Competitiveness and communication for effective inoculation byRhizobium,Bradyrhizobium and vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi

After a short summary on the ecology and rhizosphere biology of symbiotic bacteria and vesicular-arbuscular (VA) mycorrhiza fungi and their application as microbial inocula, results on competitiveness and communication are summarized. Stress factors such as high temperature, low soil pH, aluminium concentrations and phytoalexins produced by the host plants were studied withRhizobium leguminosarum bv.phaseoli andRhizobium tropici onPhaseolus beans. Quantitative data for competitiveness were obtained by usinggus ⁺ (glucoronidase) labelled strains, which produce blue-coloured nodules. ForPhaseolus-nodulating rhizobia, a group specific DNA probe was also developed, which did not hybridize with more than 20 other common soil and rhizosphere bacteria. Results from several laboratories contributing to knowledge of signal exchange and communication in theRhizobium/Bradyrhizobium legume system are summarized in a new scheme, including also defense reactions at the early stages of legume nodule initiation. Stimulating effects of flavonoids on germination and growth of VA mycorrhiza fungi were also found. A constitutive antifungal compound in pea roots, -isoxazolinonyl-alanine, was characterized.     

Pyridine as an unmasking reagent for lipoprotein complexes in the nervous system of protein deficient squirrel monkeys

Summary Acid hematin test with pyridine and Sudan black B controls was employed on selected areas of the brains of 115, 140 days fetuses, neonates and adult squirrel monkeys maintained on low and high protein diet. Our histochemical findings indicate that the reduction of phospholipids in the low protein fetuses and neonates is related to myelination, whereas in the adults, most of the lipids are bound to proteins and/or cerebrosides to form complexes, as revealed by the unmasking action of pyridine.Acknowledgements. This work was supported by U.S. PHS grants RR-00165 HD-06087 from National Institute of Health.     

Reductionism,emergence, and effective field theories

In recent years, a “change in attitude” in particle physics has led to our understanding current quantum field theories as effective field theories (EFTs). The present paper is concerned with the significance of this EFT approach, especially from the viewpoint of the debate on reductionism in science. In particular, I shall show how EFTs provide a new and interesting case study in current philosophical discussion on reduction, emergence, and inter-level relationships in general.     

The presence of an endogenous peroxidase activity in hairy cell leukemia cells]

Mononuclear cells from hairy cell leukemia have been studied in three cases by ultrastructural immunocytochemistry. Cells have fairly detectable surface immunoglobulins, without monoclonal distribution however. In addition these cells have a peroxidatic activity which is revealed in the perinuclear space and strands of endoplasmic reticulum.     

Respiration rates and peroxidase activity in virus-infectedPhaseolus vulgaris

Zusammenfassung Atmungsgeschwindigkeit und Peroxidasetätigkeit mit Tabak-Nekrose-Virus eingespritzter Primärblätter desPhaseolus vulgaris L. nehmen bei 26°C vor dem Erscheinen der lokalen Wunden zu, und zwar proportional zur Wundenzahl und ebenso in Abhängigkeit vom Abstand der Periode vom Zeitpunkt der Einspritzung an.     

Influence of hydroxyurea,ellman's reagent and potassium ferricyanide on the radiosensitivity ofEscherichia coli

Zusammenfassung Zwei thiolbindende Agentien, K₃Fe(CN)₆ undEllmans Reagens wie auch der die DNA-Synthese hemmende Oxyharnstoff wurden als mögliche bakterielle Sensibilisatoren für Röntgenstrahlen untersucht. K₃Fe(CN)₆ und Oxyharnstoff im Medium können die Bakterien für die Inaktivierung durch Röntgenstrahlen besonders sensibilisieren (stärker mitE. coli B/r als mitE. coli B _s-1).     

Inverse effect of gibberellin and Amo-1618 on growth,catalase and peroxidase activity in cucumber seedlings

Zusammenfassung Gibberellin beschleunigt das Wachstum von Hypokotylen bei Gurkensämlingen und verlangsamt die Katalase- und Peroxydasetätigkeit in Hypokotylen und Kotyledonen. Amo-1618 verlangsamt das Wachstum, beschleunigt jedoch die Tätigkeit dieser Enzyme in Hypokotylen, Kotyledonen und Wurzelanlagen. Das Ausmass der durch Gibberellin verursachten Verlangsamung, bzw. der durch Amo-1618 verursachten Beschleunigung stand zum Effekt auf die Hypokotyl-Elongation in entsprechender Konzentrationsabhängigkeit. Gleichzeitige Anwendung beider Substanzen führte zu Aufhebung des Retardierungseffektes.     

Glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in the red blood cells of GSH-normal and GSH-deficient sheep

Levels of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were measured in the red blood cells of glutathione(GSH)-normal and GSH-deficient sheep. There were no significant differences in any of the 3 enzyme activities measured in the 2 groups of sheep. Also, there was no relationship between GSH level and the enzyme activity. These results suggest that inspite of large differences in GSH levels, the red blood cells from GSH-normal and GSH-deficient Merino sheep appear to have similar response to oxidative stress against which GSH is credited to play a major role.     

Effects of catalase,peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and 10 scavengers of oxygen radicals in carrageenin edema and in adjuvant arthritis of rats

Summary Catalase, peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were found to inhibit significantly carrageenin edema and the primary phase of adjuvant arthritis in rats after i.v. injection. Heat-inactivated enzymes were as effective as the native enzymes. None of 10 scavengers of oxygen radicals inhibited the adjuvant arthritis at any time. Accordingly, no evidence for a participation of oxygen radicals in the secondary arthritis phase could be found, whereas a role of oxygen radicals in the primary arthritis phase and in carrageenin edema cannot be ruled out.     

Thin layer chromatography methods for detecting hippurate hydrolase activity among various bacteria (Pseudomonas,Bacillus, Enterobacteriaceae)

Zusammenfassung Zum Nachweis von Hippurat Hydrolase bei Mikroorganismen wird die Dünnschichtchromatographie auf Silicagel-Fluoreszens-Indikator Cellulose-Alufolien mit Hexan/Essigsäure (96/4) als Laufmittel zur Trennung von Benzoe- und Hippursäure empfohlen. Benzoesäure gibt auf KC-Karten SIF Kieselgel mit Fluoreszensindikator unter UV violette Flecken, während sie auf DC-Alufolien (Cellulose) mit FeSO₄/H₂O₂/MnSO₄-Reagenz¹⁴ empfindliche, dunkelbraune Flecken gibt (Rf=0.72). Hippursäure bleibt mit Hexan/Essigsäure als Laufmittel am Auftragungsort zurück. Beide Nachweisverfahren, geprüft an verschiedenen Bakterien, stimmen vollständig in den Ergebnissen überein (Table II). Für Routineuntersuchungen genügt infolgedessen eines der beiden Verfahren.     

Recently discovered functions of glucosylceramides in plants and fungi

Glycosphingolipids are ubiquitous membrane lipids of eukaryotic organisms and a few bacteria. Whereas inositol-containing glycosphingolipids are restricted to plants and fungi, galactosylceramide occurs only in fungi and animals. In contrast, glucosylceramide is the unique glycosphingolipid which plants, fungi and animals have in common. However, there are specific differences in the structure of the ceramide backbone of glucosylceramides from these organisms. A comparison of the structural features and the biosynthesis of glucosylceramides from plants, fungi and animals will contribute to our understanding of their functions, which so far have been analysed mainly in animals. The availability of nearly all genes involved in the biosynthesis of glucosylceramides enables the specific manipulation of glycosphingolipid metabolism by techniques of forward and reverse genetics. Application of this approach to unicellular organisms like yeasts, multicellular filamentous fungi, as well as to complex organisms like plants will reveal common and different glucosylceramide functions in these organisms. These glycolipids play a role both in intracellular processes and in cell-to-cell interactions. These interactions may occur between cells of a multicellular organism or between cells of different species, as in host-pathogen interactions.     

Injectable benzimidazole anthelmintics effective against liver flukes,tapeworms, lungworms and gastrointestinal roundworms

Summary A series of orally active benzimidazole anthelmintics has been discovered to be active by injection against nematode, cestode and trematode species.     

Requirements for effective use of graphical methods in interactive forecasting

The construction of forecasts using interactive data analysis systems is greatly aided by the availability of graphical procedures. Data exploration, model identification and estimation, and interpretation of final forecasts are made considerably easier by the visual relay of information. This article discusses some recent developments in time series graphics designed to assist in the forecasting process. A discussion of requirerients for effective use of graphics in interactive forecasting is included as illustrated through an application of the Box-Jenkins methodology. Illustrations are included from the STATGRAPHICS system, a prototype implementation in APL.