bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of low levels of dietary phosphorus upon the dry matter intake and metabolism of lambs
Authors: Ternouth JH , Sevilla CC
Published: November 2004

The effects of feeding roughage-based diets deficient in phosphorus (P) were investigated in two 20- week experiments in young sheep. In Experiment 1, six-month-old lambs were offered diets containing low concentrations of either calcium (LCa HP) or phosphorus (HCa LP) or both minerals (LCa LP) ad libitum for 20 weeks. In Experiment 2,4-month-old lambs were offered the HCa HP, HCa LP and LCa LP diets ad libitum with a further group pair-fed the HCa HP diet at the same dry matter rate as the lambs offered the LCa LP diet. The semi-synthetic diet, based on barley straw, contained adequate quantities of energy and nitrogen. The major effect of the deficiencies was to reduce the dry matter intakes of the lambs. The lambs offered the LCa HP, HCa LP and LCa LP diets had 15,41 and 40% lower dry matter intakes than the HCa HP lambs in Experiment 1, whilst lambs offered the HCa LP and LCa LP diets consumed 34 and 3 1% less in Experiment 2. The dry matter intakes of the lambs were closely related to their plasma inorganic P concentrations in both experiments. In both experiments, the lambs offered the low P diets had lower dry matter digestibility coefficients than those offered the high P diets. This was considered to be due to changes in caeco-colic rather than rumeno-reticular digestion. There was no difference in liveweight gain of lambs pair-fed on the LCa LP and HCa HP diets. The diets, particularly the low P diets, caused significant changes in plasma Ca and P concentrations and demineralization of the bones as measured by rib biopsy and neutron activation analysis. Lambs offered the low P diets had lower faecal endogenous P losses, but the coefficients of absorption of P were similar. Lambs offered the low P diets had smaller slowly exchangeable-pool sizes and lower rates of recycling and irreversible losses of P.
Effects of nutrition and paring on linear hoof growth in sheep
Authors: Wheeler JL , Davies HI , Hedges DA , Reis PJ
Published: November 2004

Paring increased the linear hoof growth on the forefeet of Merino wethers by an average of 4.1% (P < 0.05) with a tendency for paring to promote faster growth on the medial digits. Effects of feeding these sheep with 400, 600, or 1000 g pelleted ration day-1 were assessed in a 4 X 4 Latin square design with 28-day periods using four measures of response. An extra (fifth) period was used to determine residual effects. The proportion of residual (carryover) to direct effect was much smaller for hoof growth than for wool. Hoof growth was not related to wool production. In another experiment, hoof growth rate of sheep increased from 103 to 136 8m day-1 when the intake of digestible dry matter was increased from 400 to 600 g day-1 (P< 0.001), and from 115 to 125 8m day -1 (P> 0.05) when the intake of digestible nitrogen was increased from 12 to 25 g day-1. Hoof growth rates of Merino wethers grazing native or sown pasture were not significantly affected by injecting DL-methionine daily into the abomasum. Hoof growth is not an appropriate index of wool growth. It may provide an easily measured, rapidly responsive and cumulative measure of nutritional changes, but its use cannot be recommended until more information is available on the factors that affect it and their interaction with ambient temperature.
Gluten polypeptides as useful genetic markers of dough quality in Australian wheats
Authors: Metakovsky EV , Wrigley CW , Bekes F , Gupta RB , Metakovskii EV
Published: November 2004

Seed proteins of 28 Australian bread wheat cultivars were analysed by gel electrophoresis to indicate variations in the composition of their gliadins and glutenin polypeptides (both low- and high-molecular-weight). Composition was indicated according to allelic blocks of genes for each protein class and for each chromosome involved. Relationships were studied between gluten-protein alleles, pedigrees and dough properties (in the Extensograph). Overall, gliadins and low-molecular-weight (LMW) subunits of glutenin controlled by group 1 chromosomes showed closest relationships with each other. LMW subunits were most highly correlated with dough resistance and extensibility. Gliadins controlled by chromosomes 6A and 6D also had highly significant relationships to dough resistance and extensibility, respectively. Among high-molecular-weight subunits of glutenin, however, only those controlled by chromosome 1B showed a significant relationship with resistance to dough extension.
Relationship of the severity of Septoria tritici blotch of wheat to sowing time, rainfall at heading and average susceptibility of wheat cultivars in the area
Authors: Murray GM , Martin RH , Cullis BR
Published: November 2004

The severity of epidemics of Septoria tritici blotch (STB) in wheat, caused by Mycosphaerella graminicola, was recorded for a 38-year period at Temora in southern New South Wales. The disease was rated as severe in 11 years, moderate in 11 and nil to light in 15, while very wet conditions prevented sowing in one year. The correlation of disease severity (S, where 0 =nil, 7 =very severe) with environmental and management factors was examined: the correlation was positive with days from sowing to heading and with rainfall ( R-4W , R+4W, mm) and the number of rainy days in the 4-week periods before and after heading; negative with the time of sowing (DS, day of year) and with mean daily maximum temperature in the 4-week periods before and after heading. Days from sowing to heading were negatively correlated with sowing day, and rainy days and mean daily maximum temperature were correlated with total rainfall in the same time period. Addition of these terms did not significantly improve the prediction of severity. The cumulative sum of the recursive residuals from this regression showed a trend with time that was associated with the average susceptibility (SAV, where 1 =highly resistant, 7 =extremely susceptible) of wheat cultivars to STB grown in the district in the previous year. The second model showed that the reduction of the average susceptibility of cultivars grown in an area will reduce the severity of STB. It provided justification for minimum disease standards for cultivars to be grown where STB is potentially severe. Further, it explained the distribution of severity of STB in New South Wales.
Changes in the content and form of magnesium in the first trifoliate leaf of subterranean clover under altered or constant root supply
Authors: Scott BJ , Robson AD
Published: November 2004

