Auxin-Responsive OsMGH3, a Common Downstream Target of OsMADS1 and OsMADS6, Controls Rice Floret Fertility

GH3 proteins control auxin homeostasis by inactivating excess auxin as conjugates of amino acids and sugars and thereby controlling cellular bioactive auxin. Since auxin regulates many aspects of plant growth and development, regulated expression of these genes offers a mechanism to control various developmental processes. OsMGH3/OsGH3-8 is expressed abundantly in rice florets and is regulated by two related and redundant transcription factors, OsMADS1 and OsMADS6, but its contribution to flower development is not known. We functionally characterize OsMGH3 by overexpression and knock-down analysis and show a partial overlap in these phenotypes with that of mutants in OsMADS1 and OsMADS6. The overexpression of OsMGH3 during the vegetative phase affects the overall plant architecture, whereas its inflorescence-specific overexpression creates short panicles with reduced branching, resembling in part the effects of OsMADS1 overexpression. In contrast, the down-regulation of endogenous OsMGH3 caused phenotypes consistent with auxin overproduction or activated signaling, such as ectopic rooting from aerial nodes. Florets in OsMGH3 knock-down plants were affected in carpel development and pollen viability, both of which reduced fertility. Some of these floret phenotypes are similar to osmads6 mutants. Taken together, we provide evidence for the functional significance of auxin homeostasis and its transcriptional regulation during rice panicle branching and floret organ development.

Analysis of a cascade‐pumped 16 μm CO2‐N2 downstream‐mixing gasdynamic laser

The generation of a 16 μm laser beam through cascading in a downstream‐mixing CO2 gasdynamic laser is studied. To simulate actual lasing action, a generalized, two‐dimensional, flow‐radiation‐coupled power extraction model for a gasdynamic laser is used. Also, to model the cascade process a new four‐mode CO2‐N2 vibrational kinetic model has been proposed. The steady‐state intensity obtained for an exclusive 9.4 μm transition is of the order of 5×107 W/m2. In the cascade mode of operation the steady‐state intensities for 9.4 and 16 μm transitions of the order of 5×107 W/m2 and 1.0×106 W/m2, respectively, have been obtained.

Low temperature synthesis of layered NaxCoO2 and KxCoO2 from NaOH/KOH fluxes and their ion exchange properties

We report a low temperature synthesis of layered Na0×20CoO2 and K0×44CoO2 phases from NaOH and KOH fluxes at 400°C. These layered oxides are employed to prepare hexagonal HCoO2, LixCoO2 and Delafossite AgCoO2 phases by ion exchange method. The resulting oxides were characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, SEM and EDX analysis. Final compositions of all these oxides are obtained from chemical analysis of elements present. Na0×20CoO2 oxide exhibits insulating to metal like behaviour, whereas AgCoO2 is semiconducting.

Diagnóstico comparativo de mastitis en leche bovina, por tres pruebas de campo: california mastitis test (CMT), acidez (NaOH), y reductasa, en los municipios de la Concordia, San Rafael del Norte y San Sebastián de Yali, Jinotega

Con el propósito de evaluar tres técnicas para la determinación de Mastitis, (California Mastitis Test (CMT), Hidróxido de Sodio (NaHO) y Azul de Metíleno (AM)), en vacas de doble propósito, en 2000 se efectuó un estudio en los municipios de La Concordia, San Rafael de Norte y San Sebastián de Yalí, del Departamento de Jinotega. Se utilizaron Fincas de Referencia atendidas por el entonces Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería (MAG), de las cuales se seleccionaron catorce (14) fincas privadas y dos Cooperativas, para un total de 16 fincas que representaron el 53.3 % del total de fincas. De éstas se muestrearon 398 vacas en producción de diversas razas (Pardo suizo, Brahman y cruces entre Pardo suizo, Criollo y Holstein con Cebú y otros) de diversas lactaciones (número parto}. Las muestras de cada cuarto de la vaca, se tomaron a la hora del ordeño, entre 5:00 y 7:00a.m. Los resultados de CMT e NaHO, (+ ó -), se anotaron en campo al momento de prueba. En la prueba de AM, se hicieron 4 lecturas: 1) al momento de prueba, 2) a los 15 minutos, 3) a una hora y, 4) a tres horas después de la prueba. Se obtuvo un total de 396 datos de 4 cuartos en cada técnica, para un total de 4,752 observaciones. La información se analizó mediante una prueba de Chí Cuadrado, con el Procedimiento CATMOD, del Statistical Análisis System (SAS), Versión para PC 6.03, NC. Las variables de clasificación en el análisis fueron Razas (1-3), Números de Parto (1-6) y Meses de lactación (1-9). De las técnicas, se obtuvo el 46.2, 4.6 y 15.3 % de pruebas positivas con CMT, NaOH y AM, respectivamente; la CMT resultó más efectiva en la determinación de mastitis. De las Razas estudiadas, el Brahmán presentó un 45.2% de afectación por mastitis, mayor que Pardo suizo y cruces indefinidos, con 30.6 y 24.2 %, respectivamente. A partir del tercer parto, se incrementa el nivel de infestación de esta enfermedad, y durante la lactación, en los meses 4, 5,8 y 9.

Brf1 post-transcriptionally regulates pluripotency and differentiation responses downstream of Erk MAP Kinase

FGF/Erk MAP Kinase Signaling is a central regulator of mouse embryonic stem cell (mESC) self-renewal, pluripotency and differentiation. However, the mechanistic connection between this signaling pathway activity and the gene circuits stabilizing mESCs in vitro remain unclear. Here we show that FGF signaling post-transcriptionally regulates the mESC transcription factor network by controlling the expression of Brf1 (zfp36l1), an AU-rich element mRNA binding protein. Changes in Brf1 level disrupts the expression of core pluripotency-associated genes and attenuates mESC self-renewal without inducing differentiation. These regulatory effects are mediated by rapid and direct destabilization of Brf1 targets, such as Nanog mRNA. Interestingly, enhancing Brf1 expression does not compromise mESC pluripotency, but does preferentially regulate differentiation to mesendoderm by accelerating the expression of primitive streak markers. Together, these studies demonstrate that FGF signals utilize targeted mRNA degradation by Brf1 to enable rapid post-transcriptional control of gene expression.

Factors influencing the downstream transport of sediment in the Lough Feeagh catchment, Burrishoole, Co. Mayo, Ireland

Research laboratories in the Burrishoole catchment have been the focus of salmonid research since 1955. One aspect of the research has been to monitor the number of salmon and sea trout migrating to sea as smolts and returning to the catchment as adults. In the early 1990s it became clear that the smolt output from the catchment had declined over the previous two decades. At about the same time the presence of fine particles of peat silt in the hatchery became increasingly apparent and led to a higher incidence of mortality of young fry. These observations and management difficulties led to a study of silt transport in the surface waters of the catchment, which is described in this article. The authors describe geology, soils, climate and hydrology of Burrishoole before examining the sediment deposition in Lough Feeagh.

Observations on the downstream movements of brown trout fry (Salmo trutta L.)in the Lissuraga [Translation from: Bulletin Francais de la Pisciculture No.274 1-17, 1979]

The phenomenon of the downstream movement of brown trout fry has been noticed for a very long time by fish biologists. The work presented here, and taking place in the framework of the hydrobiological research of the INRA, represents the results of three years' observation of the movement downstream in the Lissuraga, a small stream in the French Basque country, in connection with certain environmental factors, which are shown. The authors have used a live experiment to compare, in an artificial stream, the ”descending” (or ”Nomadic”) fry with the ”resident” fry, caught by electric fishing in other parts of the stream.