Soils, agriculture, and society in precontact Hawai'i

Before European contact, Hawai'i supported large human populations in complex societies that were based on multiple pathways of intensive agriculture. We show that soils within a long-abandoned 60-square-kilometer dryland agricultural complex are substantially richer in bases and phosphorus than are those just outside it, and that this enrichment predated the establishment of intensive agriculture. Climate and soil fertility combined to constrain large dryland agricultural systems and the societies they supported to well-defined portions of just the younger islands within the Hawaiian archipelago; societies on the older islands were based on irrigated wetland agriculture. Similar processes may have influenced the dynamics of agricultural intensification across the tropics.     

Chick's response to an imprinting stimulus: heterosis and evolution

Tendencies of day-old chicks to respond toward, to approach, and to stay near a distant audiovisulal imprinting apparatus were shown to be inherited in a heterotic manner. High correlations found among the traits suggest that these behavioral responses are not independent but sequential. The fitness value of such a behavioral sequence is explained in terms of imprinting.     

Carbon dioxide fixation by mouse embryos prior to implantation

Mouse embryos in the stage of development prior to implantation were cultured in vitro in a medium that contained radioactive bicarbonate. The radioactivity was incorporated into the proteins and nucleic acids that were acid soluble. Uptake of radioactivity occurred into protein in the unfertilized ovum and was highest in all fractions in the early blastocyst stage. No incorporation was detected in the lipid fraction.     

The insulin receptor contains a calmodulin-binding domain

Substantial evidence suggests that calcium has a pivotal role in regulating the initial events through which insulin alters plasma membrane metabolism. Because binding of insulin to its receptor represents the initial site of insulin action in the plasma membrane, studies were undertaken to determine whether the insulin receptor is a calmodulin-binding protein. Preparations enriched in the insulin receptor and calmodulin-binding proteins were isolated from detergent-solubilized rat adipocyte membranes by chromatography with wheat germ agglutinin agarose and calmodulin-conjugated Sepharose, respectively. Substantial purification of a manganese-dependent, insulin-sensitive phosphoprotein of 95K identified as the beta subunit of the insulin receptor was accomplished. Binding and photocovalent cross-linking of iodine-125-labeled calmodulin to these affinity-purified preparations and to isolated plasma membranes, followed by immunoadsorption with insulin receptor antibodies bound to protein A Sepharose, resulted in significant purification of a binding complex of 110K to 140K. These results indicate that the adipocyte insulin receptor or a polypeptide closely associated with the receptor is a calmodulin-binding protein.     

Two leguminous tree species differ in growth and ion uptake in Hoagland solution: Phosphorus toxicity in Amur Maackia 1

Hydroponic culture of tree seedlings is used commonly to study root biology; however, we have found that two species of woody legumes differ in their responses to this practice. Seedlings of Amur maackia (Maackia amurensis Rupr. & Maxim.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) were cultured in 1, 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100% Hoagland solution #1 for 5 weeks. Total dry mass of black locust increased with increasing solution concentration up to 50%. Amur maackia dry mass was greatest in 5% solution. Bronzing, chlorosis, and necrosis occurred on leaves of Amur maackia in solutions 10%, and symptom severity increased with solution strength. Leaf phosphorus (P) content of Amur maackia increased from 0.40 to 1.95% of dry mass as solution strength increased from 5 to 50%. Amur maackia grown in a soil‐based medium and irrigated with 50% solution showed no foliar toxicity symptoms, and P content of the leaves of these plants was 0.279%. Laminae of Amur maackia had higher manganese (Mn) content than laminae of black locust at solution concentrations above 5%. Levels of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) in laminae of Amur maackia suggest an enhanced ability of this species to absorb ions from its medium. Results indicate no elemental deficiencies for either species. We conclude that black locust can be grown hydroponically using standard methods. However, growth of Amur maackia in solution is inhibited at concentrations of Hoagland solution #1 >10%, suggesting a sensitivity to the availability of ions and perhaps an enhanced ability to sequester ions from its medium.     

