bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Report on the Tenth International Platelet Genotyping and Serology Workshop on behalf of the International Society of Blood Transfusion
Authors: Panzer S.
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives

The aims of the 10th International Platelet Serology and Genotyping Workshop were to evaluate the proficiency of platelet immunology determinations.

Materials and Methods

There were 40 participants from 25 countries of four continents. Thirty‐eight institutions reported results for genotyping, and 38 institutions reported their serological results. For genotyping, EDTA‐anticoagulated whole‐blood samples were provided (to allow the inclusion of DNA‐separation methodology in the analysis) as well as separated DNA of a and b alleles for human platelet antigen (HPA)‐1 to ‐6. For serological evaluations, sera contained allo‐ and autoantibodies, and for sensitivity testing a standard freeze‐dried sample of HPA‐5 antibody.

Results

All participants reported HPA‐1, ‐2, ‐3 and ‐5 genotyping results; HPA‐4 was determined in 29 laboratories and HPA‐6 in 21. Results from 16 laboratories were concordant with the majority vote for all allotypes, eight institutions reported one deviation, five laboratories two, and nine laboratories three or more deviations. Twelve institutions had no deviation from the majority vote for HPA antibodies, nine had one, three had two, and 14 had three or more deviations. Most laboratories reported a reactivity of the standard anti‐HPA‐5b sample with HPA‐5b platelets at a dilution of 1 : 4–1 : 8. Four laboratories detected anti‐Gova in one sample. Seventeen laboratories reported no deviation from the majority vote for pan‐reactive platelet antibodies, 12 had one deviation, two had two, and seven had three or more deviations. In addition, seven participants reported antibodies against glycoprotein IV (GPIV), three against glycoprotein V (GPV) and three against CD109. These results were discussed at a meeting organized jointly with the International Society of Blood Transfusion (ISBT) 2000 Congress.

Conclusion

The results for pan‐reactive antibodies were heterogeneous with most discrepancies from the majority vote. The provision of sufficient samples for many participants is difficult. Based on the results and discussion it is clear that frequent workshops are needed in the future. Therefore, workshops shall be organized regionally, and each region shall participate with one institution in international workshops. The latter are needed to assure international exchange of experience and quality.
Solvent/detergent treatment does not alter the tolerance or uptake of human normal immunoglobulin for intramuscular injection
Authors: Mould G. P. , Sutton J. A. , Matejtschuk P. , Gascoigne E. W. , Dash C. H.
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives

The tolerability and pharmacokinetics of a solvent/detergent‐treated intramuscular immunoglobulin were compared with those of the standard product.

Materials and Methods

Single, 750‐mg intramuscular (i.m.) injections were administered to a total of 36 healthy individuals: 23 in a double‐blind trial and 13 in an open trial. Changes in specific serum hepatitis A and hepatitis B antibodies were monitored for a period of up to 3 months postinjection.

Results

No serious adverse reactions were reported, and the bioavailability of the solvent/detergent‐treated preparation was equivalent to that of the standard i.m. immunoglobulin.

Conclusion

There is no evidence that solvent/detergent treatment alters the pharmacokinetics or tolerance of human normal immunoglobulin, but it offers additional assurance against potential virus transmission.
Concentrates containing factor IX could improve haemostasis under conditions of thrombocytopenia: studies in an in vitro model
Authors: Galán A. M. , Reverter J. C. , Pino M. , Viñas M. , Bozzo J. , Hernández M. R. , Aznar‐Salatti J. , Ordinas A. , Escolar G.
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives We explored the effect on haemostasis of different factor IX (FIX) concentrates under thrombocytopenic conditions using an in vitro perfusion technique.

Materials and Methods A moderate experimental thrombocytopenia (25 000–30 000 platelets/µl) was induced by means of a filtration procedure in blood anticoagulated with low‐molecular‐weight heparin. The effects of three different FIX concentrates – a prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC), an intermediate‐purity concentrate (FIX/X), and a high‐purity concentrate (HPFIX) – on platelet deposition and fibrin formation on subendothelium were assessed at two different shear rates (600/second and 1200/second). Activation of the coagulation system was monitored through assessment of prothrombin activation fragment 1 + 2 (F1 + 2).

Results Fibrin deposition increased after addition of FIX concentrates, but only showed a significant increase in experiments performed after incubation of PCC at the lower shear rate (600/second) (64·25 ± 9·61% vs. control 31·22 ± 8·02%; P < 0·05). Addition of FIX concentrates caused a small increase in the percentage of platelet deposition and area of those aggregates. These differences reached levels of statistical significance in the presence of FIX/X and HPFIX in experiments performed at a shear rate of 600/second. F1 + 2 baseline values in anticoagulated thrombocytopenic blood were 1·15 ± 0·13 nm and reached levels of 2·49 ± 0·24 and 3·60 ± 0·33 nm at shear rates of 600 and 1200/second, respectively. Increments in F1 + 2 observed after addition of different FIX concentrates always remained in the previous ranges.

Conclusions Data from the present study provide experimental support favouring the concept that FIX concentrates containing other activated factors could improve haemostasis under conditions of moderate thrombocytopenia.
Influence of prestorage leucocyte depletion and storage time on rheologic properties of erythrocyte concentrates
Authors: Sollberger T. , Walter R. , Brand B. , Contesse J. , Meredith D. O. , Reinhart W. H.
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives Rheological blood properties were studied during storage.

