Assessment of genetic diversity among African cassava Manihot esculenta Grantz accessions resistant to the cassava mosaic virus disease using SSR markers

A study was conducted to determine the extent of genetic diversity among African cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) accessions resistant to the cassava mosaic virus disease (CMD), using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The accessions included a breeding stock (clone 58308), five improved lines, 62 CMD resistant and 10 CMD susceptible landraces. Genetic diversity was assessed among accessions in five cluster groups derived from UPGMA analysis on data from 18 SSR primer pairs. Average gene diversity, He, was high in all cluster groups, with an average heterozygosity of 0.591 ± 0.061. The estimator of inbreeding Fis revealed a low level of inbreeding within groups and averaged −0.262 ± 0.142. Gene diversity among all accessions was 51.4% and gene diversity within cluster groups was 46.6%, while 4.8% was due to diversity between the different cluster groups. The amount of genetic differentiation measured by Gst and Fst were 9.6% and 12.1% respectively, indicating a weak genetic structure.     

Treatment of Coccidioidomycosis Osteomyelitis with ltraconazole in a Horse

Itraconazole, a tricyclic azole effective against a number of deep mycotic diseases, was used to treat a Quarter Horse filly with coccidioidomycosis. The horse was almost normal after 90 days of treatment. Five months after discontinuing itraconazole treatment, the filly had severe neck pain and neurologic signs from recurrence of coccidioidomycosis and was treated with itraconazole for an additional 6 months. Her clinical condition improved to almost normal and the filly has remained normal for 2 years. There was no evidence of drug toxicity.     

Radiotherapy of Metastatic Seminoma in the Dog Case Reports

Four dogs with metastatic seminoma were treated with cesium 137 teleradiotherapy. Minimum total tumor dose ranged from 17 to 40 gray (Gy) and was usually given through bilateral opposing sublumbar ports in eight to ten fractions, with three fractions given weekly. The tumor regressed in all four dogs. The first dog (case 1) was free of tumor and died of non-tumor related causes at 57 months. The second dog (case 2) was free of tumor but was euthanatized at 37 months for a limb fracture. The third dog (case 3) was euthanatized for undertermined pulmonary disease 43 months after radiotherapy. The fourth dog (case 4) was euthanatized 6 months following radiotherapy because of transitional cell carcinoma and renal failure. No evidence of seminoma was found at necropsy. Radiotherapy was shown to be effective treatment for seminoma with regional metastasis.     

Die Wirtswahl vonDahlbominus fuscipennis (Zett.) (Hym., Chalcididae) und die Eignung des Wirtes für den Parasiten

Zusammenfassung Im Laboratorium wurden mitDahlbominus fuscipennis (Zett.) Versuche durchgeführt, um einige Eigenschaften der Wirtskokons und Wirtslarven zu prüfen, von denen die Annahme bzw. Eignung des Wirtes abhängt. Es zeigte sich, daß für die Wirtsannahme (= gelungene Eiablage) der Kokon des Wirtes eine viel bedeutendere Rolle als die Larve spielt. Besonders die Struktur des Kokongewebes scheint wichtig zu sein.Troz der Anwesenheit der Larven eines sonst nicht angenommenen Wirtes, derGalleria mellonella L., in den Kokons voulGilpinia frutetorum (F.) stachen die Weibchen diese regelmäßig an. Dagegen war die tatsächliche Eiablage der Weibchen wesentlich reduziert, was für das zusäzliche Erkennen des Wirtes mit Hilfe des Legestachels spricht.Was die Wirtseignung betrifft, so wurde nachgewiesen, daß die Entwicklung der Parasitenlarven nur auf dem gelähmten Wirte stattfinden kann. Außerdem gelang es in 3 Fällen,D. fuscipennis bis zur Imago auf den Larven vonG. mellonella zu züchten; diese Wespen waren aber unfruchtbar.Die Arbeit wurde in der Zeit durchgeführt, in welcher der Verfasser das Stipendium der Rockefeller-Grü ndung im Institut für Biologische Schädlingsbekämpfung der Biologischen Bundesanstalt für Land- und Forstwirtschaft in Darmstadt hatte.Die Einrichtungen des Institutes standen ihm dabei zur Verfügung. An dieser Stelle sei deshalb dem Leiter, Herrn Dr. J. Franz gedankt, ferner Herrn Dr. W. Stein für Übezarbeitung des deutschen Textes.     

