Influence of irrigation and fertilization on transpiration and hydraulic properties of Populus deltoides

Long-term hydraulic acclimation to resource availability was explored in 3-year-old Populus deltoides Bartr. ex Marsh. clones by examining transpiration, leaf-specific hydraulic conductance (G(L)), canopy stomatal conductance (G(S)) and leaf to sapwood area ratio (A(L):A(S)) in response to irrigation (13 and 551 mm year(-1) in addition to ambient precipitation) and fertilization (0 and 120 kg N ha(-1) year(-1)). Sap flow was measured continuously over one growing season with thermal dissipation probes. Fertilization had a greater effect on growth and hydraulic properties than irrigation, and fertilization effects were independent of irrigation treatment. Transpiration on a ground area basis (E) ranged between 0.3 and 1.8 mm day(-1), and increased 66% and 90% in response to irrigation and fertilization, respectively. Increases in G(L), G(S) at a reference vapor pressure deficit of 1 kPa, and transpiration per unit leaf area in response to increases in resource availability were associated with reductions in A(L):A(S) and consequently a minimal change in the water potential gradient from soil to leaf. Irrigation and fertilization increased leaf area index similarly, from an average 1.16 in control stands to 1.45, but sapwood area was increased from 4.0 to 6.3 m(2) ha(-1) by irrigation and from 3.7 to 6.7 m(2) ha(-1) by fertilization. The balance between leaf area and sapwood area was important in understanding long-term hydraulic acclimation to resource availability and mechanisms controlling maximum productivity in Populus deltoides.     

Intracranial elastance in isoflurane-anesthetized horses

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether high intracranial pressure (ICP) during spontaneous ventilation (SV) in anesthetized horses coincides with an increase in intracranial elastance (ie, change in ICP per unit change of intracranial volume). ANIMALS: 6 adult horses. PROCEDURE: Anesthesia was induced and maintained in each horse for 5 hours with isoflurane at a constant dose equal to 1.2 times the minimum alveolar concentration. Direct ICP measurements were obtained by use of a strain gauge transducer inserted in the subarachnoid space, and arterial blood pressure was measured from a carotid artery. Physiologic responses were recorded after 15 minutes of normocapnic controlled ventilation (CV) and then after 10 minutes of SV. Aliquots (3 mL) of CSF were removed from each horse during SV until ICP returned to CV values. Slopes of pressure-volume curves yielded intracranial elastance. RESULTS: Intracranial elastance ranged from 0.2 to 3.7 mm Hg/mL after removal of the first aliquot of CSF Slopes of pressure-volume curves were largest following removal of the initial CSF aliquot, but shallow portions of curves were detected at relatively high ICPs (25 to 35 mm Hg). A second-order relationship between SV ICP and initial intracranial elastance was found. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In horses anesthetized with isoflurane, small changes in intracranial volume can cause large changes in ICP Increased intracranial elastance could further exacerbate preexisting intracranial hypertension. However, removal of small volumes of CSF may cause rapid compensatory replacement from other intracranial compartments, which suggests steady-state maintenance of an increase in intracranial volume during isoflurane anesthesia in horses.     

Distribution of free and glycosylated sterols within Cycas micronesica plants

Flour derived from Cycas micronesica seeds was once the dominant source of starch for Guam's residents. Cycad consumption has been linked to high incidence of human neurodegenerative diseases. We determined the distribution of the sterols stigmasterol and β-sitosterol and their derived glucosides stigmasterol β-d-glucoside and β-sitosterol β-d-glucoside among various plant parts because they have been identified in cycad flour and have been shown to elicit neurodegenerative outcomes. All four compounds were common in seeds, sporophylls, pollen, leaves, stems, and roots. Roots contained the greatest concentration of both free sterols, and photosynthetic leaflet tissue contained the greatest concentration of both steryl glucosides. Concentration within the three stem tissue categories was low compared to other organs. Reproductive sporophyll tissue contained free sterols similar to seeds, but greater concentration of steryl glucosides than seeds. One of the glucosides was absent from pollen. Concentration in young seeds was higher than old seeds as reported earlier, but concentration did not differ among age categories of leaf, sporophyll, or vascular tissue. The profile differences among the various tissues within these organs may help clarify the physiological role of these compounds.     

Preliminary results of an anticircumsporozoite DNA vaccine trial for protection against avian malaria in captive African black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus).