Materials and Methods Blood viscosity, erythrocyte morphology and ATP levels were determined in filtered samples (Leukotrap WB filter system) and their unfiltered counterparts during storage with saline‐adenine‐glucose‐mannitol (SAG‐M) for 42 days.

Results Prestorage leucocyte depletion decreased blood viscosity at a high shear rate and reduced the degree of anisocytosis of erythrocytes. During storage, erythrocytes underwent a time‐dependent echinocytic shape transformation, which increased the suspension viscosity at high and low shear rates. On day 42, high shear viscosity in filtered units remained lower than in unfiltered counterparts, the mean cellular volume and red blood cell distribution width (RDW) were lower and erythrocytic ATP levels were higher.

Conclusions Prestorage leucocyte depletion by Leukotrap WB filters improves biophysical properties of erythrocyte concentrates throughout storage, which is, however, outweighed by a time‐dependent echinocytic shape transformation and deterioration of these properties.
Molecular genetic analysis of para‐Bombay phenotypes in Chinese: a novel non‐functional FUT1 allele is identified
Authors: Yip S. P. , Chee K. Y. , Chan P. Y. , Chow E. Y. D. , Wong H. F.
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives The para‐Bombay phenotype (also known as H‐deficient secretor) is characterized by a lack of ABH antigens on red cells, but ABH substances are found in saliva. Molecular genetic analysis was performed for five Chinese individuals serologically typed as para‐Bombay.

Materials and Methods ABO genotyping and mutational analysis of both FUT1 (or H) and FUT2 (or Se) loci were performed for these individuals using the polymerase chain reaction, single‐strand conformation polymorphism analysis and direct DNA sequencing.

Results The ABO genotypes of these para‐Bombay individuals correlated with the types of ABH substances found in the saliva. Their FUT1 genotypes were h1h2 (three individuals), h2h2 (one individual) and h2h6 (one individual). Alleles h1 (547–552delAG) and h2 (880–882delTT) were known frameshift mutations, while h6 (522C > A) was a missense mutation (Phe174Leu) not previously reported. These three mutations were rare sequence variations, each with an allele frequency of less than 0·005. Phe174 might be functionally important because this residue is conserved from mouse to human. Their FUT2 genotypes were Se357se357,385 for the h2h6 individual and Se357Se357 for the others. Both FUT2 alleles were known: one functional (Se357) and one weakly functional (se357,385). That they carried at least one copy of a functional FUT2 allele was consistent with their secretor status. As FUT1 and FUT2 are adjacent on 19q13·3, there are three possible haplotypes in these para‐Bombay individuals: h1‐Se357; h2‐Se357; and h6‐se357,385.

Conclusions A novel non‐functional FUT1 allele (522C > A, or Phe174Leu) was identified in a para‐Bombay individual and on a se357,385 haplotype background.
Molecular genetic analysis of the Am phenotype of the ABO blood group system
Authors: Asamura H. , Ota M. , Takayanagi K. , Saito S. , Tsukada K. , Fukushima H.
Published: March 2003

Background and Objectives Many sequences of variants in the ABO blood group system have been analysed, but genetic information is not available on the rare Am phenotype blood group. We isolated the Am phenotype in one family and performed molecular analysis on this allele.

Materials and Methods Exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene were analysed using genomic DNAs from members of one family containing Am phenotype individuals via polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) and DNA sequencing.

Results In the Am allele, two single base substitutions were detected compared with the A101 allele. Both were C → T mutations at nucleotide positions 467 and 761. PCR–RFLP using the AccI restriction enzyme was performed to detect the Am allele in 214 samples that had already been determined as type A or O by serological tests, but no sample was found to contain an Am allele.

Conclusions In this study a new allele with a single‐base substitution at nucleotide position 761 was identified in the Am phenotype. We designated this new allele as A112 (according to the guidelines for human gene nomenclature) and determined that PCR–RFLP analysis using the AccI restriction enzyme will be useful for detecting this allele.
Craniofacial skeletal deviations following in utero exposure to the anticonvulsant phenytoin: monotherapy and polytherapy
Authors: Orup HI , Holmes LB , Keith DA , Coull BA
Published: March 2003

Structured Abstract

Authors
– Orup Jr HI, Holmes LB, Keith DA, Coull BA.

Objective
– To identify and quantify the craniofacial effects from prenatal exposure to phenytoin monotherapy and polytherapy using cephalometric, hand‐wrist, and panoramic radiographs and to determine if such deviations persist with age.

Design
– Craniofacial structures of 28 anticonvulsant‐exposed individuals were evaluated using 20 landmarks in lateral cephalometric radiographs and 19 landmarks in frontal cephalometric radiographs. Skeletal maturity was assessed using hand‐wrist radiographs. Dental maturity and the presence of dental anomalies were evaluated using panoramic radiographs. Eleven individuals were re‐evaluated 7 years later, on average, to determine the persistence of any measured deviations.

Setting and Sample Population
– Department of Growth and Development, Harvard School of Dental Medicine and Massachusetts General Hospital. Patients were recruited from several sources.

Outcome Measure
– The evaluated dimensions included linear, angular, and proportional measures.

Results
– The most common deviations were decreased height and length of the maxilla, decreased length of the posterior cranial base, length of the mandible, cranial width and level of the cribriform plate, and a decrease in the Wits Appraisal assessment. The deviations were more significant in the polytherapy‐exposed individuals than in the monotherapy‐exposed individuals. These deviations, especially in the maxilla, persisted with age as revealed in a re‐evaluation of 11 individuals.

