EFFICACY DATA OF CYANTRANILIPROLE CONTAINING INSECTICIDE PREPARATION ON CABBAGE ROOT FLY (DELIA RADICUM LINNAEUS) IN WINTER OILSEED RAPE.

The increasing pressure of oilseed rape pests emphasized the need to improve the insecticide portfolio, i.e. register new active ingredients with new insecticide mode of action. The tested seed treatment formulation applied at 32; 40 and 50 UAT rate of containing cyantraniliprole as active substance. 40 UAT rate gives acceptable control of the Cabbage root fly in each trial. Despite the long lasting flight and egg laying period of cabbage root fly, the standard control products and also this product give 50-65% efficacy. It is enough to reduce damage of the Cabbage root fly and prevent economical damage in oilseed rape.

Third cycle university studies in Europe in the field of agricultural engineering and in the emerging discipline of biosystems engineering.

The main objectives of European Thematic Network entitled 'Education and Research in Agricultural for Biosystems Engineering in Europe (ERABEE-TN)' is to initiate and contribute to the structural development and the assurance of the quality assessment of the emerging discipline of Biosystems Engineering in Europe. ERABEE is co-financed by the European Community in the framework of the LLP Programme. The partnership consists of 35 participants from 27 Erasmus countries, out of which 33 are Higher Education Area Institutions (EDU) and 2 are Student Associations (ASS). 13 Erasmus participants (e.g. Thematic Networks, Professional Associations, and Institutions from Brazil, Croatia, Russia and Serbia) are also involved in the Thematic Network through synergies. To date, very few Biosystems Engineering programs exist in Europe and those that are initiated are at a very primitive stage of development. The innovative and novel goal of the Thematic Network is to promote this critical transition, which requires major restructuring in Europe, exploiting along this direction the outcomes accomplished by its predecessor; the USAEE-TN (University Studies in Agricultural Engineering in Europe). It also aims at enhancing the compatibility among the new programmes of Biosystems Engineering, aiding their recognition and accreditation at European and International level and facilitating greater mobility of skilled personnel, researchers and students. One of the technical objectives of ERABEE is dealing with mapping and promoting the third cycle studies (including European PhDs) and supporting the integration of research at the 1st and 2nd cycle regarding European Biosystems Engineering university studies. During the winter 2008 - spring 2009 period, members of ERABEE conducted a survey on the contemporary status of doctoral studies in Europe, and on a possible scheme for promotion of cooperation and synergies in the framework of the third cycle of studies and the European Doctorate in Biosystems Engineering in Europe. This paper presents the results of the survey. The legal regulations and their extent on the different countries concerning the third cycle are presented, along with the current structure of third cycle studies. The evolution and adaptation to the new EHEA in each country is also considered. Information was also gathered on the emerging topics of the Biosystems Engineering field and how these topics could be addressed by the new doctoral programmes at the European level.

Pho85p, a cyclin-dependent protein kinase, and the Snf1p protein kinase act antagonistically to control glycogen accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, nutrient levels control multiple cellular processes. Cells lacking the SNF1 gene cannot express glucose-repressible genes and do not accumulate the storage polysaccharide glycogen. The impaired glycogen synthesis is due to maintenance of glycogen synthase in a hyperphosphorylated, inactive state. In a screen for second site suppressors of the glycogen storage defect of snf1 cells, we identified a mutant gene that restored glycogen accumulation and which was allelic with PHO85, which encodes a member of the cyclin-dependent kinase family. In cells with disrupted PHO85 genes, we observed hyperaccumulation of glycogen, activation of glycogen synthase, and impaired glycogen synthase kinase activity. In snf1 cells, glycogen synthase kinase activity was elevated. Partial purification of glycogen synthase kinase activity from yeast extracts resulted in the separation of two fractions by phenyl-Sepharose chromatography, both of which phosphorylated and inactivated glycogen synthase. The activity of one of these, GPK2, was inhibited by olomoucine, which potently inhibits cyclin-dependent protein kinases, and contained an approximately 36-kDa species that reacted with antibodies to Pho85p. Analysis of Ser-to-Ala mutations at the three potential Gsy2p phosphorylation sites in pho85 cells implicated Ser-654 and/or Thr-667 in PHO85 control of glycogen synthase. We propose that Pho85p is a physiological glycogen synthase kinase, possibly acting downstream of Snf1p.

