Root and canopy traits and adaptability genes explain drought tolerance responses in winter wheat.

Bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L) is one of the three main staple crops worldwide contributing 20% calories in the human diet. Drought stress is the main factor limiting yields and threatening food security, with climate change resulting in more frequent and intense drought. Developing drought-tolerant wheat cultivars is a promising way forward. The use of holistic approaches that include high-throughput phenotyping and genetic markers in selection could help in accelerating genetic gains. Fifty advanced breeding lines were selected from the CIMMYT Turkey winter wheat breeding program and studied under irrigated and semiarid conditions in two years. High-throughput phenotyping was done for wheat crown root traits and canopy senescence dynamics using vegetation indices (green area using RGB images and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index using spectral reflectance). In addition, genotyping by KASP markers for adaptability genes was done. Overall, under semiarid conditions yield reduced by 3.09 t ha-1 (-46.8%) compared to irrigated conditions. Genotypes responded differently under drought stress and genotypes 39 (VORONA/HD24-12//GUN/7/VEE#8//…/8/ALTAY), 18 (BiII98) and 29 (NIKIFOR//KROSHKA) were the most drought tolerant. Root traits including shallow nodal root angle under irrigated conditions and root number per shoot under semiarid conditions were correlated with increased grain yield. RGB based vegetation index measuring canopy green area at anthesis was better correlated with GY than NDVI was with GY under drought. The markers for five established functional genes (PRR73.A1 -flowering time, TEF-7A -grain size and weight, TaCwi.4A - yield under drought, Dreb1- drought tolerance, and ISBW11.GY.QTL.CANDIDATE- grain yield) were associated with different drought-tolerance traits in this experiment. We conclude that-genotypes 39, 18 and 29 could be used for drought tolerance breeding. The trait combinations of canopy green area at anthesis, and root number per shoot along with key drought adaptability makers (TaCwi.4A and Dreb1) could be used in screening drought tolerance wheat breeding lines.

A deterministic evaluation of heat stress mitigation and feed cost under climate change within the smallholder dairy sector.

In the global South, dairying is often promoted as a means of poverty alleviation. Yet, under conditions of climate warming, little is known regarding the ability of small-scale dairy producers to maintain production and/or the robustness of possible adaptation options in meeting the challenges presented, particularly heat stress. The authors created a simple, deterministic model to explore the influence of breed and heat stress relief options on smallholder dairy farmers in Odisha, India. Breeds included indigenous Indian (non-descript), low-grade Jersey crossbreed and high-grade Jersey crossbreed. Relief strategies included providing shade, fanning and bathing. The impact of predicted critical global climate parameters, a 2°C and 4°C temperature rise were explored. A feed price scenario was modelled to illustrate the importance of feed in impact estimation. Feed costs were increased by 10% to 30%. Across the simulations, high-grade Jersey crossbreeds maintained higher milk yields, despite being the most sensitive to the negative effects of temperature. Low-capital relief strategies were the most effective at reducing heat stress impacts on household income. However, as feed costs increased the lower-grade Jersey crossbreed became the most profitable breed. The high-grade Jersey crossbreed was only marginally (4.64%) more profitable than the indigenous breed. The results demonstrate the importance of understanding the factors and practical trade-offs that underpin adaptation. The model also highlights the need for hot-climate dairying projects and programmes to consider animal genetic resources alongside environmentally sustainable adaptation measures for greatest poverty impact.

Trends in mode of delivery during 1984-2003: can they be explained by pregnancy and delivery complications?

OBJECTIVES: To describe trends in mode of delivery, to identify significant factors which affected mode of delivery, and to describe how these factors and their impact have changed over time. DESIGN: Total population birth cohort. SETTING: Western Australia 1984-2003. PARTICIPANTS: The analysis was restricted to all singleton infants delivered at 37-42 weeks of gestation with a cephalic presentation (n = 432,327). METHODS: Logistic regression analyses were undertaken to estimate significant independent risk factors separately for elective and emergency caesarean sections compared with vaginal delivery (spontaneous and instrumental), adjusting for potential confounding variables. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Trends in mode of delivery, demographic factors, and pregnancy and delivery complications. Estimated likelihood of elective caesarean section compared with vaginal delivery and emergency caesarean section compared with vaginal delivery. RESULTS: Between 1984-88 and 1999-2003, the likelihood of women having an elective caesarean section increased by a factor of 2.35 times (95% CI 2.28-2.42) and the likelihood of an emergency caesarean section increased 1.89 times (95% CI 1.83-1.96). These caesarean section rate increases remained even after adjustment for their strong associations with many sociodemographic factors, obstetric risk factors, and obstetric complications. Rates of caesarean section were higher in older mothers, especially those older than 40 years of age (elective caesarean section, OR 5.42 [95% CI 4.88-6.01]; emergency caesarean section, OR 2.67 [95% CI 2.39-2.97]), and in nulliparous women (elective caesarean section, OR 1.54 [95% CI 1.47-1.61]; emergency caesarean section, OR 3.61 [95% CI 3.47-3.76]). CONCLUSIONS: Our data show significant changes in mode of delivery in Western Australia from 1984-2003, with an increasing trend in both elective and emergency caesarean section rates that do not appear to be explained by increased risk or indication.

