The white-rot fungi Phlebia radiata and Dichomitus squalens in wood-based cultures: expression of laccases, lignin peroxidases, and oxalate decarboxylase

Basidiomycetous white-rot fungi are the only organisms that can efficiently decompose all the components of wood. Moreover, white-rot fungi possess the ability to mineralize recalcitrant lignin polymer with their extracellular, oxidative lignin-modifying enzymes (LMEs), i.e. laccase, lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP), and versatile peroxidase (VP). Within one white-rot fungal species LMEs are typically present as several isozymes encoded by multiple genes. This study focused on two effi cient lignin-degrading white-rot fungal species, Phlebia radiata and Dichomitus squalens. Molecular level knowledge of the LMEs of the Finnish isolate P. radiata FBCC43 (79, ATCC 64658) was complemented with cloning and characterization of a new laccase (Pr-lac2), two new LiP-encoding genes (Pr-lip1, Pr-lip4), and Pr-lip3 gene that has been previously described only at cDNAlevel. Also, two laccase-encoding genes (Ds-lac3, Ds-lac4) of D. squalens were cloned and characterized for the first time. Phylogenetic analysis revealed close evolutionary relationships between the P. radiata LiP isozymes. Distinct protein phylogeny for both P. radiata and D. squalens laccases suggested different physiological functions for the corresponding enzymes. Supplementation of P. radiata liquid culture medium with excess Cu2+ notably increased laccase activity and good fungal growth was achieved in complex medium rich with organic nitrogen. Wood is the natural substrate of lignin-degrading white-rot fungi, supporting production of enzymes and metabolites needed for fungal growth and the breakdown of lignocellulose. In this work, emphasis was on solid-state wood or wood-containing cultures that mimic the natural growth conditions of white-rot fungi. Transcript analyses showed that wood promoted expression of all the presently known LME-encoding genes of P. radiata and laccase-encoding genes of D. squalens. Expression of the studied individual LME-encoding genes of P. radiata and D. squalens was unequal in transcript quantities and apparently time-dependent, thus suggesting the importance of several distinct LMEs within one fungal species. In addition to LMEs, white-rot fungi secrete other compounds that are important in decomposition of wood and lignin. One of these compounds is oxalic acid, which is a common metabolite of wood-rotting fungi. Fungi produce also oxalic-acid degrading enzymes of which the most widespread is oxalate decarboxylase (ODC). However, the role of ODC in fungi is still ambiguous with propositions from regulation of intra and extracellular oxalic acid levels to a function in primary growth and concomitant production of ATP. In this study, intracellular ODC activity was detected in four white-rot fungal species, and D. squalens showed the highest ODC activity upon exposure to oxalic acid. Oxalic acid was the most common organic acid secreted by the ODC-positive white-rot fungi and the only organic acid detected in wood cultures. The ODC-encoding gene Ds-odc was cloned from two strains of D. squalens showing the first characterization of an odc-gene from a white-rot polypore species. Biochemical properties of the D. squalens ODC resembled those described for other basidiomycete ODCs. However, the translated amino acid sequence of Ds-odc has a novel N-terminal primary structure with a repetitive Ala-Ser-rich region of ca 60 amino acid residues in length. Expression of the Ds-odc transcripts suggested a constitutive metabolic role for the corresponding ODC enzyme. According to the results, it is proposed that ODC may have an essential implication for the growth and basic metabolism of wood-decaying fungi.

X-Ray Spectroscopic Studies of the Surface Species in Co-Mo-Al2O3 Hydrodesulphurization Catalysts

Octahedrally coordinated CoII and MoIV species are present on the surfaces of sulfided Co-Mo-Al2O3 catalysts used for hydrodesulfurization. They were characterized by XPE, EXAFS and XANES data. An excess of sulfur in the surface species can be explained in terms of the presence of S[stack 22 ] ions. Disulfide bridges could play a role in the hydrodesulfurization.

