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Although dicamba-resistant crops can provide an effective weed management option, risk of dicamba off-site movement to sensitive crops is a concern. Previous research with indeterminate soybean identified 14 injury criteria associated with dicamba applied at V3/V4 or R1/R2 at 0.6 to 280 g ae ha−1. Injury criteria rated on a 0 to 5 scale (none to severe), along with percent visible injury and plant height reduction, and canopy height collected 7 and 15 d after treatment (DAT) were analyzed using multiple regression with a forward-selection procedure to develop yield prediction models. Variables included in the 15 DAT models (in order of selection) for V3/V4 were lower stem base lesions/cracking, plant height reduction, terminal leaf epinasty, leaf petiole droop, leaf petiole base swelling, and stem epinasty, whereas for R1/R2 variables were lower stem base lesions/cracking, terminal leaf chlorosis, leaf petiole base swelling, stem epinasty, terminal leaf necrosis, and terminal leaf cupping. To validate the models, experiments including the same dicamba rates and application timings used in previous research were conducted at two locations. For the variables specific to each model, data collected for the dicamba rates were used to predict yield. For the V3/V4 15 DAT model, predicted yield reduction (compared with the nontreated control for dicamba at 0.6 to 4.4 g ha−1) underestimated or overestimated observed yield reduction by an average of 1 and 3 percentage points. For 8.8 g ha−1, predicted yield reduction overestimated observed yield reduction by 8 points and for 17.5 g ha−1 by 20 points. For the R1/R2 15 DAT model, predicted yield reduction for 0.6 to 4.4 g ha−1 overestimated observed yield reduction by an average of 3 to 5 percentage points. For dicamba at 8.8 g ha−1, predicted yield reduction underestimated observed yield reduction by 8 points and for 17.5 g ha−1 overestimated by 6 points.

Taro literature was examined for information about taro starch and as a guide to the growth of interest in the material world-wide. The properties of taro starch are presented, as available from the literature and supplemented by new observations on thermal stability and microscopy. The significance of particle size is considered as it relates to the fields of application of starches other than as foods, and especially in the plastics and related industries. The economics of starch application as a filler-extender is considered and consideration given to the emergence of special features of starch fillers not obtained from traditional mineral fillers or wood-flow. This is exemplified by a detailed examination of the economics and technology of the starch-filled biodegradable polyethylene carrier bag plant which has been operating for 2½ years at Nelson in England. Process economics between countries are considered, as given to extensions of the work into other fields of plastics production now at an advanced stage of industrial trial.

Field research in 2007 evaluated tracer deposition using different combinations of spray rates, vehicle speeds, and boom pressure using aerial and ground application in Louisiana. The objectives were to compare deposition and canopy penetration in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). Artificial mylar cards and a tracer (tartrazine) were used to quantify distribution and penetration. Results showed that total canopy deposition increases when spray rates are equal to or higher than 93.4 l·ha-1coupled with slower tractor speeds for ground-based systems (P < 0.05) or equal to or higher than 65.4 l·ha-1 for aerial-based systems (P < 0.0001). Regression analysis showed that air temperature and relative humidity did not influence tracer deposition during testing, but wind speed did ( r2 =0.38). Deposition throughout the canopy was highly variable; the top part of the canopy retained most of the spray regardless of application method or spray rate.

Degradation of buried low-density polyethylene has been reported but only in the composting garbage environment. Evidence is offered linking the initial stage of the breakdown with the transfer by diffusion of unsaturated lipids from the compost to the polymer associated with the generation of peroxides by autoxidation.

The macrolide antibiotic, azithromycin (AZM), has been reported to improve the clinical outcome of cystic fibrosis patients, many of whom are chronically-infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, the highest clinically-achievable concentrations of this drug are well-below the minimum inhibitory concentration for P. aeruginosa, raising the question of why AZM exhibits therapeutic activity. One possibility that has been raised by earlier studies is that AZM inhibits quorum sensing (QS) by P. aeruginosa. To explicitly test this hypothesis the changes brought about by AZM treatment need to be compared with those associated with specific QS mutants grown alongside in the same growth medium, but this has not been done. In this work, we used quantitative 2D-difference gel electrophoresis and 1H-NMR spectroscopy footprint analysis to examine whether a range of clinically-relevant AZM concentrations elicited proteomic and metabolomic changes in wild-type cultures that were similar to those seen in cultures of defined QS mutants. Consistent with earlier reports, over half of the AZM-induced spot changes on the 2D gels were found to affect QS-regulated proteins. However, AZM modulated very few protein spots overall (compared with QS) and collectively, these modulated proteins comprised only a small fraction (12–13%) of the global QS regulon. We conclude that AZM perturbs a sub-regulon of the QS system but does not block QS per se. Reinforcing this notion, we further show that AZM is capable of attenuating virulence factor production in another Gram-negative species that secretes copious quantities of exoenzymes (Serratia marcescens), even in the absence of a functional QS system.