Little is known of the forms of magnesium (Mg) in leaf tissue and how these forms may differ with increasing and decreasing Mg concentration in the leaf. In the present study, plants of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) were grown in solution, with increasing, decreasing and stable root supply of Mg over the range 0-160 8m. Old leaf tissue was sampled in six harvests over 21 days. The chlorophyll was extracted from the leafwith dimethyl sulfoxide. This partitioned Mg into that in either the chlorophyll or residual fibre after extraction, and that Mg unaccounted for by these fractions ('other'). The forms of Mg in leaves could be related to the Mg concentration in the leaf and were not influenced by whether the concentration in the leaf was increasing or decreasing. Chlorophyll concentration was stable at about 1% when the concentration of Mg in the leaf was greater than 776 8g g-1. Below this Mg concentration, the concentration of chlorophyll declined rapidly. The proportion of total leaf Mg in the chlorophyll ranged from 6% at 5000 8g g-1 Mg in leaf to 35% at 700 8g g-1. Magnesium associated with the residual fibre was generally 80% of the total tissue Mg, although this appeared to be about 60% when Mg concentrations in leaves were < 1000 8g g-1. When the Mg concentration in the first trifoliate leaf was below 600 to 800 8g g-1, the leaf showed symptoms of Mg deficiency and became relatively heavier than non-deficient leaves.
Genetic parameters for wool production and quality traits in South Australian Merinos of the Collinsville family group
Authors: James PJ , Ponzoni RW , Walkley JRW , Whiteley KJ
Published: November 2004

Heritabilities and phenotypic and genetic correlations for fleece traits were estimated from a data set comprising 805 male and female progeny of 44 sires of the Collinsville family group. Characteristics included in the study were greasy and clean fleece weight, yield, mean, standard deviation and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter, resistance to compression, scoured and greasy wool colour (expressed as yellowness, lightness and yellowness index), wax content, suint content, and subjectively assessed scores for greasy colour, character, handle, quality number, condition, staple formation, tip formation and density. Heritabilities of greasy and clean fleece weight, yield, mean fibre diameter and subjectively assessed fleece scores were in broad agreement with estimates from other Merino strains, but the genetic correlations of mean fibre diameter and associated characters (handle, quality number) with clean fleece weight were lower than previous estimates. Heritabilities for scoured yellowness of wool, resistance to compression and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter, which are potential additional measurements for the specification of wool in sale lots, were 0.42 (�. 0.14), 0.57 (� 0.15) and 0.47 ( � 0.15) respectively. Estimated heritabilities of wax and suint content were 0.24 (�0.11) and 0.44 ( � 0.14). Although the phenotypic correlations between measures of greasy wool colour and the corresponding measures of scoured wool colour were low (less than 0.3), the genetic correlations were moderate to high (0.4-0.9). Thus selection on the basis of greasy wool colour should lead to genetic improvements in scoured colour. The genetic correlations of resistance to compression with clean fleece weight and fibre diameter were: 0.46 (�0.21) and 0.44 (� 0.20) respectively, but there were no other strong, unfavourable correlations.
Wheat response after temperate crop legumes in south-eastern Australia
Authors: Evans J , Fettell NA , Coventry DR , O'Connor GE , Walsgott DN , Mahoney J , Armstrong EL
Published: November 2004

At 15 sites in the cereal belt of New South Wales and Victoria, wheat after lupin or pea produced more biomass and had a greater nitrogen (N) content than wheat after wheat or barley; on average these crops assimilated 36 kg N/ha more. The improved wheat yield after lupin averaged 0 . 9 t/ha and after pea 0.7 t/ha, increases of 44 and 32% respectively. The responses were variable with site, year and legume. Soil available N was increased by both lupin and pea and the levels of surface inorganic N measured at the maturity of first year crops was often related to N in wheat grown in the following year. Of two possible sources of additional N for wheat after legumes, namely mineral N conserved in soil by lupin or pea (up to 60 kg N/ha) and the total N added in the residues of these legumes (up to 152 kg N/ha), both were considered significant to the growth of a following wheat crop. Their relative contribution to explaining variance in wheat N is analysed, and it is suggested wheat may acquire up to 40 kg N/ha from legume stubbles. Non-legume break crops also increased subsequent wheat yield but this effect was not as great as the combined effect of added N and disease break attained with crop legumes.
The effect of post-ruminal infusion of protein or energy on the pathophysiology of Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection and body composition in lambs
Authors: Brown MD , Poppi DP , Sykes AR
Published: November 2004