Requirement of the self-glucosylating initiator proteins Glg1p and Glg2p for glycogen accumulation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Glycogen, a branched polymer of glucose, is a storage molecule whose accumulation is under rigorous nutritional control in many cells. We report the identification of two Saccharomyces cerevisiae genes, GLG1 and GLG2, whose products are implicated in the biogenesis of glycogen. These genes encode self-glucosylating proteins that in vitro can act as primers for the elongation reaction catalyzed by glycogen synthase. Over a region of 258 residues, the Glg proteins have 55% sequence identify to each other and approximately 33% identity to glycogenin, a mammalian protein postulated to have a role in the initiation of glycogen biosynthesis. Yeast cells defective in either GLG1 or GLG2 are similar to the wild type in their ability to accumulate glycogen. Disruption of both genes results in the inability of the cells to synthesize glycogen despite normal levels of glycogen synthase. These results suggest that a self-glucosylating protein is required for glycogen biosynthesis in a eukaryotic cell. The activation state of glycogen synthase in glg1 glg2 cells is suppressed, suggesting that the Glg proteins may additionally influence the phosphorylation state of glycogen synthase.

Phosphorylase phosphatase activities of rat liver in streptozotocin-diabetes.

Protein phosphatase-1 and 2A, accounting for all the hepatic activity regulating phosphorylase, were assayed in streptozotocin-induced (8 weeks) diabetic Wistar rats. Cytosolic protein phosphatase-1 and 2A were distinguished by chromatography on heparin-Sepharose and by inhibition with inhibitor-2. Approx. 25-35% increases in type-1 phosphorylase phosphatase activity measured in cytosols were registered in diabetic rats when compared with control and 24 h fasting animals. The enrichment of protein phosphatase-1 in the cytosol of streptozotocin-treated rat livers could not be attributed to the reduced glycogen content with the onset of diabetes, since this elevated level of type-1 phosphatase was not observed in fasting rats with low glycogen content. The translocation of type-1 phosphatase from the particulate fraction into the cytosol was also recorded in trypsin-treated samples of diabetic rat livers. The apparent molecular weight of type-1 phosphatase in the cytosol of control and fasted rats was 160,000 as judged by gel filtration. The type-1 phosphatase activity that was released from the particulate fraction by streptozotocin-induced diabetes identified a further enzyme species (Mr 110,000) in the cytosol. Our data imply that the higher levels of cytosolic protein phosphatase-1 in diabetic rat liver could be a consequence of the dissociation of the catalytic subunit of protein phosphatase-1 and the glycogen-binding subunit in rat livers.

Quantitation of protein phosphatase 1 and 2A in extracts of the budding yeast and fission yeast.

Serine/threonine protein phosphatases are also involved in the control of cell division. The aim of the present study was to compare the activity of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A) in cell extracts of the budding and fission yeast, made at different phases of growth. The activities of PP1 and PP2A toward phosphorylase were similar in extracts of S. cerevisiae. In S. pombe extracts, PP1 was responsible for more than 80% of the phosphorylase phosphatase activity. Ammonium sulfate-ethanol treatment increased the specific activity of the phosphatases and the percentage of PP2A in S. cerevisiae extracts. No increase in the proportion of PP2A was observed upon the same treatment of S. pombe extracts. The above results were confirmed by fractionation of PP1 and PP2A activities on a heparin-Sepharose column. The proportion of PP1 and PP2A activities did not change significantly during exponential cell growth but cells from stationary phase exhibited lower phosphatase activities. These results may indicate a lower level of expression of the PP2A genes in S. pombe and/or differences in the structure of the holoenzymes or their regulators in the two genera.

Hormonal regulation of phosphorylase phosphatase activity in rat liver.

The effect of glucagon and insulin on rat liver phosphorylase phosphatase activity in vivo was investigated. The activity of phosphatase was found to decrease following the administration of glucagon and increase with insulin in a reversible manner. No change was detected in the activity of heat-stable phosphatase inhibitors in the hormone-treated samples. Liver protein kinases (regulatory subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase and/or Ca2+-dependent phosphorylase kinase) are suggested to regulate the activity of hepatic phosphorylase phosphatase (type 1 and 2A).