Monitoring the metabolism of (13)C-labelled substrates by biological tissues allows both the rate of metabolism and the relative importance of metabolic pathways to be determined. In this study high-resolution magic-angle spinning (HRMAS) (13)C NMR spectroscopy is assessed as a technique for determining the labelling of metabolites in brain slices. Freshly prepared rat brain slices were superfused in isotonic salt solution containing [1-(13)C] glucose. HRMAS (1)H and (13)C NMR spectra were acquired of the slices ( approximately 10 mg) at 3 degrees C. Using (1)H NMR spectroscopy it was demonstrated that the concentration of key metabolites indicative of metabolic degradation, including N-acetyl aspartate and lactate, did not change significantly across the approximately 11 h time period required for (13)C NMR spectra. The approach produced high-resolution spectra of intact tissue with the labelling patterns of tissues being indicative of both labelling via pyruvate dehydrogenase found in both neuronal and glial cells, and pyruvate carboxylase, found only within glial cells. This approach is a versatile tool for monitoring the compartmentation of metabolites directly, and will also allow the investigation of aqueous and lipid metabolites simultaneously.

Feeding and maturation by the soybean looper, Pseudoplusia includens (Walker) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), were investigated in a 2-yr study on ‘Davis’ soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., grown alone and combined with the weed hemp sesbania, Sesbania exaltata (Raf.) Rybd. ex. A. W. Hill, the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita (Kofoid & White) Chitwood, and the charcoal rot fungus, Macrophomina phaseolina (Tassi) Goid. Of the three pests, hemp sesbania had the greatest effects on plant growth and insect feeding and maturation. When fed foliage from soybean stressed by hemp sesbania, soybean looper larvae remained longer in feeding stages, consumed more foliage, and showed altered weight gain compared with larvae fed control foliage. Results suggest that nutrient(s) critical for proper development of larvae may have been limited in weed-stressed soybean foliage. Less dramatic results were observed when larvae fed on foliage from soybean with roots colonized by the charcoal rot fungus. Such larvae consumed more foliage, weighed more, and showed a slight increase in larval feeding period, but only in 1 yr of the study. Colonization of soybean roots by the root-knot nematode had no consistent effects on either the soybean host or insect.

Background/Objectives: Obesity has been associated with both changes in adipose tissue lipid metabolism and inflammation. A key class of lipid-derived signalling molecules involved in inflammation are the prostaglandins. In this study, we aimed to determine how obesity affects the levels of prostaglandins within white adipose tissue (WAT) and determine which cells within adipose tissue produce them. To avoid the effects of cellular stress on prostaglandin levels, we developed a multivariate statistical approach in which metabolite concentrations and transcriptomic data were integrated, allowing the assignment of metabolites to cell types. Subjects/Methods: Eicosanoids were measured by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and mRNA levels using real-time PCR. Eicosanoid levels and transcriptomic data were combined using principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering in order to associate metabolites with cell types. Samples were obtained from C57Bl/6 mice aged 16 weeks. We studied the ob/ob genetically obese mouse model and diet-induced obesity model. We extended our results in mice to a cohort of morbidly obese humans undergoing bariatric surgery. Results: Using our modelling approach, we determined that prostglandin D2 (PGD2) in adipose tissue was predominantly produced in macrophages by the haematopoietic isoform of prostaglandin D synthase (H-Pgds). Analysis of sub-fractionated WAT confirmed that H-Pgds was expressed in adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs). Furthermore, H-Pgds expression in ATMs isolated from lean and obese mice was consistent with it affecting macrophage polarisation. Functionally, we demonstrated that H-PGDS-produced PGD2 polarised macrophages toward an M2, anti-inflammatory state. In line with a potential anti-inflammatory role, we found that H-PGDS expression in ATMs was positively correlated with both peripheral insulin and adipose tissue insulin sensitivity in humans. Conclusions: In this study, we have developed a method to determine the cellular source of metabolites within an organ and used it to identify a new role for PGD2 in the control of ATM polarisation.

Bis-(3′-5′)-cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c-di-GMP) is a ubiquitous bacterial signalling molecule produced by diguanylate cyclases of the GGDEF-domain family. Elevated c-di-GMP levels or increased GGDEF protein expression is frequently associated with the onset of sessility and biofilm formation in numerous bacterial species. Conversely, phosphodiesterase-dependent diminution of c-di-GMP levels by EAL- and HD-GYP-domain proteins is often accompanied by increased motility and virulence. In this study, we individually overexpressed 23 predicted GGDEF, EAL or HD-GYP-domain proteins encoded by the phytopathogen Pectobacterium atrosepticum strain SCRI1043. MS-based detection of c-di-GMP and 5′-phosphoguanylyl-(3′-5′)-guanosine in these strains revealed that overexpression of most genes promoted modest 1–10-fold changes in cellular levels of c-di-GMP, with the exception of the GGDEF-domain proteins ECA0659 and ECA3374, which induced 1290- and 7660-fold increases, respectively. Overexpression of most EAL domain proteins increased motility, while overexpression of most GGDEF domain proteins reduced motility and increased poly-β-1,6-N-acetyl-glucosamine-dependent flocculation. In contrast to domain-based predictions, overexpression of the EAL protein ECA3549 or the HD-GYP protein ECA3548 increased c-di-GMP concentrations and reduced motility. Most overexpression constructs altered the levels of secreted cellulases, pectinases and proteases, confirming c-di-GMP regulation of virulence in Pe. atrosepticum. However, there was no apparent correlation between virulence-factor induction and the domain class expressed or cellular c-di-GMP levels, suggesting that regulation was in response to specific effectors within the network, rather than total c-di-GMP concentration. Finally, we demonstrated that the cellular localization patterns vary considerably for GGDEF/EAL/HD-GYP proteins, indicating it is a likely factor restricting specific interactions within the c-di-GMP network.

