Phosphorylase kinase of the liver: deficiency in a girl with increased hepatic glycogen

Studies of a child with glycogenosis revealed an increased concentration of glycogen and low phosphorylase activity in her liver. Using mixtures of homogenates of the patient's liver and of normal liver, we found the low phosphorylase activity to be caused by a deficiency of phosphorylase kinase and not of hepatic phosphorylase. The fact that phosphorylase activity was restored to normal values by the addition of phosphorylase b kinase from rabbit muscle substantiates this conclusion.     

Proton release by N2‐fixing plant roots: A possible contribution to phytoremediation of calcareous sodic soils

With a world‐wide occurrence on about 560 million hectares, sodic soils are characterized by the occurrence of excess sodium (Na⁺) to levels that can adversely affect crop growth and yield. Amelioration of such soils needs a source of calcium (Ca²⁺) to replace excess Na⁺ from the cation exchange sites. In addition, adequate levels of Ca²⁺ in ameliorated soils play a vital role in improving the structural and functional integrity of plant cell walls and membranes. As a low‐cost and environmentally feasible strategy, phytoremediation of sodic soils — a plant‐based amelioration — has gained increasing interest among scientists and farmers in recent years. Enhanced CO₂ partial pressure (P_CO2) in the root zone is considered as the principal mechanism contributing to phytoremediation of sodic soils. Aqueous CO₂ produces protons (H⁺) and bicarbonate (HCO₃^‐). In a subsequent reaction, H⁺ reacts with native soil calcite (CaCO₃) to provide Ca²⁺ for Na⁺ Ca²⁺ exchange at the cation exchange sites. Another source of H⁺ may occur in such soils if cropped with N₂‐fixing plant species because plants capable of fixing N₂ release H⁺ in the root zone. In a lysimeter experiment on a calcareous sodic soil (pH_s = 7.4, electrical conductivity of soil saturated paste extract (EC_e) = 3.1 dS m^‐1, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) = 28.4, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) = 27.6, CaCO₃ = 50 g kg^‐1), we investigated the phytoremediation ability of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). There were two cropped treatments: Alfalfa relying on N₂ fixation and alfalfa receiving NH₄NO₃ as mineral N source, respectively. Other treatments were non‐cropped, including a control (without an amendment or crop), and soil application of gypsum or sulfuric acid. After two months of cropping, all lysimeters were leached by maintaining a water content at 130% waterholding capacity of the soil after every 24±1 h. The treatment efficiency for Na⁺ removal in drainage water was in the order: sulfuric acid > gypsum = N₂‐fixing alfalfa > NH4NO3‐fed alfalfa > control. Both the alfalfa treatments produced statistically similar root and shoot biomass. We attribute better Na+ removal by the N₂‐fixing alfalfa treatment to an additional source of H⁺ in the rhizosphere, which helped to dissolve additional CaCO₃ and soil sodicity amelioration.     

Nitrate and ammonium nutrition of plants: Effects on acid/base balance and adaptation of root cell plasmalemma H+ ATPase

The increase of rhizosphere pH in the course of nitrate nutrition results from H⁺ consumption in the external medium during uptake of NO₃^? in a H⁺ co-transport and from internal OH^? production during nitrate reduction. Synthesis of organic acids for NH₄⁺ assimilation as well as strong partial depolarization of membrane potential with NH₄⁺ uptake are the important reasons for rhizosphere acidification during ammonium nutrition. Despite differences in proton balance depending on N form, cytoplasmic pH changes are small due to physico-chemical buffering, biochemical pH regulation, H⁺ inclusion in vacuoles, and H⁺ release into the rhizosphere. Because of the large capacity for proton excretion the plasmalemma H⁺ ATPase of root cells plays an essential role during ammonium nutrition. An increase of the kinetic parameter V_max after ammonium nutrition relative to nitrate nutrition suggests that the capacity of H⁺ release may be adjusted to the particular requirements of ammonium nutrition. Moreover, H⁺ ATPase is adjusted not only quantitatively but also qualitatively. The increase of the kinetic parameter k_m as well as the capability of the plasmalemma vesicles in vitro to establish a steeper pH gradient favours the supposition that H⁺ ATPase isoforms are formed which allow H⁺ release into the rhizosphere under conditions of low pH or poor H⁺ buffering of the soil. In this respect species differences exist, e.g. between maize (efficient adaptation) and faba bean (poor adaptation).     

