Surface properties of lunar samples

Fine-grained samples disrupted after exposure to oxygen and oxygen with 3.5 percent water above 2 torr. Chemical etching revealed plastic deformation in some samples, adhesion due to impact melting in others, dislocations in crystalline phases and evidence that some glasses were partially devitrified. Specimens of rock that were fractured in ultrahigh vacuum exhibited a time-dependent adhesion and a network of localized electrostatically charged areas.     

Fluorescence-based method, exploiting lipofuscin, for real-time detection of central nervous system tissues on bovine carcasses

The removal of central nervous system (CNS) tissues as part of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk material is one of the highest priority tasks to avoid contamination of the human food chain with BSE. No currently available method enables the real-time detection of possible CNS tissue contamination on carcasses during slaughter. The fluorescent pigment lipofuscin is a heterogeneous, high-molecular weight material that has been shown to be enriched in high concentrations in neuronal tissues. In this study, lipofuscin fluorescence was investigated as a marker for real-time detection of CNS contamination. Front-faced fluorescence spectra of brain and spinal cord samples from 11 cattle gave identical, reproducible fluorescence signal patterns with high intensities. The specificity of these spectra was assessed by investigating 13 different non-CNS tissues enabling the differentiation of brain and spinal cord by signal intensity and structure of the spectra, respectively. Small quantities of bovine spinal cord were reliably detected in the presence of raw bovine skeletal muscle, fat, and vertebrae. The presented data are a fundamental basis for the development of a prototype device allowing real-time monitoring of CNS tissue contamination on bovine carcasses and meat cuts.     

Revealing Genetic Relationship and Prospecting of Novel Donors Among Upland Rice Genotypes Using qDTY-Linked SSR Markers

A total of 17 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers linked to QTLs (qDTYs) governing grain yield under reproductive stage (RS) drought stress were used to assess the genetic relationship and prospecting new donors for qDTYs among 32 popular upland rice genotypes. These SSR markers generated a total of 36 alleles with an average allele count of 2.1 per locus. Polymorphic information content value of the markers ranged from 0.376 to 0.662 with an average value of 0.484. The expected heterozyogosity ranged from 0.381 to 0.632. STRUCTURE analysis divided the 32 genotypes into three sub-populations. Subsequent phenotyping revealed that all the tolerant genotypes were grouped into one sub-population, whereas the moderately tolerant and susceptible genotypes were grouped into separate sub-populations. Phylogenetic tree constructed by the unweighted neighbour-joining method also divided the genotypes into three clusters. The grouping pattern of genotypes into the clusters was similar to that into the STRUCTURE analysis, on the basis of drought tolerance level. The average value of genetic dissimilarity coefficient among the genotypes was observed to be 0.486. Furthermore, by combining genotyping data with phenotyping data, 16 new donors for 6 qDTYs were identified.     

Relationship Between Seed Mass and Young-Seedling Growth and Morphology Among Nine Bluebunch Wheatgrass Populations

To better match plant materials to ecological sites for the purpose of rangeland seedling establishment, we examined the relationship between seed size and growth and morphological traits in young seedlings of bluebunch wheatgrass (BBWG) (Pseudoroegneria spicata [Pursh.] Á. Löve), a perennial Triticeae bunchgrass native to the Intermountain West. Traits examined included onset of germination, seedling biomass traits, and seedling surface-area traits. We grew seeds of nine BBWG populations that varied for seed size and were produced in a common environment under 2 contrasting d/n temperature regimes (20/15°C; 10/5°C). Lighter-seeded populations germinated and initiated shoots earlier. Heavier-seeded populations displayed high levels of biomass-related traits (e.g., shoot and root biomass and shoot length), while lighter-seeded populations displayed high levels of surface area ? related traits (e.g., specific leaf area and specific root length [SRL]). Correlations between seed size and young-seedling traits were mostly similar under the two temperature regimes. However, root length ? related traits showed more positive correlations with seed size under the low-temperature regime, which is more similar to actual field-emergence conditions during early spring. P-24, a light-seeded population, originated from the most arid site and exhibited the highest SRL at low temperature, while T-17t, a heavy-seeded population, originated from the most mesic site and exhibited moderate SRL. Three populations used for rangeland revegetation, “Whitmar,” “Goldar,” and Anatone Germplasm, all exhibited low seed mass and high SRL. However, only Anatone displayed high root-to-shoot length ratio under both temperature regimes, perhaps explaining its wide and successful use in rangeland seedings.