Effect of timings of water supply on dry matter partitioning and yield of mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Non-Peer ReviewedRapeseed and mustard, two of the major oilseed crops, are widely grown in the world. With improvements in seed oil and meal quality, mustard can compete with rapeseed in the local as well as international markets, and it would be desirable to improve its yield. The effects of timing of water supply: at flowering, pod formation and ripening phases, in addition to one dry treatment on growth, total dry-matter production and partitioning of dry matter, and yield, were studied in mustard in the field during 1991 and 1992. Above-ground plant material was harvested at seven-day intervals, and dry-matter production was determined. Water supply had a substantial effect on both the total amount of plant-dry-matter produced and the pattern of its accumulation. The rate of accumulation of dry matter remained high under full water supply until the late-ripening phase. The maximum, of both the leaf and pod area achieved, was under full watering. The minimum supply of water increased the leaf area index (LAI) just after the start of flowering up to the maximum. Watering had significant effects (P<0.05) on yield. The full supply of water significantly increased seed yields by 57% and 44%in subsequent years, over the dry conditions (4002/2551 Kg, 199 -3080/2140 Kg, 1992). Application of water had an insignificant effect ( P>O. 05) on the harvest index (HI) . Water-use efficiency (WUE) was increased by 32% and 33% by the full supply of water in the consecutive years, over the minimum supply of water. It is concluded that three applications of an amount of water: at flowering, pod formation and ripening phases increase the seed yield by improving the photosynthetic (leaf and pod) area

Position clamping of optically trapped microscopic non-spherical probes

We investigate the degree of control that can be exercised over an optically trapped microscopic non-spherical force probe. By position clamping translational and rotational modes in different ways, we are able to dramatically improve the position resolution of our probe with no reduction in sensitivity. We also demonstrate control over rotational-translational coupling, and exhibit a mechanism whereby the average centre of rotation of the probe can be displaced away from its centre

Bulk experimental evidence of half-metallic ferromagnetism in doped manganites

We report precise measurements and quantitative data analysis on the low-temperature resistivity of several ferromagnetic manganite films. We clearly show that there exists a T^{4.5} term in low-temperature resistivity, and that this term is in quantitative agreement with the quantum theory of two-magnon scattering for half metallic ferromagnets. Our present results provide the first bulk experimental evidence of half-metallic ferromagnetism in doped manganites.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The influence of hypoxia and energy depletion on the response of endothelial cells to the vascular disrupting agent combretastatin A-4-phosphate

Combretastatin A-4 phosphate (CA4P) is a microtubule-disrupting tumour-selective vascular disrupting agent (VDA). CA4P activates the actin-regulating RhoA-GTPase/ ROCK pathway, which is required for full vascular disruption. While hypoxia renders tumours resistant to many conventional therapies, little is known about its influence on VDA activity. Here, we found that active RhoA and ROCK effector phospho-myosin light chain (pMLC) were downregulated in endothelial cells by severe hypoxia. CA4P failed to activate RhoA/ROCK/pMLC but its activity was restored upon reoxygenation. Hypoxia also inhibited CA4P-mediated actinomyosin contractility, VE-cadherin junction disruption and permeability rise. Glucose withdrawal downregulated pMLC, and coupled with hypoxia, reduced pMLC faster and more profoundly than hypoxia alone. Concurrent inhibition of glycolysis (2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2DG) and mitochondrial respiration (rotenone) caused profound actin filament loss, blocked RhoA/ROCK signalling and rendered microtubules CA4P-resistant. Withdrawal of the metabolism inhibitors restored the cytoskeleton and CA4P activity. The AMP-activated kinase AMPK was investigated as a potential mediator of pMLC downregulation. Pharmacological AMPK activators that generate AMP, unlike allosteric activators, downregulated pMLC but only when combined with 2DG and/or rotenone. Altogether, our results suggest that Rho/ROCK and actinomyosin contractility are regulated by AMP/ATP levels independently of AMPK, and point to hypoxia/energy depletion as potential modifiers of CA4P response

Constructing 3D crystal templates for photonic band gap materials using holographic optical tweezers

A simple and robust method is presented for the construction of 3-dimensional crystals from silica and polystyrene microspheres. The crystals are suitable for use as templates in the production of three-dimensional photonic band gap (PBG) materials. Manipulation of the microspheres was achieved using a dynamic holographic assembler (DHA) consisting of computer controlled holographic optical tweezers. Attachment of the microspheres was achieved by adjusting their colloidal interactions during assembly. The method is demonstrated by constructing a variety of 3-dimensional crystals using spheres ranging in size from 3 µm down to 800 nm. A major advantage of the technique is that it may be used to build structures that cannot be made using self-assembly. This is illustrated through the construction of crystals in which line defects have been deliberately included, and by building simple cubic structures