The effect of post-ruminal infusion of protein or energy on the pathophysiology of Trichostrongylus colubriformis infection and body composition in lambs was investigated using the comparative slaughter technique. Of 52 Dorset DownxCoopworth wether lambs (mean body weight 30.5, s.e. 0.44 kg), 8 comprised an initial slaughter group (IC), 36 were infected daily, per os, with 3000 Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae per animal, and the remainder (C) were parasite-free controls. Groups of 12 infected animals were given either a continuous infusion (via abomasal catheter) of 50.4 g/day crude protein as sodium caseinate (PI), glucose (EI) in isocaloric amounts to PI, or a solution containing P and Na at the same rate as the caseinate infusions (SI). Uninfected controls (C) were also infused with this solution. Animals were slaughtered after 6 and 12 weeks for estimation of worm count and body composition. All animals were offered, ad libitum, meadow hay (118 g crude protein/kg dry matter (DM); 930 g organic matter/kg DM; 0.65 organic matter digestibility). DM intake of infected animals decreased by approximately 22% in PI and EI and by 32% in SI animals. Mean total metabolizable energy (ME) intake during the experiment (inclusive of infusions) was C, 0.607; PI, 0.687; EI, 0.704; SI, 0.617, s.e.d. 0.0308 MJME (kg W)-0.75 day-1. Nitrogen retention in infected sheep was increased fourfold by protein infusion and twofold by energy infusion. The rate of energy retention was reduced by infection, increased by protein infusion but only partly by energy infusion. Protein infusion reduced mean faecal egg output and mean total parasite count. Increased endogenous plasma loss into the gastrointestinal tract was similar in all infected groups. It was concluded that a major limiting factor in efficient food utilization in animals with gastrointestinal nematode infections is a parasite-induced protein rather than energy deficiency, possibly the result of increased endogenous protein losses into the gastrointestinal tract. The debilitating effect of internal parasites could be markedly reduced by increasing duodenal protein supply.
A swelling power test for selecting potential noodle quality wheats
Authors: McCormick KM , Panozzo JF , Hong SH
Published: November 2004

A swelling power test was developed for selecting wheats suitable for the manufacture of Japanese white noodles. The test is rapid, uses less than 0.4 g of sample and is applicable to starch, flour, wholemeal or Quadrumat Junior flour samples. Swelling power values correlated significantly (P < 0.01) with peak paste viscosity monitored on the Rapid Visco Analyser and with noodle eating quality. Paste viscosity of flour or starch is considered an important characteristic governing noodle quality. The swelling power test provides a suitable predictive method for identifying noodle quality wheats in the early stages of a breeding programme.
Acidification of soil associated with lupins grown in a crop rotation in north-eastern Victoria
Authors: Coventry DR , Slattery WJ
Published: November 2004

Soil pH decline and net acidification inputs were determined for a long-term crop rotation experiment at Rutherglen in north-eastern Victoria. The rotations utilized were continuous wheat (WW), a 1 : 1 wheat-lupin sequence (WL) and continuous lupins (LL), and each rotation was cropped from 1975-1989. The soil at the site had an initial pH (0.01 mol/LCaCl2) of 6.0 (0-10 cm depth), sandy loam texture, and had a past use of grape vines and then lucerne pasture. The soil pH (0-10 cm) declined for each rotation with time (1977/78-1988/89), decreasing by about 0.8 units for WW and further decreasing with the inclusion of lupin in the rotation. Compared with the WW soil, the WL soil pH was 0.7 and 0.4 units lower at 5-10 cm and 10-15 cm depth and the LL soil pH was 1.0 and 0.8 units lower at 5-10 and 10-15 cm depth. There was no difference in pH between WW and WL below 20 cm depth, but the LL soil had a significantly lower pH to 40 cm depth. Acidification rates were calculated for the period of cropping and for the 3 rotations, with rates of 3.22, 4.11 and 5.26 kmols H+/ha.yr as net acid input for WW, WL and LL rotations. These values represent a rapid rate of soil acidification. The removal of alkalinity in grain accounted for between 15-21% of the overall calculated acidification rate for the 3 rotations. Therefore, it is likely in this cropping system that the acidification largely results from progressive nitrate leaching.
Water deficits change dry matter partitioning and seed yield in narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L.)
Authors: French RJ , Turner NC
Published: November 2004

lrrigation treatments were imposed in the field on an indeterminate cultivar of narrow-leafed lupins (Lupinus angustifolius L., cv. Danja) and on a breeding line with reduced branching (75A/329) so that they experienced no water-deficits (frequently irrigated), a transient mild water-deficit or a transient severe water-deficit during early reproductive growth, or continuous severe water-deficit during reproductive growth (unirrigated). Both leaf water potential and leaf conductance declined in all treatments in which a water-deficit was imposed. Differences in leaf conductance were apparent before differences in leaf water potential: conductance declined to 40% and 30% of the frequently irrigated controls in the transient mild and severe water-deficit treatments, respectively. Leaf water potential declined to -1 - 1 MPa and -1.6 MPa, respectively, in the transient mild and severe water-deficit treatments, compared to between -0 - 65 and -0 - 95 MPa for the frequently irrigated controls. Seed yield and total dry weight were reduced in the transient severe water-deficit and unirrigated treatments, but were no different from the frequently irrigated treatment when the water-deficit was transient and mild. However both transient water-deficit treatments produced more main-stem seed yield than the frequently irrigated treatment, especially in the reduced-branching line 75A/329. The transient mild water-deficit treatment also produced more first-order apical axis yield than the frequently irrigated treatment. These yield increases were mainly due to a greater yield of seed per pod, although on the first-order apical axes there was also a tendency to set more pods. The greater seed yield per pod in the transient water-deficit treatments was due to an apparent redirection of assimilate from vegetative to reproductive growth. This was not due to a smaller reduction in reproductive growth rates than in vegetative growth rates, but to an acceleration of reproductive growth that was maintained after stress relief. The same early acceleration of reproductive growth was also observed in unirrigated treatments, but the severe stress which persisted throughout later reproductive growth reduced pod growth rates and negated the early advantage.
Effect of palatability on voluntary feed intake by sheep. I. Identification of chemicals that alter the palatability of a forage
Authors: Gherardi SG , Black JL
Published: November 2004

