Physics

From massive quarks deep in the hearts of atomic nuclei to the catastrophic collapse of giant stars in the farthest reaches of the universe, from the partial realization of Einstein's dream of a unified theory of the forces of nature to the most practical applications in technology, medicine, and throughout contemporary society, physics continues to have a profound impact on man's view of the universe and on the quality of life. The author argues that the past few years, in terms of new discoveries, new insight-and the new questions-have been among the most productive in the history of the field and puts into context his selection of some of the most important new developments in this fundamental science.     

Focus on polar research

A few of the scientific challenges of polar research are reviewed, with stress on the work being done by U.S. investigators. The accomplishments that have been made are impressive, but much remains to be done. An evaluation of future research goals and priorities in science per se and in the national interest is not attempted, but a research strategy for the future, presently planned by the National Research Council's Polar Research Board, should contribute to this end.     

Heat resistance,biology and prevention of Diehliomyces microsporus in crops of Agaricus species

Soon after its introduction the mushroom speciesAgaricus bitorquis, which is immune to virus disease and prefers a warm climate, was threatened by the competitorDiehliomyces microsporus, false truffle. This fungus also likes warmth, and used to occur in crops ofA. bisporus.Mycelium and ascocarps were grown on several nutrient media. Optimum temperatures for mycelial growth were 26°C and 32°C, with a slight depression at 30°C. In trials in isolated growingrooms strain Somycel 2.017 ofA. bitorquis was generally used since it appeared to be highly sensitive to the competition of false truffle. Inoculation with mycelium, ascocarps or ascospores ofD. microsporus nearly always resulted in the presence of the competitor and in decreased mushroom yields. Even ten spores per m² causedD. microsporus. The time of inoculation was most important: irrespective of the kind of inoculum, inoculation only resulted in both false truffle and yeild loss, if applied from spawning until a few days after casing. Inoculation at a later date could result in false truffle, but yield was not decreased.As germination in vitro of ascospores failed, even after addition of various triggers, ascospore suspensions were treated at various temperatures for several periods. Then mushroom growing trays spawned with Somycel 2.017 were inoculated with the treated suspensions giving 7–11×10⁷ spores/m². The ascospores could not withstand 85°C for 0.5 h, 80°C for 1 h and 70°C for 3 h. Spontaneous incidence of false truffle, however, could not always be prevented and interfered with the results of these trials. It is possible that the thermal death-point of the ascospores is below 85°C. Fruiting bodies and ascospores did not survive peak-heating at the beginning and cooking out (compost temperature 12 h at 70°C) at the end of a crop. After cooking out, however,D. microsporus could still be present in the wood of trays and contaminate a following crop if no wood preservative was applied.Yield of Somycel 2.017 was reduced by the competition ofD. microsporus much more than yeilds of other strains ofA. bitorquis. The least sensitive were the highly productive strains Horst K26 and Horst K32.The effects of fungicides onD. microsporus in vitro and in growing trials did not correspond. The fungicides tested so far could not prevent or controlD. microsporus. Growing of less sensitive strains ofA. bitorquis together with sanitary measures early in the crop and at the end of the crop, however, can prevent the competitor. failure to turn up of false truffle. To understand the discrepancy between the in vitro effects of several fungicides and their effect in inoculated mushroom trays, the rate of adsorption of benomyl in the substrate and probably the interrelationships between antagonists andD. microsporus require further research. Other strains ofA. bitorquis than Somycel 2.017 appeared to be less sensitive to the competition. Among these, highly productive strains Horst K26 and Horst K32 will not be hindered byD. microsporus if the following precautions are exercised: cooking out at the end of a crop (compost temperature 70°C for 12 hours), followed by treatment of the wood with SPCP; protection by hygiene early in the crop, i.e. covering of the compost by a thin plastic sheet during mycelial growth followed by a quick execution of casing.Samenvatting De teelt van de warmteminnende champignonsoortAgaricus bitorquis, die immuun is voor virusziekte, werd al spoedig na introductie bedreigd door de eveneens warmteminnende concurrentDiehliomyces microsporus, valse truffel. Deze schimmel kwam vroeger voor in teelten vanA. bisporus; de sporen zouden een temperatuur van 82°C gedurende 5 uur kunnen overleven (Lambert, 1932). Tabel 1 geeft de myceliumgroei op verschillende voedingsbodems en de vorming van vruchtlichamen (Fig. 1A, B) weer. De optimale temperaturen voor myceliumgroei waren 26°C en 32°C, met een licht depressie bij 30°C (Fig. 2). Proeven in geïsoleerde teeltruimten werden voornamelijk uitgevoerd met Somycel 2.017, een ras vanA. bitorquis. Inoculatie met mycelium, vruchtlichamen en/of ascosporen vanD. microsporus, al of niet in reincultuur gekweekt, leidde vrijwel steeds tot de aanwezigheid van de concurrent in de geïnoculeerde teeltkisten (Fig. 1C, D), waarbij vruchtlichamen met ascosporen (Fig. 1E) gevormd werden en tot een reductie van het aantal champignons. Tien sporen per m² waren al voldoende omD. microsporus te doen aanslaan (Fig. 3). Het tijdstip van inoculatie bleek van groot belang te zijn: onafhankelijk van de aard van het inoculum leverde dit slechts zowel valse truffel als oogstreductie op, indien het werd aangebracht in de periode vanaf enten tot enkele dagen na het afdekken (Tabel 2 en Fig. 4). Inoculatie op latere tijdstippen kon wel tot valse truffel leiden, maar niet tot oogstreductie.Aangezien de kieming van ascosporen in vitro slechte resultaten opleverede, ook na toevoeging van diverse stimulantia, werden ascosporensuspensies in vitro gedurende verschillende tijden bij verschillende temperaturen behandeld; vervolgens werden teeltkisten met de behandelde suspensies geïnoculeerd (7 tot 11×10⁷ sporen/m²). De kisten waren tevoren geënt met Somycel 2.017. Een aantal proeven wees uit, dat de ascosporen 1/2 uur 85°C, 1 uur 80°C en 3 uur 70°C, niet overleefden (Tabel 3). Het spontaan optreden van valse truffel kon echter niet altijd worden voorkomen en beïnvloedde de uitkomsten van deze proeven. Daarom is het mogelijk, dat de sporen al bij een lagere temperatuur worden gedood Vruchtlichamen en ascosporen werden gedood door het uitzweten aan het begin van een teelt en door het doodstomen aan het einde van een teelt (composttemperatuur 12 uur 70°C) maar de schimmel bleek in het laatste geval wel over te kunnen blijven in het hout van teeltkisten als er vervolgens geen houtontsmettingsmiddel werd toegepast.Somycel 2.017 leed verhoudingsgewijs meer schade door concurrentie vanD. microsporus dan enkele andere rassen (Tabel 4 en. 5). Inoculatie met ascosporen bleek bij de minst gevoelige en meest produktieve rassen Horst K26 en Horst K32 slechts te gelukken in extreem droge compost; bij Somycel 2.017 daarentegen zowel in compost met een laag als met een hoog vochtgehalte. Inoculatie met mycelium veroorzaakte meer valse truffel en meer schade naarmate de compost natter was (Tabel 5).De werking van een aantal fungiciden in vitro (Tabel 6) en in teeltkisten (Tabel 7) stemde niet overeen. Aangezien de tot nu toe getoetste fungicidenD. microsporus niet kunnen voorkomen of bestrijden, moet preventie van deze concurrent worden gezocht in het telen van weinig gevoelige rassen vanA. bitorquis in combinatie met hygiënische maatregelen vroeg in en aan het eind van de teelt.     

