Appropriate use of abscisic acid (ABA), a well-known plant growth regulator, could be beneficial to crop production under certain environmental conditions. A field experiment was conducted in both ...2008 and 2009 to determine the appropriate level of ABA and the growth stages at which sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) are sensitive to exogenous application of ABA. Sunflowers grown in fully irrigated plots or in plots receiving limited irrigation were sprayed with 0, 5, and 10 μM ABA at the bud initiation or early flowering. Growth and yield of sunflower were severely reduced (P < 0.05) by limited irrigation. When irrigation was withheld at the bud initiation, foliar spray of ABA at 5 μM increased (P < 0.05) crop growth rate (6%) and leaf area index (16%) at flowering, and total biomass production (14%), leading to increased achene yield by up to 27% and oil yield by 24%. However, achene and oil yields were often reduced by ABA treatment under drought-free conditions. More improvement of ABA application in growth and yield was observed when drought occurred at bud initiation stage, and when ABA was applied to drought-prone sunflower at 5 μM than at 10 μM concentrations. Our study suggests that timely application of 5 μM ABA could improve sunflower productivity under drought-prone conditions.
Escherichia coli possesses a flavohemoglobin (Hmp), product of hmp, the first microbial globin gene to be sequenced and characterized at the molecular level. Although related proteins occur in ...numerous prokaryotes and eukaryotic microorganisms, the function(s) of these proteins have been elusive. Here we report construction of a defined hmp mutation and its use to probe Hmp function. As anticipated from up-regulation ofhmp expression by nitric oxide (NO),S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) or sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the hmp mutant is hypersensitive to these agents. Thehmp promoter is more sensitive to SNP andS-nitroso-N-penicillamine (SNAP) than is thesoxS promoter, consistent with the role of Hmp in protection from reactive nitrogen species. Additional functions for Hmp are indicated by (a) parallel sensitivity of thehmp mutant to the redox-cycling agent, paraquat, (b) inability of the mutant to up-regulate fully thesoxS and sodA promoters in response to oxidative stress caused by paraquat, GSNO and SNP, and (c) failure of the mutant to accumulate reduced paraquat radical after anoxic growth. We conclude that Hmp plays a role in protection from nitrosating agents and NO-related species and oxidative stress. This protective role probably involves direct detoxification of those species and sensing of NO-related and oxidative stress.
The Phenotype MicroArray™ (PM) technology was used to study the metabolic characteristics of 29 Salmonella strains belonging to seven serotypes of S. enterica spp. enterica. Strains of serotypes ...Typhimurium (six strains among definite phage types DTs 1, 40 and 104) and Agona (two strains) were tested for 949 substrates, Enteritidis (six strains of phage type PT1), Give, Hvittingfoss, Infantis and Newport strains (two of each) were tested for 190 substrates and seven other Agona strains for 95 substrates. The strains represented 18 genotypes in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Among 949 substrates, 18 were identified that could be used to differentiate between the strains of those seven serotypes or within a single serotype. Unique metabolic differences between the Finnish endemic Typhimurium DT1 and Agona strains were detected, for example, in the metabolism of d-tagatose, d-galactonic acid γ-lactone and l-proline as a carbon source. Thus, the PM technique is a useful tool for identifying potential differential markers on a metabolic basis that could be used for epidemiological surveillance.