Complement C5a anaphylatoxin fragment causes apoptosis in TGW neuroblastoma cells.

Human neuroblastoma TGW cells express a C5a anaphylatoxin receptor-like molecule termed neuronal C5a receptor. A C5a-receptor fragment peptide (termed PR226-multiple antigenic peptide) can induce rapid apoptosis in TGW cells via neuronal C5a receptor-associated signal transduction pathways. In order to analyse role of activated complement system in neurodegeneration, TGW cells were exposed to an oligomer form of a C5a fragment (amino acids: 37-53) peptide termed PL37-multiple antigenic peptide. Upon treatment with PL37-multiple antigenic peptide, an increased nuclear c-fos expression was shown within 30 min. DNA fragmentation, a hallmark of apoptosis, was noted within 4 h. Extracellular administration of 100 nM PL37-multiple antigenic peptide evoked inward calcium current pulses. At higher doses (0.5 microM-1 microM), PL37-multiple antigenic peptide evoked higher current pulses, followed by an irreversible, high inward current. To exert its apoptotic effect, PL37-multiple antigenic peptide utilizes a pertussis toxin-sensitive signal transduction pathway associated with the neuronal C5a receptor. Activation of the complement system and therefore release of C5a has already been reported in Alzheimer's disease. In addition, the presence of the Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors indicates an impaired protease function and a possible abnormal fragmentation of C5a anaphylatoxin. Our data suggest that neurons expressing neuronal C5a receptor are more vulnerable to the apoptosis associated with the neuronal C5a receptor and the possibility that abnormal activation of C5a receptor and C5a anaphylatoxin fragments might be involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease.

Antiviral activity of tiazofurine against barley stripe mosaic virus.

Tiazofurine (2-beta-D-ribofuranosylthiazole-4-carboxamide) was found to inhibit replication of barley stripe mosaic virus (BSMV) in barley and wheat plants. Treatment with this nucleoside analogue delayed and inhibited symptom development and suppressed virus multiplication. The most effective concentration applied twice as a foliar spray 3 h and one day after inoculation, was 10(-3) M. Decreased virus multiplication was obtained without marked phytotoxicity. Three weeks after treatment the antiviral effect declined.

C5a receptor expression by TGW neuroblastoma cells.

We recently reported that not only lymphoid cells, but cells of neuronal origin may harbor C5a receptors (C5aR) as suggested by results of RT-PCR testing and that an apoptotic pathway is associated with the C5aR. To determine whether C5aR is expressed as an integral membrane protein, we generated mono- and polyclonal anti-C5aR antibodies. Flow cytometry showed a low-level expression of C5aR in TGW neuroblastoma cells. Epitope mapping suggested that a conformation change in C5aR occurs when exposed to C5a. Although an aphysiologically high concentration of C5a is necessary for inducing a transient increase in the intracellular Ca2+ level, TGW cells do employ the signal transduction pathway associated with C5aR, suggesting that these cells may serve as putative model for C5aR-expressing neurons.

Glycogen metabolism and signal transduction in mammals and yeast.

Mammalian glycogen synthase, with its complex multisite phosphorylation mechanisms, continues to provide interesting and novel examples of the regulation of protein function. The mammalian enzyme is phosphorylated in a hierarchal manner such that modification of certain sites requires the prior phosphorylation of other sites. Yeast contains two glycogen synthases that have extensive similarities to their mammalian counterpart but the greatest divergence in amino acid sequence is seen precisely in the regions likely to be involved in covalent control. We hope that examination of the control of the yeast glycogen synthase will be as informative as study of the mammalian enzymes, whether by revealing important parallels with the mammalian system or by uncovering major differences in mechanism.

Cholecystokinin promotes sleep and reduces food intake in diabetic rats.

