Implementation of two high through-put techniques in a novel application: detecting point mutations in large EMS mutated plant populations

Background  

The establishment of mutant populations together with the strategies for targeted mutation detection has been applied successfully to a large number of organisms including many species in the plant kingdom. Considerable efforts have been invested into research on tomato as a model for berry-fruit plants. With the progress of the tomato sequencing project, reverse genetics becomes an obvious and achievable goal.     

Reproductive Performance and Reconception of Nellore Cows According to Their Pure‐ or Cross‐Bred Calves

The objective of the present research was to evaluate the effect of a calf's genetic group on the productive and reproductive efficiency of its Nellore dam. Fixed‐time artificial insemination was applied to 800 cows using semen extracted from Nellore, Simmental and Angus Red bulls. Four hundred eleven cows calved, producing 119 Nellore, 103 ½Simmental–½Nellore and 189 ½Nellore–½Angus Red calves. The second mating period, which paired Nellore cows with Simmental bulls, was initiated 10 days after parturitions began and lasted for 5 months. Based on the two successive parturitions, the cumulative parturition rate for calving periods of 3, 4 and 5 months was calculated. Although no significant difference was observed for birth weight among the genetic groups, cross‐bred calves weighed, on average, 10% more than did pure‐bred calves at the age of 205 days. Nellore dams experienced a gestation period that was 7 days longer than did the cross‐bred dams, and the former showed a higher parturition rate at 90 and 120 days of the calving season, but not at 150 days (calving rates of 80.6, 76.4 and 76.2% for mothers of Nellore, ½Nellore–½Angus Red and ½Nellore–½Simmental, respectively, p > 0.05). At 90 and 120 days, Nellore dams produced more kg of calf per mated dam. In conclusion, in a short breeding season, Nellore dams nursing pure‐bred Nellore calves were found to have a higher biological efficiency compared with Nellore dams nursing cross‐bred calves.     

Physiological and biochemical consequences of electroimobilisation in conscious sheep

An electroimmobilisation device has been developed to facilitate the automated shearing of sheep, but there is little information on its effects on the body. We have studied its effects on the cardiovascular system and on intermediary metabolism in sheep. Electroimmobilisation caused statistically significant increases in mean arterial pressure, heart rate, cardiac output, renal and hepatic and hindquarter glucose and lactate flux, organ and whole body oxygen flux, hindquarter blood flow and core temperature and decreases in arterial and posterior vena cava blood pH, renal and hepatic blood flow and PaCO2. Notably, no change occurred in PaO2. The metabolic changes demonstrated the capacity of sheep to respond to the increased muscular and cardiovascular work induced by electroimmobilisation. Pulmonary function was not compromised during electroimmobilisation as judged from blood gas changes, and the acid/base changes were rapidly reversed after electroimmobilisation. The recovery to control conditions for all perturbations generally took no longer than 30 min, consistent with a rapid and physiologically adequate reversal by the animal's homeostatic mechanisms.     

Imaging of intermittency in ripple-wave turbulence

The dynamics of a fluid surface filled with high-amplitude ripples were studied with a technique (diffusing light photography) that resolves the height at all locations instantaneously. Even when nonlinearities are strong enough to generate a (Kolmogorov) cascade from long wavelength (where energy is input) to shorter wavelength, the resulting turbulent state contains large coherent spatial structures. The appearance of these structures in a thermal equilibrium state (with the same average energy) would be highly improbable.     

Cardiorespiratory Effects of Combined Midazolam and Butorphanol in Isoflurane-anesthetized Cats

The cardiorespiratory effects of midazolam (0.1 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg) were evaluated in seven cats. Cats were induced in a chamber, removed and intubated, and maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. Cardiorespiratory data were recorded before and 3, 10,20,30,40,50, and 60 minutes after intravenous injection of midazolam-butorphanol. Heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and respiration rate were significantly (p < .05) decreased below baseline at various times throughout the study. Tidal volume and minute ventilation were unchanged. End-tidal carbon dioxide was significantly (p < .05) increased above baseline for 30 minutes. Midazolam-butorphanol administered intravenously induced significant alterations in several cardiorespiratory parameters in isoflurane-anesthetized cats.     

Giant Cell Dermatosis in FeLV-positive Cats

Abstract— Giant cell dermatosisis is reported in six cats with evidence of concurrent feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection. Scaling, crusting and alopecia, accompanied by pruritus, affected the head and/or face predominantly in most cats; generalized skin disease developed in one cat. Histologically, giant keratinocytes resembling syncytial cells were found in the epidermis and superficial hair follicles, and were accompanied by dyskeratosis, pustules and ulcers. Immunohistochemical staining revealed FeLV antigen in the giant cells and adjacent keratinocytes. FeLV infection may have led to neoplastic alteration of the keratinocytes through recombination with host oncogenes
Resumen  Este artículo se basa en seis gatos con dermatosis de las células gigantes infectados con el virus FeLV. Éstos animales presentaban escamas y costras, así como pérdida de pelo y picor en las regiones de la cabera y cara, predominantemente. Tan solo uno de los gatos desarrolló una dermatosis generalizada. En el exámen histológico se demostró la presencia de keratinocitos gigantes con semejonza a las células sinticiales localizados en la epidermis y folículos pilosos superficiales, acompañados de disqueratosis, pústulas y ülceras. Las finturas histo-inmunológicas demostraron el antígeno FeLV en las células gigantes y keratinocitos adyacentes. La injeccion con el virus FeLV pudo haber conducido a la alteración neoplástica de los keratinocitos a través de la recombinación con los oncogenes del hospedador.     

Blockade of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis by deuterium oxide

Interference with deoxyribonucleic acid replication need not be a primary mechanism in the blockade of cell division by deuterium oxide, but current hypotheses on the molecular basis of the blockade do suggest that such interference might take place under appropriate conditions. Autoradiographic experiments support the suggestion, for whereas normal sea urchin eggs incorporate H(3)-thymidine into deoxyribonucleic acid from almost the beginning of development, cells immersed in deuterium-enriched media do not. Blockade of mitosis and inhibition of thymidine incorporation are simultaneously relieved when the eggs are returned to normal water.