...with the reported rise in antimicrobial resistance, in this study, chicken carcases were tested for the presence of the extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) blaCTX-M by loop-mediated isothermal ...amplified (LAMP) and culture. blaCTX-M have been a concern in human health as they confer resistance to third-generation cephalosporins, used for the treatment of human bacterial infections and ESBL bacteria often harbour multi-drug-resistant plasmids ( Kirchner and others 2013 ). The sensitivity and specificity of LAMP compared with culture for neck flap samples (considered the 'gold standard') was determined to be 93.6 and 81 per cent, respectively The predictive value of positive (PVP) and negative (PVN) tests ( Mackinnon 2000 ) was 88.89 and 88.68 per cent, respectively. Number of samples--- Test result Neck flap Caeca Culture positive 94 36 LAMP positive 99 40 Culture positive LAMP positive 88 31 Culture positive LAMP negative (false negatives) 6 5 Culture negative LAMP positive (false positives) 11 9 The table shows the number of neck flap and caecal samples with the corresponding positive and negative result for culture on CHROMagar-CTX and LAMP assay detection of the blaCTX-M genes. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance 3, 44-46 doi:10.1016/j.jgar.2014.11.003 ANJUM, M. F., LEMMA, F., CORK, D. J., MEUNIER, D., MURPHY, N., NORTH, S. E., WOODFORD, N., HAINES, J. & RANDALL, L. P. ( 2013 ) Isolation and detection of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacteriaceae from meat using chromogenic agars and isothermal loop-mediated amplification (LAMP) assays. J Antimicrob Chemother 63, 302-308 doi:10.1093/jac/dkn485 RANDALL, L. P., LODGE, M. P., ELVISS,...
The virulence profiles of a representative cross-section of isolates from the two disease categories, excluding ETEC, were analysed using a miniaturised microarray containing 56 virulence-related ...genes, including those for fimbriae, adhesins, toxins, microcins and iron acquisition; the details of the genes and the experimental procedures have been described previously by ( Anjum and others 2007 ). ...isolates from diarrhoeic and septicaemic calves belonged to diverse serogroups and the carriage of virulence genes varied within the same serogroup, supporting the view that serogroup cannot be used to infer pathotype ( Butler and Clarke 1994 ).
ABSTRACT
Premix containing ferrous sulfate, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid and folic acid (20.0:20.0:1.5 ppm) was used to fortify whole wheat flour stored at ambient temperature for 42 days. Naans ...(flat bread) were prepared from 0‐, 20‐, 40‐ and 60‐ppm ferrous iron‐fortified flour samples at weekly intervals and were analyzed for physicochemical constants and sensory evaluation. It was observed that flour containing 60‐ppm ferrous sulfate contained the highest iron residues. Total iron in flour samples showed no significant difference, while ferrous iron significantly decreased in fortified flour (0.53–3.08%) and in the naans (0.42–3.48%) because of its oxidation to ferric iron during storage. Phytic acid content decreased (0.886–0.810%) significantly during the same storage period. Iron levels affected some sensory characteristics significantly (P ≤ 0.05) including color, texture, flexibility, chewability and overall acceptability of the naans, but not taste and flavor. The sensory attributes of naans illustrated that naans containing 40‐ppm ferrous iron are more acceptable than those prepared with 60‐ppm ferrous iron.
Tailoring the pore size distribution of carbon‐based cathodes is a decisive factor for the electrochemical performance of aluminum batteries. In article number 1803584, Pedro M. F. J. Costa and ...co‐workers show how the mesopores in a reduced graphene oxide powder facilitate the movement of large chloroaluminate ions, effectively minimizing the inactive mass content of the electrode and compensating for an ordinary micropore volume.
In Hazara Basin, Early Eocene is represented by carbonate succession of Chorgali Formation which is mainly composed of limestone with marls and calcareous shale. Limestone is predominantly marly and ...argillaceous in nature. Two Stratigraphic sections of Chorgali Formation exposed at Gharaga and Bhattian villages have been completely examined and sampled for outcrop characteristics, petrography, microfacies and depositional settings. These sections have both well preserved lower and upper contacts with Early Eocene Margalla Hill limestone and Middle Eocene Kuldana Formation, respectively. The petrographic analyses reveal that Chorgali Formation exposed at Gharaga and Bhattian sections yields abundant Eocene foraminifers along with other fauna and their broken shells. On basis of outcrop data and detailed petrographic analyses, five microfacies are recognized including Nummulites-Lockhartia wackestone to packstone (MF-1), Nummulites- Assilina wackestone to packstone (MF-2), Ostracods-Miliolids packstone (MF-3), Marls Microfacies (MF-4) and Calcareous shale Microfacies (MF-5). Comprehensive microfacies, palaeoecological and outcrop data reveal that deposition of Chorgali Formation was occurred on mid ramp settings with some deposition in attached to partially restricted lagoonal area of inner ramp and proximal part of outer ramp.
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