Collaborative study of a column chromatographic method for bendroflumethizide and cyclothiazide.

Bendroflumethiazide and cyclothiazide are eluted from a sodium carbonate column with chloroform-acetic acid (98+2) and are measured directly by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. The method was collaboratively studied by 8 analysts. The average per cent recovery and standard deviations for simulated mixes of bendroflumethiazide and cyclothiazide were 99.61+/-0.78 and 99.3+/-1.97. The method has been adopted as official first action for the determination of bendroflumethiazide.     

Chitinase production by an Arthrobacter sp. lysing cells of Fusarium roseum

An Arthrobacter sp. which actively lysed Fusarium roseum was found to liberate chitinase (E.C. 3.2-1.14, chitin glycanohydrolase), an enzyme essential for the hydrolysis of chitin, a major component of fusarial hyphal walls. Factors involved in the production of chitinase were investigated by modifying culture conditions and assaying for enzyme activity. Production occurred on colloidal chitin as well as on native chitin supplemented with yeast extract or peptone. Enzyme production paralleled growth; liberation of enzyme took place during the log phase with the maximum yield being obtained at the stationary phase. Addition of the non-ionic surfactant, polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate (Tween 80) increased enzyme yield. An inverse relationship was found between the amount of enzyme produced and the quantity of n-acetyl-glucosamine liberated. The enzyme was generally not produced when grown on various other carbohydrates. These findings suggest that chitinase is inducible and that chitin breakdown is regulated by a repressor-inducer mechanism.Initial hydrolysis rates of colloidal chitin were proportional to the concentration of chitinase used. Optimal pH and temperature for enzyme activity were 4.9 and 50°C, respectively. Purification of the chitinase was obtained by (NH₄)₂SO₄ precipitation followed by DEAE-cellulose and Sephadex chromatography, achieving a 12-fold increase in specific activity.     

Spatial scale effects on conservation network design: trade-offs and omissions in regional versus local scale planning

Ecological patterns and processes operate at a variety of spatial scales. Those which are regional in nature may not be effectively captured through the combination of conservation plans derived at the local level, where land use planning frequently takes place. Conversely, regional conservation plans may not identify resources important for conservation of intraregional ecological variation. We compare modeled conservation networks derived at regional and local scales from the same area in order to analyze the impact of scale effects on conservation planning. Using the MARXAN reserve selection algorithm and least cost corridor analysis we identified a potential regional conservation network for the Central Valley ecoregion of California, USA, from which we extracted those portions found within five individual counties. We then conducted the same analysis for each of the five counties. An overlay of the results from the two scales shows a general pattern of large differences in the identified networks. Especially noteworthy are the trade-offs and omissions evident at both scales of analysis and the disparateness of the identified corridors that connect core reserves. The results suggest that planning efforts limited to one scale will neglect biodiversity patterns and ecological processes that are important at other scales. An intersection of results from the two scales can potentially be used to prioritize areas for conservation found to be important at several spatial scales.     

Effects of intravesical hydrostatic pressure and volume on the distensibility of the canine prostatic portion of the urethra

Positive-contrast retrograde urethrocystograms were obtained serially on 12 male dogs weighing 11.4 to 23.2 kg before, during, and after the injection of contrast medium until the urinary bladder neck and prostatic and membranous portions of the urethra remained open and distended as viewed by fluoroscopy. Correlations of intravesical volumes and pressures required to achieve maximum distension of the midprostatic portion of the urethra with body weight and surface area were not significant. Because of the variability in intravesical volumes and pressures encountered at maximum distension of the prostatic portion of the urethra, a dose of contrast material expressed relative to body weight or surface area could not be determined for consistently providing maximum distension of the prostatic portion of the urethra.     

On atmospheric loss of oxygen ions from earth through magnetospheric processes

In Earth's environment, the observed polar outflow rate for O(+) ions, the main source of oxygen above gravitational escape energy, corresponds to the loss of approximately 18% of the present-day atmospheric oxygen over 3 billion years. However, part of this apparent loss can actually be returned to the atmosphere. Examining loss rates of four escape routes with high-altitude spacecraft observations, we show that the total oxygen loss rate inferred from current knowledge is about one order of magnitude smaller than the polar O(+) outflow rate. This disagreement suggests that there may be a substantial return flux from the magnetosphere to the low-latitude ionosphere. Then the net oxygen loss over 3 billion years drops to approximately 2% of the current atmospheric oxygen content.     

Field variability and vulnerability index to identify regional precision agriculture opportunity

Innovations in precision agriculture (PA) have created opportunities to achieve a greater understanding of within-field variability. However, PA adoption has been hindered by uncertainty about field-specific performance and return on investment. Uncertainty could be better addressed by using innovative analyses that provide insights into variability among fields and across a region. The objectives of this research were to: (1) generate a within-field soil clay-content variability index (VI_c), (2) create a regional-scale growing-season precipitation variability index (VI_p), and (3) integrate the soil and weather indices with the USDA NRCS soil erosion vulnerability index (SVI) to produce a final index that incorporated both variability and vulnerability (VVI). The interpretation of the outcomes represented by each objective supports unique decisions that land managers may consider for reducing uncertainty about implementing PA. All indices were derived using publically available information for Missouri, USA. The VI_c was the ratio between the maximum and minimum clay content within fields. The VI_p was calculated as the standard deviation of the total growing-season precipitation from 2006 to 2015. Significant clustering of VI_c and VI_p were observed along the Missouri River corridor, northeast and northwest Missouri. Fields with high VVI were mostly in the claypan soil region of northeast Missouri, and along a portion of the Missouri River dominated by loess soils on steep slopes. Southeast Missouri displayed the greatest diversity in soil and weather variability, but had low vulnerability. This research could be used as a decision-support tool to aid producers and PA service and product providers in determining where PA opportunities exist.