EinBatrachospermum der Sektion Contorta Skuja aus Kuba

Zusammenfassung Es wird über ein Vorkommen der bisher nur aus China bekannten Süßwasser-RotalgeBatrachospermum intortum Jao 1941 an mehreren Standorten im gebirgigen Osten (Provinz Oriente) der Insel Kuba berichtet. Es dürfte sich um den ersten Nachweis der Gattung für diese Antilleninsel handeln.

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ABatrachospermum, Sect. Contorta Skuja from Cuba

Summary Batrachospermum intortum hitherto known only from China, was found on several localities in the mountainous eastern part of Cuba (Prov. Oriente). This may be the first report of the genus for this island.

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Batrachospermum Contorta Skuja

Batrachospermum intortum Jao 1941, , . ( ). .

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Ergebnisse der 1. Kubanisch-deutschen Alexander von Humboldt-Expedition 1967/68, Nr. 33.     

Einsatz der Tracermethodik zur Lokalisierung von Nestzentren lästiger Hausameisen (Lasius brunneus LATR.,Hymenoptera,Formicidae)

Summary By feeding¹³¹J mixed with a honey solution it was possible to label a colony ofLasius brunneus (LATR.) which is often a pest in buildings. Using a scintillation detector the distribution of the parts of the nest in an infested room could be determined. This was the precondition for a directed control. That method seems to be suitable also for a control ofMonomorium pharaonis (L.).      

Saving the small farm: Agriculture in roman literature

Roman agriculture suffered traumatic changes during the 2nd century B.C. The traditional farmers who tilled their few acres and served family, gods and community were being squeezed out by large estate owners using slaves for investment farming. Politicians, scholars and poets tried to revive the ancestoral rustic life. In 133 B.C. the Gracchi legislated land reform to relieve the distress of the farmer soldiers who had won the empire. Although their efforts led to political confrontation that deteriorated into civil war, programs for the traditional farm became a permanent part of government policy from the late Republic until the end of the empire in 476 A.D. Scholars and poets made a contribution to the revival of agriculture with knowledge for improving the farm and by encouraging an agrarian mentality. The agricultural manuals (e.g. Cato (c. 150 B.C.), Varro (c. 50 B.C), and Columella (c.65 A.D.), defined the nature of the desirable farm and gave practical advice. Profit was the goal, but good farming practices made for pleasure and virtue as well. The image of the ancestoral farmer was perpetuated as was the notion that farming was the only honorable and respectable occupation for a Roman gentleman. In the Augustan Age (34 B.C.—14 A.D.) poets were encouraged by the government to adopted a rustic theme in hopes it would stimulate a return to the land and aid in the rebirth of Rome and Romans. In the GeorgicsVirgil begins with the practical details of farming, but uses myth and philosophy to explore the nature and meaning of life. He admits that Jove made life perilous. But Jove also gave man the art of agriculture and with hard work man could know the pleasure of a simple, virtuous, productive life. Horace directed his poetry against the allure of city life and in praise of rustic living. Epicureanism and Stoicism, in the guise of life on the farm, could show that although fate was unpredictable, the world was orderly and, if one recognized and accepted its limits, one could make a garden of the world and live a simple but happy life. By 300 A.D. Rome missed the peasant-farmer-soldier and by the 470's life had returned to an agrarian condition. Bishop Sidonius, trying to furnish meaning and perspective for the emerging new age, resorted to the Roman agricultural traditions still cherished as that world disappeared.     

Bypass of DNA lesions generated during anticancer treatment with cisplatin by DNA polymerase eta

DNA polymerase eta (Pol eta) is a eukaryotic lesion bypass polymerase that helps organisms to survive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and tumor cells to gain resistance against cisplatin-based chemotherapy. It allows cells to replicate across cross-link lesions such as 1,2-d(GpG) cisplatin adducts (Pt-GG) and UV-induced cis-syn thymine dimers. We present structural and biochemical analysis of how Pol eta copies Pt-GG-containing DNA. The damaged DNA is bound in an open DNA binding rim. Nucleotidyl transfer requires the DNA to rotate into an active conformation, driven by hydrogen bonding of the templating base to the dNTP. For the 3'dG of the Pt-GG, this step is accomplished by a Watson-Crick base pair to dCTP and is biochemically efficient and accurate. In contrast, bypass of the 5'dG of the Pt-GG is less efficient and promiscuous for dCTP and dATP as a result of the presence of the rigid Pt cross-link. Our analysis reveals the set of structural features that enable Pol eta to replicate across strongly distorting DNA lesions.