Field studies conducted over 2 yr in Louisiana determined critical periods of Rottboellia cochinchinensis interference in Zea mays. In a duration of interference study, R. cochinchinensis was allowed to compete with Z. mays for 0 (weed-free, season-long), 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14 (weedy, season-long) wk, after which plots were maintained weed-free for the rest of the growing season. Rottboellia cochinchinensis biomass at time of initial removal increased linearly as weeks of interference increased. For 2 wk of interference, R. cochinchinensis biomass was greater in 1993 than 1994, but for 4 wk or more of interference, biomass was greater the second year indicating environmental conditions were more conducive to R. cochinchinensis growth in 1994. Season-long R. cochinchinensis interference reduced Z. mays height by 18% compared with the weed-free check. For both years, R. cochinchinensis reduced yields 125 kg ha−1 for each week of interference. In weed-free maintenance studies, 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10,...

Field experiments were conducted during 1996 and 1998 to determine the effect of atra- zine, bentazon, atrazine + bentazon, the amine salt of 2,4-D, and bromoxynil on broadleaf signalgrass and barnyardgrass control when applied in mixture with sethoxydim. Herbicide combinations were applied with crop oil concentrate, crop oil concentrate + ammonium sulfate, or BCH 815. Bentazon and atrazine + bentazon reduced broadleaf signalgrass and barnyardgrass control by sethoxydim. Bromoxynil reduced barnyardgrass control but had no affect on broadleaf signalgrass control. In- cluding ammonium sulfate with crop oil concentrate or substituting BCH 815 for crop oil concentrate increased barnyardgrass and broadleaf signalgrass control by sethoxydim when applied with benta- zon. Ammonium sulfate and BCH 815 increased barnyardgrass control when sethoxydim was applied with bromoxynil but did not affect control when sethoxydim was applied with atrazine + bentazon. Atrazine and the ammonium salt of 2,4-D did not reduce barnyardgrass and broadleaf signalgrass control by sethoxydim regardless of adjuvant. Nomenclature: Atrazine, 6-chloro-N-ethyl-N'-(l-methylethyl)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine; bentazon, 3-(1-methylethyl)-(lH)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazin-4(3H)-one 2,2-dioxide; bromoxynil, 3,5-dibromo-4-hy- droxybenzonitrile; sethoxydim, 2-(1-(ethoxyimino)butyl)-5-(ethylthio)propyl)-3-hydroxy-2-cycloh- exen-l-one; 2,4-D, (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid; barnyardgrass, Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. #3 ECHCG; broadleaf signalgrass, Brachiaria platyphylla (Griseb.) Nash #, BRAPP Additional index words: Antagonism. Abbreviations: COC, crop oil concentrate; POST, postemergence.

Glycine maxfields withSesbania exaltataandSenna obtusifoliawere selected to evaluate weed effects on insecticide spray droplet deposition within the crop canopy and soybean looper (Pseudoplusia includens) mortality. Weedy and weed-free treatments with and without thiodicarb insecticide application were included. Soybean looper populations in plots withS. exaltataandS. obtusioliawere approximately half those found in weed-free plots. Thiodicarb reduced soybean looper larval survival in the absence of weeds or when weeds were present in three of four experiments. Dye-sensitive cards placed in the top, middle, and bottom thirds of theG. maxcanopy showed droplet coverage to be highest on cards placed in the top of the canopy. Weeds reduced insecticide coverage in the top of theG. maxcanopy 26 to 43%. Thiodicarb deposition within the middle and bottom levels of the canopy was not reduced by weeds. Leaflets from the top, middle, and bottom thirds of the crop canopy were collected immediately after insecticide application to bioassay for insecticide deposition. For both years, mortality of soybean looper larvae on leaflets collected from the middle or top of weedy and weed-freeG. maxtreated with thiodicarb was equivalent. Assuming that an economic return can be expected, soybean looper management may not need to be altered when moderate infestations ofS. exaltataandS. obtusifoliaare present inG. maxin late season.

Field studies were conducted over 2 yr to evaluate rhizome johnsongrass control with tank mixtures and sequential applications of bromoxynil at 1.7 kg ai/ha and the graminicides clethodim, fluazifop-P, and quizalofop-P. When compared with the graminicide alone, bromoxynil reduced johnsongrass control 28 days after treatment (DAT) 20, 36, and 55% when applied in combination with clethodim, fluazifop-P, and quizalofop-P, respectively. Application of bromoxynil 7, 3, and 1 d before or 1, 3, and 7 d after all graminicides reduced antagonism when compared with the bromoxynil plus graminicide mixtures. Based on johnsongrass control 28 DAT, antagonism was precluded when bromoxynil was applied 3 d before clethodim and 7 d before fluazifop-P and quizalofop-P. Application of bromoxynil 3 and 7 d after quizalofop-P and 7 d after clethodim also precluded antagonism. The antagonistic tank mixtures of bromoxynil and graminicides reduced cotton yield 17% because of reduced johnsongrass control compared with graminicides alone. A 3-d or greater application interval between bromoxynil and the graminicides was necessary to maximize cotton yield.

