Effects of base analogues 5-bromouracil and 6-aminopurine on development of zebrafish Danio Rerio

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) genetic screens allow isolation of a wide array of problems in vertebrate biology. The effects of base analogues 5-bromouracil and 6-aminopurine on the development of zebrafish embryos are reported for the first time in this study. The early development of the zebrafish embryos was little affected by 5-bromouracil and 6-aminopurine, while the late development (organogenesis) was significantly impaired. Embryos exposed to 5-bromouracil mainly showed curled tail, wavy body, golden pigmentation and the mouth with protruding lower jaw. 6-aminopurine-treated embryos had defective anterior structures, curled tails and wavy body. RAPD analysis showed that the majority of 5-bromouracil- and 6-aminopurine-treated larvae and fish shared banding patterns in common with the control, suggesting that most mutagenesis induced by these agents are point mutations. However, some fish derived from 5-bromouracil-treated embryos had golden (gol) pigmentation; and RAPD analysis revealed that their band patterns differed from those of the control. Possibly, 5-bromouracil can occasionally cause relatively extensive changes in the fish genome. The results of this study may provide valuable help for detailed studies of mutagenesis. This work was supported by Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of China (G 1999012005).     

The simplest solar microbursts flux and circular polarization at 22 GHz

The simplest solar microwave microbursts detected with high sensitivity may be the response to the simpler energetic burst injections. Seventeen events from this category were identified in a series of more than 150 bursts recorded in 21–26 November, 1982. This first systematic study suggest that microbursts e-folding rise times concentrate into two classes of time scales, 0.05 s < t 1 s and 0.5 s t 2 s. Microbursts circular polarization present a dominant steady or slowly varying component that sets in before maximum emission. In some cases a faster component of polarization was found superimposed, which is not always well correlated in time with flux.     

The effects of prolonged darkness on temperate and tropical marine phytoplankton, and their implications for ballast water risk management

Phytoplankton assemblages from tropical (Goa) and temperate (UK) locations were exposed to a 28 day dark period, followed by a period of re-exposure to light. During this time phytoplankton survival and changes in nutrient concentrations were mapped. The tropical plankton water samples showed high nutrient levels after the dark period which were utilised by cells during the re-exposure period. UK experiments looked at the effect of three different water types on population recovery after the 28 day dark period, and differences due to seasonal effects.The population growth observed during the re-exposure period in the tropical population was comparable to that of the temperate population. Water type affected recovery and of the three tested media fresh seawater promoted the highest levels of growth. Seasonality had a significant influence on species survival. Understanding the effects of all these factors can aid the development of effective risk assessments in ballast water management.     

Fine structure superimposed on millimeter-wavelength (23–18 GHz) spectra of solar active regions

A millimeter-wavelength (23–18 GHz) variable frequency radiometer with frequency resolution of 1 GHz and time resolution of 0.1–16 s has been developed in conjunction with a 13.7 m-diameter antenna. In this paper we describe briefly this new instrument, and its use to observe active regions.Spectra of four active regions show that: (i) spectra of the quiet-Sun region and those of the active region were of the same nature and the spectral index of both varied between –0.4 and +0.3; (ii) for two cases the spectra of the active region remained almost flat during the observing period of about one hour; (iii) spectra of the two other active regions exhibited frequency fine structures similar to the trough and crest type with a width of the order of 2 GHz in frequency and lasting about 40 to 90 min.The spectra of the quiet-Sun region and those of the active regions are attributed to bremsstrahlung emission. Fine structures in frequency type crest and trough are attributed to the radio signatures of the temperature plateau in the chromosphere.     

Interactions of bacteria with diatoms: influence on natural marine biofilms

Interactions between microfouling components influence the biofilm community and the cascading events, thus playing an important role in the biofouling process. Bacteria and diatoms are among the dominant forms reported in biofilms. Experiments were carried out with natural marine biofilms from a tropical monsoon‐influenced environment to evaluate the interactions between bacteria and diatoms through application of antibiotics (streptomycin and chloramphenicol). Overall, chloramphenicol inhibited diatom communities, whereas streptomycin did not. These antibiotic‐mediated changes in the fouling diatom community were consistent across the seasons. However, the rates at which the fouling communities changed depended on the initial species composition. It was also observed that elevated nutrient concentrations overrode the inhibitory effect of chloramphenicol. Maximum Vibrio enhancement was observed in the enriched conditions during the pre‐monsoon and unenriched conditions during the monsoon (with naturally elevated background nutrient concentrations), highlighting the relevance of nutrient concentrations for Vibrio spp. This has interesting implications for antibiotic‐mediated interactions between fouling diatom and bacterial communities under differing nutrient regimes. Although this study indicates the relevance of ‘cross‐talk’ at the microfouling level, understanding the effects of additional microbial products (e.g. bacteriocins and peptidoglycan) on these community‐level interactions will represent a step forward.     

Effect of Edge Distance from the Slope Crest on the Response of a Laterally Loaded Pile in Sloping Ground

Compared to the field tests, the numerical modelling is an economical way to analyze the response of laterally loaded piles in sloping grounds. This paper presents a three-dimensional finite element analysis to investigate the effect of edge distance from the slope crest of a laterally loaded pile embedded in the sloping ground for different slope angles and pile lengths. The results show that the pile top displacement and the bending moment in the pile decrease with an increase in the edge distance, whereas they increase as the slope angle is increased. The response of the pile in sloping ground is compared with its response in the level ground. The comparison is used to develop a simple methodology for estimating the pile top displacement and the maximum bending moment for any edge distance from the slope crest considering their values for level ground.     

Expression of nitric oxide synthase in the developing eye of Ze-brafish Danio rerio

1 INTRODUCTION Nitric oxide (NO), a highly free radical gas, is recently discovered as messenger molecule involved in different cellular and developmental events including cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis as well as neural pathfinding and synapse formation. NO is synthesized from amino acid L-arginine by catalytic action of a family of isoen-zymes called nitric oxide synthases (NOS) (Palmer, 1988). NOS require nicotinamide adenine dinucleo-tide phosphate (NADPH) as a…     

A study of hard X-ray associated meter-decameter bursts observed on December 19, 1979

We present the results of a study of the relationship of a complex meter-decameter wavelength radio burst observed with the Clark Lake E-W and N-S interferometers, with a hard X-ray burst observed with the X-ray spectrometer aboard ISEE-3. The radio burst consisted of several type III's, reverse drift type III's, a U burst, and type II and type IV bursts. The X-ray emission was also complex. The radio as well as hard X-ray emissions were observed before the flash phase of the flare; they were not always associated and we conjecture that this may constitute evidence for acceleration of electrons high in the corona. On the other hand, all components of the reverse drift burst were associated with hard X-ray subpeaks, indicating multiple injection of electron beams along field lines with different density gradients. While the type II burst appeared to be related to the hard X-ray burst, a detailed correspondence between individual features of the radio and hard X-ray burst emissions could not be found. The type IV burst started after all hard X-ray emissions ceased. Its source appeared to be a magnetic arch, presumably containing energetic electrons responsible for the gyrosynchrotron radiation of type IV.Presently at INPE/CRAAM, São Paulo, Brazil.