Stem Photosynthesis—A Key Element of Grass Pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) Acclimatisation to Salinity

Grass pea (Lathyrus sativus) is a leguminous plant of outstanding tolerance to abiotic stress. The aim of the presented study was to describe the mechanism of grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) photosynthetic apparatus acclimatisation strategies to salinity stress. The seedlings were cultivated in a hydroponic system in media containing various concentrations of NaCl (0, 50, and 100 mM), imitating none, moderate, and severe salinity, respectively, for three weeks. In order to characterise the function and structure of the photosynthetic apparatus, Chl a fluorescence, gas exchange measurements, proteome analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis were done inter alia. Significant differences in the response of the leaf and stem photosynthetic apparatus to severe salt stress were observed. Leaves became the place of harmful ion (Na⁺) accumulation, and the efficiency of their carboxylation decreased sharply. In turn, in stems, the reconstruction of the photosynthetic apparatus (antenna and photosystem complexes) activated alternative electron transport pathways, leading to effective ATP synthesis, which is required for the efficient translocation of Na⁺ to leaves. These changes enabled efficient stem carboxylation and made them the main source of assimilates. The observed changes indicate the high plasticity of grass pea photosynthetic apparatus, providing an effective mechanism of tolerance to salinity stress.     

Improving Clairvoyant: reduction algorithm resilient to imbalanced process arrival patterns

The Journal of Supercomputing - The Clairvoyant algorithm proposed in “A novel MPI reduction algorithm resilient to imbalances in process arrival times” was analyzed, commented and...     

Acute and chronic diarrhoea and abdominal colic associated with enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in young children living in western Europe

BACKGROUND: Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEC or EAEC) can spread and cause disease in developing countries, but it is not presently known whether it spreads disease in industrialised countries. Therefore, we did a prospective study to assess the incidence and the clinical manifestations of infections due to EAEC in children in Germany. METHODS: 798 children with diarrhoea, admitted to hospital within a defined geographical area during a 24-month period, were included in the trial. EAEC were cultured from stool specimens, screened by PCR, and identified by colony hybridisation from DNA sequences found on the virulence plasmid. The findings were confirmed by aggregative adherence to HEp-2 cells. Stool samples from 580 children admitted to hospital without diarrhoea were also studied as controls. FINDINGS: EAEC were found in the stools of 16 (2%) of 798 children with diarrhoea, but in none of 580 children without diarrhoea. Only four of the EAEC-infected children had travelled to developing countries. Most EAEC infections were acquired in the summer months. Infection with EAEC was associated with acute, watery diarrhoea in 12 children, and with chronic diarrhoea of up to 5 months' duration in four. Five children had abdominal colic that lasted for 2-4 weeks as their main symptom. The incidence of EAEC infection was 7.7 patients admitted to hospital per 100,000 children in the general population aged younger than 16 years. INTERPRETATION: EAEC infection is associated with acute, watery diarrhoea and may be acquired in industrialised countries. Chronic diarrhoea or abdominal colic of unknown aetiology in young children may also be caused by EAEC infection.     

Evaluation of factors influencing platelet aggregation in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN)

Platelets (PLT) play an important role in hemostasis, modulation of immunological and inflammatory processes. There is also evidence that PLT takes part in the development of atherosclerosis and glomerulosclerosis. The aim of presented study was to determine morphological and functional changes of platelets and their relation to the lipid, protein and coagulation factors disturbances in patients with chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN). The studies were carried out in 60 patients with CGN diagnosed by renal biopsy: 30 patients without nephrotic syndrome (NS)-CGN and 30 patients with NS-CGN+NS. Protein and lipid disturbances, coagulation factors were estimated using routine laboratory methods. Platelet count (PLT), mean platelet volume (MPV) and modal platelet volume (PLT-Mode) were measured using Technicon H1 hematological autoanalyser. Platelet function was assessed by aggregometry using turbidimetric method (inductors: ADP 1-3 microM, collagen 50g/ml, epinephrine 0.25-5 microM). Spontaneous platelet aggregation (SPA) was measured in platelet rich plasma (PRP) without inductors for 15 min, in 1-2 hours after venesection. SPA was observed in 9 of 30 patients with CGN and in 19 of 30 patients with CGN+NS. MPV and PLT Mode were significantly higher in patient showing SPA compared with those without. Significant correlations between SPA and the concentration of plasma albumin (r = -0,70; p < 0.02) TG and CH-LDL (r = 0,61; p < 0.05) were found in CGN+NS patients. APTT was significantly shorter in patients showing SPA compared with those without and negative significant correlation between SPA and APTT was found. Platelet aggregation to inductors in CGN and CGN+NS patients was diminished compared with control group. Lack of second phase aggregation in response to aggregation inducers was observed in patients with SPA. Conclusions. 1. Platelet hyperaggregation play an important role in hypercoagulation state in CGN patients. 2. SPA in vitro was observed in majority of CGN+NS patients and in some without NS. 3. Pathomechanism of SPA is probably multifactorial (hypoalbuminemia, dyslipidemia, changes in concentration of coagulation parameters).     