Variations in the acid content of rain water in the course of a single precipitation

The major acid components in the rain water collected during five different rainfall events in July and August 1977, were found to be a strong acid, the weak acid NH _in4 ^su+ and dissolved CO₂ from the atmosphere. Variations in their concentrations were determined as a function of time in the course of each of the rainfall events. Two experimental methods were used in this investigation, a microtitrim etric method and a coulometric method, and the data were analyzed by the use of modified Gran functions. Both methods gave the same results. The most significant observation was that the strong acid concentration increased from very low values to a maximum and then decreased in the course of a single rainfall event.     

Einfluß der Kaliumernährung auf die Wachstumsrate,den Gehalt an Kohlenhydraten und die Wasserretention von jungen Weizenpflanzen

The effect of potassium nutrition on growth rate, carbohydrate content, and water retention in young wheat plants The effect of potassium supply on the water content, growth rate, and content of carbohydrates has been studied in young wheat plants during a period of 22 days. Inadequate K⁺ supply resulted in a lower water content (water/g dry matter) and a decreased growth rate as compared with plants sufficiently supplied with K⁺. During the first days of the experimental period no major difference in the content of carbohydrates (glucose, fructose, sucrose, starch, fructosans) was found between both treatment. In the following days, however, the carbohydrate contents in the plants insufficiently supplied with K⁺ were significantly higher than in the plants with an adequate K⁺ nutrition. At the end of the experimental period a reverse pattern was found, the carbohydrate contents of the plants well fed with K⁺ were higher as compared with the plants with an insufficient K⁺ supply. It is concluded that K⁺ deficiency at first affects water retention and turgor. A reduced turgor results in a decreased growth rate which in return may lead to an accumulation of carbohydrates. Later at advanced K⁺ deficiency also the synthesis of carbohydrates is affected.     

Urinary protein level determination as a rapid method for the detection of contamination of slaughtered swine

Reference is made to work undertaken by Stehle (1983) on rapid semiquantitative determination of urinary protein in pigs for slaughter to identify premortal strain and stress, with additional studies being conducted into the suitability of the method. The investigations performed for this study covered urinary protein samples from 59 living and 762 slaughtered pigs. The Biophan E paper strip test was applied to groups of animals, and, when compared to high-accuracy laboratory determination of urinary protein, it provided sufficiently accurate information on the presence of stress-related proteinuria. Its accuracy, however, proved to be insufficient, when individual animals were examined. The number of clearly stressed slaughter pigs was unexpectedly high, although the same animals had been rated clinically inconspicuous prior to slaughter. Brief rest period resulted in significant rise of stress. The Biophan E paper strip test was found to be suitable for instantaneous determination of stress and strain on pigs for slaughter.     

Automated image processing for quantification of blue-stain discolouration of Norway spruce wood

Bioincising is a promising method for enhancing liquid uptake (e.g. preservatives or wood-modification agents) in refractory wood. Incubation with the white-rot fungus, Physisporinus vitreus, which selectively degrades pit membranes, results in deeper and more homogeneous penetration of liquids. Conventional methods of assessing the degree of fungal discolouration of wood after treatment with preservatives (e.g. European standard EN 152) are partly based on a subjective rating scale, which gives a rough value of the surface colonisation by blue-stain fungi. Hence, an automated image processing (AIP) procedure was developed for standardised quantification of the segmentation thresholds of discolouration and tested against manual segmentation analysis. Using the red filter in the AIP method revealed high correlation (R ² 0.95) and allowed for more user friendly and objective determination of blue staining of wood.