Showing papers by "Rutgers University published in 1975"

Microbiology of Municipal Solid Waste Composting

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on the components of municipal waste which are compostable. Composting is the microbial degradation of organic solid material that involves aerobic respiration and passes through a thermophilic stage. It yields the stabilized end-product compost. Various solid waste management objectives can be achieved through composting, including sanitation, mass and bulk reduction, and resource recovery. Compost plays a unique role in certain specialized practices, including hotbed gardening, which requires self-heating organic matter, and as a substrate for edible-mushroom cultivation. For these purposes compost derived from municipal solid waste can substitute for the traditional horse manure preparation. Compost can be an economic soil conditioner for high-value crops, such as vegetables and flowers grown out of season. The chapter reveals that there are many proprietary processes for the treatment of municipal solid waste by composting, which offer a variety of mechanical and structural approaches to the problems of aerating and mixing the composting mass. From a microbiological viewpoint, only two major process variants are evident: batch and continuous composting.

Mitotic mutants of Aspergillus nidulans.

Abstract: Forty-five temperature-sensitive mutants of Aspergillus nidulans which are defective in nuclear division, septation or distribution of nuclei along the mycelium have been isolated, and most have been subjected to complementation analysis and mapped to chromosome. Thirty-five of the mutants were unable to complete nuclear division at the restrictive temperature. Twenty-six of these mutants exhibited a co-ordinate drop in both spindle and chromosome mitotic indices at 42 °C, indicating that they fail to enter mitosis. These mutants have been assigned to the gene symbol nim. Nine mutants exhibited a co-ordinate rise in spindle and chromosome mitotic indices at 42 °C, indicating that they are arrested in mitosis. These mutants were assigned the gene symbol bim. Five mutants failed to form septa and were given the gene symbol sep; and five mutants had an abnormal nuclear distribution and were given the gene symbol nud. All of the mutations were recessive. Most of the mutants were in different complementation groups. Mutants in the same complementation groups were phenotypically similar, but phenotypically similar mutants were not necessarily or usually in the same complementation group. There was no evidence for genetic clustering of phenotypically similar mutants. The mutants were located on all eight chromosomes.

The Method of Sorting as a Data-Gathering Procedure in Multivariate Research.

Abstract: This study compares two basic variants of the sorting method: single-sort in which each respondent is given only one opportunity to sort the items; and multiple-sort in which the respondent is given several opportunities to sort, each time on a different basis. Kinship terms serve as stimulus materials. Multidimensional scaling solutions show large differences between the two methods with respect to the degree to which the kinship dimensions are used as a basis for sorting. In particular, most respondents ignore the most obvious dimension (sex of the terms) when they believe they have only one opportunity to indicate the dimensions in the set. Similar observations of pairwise judgments in another stimulus domain (consonant phonemes) suggest the same bias may be present in such judgments. Moreover, in both instances hierarchical clustering completely fails to represent the minority of judges who do not ignore the given dimension. These results indicate that a multiple set of judgments from each set of respondents may be superior to a single set of judgments for certain stimulus domains. Finally, the kinship data also indicate that male and female respondents emphasize different kinship dimensions but that aggregated multiple-sort data do appear to reflect the cognitive dimensions present in any given individual.

The methylation state of poly A-containing-messenger RNA from cultured hamster cells

Abstract: The poly A-containing mRNA of cultured hamster (BHK-21) cells has been examined with regard to methylation status. Steady state-labeled mRNA was obtained by incubating cells for 20-22h in the presence of [methyl-3H]-methionine and 32Pi. The degree of methylation of this RNA was 1.8 methyl groups per 1000 nucleotides, or 4-5 methyl groups on the average per molecule. The nature of the methylated residues was determined by paper chromatography and electrophoresis of acid and alkaline hydrolysates, by DEAE cellulose chromatography of alkaline hydrolysates and of T2 RNase digests, and by examining the effect of subjecting samples to "beta-elimination." Approx. half of the methyl groups occurred in standard ("internal") linkage, 10% as m5Cp and 40% as m6Ap residues. The remainder occurred at least for the most part in "blocked" 5'-termini with the presumptive structure m7G(5')ppp(Nm)p.., where Nm was Gm, m6Am, Um, or Cm.

