Proapoptotic BAX and BAK modulate the unfolded protein response by a direct interaction with IRE1alpha

Accumulation of misfolded protein in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) triggers an adaptive stress response-termed the unfolded protein response (UPR)-mediated by the ER transmembrane protein kinase and endoribonuclease inositol-requiring enzyme-1alpha (IRE1alpha). We investigated UPR signaling events in mice in the absence of the proapoptotic BCL-2 family members BAX and BAK [double knockout (DKO)]. DKO mice responded abnormally to tunicamycin-induced ER stress in the liver, with extensive tissue damage and decreased expression of the IRE1 substrate X-box-binding protein 1 and its target genes. ER-stressed DKO cells showed deficient IRE1alpha signaling. BAX and BAK formed a protein complex with the cytosolic domain of IRE1alpha that was essential for IRE1alpha activation. Thus, BAX and BAK function at the ER membrane to activate IRE1alpha signaling and to provide a physical link between members of the core apoptotic pathway and the UPR.     

Intravenous 15% isoflurane lipid nanoemulsion for general anesthesia in dogs

Objective

To investigate the efficacy of a new intravenous (IV) nanoemulsified isoflurane formulation for maintenance of general anesthesia in dogs.

Artificial neural networks to estimate the productivity of soybeans and corn by chlorophyll readings

Crop productivity prediction techniques assist with adjusting for potential agronomic problems during the growing season. Several authors have reported that there is a correlation between leaf chlorophyll (Chl) content and yield. This study developed independent artificial neural network (ANN) models for soybean and corn in order to predict the crops' productive potentials using their respective yields and leaf Chl content data, measured at three stages of plant development. The ANN was deemed ready for testing through verification of the mean squared error and the number of epochs while training the neural network. While the model obtained when Chl was measured in the V6 stage of development explained more than 50% of the productivity data in corn, the models obtained for soybean did not explain more than 10% of the observed data. Attempts to improve the model through changes of the architecture of the neural network did not show any improvement in model.     

Effect of nitrogen fertilizer rate and timing on sorghum productivity in Ethiopian highland Vertisols

Sorghum is cultivated on Vertisols in the Ethiopian Highlands. An experiment was conducted in the Gumara-Maksegnit watershed in 2013 and 2014 to assess the effect of rate and timing of nitrogen fertilizer application on the possibility to shorten the maturity period and to improve the productivity of sorghum. The experiment was laid out as Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Treatments were nitrogen doses between 0 and 87 kg N ha^?1 as urea applied at planting, at knee-height stage or in split doses at both stages. Results showed that application of 23, 41, 64 and 87 kg ha^?1 N gave a yield increase of 40, 53, 62 and 69% over the control (0 kg N ha^?1), respectively. In addition, split application of 41 kg ha^?1, 64 kg ha^?1 and 87 kg ha^?1 of nitrogen fertilizer, half at planting and half at knee height stage, gave 19%, 15% and 18% increase in sorghum grain yield over a single dose application, respectively. Applying 87 kg ha^?1 nitrogen fertilizer with split application half at planting and half at knee height stage, along with 46 kg ha^?1 of P₂O_5, gave the highest grain yield and income.     

Physiological analysis of growth and nitrogen metabolism of intercropped pasture species subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) supplemented with different forms of inorganic nitrogen

Growth and physiological parameters of intercropped subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L.) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.) were investigated under controlled and field conditions. Nitrogen nutrition was accomplished in symbiotic and heterotrophic forms in both the species studied under controlled concentration of mineral elements in the media and by in oculation with appropriate rhizobial strain. Intercropped variants were also grown in sand culture as follows: subterranean clover – 100%, cocksfoot – 100%, subterranean clover:cocksfoot– 75:25(%), subterranean clover: cocksfoot– 50:50(%), and subterranean clover:cocksfoot– 25:75(%). In hydroponic cultures, subterranean clover to cocksfoot proportion was always 50:50(%). Subterranean clover reacted positively with growth up to 1.25 mM nitrate concentration in the medium with stimulation of number of nodules formed and their nitrogenase activity. When separately grown, both subclover and cocksfoot reacted with higher plant biomass formation under higher nitrate nutrition. When intercropped, the process of growth stimulation in subclover was more prominent than in cocksfoot.