NEESTIMATOR v2: re-implementation of software for the estimation of contemporary effective population size (N-e) from genetic data

NeEstimator v2 is a completely revised and updated implementation of software that produces estimates of contemporary effective population size, using several different methods and a single input file. NeEstimator v2 includes three single-sample estimators (updated versions of the linkage disequilibrium and heterozygote-excess methods, and a new method based on molecular coancestry), as well as the two-sample (moment-based temporal) method. New features include the following: (i) an improved method for accounting for missing data; (ii) options for screening out rare alleles; (iii) confidence intervals for all methods; (iv) the ability to analyse data sets with large numbers of genetic markers (10000 or more); (v) options for batch processing large numbers of different data sets, which will facilitate cross-method comparisons using simulated data; and (vi) correction for temporal estimates when individuals sampled are not removed from the population (Plan I sampling). The user is given considerable control over input data and composition, and format of output files. The freely available software has a new JAVA interface and runs under MacOS, Linux and Windows.

Water-ethanol mixtures by molecular dynamics and x-ray Compton scattering

Water-ethanol mixtures are commonly used in industry and house holds. However, quite surprisingly their molecular-level structure is still not completely understood. In particular, there is evidence that the local intermolecular geometries depend significantly on the concentration. The aim of this study was to gain information on the molecular-level structures of water-ethanol mixtures by two computational methods. The methods are classical molecular dynamics (MD), where the movement of molecules can be studied, and x-ray Compton scattering, in which the scattering cross section is sensitive to the electron momentum density. Firstly, the water-ethanol mixtures were studied with MD simulations, with the mixture concentration ranging from 0 to 100%. For the simulations well-established force fields were used for the water and ethanol molecules (TIP4P and OPLS-AA, respectively). Moreover, two models were used for ethanol, rigid and non-rigid. In the rigid model the intramolecular bond lengths are fixed, whereas in the non-rigid model the lengths are determined by harmonic potentials. Secondly, mixtures with three different concentrations employing both ethanol models were studied by calculating the experimentally observable x-ray quantity, the Compton profile. In the MD simulations a slight underestimation in the density was observed as compared to experiment. Furthermore, a positive excess of hydrogen bonding with water molecules and a negative one with ethanol was quantified. Also, the mixture was found more structured when the ethanol concentration was higher. Negligible differences in the results were found between the two ethanol models. In contrast, in the Compton scattering results a notable difference between the ethanol models was observed. For the rigid model the Compton profiles were similar for all the concentrations, but for the non-rigid model they were distinct. This leads to two possibilities of how the mixing occurs. Either the mixing is similar in all concentrations (as suggested by the rigid model) or the mixing changes for different concentrations (as suggested by the non-rigid model). Either way, this study shows that the choice of the force field is essential in the microscopic structure formation in the MD simulations. When the sources of uncertainty in the calculated Compton profiles were analyzed, it was found that more statistics needs to be collected to reduce the statistical uncertainty in the final results. The obtained Compton scattering results can be considered somewhat preliminary, but clearly indicative of the behaviour of the water-ethanol mixtures when the force field is modified. The next step is to collect more statistics and compare the results with experimental data to decide which ethanol model describes the mixture better. This way, valuable information on the microscopic structure of water-ethanol mixtures can be found. In addition, information on the force fields in the MD simulations and on the ability of the MD simulations to reproduce the microscopic structure of binary liquids is obtained.

Planet of the cavendish - understanding the domination

Those seeking to bring change to cultivars sold in the banana markets of the world have encountered major difficulties over the years. Change has been sought because of production difficulties caused by banana diseases such as Fusarium wilt or a desire to invigorate a stagnant market and obtain a competitive advantage by the introduction of diversity of product. Currently the world banana scene is dominated by cultivars from the Cavendish subgroup with their production in excess of 40% of total world production of banana and plantain combined, and in most western countries Cavendish is synonymous with banana. But Cavendish production usually necessitates very regular applications of pesticides, particularly fungicides for Mycosphaerella leaf spots control. So genetic resistance to these and other diseases would be very beneficial to minimizing costs of production, as well as reducing health risks to banana workers and the general population and minimizing impacts on the environment. In recent years, the overall market sales of some crops, such as tomatoes, have increased by providing diversity of cultivars to consumers. Can the same be done for banana? Perhaps a better understanding of how we have arrived at our current situation and the forces that have shaped our preference for Cavendish will allow us to plan more strategic crop improvement research which has enhanced chances of adoption by the banana industries of the world. A scoping study was recently undertaken in Australia to determine the current market opportunity for alternative cultivars and provide a roadmap for the industry to successfully develop this market. A multidisciplinary team reviewed the literature, surveyed the supply chain, analyzed gross margins and conducted consumer and sensory evaluations of 'new' cultivars. This has provided insight on why Cavendish dominates the market, which is the focus of this paper, and we believe will provide a solid foundation for future progress.

