Neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis in Borderdale sheep

AIM: To describe the gross and histological lesions of a neurological disease in Borderdale sheep characterised clinically by blindness and circling, as a basis to its classification. METHODS: Formalin-fixed tissues were processed into paraffin wax and epoxy resin for light and electron microscopy of variously stained sections. RESULTS: Lesions were those of a lysosomal storage disease with severe neurodegeneration of the cerebral cortex. The staining reactions, autofluorescence and ultrastructure of storage material allowed the diagnosis of neuronal ceroid-lipofuscinosis associated with the accumulation of subunit-c of mitochondrial ATP synthase. CONCLUSIONS: The severity of neurodegeneration and minor differences in the ultrastructure of storage material implied that this was a different disease from other forms of ovine ceroid-lipofuscinosis that accumulate subunit-c of mitochondrial ATP synthase. An autosomal recessive mode of inheritance is considered probable. Although of only minor economic importance, this disease may be important to research into the group of ceroid-lipofuscinoses as a whole.     

Selective control of mite and collembolan pests of pastures and grain crops in Australia

Control of invertebrate pests in broad-acre agriculture largely relies on the application of broad-spectrum pesticides, however resistance problems and environmental concerns are driving a search for alternatives including more selective products. Here we explore the feasibility of using novel chemical groupings in the control of problematic pests that attack germinating pastures and grain crops in Australia. A modified laboratory bioassay is described for testing the response of several invertebrate pests to pesticides that have contact and systemic/translaminar properties. Two contact pesticides (fenitrothion and gamma-cyhalothrin) and three pesticides with strong systemic/translaminar properties (lambda-cyhalothrin, abamectin and diafenthiuron) showed promise for control of the collembolan Sminthurus viridis and four mite pests (Halotydeus destructor, Balaustium medicagoense, Penthaleus falcatus and Bryobia sp.). No single pesticide emerged as the most efficacious against all these pests, highlighting the need for correct pest identification before making control recommendations. Incorporating these new chemical options into pest control programs may help to control emerging pests and counter pesticide resistance issues. Selective pesticides in particular are likely to be compatible with integrated control programs that promote the establishment and maintenance of beneficial natural enemies.     

Heritability estimates and progeny testing of phenotypic selections for soluble solids content in dehydrator onion

Soluble solids comprise most of onion bulb dry mass, and dehydrator onion cultivars are developed from breeding populations that have high dry mass content. Realized and narrow-sense heritability estimates were obtained for the soluble solids content (SSC) trait in two open-pollinated dehydrator onion breeding populations (BP) using response to selection and half-sib family analysis. Parental populations, designated as BP9335-U and BP9243-U, were derived from two-way crosses of lines advanced as open- pollinated (OP) populations to the F7 or F_6 generation, respectively. BP9335-U had one previous selection cycle for increased SSC and BP9243-U had three SSC selection cycles. In these experiments, parental populations were screened again for high SSC, and selected bulbs were intermated to form half-sib progeny groups, designated as BP9335-S and BP9243-S. Mean SSC was increased by 6.6% and a realized heritability estimate of 0.64 was obtained for BP9335-S. Mean SSC was increased by 6.3% and a realized heritability estimate of 0.36 was obtained for BP9243-S. Narrow-sense heritability estimates of 0.58 ±0.05 and 0.30 ±0.03 were obtained for parental populations BP9335-U and BP9243-U, respectively. Narrow-sense heritability estimates of 0.40 ± 0.03 and 0.63 ± 0.23 were obtained for progeny populations derived from selected high-SSC bulbs of these lines (BP9335-S and BP9243-S), respectively, indicating that there is significant additive genetic control of the SSC trait in these populations. Significant differences in half-sib family performance in the advanced groups BP9335-S and BP9243-S demonstrate that progeny testing was effective for evaluating phenotypic selections. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Microparticle dispensers for the controlled release of insect pheromones

The potential utility of micrometer-sized particles as controlled-release devices for the volatilization of insect pheromones for mating disruption applications is evaluated in this study for two pheromone/model compound systems (codlemone/1-dodecanol and disparlure/1,2-epoxyoctadecane). To expedite the measurement of release rates from these particle devices, two techniques based on thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) have been exploited: isothermal TGA (I-TGA) at elevated temperatures (40-80 degrees C) with N(2) convection and volatilization temperature (VT) by dynamic TGA. A correlation between these two methods has been established. Samples that exhibit a higher VT provide a lower release rate from a particle substrate. Using these techniques, it has been demonstrated that chemical interactions between adsorbed liquids and particle surfaces may play a small role in defining release characteristics under conditions of low surface area, whereas parameters associated with total surface area and micropore structure appear to be much more significant in retarding evaporation for uncoated particles containing an adsorbed liquid. Additional regulation of release rates was achieved by coating the particle systems with water-soluble or water-dispersible polymers. By careful selection of particle porosity and coating composition, it is envisioned that the evaporation rate of pheromones can be tailored to specific insect control applications.     