Intussusception following renal transplantation in dogs (author's transl)]

In a consecutive and non-selected study of 54 kidney transplanted dogs, 12 cases of intussusception of the small intestine developed in 8 dogs. The patogenesis is still unknown. It has been postulated that the time of the operation (4--7 hours) and the segmental termination of the post-operative atony in the intestine are essential factors in this fatal complication. The last 16 dogs in this material were peroperatively treated with antikolinergics (Mestinon NFN), which was continued until normal function of the intestine. In these dogs there were no evidence of intussusception. The value of this profylaxis is open to discussion and it is essential to solve the problem of intussusception through a "blind" and controlled trial.     

Alternative complement pathway in bovine serum: lysis of human erythrocytes.

The hemolysis of unsensitized human erythrocytes by fresh bovine serums was investigated. Lysis occurred in ethylene glycol bis-amino tetraacetate buffers and with serums depleted of Clq. Serums extensively absorbed with packed human erythrocytes at 0 C effectively lysed human erythrocytes, but optimal lytic capacity required target cells "sensitized" with a heat-stable serum factor. Lysis did not occur with serums absorbed with zymosan at 17 C or heat inactivated at 50 C. These results indicate that human erythrocytes can activate the alternative pathway of complement in bovine serums. Lysis can proceed in the apparent absence of antibodies, although their presence may enhance the reaction.     

Host parasite relationships in Trypanosoma (duttonella) vivax with special reference to the influence of antigenic variation

A mouse model system was used to study various aspects of host and parasite relationships in Trypanosoma vivax infections. These included the phenomenon of antigenic variation, the variable parasite antigens responsible for this phenomenon, parasite-host adaption, host immune responses and the role of genes in the major histocompatibility complex in the control of infection. While the mouse model system has allowed investigation of these aspects of host parasite relationships, it is clear that the system is much more limited than those generally used in T. brucei spp and T. congolense infections. This is indicated by the discovery that not all VATs of T. vivax were equally infective for mice, though in some cases infectivity could be improved by bovine serum supplementation and/or immunosuppression of the mouse host. In the case of rats, infection was even restricted to a smaller number of the VATs studied. It was, however, possible to biochemically characterize the variable surface antigen carried by T. vivax and show its similarity to those carried by T. brucei and T. congolense. The H-2 complex was found not to influence acquired resistance of inbred strains. Cyclic transmissions of T. vivax infections to goats combined with chemotherapy were carried out in an attempt to induce protection to subsequent infection as has been shown in T. brucei and T. congolense infections. Such protection could, however, not be obtained, The failure of the metacyclic VATs to induce immunity, was perhaps due to rapid decrease in antibody titres to bloodstream VATs found after treatment and prior to rechallenge. The usefulness of the mouse model system in elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the non-H-2 linked differences in susceptibility to T. vivax infections should be further explored and its relevance to mechanisms of trypanotolerance in domestic ruminants defined.     

Effect of Tomanol on the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of penicillin G in dairy cows

Following concomitant intravenous administration of Tomanol and sodium penicillin G to six Dutch Friesian dairy cows a significant decrease in total body clearance of penicillin (34.7%) and a prolongation of the elimination half-life of penicillin (17.2%) was observed. Tomanol did not affect other pharmacokinetic parameters such as rate constants of drug transfer (k12/k21, alpha en beta), distribution volume of the central compartment (V1), and extrapolated serum drug levels. Intravenous or intramuscular administration of Tomanol had no effect on the tissue distribution of penicillin G, because neither a change in the ratios of muscle to serum and of kidney cortex to serum nor a change in an induced steady state level of low penicilline G serum concentrations was observed. From the data obtained it is concluded that concomitant Tomanol administration with penicillin induces an elevation of the serum penicillin concentration and prolongs the persistence of penicillin residues in carcass meat and organs.