Androcentrism in prescriptive grammar: singular ‘they’, sex-indefinite ‘he’, and ‘he or she’

Abstract: This paper demonstrates that prior to the beginning of the prescriptive grammar movement in English, singular ‘they’ was both accepted and widespread. It is argued that the prescriptive grammarians' attack on singular ‘they’ was socially motivated, and the specific reasons for their attack are discussed. By analogy with socially motivated changes in second person pronouns in a variety of European languages, it is suggested that third person pronoun usage will be affected by the current feminist opposition to sex-indefinite ‘he’ – particularly since the well-established alternative, singular ‘they’, has remained widespread in spoken English throughout the two and a half centuries of its ‘official’ proscription. Finally, the implications of changes in third person singular, sex-indefinite pronouns for several issues of general interest within linguistics are explored. (Language change, sex roles and language, language attitudes, language planning, prescriptive grammar, pronouns.)

Plasma Ion Diagnostics Using Resonant Fluorescence

Abstract: Laser-induced fluorescence of ionic states is used to measure local ion densities and velocities in argon plasmas.

Nonlinear Evolution Equations-Two and Three Dimensions

Abstract: A method is developed which generates a class of nonlinear evolution equations in two and three spatial dimensions from an associated eigenvalue problem and its time dependence. Special cases include the equations describing nonlinear, resonantly interacting, wave envelopes in two and three dimensions; a "nonlinear Schr\"odinger" equation in two dimensions; and a two-dimensional analog of the Korteweg- de Vries equation.

Corn stunt spiroplasma: isolation, cultivation, and proof of pathogenicity.

Abstract: A spiroplasma isolated from corn infected with corn stunt disease has been successfully cultivated in vitro. Acid formation was associated with its growth in liquid medium, and fried egg-shaped or granulated colonies developed on solid agar medium. Healthy leafhopper vectors injected with or allowed to feed on isolates from various serial passages through liquid medium were able to transmit the corn stunt agent to healthy corn plants, inducing typical corn stunt disease in the plants. The spiroplasma was reisolated and cultivated from such diseased plants and was indistinguishable morphologically from the original isolates. These results provide the first definite proof that the corn stunt disease is caused by the corn stunt spiroplasma.

Weather-Dependent Foraging Behavior of Some Birds Wintering in a Deciduous Woodland

Abstract: Terrestrial organisms are surrounded by a microclimate composed of four independent variables: humidity, radiation, wind velocity, and air temperature (Porter and Gates 1969). The metabolic responses of animals to some of these climatic variables have been studied in the laboratory. For instance, below the lower critical temperature (about 250C; Helms 1968) metabolic rates of birds are inversely correlated with ambient temperature (Kendeigh 1949, 1969, Steen 1958, Brooks 1968, Helms 1968, Kontogiannis 1968), but the metabolic cost of low temperature is moderated by artificial insolation (Lustick 1969, Lustick et al. 1970). Porter and Gates (1969) added air movement and derived theoretical "climate

The ultrasonic postejaculatory vocalization and the postejaculatory refractory period of the male rat.

Abstract: After ejaculation, the male rat emits an ultrasonic (22-kHz.) vocalization. This sound is produced repeatedly until about three fourths of the postejaculatory interval has elapsed. In this study, the occurrence of the vocalization was described, and physiological and behavioral evidence was presented that the postejaculatory vocalization reflects an inhibitory state that underlies the postejaculatory refractory period. The vocalization period was characterized by a predominance of slow-wave, spindling, sleep-like electroencephalographic activity. Electrical shock was able to stimulate mating responses only after the cessation of the vocalization period. It was concluded that an absolute refractory period of the postejaculatory interval lasts until the end of the vocalization period and that the time from the termination of the vocalization until the resumption of mating is a relative refractory period.

Prodigiosin-like pigments.