Six herbicides were evaluated for their effects on Pythium root rot and growth of sugarcane in greenhouse experiments and on in vitro mycelial growth rate of Pythium arrhenomanes. Pendimethalin and atrazine were most inhibitory to mycelial growth, but neither reduced root rot severity. Asulam, atrazine, and metribuzin were not phytotoxic to sugarcane and did not affect root rot symptom severity in clay loam or silt loam field soils. Atrazine and metribuzin increased shoot number, and atrazine increased total shoot weight for treated plants in silt loam soil. Glyphosate, pendimethalin, and terbacil were phytotoxic to sugarcane. These herbicides increased root rot severity, but the extent to which growth reductions resulted from increased disease severity or from direct herbicide injury was not clear. Adverse effects on plant growth and root rot severity were greater in clay loam than in silt loam soil. The results suggest that sugarcane injury from some herbicides is compounded by increased severity of root rot.

Eleven field experiments were conducted during 1994 and 1995 to compare rhizomatous johnsongrass control and soybean yield with single POST applications of quizalofop-P, fluazifop-P, clethodim, and sethoxydim at costs of $9.88, 19.76, 29.64, and 39.52/ha for each graminicide. Cost of the manufacturer's suggested use rate for these graminicides was approximately $29.64/ha, which corresponded to 0.09, 0.22, 0.14, and 0.27 kg ai/ha for these respective graminicides. When applied at a cost of $9.88/ha, quizalofop-P controlled rhizomatous johnsongrass more effectively than the other graminicides in five of 11 experiments. Quizalofop-P and fluazifop-P controlled johnsongrass similarly when applied at higher costs per hectare in 10 of 11 experiments. Sethoxydim was less effective than quizalofop-P or fluazifop-P in most instances, especially when graminicides were applied at costs of $9.88 or $19.76/ha. Clethodim was generally more effective than sethoxydim. Fluazifop-P and clethodim controlled rhizomatous johnsongrass similarly in six of 11 experiments regardless of cost. Differences in rhizomatous johnsongrass control among graminicides did not always translate into differences in soybean yield, although graminicides increased yield over the nontreated control in most experiments regardless of the graminicide cost. In several experiments, soybean treated with clethodim or sethoxydim applied at a cost of $9.88/ha yielded lower than when applied at higher costs.

Weeds in the Poaceae and Cyperaceae families prevalent in sugarcane fields were evaluated as potential hosts for the root rot pathogen, Pythium arrhenomanes. In greenhouse studies, bermudagrass, broadleaf signalgrass, browntop panicum, barnyardgrass, large crabgrass, goosegrass, itchgrass, johnsongrass, Italian ryegrass, and purple nutsedge became infected when grown in steam-treated soil infested with P. arrhenomanes. However, the extent of root colonization, symptom severity, and growth reductions varied among species. Symptom severity and root colonization by P. arrhenomanes were less when weeds were grown in sugarcane field soil in the greenhouse than when weeds were grown in Pythium-infested, steam-treated field soil. Levels of root colonization by P. arrhenomanes in both experiments were greatest for johnsongrass and itchgrass and lowest for browntop panicum, goosegrass, and Italian ryegrass. For weeds collected from sugarcane fields, frequencies for colonized plants were moderate to high, but the extent of root colonization by P. arrhenomanes was low for all except johnsongrass. The results indicate that weeds can serve as hosts for P. arrhenomanes and may play roles in the epidemiology of Pythium root rot on sugarcane.

Field experiments were conducted from 1993 to 1995 to compare weed control by the isopropylamine salt of glyphosate at 0.21, 0.42, 0.63, and 0.84 kg ae/ha applied at three stages of weed growth. Weed control by glyphosate applied at these rates alone or with ammonium sulfate at 2.8 kg/ha was also evaluated. In other experiments, potential interactions between glyphosate and acifluorfen, chlorimuron, and 2,4-DB were evaluated. Velvetleaf, prickly sida, sicklepod, pitted morningglory, entireleaf morningglory, palmleaf morningglory, and hemp sesbania were controlled more easily when weeds had one to three leaves compared with control when weeds had four or more leaves. Glyphosate controlled redroot pigweed, velvetleaf, prickly sida, sicklepod, and barnyardgrass more effectively than pitted morningglory, entireleaf morningglory, palmleaf morningglory, or hemp sesbania. Increasing the rate of glyphosate increased control, especially when glyphosate was applied to larger weeds. Greater variation in control was noted for pitted morningglory, palmleaf morningglory, prickly sida, and velvetleaf than for redroot pigweed, sicklepod, entireleaf morningglory, or hemp sesbania. Ammonium sulfate increased prickly sida and entireleaf morningglory control but did not influence sicklepod, hemp sesbania, or barnyardgrass control. Acifluorfen applied 3 d before glyphosate or in a mixture with glyphosate reduced barnyardgrass control compared with glyphosate applied alone. Chlorimuron did not reduce efficacy. Mixtures of glyphosate and 2,4-DB controlled sicklepod, entireleaf morningglory, and barnyardgrass similar to glyphosate alone.