Captive juvenile African black-footed penguins (Spheniscus demersus) housed in an outdoor enclosure at the Baltimore Zoo have an average 50% mortality from avian malarial (Plasmodium sp.) infection each year without intense monitoring for disease and chemotherapeutic intervention. During the 1996 malaria transmission season, the safety and efficacy of an anti-circumsporozoite (CSP) DNA vaccine encoding the Plasmodium gallinaceum CSP protein against P. relictum were studied. The goal was to reduce clinical disease and death without initiating sterile immunity after release into an area with stable, endemic avian malaria. The birds were monitored for adverse clinical signs associated with vaccination, the stimulation of an anti-CSP antibody response, and protection afforded by the vaccine. The presence of P. relictum in trapped culicine mosquitoes within the penguin enclosure was monitored to assess parasite pressure. Among the vaccinated penguins, the parasitemia rate dropped from approximately 50% to approximately 17% despite intense parasite pressure, as determined by mosquito infection rate. During the year of the vaccine trial, no mortalities due to malaria occurred and no undesirable vaccination side effects occurred. This is the first trial of an antimalarial vaccine in a captive penguin colony.     

Mobility of Iron and Manganese within Two Citrus Genotypes after Foliar Applications of Iron Sulfate and Manganese Sulfate

Seedlings of sour orange (Citrus aurantium L.) and Carrizo citrange (C. sinensis L. cv. Washington navel x Poncirus trifoliata)] were grown in plastic pots containing a sand: perlite mixture and watered with a modified Hoagland No 2 nutrient solution throughout the experiment. Three-months-old plants were divided in three groups and sprayed with 0.018 M iron sulfate (FeSO₄ ^.7H₂O), 0.018 M manganese sulfate (MnSO₄ ^.H₂O), or deionized water. Two months later, plants were harvested and divided into top leaves that grown after the treatments, basal leaves that existed prior to the treatments, stems that partially came in contact with the spray, and roots. The manganese (Mn) spray resulted in a significant increase of Mn concentrations in top leaves, basal leaves, stems and roots of sour orange, and in top leaves, basal leaves, and stems of Carrizo citrange. The iron (Fe) spray significantly increased the concentrations of Fe in the stems and basal leaves of both genotypes. For both genotypes, transport of Mn from basal (sprayed) leaves to top (unsprayed) ones was found. However, the results of this experiment did not give any evidence neither for Mn translocation from sprayed tissues to roots nor for Fe transport from sprayed tissues to unsprayed ones (top leaves, roots). Mn and Fe were found to be relatively mobile and strictly immobile nutrients, respectively, within citrus plants after their foliar application as sulfate salts.     

Nanoparticle polymer composites: where two small worlds meet

The mixing of polymers and nanoparticles is opening pathways for engineering flexible composites that exhibit advantageous electrical, optical, or mechanical properties. Recent advances reveal routes to exploit both enthalpic and entropic interactions so as to direct the spatial distribution of nanoparticles and thereby control the macroscopic performance of the material. For example, by tailoring the particle coating and size, researchers have created self-healing materials for improved sustainability and self-corralling rods for photovoltaic applications. A challenge for future studies is to create hierarchically structured composites in which each sublayer contributes a distinct function to yield a mechanically integrated, multifunctional material.     

Immune responses to Mycoplasma bovis vaccination and experimental infection in the bovine mammary gland.

This study characterized the immune responses in four vaccinated and four control cows in response to vaccination and experimental intramammary inoculation with Mycoplasma bovis. Specific antibody responses occurred in serum and milk in response to vaccination and experimental infection. Lymphocytes from peripheral blood, but not from the mammary gland of vaccinated cows had increased responsiveness to mitogens. No lymphocytes tested were responsive to M. bovis antigen. Both vaccination and experimental infection resulted in skin test reactivity. These results imply that vaccination results in immune responses which may alter the course of experimental M. bovis mastitis, but may contribute to cellular inflammation.     

ADVANCE NOTES ON RESEARCH

Tilley et al . (1) have clearly demonstrated that their rumen liquor and pepsin procedure for the determination of digestibility of herbage is useful and precise. The method has, however, the disadvantage that the equipment required for the centrifugation stages is relatively expensive and, moreover, when using one centrifuge only the procedure is somewhat tedious. The method outlined below completely eliminates centrifugation; the rumen-liquor stage is terminated by acidification and the residues from the pepsin stage is recovered by filtration, using a filter aid. Digestible dry matter or digestible organic matter may be determined; results for the former estimation on thirteen samples already examined at Hurley have given satisfactory results.