Winter-feeding systems for gestating sheep II. Effects on feedlot performance, glucose tolerance, and carcass composition of lamb progeny

Mature pregnant crossbred ewes (n = 90) were used in a randomized complete block design experiment and were assigned to 1 of 3 winter-feeding systems differing in primary feed source: haylage (HL), limit-fed corn (CN), or limit-fed dried distillers grains (DDGS). Effects of these winter-feeding strategies on postweaning progeny performance were determined. Lamb progeny (n = 96) were weaned at 61 +/- 4 d of age and fed a common high-concentrate diet. Lambs were assigned to feedlot pen (n = 18) based on dam mid-gestation pen. Growth rate, DMI, and ADG were determined for the first 40 d of the finishing period. At 96 +/- 4 d of age, 1 wether lamb was randomly selected from each pen (n = 18) for a glucose tolerance test. The experiment was terminated, and lambs were slaughtered individually when they were determined to have achieved 0.6-cm 12th-rib fat thickness. After a 24-h chill, carcass data were collected and a 2.54-cm chop was removed from each lamb from the LM posterior to the 12th rib for ether extract analysis. Additional carcass measurements of bone, muscle, and fat from the shoulder, rack, loin, and leg were collected on 35 carcasses. At weaning, lamb BW was not different among treatments, whereas final BW tended to be greater (P = 0.09) for lambs from ewes fed DDGS and CN during gestation than from those fed HL. Overall lamb growth rate from birth to slaughter was not different among treatments. Lambs from ewes fed DDGS vs. CN or HL tended to have a greater initial insulin response (P = 0.09). Dressing percent was less (P = 0.04) in lambs from ewes fed DDGS, but no difference (P = 0.16) was detected in HCW among treatments. As expected, 12th rib fat thickness was similar among treatments, whereas LM area was largest to smallest (P = 0.05) in lambs from ewes fed CN, HL, and DDGS, respectively. Proportion of internal fat tended to be greatest to smallest (P = 0.06) in lambs from ewes fed DDGS, CN, and HL, respectively. Calculated boneless trimmed retail cuts percentage was less (P = 0.04) in lambs from ewes fed DDGS than CN or HL. Loin muscle weight as a percentage of wholesale cut tended (P = 0.10) to be greater in lambs from ewes fed CN and HL than DDGS, whereas other muscle, bone, and fat weights and proportions were similar (P > 0.24) among treatments. Prepartum diet during mid to late gestation of ewes altered postnatal fat and muscle deposition and may be associated with alterations in insulin sensitivity of progeny.

SAGE transcript profiling of the juvenile cambial region of Eucalyptus grandis

Despite the importance of Eucalyptus spp. in the pulp and paper industry, functional genomic approaches have only recently been applied to understand wood formation in this genus. We attempted to establish a global view of gene expression in the juvenile cambial region of Eucalyptus grandis Hill ex Maiden. The expression profile was obtained from serial analysis of gene expression (SAGE) library data produced from 3- and 6-year-old trees. Fourteen-base expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were searched against public Eucalyptus ESTs and annotated with GenBank. Altogether 43,304 tags were generated producing 3066 unigenes with three or more copies each, 445 with a putative identity, 215 with unknown function and 2406 without an EST match. The expression profile of the juvenile cambial region revealed the presence of highly frequent transcripts related to general metabolism and energy metabolism, cellular processes, transport, structural components and information pathways. We made a quantitative analysis of a large number of genes involved in the biosynthesis of cellulose, pectin, hemicellulose and lignin. Our findings provide insight into the expression of functionally related genes involved in juvenile wood formation in young fast-growing E. grandis trees.

NMR imaging of fluid pathways during drainage of softwood in a pressure membrane chamber

An experiment was implemented to study fluid flow in a pressure media. This procedure successfully combines nuclear magnetic resonance imaging with a pressure membrane chamber in order to visualize the non-wetting and wetting fluid flows with controlled boundary conditions. A specially designed pressure membrane chamber, made of non-magnetic materials and able to withstand 4 MPa, was designed and built for this purpose. These two techniques were applied to the drainage of Douglas fir sapwood. In the study of the longitudinal flow, narrow drainage fingers are formed in the latewood zones. They follow the longitudinal direction of wood and spread throughout the sample length. These fingers then enlarge in the cross-section plane and coalesce until drainage reaches the whole latewood part. At the end of the experiments, when the drainage of liquid water in latewood is completed, just a few sites of percolation appear in earlywood zones. This difference is a result of the wood anatomical structure, where pits, the apertures that allow the sap to flow between wood cells, are more easily aspirated in earlywood than in latewood. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A new species of Abacarus (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyidae) damaging sugarcane, Sacharrum officinarum L., from Costa Rica-the first eriophyoid mite described with a tibial seta on leg II