Conclusion

– The craniofacial skeletal findings among individuals exposed in utero to phenytoin monotherapy or phenytoin polytherapy, when considered in aggregate, suggest a mild pattern of maxillary hypoplasia that becomes more pronounced with age.
A stochastic evaluation of the decision to specialize in orthodontics
Authors: Straja SR , Klatte KJ , Montgomery GL , Tuncay OC
Published: March 2003

Structured Abstract

Authors – Straja SR, Klatte KJ, Montgomery GL, Tuncay OC

Objective – The objective of this paper is to identify under different scenarios, and from a financial point of view, the conditions required to successfully switch from the general dentistry practice to orthodontics.

Study Design – A mail survey was used to collect the data from the practicing orthodontists. They estimated the income, at certain points, in the working life of an orthodontist. The general practitioner data were taken from the American Dental Association figures. Subsequently, a stochastic model was constructed.

Results and Conclusion – Those who decide to buy an existing practice expect higher profits in the near future, and therefore the required minimum number of remaining years of practice is lower than for those deciding to start a new practice. For both scenarios, the 3‐year residency will delay the profits compared with a 2‐year residency. Thus, an increased number of remaining years of practice is required. There must be more than 10 working years left in the practitioner's life to make the switch profitable.
The Influence of Fertilizer‐based Seed Priming Treatments on Emergence and Seedling Growth of Sorghum bicolor and Pennisetum glaucum in Pot Trials under Greenhouse Conditions
Authors: Al‐Mudaris M. A. , Jutzi S. C.
Published: March 2003

The effect of priming sorghum and pearl millet seeds with fertilizers was investigated. Two experiments were conducted on M35–1 (sorghum) and ICMH 356 (pearl millet), and ICSV 745 (sorghum) and Barmer (pearl millet) seeds, respectively. Treatments included nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium‐based treatments which showed that 7.5 g l−1 of urea substantially enhanced the final germination percentage of seeds. The second experiment included 10 priming treatments with 7.5 g l−1 urea mixed with other fertilizers. Results indicated that soaking seeds for 3 days in urea + one of several fertilizers including N, P or K‐based nutrient compositions or micro elements significantly increased germination percentage and speed but did not affect seedling growth at 15 or 60 days after sowing. It is concluded that seed priming treatments with fertilizers may serve as an appropriate treatment for advancing germination of the species studied.
Effect of Time of Harvest of Vetch (Vicia sativa L.) on Yields of Subsequent Barley in a Dry Mediterranean Environment
Authors: Jones M. J. , Arous Z.
Published: March 2003

The introduction of annual feed legumes into the intensifying systems of barley monocropping in dry‐area Mediterranean agriculture would reduce pest and disease risk and increase sustainable productivity. Potential modes of legume utilization by small ruminants — as green grazing, hay, or mature grain and straw — imply different times of harvest removal with possible consequences for the subsequent barley crop. In nine two‐year trials, barley following green‐grazed common vetch (Vicia sativa) always outyielded barley following vetch cut as hay or harvested at maturity, albeit in some years by small and non‐significant margins; mean differences in barley grain and straw yields between green‐graze and mature vetch treatments were around 20 %. The main mechanisms implicated are carryover to the barley of small amounts of soil water unused by early‐harvested vetch and enhanced nitrogen availability where active vetch root systems were killed by removal of the above‐ground crop.
Remobilization of Proline and Other Nitrogen Compounds from Senescing Leaves of Maize under Water Stress
Authors: Carceller→ M. , Prystupa P. , Lemcoff J. H.
Published: March 2003

The effects of water stress around anthesis on proline accumulation and translocation from leaves of two maize cultivars (DA 4F37 and DA XL636) were studied. Water stress increased leaf proline content only in DA 4F37, while proline in leaf exudates was detected only in DA XL636 water‐stressed plants. Proline translocation was not associated with increased nitrogen remobilization from leaves. The accumulating proline cultivar DA 4F37 showed a higher osmotic adjustment capacity than DA XL636. Leaf proline content in water‐stressed DA 4F37 plants varied with daytime. High proline concentration during the morning was found in leaves with high relative water content. This evidence would support the hypothesis that proline is involved in osmotic adjustment.
Effect of Post‐Anthesis Water Stress on Accumulation of Dry Matter, Carbon and Nitrogen and Their Partitioning in Wheat Varieties Differing in Drought Tolerance
Authors: Nagarajan S. , Rane J. , Maheswari M. , Gambhir P. N.
Published: March 2003

In four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars of tall (C306 and Narmada) and dwarf (HD2329 and Kundan) type, post‐anthesis water stress affected the dry matter accumulation in plant parts with respect to main shoot controls. HD2329 among the dwarf types and Narmada 112 among the tall types were more adversely affected by stress, with greater reductions in their biomass and grain yield. Of the tolerant types, C306 (tall) showed a marginal reduction while Kundan (dwarf) had no reduction in these parameters as a result of stress. The results also indicated a varietal response to carbon and nitrogen accumulation and their partitioning in the main shoot when subjected to post‐anthesis stress. In the susceptible dwarf cultivar HD2329, and in the susceptible tall cultivar Narmada 112, carbon and nitrogen contents were reduced in the grains of stressed main shoots. Of the tolerant cultivars, the dwarf type Kundan was not affected by stress, while the tall type C306 registered an increase in carbon content and its partitioning to grain.
Effect of Soil Moisture on Relative Leaf Water Content, Chlorophyll, Proline and Sugar Accumulation in Wheat
Authors: Sarker A. M. , Rahman M. S. , Paul N. K.
Published: March 2003

