The dependence of HNO2 mutagenesis in phage T4 on ligase and the lack of dependence of 2AP mutagenesis on repair functions

A temperature sensitive ligase allele of phage T4 reduced or eliminated HNO2 induced reversion of am mutants. Since at the temperatures used, the ligase mutant is defective in the repair of some types of lethal lesions (i.e., UV, MMS and EMS induced lesions) these results indicate that HNO2 mutagenesis may occur through a ligase dependent repair pathway. In contrast, 2AP induced mutation was not inhibited by mutants defective in the gene 30 ligase or in genes 32, 39, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 49, 52, 56, 58-61 and v. This indicates that 2AP mutagenesis probably does not depend on a repair pathway in phage T4.     

Inbreeding and canine mammary cancer: a retrospective study

Using files of the Animal Neoplasm Registry (ANR) in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California, we conducted a retrospective study to compare the degree of inbreeding in the ancestry of purebred dogs with mammary and other cancers, and of those without tumors. Wright's coefficients of inbreeding, calculated for all animals in the three groups, ranged from 0.000 to 0.535. The median inbreeding coefficients of the mammary cancer and comparison groups (consisting of other cancers) were approximately twice that of the nonneoplastic group, but neither difference was statistically significant. Dogs with mammary adenocarcinoma and mixed mammary cancer had similar degrees of inbreeding.     

Synthesis conditions and structure of low density polyethylene. II. Average molar mass and molar mass distribution

The first part of this publication dealt with the effect of synthesis conditions on short and long-chain branching of low density polyethylene; this second part reports on the effect on the molar mass, the molar mass distribution and the polydispersity that can be determined from these parameters. The average molar mass was measured with a membrane osmometer and the molar mass distribution by gel permeation chromatography, using the same samples as those used for the branching analysis. These samples were produced in continuously operating stirred autoclaves under widely differing polymerization conditions. The number-average molar mass falls as the polymerization temperature and the initiator concentration rises and the pressure decreases. When the polymerization temperature is high, the molar mass distribution is narrower and less asymmetrical. When the polymerization temperature is low, there are broader, more asymmetrical distributions with a larger higher molar mass fraction. The polydispersity calculated from the molar mass distribution falls accordingly as the polymerization temperature rises. The polyethylene samples produced in a squat stirred autoclave have a higher polydispersity than those produced in a narrow autoclave. These findings have been confirmed on commercial products produced in various types of reactors.     

Solvent induced crystallization of syndiotactic poly(methyl methacrylate) relation to the formation of polymer aggregates in solution

Polymer Bulletin - Solutions of syndiotactic (s) poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and samples of solid s-PMMA prepared from these solutions were studied by NMR and infrared (IR) spectroscopy and...     

A coagulase-negative variant of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis milk

Bacteriological analysis of milk samples from quarters of a dairy cow suffering from subclinical mastitis yielded two isolates of Staphylococcus aureus which gave a negative reaction in the standard coagulase test. Both isolates were also clumping factor and thermonuclease negative, and gave a negative reaction in the Staphaurex? test. The isolates were identified by using commercial biochemical systems, and by PCR analysis of different staphylococcal cell surface protein and exoprotein genes. Further molecular identification of the isolates, which included sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and RT-PCR of coagulase (coa), clumping-factor (clfA) and thermonuclease (nuc) genes, was consistent with the diagnosis phenotypically 'coagulase-negative variant of Staph. aureus'. The fact that coagulase-negative Staph. aureus variants can occur in the context of intramammary infections in cattle may result in the incorrect diagnosis 'coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS)' in routine mastitis diagnostic, at least in rare cases. To fully ensure correct species diagnosis, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and amplification of specific genes such as coa is necessary in these cases.     

Development of biocontrol agents from food microbial isolates for controlling post-harvest peach brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola

An unconventional strategy of screening food microbes for biocontrol activity was used to develop biocontrol agents for controlling post-harvest peach brown rot caused by Monilinia fructicola. Forty-four microbial isolates were first screened for their biocontrol activity on apple fruit. Compared with the pathogen-only check, seven of the 44 isolates reduced brown rot incidence by >50%, including four bacteria: Bacillus sp. C06, Lactobacillus sp. C03-b and Bacillus sp. T03-c, Lactobacillus sp. P02 and three yeasts: Saccharomyces delbrueckii A50, S. cerevisiae YE-5 and S. cerevisiae A41. Eight microbial isolates were selected for testing on peaches by wound co-inoculation with mixtures of individual microbial cultures and conidial suspension of M. fructicola. Only two of them showed significant biocontrol activity after five days of incubation at 22 degrees C. Bacillus sp. C06 suppressed brown rot incidence by 92% and reduced lesion diameter by 88% compared to the pathogen-only check. Bacillus sp.T03-c reduced incidence and lesion diameter by 40% and 62%, respectively. The two isolates were compared with Pseudomonas syringae MA-4, a biocontrol agent for post-harvest peach diseases, by immersing peaches in an aliquot containing individual microbial isolates and the pathogen conidia. Treatments with isolates MA-4, C06 and T03-c significantly controlled brown rot by 91, 100, and 100% respectively. However, only isolates MA-4 and C06 significantly reduced brown rot by 80% and 15%, respectively when bacterial cells alone were applied. On naturally infected peaches, both the bacterial culture and its cell-free filtrate of the isolate C06 significantly controlled peach decay resulting in 77 and 90% reduction, respectively, whereas the treatment using only the bacterial cells generally had no effect. Isolate C06 is a single colony isolate obtained from a mesophilic cheese starter, and has been identified belonging to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. The results have clearly demonstrated that isolate C06 has a great potential for being developed into a biocontrol agent.     

Perceived ward climate and treatment outcome.

3 ward climate scales were derived from 2 independent studies linking treatment environments as perceived by patients and staff to treatment outcome as assessed by ward dropout, release, and community tenure rates. Patients and staff from 7 large and 8 small Veterans Administration hospital wards completed the Ward Atmosphere Scales. Patients and staff agreed in perceiving wards with high dropout rates as low in involvement, support, order and organization, and program clarity, whereas wards with high release rates were perceived as strongly emphasizing practical orientation, but as relatively "unexpressive." Wards that kept patients out of the hospital longest were seen as emphasizing autonomy and independence, practical orientation, order and organization, and the open expression of feelings, particularly angry feelings. It is concluded that some relatively consistent findings are emerging from studies in this area. (19 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Untersuchung des Wärmeübergangs an einer simulierten Sekundärkühlzone beim Stranggießverfahren

Wärmeübergang beim Aufspritzen von Wasser auf heiße Flächen. Versuche zur Wasserverteilung und zum Wärmeübergang bei Verwendung von Flachstrahl- und Vollkegeldüsen. Beschreibung des Einflusses der Wasserbeaufschlagungsdichte und der Wasseraustrittsgeschwindigkeit auf den Wärmeübergang mit Gleichungen. Übertragung der Ergebnisse auf das Stranggießverfahren.