Morphological-biological properties of fruit and seed of beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) growing at different altitudes

U radu se istražuju morfološko-biološke značajke plodova i sjemena bukve sa različitih nadmorskih visina. Istraživanja su provedena na sedam lokaliteta na području Velebita sa rasponom nadmorskih visina od 521-1535 m n.v. Tijekom jeseni 2007. godine sakupljeni su plodovi i obavljena je procjena stupnja uroda. Analize sjemenena obavljene su u laboratoriju za sjemenarstvo i rasadničarstvo Zavoda za ekologiju I uzgajanje šuma Šumarskog fakulleta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu. Svi elementi kvalitete sjemena ispitivani su u skladu sa pravilima ISTA (International Rules for Seed Testing, 2006). Prosječni vitalitet bukvice dobiven metodom tetrazola iznosio je 81,4%. Utvrđena je pozitivna i značajna (r= 0,69452) korelacija između nadmorske visine i šturog (nevitalnog) sjemena bukve. Prosječna težina 1000 sjemenki iznosila je 118,9 g. Korelacija između nadmorske visine i težine 1000 sjemenki je negativna i značajna (r= -0,6315). Prosječna težina bukvice sa svih sedam lokaliteta iznosila je 0,24 g. Težina bukvice statistički se značajno razlikovala s obzirom na istraživane lokalitete. Dobivena je statistički značajna razlika u duljini bukvice s obzirom na stupanj uroda osrednji i vrlo dobar odnosno dobar i vrlo dobar. Prosječna duljina bukvice kod osrednjeg uroda iznosila je 14,72 mm, kod dobrog uroda 15,05 mm odnosno kod vrlo dobrog 16,03 mm. Ukupna laboratorijska klijavost bukvice nakon 17 tjedana ispitivanja u pijesku na konstantnoj temperaturi od 5 C bila je najveća na lokalitetu Krecelj (39,3%) a najmanja na lokalitetu Velika stražbenica (34,8%) dok je prosjećna klijavost iznosila 37,3%. Korelacija između nadmorske visine i laboratorijske klijavosti sjemena je pozitivna i značajna (r= 0,48350). S porastom nadmorske visine provenijencije značajno se povećava laboratorijska klijavost bukvice.The paper examines morphological-biological characteristics of beech fruit and seed growing at different altitudes. Research was conducted in seven localities in the area of Velebit at altitudes ranging from 521 to 1,535 m a.s.l. Fruits were collected and yield rates were assessed during autumn 2007. Seed analyses were performed in the seed and nursery production laboratory of the Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture of the Faculty of Forestry of Zagreb University. All the elements of seed quality were tested in accordance with the ISTA rules (International Rules for Seed Testing, 2006). The average beech nut viability obtained with the tetrazolium method was 81.4%. A positive and significant (r= 0.69452) correlation between the altitude and empty (non-vital) beech seed was confirmed. The average weight of 1,000 seeds was 118.9 g. A correlation between altitude and weight of 1,000 seeds was negative and significant (r= -0.6315). The average beechnut weight from all the seven localities was 0.24 g. There were statistically significant differences in beechnut weight in relation to the localities under study. A statistically significant difference in beechnut length was established with regard to yield rate described as average and very good, or good and very good. The average beechnut length at average yield amounted to 14.72 mm, at good yield it was 15.05 mm, and at very good yield it was 16.03 mm. The overall laboratory beech seed germination after 17 weeks of testing in sand at a constant temperature of 5 C was the highest in the Krecelj locality (39.3%) and the lowest in the Velika Stražbenica locality (34.8%), whereas average germination was 37.3%. A correlation between altitude and laboratory seed germination was positive and significant (r= 0.48350). With a rise in the altitude of provenances, laboratory germination of beechnut increases significantly

50 years of Mass Spectrometry at Rudjer Boskovic Institute

Dan je pregled aktivnosti i znanstvenih rezultata suradnika Laboratorija za kemijsku kinetiku (kasnije Laboratorija za kemijsku kinetiku i atmosfersku kemiju) Instituta Ruđer Bošković na području spektrometrije masa od 1959. do danas.An overview is given of activities and scientific results by coworkers of the Laboratory for Chemical Kinetics (later Laboratory for Chemical Kinetics and Atmospheric Chemistry) of the Rudjer Boskovic Institute in the field of mass spectrometry from 1959 to the present