It has been reported that systemic injections of cholecystokinin (CCK) elicit the behavioral characteristics of satiety, including sleep, in rats. CCK is a potent stimulator of insulin secretion, and insulin is hypothesized to be involved in sleep and feeding regulation. The purpose of the current experiments was to study the possible role of endogenous insulin in the food-intake-reducing and hypnogenic effects of intraperitoneally (IP) administered CCK. Normal and streptozotocin (STR)-diabetic rats were injected with isotonic saline or CCK (10 and 50 micrograms/kg) at dark onset, and sleep-wake activity was determined for the next 12 h. There were no significant differences between the baseline sleep-wake activity of normal and diabetic rats. IP injection of CCK elicited a selective increase in nonrapid-eye-movement sleep in both groups during the first postinjection hour. In a separate experiment, the effects of CCK (10 micrograms/kg) on food intake were determined in control and diabetic rats; CCK suppressed the 1-h food intake in both groups. In a third experiment, the effects of CCK treatment (50 micrograms/kg) on plasma insulin levels were determined. In normal rats, CCK elicited a two-fold increase in plasma insulin concentration, whereas diabetic rats had a significantly lower basal insulin level which was not affected by CCK treatment. We conclude that hypnogenic and food-intake-reducing effects of exogenously administered CCK are closely associated; however, pancreatic insulin does not play a significant role in either of these effects.

Preparation of C-(2-deoxyhex/pent-1-enopyranosyl)heterocycles.

Acetylated 1-cyanoglycals (2,6-anhydro-3-deoxyhept/hex-2-enononitriles) were prepared by direct elimination of acetic acid from the appropriate acetylated 2,6-anhydrohept/hexononitriles with 1,8-diazabicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) in aprotic solvents. Heterocyclisation of the cyano group of acetylated 1-cyano-D-galactal with 2-aminothiophenol led to 2-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hex-1-enopyranosyl)benz othiazole. Several 2-(per-O-acetylhexo/pentopyranosyl)benzothiazoles also gave 2-(per-O-acetyl-2-deoxyhex/pent-1-enopyranosyl)benzothiazole s with DBU. 3-(Per-O-acetylhexo/pentopyranosyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a] pyrimidines rearranged with DBU to the corresponding acetylated 2-glycosyl-[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines. By the reaction of 1-cyano-D-galactal with ammonium azide, 2-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hex-1-enopyranosyl)tetr azole was prepared and then transformed with carboxylic acid derivatives into 2-(3,4,6-tri-O-acetyl-2-deoxy-D-lyxo-hex-1-enopyranosyl)-5-s ubstituted-1,3,4- oxadiazoles.

Spectra of "real-world" graphs: beyond the semicircle law.

Many natural and social systems develop complex networks that are usually modeled as random graphs. The eigenvalue spectrum of these graphs provides information about their structural properties. While the semicircle law is known to describe the spectral densities of uncorrelated random graphs, much less is known about the spectra of real-world graphs, describing such complex systems as the Internet, metabolic pathways, networks of power stations, scientific collaborations, or movie actors, which are inherently correlated and usually very sparse. An important limitation in addressing the spectra of these systems is that the numerical determination of the spectra for systems with more than a few thousand nodes is prohibitively time and memory consuming. Making use of recent advances in algorithms for spectral characterization, here we develop methods to determine the eigenvalues of networks comparable in size to real systems, obtaining several surprising results on the spectra of adjacency matrices corresponding to models of real-world graphs. We find that when the number of links grows as the number of nodes, the spectral density of uncorrelated random matrices does not converge to the semicircle law. Furthermore, the spectra of real-world graphs have specific features, depending on the details of the corresponding models. In particular, scale-free graphs develop a trianglelike spectral density with a power-law tail, while small-world graphs have a complex spectral density consisting of several sharp peaks. These and further results indicate that the spectra of correlated graphs represent a practical tool for graph classification and can provide useful insight into the relevant structural properties of real networks.

[Importance of X-ray examination and endoscopy in the diagnosis of hyperplasia of Brunner's glands (author's transl)]. / Uber die Bedeutung der Röntgenuntersuchung und der Edndoskopie in der Diagnostik der Hyperplasie der Brunnerschen Drüsen.

A rare and interesting alteration--hyperplasia of Brunner's glands--is reported. In 18 cases hyperplasia of Brunner's glands were verified by endoscopy and histology as well. Frequency of occurance, clinical characteristics, X-ray symptoms of the hyperplasia of the Brunner's glands and the radiological methods of its diagnosis are described. Importance of the aimed X-ray film, carried out by Spot-filmkamera and of graded compression is emphasized. Differential diagnosis between polypoid hypertrophic duodenitis and hyperplasia of Brunner's glands are discussed in detail.

Pesticide use related to cancer incidence as studied in a rural district of Hungary.

