Fixed inorganic nitrogen (N) is persistently scarce in the well-lit regions of the subtropical ocean gyres and its supply plays an important role in controlling phytoplankton productivity. In a series of experiments conducted in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre (NPSG), we examined changes in primary productivity and eukaryotic phytoplankton community structure in response to additions of nitr...

INTRODUCTION Records on gallstones and associated ailments in Sri Lankan community are scarce, despite frequent detection of gallstone disease. Identification of the chemical composition of gallstones in the local setting is important in defining aetiopathogenic factors which in turn are useful in implementing therapeutic and preventive strategies. This study aimed to describe the chemical comp...

purpose:  to evaluate the significance of the presence of pigment granules in  the anterior  vitreous as a reliable indicator of retinal breaks in patients with acute symptomatic posterior vitreous detachment  (pvd) . methods: this cross sectional study included 209 phakic patients with acute symptomatic pvd. the patients underwent anterior vitreous examination and fundoscopy. patients with dia...

The shutoff of active intermediates in the phototransduction cascade and the reconstitution of the visual pigment play key roles in the recovery of sensitivity after the exposure to bright light in both rod and cone photoreceptors. Physiological evidence from bleached salamander rods suggests this recovery of sensitivity occurs faster at the outer segment base compared with the tip. Microfluoro...

Incorporation of dihydroretinals into the sensory rhodopsin SR and bacteriorhodopsin bR has led to a modified version of the external point-charge model for bR proposed in 1979. Difference Fourier transform infrared studies of native bR and bR analogs cultured on media containing isotopes of amino acids have shown some of the amino acids which undergo environmental changes or deprotonation/prot...

As a white pigment, titanium oxide is used for cosmetic application. This oxide is well known to have the photo catalytic activity. Therefore a certain degree of sebum is decomposed by the ultraviolet radiation in sunlight. In this work, titanium phosphates were prepared with additives (urea, sodium lactate, and glycerin) as a novel white pigment. Their chemical composition, powder properties, ...

Grape phylloxera is a root-feeding pest of grapevines. In Australia, phylloxera infested vineyards are subjected to quarantine restrictions and early detection remains vital for the timely implementation of post-outbreak quarantine protocols. Current detection methods rely on time-consuming ground surveying which involves detailed examination of grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) root systems. Leaf ...

salinity is one of major stresses which can severely limit plant production, especially in the arid and semi-arid regions. the present study was carried out to evaluate the impact of salinity stress on some physio-biochemical parameters in nitre bush plants (nitraria schoberi). thus, an experiment was carried out under natural conditions and salinity stress was induced by a combination of diffe...

Evidence of original coloration in fossils provides insights into the visual communication strategies used by ancient animals and the functional evolution of coloration over time [1-7]. Hitherto, all reconstructions of the colors of reptile integument and the plumage of fossil birds and feathered dinosaurs have been of melanin-based coloration [1-6]. Extant animals also use other mechanisms for...

PURPOSE To characterize histopathologic and electroretinographic (ERG) changes in the retina of pigmented rats injected with sodium iodate in order to establish a model of retinal degeneration for future cell therapy studies. METHODS In 50 male pigmented rats weighing 250-300 grams, NaIO3 was injected into the left orbital venous plexus at 40 and 60 mg/kg doses (25 eyes in each group). Fourte...