Protein supplementation and growth enhancer strategies in successive years to maximise growth of Brahman cross steers grazing sown grass pastures on brigalow lands

A strategy comprising a winter/spring protein supplement, rumen modifier and hormonal growth promotant (Compudose 400) was used in either the first year (Tl), second year (T2), or in both years (T1+2) following weaning in Brahman cross steers as a means of increasing liveweight gain up to 2.5 years of age. T2 produced the heaviest final liveweight (544.7 kg) and highest overall liveweight gain (366.7 kg), but these were not significantly different from T1 (538.6 kg; 360.9 kg), or T1+2 (528.7 kg; 349.3 kg). However, final liveweight and overall liveweight gains of T1 and T2 but not T1+2 were significantly greater than for untreated (C) steers (504.9 kg; 325.2 kg, both P < 0.05). Regardless of the strategy imposed, liveweight and liveweight gain were enhanced, however final liveweights in each treatment were below the preferred minimum target liveweight (570-580 kg) for premium export markets. Treatment in both years gave no benefit over treatment in 1 year only. 19th Biennial Conference. 5-9 July 1992. LaTrobe University, Melbourne.

Atomic force microscope investigation of large-circle DNA molecules

A circular bacterial artificial chromosome of 148.9 kbp on human chromosome 3 has been extended and fixed on bare mica substrates using a developed fluid capillary flow method in evaporating liquid drops. Extended circular DNA molecules were imaged with an atomic force microscope (AFM) under ambient conditions. The measured total lengths of the whole DNA molecules were in agreement with sequencing analysis data with an error range of +/-3.6%. This work is important groundwork for probing single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human genome, mapping genomic DNA, manipulating biomolecular nanotechnology, and studying the interaction of DNA-protein complexes investigated by AFM.

Investigation of charge-carrier injection characteristics in NPB/Alq3 heterojunction devices

The effect of copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) and LiF interfacial layers on the charge-carrier injection in NN'-di(naphthalene-l-yl)N,N'-diphenyl-benzidine (NPB)/tris(8-hydroxyquinoline) aluminium (Alq(3)) organic heterojunction devices have been studied through the analysis of current-voltage characteristics. The investigation clearly demonstrated that the hole injection into NPB from anode is Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling and the electron injection into Alq3 from cathode is Richardson-Schottky (RS) thermionic emission. The barrier heights obtained from the FN and RS models proved that the band alignments for charge-carrier injection are greatly improved by the CuPc and LiF interfacial layers, which should fully clarify the role of the interfacial layer on the improvement of device performance.

Analysis of the antigen combining site: Correlations between length and sequence composition of the hypervariable loops and the nature of the antigen

It has long been suggested that the overall shape of the antigen combining site (ACS) of antibodies is correlated with the nature of the antigen. For example, deep pockets are characteristic of antibodies that bind haptens, grooves indicate peptide binders, while antibodies that bind to proteins have relatively flat combining sites. In. 1996, MacCallum, Martin and Thornton used a fractal shape descriptor and showed a strong correlation of the shape of the binding region with the general nature of the antigen. However, the shape of the ACS is determined primarily by the lengths of the six complementarity-determining regions (CDRs). Here, we make a direct correlation between the lengths of the CDRs and the nature of the antigen. In addition, we show significant differences in the residue composition of the CDRs of antibodies that bind to different antigen classes. As well as helping us to understand the process of antigen recognition, autoimmune disease and cross-reactivity these results are of direct application in the design of antibody phage libraries and modification of affinity. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

Tubal sterilization: Complications of laparoscopy and minilaparotomy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether intra- and post-operative morbidity varies according to the method used for female sterilization. STUDY DESIGN: The database of the Swiss obstetric study group was analyzed for a period of 9 years. After the exclusion of cases with extraneous factors that may have influenced the operative outcome, three groups of patients were identified: (1) interval laparoscopic sterilization unrelated to pregnancy (n=20,325); (2) postpartum laparoscopic sterilization (n=2233); (3) postpartum sterilization by minilaparotomy (n=5095). Intra-operative and post-operative complications were compared according to the surgical approach. RESULTS: A total of 27,653 patients were included in the study. The proportion of major complications was higher in group 3 than in group 1 (0.39% versus 0.10%, odds ratio 4.0, 95% CI 2.15-7.44, p<0.001) but not statistically different between groups 1 (0.10%) and 2 (0.18%). Minor complications were statistically significantly more frequent in group 3 (0.82%) than in group 1 (0.26%) or group 2 (0.27%). There was no case of intra-operative or post-operative death in the study population. CONCLUSION: When available, a laparoscopic approach should be chosen for female sterilization. After uneventful pregnancy course and delivery, it does not seem justified to delay the endoscopic sterilization to a later time.