The effect of chemical compounds on the palatability of a wheaten hay was investigated in short-term preference tests in which sheep were offered simultaneously treated and untreated hay. The palatability of wheaten hay chopped to 17 mm lengths was increased by treating it with aqueous solutions of either butyric acid (range 1.3-10 g/kg air-dry hay) or monosodium glutamate (2.4-44 g/kg hay). Hay chopped to 17 mm lengths was chosen because its potential intake rate was sufficiently low to allow the best quantitative measure of the increase in palatability to be established. The palatability of the same hay chopped to 6 mm lengths was decreased by applying MgO powder (1.6-60 g/kg hay) to hay pretreated with a solution of (1% w/w) sodium caseinate to adhere the MgO. The palatability of 6 mm hay was also decreased by treating it with aqueous solutions of acetic acid (0.02-10 g/kg hay), aconitic acid (0.2-19 g/kg hay) or malonic acid (1-20 g/kg hay). Hay of 6 mm lengths was chosen because its potential intake rate was sufficiently high to allow the best quantitative measure of the decrease in palatability to be determined. From the dose response curves, it was possible to identify a single concentration of selected chemical compounds that was suitable for altering the palatability of hay. A combination of butyric acid (2.5 g/kg hay) and monosodium glutamate (10 g/kg hay) were identified as the most suitable for increasing the palatability of 17 mm hay, and MgO (41 g/kg hay) or acetic acid (5 g/kg hay) for decreasing the palatability of 6 mm hay. A quantitative measure of the effect of these chemicals on the change in the palatability of either 17 or 6 mm hay was obtained. The sheep demonstrated a strong preference for 17 mm hay treated with a combination of butyric acid plus monosodium glutamate and conversely, a strong aversion to 6 mm hay treated with MgO. The specific concentration of the compounds selected would be suitable for investigating the effect of a change in palatability on the voluntary intake of wheaten hay.
Species distribution within improved pastures over central N.S.W. in relation to rainfall and altitude
Authors: Kemp DR , Dowling PM
Published: November 2004

Botanical composition has a large influence on pasture productivity, but little information is available about the botanical composition of pastures on farms, the interactions of species or reasons for their distribution. A survey was done, during two successive springs and using a point quadrat method, of the botanical composition of improved pastures in central New South Wales and maps prepared of the proportion of species or groups of species in pastures. The survey area covered a wide range in rainfall (600-1000 mm), altitude (300-1400 m) and the boundary where perennial and annual pasture species overlap. Subterranean clover was the most common legume and occurred in all parts of the region. Above 700 mm rainfall, white clover replaced subterranean clover in a linear relationship, though the proportion of the pasture occupied by both species never exceeded 30%. Annual grasses were found throughout the survey area, and they were also replaced by perennial species at higher rainfall, higher altitude sites, in a linear relationship. The total proportion of the pasture from both perennial and annual grasses did not exceed a mean of 55%. The high proportion of annual species was attributed in part to continuous grazing practices. Perennial species were found down to 600 mm rainfall but only exceeded the proportion of annual species when the rainfall exceeded 800 mm for legumes or 900 mm for grasses or where the altitude was above 900 m (<12�C mean annual temperature) for both groups. It was concluded that among perennial or annual groups, legumes and grasses occupied slightly different niches in the pasture, and they would not always replace one another exclusively. The legume content of pastures, especially in the higher rainfall areas, was considered to be less than satisfactory for animal production. Pasture recommendations need to consider the climatic limits where species are able to make a major contribution to production as well as the climatic limits for persistence.
Discrimination of 13C among upland rices having different water use efficiencies
Authors: Dingkuhn M , Farquhar GD , De Datta SK , O'Toole JC , Datta SKde
Published: November 2004

Discrimination of stable carbon isotopes in leaves is physiologically linked to water-use efficiency. Twenty-eight contrasting rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars were grown in the Philippines as upland rice under continuous, mild water stress. In situ measurements of leaf level water-use efficiency (WUE), net photosynthesis, conductance, water potential and leaf rolling were reported previously. The present study used leaf samples from the same experiment to determine, by means of a mass spectrometer, the carbon isotope discrimination (-) and total C and N content. Among rice cultivars, - ranged from 19.8 to 21.5960, with japonica types having the lowest mean -, aus types, the greatest, and indica types, intermediate-the opposite pattern to that observed for WUE. Carbon isotope discrimination was negatively correlated with WUE across all cultivars (P < 0.001) and within japonica (P < 0 -01) and aus (P < 0.05) groups, but not among indica rices. No correlation was observed between - and any other measured variable. Varietal differences in - and WUE were not related to leaf N content or stomata1 conductance. High WUE was associated with high leaf C content (P < 0.01), with aus cultivars having the lowest mean WUE and C content among the genetic groups. We conclude that even under variable field conditions, analysis of foliar - is a potential tool to identify water-use efficient rice genotypes.
The nature of Covalently bound fatty acids in wool fibres
Authors: Negri AP , Cornell HJ , Rivett DE
Published: November 2004

