Crystal Structure of Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10, a 125 K Superconductor

There is now a new series of high-temperature superconductors that may be represented as (A(III)O)(2)A(2)(II)Can-1CunO2+2n where A(III) is Bi or Tl, A(II) is Ba or Sr, and n is the number of Cu-O sheets stacked consecutively. There is a general trend toward higher transition temperatures as n increases. The highest n value for a bulk phase is three and is found when A(III) is Tl. This compound, Tl(2)Ba(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10), has the highest transition temperature( approximately 125 K) of any presently known bulk superconductor. The structure of Tl(2)Ba(2)Ca(2)Cu(3)O(10) has been determined from single-crystal x-ray diffraction data and is tetragonal, with a = 3.85 A and c = 35.9 A. No superstructure is observed, and the material is essentially twin-free. Electron microscopy in the Tl/Ba/Ca/Cu/O system has revealed intergrowths where n = 5; such regions may well be responsible for the superconducting onset behavior observed in this system at about 140 K.     

Nitrification Inhibitors from the root tissues of Brachiaria humidicola, a tropical grass

Nitrification inhibitory activity was found in root tissue extracts of Brachiaria humidicola, a tropical pasture grass. Two active inhibitory compounds were isolated by activity-guided fractionation, using recombinant Nitrosomonas europaea containing luxAB genes derived from the bioluminescent marine gram-negative bacterium Vibrio harveyi. The compounds were identified as methyl-p-coumarate and methyl ferulate, respectively. Their nitrification inhibitory properties were confirmed in chemically synthesized preparations of each. The IC50 values of chemically synthesized preparations were 19.5 and 4.4 microM, respectively. The ethyl, propyl, and butyl esters of p-coumaric and ferulic acids inhibited nitrification, whereas the free acid forms did not show inhibitory activity.     

Expression of iron regulatory proteins in full-term swine placenta

In swine, even though the pregnant sows were with iron abundance, the inborn iron reserve of piglets was compromised. This indicates the insufficiency of molecular machinery involved in local placental iron flux. Here, we investigated the expression of iron regulatory proteins like hepcidin and ferroportin and also their association with iron reserve, inflammation and oxidative stress in placenta of full-term pregnant sows (n = 6). Amplification and sequencing of placental DNA confirmed the presence of hepcidin (MN579557) and ferroportin (MN565887) sequences and their 100% identity with existing GenBank data. Real-time amplification of placental mRNA revealed significant higher expression of hepcidin (p < .05) than ferroportin. Western blot analysis of placental tissues revealed specific bands for both hepcidin (~8 kDa) and ferroportin (~62 kDa) molecules. Immunohistochemistry revealed the immunoreactivity for both proteins in the cytoplasm and membrane of trophoblastic cells of the placenta. Hepcidin and ferroportin expressions were positively associated with placental non-haem iron reserve (p < .0001; p = .033), lipid peroxidation (p = .0060; p < .0001) and reactive oxygen species level (p = .0092; p = .0292). Hepcidin expression was positively associated with interleukin – 6 (p = .0002) and interferon gamma (p < .0001) expressions but ferroportin expression was negatively associated with interleukin-6 (p = .0005), interleukin-1β (p = .0226) and interferon gamma (p = .0059) expressions. This indicates hepcidin and ferroportin may have a role in controlling the local placental iron flux by acting as a molecular bridge between iron trafficking and inflammation.     

Congenital lobar emphysema and tension pneumothorax in a dog.

Congenital lobar emphysema (CLE) and tension pneumothorax (TPT) are rarely reported in dogs. A case of CLE of the right middle lung lobe predisposing to air trapping, alveolar hyperinflation, and pleural rupture resulting in fatal spontaneous TPT in a 6-month-old mixed breed dog is described. The unique alteration of "bloat line" was observed in this case in addition to compressive atelectasis of all other lung lobes and lack of negative pressure within the thoracic cavity, signifying markedly elevated intrathoracic pressure. Bronchial cartilage hypoplasia and bronchiectasis were confirmed microscopically, which likely led to abnormal dynamic collapse of bronchi during expiration, consequentially leading to increased intrapulmonary pressure, bullous emphysema, and pleural rupture resulting in TPT. TPT consequent to CLE may therefore be considered one of the potential causes of sudden death in young dogs without overt clinical illness.     