A new species of eriophyoid mite, belonging in the genus Abacarus Keifer (Eriophyidae), causing damage to sugarcane, Saccharum officinarum L. (Poaceae), in Costa Rica is illustrated and described. Abacarus doctus n. sp. is the only eriophyoid species recorded so far with a tibial seta (l`) on the second pair of legs, an unexpected characteristic observed for the first time in the superfamily Eriophyoidea. Remarks on the phylogenetic and taxonomical aspects related to the presence of this seta are presented. Damage symptoms caused by this mite are presented as well as a key for Abacarus species described from sugarcane. In addition, the need to apply biosecurity procedures during sugarcane germplasm exchange to avoid dissemination of the new mite species is discussed.

Persistent and remodeling hepatic preneoplastic lesions present differences in cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as in p53, BcI-2 and NF-kappa B pathways

During rat hepatocarcinogenesis preneoplastic lesions (PNL) emerge which may persist (pPNL) and be sites of progress to cancer or suffer remodeling (rPNL) tending to disappear. Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in both phenotypes are not sufficiently elucidated. pPNL and rPNL cellular proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated in rats submitted to the resistant hepatocyte (RH) model, and an adjusted growth index (AGI) was established. p53, Bcl-2, and NF-kappa B p65 subunit expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in pPNL and rPNL. p65 expression and NF-kappa B activation was evaluated by Western blot assays in whole livers. A lower number of BrdU-stained hepatocyte nuclei/mm(2) and higher number of apoptotic bodies (AB) per mm(2) were observed in remodeling compared to pPNL. Cytoplasmic p53 accumulation is related to increased hepatocarcinoma malignancy. We observed that 71.3% pPNL and 25.4% rPNL (P < 0.05) presented p53 staining in the cytoplasm. Similarly, 67.7% pPNL and 23.1 % rPNL (P < 0.05) presented increased Bcl-2 staining. Thirty-two percent pPNL and 15.6% rPNL (P < 0.05) presented p65 staining. Compared to normal rats, increase (P < 0.05) of hepatic p65 expression and NF-kappa B activation in rats submitted to the RH model was observed. in agreement to previous studies hepatic pPNL and rPNL differ regarding cell proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, persistence and remodeling involve differences in p53, Bcl-2, and NF-kappa B pathways. These data point to molecular pathways that may direct preneoplastic lesions to spontaneously regress or to progress to cancer.

Requirement for PLC gamma 2 in IL-3 and GM-CSF-Stimulated MEK/ERK Phosphorylation in Murine and Human Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells

Even though the involvement of intracellular Ca(2+) (Ca(i)(2+)) in hematopoiesis has been previously demonstrated, the relationship between Ca(i)(2+) signaling and cytokine-induced intracellular pathways remains poorly understood. Herein, the molecular mechanisms integrating Ca(2+) signaling with the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway in primary murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells stimulated by IL-3 and GM-CSF were studied. Our results demonstrated that IL-3 and GM-CSF stimulation induced increased inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP(3)) levels and Ca(i)(2+) release in murine and human hematopoietic stem/ progenitor cells. In addition, Ca(i)(2+) signaling inhibitors, such as inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor antagonist (2-APB), PKC inhibitor (GF109203), and CaMKII inhibitor (KN-62), blocked phosphorylation of MEK activated by IL-3 and GM-CSF, suggesting the participation of Ca(2+)-dependent kinases in MEK activation. In addition, we identify phospholipase C gamma 2 (PLC gamma 2) as a PLC gamma responsible for the induction of Ca(2+) release by IL-3 and GM-CSF in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Furthermore, the PLCg inhibitor U73122 significantly reduced the numbers of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units after cytokine stimulation. Similar results were obtained in both murine and human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Taken together, these data indicate a role for PLC gamma 2 and Ca(2+) signaling through the modulation of MEK in both murine and human hematopoietic stem/ progenitor cells. J. Cell. Physiol. 226: 1780-1792, 2011. (C) 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Serum amyloid A induces CCL20 secretion in mononuclear cells through MAPK (p38 and ERK1/2) signaling pathways

