Overwintering Camelina and Canola/Rapeseed Show Promise for Improving Integrated Weed Management Approaches in the Upper Midwestern U.S.

Winter oilseed cash cover crops are gaining popularity in integrated weed management programs for suppressing weeds. A study was conducted at two field sites (Fargo, North Dakota, and Morris, Minnesota) to determine the freezing tolerance and weed-suppressing traits of winter canola/rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) and winter camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] in the Upper Midwestern USA. The top 10 freezing tolerant accessions from a phenotyped population of winter canola/rapeseed were bulked and planted at both locations along with winter camelina (cv. Joelle) as a check. To phenotype our entire winter B. napus population (621 accessions) for freezing tolerance, seeds were also bulked and planted at both locations. All B. napus and camelina were no-till seeded at Fargo and Morris at two planting dates, late August (PD1) and mid-September (PD2) 2019. Data for winter survival of oilseed crops (plants m-2) and their corresponding weed suppression (plants m-2 and dry matter m-2) were collected on two sampling dates (SD) in May and June 2020. Crop and SD were significant (p < 0.05) for crop plant density at both locations, and PD in Fargo and crop x PD interaction in Morris were significant for weed dry matter. At Morris and Fargo, PD1 produced greater winter B. napus survival (28% and 5%, respectively) and PD2 produced higher camelina survival (79% and 72%, respectively). Based on coefficient of determination (r2), ~50% of weed density was explained by camelina density, whereas ≤20% was explained by B. napus density at both locations. Camelina from PD2 suppressed weed dry matter by >90% of fallow at both locations, whereas weed dry matter in B. napus was not significantly different from fallow at either PD. Genotyping of overwintering canola/rapeseed under field conditions identified nine accessions that survived at both locations, which also had excellent freezing tolerance under controlled conditions. These accessions are good candidates for improving freezing tolerance in commercial canola cultivars.

Surface runoff and nutrient dynamics in cover crop-soybean systems in the Upper Midwest.

Relay-cropping of the novel oilseeds winter camelina (Camelina sativa L.) and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) with short-season crops such as soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] can provide economic and environmental incentives for adopting winter cover crop practices in the U.S. Upper Midwest. However, their ability to reduce nutrient loss in surface runoff is unknown. Accordingly, surface runoff and quality were evaluated during three seasonal phases (cover, intercrop, and soybean) over 2 yr in four cover crop-soybean treatments (pennycress, winter camelina, forage radish [Raphanus sativus L.], and winter rye [Secale cereale L.]) compared with no-till and chisel-till fallow treatments. Runoff was collected with Gerlach troughs and assessed for concentrations and loads of NO3 - -N, total mineral N, soluble reactive P (SRP), and total suspended solids (TSS). Cumulative runoff and nutrient loads were greater during the winter cover phase because of increased snow melt and freeze-thaw released nutrients from living vegetation. In contrast, cumulative TSS was greater during intercrop and soybean phases due to high-intensity rainfall events with an open soybean canopy. Average TSS loads during the intercrop phase were reduced by 75% in pennycress compared with fallow and radish treatments. During the soybean phase, average TSS, total mineral N, and SRP loads were generally elevated in cover crop treatments compared with no-till. Overwintering cover crops may contribute to mobility of nutrients solubilized from living or decomposing vegetation; however, this was balanced by their potential to reduce runoff and TSS during high-intensity spring rains.

Retraction notice to "The role of enoximone in cardiac surgery" [Br J Anaesth 69 (1992) 45-50].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/our-business/policies/article-withdrawal). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief, Professor Hugh Hemmings, based on the recommendations of Justus-Liebig-University Giessen following an internal review of research conducted by Joachim Boldt at the University. This is further described in 'Further Retractions of Articles by Joachim Boldt', https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bja.2020.02.024.

MCNP HPGe detector benchmark with previously validated Cyltran model.

An exact copy of the detector model generated for Cyltran was reproduced as an MCNP input file and the detection efficiency was calculated similarly with the methodology used in previous experimental measurements and simulation of a 280 cm(3) HPGe detector. Below 1000 keV the MCNP data correlated to the Cyltran results within 0.5% while above this energy the difference between MCNP and Cyltran increased to about 6% at 4800 keV, depending on the electron cut-off energy.