General mortality analysis showed an increasing tendency of circulatory diseases in two villages examined. Respiratory diseases and suicide were more frequent in the village with greater pesticide use (village I). The relative risk (RR) of gastric cancer for men is significantly higher in village I (high rate of pesticide use) than in the county as a whole (RR, 1.65; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96-2.83) and also in relation to the national data (RR, 3.20; 95% CI, 1.91-5.36). Since the nitrate concentration in the drinking water, the drug consumption, smoking and eating habits are similar in the two villages, and since alcohol consumption is higher in village II (moderate rate of pesticide use), it seems that nitrosable pesticides may play a role in the etiology of stomach cancer. This is supported by the fact that a higher number of gastric cancer cases was found where larger quantities of nitrosable pesticides had been used.

[The clinical significance of juxtapapillary diverticula: endoscopic and radiological study (author's transl)]. / Die klinische Bedeutung juxtapapillärer Duodenaldivertikel: Endoskopische und radiologische Untersuchungen.

The significance of duodenal diverticula is studied, in particular with respect to the supposed role of juxtapapillary diverticular in the development of biliary and/or pancreatic diseases. Duodenal diverticula were found in 72 cases with the help of duodenoscopy and ERCP, i.e. in altogether 1% of the patients investigated by upper GI endoscopy. On the basis of their observations and the data reported in the literature, the authors conclude that the pathological role played by juxtapapillary diverticula in the development of biliary and/or pancreatic diseases is by obstructing the pancreatic juice and bile flow. Stones are frequently found in the common bile duct in patients with juxtapapillary diverticula. At biliary surgery the observed diverticulum, which impedes biliary flow, must be taken into consideration, too. In such cases the aim of surgery is to guarantee free biliary flow, without which the operation cannot be considered successful.

[The diagnostic value of so-called "post-cholecystectomy bile duct dilatation"]. / Uber den diagnostischen Wert der sog. "postcholecystektomischen Gallengangserweiterung".

In 1706 gallstone operations the diameter of the common bile ducts was determined in 990 cases during telecholangiography using a so-called functional cholangiodiametry. The data of 213 postoperative determinations of the common bile duct diameters performed during the follow-up period did not support the existence of a postcholecystectomic compensatoric dilation of the common bile duct. Ultrasound and ERCP failed to find postoperative bile duct dilation in patients without complaints following cholecystectomy and in persons with complaints of extrabiliary origin. In conclusion we found that biliopancreatic and organic reasons (residual calculi, papillary stenosis, bile duct stenosis, chronic pancreatitis) can always be detected as the underlying cause of a significant bile duct dilation.

Relationships between serum FSH level and the size of testis in azoospermic patients.

Sixty-eight out of 700 patients proved to be azoospermic at our Andrology Clinic between 1981 and 1983. According to the serum FSH level and testis size, three main diagnostic groups were established: 1. patients with occlusion but testis size and FSH level normal; 2. patients with smaller testis size and increased FSH level and primary spermatogenetic disorder; 3. non-palpable testis and increased serum FSH level referring also to testicular disorder. No correlations were found between serum LH and testosterone levels and testicular volume.

Electron probe microanalysis of human teeth for the determination of individual age.

The calcium and phosphorus weight concentrations as well as the calcium/phosphorus weight ratio were determined by electron probe microanalysis both peritubularly and intertubularly in the dentine of 25 adults of varying age and sex, originating from our autopsy material. The studies were performed with a TESLA BS-300 scanning electron microscope coupled with an EDAX-149-10 X-ray detector and a BMG-38100 X-ray analyser with an accelerating potential of 15 kV, a sample current of 100 pA and a measurement time of 20 s. Peritubularly the Ca/P weight ratio of the hypermineralized part of the dentine decreases with age and is in close correlation with it (r = -0.9052) and this tendency is significant even at the level of 95% (P less than 0.05). The equation of the regression line is: Y = 37.17 x +139.37 where x is the age and y is the Ca/P weight ratio. The weight concentration of phosphorus is in an even closer correlation with age (r = 0.9712) and this correlation is also significant (P less than 0.01). The equation of the regression line is the following: y = 625.0 x -42.06 The close correlation of both the Ca/P weight ratio of the teeth and of the phosphorus weight concentration with the age allows individual age determination to be performed in the course of forensic medical and palaeoanthropological studies.