Complementary forages – integration at a whole-farm level

A high proportion of the Australian and New Zealand dairy industry is based on a relatively simple, low input and low cost pasture feedbase. These factors enable this type of production system to remain internationally competitive. However, a key limitation of pasture-based dairy systems is periodic imbalances between herd intake requirements and pasture DM production, caused by strong seasonality and high inter-annual variation in feed supply. This disparity can be moderated to a certain degree through the strategic management of the herd through altering calving dates and stocking rates, and the feedbase by conserving excess forage and irrigating to flatten seasonal forage availability. Australasian dairy systems are experiencing emerging market and environmental challenges, which includes increased competition for land and water resources, decreasing terms of trade, a changing and variable climate, an increasing environmental focus that requires improved nutrient and water-use efficiency and lower greenhouse gas emissions. The integration of complementary forages has long been viewed as a means to manipulate the home-grown feed supply, to improve the nutritive value and DM intake of the diet, and to increase the efficiency of inputs utilised. Only recently has integrating complementary forages at the whole-farm system level received the significant attention and investment required to examine their potential benefit. Recent whole-of-farm research undertaken in both Australia and New Zealand has highlighted the importance of understanding the challenges of the current feedbase and the level of complementarity between forage types required to improve profit, manage risk and/or alleviate/mitigate against adverse outcomes. This paper reviews the most recent systems-level research into complementary forages, discusses approaches to modelling their integration at the whole-farm level and highlights the potential of complementary forages to address the major challenges currently facing pasture-based dairy systems.

Properties of Ammonium Nitrate based fertilisers

The text is divided into three parts; Properties, Application and Safety of Ammonium Nitrate (AN) based fertilisers. In Properties, the structures and phase transitions of ammonium and potassium nitrate are reviewed. The consequences of phase transitions affect the proper use of fertilisers. Therefore the products must be stabilised against the volume changes and consequent loss of bulk density and hardness, formation of dust and finally caking of fertilisers. The effect of different stabilisers is discussed. Magnesium nitrate, ammonium sulphate and potassium nitrate are presented as a good compromise. In the Application part, the solid solutions in the systems (K+,NH4+)NO3- and (NH4+,K+)(Cl-,NO3-) are presented based on studies made with DSC and XRD. As there are clear limits for solute content in the solvent lattice, a number of disproportionation transitions exist in these process phases, e.g., N3 (solid solution isomorphous to NH4NO3-III) disproportionates to phases K3 (solid solution isomorphous to KNO3-III) and K2 (solid solution isomorphous to KNO3-II). In the crystallisation experiments, the formation of K3 depends upon temperature and the ratio K/(K+NH4). The formation of phases K3, N3, and K2 was modelled as a function of temperature and the mole ratios. In introducing chlorides, two distinct maxima for K3 were found. Confirmed with commercial potash samples, the variables affecting the reaction of potassium chloride with AN are the particle size, time, temperature, moisture content and amount of organic coating. The phase diagrams obtained by crystallisation studies were compared with a number of commercial fertilisers and, with regard to phase composition, the temperature and moisture content are critical when the formation and stability of solid solutions are considered. The temperature where the AN-based fertiliser is solidified affects the amount of compounds crystallised at that point. In addition, the temperature where the final moisture is evaporated affects the amount and type of solid solution formed at this temperature. The amount of remaining moisture affects the stability of the K3 phase. The K3 phase is dissolved by the moisture and recrystallised into the quantities of K3, which is stable at the temperature where the sample is kept. The remaining moisture should not be free; it should be bound as water in the final product. The temperatures during storage also affect the quantity of K3 phase. As presented in the figures, K3 phase is not stable at temperatu¬res below 30 °C. If the temperature is about 40 °C, the K3 phase can be formed due to the remaining moisture. In the Safety part, self-sustaining decomposition (SSD), oxidising and energetic properties of fertilisers are discussed. Based on the consequence analysis of SSD, early detection of decomposition in warehouses and proper temperature control in the manufacturing process is important. SSD and oxidising properties were found in compositions where K3 exists. It is assumed that potassium nitrate forms a solid matrix in which AN can decompose. The oxidising properties can be affected by the form of the product. Granular products are inherently less oxidising. Finally energetic properties are reviewed. The composition of the fertiliser has an importance based on theoretical calculations supported by experimental studies. Materials such as carbonates and sulphates act as diluents. An excess of ammonium ions acts as a fuel although this is debatable. Based on the experimental work, the physical properties have a major importance over the composition. A high bulk density is of key importance for detonation resistance.