Solid-state selective (13)C excitation and spin diffusion NMR to resolve spatial dimensions in plant cell walls

The average spatial dimensions between major biopolymers within the plant cell wall can be resolved using a solid-state NMR technique referred to as a (13)C cross-polarization (CP) SELDOM (selectively by destruction of magnetization) with a mixing time delay for spin diffusion. Selective excitation of specific aromatic lignin carbons indicates that lignin is in close proximity to hemicellulose followed by amorphous and finally crystalline cellulose. (13)C spin diffusion time constants (T(SD)) were extracted using a two-site spin diffusion theory developed for (13)C nuclei under magic angle spinning (MAS) conditions. These time constants were then used to calculate an average lower-limit spin diffusion length between chemical groups within the plant cell wall. The results on untreated (13)C enriched corn stover stem reveal that the lignin carbons are, on average, located at distances ～0.7-2.0 nm from the carbons in hemicellulose and cellulose, whereas the pretreated material had larger separations.     

THE PATH OF CARBON IN PHOTOSYNTHESIS. XXIX. GLASS MICROBEADS

Glass microbeads are introduced as convenient and applicable mechanical supports for hydroponics that can be released from roots to exhibit visually discernible responses. Moreover, glass microbeads refract light, effectively redistributing light toward the phylloplane. The smallest beads, <300 μm diameter, rose from neutral to ～pH 9 in water and the rise was attributable the raw materials source, sodalime glass. The largest 700 μm diameter beads were relatively stable in buffered nutrients. Photography of unobstructed roots was aided by release of microbeads from ryegrass, coleus, corn, and narcissus. Propagation of ‘Ninsei’ was undertaken in containers constructed with inflow and drainage ports. Photodocumentation of responses to indoxylglucopyranoside exhibited consistent differences as compared to controls when cultured in glass microbeads; and further investigations into increased light intensity by refraction may lead to enhanced photosynthetic efficiency.     

Bodenentwicklung am Rande oligotropher Moore im Raum Berlin

Soil development in the surrounding of oligotrophic mires in the Berlin region Polygenetic soils, surrounding oligotrophic kettle hole mires in the valley and aeolian sand areas of the Berlin region, were investigated. The typical soil catena is formed by the sequence of Ombric Histosol (Niedermoor), Ombric Histosol/Albi‐gleyic Podzol (Moor‐Podsol‐Gley), Albi‐gleyic Podzol (Nasspodsol‐Gley), Gleyic Podzol (Podsol‐Gley), and Dystri‐gleyic Arenosol (Gley‐Podsol‐Braunerde) (German soil classifications in parenthesis). Field and laboratory work showed, that the investigated soils were strongly related to each other and that their development depends on the trophy of the mire and groundwater fluctuations during the Holocene. Compared with the Bh‐horizon of terrestrial soils the Gh‐horizon is nearly free of Fe and Mn, but very rich in pedogenic Al‐oxides and rich in organic matter. The genesis of the soils is explained as follows: 1. The development of different Gleyic Podzols was due to rise of groundwater. Consequently the Bh and Bs horizons of Podzols surrounding the mire were converted to Gh and Gr horizons. 2. Humic substances and Al in the Gh and Gr horizons were not re‐mobilized due to the rise of groundwater, whereas Fe and Mn were reduced and removed by groundwater. 3. At the periphery of the mire Fe was enriched in the Go horizon of the Gley‐Podzols but not Mn. 4. The fact that the mire is completely surrounded by Podzol‐Gleys, indicates, that movement of the groundwater from the central parts of mires towards the periphery is an essential pedogenetic factor.     

Clusters of hyperactive neurons near amyloid plaques in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

The neurodegeneration observed in Alzheimer's disease has been associated with synaptic dismantling and progressive decrease in neuronal activity. We tested this hypothesis in vivo by using two-photon Ca2+ imaging in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Although a decrease in neuronal activity was seen in 29% of layer 2/3 cortical neurons, 21% of neurons displayed an unexpected increase in the frequency of spontaneous Ca2+ transients. These "hyperactive" neurons were found exclusively near the plaques of amyloid beta-depositing mice. The hyperactivity appeared to be due to a relative decrease in synaptic inhibition. Thus, we suggest that a redistribution of synaptic drive between silent and hyperactive neurons, rather than an overall decrease in synaptic activity, provides a mechanism for the disturbed cortical function in Alzheimer's disease.