, one-third of the absorption peak at 668 nm was recovered in CP763, but re-irradiation under oxidative conditions eliminated the photo convertibility of CaWSCP.     

Photosynthetic pigment concentration, organization and interconversions in a pale green Syrian landrace of barley (Hordeum vulgare L., Tadmor) adapted to harsh climatic conditions

Tadmor is a Syrian barley landrace that has adapted to semi-arid environments. Its leaves are pale green because of a 30% decrease in the chlorophyll and the carotenoid content of the chloroplasts (leading to a 7·5% decrease in light absorption) compared with barley genotypes that are not adapted to harsh Mediterranean climatic conditions (e.g. Plaisant). This difference in pigment content was attenuated during growth of the plants in strong light, but was strongly amplified when strong light was combined with a high growth temperature. The low pigment content of Tadmor leaves was not associated with significant changes in the pigment distribution between the photosystems or between the reaction centres of the photosystems and their associated chlorophyll antennae. No significant difference in the photosynthetic activity (O₂ production per unit absorbed light) was observed between Tadmor and Plaisant. The conversion of violaxanthin to zeaxanthin in strong light and its reversal in darkness were much faster and operated at a higher capacity in Tadmor leaves compared with Plaisant leaves, resulting in an increased photostability of photosystem II in the former leaves. The accelerated xanthophylls interconversion in the Syrian landrace was associated with, and possibly related to, an increased fluidity of the thylakoid membranes. The lipid peroxide level was lower in Tadmor compared with Plaisant. In contrast, no difference was found in the non-photochemical quenching of chlorophyll fluorescence between the two barley genotypes. The data indicate that the pale green Syrian landrace is equipped to survive excessive irradiance through a passive reduction of the light absorptance of its leaves, which mitigates the heating effects of strong light, and through the active protection of its photochemical apparatus by a rapid xanthophyll cycling.     

Reliability of wavefront shaping based on coherent optical adaptive technique in deep tissue focusing

Wavefront shaping can compensate the wavefront distortions in deep tissue focusing, leading to an improved penetration depth. However, when using the backscattered signals as the feedback, unexpected compensation bias may be introduced, resulting in focusing position deviations or even no focus in the illumination focal plane. Here we investigated the reliability of wavefront shaping based on coherent optical adaptive technique in deep tissue focusing by measuring the position deviations between the foci in the illumination focal plane and the epi‐detection plane. The experimental results show that when the penetration depth reaches 150 μm in mouse brain tissue (with scattering coefficient ~22.42 mm^?1) using a 488 nm laser and an objective lens with 0.75 numerical aperture, the center of the real focus will deviate out of one radius range of the Airy disk while the optimized focus in the epi‐detection plane maintained basically at the center. With the penetration depth increases, the peak to background ratio of the focus in the illumination focal plane decreases faster than that in the epi‐detection plane. The results indicate that when the penetration depth reaches 150 μm, feedback based on backscattered signals will make wavefront shaping lose its reliability, which may provide a guidance for applications of non‐invasive precise optogenetics or deep tissue optical stimulation using wavefront shaping methods. A, Intensity distribution in the epi‐detection plane and the illumination focal plane before and after correction, corresponding to brain sections with 250 and 300 μm thickness, respectively. Scale bar is 2 μm. B, Averaged focusing deviations in the epi‐detection plane (optimized) and the illumination focal plane (monitored) after compensation. The unit of the ordinate is one Airy disk diameter. Black dashed line represents one Airy disk radius. Bars represent the SE of each measurement set.      

Hydrogen evolution by co-immobilized Chlorella vulgaris and Clostridium butyricum cells

Whole cells of Chlorella vulgaris and Clostridium butyricum were co-immobilized in 2% agar gel. NADP was suitable as an electron carrier. The rate of hydrogen evolution increased with increasing NADP concentration. The optimum conditions for hydrogen evolution were pH 7.0 and 37°C. The immobilized C. vulgaris-NADP-immobilized Cl. butyricum system continuously evolved hydrogen at a rate of 0.29–1.34 μmol/h per mg Chl for 6 days. On the other hand, the system without NADP evolved only a trace amount of hydrogen.     

Rare and new cumaceans (Crustacea,Peracarida) from?the southern margin of the Cap Ferret Canyon (Bay of Biscay)

A new cumacean genus and species, Ithyleucon sorbei gen. et sp. n., was described from material collected in the southern margin of the Cap Ferret Canyon (Bay of Biscay, NE Atlantic). Although the new genus resembles Pseudoleucon Zimmer, 1903, in terms of the general aspect of the carapace and the pseudo-rostrum position, it shows important differences in the uropod structure and in the size of the antenna 1 accessory flagellum. In addition, some comments regarding the morphology of certain rare species (Mesolamprops denticulatus Ledoyer, 1983, Hemilamprops normani Bonnier, 1896 and Schizocuma spino-culatum (Jones, 1984)) are also provided.     

Reflections on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Genetic Resources in the Deep Seabed Beyond the Limits of National Jurisdiction

Attention is increasingly being given to genetic resources in the deep seabed beyond the limits of national jurisdiction owing to their considerable potential scientific and economic value. At the same time, there are concerns that the increased demand for these genetic resources may result in their unsustainable collection or even in the extinction of species in the deep seabed. At present there is no specific legal framework governing these resources in international law. Thus, this article explores the relevant rules of international law applicable to the conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources in the deep seabed.     

The xanthophyll cycle and sustained thermal energy dissipation activity in Vinca minor and Euonymus kiautschovicus in winter

The influence of low temperature on the operation of the xanthophyll cycle and energy dissipation activity, as ascertained through measurements of chlorophyll fluorescence, was examined in two broad-leaved evergreen species, Vinca minor L. and Euonymus kiautschovicus Loessner. In leaves examined under laboratory conditions, energy dissipation activity developed more slowly at lower leaf temperatures, but the final, steady-state level of such activity was greater at lower temperatures where the rate of energy utilization (through photosynthetic electron transport) was much lower. The rate at which energy dissipation activity increased was similar to that of the de-epoxidation of violaxanthin to antheraxanthin and zea-xanthin at different temperatures. However, leaves in the field examined prior to sunrise on mornings following cold days and nights exhibited a retention of antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin that was associated with sustained decreases in photosystem II efficiency. We therefore suggest that this phenomenon of ‘photoinhibition’ in response to light and cold temperatures during the winter results from sustained photoprotective thermal energy dissipation associated with the xanthophyll cycle. Such retention of the de-epoxidized components of the xanthophyll cycle responded to day-to-day changes in temperature, being greatest on the coldest mornings (when photoprotective energy dissipation might be most required) and less on warmer mornings when photosynthesis could presumably proceed at higher rates.     

Isolation and Chemical Structure of New Oxidation Product of 5-Ketogluconic Acid,and a Hypothetical Pathway from Glucose to Tartaric Acid through this New Compound

In the course of study on the mechanism of the tartaric acid formation from 5-ketogluconic acid, a new intermediary substance with mauve color to Abdel-Akhel and Smith’s reagent was isolated from intact cell culture liquid. The chemical structure of this substance was determined as 1,2-dihydroxyethyl hydrogen L(+) tartrate from the results of hydrolysis experiments and from the identifications of the constituents of the molecule, and named “pretaric acid.” Tartaric acid was evidently produced from pretaric acid by intact cell culture. Clearly, then, pretaric acid appears to be an intermediate in the formation of tartaric acid from 5-ketogluconic acid. The authors assumed that in the formation of pretaric acid from 5-ketogluconic acid, a Baeyer-Villiger type oxidation occurred.