Bovine sire effects on daughters' in vitro blood neutrophil functions, lymphocyte blastogenesis, serum complement and conglutinin levels

Blood neutrophil functions, lymphocyte blastogenic responses, serum complement, and serum conglutinin activity of 98 lactating Holstein cows from two genetic lines were evaluated. The genetic lines were produced in a selection experiment that created and perpetuated genetic differences in milk production for up to seven generations. No significant differences between the two genetic lines of cows were found for neutrophil function, lymphocyte blastogenic responses, serum complement levels, or serum conglutinin levels. Significant differences between sire progeny groups within lines were found for unstimulated and mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte blastogenesis (P less than 0.0001), and almost all neutrophil functions (antibody independent neutrophil cytotoxicity, antibody dependent neutrophil cytotoxicity, ingestion of bacteria, iodination, chemiluminescence, chemokinesis, and chemotaxis (P less than or equal to 0.05)). Sire progeny group differences (P less than or equal to 0.0001) within lines for serum complement and conglutinin activity were also found. Neutrophil chemiluminescence activity (positive relationship; P less than or equal to 0.001), concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocyte blastogenesis (positive relationship; P less than or equal to 0.004), and serum conglutinin activity levels (negative relationship; P less than or equal to 0.01) each had small but significant associations with the total milk somatic cell count. Cows seropositive for bovine leukosis virus had increased resting and mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte blastogenic activity and were associated with increased in vitro neutrophil random migration and production of superoxide anion. Estimates of genetic parameters of various immune cell functions, of serum complement and of conglutinin levels for daughters of 11 sires with 4-6 daughters in the data set were determined. In this report, genetic variation was demonstrated for nonspecific humoral and cellular immunity.     

Folate content in commercial white and whole wheat sandwich breads

After the U.S. mandate of folic acid fortification of enriched grain products, a report indicated higher than expected fortification. Limited information is available on folic acid in enriched products. We measured the folate content in 92 sandwich breads (46 white breads and 46 whole wheat breads) in Birmingham, Alabama, during 2001-2003. The mean folate content in white bread declined significantly from 2001 to 2002 or 2003, whereas the decline in folate content in whole wheat bread containing enriched flour was not significant. White bread contained significantly more folate than whole wheat bread containing enriched flour in 2001 and 2003. In 2002 and 2003, >40% of breads made of enriched flour contained <115 microg of folate/100 g and >70% contained <160 microg/100 g. These percentages were markedly higher than those in 2001. Our data suggest that folic acid in breads containing enriched flour declined after 2001 and monitoring of fortification may be necessary.     

Femtosecond dynamics of electron localization at interfaces

The dynamics of two-dimensional small-polaron formation at ultrathin alkane layers on a silver(111) surface have been studied with femtosecond time- and angle-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy. Optical excitation creates interfacial electrons in quasi-free states for motion parallel to the interface. These initially delocalized electrons self-trap as small polarons in a localized state within a few hundred femtoseconds. The localized electrons then decay back to the metal within picoseconds by tunneling through the adlayer potential barrier. The energy dependence of the self-trapping rate has been measured and modeled with a theory analogous to electron transfer theory. This analysis determines the inter- and intramolecular vibrational modes of the overlayer responsible for self-trapping as well as the relaxation energy of the overlayer molecular lattice. These results for a model interface contribute to the fundamental picture of electron behavior in weakly bonded solids and can lead to better understanding of carrier dynamics in many different systems, including organic light-emitting diodes.     

Effects of annual applications of sodium azide on soil fungal populations with emphasis on Trichoderma species

The effect of a granular formulation of sodium azide, applied annually to pine nursery beds at rates of 0, 67.2, and 134.5 kg a. i. ha^?1 under water seal or plastic seal, on soil fungal populations was determined over a 3-year period. Populations of fungi in the soil decreased following application of the sodium azide each year; the greatest decrease occurred at the highest rate of application. Populations of fungi in soil treated with the azide generally remained lower than in the controls throughout each of the 3 years; however, the population disparity between treated and control plots decreased in magnitude with each succeeding year. Populations of Trichoderma spp., in plots treated with 134.5 kg sodium azide ha^?1, increased 2 weeks after treatment each year, and the population peaks increased in magnitude each year. In addition the effect of sodium azide (technical grade > 99%) at concentrations of 0, 2, 5, 10, 20 and 50 μg ml^?1 in potato dextrose agar and blackstrap molasses agar media was determined in vitro for 14 isolates of Trichoderma harzianum. Growth and sporulation differed among the isolates and between the two media tested. Generally, the azide temporarily inhibited growth of the fungi, but the majority of the isolates were able to grow on either medium containing 50 μg sodium azide ml^?1, although sporulation was more profuse on the molasses than on the potato dextrose agar medium.     

30,000 years of hydrothermal activity at the lost city vent field

Strontium, carbon, and oxygen isotope data and radiocarbon ages document at least 30,000 years of hydrothermal activity driven by serpentinization reactions at Lost City. Serpentinization beneath this off-axis field is estimated to occur at a minimum rate of 1.2 x 10(-4) cubic kilometers per year. The access of seawater to relatively cool, fresh peridotite, coupled with faulting, volumetric expansion, and mass wasting processes, are crucial to sustain such systems. The amount of heat produced by serpentinization of peridotite massifs, typical of slow and ultraslow spreading environments, has the potential to drive Lost City-type systems for hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of years.     

Illusions promote mating success in great bowerbirds

Sexual selection studies normally compare signal strengths, but signal components and sensory processing may interact to create misleading or attention-capturing illusions. Visual illusions can be produced by altering object and scene geometry in ways that trick the viewer when seen from a particular direction. Male great bowerbirds actively maintain size-distance gradients of objects on their bower courts that create forced-perspective illusions for females viewing their displays from within the bower avenue. We show a significant relationship between mating success and the female's view of the gradient; this view explains substantially more variance in mating success than the strength of the gradients. Illusions may be widespread in other animals because males of most species display to females with characteristic orientation and distance, providing excellent conditions for illusions.