Microbiological stability of biodiesel-diesel-mixtures.

The biodegradation of rapeseed oil methyl ester (RME) in pure and in mixtures with diesel fuel was investigated. Higher ratio of diesel fuel in the mixture resulted in higher count of bacteria. Fungal growth was advanced by higher RME contents. The growth of microorganisms gained from soil was strongest in B 20 (20 vol.% biodiesel and 80 vol.% diesel fuel) mixtures followed by B 5 (5 vol.% biodiesel and 95 vol.% diesel fuel) mixtures and pure RME. The formation of free fatty acids (FFA) in the RME sample was measured according to DIN EN 14214. The content of FFA in inoculated RME samples rose from 0.08 mass% to 0.344 mass% at the beginning. The oxidation stability of inoculated samples of B 20, B 5 and pure RME decreased faster than the oxidation stability of blank samples. An optical evaluation showed the formation of turbidity. Partly, the formation of sediment was observed, especially in B 20 and B 5 samples.

Importance of unusually modified lipid A in Sinorhizobium stress resistance and legume symbiosis.

Sinorhizobium meliloti, a legume symbiont and Brucella abortus, a phylogenetically related mammalian pathogen, both require their BacA proteins to establish chronic intracellular infections in their respective hosts. The lipid A molecules of S. meliloti and B. abortus are unusually modified with a very-long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA; C > or = 28) and we discovered that BacA is involved in this unusual modification. This observation raised the possibility that the unusual lipid A modification could be crucial for the chronic infection of both S. meliloti and B. abortus. We investigated this by constructing and characterizing S. meliloti mutants in the lpxXL and acpXL genes, which encode an acyl transferase and acyl carrier protein directly involved in the biosynthesis of VLCFA-modified lipid A. Our analysis revealed that the unusually modified lipid A is important, but not crucial, for S. meliloti chronic infection and that BacA must have an additional function, which in combination with its observed effect on the lipid A in the free-living form of S. meliloti, is essential for the chronic infection. Additionally, we discovered that in the absence of VLCFAs, S. meliloti produces novel pentaacylated lipid A species, modified with unhydroxylated fatty acids, which are important for stress resistance.

Evidence of oxidative stress in full-term healthy infants.

We hypothesized that early infancy would be a time of oxidative stress due to the difficulty of adapting to ambient oxygen. Therefore, we measured levels of products of lipid peroxidation (F2-isoprostanes), antioxidant enzyme activity (catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), and ability to resist oxidative stress (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP)) in full-term infants (38-42 wk) fed human milk from birth. Seventy-seven infants were followed at 1, 3.5, 6, and 12 mo of age. F2-isoprostanes in plasma declined significantly (p < 0.05) from 1 to 6 mo (160 +/- 43; 90 +/- 33; 41 +/- 27 pg/mL (mean +/- SD)). FRAP values (775 +/- 196, 723 +/- 133, 697 +/- 126, 669 +/- 145 microM) 1, 3.5, 6, and 12, respectively) declined (p = 0.06) from 1 to 3.5 mo and from 3.5 to 6 mo of age. RBC-SOD (2.7 +/- 2, 3.2 +/- 2.8, 2.1 +/- 1.8, 2.5 +/- 1.8 U, 1, 3.5, 6, 12 mo, respectively) declined from 3.5 to 6 mo. RBC-CAT (76 +/- 23, 94 +/- 28, 81 +/- 22, 85 +/- 31 U, 1, 3.5, 6, 12 mo, respectively) also declined between 3.5 and 6 mo, after a significant increase between 1 and 3.5 mo. These data suggest that the human infant is under oxidative stress early in infancy and further study may be warranted to assess the potential benefits of antioxidant supplementation for either the mother or the infant.

Similarity to peroxisomal-membrane protein family reveals that Sinorhizobium and Brucella BacA affect lipid-A fatty acids.

