Neurofascin induces neurites by heterophilic interactions with axonal NrCAM while NrCAM requires F11 on the axonal surface to extend neurites

Neurofascin and NrCAM are two axon-associated transmembrane glycoproteins belonging to the L1 subgroup of the Ig superfamily. In this study, we have analyzed the interaction of both proteins using neurite outgrowth and binding assays. A neurofascin-Fc chimera was found to stimulate the outgrowth of tectal cells when immobilized on an inert surface but not as a soluble form using polylysine as substrate. Antibody blocking experiments demonstrate that neurite extension on immobilized neurofascin is mediated by NrCAM on the axonal surface. Under the reverse experimental conditions where NrCAM induces neurite extension, F11, and not neurofascin, serves as axonal receptor. Binding studies using transfected COS7 cells and immunoprecipitations reveal a direct interaction between neurofascin and NrCAM. This binding activity was mapped to the Ig domains within neurofascin. The neurofascin-NrCAM binding can be modulated by alternative splicing of specific stretches within neurofascin. These studies indicate that heterophilic interactions between Ig-like proteins implicated in axonal extension underlie a regulation by the neuron

Ewing Sarcoma of the Posterior Fossa in an Adolescent Girl

Medulloblastoma, astrocytoma, and ependymoma represent the most common infratentorial tumors in childhood, while Ewing sarcomas in that localization are extremely rare. A large left infratentorial space-occupying lesion was diagnosed in a 12-year-old girl with signs of increased intracranial pressure. Following total tumor resection, histological and molecular examination revealed Ewing sarcoma with rearranged EWSR-1 gene. The patient achieved complete remission following adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy according to Euro-EWING 2008 treatment protocol. Intracranial Ewing sarcoma, although rare, should be an important differential diagnosis of intracranial tumors in childhood which requires aggressive multimodal treatment

Chemical control of sorghum head bugs (Hemiptera: Miridae)

Eight contact and three systemic insecticides, and an enriched neem extract were tested for the control of sorghum head bug, Calocoris angustatus Leth. at the ICRISAT Center. The insecticides were applied at the complete-anthesis and milk stages (at 500 1/ha) with a knapsack sprayer. On the basis of effectiveness of head bug control, grain yield and 1000-grain mass, carbaryl (at 500 g a.i./ha) was the most effective insecticide followed by fenvalerate (at 50 g a.i./ha), and chlorpyrifos (at 250 g a.i./ha). Among the systemic insecticides, demeton-S-methyl (at 250g a.i./ha), was the most effective. Demeton-S-methyl and dimethoate were also effective for the control of other head bug species—Eurystylus bellevoyei Put. and Reut. and Campylomma sp. Plots sprayed with demeton-S-methyl gave higher grain yields than those treated with carbaryl, which was the best contact insecticide. Two sprays of carbaryl (at 500g a.i./ha) applied at the complete-anthesis and milk stages have been found to be effective for head bug control. Dichlorvos, fenitrothion and monocrotophos were highly phytotoxic and resulted in burning and drying of entire leaves. Dimethoate resulted in a slight drying of leaf tips and margins

Ground state correlations and mean-field in 16^{16}O

We use the coupled cluster expansion ($\exp(S)$ method) to generate the complete ground state correlations due to the NN interaction. Part of this procedure is the calculation of the two-body G matrix inside the nucleus in which it is being used. This formalism is being applied to $^{16}O$ in a configuration space of 50 $\hbar\omega$. The resulting ground state wave function is used to calculate the binding energy and one- and two-body densities for the ground state of $^{16}O$.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, LaTe

Factors influencing oviposition behaviour of the sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola Coq.

Visual stimuli influence the orientation behaviour of the sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola Coq. (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae). Yellow, red and white colours are attractive to the midge while blue and black are least attractive. Sorghum panicles covered with blue- or black-coloured bags in a headcage showed maximum midge damage, while the reverse was true for panicles covered with yellow, red, and white coloured bags. Panicles at half-anthesis with viable pollen and receptive stigmata suffered higher damage than those at the pre- and post-anthesis. Physical removal of anthers and stigmata significantly reduced the oviposition by the sorghum midge. Reduced oviposition/adult emergence was also recorded in male sterile sorghum lines (2219A and 296A) or through chemically- (Ethrel) (2-Chloro ethyl-phosphonic acid) induced male sterility in panicles of the sorghum cultivar, Swarna. Chemical stimuli from viable pollen and receptive stigmata and to a limited extent physical stimuli, govern the oviposition behaviour of the sorghum midge. Sorghum cultivars IS 12573C, S-GIRL-MR1 and IS 2816C showed antixenosis to adult midges. However, these cultivars became susceptible under no-choice conditions in the headcage. DJ 6514 and IS 12666C were attractive to the adult midges, but showed antixenosis to oviposition under natural and no-choice conditions. Genotypes with short florets showed antixenosis for oviposition. Ovary and anther breadth and tannin content of grain showed negative associations with oviposition. Cultivar antixenosis to adult midges and oviposition is an important component of resistance to the sorghum midg

Componental analysis of the factors influencing resistance to sorghum midge, Contarinia sorghicola Coq.

Field studies were conducted in Andhra Pradesh, India, from 1982 to 1984 to determine components of resistance to the cecidomyiid Contarinia sorghicola in 4 resistant (DJ 6514, AF 28, TAM 2566 and IS I5107) and 2 susceptible (CSH 1 and Swarna) sorghum cultivars. Short floral parts, faster rate of grain development and a high grain tannin content were apparently associated with resistance to the cecidomyiid. Genotypic and phenotypic correlations between the resistance factors were in the same direction (positive or negative) as their association with resistance. Glume g2, lemma 12, anther and lodicule length, rate of grain development based on dry weight (except oviposition) and tannin content of mature grain showed correlation and path coefficients (direct effects) in the same direction, and were considered characters which could be useful criteria to select for resistance to the cecidomyiid. Using D² and canonical cluster analysis, the position of the cultivar AF 28 was distinct from other sources of resistance. However, based on the number of larvae/100 florets, the position of DJ 6514 was distant from TAM 2566 and IS 15107. Based on egg numbers, the number of adults emerged and grain damage, DJ 6514 was grouped with TAM 2566 and IS 15107. The position of the susceptible hybrid CSH 1 was generally distant from the self-pollinating susceptible variety, Swarna. It is concluded that the results indicated that sources of resistance to the cecidomyiid are diverse, and there is a distinct possibility of increasing the levels and diversity of resistance to this pes

Registration of 'ICSV 197' midge resistant sorghum cultivar

A description of this variety, which is resistant to Contarinia sorghicola, has been noticed elsewhere [see Plant Material Description, ICRISAT (1987) No. 11]

The Role Of Host-Plant Resistance In Pest Management In Sorghum In India

The sorghum agroecosystem in India has been destabilized by the introduction of new varieties and hybrids that are not resistant to major pests such as Atherigona soccata, Chilo partellus, Contarinia sorghicola and Calocoris angustatus. An integrated pest management system needs to be developed, based on traditional pest management practices, of which pest resistance, cultural control and biological control were important components. For a better understanding of such a control approach, the biology of the major pests is summarized and a brief account of levels and mechanisms of pest resistance known so far in sorghum is provided. Based on this information, the rainfall pattern, plant duration to maturity, time of planting, natural enemies and insecticides, a sorghum-based integrated pest management system is proposed for the monsoon and post-monsoon season, in which host-plant resistance may be used alone or in combination with other control measures