Significance of autoclaving-induced toxicity from and hydrolysis of carbohydrates in in vitro studies of pollen germination and tube growth

Autoclaving of various carbohydrates resulted in decreased in vitro pollen germination and/or pollen tube growth in species belonging to different families. This toxicity was eliminated by treatment of autoclaved sucrose and glucose solutions with activated charcoal. Autoclaving-induced hydrolysis of sucrose at pH6 resulted in stimulated Agapanthus praecox pollen growth (in detoxified media) probably due to the formation of glucose which was found to be a superior carbohydrate source for in vitro pollen growth in this species. Considering these results as well as previous reports on anther culture studies, autoclaving-induced toxicity from and hydrolysis of carbohydrates should be taken into account in all pollen and anther culture studies as well as in vitro pollination of ovules

Abnormal Movements of Japanese Infants following Treatment with Midazolam in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: Incidence and Risk Factors

Background. This study was conducted to investigate the incidence of, and factors associated with, myoclonus-like abnormal movements of Japanese infants following treatment with midazolam in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Methods. We retrospectively investigated abnormal movements and associated risk factors in Japanese infants (less than 1 year old) who received continuous intravenous midazolam treatment in the NICU of the Neonatal Medical Center, Kumamoto City Hospital, Japan, between April 2007 and March 2009. Results. The study included 94 infants who received 119 sessions of midazolam treatment in total. Nine infants (9.6%) developed abnormal movements attributable to midazolam. These nine patients had a significantly lower gestational age at birth, a significantly lower number of weeks after conception at the start of midazolam treatment, and significantly lower body weight compared with patients free of abnormal movements. Logistic regression analysis revealed neonatal asphyxia as a factor associated with an elevated risk of abnormal movements (P = 0.03). Conclusion. The incidence of abnormal movements after midazolam treatment was about 9.6% among the Japanese NICU infants. This result suggests that neonatal asphyxia may be involved in the onset of abnormal movements in infants treated with midazolam

Direct and Indirect Light Energy Harvesting with Films of Ambiently Deposited ZnO Nanoparticles

Indirect photoelectrochemical processes are possible when employing a palladium film to separate photochemical and electrochemical reactions. Here, an exploratory indirect photoelectrochemical system is developed based on ZnO or Pt@ZnO nanoparticle photocatalysts ambiently deposited onto platinum, glassy carbon, or palladium membrane electrodes and exposed to blue (385 nm) LED light in the presence of glucose hole quencher (in aqueous NaCl). It is demonstrated that under these conditions photo-excitation followed by charge transport of conduction band electrons via inter-grain conduction across ZnO particles triggers the photo-current responses. The conduction band electrons then trigger formation of interstitial hydrogen in a palladium membrane. Transport of the hydrogen across the palladium membrane into the electrochemical compartment occurs within 1–2 min of switching on the light. A proof-of-principle fuel cell with oxygen gas diffusion electrode (cathode) and indirect photo-anode is shown to operate with up to 28 μW cm −2 power output during illumination. Important power-limiting parameters and suggestions for future improvements are discussed. </p