Appearance of a Host Protein in Cucumber Plants Infected with Viruses, Bacteria and Fungi

Electrophoretic analyses of extracts of cucumber leaves infected with Colleiotrichum lagenarium, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum, Pseudomonas lachrymans, Erwinia tracheiphila, tobacco necrosis virus or cucumber mosaic virus revealed the presence of a protein band with an RF value of 0.55-0.60 (based on mobility of bromophenol blue) on 10% polyacrylamide gel. This band was not evident in extracts of healthy or mechanically wounded leaves. The protein was not detected in uninfected leaves of infected plants, but it was detected in similar amounts in infected leaves and in secondarily challenged leaves of infected plants even though symptoms were not apparent on the latter. The protein had a molecular weight of approximately 16 000 d, was adsorbed on DEAE-cellulose, did not react with Schiff's reagent, and did not have ribonuclease activity. When injected into cucumber leaves, it did not inhibit germination of conidia of C. lagenarium or induce resistance against disease caused by the fungu

Fetal membranes as a source of stem cells

ABSTRACT In recent years, a constant growth of knowledge and clinical applications of stem cells have been observed. Mesenchymal stromal cells, also described as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a particular cell type for research and therapy because of their ability to differentiate into mesodermal lineage cells. The most investigated source of MSCs is bone marrow (BM). Yet, collection of BM is an invasive procedure associated with significant discomfort to the patient. The procedure results in a relatively low number of these cells, which can decrease with donor´s age. Therefore, it seems to be very important to find other sources of mesenchymal stem cells nowadays. A human placenta, which is routinely discarded postpartum, in spite of its natural aging process, is still a rich source of stem cells capable to proliferate and in vitro differentiate in many directions. Besides homing and differentiation in the area of injury, MSCs there elicit strong paracrine effects stimulating the processes of repair. In this review, we focus on the biology, characteristics and potential clinical applications of cells derived from human fetal membranes: amnion and chorion

Alveolar ridge atrophy related to facial morphology in edentulous patients

Joanna Kuć,1 Teresa Sierpińska,2 Maria Gołębiewska1 1Department of Prosthodontics, 2Department of Dental Technology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland Objectives: The morphology of the alveolar process determines the retention and stability of prosthetic restorations, thereby determining the result of the therapy. Considering that the edentulous jaws may be affected by the atrophy process, it was hypothesized that the morphology of the alveolar process of the maxilla may be dependent on the anterior facial height and anatomy of the mandible. Subjects and methods: Twenty-five healthy edentulous Caucasian individuals were randomly chosen. Each subject underwent a lateral cephalogram before and after prosthetic rehabilitation. During exposition, newly made prostheses were placed in the patient’s mouth. Teeth remained in maximal intercuspidation. Morphological parameters were evaluated according to the Ricketts, McNamara, and Tallgren’s method. Results: An inversely proportional association was observed between patient age and the distal part of the maxilla. A statistically significant connection was noted between the vertical dimension of alveolar ridge and anterior total and lower facial height conditioned by prosthetic rehabilitation. Conclusion: The height of the lateral part of the alveolar ridge of the maxilla remains in connection with the anterior total and lower facial height obtained in the course of prosthetic rehabilitation. The vertical dimension of the alveolar ridge of the maxilla seems to be in close relationship with the morphology of the lower jaw. Keywords: anterior facial height, cephalometric analysis, complete dentures, vertical occlusal dimensio

Application of the portable spectrometer XRF for the determination of content of some metals in soil: a case study from Holy Cross Mountains (Central Poland)