Growth was examined in bovine fetuses and neonates that typically differ in mature size and postnatal developmental pattern. Pregnancies were established from matings expected to produce early (E), late (L), and intermediate (I) maturing postnatal growth patterns. Tissues were collected at 100 and 200 d of gestation and 30 d postnatal. Muscle:body weight ratios were lower at 100 and 200 d for the E maturity type than for the L maturity type (P < .05). This differs from observations of muscle:body weight ratios made at 30 d postnatal, at which time ratios for E were either greater than (triceps brachii, P < .05) or similar to those for L. Few differences due to maturity type were observed at 100 d for bone weight:body weight ratios; however, at 200 d of gestation E bone weight:body weight ratios were generally lower (P < .05) than those for L. The genotypic relationship for bone weight:body weight ratio at 30 d postnatal was similar to that observed at 200 d of gestation. Observations of organ weight:body weight ratios revealed no clear patterns due to maturity type. The genotypic relationship for total muscle DNA content was similar to that observed for muscle weight. These results indicate that fetal muscle development differs in cattle that have different postnatal growth patterns by as early as 100 d of gestation and that differences in fetal muscle growth are related to differences in muscle hyperplasia.

In conventional metabolism and pharmacokinetic studies, radioactive isotopes are used to identify and quantify the breakdown products of xenobiotics. However, the stable isotope (13) C provides a cheaper and less hazardous alternative. Metabolites of (13) C-enriched xenobiotics can be detected, quantified and identified by (13) C-filtered NMR spectroscopy. However, one obstacle to using (13) C is its 1.1% natural abundance that produces a background signal in (13) C-filtered NMR spectra of crude biological extracts. The signal makes it difficult to distinguish between (13) C-enriched xenobiotics resonances from endogenous metabolites unrelated to the xenobiotic. This study proposes that the (13) C background signal can be distinguished from resonances of (13) C-enriched xenobiotics by the absence of a (12) C component in the xenobiotic. This is detected by combined analysis of (13) C-filtered and -edited NMR spectra. The theory underlying the approach is described and the method is demonstrated by the detection of sub-microgram amounts of (13) C-enriched phenacetin in crude extracts of hepatocyte microsomes.

The objective of this study was to compare performance and aspects of adaptability attributes of cattle from a Florida Angus bloodline (local source from a mostly closed herd for over 50 yr) to cattle that are representative of modern Angus bloodlines (outside source) in US subtropical conditions. Embryos from both sources were transferred to Brahman-crossbred cows in South Florida, and calves (n=82) were born in 3 yr. Before weaning, summer tympanic temperatures were recorded hourly for 3 d in each year. Heifers were placed with fertile bulls until diagnosed pregnant. Traits relative to sexual maturation of bulls were recorded at 1- or 2-mo intervals until approximately 17 mo of age. Calves from outside sources had greater hip height at weaning than calves from the local source (P0.001; 108.8 ± 0.62 and 104.7 ± 0.68 cm, respectively). Local-source calves (n=37) had greater (P=0.03) exit velocity (2.7 ± 0.3 m/s) than outside-source (n=45) calves (2.0 ± 0.29 m/s), which may be indicative of more nervous or temperamental disposition. However, no source differences were detected for other assessments of disposition (chute or pen score, P0.8). Few source differences for minimum, maximum, or range of daily tympanic (inner ear) temperatures were detected. At 17 mo of age, outside-source heifers were heavier (P = 0.05) and had greater (P0.001) hip height than Angus heifers from the local source. Heifers from the outside source were younger (P0.001) at the time of their first conception (454 ± 17.5 d) than heifers from the local source (550 ± 16.9 d). Outside-source heifers also had greater (P0.02) pregnancy and calving rates (0.7 ± 0.119 and 0.62 ± 0.125, respectively) from exposure to bulls within a year from weaning than the heifers from the local source (0.29 ± 0.089 and 0.19 ± 0.077, respectively). Bulls from the outside source were heavier (P=0.05) at 320 d of age than local-source bulls. From 14 through 17 mo of age, outside-source bulls had greater (P≤0.05) scrotal circumference and tended (P≤0.15) to be heavier than local-source bulls. There appeared to be no performance or adaptation advantages for the local-source Angus through 17 mo of age. The large source difference for age at first conception in heifers merits additional attention and comparison with cow lifetime production performance for the 2 sources.

Background: Human medulloblastomas exhibit diverse molecular pathology. Aberrant hedgehog signalling is found in 20–30% of human medulloblastomas with largely unknown metabolic consequences. Methods: Transgenic mice over-expressing smoothened (SMO) receptor in granule cell precursors with high incidence of exophytic medulloblastomas were sequentially followed up by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and characterised for metabolite phenotypes by 1H MR spectroscopy (MRS) in vivo and ex vivo using high-resolution magic angle spinning (HR-MAS) 1H MRS. Results: Medulloblastomas in the SMO mice presented as T2 hyperintense tumours in MRI. These tumours showed low concentrations of N-acetyl aspartate and high concentrations of choline-containing metabolites (CCMs), glycine, and taurine relative to the cerebellar parenchyma in the wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice. In contrast, 1H MRS metabolite concentrations in normal appearing cerebellum of the SMO mice were not different from those in the WT mice. Macromolecule and lipid 1H MRS signals in SMO medulloblastomas were not different from those detected in the cerebellum of WT mice. The HR-MAS analysis of SMO medulloblastomas confirmed the in vivo 1H MRS metabolite profiles, and additionally revealed that phosphocholine was strongly elevated in medulloblastomas accounting for the high in vivo CCM. Conclusions: These metabolite profiles closely mirror those reported from human medulloblastomas confirming that SMO mice provide a realistic model for investigating metabolic aspects of this disease. Taurine, glycine, and CCM are potential metabolite biomarkers for the SMO medulloblastomas. The MRS data from the medulloblastomas with defined molecular pathology is discussed in the light of metabolite profiles reported from human tumours.