Sinorhizobium meliloti, a legume symbiont, and Brucella abortus, a phylogenetically related mammalian pathogen, both require the bacterial-encoded BacA protein to establish chronic intracellular infections in their respective hosts. We found that the bacterial BacA proteins share sequence similarity with a family of eukaryotic peroxisomal-membrane proteins, including the human adrenoleukodystrophy protein, required for the efficient transport of very-long-chain fatty acids out of the cytoplasm. This insight, along with the increased sensitivity of BacA-deficient mutants to detergents and cell envelope-disrupting agents, led us to discover that BacA affects the very-long-chain fatty acid (27-OHC28:0 and 29-OHC30:0) content of both Sinorhizobium and Brucella lipid A. We discuss models for how BacA function affects the lipid-A fatty-acid content and why this activity could be important for the establishment of chronic intracellular infections.

Effects of vigabatrin on brain GABA+/Cr signals in focus-distant and focus-near brain regions monitored by 1H-NMR spectroscopy.

The new antiepileptic drug vigabatrin (VGB) increases gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the brain. We compared GABA+/Cr signals measured focus-near and focus-distant and correlated it with the degree of response to VGB. Brain GABA+/Cr signals were measured in 17 epileptic patients in structurally normal appearing tissue by nuclear proton magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) spectroscopy using a special editing sequence for GABA. In 11 patients the measurements were done in brain areas distant to focus and in six near to focus. Full-responders (seizure reduction of >or=50% at the end of the treatment phase) and partial-responders (seizure reduction of >or=50% at the end of the first month of treatment but

[Evaluation of spine boards for X-Ray diagnostics]. / Evaluation von Wirbelsäulenbrettern für die Röntgendiagnostik.

PURPOSE: Spine boards are frequently used in preclinical emergency care. Different models were examined with regard to their feasibility for plain film radiography and computed tomography (CT). METHODS: Five current spine board models were measured for their dimensions and weight. Transmission of radiation [microGyls] and dose area product [cGy x cm(2)] were determined with a patient equivalent aluminium phantom. Image artifacts, image quality and resolution of anatomic details were evaluated with an anthropomorphic Alderson phantom. RESULTS: With only 6.3 kg new models show a 28 % reduction in weight, three spine boards generate lateral artifacts due to a narrow width of 41 - 42 cm. Radiation transmission of all boards was similar, however dose area products differed by up to 59 %. Image quality was impaired in 4 out of 5 boards because of image artifacts, CT scanning was not impaired with all boards. CONCLUSION: Only one board (Ferno Millenia(R)) showed sufficient properties for plain film radiography and CT. There is no suitable spine board for preclinical and clinical applications as well as for trauma radiology, further improvements of current designs are essential.

Effects of vigabatrin on brain GABA+/CR signals in patients with epilepsy monitored by 1H-NMR-spectroscopy: responder characteristics.

PURPOSE: Vigabatrin (VGB) is a new antiepileptic drug that increases the human brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) level by irreversibly inhibiting GABA transaminase. Although some patients respond to VGB with a significant seizure reduction, others do not. The aim of this study was to identify possible responders before or in an early phase of VGB treatment by measuring the GABA and homocarnosine contaminated with macromolecules/creatine and phosphocreatine ratio (GABA+/Cr) signal by means of proton-nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) spectroscopy. METHODS: Measurements were performed immediately before and after a titration period of 1 month (2 g/day during the past 2 weeks). A third measurement followed a maintenance period of 3 months (2 or 3 g/day). In 14 patients with drug-resistant temporal lobe epilepsy and 3 patients with occipital lobe epilepsy, GABA+/Cr was measured in the ipsilateral (i.e., epileptogenic) hemisphere and contralateral (i.e., nonepileptogenic) hemisphere in a volume of 8 cm3. RESULTS: Depending on the therapeutic efficacy of VGB, we defined three groups: (a) full responders (n = 7), (b) nonresponders (n = 7), and (c) partial responders (n = 3). The nonresponders had no significant change in the GABA+/Cr signal during the treatment compared with baseline. The full responders had a significant increase of the GABA+/Cr signal during the whole treatment phase and a lower ipsilateral level at baseline. The partial responders had also a lowered ipsilateral GABA+/Cr signal at baseline and an increase during treatment but a decrease when the seizures started again. CONCLUSIONS: Responders to VGB could be identified by a lower ipsilateral baseline GABA+/Cr signal and a steeper increase during VGB treatment. However, it was not possible to predict the duration of the response (full versus partial responder) with these criteria.