Although the serum levels of SAA had been reported to be upregulated during inflammatory/infectious process, the role of this acute-phase protein has not been completely elucidated. In previous studies, we demonstrated that SAA stimulated the production of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-8, NO, and ROS by neutrophils and/or mononuclear cells. Herein we demonstrate that SAA induces the expression and release of CCL20 from Cultured human blood mononuclear cells. We also focus on the signaling pathways triggered by SAA. in THP-1 cells SAA promotes phosphorylation of p38 and ERK1/2. Furthermore, the addition of SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) and PD98059 (ERK 1/2 inhibitor) inhibits the expression and release of CCL20 in mononuclear cells treated with SAA. Our results point to SAA as an important link of innate to adaptive immunity, once it might act on the recruitment of mononuclear cells. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Consecutive biocatalysis-palladium catalysis II: Synthesis of conduritol-alkyne conjugates

The palladium-catalyzed cross-coupling reaction of potassium alkynyltrifluoroborates with a chemoenzymatically derived deoxyconduritol is described. Six new compounds were synthesized in moderate to good yields. The alkynyl cross-coupling reaction can be effected using 10 mol% of Pd(PPh(3))(4) as Catalyst in toluene-H(2)O in the presence Of Cs(2)CO(3) as the inorganic base. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A recombinant vaccine based on domain II of Plasmodium vivax Apical Membrane Antigen 1 induces high antibody titres in mice

The Apical Membrane Antigen 1 (AMA-1) is considered a promising candidate for development of a malaria vaccine against asexual stages of Plasmodium. We recently identified domain II (DII) of Plasmodium vivax AMA-1 (PvAMA-1) as a highly immunogenic region recognised by IgG antibodies present in many individuals during patent infection with P. vivax. The present study was designed to evaluate the immunogenic properties of a bacterial recombinant protein containing PvAMA-1 DII. To accomplish this, the recombinant protein was administered to mice in the presence of each of the following six adjuvants: Complete/Incomplete Freund`s Adjuvant (CFA/IFA), aluminium hydroxide (Alum), Quil A, QS21 saponin, CpG-ODN 1826 and TiterMax. We found that recombinant DII was highly immunogenic in BALB/c mice when administered in the presence of any of the tested adjuvants. Importantly, we show that DII-specific antibodies recognised the native AMA-1 protein expressed on the surface of P. vivax merozoites isolated from the blood of infected patients. These results demonstrate that a recombinant protein containing PvAMA-1 DII is immunogenic when administered in different adjuvant formulations, and indicate that this region of the AMA-1 protein should continue to be evaluated as part of a subunit vaccine against vivax malaria. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Mitochondrial function in the yeast form of the pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Differences between the respiratory chain of the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and its mammalian host are reported. Respiration, membrane potential, and oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria from P. brasiliensis spheroplasts were evaluated in situ, and the presence of a complete (Complex I-V) functional respiratory chain was demonstrated. In succinate-energized mitochondria, ADP induced a transition from resting to phosphorylating respiration. The presence of an alternative NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase was indicated by: (i) the ability to oxidize exogenous NADH and (ii) the lack of sensitivity to rotenone and presence of sensitivity to flavone. Malate/NAD(+)-supported respiration suggested the presence of either a mitochondrial pyridine transporter or a glyoxylate pathway contributing to NADH and/or succinate production. Partial sensitivity of NADH/succinate-supported respiration to antimycin A and cyanide, as well as sensitivity to benzohydroxamic acids, suggested the presence of an alternative oxidase in the yeast form of the fungus. An increase in activity and gene expression of the alternative NADH dehydrogenase throughout the yeast`s exponential growth phase was observed. This increase was coupled with a decrease in Complex I activity and gene expression of its subunit 6. These results support the existence of alternative respiratory chain pathways in addition to Complex I, as well as the utilization of NADH-linked substrates by P. brasiliensis. These specific components of the respiratory chain could be useful for further research and development of pharmacological agents against the fungus.