Infrared spectroscopy as a rapid tool to detect methylglyoxal and antibacterial activity in Australian honeys

Methylglyoxal (2-oxopropanal) is a compound known to contribute to the non-peroxide antimicrobial activity of honeys. The feasibility of using infrared spectroscopy as a predictive tool for honey antibacterial activity and methylglyoxal content was assessed. A linear relationship was found between methylglyoxal content (279–1755 mg/kg) in Leptospermum polygalifolium honeys and bacterial inhibition for Escherichiacoli (R2 = 0.80) and Staphylococcusaureus (R2 = 0.64). A good prediction of methylglyoxal (R2 0.75) content in honey was achieved using spectroscopic data from the mid infrared (MIR) range in combination with partial least squares regression. These results indicate that robust predictive equations could be developed using MIR for commercial application where the prediction of bacterial inhibition is needed to ‘value’ honeys with methylglyoxal contents in excess of 200 mg/kg.

Dilute Solution Properties of Methyl Methacrylate/Acrylonitrile Random Copolymers, 2a)

The Stockmayer-Fixman relation was used to evaluate the short range and long range interaction parameters for methyl methacrylate/acrylonitrile copolymers of 0,566 and 0,657 mole fraction of monomeric units of acrylonitrile in the solvents acetonitrile, 2-butanone, dimethyl formamide, and y-butyrolactone, at different temperatures (30, 45, and 60 “C). The values of KO were found to be lower than those of the parent homopolymers, and their values depend on both solvent and temperature. Even negative Ko-values were obtained, in cases in which the Mark Houwink exponent a is nearly unity. The values of the polymer-solvent interaction parameter, x, , are high and close to 0,5, indicating that these solvents are not good. The values of the excess interaction parameter, xAB, are negative and are not affected by temperature. The large extension of these copolymer chains, as exhibited by a and a;-values, can be understood in terms of unusual short range interactions only. Similar results were obtained for some cellulose derivatives.

Henry Roth papers undated, 1918-1995

Papers include a large number of journals and notebooks, hundreds of fan letters, general correspondence, manuscripts by and about Roth, and publications by and about Roth. Papers also include various editions of his works and several annotated volumes of his personal reference library. Topical files contain photographs and items reflecting his interests and personal history.

Cadmium stress alters the redox reaction and hormone balance in oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) leaves

In order to understand the physiological response of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.) leaves to cadmium (Cd) stress and exploit the physiological mechanisms involved in Cd tolerance, macro-mineral and chlorophyll concentrations, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, activities of enzymatic antioxidants, nonenzymatic compounds metabolism, endogenous hormonal changes, and balance in leaves of oilseed rape exposed to 0, 100, or 200 μM CdSO4 were investigated. The results showed that under Cd exposure, Cd concentrations in the leaves continually increased while macro-minerals and chlorophyll concentrations decreased significantly. Meanwhile, with increased Cd stress, superoxide anion (O 2 • − ) production rate and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations in the leaves increased significantly, which caused malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation and oxidative stress. For scavenging excess accumulated ROS and alleviating oxidative injury in the leaves, the activity of enzymatic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), was increased significantly at certain stress levels. However, with increased Cd stress, the antioxidant enzyme activities all showed a trend towards reduction. The nonenzymatic antioxidative compounds, such as proline and total soluble sugars, accumulated continuously with increased Cd stress to play a long-term role in scavenging ROS. In addition, ABA levels also increased continuously with Cd stress while ZR decreased and the ABA/ZR ratio increased, which might also be providing a protective role against Cd toxicity.