Five anesthetized dogs undertook a chamber dive, on air, to 300 feet of seawater for 15 min. After the dive, spinal cord decompression sickness was detected by recording a reduced amplitude of the somatosensory evoked potential compared with predive base-line values. After the diagnosis of decompression sickness and rapid perfusion fixation of the animal, the spinal cord was removed and examined histologically. Numerous space-occupying lesions (SOL) that disrupted the tissue architecture were found in each cord, mainly in the white matter. The size and distribution of the SOL were determined using computerized morphometry. Although SOL occupied less than 0.5% of the white matter volume, we tested a number of algorithms to assess whether the SOL may have been directly involved in the loss of spinal cord function that followed the dive. We determined that the loss of somatosensory evoked potential amplitude may be attributed to the SOL if 30-100% of the spinal cord fibers that they displaced were rendered nonconducting. A number of possible mechanisms by which SOL may interfere with spinal nerve conduction are discussed.

The functional genomic techniques of transcriptomics and proteomics promise unparalleled global information during the drug development process. However, if these technologies are used in isolation the large multivariate data sets produced are often difficult to interpret, and have the potential of missing key metabolic events (e.g. as a result of experimental noise in the system). To better understand the significance of these megavariate data the temporal changes in phenotype must be described. High resolution 1H NMR spectroscopy used in conjunction with pattern recognition provides one such tool for defining the dynamic phenotype of a cell, organ or organism in terms of a metabolic phenotype. In this review the benefits of this metabonomics/metabolomics approach to problems in toxicology will be discussed. One of the major benefits of this approach is its high throughput nature and cost effectiveness on a per sample basis. Using such a method the consortium for metabonomic toxicology (COMET) are currently investigating approximately 150 model liver and kidney toxins. This investigation will allow the generation of expert systems where liver and kidney toxicity can be predicted for model drug compounds, providing a new research tool in the field of drug metabolism. The review will also include how metabonomics may be used to investigate co-responses with transcripts and proteins involved in metabolism and stress responses, such as during drug induced fatty liver disease. By using data integration to combine metabolite analysis and gene expression profiling key perturbed metabolic pathways can be identified and used as a tool to investigate drug function.

The labelling of metabolites with the NMR active nucleus 13C allows not only metabolite enrichments to be monitored, but also the relative fluxes through competing pathways to be delineated. [2-13C, 15N]alanine was used as a metabolic probe to investigate compartmentation in superfused cerebral slices. Perchloric acid extracts of the tissue were investigated using 13C NMR spectroscopy. The spectra were obtained using a CryoProbe optimised for 13C detection (dual CryoProbe [13C, 1H]) in which the receiver and transmitter coils are cooled to approximately 20K to reduce contributions to noise in the signal obtained. Compared with conventional inverse geometry probe, the signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) was increased by approximately 17-fold using this device. A large proportion of alanine was initially metabolised over the first 20 min by glial cells, as indicated by the relative importance of the glial, only enzyme pyruvate carboxylase to the labelling pattern of glutamate, with the ratio of pyruvate carboxylase to pyruvate dehydrogenase derived glutamate being 0.25, and exported [2-13C, 15N]aspartate. Using the increased sensitivity of the CryoProbe, [2-13C, 15N]aspartate was also detected in the extracts of cerebral tissue. This metabolite could only have been derived via the pyruvate carboxylase pathway, and given the large export of the metabolite into the superfusion buffer suggests the occurrence of a "metabolon" arrangement of enzymes within glial cells.

This study examines the functional implications of postnatal changes in the expression of the mitochondrial transporter protein, 2-oxoglutarate-malate carrier (OMC). Online13C nuclear magnetic resonance (13C NMR) measurements of isotope kinetics in hearts from neonate (3–4 days) and adult rabbits provided tricarboxylic acid cycle flux rates and flux rates through OMC. Neonate and adult hearts oxidizing 2.5 mM [2,4-13C2]butyrate were subjected to either normal or high cytosolic redox state (2.5 mM lactate) conditions to evaluate the recruitment of malate-aspartate activity and the resulting OMC flux. During development from neonate (3–4 days) to adult, mitochondrial protein density in the heart increased from 19 ± 3% to 31 ± 2%, whereas OMC expression decreased by 65% per mitochondrial protein content ( P < 0.05). Correspondingly, OMC flux was lower in adults hearts than in neonates by 73% (neonate = 7.4 ± 0.4, adult = 2.0 ± 0.1 μmol/min per 100 mg mitochondrial protein; P < 0.05). Despite clear changes in OMC content and flux, the responsiveness of the malate-aspartate shuttle to increased cytosolic NADH was similar in both adults and neonates with an approximate threefold increase in OMC flux (in densitometric units/100 mg mitochondrial protein: neonate = 25.8 ± 2.5, adult = 6.0 ± 0.2; P < 0.05). The13C NMR data demonstrate that OMC activity is a principal component of the rate of labeling of glutamate.