Effect of Feronia limonia on mosquito larvae.

Bioassay guided fractionation of the acetone extract of Feronia limonia dried leaves afforded a potent mosquito larvicide, identified as n-hexadecanoic acid and found to be effective against fourth instar larvae of Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles stephensi and Aedes aegypti, with LC50 of 129.24, 79.58 and 57.23 ppm, respectively.     

Integrating marker assisted background analysis with foreground selection for identification of superior bacterial blight resistant recombinants in Basmati rice

Basmati rice is highly susceptible to bacterial blight (BB) caused by Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae. Transfer of BB resistance genes from non‐Basmati sources to Basmati through cross‐hybridization requires strict monitoring for recovery of the desirable Basmati quality traits in the recombinants, which show complex inheritance pattern. We integrated background analysis using mapped microsatellite markers with foreground selection to identify superior lines that combine useful genes from a non‐Basmati BB resistance donor line IRBB55 with grain and cooking quality characteristics of the popular Basmati rice variety ‘Pusa Basmati 1’ (PB 1) employing backcross pedigree strategy. Foreground selection using linked markers ensured presence of two genes, xa13 and Xa21 for BB resistance from IRBB55, and the recurrent parent PB 1 allele for the waxy locus giving intermediate amylose content and maintainer allele at fertility restorer locus in the BC₁F₅ recombinants. Background analysis enabled selection of recombinants with recurrent parent genome to the extent of 86.3% along with the quality traits. The extent of introgression of non‐Basmati donor chromosome segments in the superior selections was estimated to be < 7.8 Mb and < 6.7 Mb in the xa13 and Xa21 linked genomic regions, respectively. Association mapping identified three quantitative trait loci, one each for 1000‐grain weight, fertile grains/panicle and cooked kernel length. The backcross‐pedigree breeding strategy facilitated recovery of additional desirable characteristics from the donor in some of the selections. The elite selection Pusa 1460‐01‐32‐6‐7‐67 with maximum genomic background and quality characteristics of the recurrent Basmati parent gave resistance reaction against BB, similar to that of the non‐Basmati resistant check variety and recorded an yield advantage of 11.9% over the best check in the multiplication agronomic trial in the Basmati growing region of India. This line, which has been released as a new variety in the name of ‘Improved Pusa Basmati 1’ for commercial cultivation in India, is an example of successful application of marker assisted selection to variety development.     

The biochemical correlation between the epicuticular wax of upland cotton (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Gossypium hirsutum</Emphasis> L.) and the wax of different mealybug species

The study aimed to find the possible differences, existing between the cuticular waxes of cotton and mealybug insects, using advanced analytical studies. The biochemical composition of the leaf wax of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) and the cuticular wax of the different mealybug species, including Phenacoccus solenopsis Tinsley, Ferrisia virgata Cockerell, Paracoccus marginatus Williams and Granara de Willink, and Drosicha mangiferae Green were analyzed in detail by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The results clearly confirmed that the cotton wax is dominated by the six-carbon alkanes, while the mealybug wax is a mixture of both the five-carbon alkanes and the six-carbon alkanes. Apart from these differences, the common hydrocarbons such as hexadecane, icosane, and heneicosane, the uncommon hydrocarbons such as ethane, cyclobutanone, decane, and cyclododecane, the species-specific compounds of mealybugs such as myristyl alcohol, quinoline, hexacosane, and pentacosane were also identified and their retention times (RT) were listed out in detail. The outcome of this study will be useful to develop pest management techniques targeting the waxy cuticle of mealybugs without obstructing the normal physiology and growth of the cotton crop.     