The CA 125 gene: an extracellular superstructure dominated by repeat sequences.

CA 125 has long presented problems to both clinicians and investigators because there was no definitive information on its structure and function. Here, we describe our work on cloning the CA 125 gene with the anticipation that such information will provide the basis for understanding its structure and its physiologic role in both normal and malignant tissues. The CA 125 protein core is composed of a short cytoplasmic tail, a transmembrane domain and an extraordinarily large glycosylated extracellular structure. This structure is dominated by a repeat domain composed of 156 amino acid repeat units which encompass the epitope binding sites. The molecule also includes an amino terminal domain of serine/threonine-rich sequences which would account for most of the O-glycosylation known to be present in CA 125. CA 125 is an unusually large transmembrane glycoprotein. Its release from the surface of the cell is most probably dependent on cytoplasmic phosphorylation followed by proteolytic cleavage. The extracellular domain is characterized by a large number of repeat units (probably 60+) which encompass an interactive disulfide bridged cysteine-loop and the site of OC125 and M11 binding. Sequencing the gene provides us with the ability to initiate the quest to understand the biological function of CA 125.

A chemical dependence clinical experience.

Chemical dependence treatment clinical experiences in undergraduate nursing programs can provide appropriate entry-level experiences for students in community settings when supervised adequately and arranged carefully. They increase students' awareness of the pervasiveness of alcohol and substance-related problems and its impact on individuals, families, and societies. With careful attention to entry barriers and orientation issues, faculty can develop clinical sites that provide a wealth of experience and opportunity for students to develop themselves both personally and professionally.

Two-year stability of free and total PSA in frozen serum samples.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the stability of free and total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in serum stored at -20 degrees C and -70 degrees C for 2 years. METHODS: Fresh blood from 29 patients was drawn and allowed to clot at room temperature. Serum was prepared by centrifugation 1 hour later and tested to determine the free and total PSA levels. Samples were aliquoted, frozen at -20 degrees C or -70 degrees C, and monitored for long-term stability over the course of 2 years. RESULTS: On average, 91% of the free PSA, 92% of the total PSA, and 89% of the percent free PSA values were recovered after 2 years of storage at -20 degrees C; and 96% of the free PSA, 101% of the total PSA, and 95% of the percent free PSA values were recovered after 2 years of storage at -70 degrees C. Seventy percent of the samples stored at -20 degrees C and 100% of the samples stored at -70 degrees C showed no statistically significant decline in free PSA values over the 2-year period. Only one total PSA sample (-20 degrees C) showed a statistically significant loss after 2 years of storage. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that samples stored frozen for up to 2 years at -70 degrees C should give acceptable percent free PSA results.

Food and neonatal androgen interact with photoperiod to inhibit reproductive maturation in Fischer 344 rats.

Laboratory rats generally do not respond reproductively to short days (SD) unless they are given treatments that unmask reproductive inhibition in SD. While young Fischer 344 (F344) rats are unusual among rat strains in that SD substantially inhibit their reproductive response, the inhibition is not as strong as in the classically photoresponsive species. Rats may have two components to photoresponsivenes: 1) an obligate inhibition by SD, and 2) a facultative inhibition in response to biologically relevant challenges. This study tested whether maturing male F344 rats, which clearly have an obligate inhibition of reproduction in SD, also have an additional, facultative inhibition of reproduction in SD in response to food restriction, a biologically reasonable challenge, or to neonatal androgen treatment, a pharmacological treatment that presumably alters organizational events in the development of the reproductive axis. Food restriction over a period of 13 wk strongly enhanced the inhibition of testicular growth by SD. Similarly, testosterone propionate (TP) treatment at 3 days of age strongly enhanced the inhibition of testicular growth by SD. Neonatal TP treatment along with SD inhibited testicular development almost as strongly as that observed in some commonly studied photoresponsive rodents, but for only half as many weeks. Thus, F344 rats possess an obligate inhibition of testicular development in SD that can be enhanced facultatively by food restriction and even more greatly enhanced by neonatal TP treatment. This combination of obligate and facultative responses to SD may have been important to wild rats ancestral to laboratory rats.

Naltrexone: a controversial therapy for alcohol dependence.