Understanding local processes: Contemplating franchisation

Increasing, there is growing acknowledgement of the importance of franchising within all modern global economies. Despite this, little is understood with regards the actual impact of franchising on local economies. This research aims to reframe the contribution of franchising by considering the process of franchisation. This study employed a mixed-method approach, utilizing critical realism to facilitate an outcomes-based explanation of firm survival. The focus of the study was upon generative mechanisms that were assumed to give rise to particular events from which (pizza) firm survival was enhanced vis-à-vis all other community members. A database of 2440 firms (or in excess of 21,000 company years) combined with archival records, interviews and the researcher’s observations provided the researcher with access to the nature of interaction occurring between firms. It was found that the survival of local firms was influenced positively by the day-to-day actions of franchise operators. However, it is argued that to understand how any such advantage my fall to local independent firms, we need too better appreciate the multitude of local processes related to such industries. This research re-examines several ecological concepts with the view of enabling a clearer investigation of underlying local processes. It also represents an authentic autecological approach to the study of firms.

Studies of phosphazenes. 12. Reactions of N4P4Cl8 with dibenzylamine- isolation of an unusual "bicyclic" phosphazene, N4P4[N(CH2Ph)2]6(NCH2Ph)

Octachlorocyclotetraphosphazene, N4P4CIa, reacts with dibenzylamine to give the chloro(dibenzy1amino) derivatives, N4P,C18,[N(CH2Ph)2],,, n = 1, 2 (two isomers), and 4 (three isomers). Nongeminal structures have been assigned to these compounds on the basis of ‘H and jlP NMR spectra. The presence of at least two tris(dibenzylamin0) derivatives in some reaction mixtures is also inferred from NMR spectra. Steric effects become important at the tetrakis stage of chlorine replacement, and further substitution by dibenzylamine to give monocyclic tetrameric derivatives does not occur. A “bicyclic” phosphazene, N4P4[N(CH2Ph)2]6(NCHzPh)is, obtained from the reaction of N4P4Claw ith an excess of dibenzylamine in boiling methyl cyanide. The formation of this derivative and its spectroscopic data are discussed.

Drafting the Kensington Pride Mango Genome

The mango industry in Australia is worth in excess of $150 million annually with the Kensington Pride (KP) cultivar capturing 60% of the domestic market. Valued by consumers for desirable taste and colour characteristics, KP has been used extensively as a parent in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ (Queensland, Australia) mango breeding program with over 400 hybrid trees sharing KP as the male parent. In order to gain a better understanding of Australia’s most significant mango variety, Horticulture Innovation Australia had led an international collaboration between the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (Australia), the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT, India) and the Beijing Genomics Institute (China) to sequence the KP genome. Preliminary de novo assembly of illumina short read sequence data suggests that the KP genome is highly heterozygous and has an estimated genome size of 407 Mb. As refinements and additional sequence data are added to the assembly, a more complete picture of the mango genome will be elucidated.

Influence of rapid thermal annealing (RTA) on the structural and electrical properties of SnS films

The performance of optoelectronic devices critically depends on the quality of active layer. An effective way to obtain a high quality layers is by creating excess of metal atoms through various heat treatments. Recently, rapid thermal annealing (RTA) has proved a versatile technique for the post-treatment of semiconductor materials as compared to other techniques due to its precise control over the resources. Thus, we carried out a set of experiments on SnS films to explore the influence of RTA treatment on their properties. From these experiments we noticed that the films treated at 400 °C for 1 min in N2 atmosphere have a low electrical resistivity of ~5 Ωcm with relatively high Hall mobility and carrier density of 99 cm2/Vs and 1.3 × 1016 cm−3, respectively. The observed results, therefore, emphasise that it is possible to obtain good quality SnS films through RTA treatment without disturbing their crystal structure.