The wool fibre contains a fatty acid component which can only be liberated from the fibre by treatment with alcoholic alkali solutions. The major fatty acid from this component has been isolated in quantity and purified. Using GC/MS and NMR, the fatty acid was identified as 18-methyleicosanoic acid. The results obtained from transesterification experiments suggest that the fatty acid is covalently bound to the fibre protein by an ester linkage.
Perturbation of wool fibre cell differentiation by a mixture of bromodeoxyuridine and fluorodeoxyuridine
Authors: Adelson DL , Munro SG , Tunks DA
Published: November 2004

As part of investigations into the pattern of cell division and differentiation in the wool follicle bulb, the thymidine analogue 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine was used to label cells in S phase. A mixture of 5-bromo-2deoxyuridine and 5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine was injected into sheep held at a constant plane of nutrition. fibre length growth rates were measured by injecting the animals with either 35S-labelled methionine or cysteine, followed by autoradiography of individual fibres. Fibres from 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine/5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine treated animals exhibited both abnormal cuticle scale patterns and disorganized ortho- and paracortex as determined by staining with methylene blue. Orthocortex differentiation in wool follicle bulb keratogenous zones was visualized using a monoclonal antibody specific for orthocortical cells (HiT 96). We determined that the normal pattern of orthocortical cell differentiation was reversibly inhibited by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine/5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine treatment. Fibre length growth rate was reversibly decreased very slightly as a result of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine/5-fluoro- 2'-deoxyuridine administration. We conclude that 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine/5-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine can grossly perturb aspects of wool follicle bulb cell differentiation without profoundly affecting fibre length growth rate. Although 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine/5-fluoro-2~-deoxyuridine labelling is an inexpensive, nonradioactive method of visualizing S phase nuclei, the possibility of artefacts resulting from such treatment should be borne in mind.
Measurement of the magnesium concentration in perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy
Authors: Smith KF , Willis SE , Flinn PC
Published: November 2004

Near infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIR) was used to develop calibration equations to measure the magnesium concentration in perennial ryegrass herbage (Lolium perenne). A subset of 72 samples was selected on the basis of spectral variation from 400 samples grown in 1988-1989. Three alternative equations were chosen using stepwise multiple linear regression, with standard errors ranging from 0.4 to 0.3 g/kg DM with corresponding squared multiple correlation coefficients ( R2) of 0.68 to 0.82. The equations had 2, 4 and 4 wavelength terms respectively. When these equations were tested on an independent population of perennial ryegrass samples, a significant bias existed when using the 4 term equations but there was no bias when the 2 term equation was used. We conclude that NIR can be used to screen large numbers of perennial ryegrass plants for magnesium concentration. However, for the calibration equations to be used for the analysis of other populations equation performance must be monitored by comparing reference and NIR analyses on a small number of samples.
Annual Medicago species in Morocco. II. Distribution in relation to soil and climate
Authors: Bounejmate M , Robson AD , Beale PE
Published: November 2004

An ecogeographic survey was conducted in six key agricultural zones in Morocco to study the relationship between the natural distribution of medic species and soil and climatic measurements. At each of the 161 sites visited, the presence of medic species was recorded, and soil samples collected. Climatic data were obtained from published records. The influence of soil factors on the presence of medic species was more important than that of climate. With the exception of M. truncatula and M. minima, there were significant soil differences between sites where a species was present and sites where it was absent. Only 5 of the 11 medic species recorded were affected by one or more of the three climatic factors considered. Medics were found most frequently on sites where minimum temperature range was 3-7�C, pH 6.6-7.5, and with the exception of M. littoralis and M. laciniata, maximum temperature 30-35�C and rainfall 300-600 mm. M. truncatula was widespread and tolerant of a wide range of edapho-climatic conditions. It was concluded that this well studied species should be given higher priority in future evaluation programs.
Molecular and Crystal Structure of a Bisanthracene-9,10-diyl Macrocyclic Coronand AAO5O5 and of its Bis-1,4-endoperoxide, a Bistetraoxapaddlane
Authors: Marsau Pierre , Guinand Gérard , Hinschberger Jean , Desvergne Jean-Pierre , Bouas-Laurent Henri
Published: November 2004

AAO5O5 3, a bisanthracene macrocyclic cyclophane, is known to be an excimer-type fluorosensor for sodium cations and to encapsulate electron-deficient species such as paraquat. Its bis-1,4-endoperoxide 4 is a tetraoxapaddlane. The molecular and crystal structures of 3 and 4 are described.
NO3• Induced Self-Terminating Radical Oxygenations: Diastereoselective Synthesis of Anellated Pyrrolidines
Authors: Stademann Arne , Wille Uta
Published: November 2004