MEMS-based storage devices promise significant performance, reliability, and power improvements relative to disk drives. This paper compares and contrasts these two storage technologies and explores how the physical characteristics of MEMS-based storage devices change four aspects of operating system (OS) management: request scheduling, data placement, failure management, and power conservation. Straightforward adaptations of existing disk request scheduling algorithms are found to be appropriate for MEMS-based storage devices. A new bipartite data placement scheme is shown to better match these devices' novel mechanical positioning characteristics. With aggressive internal redundancy, MEMS-based storage devices can mask and tolerate failure modes that halt operation or cause data loss for disks. In addition, MEMS-based storage devices simplify power management because the devices can be stopped and started rapidly.

MEMS-based storage devices are seen by many as promising alternatives to disk drives. Fabricated using conventional CMOS processes, MEMS-based storage consists of thousands of small, mechanical probe tips that access gigabytes of high-density, nonvolatile magnetic storage. This paper takes a first step towards understanding the performance characteristics of these devices by mapping them onto a disk-like metaphor. Using simulation models based on the mechanics equations governing the devices' operation, this work explores how different physical characteristics (e.g., actuator forces and per-tip data rates) impact the design trade-offs and performance of MEMS-based storage. Overall results indicate that average access times for MEMS-based storage are 6.5 times faster than for a modern disk (1.5 ms vs. 9.7 ms). Results from filesystem and database benchmarks show that this improvement reduces application I/O stall times up to 70%, resulting in overall performance improvements of 3X.

For decades the RAM-to-disk memory hierarchy gap has plagued computer architects. An exciting new storage technology based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) is poised to fill a large portion of this performance gap, significantly reduce system power consumption, and enable many new applications. This paper explores the system-level implications of integrating MEMS-based storage into the memory hierarchy. Results show that standalone MEMS-based storage reduces I/O stall times by 4-74X over disks and improves overall application runtimes by 1.9-4.4X. When used as on-board caches for disks, MEMS-based storage improves I/O response time by up to 3.5X. Further, the energy consumption of MEMS-based storage is 10-54X less than that of state-of-the-art low-power disk drives. The combination of the high-level physical characteristics of MEMS-based storage (small footprints, high shock tolerance) and the ability to directly integrate MEMS-based storage with processing leads to such new applications as portable gigabit storage systems and ubiquitous active storage nodes.

Excitatory amino acids are an important cause of cell death in the hypoxic and ischaemic brain. Neuronal glutamate stores are depleted rapidly in hypoxia, but alanine production rises under such conditions and has been suggested to be a potential precursor of glutamate. To test this hypothesis, we have investigated amino acid metabolism using 13 C NMR with superfused guinea pig cortical slices subjected to varying degrees of hypoxia. During severe hypoxia, brain slices metabolising 5 mM [2- 13 C]pyruvate exported [2- 13 C]alanine into the superfusion fluid. The metabolic fate of alanine during normoxia and hypoxia was tested by superfusion of brain slices with 10 mM glucose and 2 mM [2- 13 C, 15 N]alanine. Metabolism of exogenous alanine leads to the release of aspartate into the superfusion fluid. The pattern of labelling of aspartate indicated that it was synthesised via the glial-specific enzyme pyruvate carboxylase. 13 C-labelled glutamate was produced with both normoxia and hypoxia, but concentrations were 30-fold lower than for labelled aspartate. Thus, although substantial amounts of glutamate are not synthesised from alanine in hypoxia, there is significant production of aspartate, which also may have deleterious effects as an excitatory amino acid.

The authors report on a technique for the treatment of symptomatic, chronic complete dislocations of the acromioclavicular joint. The coracoacromial ligament is substituted for the coracoclavicular ligaments, and a special temporary coracoclavicular lag screw is used to stabilize the clavicle to the coracoid during ligament healing. The technique has been used on 23 patients who were observed for an average of 5.2 years. Good to excellent results were obtained in 19 of 23 patients. The four patients with fair or poor results had one or more resections of the distal clavicle before the reconstruction. Subjectively, 22 of 23 patients reported improvement in their shoulder.

The politically favoured concept of sustainability has focused attention on the need to provide materials with low manufacturing energy demands and preferably made from renewable resources. That such materials should also offer biodegradability as an option in waste disposal, not conflicting with recycling or incineration activities, has served to motivate the development of degradable polymer compositions whose applications have already achieved a modest position in world markets. Claims that goods are overpacked are countered by drawing attention to the need for food hygiene and safety. A call for the recycling of all plastics disposables appears admirable until one learns of the extreme economic and technical problems which beset the recovery of the mixed plastics from MSW (municipal solid waste). Although European politicians have set a 50% target for plastics recycling, recent studies indicate that much more modest levels are realistic. Furthermore the progressive thermal degradation associated with each polymer melt processing operation in the recycling loop would surely eliminate the possibility of continuously cycling a ‘national’ pool of polymer material. An understandable ‘green’ urge to return to natural products brings some unwelcome reminders of the cost of paper and card, especially when food contact quality is demanded, as well as recollections of the unsuitability of paper for packaging wet goods. We are also reminded that paper cannot really be considered as a ‘natural product’ and is separated from its botanical source materials by massive industrial chemical technology such as pulp making, bleaching, coating, glazing and printing techniques. The necessity to conserve non-renewable resources must remain a dominant consideration. We must also face the surprising fact that natural fibre resources would not be adequate to meet the needs of present population levels and expectations.