Behaviour and cleanliness of replacement dairy heifers housed in group pens with combined feeding–resting stalls

Abstract

This study was carried out in two commercial Norwegian dairy herds where the replacement heifers were kept in groups of 10 in pens with 6 conventional free-stalls and 5 combined stalls at the feed bunk. The stall cleanliness was better in the free-stalls than in the combined stalls (P?<?.01). Time spent lying was not affected by number of animals in the group (P?=?.20), but feeding synchrony (P?=?.05) and lying synchrony (<.001) were higher when there were six animals in the group. The heifers showed a clear preference for lying in the standard free-stalls and this was not affected by number of animals in the pen (P?=?.83). The results of this initial study indicate that a pen system with combined lying/feeding stalls and free-stalls offers a satisfactory lying comfort, apparently minimal competition over lying space and acceptable animal cleanliness.     

Methods for Equine Preantral Follicles Isolation: Quantitative Aspects

The aim of this study was to test the use of mechanical and mechanical‐enzymatic methods, saline solution (SS), and PBS solution for the manipulation and isolation of mare ovarian preantral follicles (PAFs). The ovaries were subjected to mechanical isolation (mixer) alone or in association with enzymatic digestion (collagenase). Incubation times of 10 and 20 min were employed. In the first group, 4.1 ± 4.9 PAFs were harvested with the mechanical‐enzymatic method vs 71.1 ± 19.2 with the mechanical procedure, showing a significant difference between methods; using SS and PBS, these numbers were 35.7 ± 34.3 and 39.6 ± 39.6, respectively, with no significant difference between solutions. In the second group, there was significant difference between methods, with 7.1 ± 10.6 follicles harvested with the mechanical‐enzymatic method vs 63.2 ± 22.9 with the mechanical procedure; using SS and PBS, means were 35.5 ± 36.4 and 34.9 ± 31.1, respectively. The mechanical method proved more effective than the mechanical‐enzymatic approach. Both SS and PBS can be used as a media for equine PAFs preparation.     

Identification of the DDAH2 Protein in Pig Reproductive Tract Mucus: A Putative Oestrus Detection Marker

Precisely detecting oestrus is important for artificial insemination. The aims of this study were to identify oestrus‐specific sow mucus proteins to determine the optimal time for artificial insemination. The proestrous‐ and oestrous‐stage mucus proteins were purified and analysed with proteomic tools such as two‐dimensional gel electrophoresis and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization–time‐of‐flight analyses. Among the differentially expressed proteins, the dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2 (DDAH2) protein showed a 3.6‐fold increase during the proestrous stage compared to that during the oestrous stage. A western immunoblot study revealed that two of three sow mucus samples clearly showed negative anti‐DDAH2 antibody activity during the oestrous stage. This study demonstrated that the pig DDAH2 mucus protein exists during the proestrous stage, but not during the oestrous stage, suggesting that mucus DDAH2 could be useful as an oestrus detection marker.     

Evaluation of canine antimicrobial peptides in infected and noninfected chronic atopic skin

Background – Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small immunomodulatory peptides produced by epithelial and immune cells. β‐Defensins (BDs) and cathelicidins (Caths) are the most studied AMPs. Recently, increased cutaneous expression of AMPs was reported in atopic humans and in beagles with experimentally induced atopy. Hypothesis/Objectives – Our goal was to analyse mRNA expression and protein levels of canine (c)BD1‐like, cBD2‐like/122, cBD3‐like, cBD103 and cCath in healthy and naturally affected atopic dogs, with and without active skin infection, along with their distribution in the epidermis using indirect immunofluorescence. Animals – Skin biopsies were taken from 14 healthy and 11 atopic privately owned dogs. Methods – The mRNA levels of cBD1‐like, cBD2‐like/122, cBD3‐like, cBD103 and cCath were quantified using quantitative real‐time PCR. The protein levels of cBD3‐like and cCath were analysed by relative competitive inhibition enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, while the distributions of cBD2‐like/122, cBD3‐like and cCath were detected by indirect immunofluorescence. Results – Dogs with atopic dermatitis had significantly greater mRNA expression of cBD103 (P = 0.04) than control dogs. Furthermore, atopic skin with active infection had a higher cBD103 mRNA expression (P = 0.01) and a lower cBD1‐like mRNA expression (P = 0.04) than atopic skin without infection. No significant differences in protein levels (cBD3‐like and cCath) or epidermal distribution of AMPs (cBD2‐like/122, cBD3‐like and cCath) were seen between healthy and atopic dogs. Conclusions and clinical importance – Expression of cBD103 mRNA was greater, while expression of cBD1‐like mRNA was lower in dogs with atopic dermatitis that had active infections. Work is needed to clarify the biological mechanisms and possible therapeutic options to maintain a healthy canine skin.