Anellated pyrrolidines 19–22 were obtained through a diastereoselective self-terminating, oxidative radical cyclization cascade by treating the cis-cyclopentyl substituted alkynyl amines 14–18 with photochemically generated nitrate radicals, NO3●. A fast and modular access to the starting materials 14–18 was developed, which readily enables variation of the substitution pattern at the pyrrolidine ring formed upon radical cyclization. The diastereoselectivity of this reaction sequence was found to be strongly influenced by the nature of the substituents at the nitrogen atom. This shows that a complex interplay of both steric and stereoelectronic effects orchestrates the stereoselectivity of 5-exo radical cyclizations of highly substituted radicals.
Synthesis of Methyl 2-Acetamido-2-deoxy-1-seleno-β-D-gluco- and galacto-pyranoside: Selenium Metabolites in Human Urine
Authors: Traar Pedro , Belaj Ferdinand , Francesconi Kevin A.
Published: November 2004

An efficient synthesis of two methyl 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-1-seleno-β-d-hexopyranosides is reported. The synthesized compounds, which have recently been identified in human urine, will be used in further studies on the metabolism and toxicology of selenium.
A gene encoding a putative FAD-dependent
l
-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase is mutated in
l
-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria
Authors: Rzem Rim , Veiga-da-Cunha Maria , Noël Gaëtane , Goffette Sophie , Nassogne Marie-Cécile , Tabarki Brahim , Schöller Christina , Marquardt Thorsten , Vikkula Miikka , Van Schaftingen Emile
Published: November 2004

The purpose of this study was to identify the biochemical and genetic defect in
l
-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria, a neurometabolic disorder characterized by the presence of elevated concentrations of
l
-2-hydroxyglutaric acid in urine, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid. Evidence is provided for the existence in rat tissues of a FAD-dependent enzyme catalyzing specifically the oxidation of
l
-2-hydroxyglutarate to α-ketoglutarate. This enzyme is mainly expressed in liver and kidney but also at lower levels in heart, brain, and other tissues. Subcellular fractionation indicates that the liver enzyme is present in mitochondria, where it is bound to membranes. Based on this information, a database search led to the identification of a gene encoding a human hypothetical protein homologous to bacterial FAD-dependent malate dehydrogenases and targeted to mitochondria. The gene encoding this protein, present on chromosome 14q22.1, was found to be in a region homozygous in patients with
l
-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria from two consanguineous families. Three mutations that replaced a highly conserved residue (Lys-71-Glu and Glu-176-Asp) or removed exon 9 were identified in homozygous state in patients from three distinct families and were found to cosegregate with the disease. It is concluded that
l
-2-hydroxyglutarate is normally metabolized to α-ketoglutarate in mammalian tissues and that
l
-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria is caused by mutations in the gene that most likely encodes
l
-2-hydroxyglutarate dehydrogenase. The pathological findings observed in this metabolic disorder must therefore be due to a toxic effect of
l
-2-hydroxyglutarate on the central nervous system.
Harnessing phytochrome's glowing potential
Authors: Fischer Amanda J. , Lagarias J. Clark
Published: November 2004

Directed evolution of a cyanobacterial phytochrome was undertaken to elucidate the structural basis of its light sensory activity by remodeling the chemical environment of its linear tetrapyrrole prosthetic group. In addition to identifying a small region of the apoprotein critical for maintaining phytochrome's native spectroscopic properties, our studies revealed a tyrosine-to-histidine mutation that transformed phytochrome into an intensely red fluorescent biliprotein. This tyrosine is conserved in all members of the phytochrome superfamily, implicating direct participation in the primary photoprocess of phytochromes. Fluorescent phytochrome mutants also hold great promise to expand the present repertoire of genetically encoded fluorescent proteins into the near infrared.
Actin-depolymerizing Factor and Cofilin-1 Play Overlapping Roles in Promoting Rapid F-Actin Depolymerization in Mammalian Nonmuscle Cells
Authors: Hotulainen Pirta , Paunola Eija , Vartiainen Maria K. , Lappalainen Pekka
Published: November 2004

Actin-depolymerizing factor (ADF)/cofilins are small actin-binding proteins found in all eukaryotes. In vitro, ADF/cofilins promote actin dynamics by depolymerizing and severing actin filaments. However, whether ADF/cofilins contribute to actin dynamics in cells by disassembling “old” actin filaments or by promoting actin filament assembly through their severing activity is a matter of controversy. Analysis of mammalian ADF/cofilins is further complicated by the presence of multiple isoforms, which may contribute to actin dynamics by different mechanisms. We show that two isoforms, ADF and cofilin-1, are expressed in mouse NIH 3T3, B16F1, and Neuro 2A cells. Depleting cofilin-1 and/or ADF by siRNA leads to an accumulation of F-actin and to an increase in cell size. Cofilin-1 and ADF seem to play overlapping roles in cells, because the knockdown phenotype of either protein could be rescued by overexpression of the other one. Cofilin-1 and ADF knockdown cells also had defects in cell motility and cytokinesis, and these defects were most pronounced when both ADF and cofilin-1 were depleted. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis and studies with an actin monomer-sequestering drug, latrunculin-A, demonstrated that these phenotypes arose from diminished actin filament depolymerization rates. These data suggest that mammalian ADF and cofilin-1 promote cytoskeletal dynamics by depolymerizing actin filaments and that this activity is critical for several processes such as cytokinesis and cell motility.
Fractionation of the Epithelial Apical Junctional Complex: Reassessment of Protein Distributions in Different Substructures
Authors: Vogelmann Roger , Nelson W. James
Published: November 2004

