Function of WW domains as phosphoserine- or phosphothreonine-binding modules

Protein-interacting modules help determine the specificity of signal transduction events, and protein phosphorylation can modulate the assembly of such modules into specific signaling complexes. Although phosphotyrosine-binding modules have been well-characterized, phosphoserine- or phosphothreonine-binding modules have not been described. WW domains are small protein modules found in various proteins that participate in cell signaling or regulation. WW domains of the essential mitotic prolyl isomerase Pin1 and the ubiquitin ligase Nedd4 bound to phosphoproteins, including physiological substrates of enzymes, in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. The Pin1 WW domain functioned as a phosphoserine- or phosphothreonine-binding module, with properties similar to those of SRC homology 2 domains. Phosphoserine- or phosphothreonine-binding activity was required for Pin1 to interact with its substrates in vitro and to perform its essential function in vivo.     

Chemical composition of the lunar surface in sinus medii

More precise and comprehensive analytical results for lunar material in Sinus Medii have been derived from the alpha-scattering experiment on Surveyor VI. The amounts of the principal constituents at this mare are approximately the same as those of constituents at Mare Tranquillitatis. The sodium contents of both maria are lower than those of terrestrial basalts. The titanium content at Sinus Medii is lower than that at Mare Tranquillitatis; this suggests important differences in detailed chemical composition at different mare areas on the moon.     

Quantitative exposure assessment for the combustion of meat and bone meal derived from specified risk material in the context of BSE in Ireland

The probability and severity of an adverse event can be analyzed by quantitative exposure assessment (QEA). This methodology was applied to model the human health risks associated with the combustion of specified risk material (SRM) derived meat and bone meal (MBM) in a combustion facility. The identification of MBM and SRM as significant factors in the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) has resulted in restrictions on their use and movement, and this has led to a requirement for alternative end-uses for these products. A stochastic (Latin Hypercube sampling) simulation model was developed to assess the exposure and hence the risks associated with the use of SRM-derived MBM in a combustion facility. The model simulates the potential infectivity pathways that SRM-derived MBM follows, including its production from animals potentially infected with sub-clinical BSE and subsequent processing of the material with segregation and heat treatments. A failure probability was included to take account of sub-optimal operating conditions. Two scenarios, reflecting the infectivity risk in different animal tissues as defined by the European Commission's scientific steering committee (SSC), were performed with 100,000 iterations of the model. Model results showed that the societal exposure to humans resulting from the combustion of SRM-derived MBM is extremely small (mean values ranging from 7.57 x 10(-6) ID50/year to 8.38 x 10(-5) ID50/year). The resulting societal risks are significantly less than the background societal risk of approximately 2.5 cases of sporadic CJD in Ireland each year. A sensitivity analysis revealed that the species barrier had a large impact on exposure calculations and hence should be the focus of further scientific investigation to reduce our uncertainty about this parameter. The model predicts that material spillage into untreated effluent represents the biggest risk to humans, indicating that efforts for risk mitigation should be focused on reducing the potential for spillage.     

玉米自交系RAPD分析中的样品选择

近年来分子标记技术在我国农业科研中的应用已受到了广泛的重视。分子标记样品的代表性如何将对研究结果产生影响，因此，研究分子标记的取样问题具有一定的现实意义。本文对以玉米自交系为样品，进行分子标记分析时的取样技术进行了探讨。在对玉米自交系中黄204基因组DNA进行RAPD分析时，同一引物8个单株及其混合样品的扩增结果中，单株6在564bp处比其它单株多一条较强的谱带，而8个单株的混合样品的扩增结果中也有一条同样的谱带。而丹340、旅9、5003等其它自交系的10个单株及其混合样品的RAPD谱带是一致的。说明中黄204单株6的遗传背景与其它单株不同，不能代表中黄204，如用它们的混合样品进行RAPD分析，就会得出错误的结果。可以看出，分子标记分析中的取样技术是检测结果可靠性不可忽视的重要因素之一。     

Disseminated Aspergillus flavus infection in broiler breeder pullets

Increased morbidity and mortality occurred in a 5-wk-old broiler breeder replacement pullet flock. The affected broiler pullet flock was housed on the first floor of a two-story confinement building. Mortality increased to 0.1%/day compared to the flock on the second floor, which had mortality levels of less than 0.01%/day. Clinical signs in the affected chickens included inactivity, decreased response to stimuli, and anorexia. No respiratory or neurologic signs were observed. On necropsy, affected pullets were dehydrated and emaciated and had disseminated variably sized single or multiple heterophilic granulomas that contained intralesional septate and branching fungal hyphae. Lesions were extensive around the base of the heart in the thoracic inlet and in the kidneys. Other affected organs included eyelid, muscle, proventriculus, ventriculus, intestine, liver, spleen, lung, and heart. Aspergillus flavus was cultured from the visceral granulomas. The source of flock exposure to the organism was not determined.     