Badania zawartości wybranych pierwiastków przenośnym spektrometrem XRF (p-XRF) są obecnie jedną z najbardziej rozwijających się instrumentalnych metod badawczych. Jego niewielkie rozmiary i waga, łatwość obsługi i szybkość wykonywania analiz umożliwiają zastosowanie spektrometru zarówno w laboratorium, jak i w pracach terenowych. Metodę wykorzystano do oznaczenia zawartości wybranych pierwiastków w glebach z rejonu góry Strużnej w Krajnie (Góry Świętokrzyskie). Do oznaczenia zawartości badanych pierwiastków zastosowano spektrometr OLYMPUS Delta X Premium (anoda tantalowa 4W, 40 kV, natężenie 200 μA, tryb ”soil”, 135 sekund). Przed rozpoczęciem analiz p-XRF był standaryzowany z użyciem materiałów referencyjnych NIST 2710a i NIST 2711a. Mapy zawartości otrzymanych dla: K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As i Pb wykonano w programie SURFER 7.0 z wykorzystaniem procedury krigingu. Zarówno dobra zbieżność średnich zawartości uzyskanych dla badanego obszaru w porównaniu ze średnimi wartościami dla gleb Gór Świętokrzyskich, uzyskanymi wcześniej przez różnych autorów z zastosowaniem standardowych wówczas metod analizy chemicznej, jak również dobra zgodność rozkładu zawartości badanych pierwiastków z budową geologiczną rejonu góry Strużnej pozwalają stwierdzić, że wybrana metoda fluorescencji rentgenowskiej jest odpowiednia dla tego typu badań. Wysoka dokładność uzyskanych oznaczeń z użyciem spektrometru p-XRF Olympus Delta X dowodzi, że urządzenie to jest efektywnym narzędziem zarówno dla prac środowiskowych, jak i geochemicznych.The analysis of chemical composition using the portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (p-XRF) is recently rapidly developing instrumental research method. This method was applied to analyze the content of selected elements in soil samples from the Strużna region of the Holy Cross Mountains. The Olympus Delta Premium p-XRF spectrometer (4W Ta anode X ray tube, 40 kV, 200 μA current beam, “soil” mode, 135 seconds) was used. Prior to analyze the soil samples, the NIST 2710a and NIST 2711a reference standards were utilized in order to calibrate the p-XRF spectrometer. The maps showing obtained results of K, Ca, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, As and Pb were constructed using the SURFER 7.0 software with kriging procedure. The obtained results show arithmetic means similar to the previously obtained using traditional methods of chemical analysis for the soils of Holy Cross Mountains. These results combined with the high accuracy of measurements obtained by using the p-XRF Olympus Delta X spectrometer proved this device to be the effective tool for environmental and geochemical studies

Oligosaccharides from Phytophthora infestans enhance the elicitation of sesquiterpenoid stress metabolites by arachidonic acid in potato

Poly and oligosaccharides isolated from the mycelium of Phytophthora infestans enhanced the elicitation of sesquiterpenoid stress metabolites by AA in potato tubers. One fraction markedly enhanced the elicitation activity of AA and suppressed the elicitation activity of an incompatible and compatible race of the fungus. The saccharides were partially characterized as branched chain β-linked glucans. Of 18 unsaturated and saturated fatty acids tested, only ricinoleic acid enhanced the elicitation by arachidonic acid. Of 12 sugars tested only N, N′-diacetyl-d-chitobiose and stachyose enhanced elicitor activity of AA. The two sugars also suppressed elicitor activity to race 4 of P. infestans. The activity of these compounds was considerably less than that of fungal glucans. Of the acids and sugars tested, only AA elicited accumulation of sesquiterpenoids. Malto-oligosaccharides isolated from Karo syrup did not affect elicitation activity by arachidonic acid or the fungus. © 1984

Geologic and environmental conditioning of mineral deposit exploitatioh in Suwałki - Augustów region

Celem artykułu jest pokazanie kopalin regionu suwalsko-augustowskiego jakimi są rudy żelaza, głazy, piaski i żwiry, kred jeziorne, torfy i kopaliny ilaste na tle uwarunkowań geologicznych i środowiskowych. Baza surowcowa kopalin skalnych jest i mało zróżnicowana. Dominują piaski i żwiry, których udokumentowane zasoby stanowią blisko połową zasobów województwa podlaskiego. Pozostałe kopaliny mają podrzędne znaczenie. Charakterystyczna dla tego regionu jest duża konfliktowość sozologiczna złóż, wynikająca głównie z objęcia ich fragmentów różnymi formami prawnej ochrony przyrody i krajobrazu, lasów, wód powierzchniowych i podziemnych. Konflikty te rzutują w istotny sposób na możliwość swobodnego rozwoju wydobycia kopalin skalnych, eksploatowanych metodami odkrywkowymi. Prezentowana praca zawiera omówienie tych wielowątkowych uwarunkowań na tle specyfiki regionu.The paper presents mineral resources of Suwałki - Augustów region, namely: iron ores, aggregates (boulders, sands, gravels), lacustrine chalk, peat and clay deposits, and their geologic and environmental conditioning. The region is characterized by rather undiversified raw materials, among which sand and gravel are the most crucial. Their documented resources stand for almost a half of the total resources of the Podlaskie province. Other exploited raw materials are of secondary importance. The discussed area is to a far extent sozologically conflictual, because the extensive terrains in the region are under a legal protection of nature and landscape, forests and surface or underground waters. The conflicts of interest have an adverse impact on possibility of open-pit mining and quarrying. The paper discusses these issues in manifold context