The responses of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties to soil moisture were determined by measuring plant parameters such as relative leaf water content (RLWC) and the chlorophyll, proline and sugar contents of the leaf over two seasons. Two levels of irrigation treatments were adopted: irrigated and rainfed. The rainfed plants had consistently higher amounts of proline and sugar but lower RLWC and chlorophyll content. As drought intensified, differences between the irrigated and the rainfed plants with respect to all of these characters increased. The RLWC values of the irrigated plants were significantly higher in the morning but lower values were found at noon, showing some recovery in the afternoon.
Effects of Exposure to Short Periods of Suboptimal Temperature during Chill (5 °C) on Gas Exchange and Chlorophyll Fluorescence in Maize Seedlings (Zea Mays L.)
Authors: Kościelniak J. , Biesaga‐Kościelniak J.
Published: March 2003

The effect of various periods of exposure to suboptimal temperature (‘warm breaks’– WB: 14 °C for 4 h, 1 h and 0 h – control in 24 h cycles) during chilling (5 °C) of maize seedlings on the photosynthesis, the photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and on the injuries of the cell membranes of leaves and water content in plants was compared. The measurements were conducted after 1, 3, 7 and 12 chill cycles. It was found that WB of either length distinctly diminished the chill‐induced inhibition of net photosynthesis and the decrease of photochemical efficiency of PSII. The protective effect on WB on these parameters was observed shortly after completion of chilling of the plant as well as an after‐effect. Daily warming up of the plants also reduced the leakage of electrolytes and diminished the water deficit of the chilled seedlings. The protective effect of WB on the measured parameters of the plants was greater in the chill‐sensitive genotype than in the chill‐tolerant one, especially when plants were warmed up for 4 h. The results obtained are an indication that short periods of warm weather during cold spring may diminish the injuries of the photosynthetic apparatus, as well as reduce the disturbance of water status of seedlings, contributing in this way to better condition of maize crops.
Effect of Formative Phase Drought on Different Classes of Shoots, Shoot Mortality, Cane Attributes, Yield and Quality of Four Sugarcane Cultivars
Authors: Ramesh P. , Mahadevaswamy M.
Published: March 2003

Field experiments were conducted at Coimbatore, India to study the effect of three levels of drought (severe, moderate and no drought) during the formative phase (60–150 days after planting; DAP) of sugarcane on the tillering, the conversion of shoots to millable canes, cane attributes and the quality of different classes of shoots in four sugarcane cultivars (Co 8021, Co 419, Co 8208 and Co 6304)_the different classes of shoots studied were: mother shoots (which emerged 0–30 DAP), early tillers (30–60 DAP), mid‐season tillers (60–150 DAP) and late tillers (150 DAP). The results indicated that drought during the formative phase reduced the total number of shoots and their conversion to millable canes at harvest. Drought also reduced the cane length, number of inter‐nodes and single cane weight of different classes of shootsand the subsequent total cane yield. Irrespective of drought treatments, Co 8021, a high‐tillering, thick‐stalked cultivar, gave the highest cane yield despiteits higher shoot mortality, while Co 8208, a low‐tillering, thin‐stalked cultivar, gave the lowest cane yield despite its lower shoot mortality. Thus a moderate level of shoot mortality is clearly necessary to obtain higher millable canes and subsequently higher cane yield. Mother shoots and early tillers together contributed most of the total number of millable canes (84.5 %) and of the total cane yield at harvest (86.2 %). The contribution of late tillers to the number of millable canes and cane yield was, however, negligible, especially in cultivars Co 6304 and Co 8208. There was a gradual reduction in stalk attributes such as cane length, number of internodes, single cane weight and commercial cane sugar percentage as the physiological age of shoots decreased. This study emphasizes the need for a cultivar with the optimal characteristics of early tillering (like Co 8021 and Co 6304) and maximum conversion to millable canes (like Co 8208) and provides information relevant to breeders making decisions on crossing programmes to produce improved cultivars for drought conditions.
Effect of Heat Stress on Grain Growth, Starch Synthesis and Protein Synthesis in Grains of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Varieties Differing in Grain Weight Stability
Authors: Viswanathan C. , Khanna‐Chopra Renu
Published: March 2003

The effect of heat stress on the components of grain weight was analysed in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) varieties differing in grain weight stability. The wheat varieties PBW154, Sonalika and Hindi62 were raised in the field (New Delhi, India; 77°12′ E, 28°40′ N, 228.6 m a.s.l.) at three dates of sowing: 19 November 1992 (DOS I), 14 December 1992 (DOS II) and 18 January 1993 (DOS III). The late‐sown crop (DOS III) experienced 6–8 °C warmer temperatures during grain development than the crop sown at the normal time (DOS I). The heat susceptibility index (S) revealed that grain weight was less susceptible to heat in Sonalika and PBW154 than in Hindi62. Heat stress reduced both the grain growth duration (GGD) and the grain growth rate (GGR). The grain weight reduction in PBW154 and Sonalika was mainly due to a reduction in GGR, while that of Hindi62 was due to a reduction in GGD. In vivo studies on starch and protein synthesis in excised endosperm at 15, 25 and 35 °C revealed that both processes were more thermotolerant in Hindi62 than in PBW154. The grain starch content was stable in Hindi62 while that in PBW154 was significantly reduced under heat stress. The grain nitrogen content at maturity increased in both varieties under heat stress. It was concluded that the heat susceptibility of grain weight in Hindi62 was mainly due to a reduction in GGD, although GGR, starch and protein synthesis were more thermotolerant in developing grains of Hindi62 than in those of PBW154.
The Performance of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) and its Role in Determining Yield Advantages in Mixed Stands of Pea and Oat (Avena sativa L.)
Authors: Rauber R. , Schmidtke K. , Kimpel‐Freund H.
Published: March 2003