Temporal changes in circulating levels of plasma interleukin-8 during peripartum period in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) under subtropical climate

The objective of this study was to elucidate the changes in circulating levels of plasma interleukin-8 (IL-8) during peripartum period in Murrah buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis). IL-8 was estimated in blood plasma of healthy peripartum Murrah buffaloes (n = 6) on days ±30, ±15, ±5, ±3, ±1 and 0 pre- and postpartum with respect to the day of parturition (day 0) in each of the two different seasons (hot–humid and spring). The mean microclimate Temperature–Humidity Index (THI) during spring season was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than the corresponding THI in hot–humid season. In both the seasons, plasma IL-8 remained lower in prepartum period (≤46.56 ± 14.08 pg/ml during spring and ≤ 73.18 ± 18.56 pg/ml during hot–humid season) than in the postpartum period (≥51.41 ± 13.82 pg/ml during spring and ≥ 84.13 ± 16.97 pg/ml in hot humid season). During spring, the IL-8 levels were significantly higher (P < 0.05) on days +5 and +15 postpartum in comparison to the IL-8 levels on days −30, −5, and −3 prepartum. During hot–humid season, IL-8 level was significantly higher (P < 0.05) on day +30 as compared to the IL-8 levels on days −30 and −5 prepartum. The correlation between IL-8 and mean microclimate THI was significant (r = 0.25, P < 0.01). From the results, it is concluded that peripartum period in buffaloes is associated with an inflammatory response leading to significantly higher plasma IL-8 during parturition and postpartum period than in the pre-partum period.     

Analyses of genes encoding Theileria parva p104 and polymorphic immunodominant molecule (PIM) reveal evidence of the presence of cattle-type alleles in the South African T. parva population

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of PCR products (PCR-RFLP) and sequencing of the variable region of the p104 and PIM genes was performed on samples obtained from South African T. parva parasites originating from cattle on farms with suspected theileriosis and from buffalo. p104 and PIM PCR-RFLP profiles similar to those of the T. parva Muguga stock, an isolate that causes ECF in Kenya, were obtained from three of seven cattle samples collected on a farm near Ladysmith in KwaZulu-Natal Province. Amino acid sequences of the p104 and PIM genes from two of these samples were almost identical to the T. parva Muguga p104 and PIM sequences. This result supports findings from a recent p67 study in which p67 alleles similar to those of the T. parva Muguga stock were identified from the same samples. While these results suggest the presence of a cattle-derived T. parva parasite, reports of cattle-to-cattle transmission could not be substantiated and ECF was not diagnosed on this farm. Although extensive diversity of p104 and PIM gene sequences from South African T. parva isolates was demonstrated, no sequences identical to known cattle-type p104 and PIM alleles were identified from any of the buffalo T. parva samples analyzed. 'Mixed' PIM alleles containing both cattle- and buffalo-type amino acid motifs were identified for the first time, and there appeared to be selection of cattle-type and 'mixed'-type PIM sequences in the cattle samples examined.     

Ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of dry matter and fiber in growing steers for common crabgrass forages sampled on seven dates in northern Arkansas

Southern crabgrass (Digitaria ciliaris [Retz.] Koel.) is often viewed as an undesirable weed, largely because it encroaches upon field and forage crops, gardens, and lawns. However, visual observations of livestock grazing mixed-species pastures suggest that cattle seem to prefer crabgrass to many other summer forages. The objectives of this study were to assess the nutritive value of crabgrass sampled weekly between July 11, and August 22, 2001, and then to determine ruminal in situ disappearance kinetics of DM and NDF for these crabgrass forages. A secondary objective was to compare these kinetic estimates with those of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L.] Pers.), and orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) control hays. All forages were evaluated in situ using five (383 +/- 22.7 kg) ruminally cannulated crossbred (Gelbvieh x Angus x Brangus) steers. Whole-plant crabgrass exhibited more rapid (P < or = 0.002) ruminal disappearance rates of DM (overall range = 0.069 to 0.084 h(-1)) than did bermudagrass (0.054 h(-1)) and orchardgrass (0.060 h(-1)) hays, but disappearance rates were slower (P < 0.001) for crabgrass than for alfalfa hay (0.143 h(-1)). Effective ruminal disappearance of DM was greater (P < 0.001) for crabgrass (overall range = 69.3 to 75.4%) than for all the control hays. Similarly, disappearance rates of NDF for crabgrass (overall range = 0.069 to 0.086 h(-1)) were more rapid (P < 0.001) than observed for bermudagrass and orchardgrass hays; however, NDF in alfalfa disappeared at a faster (P < 0.001) rate (0.107 h(-1)) than crabgrass. These results indicate that crabgrass offers greater effective ruminal degradability of DM and NDF than orchardgrass or alfalfa of moderate quality. More importantly, it potentially offers faster and more extensive ruminal disappearance than perennial warm-season grasses typically found throughout the southeastern United States, and it should likely support improved performance by ruminant livestock in this region.