Pyroclastic activity at Home Plate in Gusev Crater, Mars

Home Plate is a layered plateau in Gusev crater on Mars. It is composed of clastic rocks of moderately altered alkali basalt composition, enriched in some highly volatile elements. A coarsegrained lower unit lies under a finer-grained upper unit. Textural observations indicate that the lower strata were emplaced in an explosive event, and geochemical considerations favor an explosive volcanic origin over an impact origin. The lower unit likely represents accumulation of pyroclastic materials, whereas the upper unit may represent eolian reworking of the same pyroclastic materials.     

A Burkholderia pseudomallei toxin inhibits helicase activity of translation factor eIF4A

The structure of BPSL1549, a protein of unknown function from Burkholderia pseudomallei, reveals a similarity to Escherichia coli cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1. We found that BPSL1549 acted as a potent cytotoxin against eukaryotic cells and was lethal when administered to mice. Expression levels of bpsl1549 correlate with conditions expected to promote or suppress pathogenicity. BPSL1549 promotes deamidation of glutamine-339 of the translation initiation factor eIF4A, abolishing its helicase activity and inhibiting translation. We propose to name BPSL1549 Burkholderia lethal factor 1.     

Impact on discharge monitoring of recent epa initiatives in water quality measurement

Human health and aquatic life requirements can result in the establishment of effluent limitations on power plant aqueous discharges that are below the quantitation and even the detection capability of many of the current sampling and analytical procedures. To meet this situation for compliance monitoring, EPA has developed analytical methods that reportedly lower detection and quantitation levels by one to two orders of magnitude. Procedures to develop appropriate statistically-based detection and quantitation estimates for these methods are being developed by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and other industry and regulatory groups. EPA is also in the process of developing guidelines for performance based methods, which they believe will encourage innovation and speed the process of bringing new methods into use. This paper will discuss the impact of these proposed changes on the end user.     

不同种植方式对超级稻籽粒灌浆特性的影响

为探明不同种植方式下高产水稻的籽粒灌浆特性,以超级稻品种淮稻9号和III优98为材料,应用Richards方程W=A/(1+Be^–Kt)^1/N对旱育中苗壮秧精量手栽、小苗机插、直播3种种植方式水稻强、弱势粒的灌浆过程进行了比较研究。结果表明,(1)不同种植方式下,超级稻产量差异极显著,手栽最高,机插次之,直播最低。与手栽和机插相比,直播的千粒重和结实率显著降低,而手栽和机插之间千粒重和结实率的变化因品种类型而异。(2)不同种植方式下超级稻强、弱势粒灌浆特征为明显的异步灌浆型。强势粒达到最大灌浆速率的时间(T_max)早,最大灌浆速率(GR_max)、平均灌浆速率(GR_mean)以及终极生长量(A)和起始生长势(R₀)均明显大于弱势粒,而活跃灌浆期(D)和有效灌浆时间(T₉₉)明显小于弱势粒。(3)与手栽和机插相比,直播强势粒的GR_max和GR_mean显著降低,T_max明显延迟,D、T₉₉显著增加。弱势粒的GR_max和GR_mean机插最大,手栽略小于直播,T_max直播最早,机插次之,手栽最迟,D、T₉₉手栽、机插、直播依次减少。(4)籽粒灌浆阶段特征方面,平均灌浆速率和贡献率均以中期最大,中期的贡献率强势粒和弱势粒分别达到60.53%和50.78%,不同种植方式间前、中、后各期在灌浆持续天数、平均灌浆速率和贡献率上的差异因粒位不同而异。(5)千粒重与强、弱势粒的GR_max、GR_mean和D呈正相关,且与弱势粒的灌浆速率(GR_max和GR_mean)显著相关,结实率与强、弱势粒的灌浆参数除强势粒的D外,均不显著相关。说明不同种植方式对超级稻的籽粒灌浆特性有明显影响,虽均为异步灌浆型,但其强、弱势粒的最大灌浆速率及到达最大灌浆速率的时间等灌浆特征参数均差异较大,在保持籽粒最终生长量和结实率稳定的条件下,提高籽粒的灌浆速率,特别是弱势粒的灌浆速率,对提高千粒重有重要的作用。     

In vitro effects of reactive oxygen metabolites, with and without flunixin meglumine, on equine colonic mucosa