Anomalous codeposition of cobalt and ruthenium from chloride-sulfate baths

Codeposition of Ru and Co was studied at room temperature and at 50oC with various Ru3+ and Co2+ concentrations in the electrolyte. The codeposition of Co and Ru proved to be anomalous since no pure Ru could be obtained in the presence of Co2+ in the electrolyte, but a significant Co incorporation into the deposit was detected at potentials where the deposition of pure Co was not possible. The composition of the deposits varied monotonously with the change of the concentration ratio of Co2+ and Ru3+. The deposition of Ru was much hindered and the current efficiency was a few percent only when the molar fraction of Co in the deposit was low. Continuous deposits could be obtained only when the molar fraction of Co in the deposit was at least 40 at.%. The deposit morphology was related to the molar fraction of Co in the deposit. The X-ray diffractograms are in conformity with a hexagonal close-packed alloy and indicate the formation of nanocrystalline deposits. Two-pulse plating did not lead to a multilayer but to a Co-rich alloy. Magnetoresistance of the samples decreased with increasing Ru content

Cardiac ryanodine receptor N-terminal region biosensors identify novel inhibitors via FRET-based high-throughput screening

The N-terminal region (NTR) of ryanodine receptor (RyR) channels is critical for the regulation of Ca2+ release during excitation-contraction (EC) coupling in muscle. The NTR hosts numerous mutations linked to skeletal (RyR1) and cardiac (RyR2) myopathies, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target. Here, we constructed two biosensors by labeling the mouse RyR2 NTR at domains A, B, and C with FRET pairs. Using fluorescence lifetime (FLT) detection of intramolecular FRET signal, we developed high-throughput screening (HTS) assays with these biosensors to identify small-molecule RyR modulators. We then screened a small validation library and identified several hits. Hits with saturable FRET dose-response profiles and previously unreported effects on RyR were further tested using [3H]ryanodine binding to isolated sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles to determine effects on intact RyR opening in its natural membrane. We identified three novel inhibitors of both RyR1 and RyR2 and two RyR1-selective inhibitors effective at nanomolar Ca2+. Two of these hits activated RyR1 only at micromolar Ca2+, highlighting them as potential enhancers of excitation-contraction coupling. To determine whether such hits can inhibit RyR leak in muscle, we further focused on one, an FDA-approved natural antibiotic, fusidic acid (FA). In skinned skeletal myofibers and permeabilized cardiomyocytes, FA inhibited RyR leak with no detrimental effect on skeletal myofiber excitation-contraction coupling. However, in intact cardiomyocytes, FA induced arrhythmogenic Ca2+ transients, a cautionary observation for a compound with an otherwise solid safety record. These results indicate that HTS campaigns using the NTR biosensor can identify compounds with therapeutic potential

Essential oils as antibacterial agents against food-borne pathogens: are they really as useful as they are claimed to be ?

Original articleMost studies evaluating the use of essential oils (EO) as antibacterial agents focus mainly on minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) rather than minimal bactericidal concentrations (MBC). In this work, we compared MICs and MBCs of EO from condiment plants commonly used in Mediterranean Europe, namely Origanum vulgare, Salvia lavandulaefolia, Salvia officinalis, Salvia sclarea and Rosmarinus officinalis, aiming to evaluate their application as disinfecting agents in minimally processed produce. Outbreaks-related pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Yarrowia lipolytica were used. Results showed that all EO were able to reduce bacterial growth in all bacterial strains tested, particularly O. vulgare. However, fewer EO exhibited bactericidal activities, and were only effective against one or two bacterial strains, hence eliminating the possibility to use them as broad range disinfectants. Furthermore, the necessary concentrations were too high for food application. Hence, our work suggests the need to evaluate MBC rather than MIC and questions EO usefulness in controlling undesired microorganisms. Overall, and despite the large volume of data published on EO, results obtained were not very encouraging for a realistic application on produce and question the viability of EOs as disinfecting agents in foodinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

A “Crossomics” Study Analysing Variability of Different Components in Peripheral Blood of Healthy Caucasoid Individuals

Background: Different immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases are being developed and tested in clinical studies worldwide. Their resulting complex experimental data should be properly evaluated, therefore reliable normal healthy control baseline values are indispensable. Methodology/Principal Findings: To assess intra- and inter-individual variability of various biomarkers, peripheral blood of 16 age and gender equilibrated healthy volunteers was sampled on 3 different days within a period of one month. Complex "crossomics'' analyses of plasma metabolite profiles, antibody concentrations and lymphocyte subset counts as well as whole genome expression profiling in CD4(+)T and NK cells were performed. Some of the observed age, gender and BMI dependences are in agreement with the existing knowledge, like negative correlation between sex hormone levels and age or BMI related increase in lipids and soluble sugars. Thus we can assume that the distribution of all 39.743 analysed markers is well representing the normal Caucasoid population. All lymphocyte subsets, 20% of metabolites and less than 10% of genes, were identified as highly variable in our dataset. Conclusions/Significance: Our study shows that the intra- individual variability was at least two-fold lower compared to the inter-individual one at all investigated levels, showing the importance of personalised medicine approach from yet another perspective