Nachweis des Wassermelonenmosaik-Virus in Europa

The Science of Nature -     

Effects of calcium,strontium, and magnesium on the coccolithophorid Cricosphaera (Hymenomonas) carterae. II. Cell division

The effects of calcium-deficiency, magnesium-deficiency and strontium enrichment on cell division in the alga Cricosphaera (Hymenomonas) carterae have been studied. Cell growth was reduced at 10^-3 M Ca and was absent at 5x10^-4 M Ca and lower concentrations. The addition of Sr to Ca-deficient media enabled cells to divide, the effect increasing with Sr concentration. When 4.6x10^-4 M Sr was added to media containing 10^-4 M Ca, the rate of division and the final cell concentration were comparable to the control (10^-2 M Ca). Strontium was 20 times more effective than Ca. The rate of growth was also examined at various Mg concentrations. Cell division was absent, or nearly so, in Mg concentrations below 4.2x10^-5 M. Cell size increased progressively as the Mg concentration decreased; however, the lowest protein concentration was found in the absence of Mg. In media lacking Mg, cells exhibited changes in ultrastructure including rounding-up and apparent fragmentation of chloroplasts and an increase in vacuole size. Also, the number of mitochondria per cell section increased 2.9 times in the absence of Mg while the total cross-sectional area remained the same, indicating fragmentation.     

Determination of extremely low (236)U/(238)U isotope ratios in environmental samples by sector-field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry using high-efficiency sample introduction

A method by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was developed which allows the measurement of (236)U at concentration ranges down to 3 x 10(-14)g g(-1) and extremely low (236)U/(238)U isotope ratios in soil samples of 10(-7). By using the high-efficiency solution introduction system APEX in connection with a sector-field ICP-MS a sensitivity of more than 5,000 counts fg(-1) uranium was achieved. The use of an aerosol desolvating unit reduced the formation rate of uranium hydride ions UH(+)/U(+) down to a level of 10(-6). An abundance sensitivity of 3 x 10(-7) was observed for (236)U/(238)U isotope ratio measurements at mass resolution 4000. The detection limit for (236)U and the lowest detectable (236)U/(238)U isotope ratio were improved by more than two orders of magnitude compared with corresponding values by alpha spectrometry. Determination of uranium in soil samples collected in the vicinity of Chernobyl nuclear power plant (NPP) resulted in that the (236)U/(238)U isotope ratio is a much more sensitive and accurate marker for environmental contamination by spent uranium in comparison to the (235)U/(238)U isotope ratio. The ICP-MS technique allowed for the first time detection of irradiated uranium in soil samples even at distances more than 200 km to the north of Chernobyl NPP (Mogilev region). The concentration of (236)U in the upper 0-10 cm soil layers varied from 2 x 10(-9)g g(-1) within radioactive spots close to the Chernobyl NPP to 3 x 10(-13)g g(-1) on a sampling site located by >200 km from Chernobyl.     

How do transformational leaders foster positive employee outcomes? A self‐determination‐based analysis of employees' needs as mediating links

Although followers' needs are a central aspect of transformational leadership theory, little is known about their role as mediating mechanisms for this leadership style. The present research thus seeks to integrate and extend theorizing on transformational leadership and self‐determination. In particular, we propose that the satisfaction of followers' basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) mediates the relationship between transformational leadership and employee outcomes (job satisfaction, self‐efficacy, and commitment to the leader). We tested this model in two studies involving employees from a broad spectrum of organizations in Germany (N = 410) and in Switzerland (N = 442). Results revealed largely consistent patterns across both studies. The need for competence fulfillment solely mediated the link between transformational leadership and occupational self‐efficacy; the need for relatedness fulfillment solely mediated the link between transformational leadership and commitment to the leader. The mediating pattern for the link between transformational leadership and job satisfaction varied slightly across studies. In Study 1, only the need for autonomy fulfillment was a significant mediator, whereas in Study 2, all three needs mediated this relationship. Taken together, our study integrates theorizing on transformational leadership and self‐determination by corroborating that need fulfillment indeed is a central mechanism behind transformational leadership. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.