OBJECTIVE: To determine effects of reactive oxygen metabolites (ROMs), with and without flunixin meglumine, on equine right ventral colon (RVC) in vitro. ANIMALS: 18 healthy horses and ponies. PROCEDURES: In 3 groups of 6 animals each, short-circuit current and conductance were measured in RVC mucosa in Ussing chambers. The 3 groups received physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution, IV, 10 minutes before euthanasia and tissue incubation in Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate (KRB) solution; flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV) 10 minutes before euthanasia and tissue incubation in KRB solution; or physiologic saline solution, IV, 10 minutes before euthanasia and incubation in KRB solution with 2.7 x 10(5)M flunixin meglumine. Incubation conditions included control (no addition) and ROM systems, including addition of 1 mM xanthine and 80 mU of xanthine oxidase (to produce the superoxide radical), 1 mM H(2)O(2), and 1 mM H(2)O(2) and 0.5 mM ferrous sulfate (to produce the hydroxyl radical). RESULTS: All ROMs that were added or generated significantly increased the short-circuit current except in tissues coincubated with flunixin meglumine, and they induced mild epithelial vacuolation and apoptosis, but did not disrupt the epithelium nor change conductance, lactate dehydrogenase release, or [(3)H]mannitol flux. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Responses to ROMs could be attributed to increased chloride secretion and inhibited neutral NaCl absorption in equine RVC, possibly by stimulating prostaglandin production. The ROMs examined under conditions of this study could play a role in prostaglandin-mediated colonic secretion in horses with enterocolitis without causing direct mucosal injury.     

Trichinosis in a dog

Trichinella spiralis infection was identified by direct fecal examination as the cause of gastrointestinal disease in a dog. The source of infection was believed to be a woodchuck. Management included supportive care and benzimidazole treatment. Vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and myalgia are the main signs of trichinosis, but routine fecal examination seldom reveals T spiralis in natural infections. Mebendazole is the recommended anthelmintic and should be used to eliminate intestinal larvae and prevent muscle invasion. Although the prevalence of trichinosis is decreasing in swine, wild mammals may still be a potential source for dogs and cats. Nevertheless, because of the nonspecific clinical signs of trichinosis, many cases probably go undiagnosed.     

Insecticidal properties of monoterpenoid derivatives to the house fly (diptera: Muscidae) and red flour beetle (coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

Monoterpenoid derivatives were synthesized and their insecticidal activities were evaluated against red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), in fumigant bioassays and against house flies Musca domestica (L.) in topical, fumigant, and ovicidal bioassays. Acetate derivatives and haloacetate derivatives were compared with each other, and with the parent monoterpenoid to determine structure-activity relationships. Acetate derivatives were more active than the propionate derivatives of cyclic monoterpenoids in the topical, fumigant, and ovicidal bioassays. Pivalates were topically more insecticidal than acetates to adult house flies, while the acetates had the greater ovicidal activity. Acetates and pivalates were more effective than haloacetates in the topical, red flour beetle fumigation and ovicidal bioassays. Fluoroacetates of cyclic monoterpenoids were the most effective house fly fumigants, followed by acetates, and trichloroacetates. Several derivatives were produced that displayed enhanced activity relative to the parent alcohols or phenols.     

Immunostimulatory effects of dietary poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate in European sea bass postlarvae

The stable production of high‐quality fry in marine aquaculture is still hampered by unpredictable mortality caused by infectious diseases during larval rearing. Consequently, the development of new biocontrol agents is crucial for a viable aquaculture industry. The bacterial energy storage compound poly‐β‐hydroxybutyrate (PHB) has been shown to exhibit beneficial properties on aquatic organisms such as enhanced survival, growth, disease resistance and a controlling effect on the gastrointestinal microbiota. However, the effect of PHB on the developing immune system of fish larvae has so far not been investigated. In this study, the effect of feeding PHB‐enriched Artemia nauplii on survival, growth and immune response in European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) postlarvae was examined. Amorphous PHB was administered to 28‐day‐old sea bass postlarvae over a period of 10 days. The survival and growth performance were monitored, and the expression of 29 genes involved in immunity, growth, metabolism and stress‐response was measured. While the expression of the insulin‐like growth factor 1 (igf1), an indicator of relative growth, was upregulated in response to feeding PHB, the larval survival and growth performance remained unaffected. After 10 days of PHB treatment, the expression of the antimicrobial peptides dicentracin (dic) and hepcidin (hep) as well as mhc class IIa and mhc class IIb was elevated in the PHB fed postlarvae. This indicates that PHB is capable of stimulating the immune system of fish early life stages, which may be the cause of the increased resistance to diseases and robustness observed in previous studies.     

Fumonisin B1 concentrations in feeds from 45 confirmed equine leukoencephalomalacia cases

During the fall of 1989 and winter of 1990, numerous reports of equine leukoencephalomalacia (ELEM) occurred from many regions of the United States. Typically, horses were consuming feed partially or entirely composed of corn and/or corn screenings. From October 1989 through May 1990, samples from 55 confirmed or suspected ELEM cases were received at the National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, Iowa, for fumonisin B1 analysis. Samples from 9 cases in 1984-1985 were also obtained. Fumonisin B1, a mycotoxin produced by Fusarium moniliforme, causes ELEM, but little is known of naturally occurring toxic or safe levels in feeds. To determine what levels of fumonisin B1 in feeds are associated with ELEM, 45 selected cases were studied. The fumonisin B1 concentrations ranged from less than 1 ppm to 126 ppm, with the majority of the samples above 10 ppm. All types of feeds were included: corn, screenings, sweet feeds, and commercially pelleted rations. The length of exposure varied from 7 to greater than 35 days. Horse feed samples not associated with ELEM were also collected and analyzed. None of the nonproblem feed samples contained fumonisin B1 levels greater than 8 ppm.