On a brown warp soil (Fluventic Eutrochrept) near Goettingen, Germany, conventional leafed pea (Pisum sativum L. cvs Messire and Bohatyr) and semileafless types (cvs Profi, Juno and Azur) were grown in mixed stands together with oat (Avena sativa cvs Alf and Lutz) in substitutively designed experiments from 1995 to 1997. Oat was the dominant component. Crowding coefficients for oat averaged 7.4. No relationship could be detected between the crowding coefficient of oat and any yield advantage from the mixture. Crowding coefficients for pea varied substantially, between 0.1002 (Juno and Alf in 1996) and 0.2979 (Bohatyr and Alf in 1996). Crowding coefficients for semileafless pea cultivars were smaller than for conventional leafed types. The yield advantage of the mixture increased as the crowding coefficient of pea increased. The maximum yield increase for the mixture was achieved when the relative yield total (RYT)=1.17 or + 11 dt grain DM ha–1 for mixtures of the long‐strawed conventional leafed cultivars Bohatyr and Alf (in 1996). The crowding coefficients of pea were positively correlated with the level of symbiotically fixed N2 in the mixed stands. When N2 fixation with mixed cropping was about 30 kg N ha–1, RYT was unity. Increasing symbiotic N2 in the mixtures resulted in increasing yield advantages in the mixture. Short‐strawed pea cultivars seem unsuitable for mixing with oat. Plant height of pea appeared to be more important than plant leaf type. Accordingly, mixtures containing the long‐strawed semileafless pea cultivars Profi and Alf were more successful. It is concluded that increased competitiveness of the pea component in the mixture with oat entails increasing the level of symbiotic N2 fixation including resource complementarity and thus yield advantage in the mixed stands.
Phytotoxicity of Sunflower Residues against Some Summer Season Crops
Authors: Batish D. R. , Tung P. , Singh H. P. , Kohli R. K.
Published: March 2003

The growth of four summer season crops, namely Cyamopsis tetragonoloba, Sorghum vulgare, Pennisetum americanum and Zea mays, in fields with or without residues of the preceding sunflower crop was poor. Crop density, weight of seed or grain and total yield were significantly lower in sunflower fields than in the control fields (i.e. those without previous sunflower crops). Growth in terms of plant height and biomass was drastically reduced after 60 days. The effect was more pronounced in the fields where sunflower residues were allowed to decompose than in those where residues were completely removed. The soil collected from sunflower fields (both with and without residues) was found to be rich in phenolics, which in a laboratory bioassay were found to be phytotoxic. The reduced growth and yield of crops can be attributed to the release of phytotoxic phenolics from decomposing sunflower residues.
A Crop–Weather Model for Prediction of Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Yield Using an Empirical‐Statistical Technique
Authors: Kandiannan K. , Karthikeyan R. , Krishnan R. , Kailasam C. , Balasubramanian T. N.
Published: March 2003

Rice is the staple food in many countries and is grown in varied climates from per‐humid to semiarid areas. Crop–weather models were used to predict rice yield in India. However, in spite of a significant influence of solar radiation on rice yield, none of these models used solar radiation as one of the predictors. In this paper, an attempt was made to predict the first season (June–September) rice yield at Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India by including solar radiation as one of the predictors. Ten years (1987/88–1996/97) data were used for the study. Seven predictors viz., percentage of rice area during first season (X1), number of days with minimum temperature below 22 °C in August and September (X2), average daily maximum temperature for three months (July, August and September; X3), average daily minimum temperature for three months (July, August and September; X4), total of average sunshine hours in August and September (X5), and total rainfall of July, August and September (X6) total average solar radiation of August and September (X7) were selected based on earlier report. Full model and stepwise regression analysis were performed using MSTAT computer package. The full model regression without solar radiation as predictor (Model I) recorded comparatively less R2 (0.6292). Inclusion of solar radiation (Model II) enhanced the R2 value considerably (R2=0.9464). Seven variables were further subjected to stepwise regression analysis and only four predictors were retained in the final model (Model III) with an R2 value of 0.9234. The model III with minimum parameters Y=22119.5758 + 19.6898, X1 − 150.9261, X2 − 1126.7501, X4 + 0.7179 X7 can be used to predict the first season rice yield (Y) at Coimbatore, India.
Blood levels of hormones and metabolites, erythrocytes and leukocytes and respiration and pulse rate of heifers after alpage
Authors: Ruhland By K. , Gränzer W. , Groth† W. , Pirchner F.
Published: March 2003

Introduction

High‐altitude grazing, at or above the timberline in summer months continues to be important in alpine regions of Europe, where about 80% of young stock spend much of the three summer months on these pastures. Apart from direct utilization of these resources and saving of feed in the home farms, alped cattle are said to have greater longevity and better growth, i.e. they display compensatory growth. K& uuml;
nzi et al. (1988), S
uttner (1980) and R
uhland (1983) reported that heifers which spent one or two summers on alpine pastures, have, as cows in intra‐herd comparisons, about one lactation more than homegrown heifers. Compensatory growth after alpage was reported by these authors, by B
ianca (1977), W
eilenmann‐B
ossart (1988) and other authors. The effects of alpine sojourn on physiological and biochemical traits were investigated by B
ianca and E
spinosa (1975), B
ossart et al. (loc. cit.), K
rippl et al. (1961) and S
uttner (1980).