Abstract: Prodigiosin, the bright red tripyrrole pigment from Serratia marcescens, has also been identified in Pseudomonas magnesiorubra, Vibrio psychroerythrus, and two Gram-negative rod-shaped mesophilic marine bacteria not members of the genus Serratia. Prodigiosin is sometimes bound to proteins; thus, extracts may require acid treatment before isolation of the pigment. Higher homologs of prodigiosin have been detected by mass spectroscopy. A mutant strain of S. marcescens produced nor-prodigiosin, in which the methoxy group of prodigiosin is replaced by a hydroxy group. Another mutant strain produced a blue tetrapyrrole pigment whose structure is a dimer of prodigiosin's rings A and B. Three novel biosynthetic analogs of prodigiosin have been obtained using a colorless mutant which does make rings A and B but not ring C and which can couple rings A and B with some added monopyrroles similar to ring C. The structures of three prodiginine (prodigiosin-like) pigments from streptomyces have been elucidated. All have the methoxytripyrrole aromatic nucleus of prodigiosin and all have an 11 carbon aliphatic side chain attached at carbon 2 of ring C. In two of the pigments the side chain is also linked to another carbon of ring C. The earlier literature about prodiginine pigments from actinomycetes has been interpreted and evaluated in light of the most recent findings. The structure elucidation of six prodiginine pigments from Actinomadurae (Nocardiae) has been completed. Only one, undecylprodiginine, is the same as from a streptomycete. For three of the six pigments, nine carbon side chains are observed and in four of them the side chain is attached to carbon 5 of ring A as well as carbon 2 of ring C so that a large ring is formed which includes the three pyrrole moieties. A section on identification summarized useful methods and presents information with which any known prodiginine pigment can be identified. The final step in the biosynthesis of prodigiosin was known to be the coupling of methoxybipyrrolecarboxaldehyde (rings A and B) with methylpentylpyrrole (ring C). Recent work using 13C-labeled precursors and Fourier transform 13C nuclear magnetic resonance has shown the pattern of incorporation for acetate, proline, glycine, serine alanine, and methionine into prodigiosin. Each pyrrole ring is constructed in a different way. Two of the streptomyces pigments have also been investigated; the pattern of incorporation is similar to that for prodigiosin. The biological activities of some prodiginine pigments are summarized. All show activity against several Gram-positive bacteria; some have anti-malarial activity. Prodigiosin has been tested clinically against coccidioidomycosis.

Length of Incubation for Enumerating Nitrifying Bacteria Present in Various Environments

Abstract: The effect of incubation time on most-probable-number estimates of autotrophic nitrifying bacteria was investigated by using waters, rooted aquatic plants, sediments, and slimes as inoculum sources. Maximum most probable numbers of the NH4+-oxidizing group were attained in 20 to 55 days (median, 25). Estimates of NO2- oxidizers were highest at termination (103 to 113) days.

Structure of the human erythrocyte blood group P1 glycosphingolipid.

Abstract: A glycosphingolipid with blood group P1 activity was extracted from an acetone powder of human erythrocyte stroma with chloroform-methanol. It was purified by chromatography on columns of silicic acid and by preparative thin-layer chromatography of the fully acetylated and deacetylated glycolipid. The purified glycolipid contained galactose, N-acetylglucosamine, and glucose in a molar ratio of 3:1:1. Treatment of the P1 glycolipid with fig alpha-galactosidase released a single galactosyl residue and destroyed the blood group activity, and the alpha-galactosidase product had the same chromatographic mobility as paragloboside. Substitution sites on the neutral sugars of the P1 glycolipid and the alpha-galactosidase product were established by identification of methylated alditol acetates, and substitution on N-acetylglucosamine was determined by identification of methyl glycoside derivatives. The terminal nonreducing disaccharide of the P1 glycolipid is Gal(alpha, 1 leads to 4)Gal. N-Acetylglucosamine was identified as the next sugar in sequence by mass spectrometric analysis of the permethylated P1 glycolipid. On the assumption that the glucose residue is linked to ceramide, we propose the following structure for the P1 glycolipid: Gal(alpha, 1 leads to 4)Gal(beta, 1 leads to 4)Glc-NAc(beta, 1 leads to 4)Glc-Cer.

Vaginal stimulation in rats induces prolonged lordosis responsiveness and sexual receptivity.

Abstract: Sexual receptivity to males resulted from stimulation of the vagina with a glass rod in previously unreceptive ovariectomized, estrogen-treated rats. Several minutes of rejection behavior preceded the receptivity. In a second study, manual palpation was used to determine the duration of the lordosis response facilitation. Initially, all females were unresponsive to manual flank-perineum stimulation (palpation). Vaginal stimulation plus palpation, which together elicit lordosis, facilitated subsequent lordosis responses to palpation. This effect persisted for several hours after the vaginal stimulation was applied. Vaginal stimulation alone, which was ineffective in eliciting lordosis, also facilitated lordosis in response to subsequent palpation. Repeated palpation did not facilitate lordosis. These prolonged effects were independent of hormone treatment.