Conjugation of fluorochromes to monoclonal antibodies.

UNLABELLED: Detection of cell surface molecules labeled by monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies conjugated to a fluorochrome is probably the most widely used application of flow cytometry. This unit contains protocols for tagging monoclonal antibodies with fluorescein, biotin, Texas Red, and phycobiliproteins. In addition, it provides a procedure for preparing a PE-Texas Red tandem conjugate dye that can then be used for antibody conjugation. These protocols enable investigators to label antibodies of their choice with multiple fluorochromes and permit more combinations of antibodies for multicolor flow applications. KEYWORDS: flow cytometry; monoclonal antibodies; fluorochromes; antibody labeling.

[Implementation of a quality management system for the curriculum in emergency medicine education]. / Implementierung eines Qualitätsmanagementsystems für die Unterrichtsdurchführung des Notfallkurses.

Medical teaching, training and education in basic and advanced life support were improved by basic quality management procedures. 3rd year medical students (n = 276) of two consequent semesters were questionnaired about their acute emergency medicine curriculum. While Group A (n = 134) received a standard course, the new course for group B (n = 142) was reorganised on the basis of the results of group A. Interventive educational measures were an increased number of models provided for exercising the students skills, and an extension of megacode training possibilities. Participation of students in course design improved the overall performance in respect of knowledge, skills and decision-making (p < 0.05). Curriculum acceptance and intrinsic motivation of students however were not positively influenced by practical training compared to traditional knowledge transfer.

The GxxxG motif: a framework for transmembrane helix-helix association.

In order to identify strong transmembrane helix packing motifs, we have selected transmembrane domains exhibiting high-affinity homo-oligomerization from a randomized sequence library based on the right-handed dimerization motif of glycophorin A. Sequences were isolated using the TOXCAT system, which measures transmembrane helix-helix association in the Escherichia coli inner membrane. Strong selection was applied to a large range of sequences ( approximately 10(7) possibilities) and resulted in the identification of sequence patterns that mediate high-affinity helix-helix association. The most frequent motif isolated, GxxxG, occurs in over 80% of the isolates. Additional correlations suggest that flanking residues act in concert with the GxxxG motif, and that size complementarity is maintained at the interface, consistent with the idea that the identified sequence patterns represent packing motifs. The convergent identification of similar sequence patterns from an analysis of the transmembrane domains in the SwissProt sequence database suggests that these packing motifs are frequently utilized in naturally occurring helical membrane proteins.

Interhelical hydrogen bonding drives strong interactions in membrane proteins.

Polar residues in transmembrane alpha-helices may strongly influence the folding or association of integral membrane proteins. To test whether a motif that promotes helix association in a soluble protein could do the same within a membrane, we designed a model transmembrane helix based on the GCN4 leucine zipper. We found in both detergent micelles and biological membranes that helix association is driven strongly by asparagine, independent of the rest of the hydrophobic leucine and/or valine sequence. Hydrogen bonding between membrane helices gives stronger associations than the packing of surfaces in glycophorin A helices, creating an opportunity to stabilize structures, but also implying a danger that non-specific interactions might occur. Thus, membrane proteins may fold to avoid exposure of strongly hydrogen bonding groups at their lipid exposed surfaces.

TOXCAT: a measure of transmembrane helix association in a biological membrane.

The noncovalent association of transmembrane alpha-helices is a fundamental event in the folding of helical membrane proteins. In this work, a system (TOXCAT) is developed for the study of transmembrane helix-helix oligomerization in a natural membrane environment. This assay uses a chimeric construct composed of the N-terminal DNA binding domain of ToxR (a dimerization-dependent transcriptional activator) fused to a transmembrane domain (tm) of interest and a monomeric periplasmic anchor (the maltose binding protein). Association of the tms results in the ToxR-mediated activation of a reporter gene encoding chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT). The level of CAT expression indicates the strength of tm association. The assay distinguishes between a known dimerizing tm and a mutant in which dimerization is disrupted. In addition, modulation of the chimera concentration shows that the dimerization exhibits concentration dependence in membranes. TOXCAT also is used to select oligomeric tms from a library of randomized sequences, demonstrating the potential of this system to reveal novel oligomerization motifs. The TOXCAT system has been used to investigate glycophorin A tm-mediated dimerization. Although the overall sensitivity of glycophorin A tm dimerization to mutagenesis is found to be similar in membranes and in detergent micelles, several significant differences exist. Mutations to polar residues, which are generally disruptive in SDS, exhibit sequence specificity in membranes, demonstrating both the limitations of detergent micelles and the wider range of application of the TOXCAT system.