This investigation concerns the comparative effects of alpine pasture and farm feeding on subsequent physiological and biochemical traits.
Genetic mapping of the prion protien gene (PRPN) on bovine chromosome 13
Authors: Schläpfer J. , Stahlberger‐Saitbekova N. , Küffer J. , Dolf G.
Published: March 2003

The bovine prion protein gene (PRNP) potentially plays a key role in the development of bovine spongiforme encephalopathy (BSE). In species other than cattle, expression of BSE is clearly dependent on polymorphisms in this gene. PRNP has previously been assigned to the bovine chromosome 13 (BTA13). The present study is an attempt to embed PRNP into a grid of published marker maps. A genetic mapping panel consisting of 266 animals has been genotyped with 19 microsatellites and a polymerase chain reaction‐amplified polymorphism within the PRNP coding region. The linear locus order and the relative distances of these loci are presented. Our linkage map spans 111.6c
m of BTA13. The results suggest PRNP to be located telomeric of the microsatellite BMS1580 and centromeric of BM9248 with a log‐likelihood of 2. Our findings further characterize the vicinity of PRNP on BTA13.
Mate selection strategies to exploit across‐ and within‐breed dominance variation
Authors: Hayes B. J. , Miller S. P.
Published: March 2003

In multi‐breed livestock populations, dominance variance is found both between and within breeds for many economically important traits. Mate selection strategies were developed to exploit both types of dominance variation simultaneously, with the aim of maximizing genetic merit of progeny. The extended super‐breed model, in which breeds are viewed as groups of related and inbred animals within a ‘super‐breed’, was used to predict individual additive and dominance effects for use in mate selection. Performance of mate selection was assessed under a range of relative values of additive and dominance variances for one generation of breeding. Mate selection on total progeny merit, including additive effects, individual dominance effects, and value of heterosis, was the optimal breeding strategy at all values of (co)variance components, with improvements in total progeny performance of up to 12.5 % over truncation selection followed by random mating when dominance variance was large relative to total genetic variance. Improvement in progeny merit from mate selection, relative to truncation selection, followed by random mating or truncation selection, followed by mate allocation, was particularly great (up to 53 %) when there was considerable heterosis. Improvements were small if dominance variance was small relative to total genetic variance, and heterosis was low. If the target population is large, full mate selection on total progeny merit is computationally demanding, and unlikely to be practical. Alternative, less computationally demanding strategies made nearly optimal selection and mating decisions at some parameter estimates. Integrating multi‐breed genetic evaluation, using a superbreed model, with mate selection provides a powerful framework for the design of breeding programmes which exploit available sources of genetic merit.
Determination of the inheritance pattern of hyperthelia in cattle by maximum likelihood analysis 1
Authors: Brka M. , Reinsch N. , Kalm E.
Published: March 2003

A previously published data‐set with observations on supernumerary teats (hyperthelia) in dual‐purpose Simmental was reanalysed by maximum‐likelihood. The data comprised 537 unrelated animals and 614 members of 27 paternal half‐sib families with known phenotype of each sire. The frequency of hyperthelia was 58% in unrelated animals, 51% in families with unaffected sire, and 73% in families with affected sires. Six different cases of single‐gene inheritance were considered. The highest log‐likelihood was obtained for additive inheritance and for a recessive pattern with 100% penetrance for recessive homozygotes and 32% for both other genotypes. Estimates for the gene frequency of the favourable allele were 0.34 and 0.29, respectively. Simple dominance or recessiveness with full or incomplete penetrance could be excluded. The possibility of finding paternal half‐sib families with a heterozygous sire as a resource for a mapping experiment seem to be good in German Simmental.
Inheritance of melanocytic lesions and their association with the white colour phenotype in miniature swine
Authors: Müller  , Wanke  , Distl
Published: March 2003

A line of Munich Miniature Swine (MMS) Troll showing a high incidence of spontaneous benign and malignant cutaneous melanocytic lesions has been developed since 1986. The inheritance of cutaneous melanocytic lesions was studied by establishing the F1‐, F2‐ and reciprocal B1‐generations with one melanoma MMS‐Troll boar and four unaffected German Landrace sows as founders. A total of 176 animals were available, 27 in the F1‐, 111 in the F2‐, 19 in the B1‐DL‐, and 14 in the B1‐Troll‐generation. Benign melanocytic lesions were observed in 42% of F1‐, 18% of F2‐, 11% of B1‐DL‐ and 50% of B1‐Troll‐animals. Malignant melanomas developed in 3.6% of F2‐ and 7.1% of B1‐Troll‐animals, although no animal with white coat colour was affected. A mixed major gene model with arbitrary gene action explained the segregation of benign lesions sufficiently well. For melanomas a mixed major gene model required additional dominant acting suppressor loci to obtain a sufficient fit to the data. An influence of SLA haplotypes on the penetrance of melanocytic lesions was not evident. The association analysis of the white phenotypes strongly indicated that the dominant allele I at the I‐locus suppresses malignant melanocytic lesions. A possible explanation is the lack of melanocytes in the skin of dominant white pigs caused by a mutation of the KIT‐gene, which leads to a failure of melanoblast migration and development.
Application of REML procedure to estimate the genetic parameters of weekly liveweights in one‐to‐one sire and dam pedigree recorded Japanese quail
Authors: Saatci M. , Ap Dewi I. , Aksoy A. R.
Published: March 2003