Fetal and neonatal myosin heavy chain (MHC) gene expression was examined in bovine genotypes that differed in their postnatal growth pattern and mature size. Pregnancies were established that would be expected to produce early-, intermediate-, or late-maturing postnatal growth. Fetal skeletal and cardiac muscles were collected at 100 and 200 days of gestation and at 30 days of age. Muscle tissue was analyzed for relative levels of MHC RNA and protein. Longissimus muscle MHC RNA/microgram RNA was greater at the 100-day time point for the intermediate maturity type (P < 0.05), which differed from the 200-day time point where the early maturity type had the greater RNA level (P < 0.05). Triceps muscle MHC RNA/microgram RNA weights differed due to genotype at 200 days gestation but did not differ at 100 days gestation or at 30 days postnatal. Ventricular muscle MHC RNA did not differ due to genotype at any of the three developmental stages. Differences due to maturity type in MHC protein/mg DNA were observed at 30 days of age, but no differences due to maturity type were observed at the prenatal time points. These results indicate that bovine fetal skeletal muscle MHC RNA production can be influenced by genotype and that genotype may be an important factor for future studies examining the role of external influences on fetal muscle growth.

Introduction. Chemistry and biochemistry of polymer biodegradation. Particulate starch based products. Biopolyesters. Recycling technology for biodegradable plastics. Test methods and standards for biodegradable plastics. Geletanized starch products. Index.

10514 Background: Methods of analytical chemistry allow a global view on metabolic changes occurring during the malignant transformation. Methods: Metabolite profiling of 369 fresh-frozen breast ti...

Ovarian serous tumors of low malignant potential (STLMP) occasionally progress; a small percentage of patients die of the tumor. There is no known way to predict which tumors will progress.Forty STLMP were analyzed by DNA flow cytometry and compared with 26 serous carcinomas.Forty percent of Stage I STLMP and 40% of Stage III STLMP were DNA aneuploid as compared to 54% of serous carcinomas. Aneuploidy was found in 50% of STLMP that progressed and in 38% of neoplasms that did not progress. Four of the 30 Stage I STLMP progressed, and 3 of the 4 were aneuploid; whereas, of the 26 Stage I STLMP that did not progress, 9 were DNA aneuploid. Stage III STLMP were aneuploid in 4 out of 10 instances (40%). Aneuploidy was not related to progression as three of four DNA diploid tumors progressed, and three of six that did not progress were aneuploid. Thirteen of 16 aneuploid STLMP had peridiploid aneuploid populations. The mean follow-up periods were 14.3 years for Stage I STLMP and 8.3 years for Stage III STLMP:DNA aneuploidy in Stages I and III STLMP does not identify neoplasms likely to relapse with sufficient frequency to be useful in identifying those patients at high risk for relapse.

Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon L. Pers.) is the major warmseason perennial forage crop used for beef production in the Southeast. Seedhead production is irregular and consequently cannot be used as an index of age or quality. Chronological age is, therefore, important in making management decisions. Since bermudagrass production and quality may vary with season and year, ‘Coastal’, ‘Alicia’, ‘Callie’, and common bermudagrass harvested at 2-, 4-, 6-, and 8-week intervals were evaluated over 2 years in northeast Mississippi on a Leeper fine sandy loam (fine, montmorillonitic, nonacid, thermic Vertic Haplaquept) soil. During the 1975 growing season rainfall was generally adequate and total dry matter yields of Coastal, Alicia, and common bermudagrass harvested at the four intervals were similar. Forage yields of Callie, however, averaged 20% higher than the other grasses because of higher production during July and August. In 1976, rainfall was especially low during August (2.0 cm) and total yield of the hybrid bermudagrasses were similar averaging 72% higher than that of common. Lower total season yields of common were reflected in less regrowth during July and August. Averaged over the grasses, total forage yields harvested at 4-, 6-, and 8- week intervals were 2.6 metric tons/ha lower in 1976 than in 1975 and were related in general to higher early-season (June to July) forage yields in 1975 and limited regrowth in August and September 1976. Crude protein (CP) was higher for Callie and common both years of the study. Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) varied little among grasses or harvest intervals. The increase in CP (3.4 units) and decrease in NDF (3.8 units) observed in 1976 appeared related to rainfall patterns, variation in regrowth potential among the grasses, and possible changes in the proportion of leafstem fractions. Averaged over years, Callie was higher in CP (11.9 vs. 10.3%) and digestible dry matter (55.3 vs. 53.0%), and lower in lignin (5.2 vs. 5.7%) than the other grasses. Results suggest that selection of hybrid bermudagrasses over common should be based mainly on their potential to produce significantly more dry matter when moisture is limiting.

Qualite et valeur alimentaire des fourrages d'Andropogon gerardi et Panicum virgatum en fonction de la maturation et des organes consideres

Summary: In order to determine the potential usefulness of the Mini-Mult as a screening instrument with parents of emotionally disturbed children, two studies were conducted. In the first study 128 MMPI profiles were rescored for the Mini-Mult and comparisons with MMPI were made. In the second study 50 parents were administered both the MMPI and the Mini-Mult. Results of both studies indicate that the Mini-Mult is not a good screening instrument with parents of emotionally disturbed children.