The genome of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana: ecology, evolution, and metabolism

Diatoms are unicellular algae with plastids acquired by secondary endosymbiosis. They are responsible for approximately 20% of global carbon fixation. We report the 34 million-base pair draft nuclear genome of the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana and its 129 thousand-base pair plastid and 44 thousand-base pair mitochondrial genomes. Sequence and optical restriction mapping revealed 24 diploid nuclear chromosomes. We identified novel genes for silicic acid transport and formation of silica-based cell walls, high-affinity iron uptake, biosynthetic enzymes for several types of polyunsaturated fatty acids, use of a range of nitrogenous compounds, and a complete urea cycle, all attributes that allow diatoms to prosper in aquatic environments.     

Differential response of zucchini varieties to low storage temperature

Several parameters related to cold damage in zucchini have been measured in fruits from different varieties cultivated in the province of Almería (south-eastern Spain). The purpose of this work is to correlate physiological parameters with commercial quality and chilling damage, in order to establish reliable criteria for selecting varieties having better genetic adaptation to low-temperature storage. The results show that, for varieties harvested during February, the variety Natura was the best adapted to storage at 4 °C, as its fruits suffered less from chilling injuries, had a lower weight loss, and the levels of metabolites malonyldialdehyde and H₂O₂ were not as high as in the other varieties. Genetic variation was detected for some of the parameters analysed. The positive correlation among the levels of MDA, H₂O_2, and chilling injury, as well as the negative correlation among catalase and chilling injury, makes these parameters good indicators of chilling damage in our system.     

Effect of aging on lees and of three different dry yeast derivative products on Verdejo white wine composition and sensorial characteristics

A study was made of the effect of aging on lees and of three different commercial yeast derivative products of different composition and degree of purification on the phenolic compounds, color, proteins, polysaccharides, and sensorial characteristics of white wines. The results obtained showed that the lees and yeast derivative products can interact or adsorb some of the phenolic compounds present in wines, reducing their concentration. This reduction depends on the treatment applied, the phenolic compound analyzed, and the stage of vinification or aging process. The use of lees and yeast derivative products can reduce the color intensity and the browning of the wines immediately following treatment. The monosaccharide and polysaccharide content of yeast derivative products depends on the manufacturing process and degree of purification of the product, both of which have an influence on wine treatments. After 6 months in the bottle, both the aging on lees and the treatment with commercial yeast derivative products gave rise to wines with better sensorial characteristics than in the case of the control wines.     

Mycobacterium microti infection in the cat: a case report, literature review and recent clinical experience

OVERVIEW: Mycobacterium microti infection is infrequently described in cats in the veterinary literature. It can be one of a large number of possible differential diagnoses in a feline patient with dermal nodules and non-healing draining ulcers, and can occasionally spread to involve the lungs and/or other areas of the body. CASE SUMMARY: This report describes the clinical signs, eventual diagnosis and variable response to treatment in a cat in Switzerland with recurrent cutaneous M microti infection. Only after several diagnostic and therapeutic attempts, over more than 2 years, was the species of Mycobacterium finally identified and targeted therapy given. PRACTICAL RELEVANCE: For any cat in which there is even a low suspicion of mycobacterial infection, the authors recommend that an aggressive diagnostic approach is taken. Tissue specimens should be collected and frozen early on, and, as soon as acid-fast bacilli are detected, samples should be sent to a mycobacterial reference laboratory for definitive identification. LITERATURE REVIEW: A review of the literature relating to the aetiopathogenesis, diagnosis and management of M microti infection in cats and dogs is included. This is supplemented with clinical and therapeutic experience gained from this case and other, unpublished cases managed over the past 15 years by one of the authors (DGM).     

Comparative studies of plant and soil analysis for the sulphur status of oilseed rape and winter wheat

Recently S deficiency became one of the most widespread nutrient disorders in North-European agriculture. Therefore precise and reliable methods for the evaluation of the S nutritional status of agricultural crops are required. For the prognosis of the plant available S soil analysis would be a favourite method, however, no relation between plant S concentrations and mobile (extractable sulphate plus extractable organic S) S contents in soils could be stated. The reasons for the impracticability of traditional soil tests seem to be related to interactions between soil water and mobile S in soils, so that site specific models need to be developed for the prognosis of the S status of agricultural crops.     

Reclamation of Polluted Soil: Phytoremediation Potential of Crop-Related BRASSICA Species

Soils polluted by heavy metals can be reclaimed using a number of expensive tactics that either remove the contaminants or stabilize them within the soil. The value of metal accumulating plants for environmental remediation has recently been appreciated and promising results have been obtained. This paper reports a study on the behavior of Brassica napus, Brassica juncea, Raphanus sativus and Brassica carinata grown on a substrate contaminated by several heavy metals caused by the use of contaminated irrigation water. Data on carbon dioxide assimilation, biomass growth and the bioconcentration and translocation factor of each metal in each species were measured. The polluted substrate caused only a small variation in photosynthesis, however transpiration was more affected by the experimental substrate and in all three species of the genus Brassica the presence of metals in the substrate resulted in higher transpiration levels.Two bioconcentration factors were calculated respectively for the roots (BCF) and the shoots (BCF); the BCF was >1 for all the species for Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn without significant differences among species. All the values of BCF were lower than 0.5; among the metals, all Brassica species demonstrated a similar performance for Cd and Zn, whereas for other elements the bioconcentration factor was very low.     