Residual maximum likelihood procedure was applied to analyse data from a one‐to‐one pedigreed Japanese quail population, using an animal model to estimate the genetic parameters of weekly liveweights. Records of 1108 animals from 113 sires and 152 dams were analysed. An individual animal model was used. The heritabilities of weights for hatching (HW) with their standard errors (SE), week 1 (W1), week 2 (W2), week 3 (W3), week 4 (W4), week 5 (W5) and week 6 (W6) were 0.51 ± 0.05, 0.32 ± 0.06, 0.20 ± 0.05, 0.21 ± 0.06, 0.20 ± 0.05, 0.15 ± 0.04 and 0.14 ± 0.04, respectively. The strongest genetic correlations were found between W1 and W3 (0.98 ± 0.11). Generally, genetic correlations were higher than the phenotypic correlations. The highest phenotypic correlation (0.85) was between the W4 and W5 weights. Strong genetic correlations among the weekly weights suggest that selection for W5 or W6 weight may be based on weights recorded earlier.
The effect of thermal environment on the digestion of broilers
Authors: Hai L. , Rong D. , Zhang Z.‐Y.
Published: March 2003

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of thermal environment on the digestion of broilers. In both experiments the birds were exposed to three temperatures: 5, 21, and 32° C, and relative humidity was maintained at 60%. In experiment one, the amount of chyme in the whole digestive tract was decreased by the cold environment (5° C, 60% relative humidity) and increased by hot environment (32° C, 60% relative humidity), compared with control environment (20° C, 60% relative humidity). The expelling of digesta from the crop or small intestine was suppressed by high temperature (32° C) (p < 0.01). In experiment two, the activities of trypsin, chymotrypsin, and amylase were affected significantly by different environmental temperatures (p < 0.01). Compared to normal environment, the activities of the three kinds of enzymes in intestinal juice were decreased by the hot environment: trypsin (p < 0.01), chymotrypsin (p < 0.05), and amylase (p < 0.01), respectively. The activities of the three kinds of digestive enzyme were not influenced by the cold environment.
Cobalt requirement of beef cattle — feed intake and growth at different levels of cobalt supply
Authors: Schwarz F. J. , Kirchgessner M. , Stangl G. I.
Published: March 2003

In a study using a total of 36 German Simmental beef bulls weighing between 236 kg and about 620 kg the question of what constitutes an adequate Co supply was investigated with reference to the performance criteria growth, feed intake, energy intake, nutrient intake and carcass criteria. The bulls received a diet of corn silage ad libitum and 2.5 kg concentrate for a period of 280 days. Ten rations (R) with graduated Co supplements were fed with mean concentrations of 0.07 (R1), 0.09 (R2), 0.11 (R3), 0.15 (R4), 0.18 (R5), 0.26 (R6), 0.33 (R7), 0.42 (R8), 0.59 (R9) and 0.69 (R10) mg Co per kg dry matter (DM) intake. The Co supplement was added as CoSO47H2O. The diets with no or low Co supplementation produced either distinctly lower daily gains of 1045g (R1) and 1130g (R2) or lower daily gains of about 1260 g (R3, R4) than rations R5–R10, where daily gains averaged 1340 g. The mean daily feed intake per animal was also significantly or marginally affected with values of 6.0 kg DM (R1) rising to 7.7 kg DM (R2–R4) versus 7.9 kg DM on average (R5–R10). Calculations using the broken line model and the quadratic model show that the optimal Co supply for maximum growth is 0.12 mg/kg dietary DM and for maximum feed intake, 0.16–0.18 mg Co/kg dietary DM. After taking further biochemical criteria into account (Stangl et al. 2000), a level of 0.20 mg/kg dietary DM is recommended as an adequate Co supply for growing cattle.
In vitro adhesion of lactic acid bacteria to canine small intestinal mucus
Authors: Rinkinen M. , Mättö J. , Salminen S. , Westermarck E. , Ouwehand A. C.
Published: March 2003

Selected probiotic lactic acid bacteria have several documented health effects. For many of these health effects, adhesion to the intestinal mucosa is of primary importance. In the current study, the adhesive ability to canine small intestinal mucus of four lactic acid bacteria intended for human use, two for animal use and two strains isolated from dogs was assessed. The strains for human use were specifically chosen because they have documented health effects and have been proven to be safe. One strain for human use, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (ATCC 53103), was found to adhere significantly better than all other strains. Pretreatment of the strains with canine jejunal chyme, to simulate digestion, dramatically reduced the adhesion of all strains tested. However, three of the strains intended for human use were still adhering better than the strains from animal origin. The results show that probiotic strains from human origin and intended for human use also adhere to canine intestinal mucus. This warrants further investigation of these strains for use in dogs.
Effects of dietary protein restriction and amino acids deficiency on protein metabolism in dogs
Authors: Humbert B. , Bleis P. , Martin L. , Dumon H. , Darmaun D. , Nguyen P.
Published: March 2003