Genetic studies in four interspecific hybrids of the genus oryza

The paper reports the results of genetic studies made in four interspecific hybrids of the genus Oryza, and the data are employed to discuss the inter-relationships between the different species. The characters of wild parents were found to be dominant in the F₁ hybrids.In O. sativa (variety Fukoku) × O. perennis subsp. balunga, the inheritance of the eight characters studied was found to be of the same nature as that of complementary, modifying, duplicating and polygenic types involving two or three genes. In O. perennis (Cuban type) × O. perennis subsp. balunga, the interesting feature was the occurrence of recessive characters (typical of cultivated rices) in the F₂ population, even though the two parents carried the dominant wild characters. This should be possible only by the operation of duplicate genes and such a mode of inheritance was observed for three characters. No definite Mendelian ratios could be got for the remaining five characters studied. The appearance of characters of cultivated rices has been suggested to point to the ability of O. perennis to give rise to O. sativa through natural crossing and selection. In O. glaberrima × O. perennis subsp. balunga, the ten characters studied segregated in monogenic or digenic fashion. When digenic, these characters exhibited complementary or inhibitory factor interactions. In O. glaberrima × O. breviligulata, the simple mode of inheritance in the F₂ generation has been suggested to indicate the close relationship of the two species.Some of the general features of the hybrids and segregating populations studied were the vigorous and fertile F₁s followed by the appearance of weak and unthrifty plants in the F₂ generation and the tendency for the parental characters to inherit together. The appearance of plants looking similar to O. sativa var. fatua in the F₂ populations of O. sativa × O. perennis, and of O. stapfii in the F₂s of O. glaberrima × O. perennis has been supposed to provide further evidence on the hybrid origin of these two forms.     

Green fluorescent protein visualization of Vibrio parahaemolyticus infections in Indian white shrimp Fenneropenaeus indicus (H Milne Edwards)

The pathways by which pathogens invade Fenneropenaeus indicus, the potential colonization in various tissues and the disease transmission mechanisms are unclear. The aims of the present study were to visualize the colonization and pathogenesis of GFP‐tagged Vibrio parahaemolyticus, in various tissues of F. indicus to evaluate the pathogen interaction. Among the three strains isolated, a virulent strain VpDAHV2 was tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP‐VpDAHV2) and validated for both its growth characteristics and its virulence as a genuine model for F. indicus infection. VpDAHV2 was positive for toxR and tlh genes and negative for tdh genes. CLSM images revealed that maximum colonization was observed in the haemolymph of the F. indicus challenged with GFP‐VpDAHV2. The haemolymph was the primary site for the colonization of GFP‐VpDAHV2 in F. indicus. The enteric localization occurred independently of the flagellum or motility of GFP‐VpDAHV2 through the intestinal route. The F. indicus infection model suggests that the haemolymph and the intestine represent the sites of infection by GFP‐VpDAHV2, and hence are the active sites of pathogen interactions. GFP tagging of V. parahaemolyticus is a new and systemic approach to determine the presence of bacteria in vivo for the confirmation of host pathogen interactions in aquaculture studies.     

Measured values of the dry deposition velocities of atmospheric aerosols carrying natural and fallout radionuclides using artificial collectors

The dry deposition velocitiesVg of aerosols carrying (a) fallout beta activity from nuclear tests, (b) natural radioactivity due to thoron daughter²¹²Ph (Th-B) and (c) cosmic-ray produced⁷Be have been measured in Bombay, India, using artificial collectors consisting of trays with a thin layer of water to retain the deposited material. The location of Bombay is eminently suitable for such measurements in view of the existence of a long dry period of several months without any rainfall. The measuredVg values (cm s^?1)) are 0.063 ± 0.06 (1 S.D.) for fallout beta activity from 900 daily readings, 0.033 ± 0.03 (1 S.D.) for²¹²Pb from 80 daily measurements and 0.023 ± 0.014 (1 S.D.) for⁷Be from 23 bi-monthly measurements. A study of the associated meteorological parameters showed some correlation with wind velocity only in the case of radioactive fallout.