The effect of structural features on mechanical properties of loose optical fiber poly(butylene terephthalate) tubes

Results of a study on the modifying mechanical properties of loose optical‐fiber poly(butylene terephthalate) (PBT) tubes, produced during the standard industrial extrusion process, show that heat treatment make the structure of their material to change. The study comprised measurements of mechanical strengths properties of the tubes (tensile strength, compression strength, kinking) and determination of tube material structure [by differential thermal analysis (DTA), wide angle X‐ray scattering analysis (WAXD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM)]. Results of the study allowed observation that the annealing at 70°C for 34 h of the tubes caused the crystalline α phase to increase in the tube material from ～28.5% to ～31.5% and the structure of the existing crystallites to become more perfect. This made the values of certain mechanical properties of the tubes to increase even by as much as 30%. The tubes following such thermal treatment could be used in cables exposed to heavy‐duty operation in arduous environments, where a larger margin from the standpoint of mechanical properties is required. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 2130–2134, 2002     

Anodising potential influence on well-ordered nanostructures formed by anodisation of aluminium in sulphuric acid

High-density structures with relatively well-ordered nanopore arrays have been obtained by the self-ordering growth of nanopores occurring during anodisation of aluminium in sulphuric acid. The resulting array of well-ordered nanopores strongly depends on an applied voltage of anodising, temperature and a procedure of synthesis. Regular arranged hexagonal arrays on aluminium with a relatively uniform pore diameter, interpore distance, and depth of pores exceeding 90 μm, can be formed by the self-ordering two-step anodising at 1 °C. The interpore distance and the pore diameter were evaluated on anodised aluminium layers obtained at different cell potentials ranging from 15 to 25 V. The detailed analyses of their uniformity were performed from SEM images. The analysis of a pore arrangement defects was made from SEM top view images taken on samples anodised at various cell potentials. The defect maps, known as Delaunay triangulations, of the arrangement of about 1000 pores were constructed for different applied anodising potentials. The percentage of pores that are not six-fold coordinated by the neighbouring pores indicates the percentage of defected surface.     

Blends of poly(vinyl chloride) with plasticized polyaniline

A series of poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC)/polyaniline (PANI) blends plasticized and protonated simulataneously by bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate, bis(4-nitrophenyl) phosphate, diphenyl phosphate, or dibenzyl phosphate was prepared by a mass homogenization technique. Thermal analysis studies by means of thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) revealed that PVC/PANI blends with bis(2-ethylhexyl) hydrogen phosphate were characterized by the highest thermal stability values. Kinetic analysis of the decomposition process by the isoconversional Friedman method showed that the activation energy did not change substantially over the broad conversion range; further advanced kinetic analysis by a nonlinear regression method revealed that the kinetic function that was the best approximation for the experimental data was based on a reaction of nth order.     

Kinetic and spectral aspects in chemiluminescence system Eu(III)/HCO3/H2O2

Chemiluminescence (CL) of the systems containing Eu₂⁺ or HCO₃⁻ ions and hydrogen peroxide was studied. The kinetic curves and CL emission spectra of the systems were discussed. The emission spectrum of the system containing carbonates revealed two emission maxima: the first directly after initiation of the reaction by hydrogen peroxide and the second in several seconds after the first. On the basis of the characteristic bands in the CL spectrum the emitters in the system Eu₂⁺/HCO₃⁻/H₂O₂ were identified as: excited Eu³⁺ ions and excited products of carbonate decomposition. The emission bands for λ=600 and 420 nm appeared in a time distance of a few ten seconds.