Although stable isotope methods have been used to revisit the protein and amino acid requirements of humans in the last two decades, estimates of the minimum protein requirement of the dog have mainly been based on nitrogen balance studies. The aim of this study was: (i) to assess dog protein metabolism using the 13C‐leucine method, and (ii) to test the effects of protein deprivation and amino acid deficiency on protein metabolism. Eight dogs were fed three consecutive diets: (i) a normoprotein regimen [control; 63 g crude protein (CP)/Mcal metabolizable energy (ME)]; (ii) a protein‐restricted diet (PR; 32 g CP/Mcal ME); and (iii) a protein‐restricted diet that was, in addition, deficient in lysine and tryptophan (D‐PR; 31 g CP/Mcal ME). The energy supply was similar for the three diets. The dogs were adapted to each diet for 2 weeks. After a 24 h fasting period, a 3 h infusion of 13C‐bicarbonate was performed, followed by a 3 h continuous infusion of L‐[1‐13C]leucine. Blood and breath samples were collected before and during the last hour of each isotope infusion for determination of plasma 13C‐α‐ketoisocaproate and breath 13CO2 enrichments by mass spectrometry. Rates of protein breakdown, oxidation, and synthesis were calculated from leucine appearance into plasma, oxidation, and non‐ oxidative disposal, respectively, and expressed in g N/kg body weight (BW)0.75 per day, assuming body protein contains 0.08 g leucine per g protein. Protein breakdown was 3.71 ± 0.17, 3.29 ± 0.16 and 2.73 ± 0.18 (mean ± SEM) for control, PR, and D‐PR, respectively (p < 0.01 D‐PR versus control, and p < 0.05 D‐PR versus PR). Protein synthesis was 3.08 ± 0.13, 2.77 ± 0.13, and 2.15 ± 0.18 for control, PR and D‐PR, respectively (p < 0.001 D‐PR versus control, and p < 0.05 D‐PR versus PR). Protein oxidation was 0.63 ± 0.05, 0.53 ± 0.05 and 0.58 ± 0.05 for control, PR and D‐PR, respectively (p=NS). These data suggest that: (i) the 13C‐leucine method can be used to assess large variations of protein turnover in dogs; (ii) dogs have the capacity to adapt their protein turnover to the level and to the quality of their protein supplies; and (iii) the dog nitrogen requirement for maintenance may be between 0.41 and 0.55 g N/kg BW0.75 per day.
Effects of vitamin E and selenium on performance, digestibility of nutrients, and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under heat stress (34 °C)
Authors: Sahin K. , Kucuk O.
Published: March 2003

This study was conducted to determine the effects of vitamin E (dL‐α‐Tocopheryl acetate) and selenium (Se; Na2‐SeO3) on performance, digestibility of nutrients and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails reared under chronic heat stress (34 °C). A total of 120 10‐day‐old Japanese quails were randomly assigned to four treatment groups, three replicates of 10 birds each. The birds with a 2 × 2 factorial design received either two levels of vitamin E (125 and 250 mg/kg of diet) or two levels of Se (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg of diet). A 250‐mg vitamin E/kg of diet compared with that of 125 mg/kg of diet and higher dietary Se inclusions (0.1 vs. 0.2 mg/kg) resulted in a better performance (p=0.001). The interaction between vitamin E and Se for feed intake (p=0.03), final body weight change (p=0.03) and feed efficiency (p=0.001) was detected. Carcass yield increased with increasing both dietary vitamin E and Se (p=0.001). The interactions on carcass characteristics were all non‐significant (p > 0.06). Digestibility of nutrients (DM, OM, CP and ether extract) was higher with higher dietary vitamin E (p=0.03), and DM digestibility was also higher with higher dietary Se (p=0.05). There were no interactions detected for digestibility of nutrients (p=0.28). From the results of the present study, it was concluded that a combination of 250 mg of vitamin E and 0.2 mg of Se provides the greatest performance in Japanese quails reared under heat stress and this combination can be considered as a protective management practice in Japanese quail diets, reducing the negative effects of heat stress.
The plasma level of triacylglycerols in horses fed high‐fat diets containing either soybean oil or palm oil
Authors: HALLEBEEK J. M. , BEYNEN A. C.
Published: March 2003

The influence of dietary soybean oil versus palm oil on the plasma level of triacylglycerols was determined in a crossover experiment with four horses. Based on published data for humans and laboratory animals it was expected that a diet rich in unsaturated fatty acids in the form of soybean oil compared to saturated fatty acids in the form of palm oil would lower the plasma triacylglycerol level. The feeding of soybean oil versus palm oil for a period of four weeks did not change the level of plasma triacylglycerols in horses. Mean levels of triacylglycerol, free fatty acids and 3‐hydroxybutyrate were 0.17 (SE, 0.04), 0.44 (SE, 0.063) and 0.16 (SE, 0.008) mmol/l, respectively. The fatty acid composition of the plasma triacylglycerols reflected the fatty acid composition of the diets. The activity of lipoprotein lipase was not different between the treatments. It is concluded that, under the present experimental conditions, the feeding of soybean oil to horses does not affect triacylglycerol secretion into plasma and thus does not influence the concentration of plasma triacylgycerols, when compared to the feeding of palm oil.