The epithelial apical junctional complex (AJC) is an important regulator of cell structure and function. The AJC is compartmentalized into substructures comprising the tight and adherens junctions, and other membrane complexes containing the membrane proteins nectin, junctional adhesion molecule, and crumbs. In addition, many peripheral membrane proteins localize to the AJC. Studies of isolated proteins indicate a complex map of potential binding partners in which there is extensive overlap in the interactions between proteins in different AJC substructures. As an alternative to a direct search for specific protein-protein interactions, we sought to separate membrane substructures of the AJC in iodixanol density gradients and define their protein constituents. Results show that the AJC can be fractured into membrane substructures that contain specific membrane and peripheral membrane proteins. The composition of each substructure reveals a more limited overlap in common proteins than predicted from the inventory of potential interactions; some of the overlapping proteins may be involved in stepwise recruitment and assembly of AJC substructures.
Monetary union and the Maastricht inflation criterion: The accession countries*
Authors: Ozkan F. Gulcin , Sibert Anne , Sutherland Alan
Published: November 2004

We model an accession country facing a Maastricht‐type inflation criterion that specifies an inflation ceiling. In addition to deciding whether or not to satisfy this criterion, the country must decide how much costly economic reform to undertake. If the country puts enough weight on the future that it can credibly meet the inflation criterion no matter what the ceiling is, then the inflation criterion benefits the country but lowers reform. If the country puts less weight on the future, then a criterion with a properly chosen inflation ceiling can increase reform. We derive the inflation ceilings that maximize the country's welfare and its reform.
The optimality and overuse of labour in Estonian manufacturing enterprises*
Authors: Masso Jaan , Heshmati Almas
Published: November 2004

Transition economies need labour market flexibility for successful restructuring and reallocation of the labour force, and for coping with the requirements of the European Monetary Union. In this paper we apply a novel approach to the issue of labour market flexibility in transition countries by studying the optimality and efficiency of labour usage in Estonian manufacturing enterprises. We employ a dynamic model in which both the long‐run optimal level of employment and the speed at which actual employment is adjusted to the optimal are modelled as functions of several variables. Firm‐level panel data of 1995–99 were used. The results showed that in the long run, employment responds most strongly to wages, followed by value added and capital stock. The speed of adjustment, labour use optimality and efficiency all show much greater variations over firms than over time. In the course of time, both labour‐saving technical change and an increase in the efficiency of labour usage occur. On average, there is shortage of labour compared to firms’ own optimal level, along with overuse of labour compared to best‐practice technology. Capital seems to be a binding constraint on the development of employment in the Estonian labour market.
Postoperative complications after CS spray exposure
Authors: Davey A. , Moppett I. K.
Published: November 2004

We report on airway complications associated with general anaesthesia in a subject who had been exposed to CS spray several hours before surgery. CS spray is a form of tear gas that is said to have a short half‐life when the subject is removed from exposure. Induction of anaesthesia was uneventful. Marked laryngospasm occurred when the tracheal tube was removed at the end of the operation, and the anaesthetists experienced lacrimation and burning sensations typical of CS exposure. The effects on the attending anaesthetist made tracheal re‐intubation difficult. There were no long‐term adverse sequelae for the patient or anaesthetists. Suggestions are made for changes to anaesthetic practice and the advice given by the police about patients who have been exposed to CS spray.
Tracheal intubation using the Bonfils intubation fibrescope after failed direct laryngoscopy*
Authors: Bein B. , Yan M. , Tonner P. H. , Scholz J. , Steinfath M. , Dörges V.
Published: November 2004

Failed tracheal intubation due to a difficult airway is an important cause of anaesthetic morbidity and mortality. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of the Bonfils intubation fibrescope for tracheal intubation after failed direct laryngoscopy. Twenty‐five patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled in the study after two attempts at conventional laryngoscopy by a board certified anaesthetist had failed. Intubation with the Bonfils fibrescope was successful on the first attempt in 22 patients (88%) and on the first or second attempt in 24 patients (96%); in one patient intubation was impossible. Median (IQR [range]) time to intubation using the Bonfils intubation fibrescope was 47.5 (30–80 [20–200]) s. Tracheal intubation using the Bonfils intubation fibrescope appears to be a simple and effective technique for the management of a difficult intubation.
Antigen presentation by MART‐1 adenovirus‐transduced interleukin‐10‐polarized human monocyte‐derived dendritic cells
Authors: Mehrotra Shikhar , Chhabra Arvind , Chakraborty Abolokita , Chattopadhyay Subhasis , Slowik Mark , Stevens Robert , Zengou Ryan , Mathias Clinton , Butterfield Lisa H. , Dorsky David I. , Economou James S. , Mukherji Bijay , Chakraborty Nitya G.
Published: November 2004