Oral dolasetron mesilate (MDL 73,147EF) for the control of emesis during fractionated total-body irradiation and high-dose cyclophosphamide in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral dolasetron mesilate in the prevention of nausea and vomiting that might otherwise be induced by total-body irradiation (TBI) and high-dose cyclophosphamide. In an open non-comparative study 20 patients who received TBI for 3 days and high-dose cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for 2 days as part of their preparation for bone marrow transplantation were given oral dolasetron mesilate at dosages ranging from 50 to 200 mg 1 h before each fraction of radiotherapy and cyclophosphamide administration. Initial rescue therapy consisted of intravenous dolasetron mesilate. If nausea and vomiting remained uncontrolled, standard antiemetics were to be used. Of the 20 patients, 13 had only two emetic episodes or fewer in the 3-day TBI period. On days 1 and 2 of cyclophosphamide administration, 11 and 6 patients had fewer than two emetic episodes. From day 1 to day 3, 15 patients experienced no nausea or only mild nausea, and on the days of chemotherapy 8 and 7 patients had mild nausea or none at all. Rescue with i.v. dolasetron mesilate was needed by 3 and 6 patients during the TBI and the chemotherapy periods respectively. In 2 patients additional antiemetics were used on days 2-3 and 4-5. Mild to moderate headache was reported in 6 patients. No unexpected abnormalities were observed in haematology, biochemistry or urinalysis, and vital signs were unaffected throughout the study period. The data suggest that oral dolasetron mesilate is effective and safe for the prevention of nausea and vomiting during TBI and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy prior to bone marrow transplantation. Future controlled studies should evaluate combination antiemetic therapy with dolasetron mesilate for this indication.

Determining the secondary structure and orientation of EmrE, a multi-drug transporter, indicates a transmembrane four-helix bundle.

EmrE is a member of a newly emerging family of MiniTEXANS, a family of multi-drug antiporters from bacteria characterized by their small size of roughly 100 amino acids. In this report we have obtained transmission FTIR spectra of EmrE in CHCl3:MeOH, DMPC vesicles, and Escherichia coli lipid vesicles. Secondary structure analysis has shown that both in DMPC vesicles and in CHCl3: MeOH the protein adopts a highly helical secondary structure that correlates remarkably well with that predicted by hydropathy analysis. The protein was shown to be resistant to amide proton H/D exchange, providing evidence that most of the protein is embedded in the lipid bilayer. Polarized ATR-FTIR spectra of the protein in DMPC vesicles have shown that the helices are oriented with an average tilt angle of 27 degrees from the bilayer normal. The protein was found to be less oriented in E. coli lipid vesicles, most likely as a result of the poor orientation of the bilayer lipids themselves. Thus, the protein is identified as a transmembrane four-helix bundle providing valuable structural data for this family of multi-drug transporters. The results set the stage for further studies aimed at deriving a detailed model for this protein.

Vigabatrin in unsatisfactory controlled epilepsies. Swiss Vigabatrin Study Group.

One hundred and twenty-seven patients with uncontrolled epilepsy have been treated in an open add-on study with vigabatrin with a mean follow up of ten months. Mean duration of epilepsy prior to treatment was seven-teen years. Patients with partial seizures, with and without secondary generalisation responded best with 44% achieving a greater than 50% reduction in seizure frequency. Adverse events were primarily CNS related and reversible, two patients were withdrawn because of somnolence and eight because of behavioral disturbances. Reduction of concomittant AEDs was difficult in this population with chronic epilepsy.