Hydroxycinnamic acids as affected by different fertilization of Rebula grapevines

The phenolic composition of white grapes is important since browning reactions may dramatically compromise the overall quality of musts and wines. Only few scientific contributions are available, which investigated how fertilization can influence this class of compounds. Thus, the aim of this work was to examine the effects of NPK soil fertilization coupled with soil or foliar applications of Mg, Fe, and Zn on the concentrations of K, Mg, Fe, and Zn of grape berries and leaf petioles of potted Rebula grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.), also revealing the change of hydroxycinnamic acids in grape juice. The results obtained over the three‐year study (2009–2011) showed that NPK fertilization positively affected K and Zn concentrations of petioles and grape berries, and negatively Mg. In addition, K (synergistic) and Mg (antagonistic) had an influence on Zn uptake. Our findings suggest that the supply of NPK was profitable for a reduction of trans‐caftaric acid in grape juice, while only few differences were observed with further application of nutrients.     

Anxiogenic behaviour induced by 17α-ethynylestradiol in male guppies (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Poecilia reticulata</Emphasis>)

Behaviour studies are used in toxicology research as they are excellent tools to measure physiological end-points caused by exogenous chemicals. In mammals both reproductive and non-reproductive behaviours have been used for a long period of time, whereas in teleost fishes non-reproductive behaviours have received little attention compared to reproductive behaviours. Recent advances in measuring stress related behaviours in zebrafish have provided additional tools to understand behaviour toxicology in fish. One species with well documented reproductive behaviour disturbed by different toxicants is the guppy, which is better suited than zebrafish for reproductive behaviour studies and therefore might be a better model organism for comparative behaviour studies in fish toxicology. Here we report new applications for non-reproductive behaviours in guppy and test these behaviours on males treated with the endocrine disruptor 17α-ethynylestradiol at environmentally relevant concentrations. 17α-ethynylestradiol increased freezing and bottom-dwelling when fish were placed in a non-familiar aquarium, but did not significantly affect shoaling behaviour. These results are similar to the anxiogenic behaviours seen in rats treated perinatally with 17α-ethynylestradiol and add more concern to the impacts of endocrine disruptors on aquatic wildlife.     

The potential of somatic hybridization in crop breeding

Summary In recent years, the rapid development of somatic cell genetics has made possible the transfer of alien genes over wide taxonomic distances by somatic hybridization. In this review, the potential of somatic hybridization in the breeding of crops within the Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae and Solanaceae is discussed. It is evident from these studies that many hybrids, either symmetric or asymmetric, which are fertile have the potential to be used as a bridge between the alien species and the crop. Progeny analysis of some hybrid combinations also reveals intergenomic translocations which may lead to the introgression of the alien genes. Furthermore, fusion techniques enable the resynthesis of allopolyploid crops to increase their genetic variability and to restore ploidy level and heterozygosity after breeding at reduced ploidy level in polyploid crops.     

In vitro propagation of Blandfordia grandiflora (Liliaceae)

Multiple shoots were obtained when single shoot tips of Blandfordia grandiflora were exposed to different concentrations of kinetin, N6~ benzylaminopurine (BAP) and N6- isopentenylaminopurine (2iP). The best multiplication results were obtained when explants were subjected to kinetin at 8 (iM BAP at 0.5,2 and 8 (iM and 2iP at 2,8,32 and 128 |iM. Preliminary rooting trials were performed with three different auxins: indo- lebutyric acid (IB A), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and indole acetic acid (I A A). IB A at a concentration of 8 |iM and IAA at a concentration of 32 |xM gave highest root number, but when transplanted to the glasshouse, the best surviving plantlets were those treated with 2 |xM of IBA or 0.5 μM of IAA.     

Antifouling Activity of Synthetic Alkylpyridinium Polymers Using the Barnacle Model

Polymeric alkylpyridinium salts (poly-APS) isolated from the Mediterranean marine sponge, Haliclona (Rhizoniera) sarai, effectively inhibit barnacle larva settlement and natural marine biofilm formation through a non-toxic and reversible mechanism. Potential use of poly-APS-like compounds as antifouling agents led to the chemical synthesis of monomeric and oligomeric 3-alkylpyridinium analogues. However, these are less efficient in settlement assays and have greater toxicity than the natural polymers. Recently, a new chemical synthesis method enabled the production of poly-APS analogues with antibacterial, antifungal and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities. The present study examines the antifouling properties and toxicity of six of these synthetic poly-APS using the barnacle (Amphibalanus amphitrite) as a model (cyprids and II stage nauplii larvae) in settlement, acute and sub-acute toxicity assays. Two compounds, APS8 and APS12-3, show antifouling effects very similar to natural poly-APS, with an anti-settlement effective concentration that inhibits 50% of the cyprid population settlement (EC₅₀) after 24 h of 0.32 mg/L and 0.89 mg/L, respectively. The toxicity of APS8 is negligible, while APS12-3 is three-fold more toxic (24-h LC₅₀: nauplii, 11.60 mg/L; cyprids, 61.13 mg/L) than natural poly-APS. This toxicity of APS12-3 towards nauplii is, however, 60-fold and 1200-fold lower than that of the common co-biocides, Zn- and Cu-pyrithione, respectively. Additionally, exposure to APS12-3 for 24 and 48 h inhibits the naupliar swimming ability with respective IC₅₀ of 4.83 and 1.86 mg/L.     

Genome-wide association analysis identifies loci for type 2 diabetes and triglyceride levels

New strategies for prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) require improved insight into disease etiology. We analyzed 386,731 common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 1464 patients with T2D and 1467 matched controls, each characterized for measures of glucose metabolism, lipids, obesity, and blood pressure. With collaborators (FUSION and WTCCC/UKT2D), we identified and confirmed three loci associated with T2D-in a noncoding region near CDKN2A and CDKN2B, in an intron of IGF2BP2, and an intron of CDKAL1-and replicated associations near HHEX and in SLC30A8 found by a recent whole-genome association study. We identified and confirmed association of a SNP in an intron of glucokinase regulatory protein (GCKR) with serum triglycerides. The discovery of associated variants in unsuspected genes and outside coding regions illustrates the ability of genome-wide association studies to provide potentially important clues to the pathogenesis of common diseases.     

Functional neuroanatomical differences between adults and school-age children in the processing of single words

A critical issue in developmental cognitive neuroscience is the extent to which the functional neuroanatomy underlying task performance differs in adults and children. Direct comparisons of brain activation in the left frontal and extrastriate cortex were made in adults and children (aged 7 to 10 years) performing single-word processing tasks with visual presentation; differences were found in circumscribed frontal and extrastriate regions. Conceivably, these differences could be attributable exclusively to performance discrepancies; alternatively, maturational differences in functional neuroanatomy could exist despite similar performance. Some of the brain regions examined showed differences attributable to age independent of performance, suggesting that maturation of the pattern of regional activations for these tasks is incomplete at age 10.