1. Naltrexone HCL (ReVia) may be an effective adjunct in the treatment of alcohol dependence in motivated individuals. 2. Naltrexone therapy is controversial because its use conflicts with the view of abstinence held by Alcoholics Anonymous and most medical treatment programs. 3. Knowledge of the controversy can help nurses advocate for their patients, and may help nurses acknowledge the need to define their care according to a nursing paradigm.

Analytical performance of the Tandem-R free PSA immunoassay measuring free prostate-specific antigen.

The analytical performance of the Tandem-R free PSA assay available from Hybritech Inc. was evaluated. Comparison of recoveries of purified free (unbound) prostate-specific antigen (PSA) diluted in female serum in the Tandem-R free PSA assay and the Tandem-R (total) PSA assay demonstrated a link in calibration between the assays and an accurate determination of percent free PSA. The cross-reactivity of the assay to purified PSA-alpha 1-antichymotrypsin was determined to be < 1%. The minimum-detectable concentration was < 0.05 microgram/L. The within-run and between-day CVs were < or = 5% for samples with > 0.3 microgram/L free PSA. Dilution and recovery showed no significant deviations from linearity across the assay range. The assay was insensitive to interference from blood components. The Tandem-R free PSA kit was shown to be an accurate, precise, and reliable assay for the measurement of free PSA.

Immunomodulatory effects of HSV2 glycoprotein D in HSV1 infected mice: implications for immunotherapy of recurrent HSV infection.

Immunological analyses in this laboratory and others have suggested that a nonrecurrent HSV seropositive immune status is more closely correlated with a type 1 T helper cell (Th1) response characterized by elevated levels of interferon-gamma and IL2 rather than high titers of virus-specific antibodies. Effective intervention with an immunotherapeutic vaccine may require modulation of the regulatory network of T helper cells such that there is selective restimulation and expansion of the Th1 response. We have established a murine model for assessing the immunomodulatory capacity of an HSV glycoprotein subunit vaccine in animals with pre-existing herpes immunity. Animals were infected with varying doses of HSV1 and then administered glycoprotein D (gD) vaccine adjuvanted with aluminum phosphate at 3-week intervals. Observed changes in serological and cellular responses indicated that administration of subunit vaccine adjuvanted with aluminum phosphate could shift a dominant Th1 response, induced by sensitization with live HSV, towards a Th2 profile of activity. These data suggest that use of aluminum based adjuvants will not selectively stimulate Th1-associated responses and alternative adjuvants may be required for effective use of subunit vaccine in an immunotherapeutic indication in humans.

Rotationally invariant Fresnel lens-encoded circular harmonic binary phase-only filters.

Binary phase-only circular harmonic filters show an angular dependence on the rotational orientation of the input object, which can be removed by encoding a Fresnel lens onto the filter. Theoretical and experimental results are presented using these filters written onto the magnetooptic spatial light modulator.

Cyclosporin abrogates virus-specific T-cell control of EBV-induced B-cell lymphoproliferation.

Renal and cardiac recipients undergoing aggressive immunosuppressive therapy with cyclosporin A have been reported to have unusually high incidences of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome-positive lymphomas. T cells have been shown to be of critical importance in controlling the lymphoproliferative potential of the EB virus. EBV-specific T cell clones were generated in vitro by repeated antigenic restimulation in the presence of interleukin-2 (IL-2). These virus-specific cells were used to study cyclosporin A's effect on their activation, proliferation and cytotoxic function, and the possible abrogation of the cell's ability to control virus-induced lymphoproliferation. In this study, we show that cyclosporin A does not interfere with antigen recognition, since the T cell cytotoxic potential is unchanged. However, cyclosporin A induces a dose-dependent reduction in membrane IL-2 receptor expression which consequently limits the proliferation of the antigen-activated cell. This may translate in vivo to an insufficient expansion of the cytotoxic T cells which controls the outgrowth of the EBV-infected B cell.

Topical fibronectin therapy in persistent corneal ulceration.

Fifteen patients with 20 episodes of persistent corneal ulceration, resistant to conventional therapy, were treated with topical autologous fibronectin. Thirteen corneal ulcers (eight patients) developed following penetrating keratoplasty, three patients had mucous membrane pemphigoid, two patients had herpetic keratitis and one each had Sjögren's syndrome and a trophic corneal ulcer. A standard protocol for fibronectin administration was followed. This therapy healed 16 of the 20 ulcers after a mean duration of treatment of 2.3 months. Corneal ulceration associated with mucous membrane pemphigoid failed to respond to fibronectin. Corneal ulcers which recurred after cessation of fibronectin responded to reintroduction of this therapy. Topical fibronectin is an effective therapy for refractory corneal ulceration and is free of major side effects.

Polymorphism of the seventh complement component, C7, in Chinese.

An allele of the seventh complement component, C7*2, which is very rare in Europeans, has been found at balanced polymorphic frequency (0.15) in Chinese. This marker may be useful for anthropological studies.