Antioxidants, free radicals, storage proteins, puroindolines, and proteolytic activities in bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) seeds during accelerated aging

Seeds of bread wheat were incubated at 40 degrees C and 100% relative humidity for 0, 3, 4, 6, and 10 days. The effects of accelerated aging on seed germinability and some biochemical properties of flour (carotenoid, free radical, and protein contents and proteolytic activity) and gluten (free radical content and flexibility) were investigated. Seed germinability decreased during aging, resulting in seed death after 10 days. A progressive decrease of carotenoid content, in particular, lutein, was observed, prolonging the incubation, whereas the free radical content increased in both flour and gluten. A degradation of soluble and storage proteins was found, associated with a marked increase of proteolytic activity and a loss of viscoelastic properties of gluten. On the contrary, puroindolines were quite resistant to the treatment. The results are discussed in comparison with those previously obtained during accelerated aging of durum wheat seeds.     

Environmental correlates of two macro-decapods distribution in Central Italy: Multi-dimensional ecological knowledge as a tool for conservation of endangered species

Using a multi-dimensional ecological design, this study aimed first to analyse whether local environmental conditions can account for the spatial segregation of two Italian native decapods, the crayfish Austropotamobius italicus and the river crab Potamon fluviatile, in Central Italy freshwater ecosystems. Second, we aimed to analyse which environmental variables were more closely associated with the presence/absence of the two decapods in specific sites within their distribution area. Following a factorial design, a total of 32 sites were selected in two neighbouring geographic areas, one occupied by crayfish and one by crabs. Within each distribution area, eight streams where the decapod was present and eight where it was not present were selected. At each site, macro-invertebrate community composition and 16 abiotic variables were recorded and analysed with multi-variate methods. Variations in physical (minimum and maximum temperatures), chemical (calcium, oxygen, nitrate and nitrite) and geomorphological (substrate composition) parameters explained spatial segregation of P. fluviatile and A. italicus in the study area. The occurrence of crayfish reflected variations of chemistry (such as pH, calcium, nitrate and nitrite concentrations), temperature, water depth and substrate composition. On the contrary, the presence of the river crab, within its occurrence zone, was not associated to any biotic and abiotic parameters and was probably affected by anthropogenic pressure and uncontrolled harvesting. These findings provide fundamental ecological data for the maintenance of the two decapod natural populations as well as for the selection of areas and streams adequate for their reintroduction.     

Accumulation of metals in macrophytes from water reservoirs of a power supply plant, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

Aquatic macrophytes are well known accumulators for heavy metals, the reason why they are used as bioindicators for water quality and in phytoremediaton strategies. This study reports on the elemental concentrations in four free-floating aquatic macrophytes (S. auriculata; P. stratiotes; E. crassipes and E. azurea) growing in two water reservoirs (Santana e Vigário, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil) of an electric power plant that receive input from the polluted Paraíba do Sul River. Filtered water samples and water suspended solids from these environments were also analysed. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used as the principal method, allowing the determination of up to 41 elements, including the rare-earth elements (REEs) and other trace metals not assayed before in these macrophytes. The results show that all elements studied are accumulated by the macrophytes with concentration ratios (CR = [plant]: [water]) varying from about 1,000 to 200,000, based on the dry weight of the plant species. With a few exceptions, highest accumulations were observed in E. crassipes in which CRs increase in the sequence: Cu < Mo < Cr < Pb < Tl < Fe < La < Zn < Ce< Mn. Surprisingly high CRs (e.g. Ce: 74,000) and corresponding mass concentrations were observed for the rare-earth elements (e.g. ∑REE: 112 mg kg^?1), also measured in the water suspended particle fraction. The results show that this fraction acts as an effective sink for trace metals in the aquatic system studied and seems to play also an important role in the transfer of metals from water to the plant species.     

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction and characterization of Laurus nobilis essential oil

Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction allowed essential oil of Laurus nobilis to be obtained. Extraction conditions were as follows: pressure, 90 bar; temperature, 50 degrees C; and carbon dioxide flow, Phi = 1.0 kg/h. Waxes were entrapped in the first separator set at 90 bar and -10 degrees C. The oil was recovered in the second separator working at 15 bar and 10 degrees C. The main components were 1,8-cineole (22.8%), linalool (12.5%), alpha-terpinyl acetate (11.4%), and methyleugenol (8.1%). Comparison with the hydrodistilled oil did not reveal any significant difference. Collection of samples at different extraction times during supercritical extraction allowed the change of the oil composition to be monitored. Lighter compounds such as hydrocarbon and oxygenated monoterpenes were extracted in shorter times than the heavier hydrocarbon and oxygenated sesquiterpenes.