Evidence for two photoreceptors controlling growth in de-etiolated seedlings

The effect of blue light on hypocotyl extension in de-etiolated seedlings of lettuce, cucumber and tomato was investigated under conditions which precluded the involvement of phytochrome. Small but highly inhibitory amounts of blue light were added to a high intensity background illumination from low pressure sodium lamps. A log-linear response for inhibition of hypocotyl extension against the blue light fluence rate was obtained for lettuce and cucumber, and inhibition in tomato was also related to the blue light fluence rate. The added blue light did not alter phytochrome photostationary state and its effect was independent of the total fluence rate. Growth inhibition by Pfr could be demonstrated in tomato and cucumber but not in lettuce. The results indicate that two photoreceptors may normally be involved in the control of seedling growth but their relative importance varies greatly between species.

Emergency surgery for acute hyperparathyroidism: anesthetic aspects

Hyperparathyroid crisis with hypercalcemia which is resistant to medical treatment, is a rare clinical condition which requires prompt surgical intervention. Preoperative problems, anesthetic management and postoperative evolution are discussed. A case report is described.

Promoting creativity in nursing education

Shortly after the University of Iowa implemented a new, integrated curriculum in 1974, a study of creativity was initiated because one goal of the process curriculum is to foster creativity. Hypotheses of no difference between beginning and graduating students and between old and new curriculum students were tested by means of Student's t test with Activities 5, 6, and 7 of Verbal Form A, Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking used as the criterion measure. The null hypotheses were rejected in favor of the beginning students and the old curriculum students, respectively (p less than .05). Hypotheses of no relationship between creativity and American College Testing scores and admit grade point average were tested by computing Pearson product moment correlation coefficients. All values of r were nonsignificant. Further research on a number of aspects of creativity in nursing is suggested.

Distribution of alpha-Galactosidase in Cucurbita pepo

The distribution of alpha-galactosidase (alpha-d-galactoside galactohydrolase [EC 3.2.1.22]) in Cucurbita pepo has been determined in an attempt to assess its involvement in hydrolysis of transport sugars of the raffinose oligosaccharide series ([alpha-1-6-0-galactopyranosyl](n) sucrose). Extracts prepared from leaves and petioles at different stages of development, roots, flowers, dry and germinating seeds, all contained appreciable levels of alpha-galactosidase activity. Chromatography of these extracts on DEAE-Sephadex resolved the enzyme into three active isozymic forms. These isozymes were present in all regions of the plant analyzed but their relative proportions varied between tissues and changed within leaf and petiole tissues during development and in seeds during their germination. The level of total alpha-galactosidase activity in the leaf blade measured on a fresh weight or total protein basis remained constant at all developmental stages analyzed. The occurrence of these isozymes in mature exporting leaves indicates an effective intracellular compartmentation between their location and the sites of galactosyl oligosaccharide biosynthesis, accumulation and movement in the tissue. We have used these results to comment on the transport pathway of galactosyl oligosaccharides between the phloem and surrounding tissues in this plant.

Sensitivity of urine-grown cells of Providencia stuartii to antiseptics

Urine-grown cultures of 23 clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria having a range of minimum inhibitory concentration values for chorhexidine were challenged with various concentrations of this antiseptic. The results suggest that cells of Providencia stuartii, in particular, exhibit a considerable degree of resistance to chlorhexidine under these conditions, concentrations of up to 10 000--20 000 microgram/ml of urine being necessary to produce complete loss of viability of such cultures. Of the other two antiseptics tested, phenoxyethanol proved to be the more effective, the recommended use concentration of 2% v/v producing reductions in viable counts of greater than six logarithms in all the strains examined. It is suggested that phenoxyethanol may be a suitable alternative to the cationic agents for use in antiseptic policies for bladder management of urinary tract infections with Providencia stuartii.

Differential utility of predictors in graduate nursing education

The problem of predicting success in graduate education in nursing was addressed through a five-year study of students enrolled in four majors at the University of Iowa. Data from a sample of 198 graduates of the majors-medical-surgical nursing, nursing of children, psychiatric nursing, and nursing service administration-were analyzed to determine the efficiency of the traditional predictors, undergraduate grade point average (GPA) and Graduate Record Examination scores-verbal and quantitative-in predicting success in graduate education as measured by the masters GPA. Findings included support for the use of these predictor variables in the selection of graduate students in nursing and evidence that interprogram differences existed, indicating a need for different selection practices for the different majors.

[Multiple sex drive abnormalities in a patient with Klinefelter's syndrome]

The authors report various sexual instinct disturbances and, more specifically, exhibitionism and pedophilia of a 25-year-old patient with Klinefelter's syndrome. The patient had committed several punishable offenses and was referred to our specialty clinic for psychologic and psychiatric examinations. Aspects of psychopathology and causal etiopathogenetic relationships of the authors' own observations are discussed and compared with those reported in the literature. Environmental factors are considered to be primarily responsible for the development of sexual perversions. The Klinefelter syndrome as such may be regarded as being of predispositional importance only.

[A simple biochemical method for the determination of "dietary fibre" in plant foods (author's transl)]

A simple enzymatic method for the determination of total waterinsoluble unavailable unavailable carbohydrates (dietary fibre) and their components of hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin is proposed, which would replace the chemical determination of "crude fibre". In this method the sample is treated with amylolytic and proteolytic enzymes. The insoluble residue that remains after the starch and protein have been removed is considered as "unavailable carbohydrates" (dietary fibre) and fractionated to three main components (crude hemicellulose, curde cellulose and crude lignin) by applying separate treatments with 5% and 72% H2SO4. The complete separation process is carried out in a single new quartz-centrifugal tube fitted with a G3 quartzfilter. Experiments on a range of samples indicate that the method is simple, fast and reproducible.

Sensitivity of Providence to antiseptics and disinfectants

Seventy isolates of Providence were obtained from urinary tract infections in patients from five hospitals. They were all identified as Providence B (Providencia stuartii). A typing system was devised for these organisms based on their production of and sensitivity to bacteriophage and bacteriocins. Using this system, 27 distinct strains were recognized, and it was clear that many patients had been infected with the same strain. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of six antiseptics and disinfectants for these strains were determined. Many of the strains were up to 300-fold more resistant to the cationic antiseptics chlorhexidine, cetrimide, and Resiguard than the control strain Escherichia coli NCTC 10418. The sensitivities of the Providence strains to Hycolin, glutaraldehyde, and phenyl mercuric nitrate, however, were similar to those of the control organism. There were significant correlations between the sensitivities of the strains to the three cationic antiseptics. The loss of chlorhexidine resistance from a Providence strain after exposure of the cells to N-methyl-N' nitro N nitrosoguanidine resulted in a concomitant loss of resistance to cetrimide and Resiguard, but there was no significant increase in the sensitivity of the mutants to the other three antibacterials.