TIGAR inclusion pathology is specific for Lewy body diseases

BACKGROUND: We previously reported up-regulation of tigarb (the zebrafish orthologue? of human TIGAR, TP53 - Induced Glycolysis and Apoptosis Regulator) in a zebrafish pink1-/- model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Genetic inactivation of tigarb led to the rescue of dopaminergic neurons and mitochondrial function in pink-/- zebrafish. The aim of this study was to determine the relevance of TIGAR for human PD, investigate its disease specificity and identify relevant upstream and downstream mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: TIGAR Immunohistochemistry using a range of antibodies was undertaken for detailed assessment of TIGAR in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from post mortem brains of PD patients and other neurodegenerative disorders (n = 10 controls, 10 PD cases, 10 dementia with Lewy bodies, 5 motor neurone disease (MND), 3 multiple system atrophy (MSA) and complemented by immunohistochemistry for p53, hexokinase I (HK-I) and hexokinase II (HK-II; n = 4 control, 4 PD, and 4 dementia with Lewy bodies). RESULTS: TIGAR was detected in Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites in the substantia nigra of sporadic PD and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) patients. Staining of adjacent sections confirmed the presence of TIGAR alongside alpha-synuclein in these LB and Neurites. In contrast, TIGAR-positive aggregates were not seen in cortical Lewy bodies. TIGAR protein was also absent in both TDP-43-positive inclusions in MND and glial cytoplasmic inclusions in MSA. Subsequent investigation of the TIGAR-upstream regulator p53 and the downstream targets HK-I and HK-II in PD brains suggested a possible mild increase in HK-I. CONCLUSIONS: TIGAR protein, is present in SN Lewy bodies of both sporadic PD and DLB. The absence of TIGAR protein in the pathological inclusions of MND or MSA suggests disease specificity and further raises the possibility that TIGAR may be involved in PD pathogenesis

Good Agreement Between Modeled and Measured Sulfur and Nitrogen Deposition in Europe, in Spite of Marked Differences in Some Sites

Atmospheric nitrogen and sulfur deposition is an important effect of atmospheric pollution and may affect forest ecosystems positively, for example enhancing tree growth, or negatively, for example causing acidification, eutrophication, cation depletion in soil or nutritional imbalances in trees. To assess and design measures to reduce the negative impacts of deposition, a good estimate of the deposition amount is needed, either by direct measurement or by modeling. In order to evaluate the precision of both approaches and to identify possible improvements, we compared the deposition estimates obtained using an Eulerian model with the measurements performed by two large independent networks covering most of Europe. The results are in good agreement (bias &lt;25%) for sulfate and nitrate open field deposition, while larger differences are more evident for ammonium deposition, likely due to the greater influence of local ammonia sources. Modeled sulfur total deposition compares well with throughfall deposition measured in forest plots, while the estimate of nitrogen deposition is affected by the tree canopy. The geographical distribution of pollutant deposition and of outlier sites where model and measurements show larger differences are discussed

Genome-based study of a spatio-temporal cluster of invasive meningococcal disease due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup C, clonal complex 11

SummaryObjectivesTo describe a spatio-temporal cluster of invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) due to serogroup C meningococci, occurred in a restricted area of Tuscany between January and October 2015, and the results of whole genome sequencing (WGS).MethodsSurveillance activities and public health measures were implemented in the Region. Bacterial isolates from IMD cases were characterized by the National Reference Laboratory of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS), and WGS was performed on available strains. The kSNP software was used to identify core genome SNPs.ResultsOverall, 28 IMD cases due to meningococcus C were identified up to 31st October, 2015. Of them, 26 were due to meningococcus C:P1.5-1,10-8: F3-6:ST-11 (cc11) and 2 to C:P1.5-1,10-8: F3-6:ST-2780 (cc11). WGS of 13 meningococci isolated during the outbreak occurred in Tuscany in 2015 showed higher similarity when compared with those of 47 C: P1.5-1,10-8: F3-6:ST-11 (cc11) invasive strains from sporadic cases previously detected in Italy.ConclusionsA highly aggressive meningococcal C strain was involved in the cluster of severe IMD occurred in Tuscany, a Region with high vaccine coverage among children. Whether this was due to low herd immunity related to the short duration of vaccine protection needs further investigation