Dendritic cells (DC) play critical roles in generating an immune response and in inducing tolerance. Diverse microenvironmental factors can ‘polarize’ DC toward an immunogenic or non‐immunogenic phenotype. Among the various microenvironmental factors, interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) exhibits a potent immunosuppressive effect on antigen‐presenting cells (APC). Here, we show that monocyte‐derived DC generated in the presence of IL‐10 exhibit a profound down‐regulation of many genes that are associated with immune activation and show that the IL‐10‐grown DC are poor stimulators of CD8+ T cells in a strictly autologous and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I‐restricted melanoma antigen recognized by T cells (MART‐1) epitope presentation system. However, these IL‐10‐grown DC can efficiently activate the epitope‐specific CD8+ T cells when they are made to present the epitope following transduction with an adenoviral vector expressing the MART‐1 antigen. In addition, we show that the MART‐1 protein colocalizes with the MHC class I protein, equally well, in the iDC and in the DC cultured in presence of IL‐10 when both DC types are infected with the viral vector. We also show that the vector transduced DC present the MART‐127−35 epitope for a sustained period compared to the peptide pulsed DC. These data suggest that although DCs generated in the presence of IL‐10 tend to be non‐immunogenic, they are capable of processing and presenting an antigen when the antigen is synthesized within the DC.
Major histocompatibility complex class I–intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 association on the surface of target cells: implications for antigen presentation to cytotoxic T lymphocytes
Authors: Lebedeva Tatiana , Anikeeva Nadja , Kalams Spyros A. , Walker Bruce D. , Gaidarov Ibragim , Keen James H. , Sykulev Yuri
Published: November 2004

Polarization and segregation of the T‐cell receptor (TCR) and integrins upon productive cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte (CTL) target cell encounters are well documented. Much less is known about the redistribution of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC‐I) and intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) proteins on target cells interacting with CTLs. Here we show that human leucocyte antigen‐A2 (HLA‐A2) MHC‐I and ICAM‐1 are physically associated and recovered from both the raft fraction and the fraction of soluble membranes of target cells. Conjugation of target cells with surrogate CTLs, i.e. polystyrene beads loaded with antibodies specific for HLA‐A2 and ICAM‐1, induced the accumulation of membrane rafts, and beads loaded with ICAM‐1‐specific antibodies caused the selective recruitment of HLA‐A2 MHC‐I at the contact area of the target cells. Disruption of raft integrity on target cells led to a release of HLA‐A2 and ICAM‐1 from the raft fraction, abatement of HLA‐A2 polarization, and diminished the ability of target cells bearing viral peptides to induce a Ca2+ flux in virus‐specific CTLs. These data suggest that productive engagement of ICAM‐1 on target cells facilitates the polarization of MHC‐I at the CTL–target cell interface, augmenting presentation of cognate peptide–MHC (pMHC) complexes to CTLs. We propose that ICAM‐1–MHC‐I association on the cell membrane is a mechanism that enhances the linkage between antigen recognition and early immunological synapse formation.
Epitope‐specific crosslinking of CD45 down‐regulates membrane‐associated tyrosine phosphatase activity and triggers early signalling events in human activated T cells
Authors: Spertini François , Perret‐Menoud Veronique , Barbier Nathalie , Chatila Talal , Barbey Catherine , Corthesy Blaise
Published: November 2004

CD45 engagement by monoclonal antibodies on human activated T cells triggers tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) gene transcription in an epitope‐specific manner. To dissect the early signalling events leading to TNF‐α gene expression, we established that CD45 crosslinking resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of p56lck, ZAP‐70, CD3‐ζ, LAT and Vav. This was accompanied by down‐regulation of membrane‐associated protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in the absence of demonstration of enhanced p56lck, p72syk and ZAP‐70 kinase activity, which remained constitutive. These early events eventually triggered an intracellular Ca2+ rise and phosphoinositide turnover. We conclude that down‐regulation of membrane‐associated tyrosine phosphatase activity by CD45 extracytoplasmic domain multimerization led, in an epitope‐specific fashion, to unopposed tyrosine kinase activity and to the activation of the T‐cell receptor/CD3 complex signalling cascade, resulting in TNF‐α gene expression. This model strongly suggests that CD45 extracytoplasmic tail multimerization may contribute to the modulation T‐cell functions.
In vivo exposure of murine dendritic cell and macrophage bone marrow progenitors to the phosphorylcholine‐containing filarial nematode glycoprotein ES‐62 polarizes their differentiation to an anti‐inflammatory phenotype
Authors: Goodridge Helen S. , Marshall Fraser A. , Wilson Emma H. , Houston Katrina M. , Liew Foo Y. , Harnett Margaret M. , Harnett William
Published: November 2004

We have previously shown in an in vitro study that the filarial nematode phosphorylcholine (PC)‐containing glycoprotein ES‐62 promotes a murine dendritic cell (DC) phenotype that induces T helper type 2 (Th2) responses. We now show that, in addition to directly priming Th2 responses, ES‐62 can act to dampen down the pro‐inflammatory DC responses elicited by lipopolysaccharide. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that murine DCs and macrophages derived ex vivo from bone marrow cells exposed in vivo to ES‐62 by release from osmotic pumps are hyporesponsive to subsequent stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. These effects can be largely mimicked by exposure to the PC moiety of ES‐62 conjugated to an irrelevant protein. The data we provide are, as far as we aware, the first to show that a defined pathogen product can modulate the developmental pathway of bone marrow cells of the immune system in vivo. Such a finding could have important implications for the use of pathogen products or their derivatives for immunotherapy.