An Apparent Paradox: Attenuation of Phenylephrine-mediated Calcium Mobilization and Hyperreactivity to Phenylephrine in Contralateral Carotid After Balloon Injury

Balloon catheter injury promotes hyperreactivity to phenylephrine (Phe) in the contralateral carotid. Phe-induced contraction involves calcium mobilization, a process that may be sensitive to reactive oxygen species. In this study, we investigated whether increased reactivity to Phe in the contralateral carotid is due to alterations in calcium mobilization by Phe and reactive oxygen species signaling. Concentration-response curves to Phe were obtained in control and contralateral arteries 4 days after balloon injury. Tiron did not modify E(max) to Phe in control arteries but reduced this parameter in the contralateral carotid to control levels. Moreover, immunofluorescence to dihydroethydine showed increased basal oxidative stress in the contralateral artery compared with control artery. Intracellular calcium mobilization by Phe in the contralateral artery was not different from control, but Phe-induced extracellular calcium mobilization was reduced in the contralateral artery compared with that in the control. These data were confirmed by confocal microscopy using Fluo 3-AM. Tiron and SC-236 increased Phe-induced calcium influx in the contralateral artery, which was similar to controls in the same conditions. However, catalase did not modify this response. Taken together, our results suggest that superoxide anions and prostanoids from cyclooxygenase-2 alter pathways downstream of alpha(1)-adrenoceptor activation in the contralateral carotid in response to injury. This results in reduced Phe-induced calcium influx, despite hyperreactivity to Phe.

A poloxamer/chitosan in situ forming gel with prolonged retention time for ocular delivery

The aim of the present work was to obtain an ophthalmic delivery system with improved mechanical and mucoadhesive properties that could provide prolonged retention time for the treatment of ocular diseases. For this, an in situ forming gel comprised of the combination of a thermosetting polymer, poly (ethylene oxide)-poly (propylene oxide)-poly (ethylene oxide) (PEO-PPO-PEO, poloxamer), with a mucoadhesive agent (chitosan) was developed. Different polymer ratios were evaluated by oscillatory rheology, texture and mucoadhesive profiles. Scintigraphy studies in humans were conduced to verify the retention time of the formulations developed. The results showed that chitosan improves the mechanical strength and texture properties of poloxamer formulations and also confers mucoadhesive properties in a concentration-dependent manner. After a 10-min instillation of the poloxamer/chitosan 16:1 formulation in human eyes, 50-60% of the gel was still in contact with the cornea surface, which represents a fourfold increased retention in comparison with a conventional solution. Therefore, the developed formulation presented adequate mechanical and sensorial properties and remained in contact with the eye surface for a prolonged time. In conclusion, the in situ forming gel comprised of poloxamer/chitosan is a promising tool for the topical treatment of ocular diseases. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High-level and phonological awareness abilities of children following management for supratentorial tumour: Part II

Background. Limited information is available regarding the impact of childhood tumour on the cerebral hemispheres and supratentorial cranial fossa. However, a recent study found that children managed for a tumour located in this region may demonstrate reduced general language abilities. However, the indirect or direct impact of a tumour in this region on higher-level language abilities in childhood is at present largely unknown. Materials and methods. The present study examined the higher language and phonological awareness abilities of five children treated for supratentorial tumour ranging in age from seven to fourteen years in age. Assessments included measures of receptive and expressive semantic abilities, inferencing, figurative language, and problem solving, as well as a comprehensive pre-literacy test. Results. As a group, reductions were evident in problem solving, and in the ability to receive and decode content of high-level language when compared to a group of age- and gender-matched peers. At an individual level, only two of five children managed for supratentorial tumour demonstrated language deficits. These two cases were noted to be the same children previously identified as also having general language deficits. More widespread findings were noted in phonological awareness, with four of the five children previously managed for supratentorial tumour demonstrating weaknesses in one or more areas. Conclusions. Findings demonstrated that weaknesses in general language ability in children managed for supratentorial tumour may indicate higher-level language difficulties. Language abilities beyond general measures of language should be monitored, as well as long-term consideration of phonological awareness abilities in this population.

Elevations, Goetz Residence II, Red Hill, Brisbane

Hand-drawn elevations of proposed residence.

Floor plan, Goetz Residence II, Red Hill, Brisbane

Hand-drawn plan of proposed residence.