Comment on "Changes in climatic water balance drive downhill shifts in plant species' optimum elevations"

Crimmins et al. (Reports, 21 January 2011, p. 324) presented a study that purports to show that plants in California are shifting downslope to maintain a constant water deficit. We argue that the results are limited in scope to just a handful of woody species in one part of the state and are confounded by methodological errors.     

Deciphering the cross-talk of implantation: advances and challenges

Implantation involves a series of steps leading to an effective reciprocal signaling between the blastocyst and the uterus. Except for a restricted period when ovarian hormones induce a uterine receptive phase, the uterus is an unfavorable environment for blastocyst implantation. Because species-specific variations in implantation strategies exist, these differences preclude the formulation of a unifying theme for the molecular basis of this event. However, an increased understanding of mammalian implantation has been gained through the use of the mouse model. This review summarizes recognized signaling cascades and new research in mammalian implantation, based primarily on available genetic and molecular evidence from implantation studies in the mouse. Although the identification of new molecules associated with implantation in various species provides valuable insight, important questions remain regarding the common molecular mechanisms that govern this process. Understanding the mechanisms of implantation promises to help alleviate infertility, enhance fetal health, and improve contraceptive design. The success of any species depends on its reproductive efficiency. For sexual reproduction, an egg and sperm must overcome many obstacles to fuse and co-mingle their genetic material at fertilization. The zygote develops into a blastocyst with two cell lineages (the inner cell mass and the trophectoderm), migrates within the reproductive tract, and ultimately implants into a transiently permissive host tissue, the uterus. However, the molecular basis of the road map connecting the blastocyst with the endometrium across species is diverse (1) and not fully understood. Recent advances have identified numerous molecules involved in implantation (1-4), yet new discoveries have not yielded a unifying scheme for the mechanisms of implantation.     

Adipose triglyceride lipase contributes to cancer-associated cachexia

Cachexia is a multifactorial wasting syndrome most common in patients with cancer that is characterized by the uncontrolled loss of adipose and muscle mass. We show that the inhibition of lipolysis through genetic ablation of adipose triglyceride lipase (Atgl) or hormone-sensitive lipase (Hsl) ameliorates certain features of cancer-associated cachexia (CAC). In wild-type C57BL/6 mice, the injection of Lewis lung carcinoma or B16 melanoma cells causes tumor growth, loss of white adipose tissue (WAT), and a marked reduction of gastrocnemius muscle. In contrast, Atgl-deficient mice with tumors resisted increased WAT lipolysis, myocyte apoptosis, and proteasomal muscle degradation and maintained normal adipose and gastrocnemius muscle mass. Hsl-deficient mice with tumors were also protected although to a lesser degree. Thus, functional lipolysis is essential in the pathogenesis of CAC. Pharmacological inhibition of metabolic lipases may help prevent cachexia.     

Widespread persistent thickening of the East Antarctic ice sheet by freezing from the base

An International Polar Year aerogeophysical investigation of the high interior of East Antarctica reveals widespread freeze-on that drives substantial mass redistribution at the bottom of the ice sheet. Although the surface accumulation of snow remains the primary mechanism for ice sheet growth, beneath Dome A, 24% of the base by area is frozen-on ice. In some places, up to half of the ice thickness has been added from below. These ice packages result from the conductive cooling of water ponded near the Gamburtsev Subglacial Mountain ridges and the supercooling of water forced up steep valley walls. Persistent freeze-on thickens the ice column, alters basal ice rheology and fabric, and upwarps the overlying ice sheet, including the oldest atmospheric climate archive, and drives flow behavior not captured in present models.     

Salinity and sodicity influences on infiltration during surge flow irrigation

The interactive influences of water quality and surge-flow irrigation (intermittent application of water) on infiltration into a bare loam soil, packed into a long metal flume, were measured with a laboratory recirculating infiltrometer devised for the experiments. Cumulative infiltration and final infiltration rates were measured over three irrigation episodes using synthetic waters of different qualities. Four water-quality combinations of low and high salinity levels (i.e., electrical conductivity, EC=1.5 and 7.5 dS/m) and low and high degree of sodicity [i.e., sodium adsorption ratio in the range of 5-10 and 25-35 mmol^1/2 l^-1/2] were tested. Results showed that surge-flow cumulative infiltration of low saline waters - especially during the first irrigation episode - was lower than the corresponding continuous-flow cumulative infiltration. Conversely, it was higher for high saline and high saline-sodic waters. Effects of the water-quality treatments on final infiltration rate were similar to and in agreement with the effects on cumulative infiltration. However, the range of the final infiltration rates among surge-flow treatments was larger than with the continuous-flow treatments. Overall, infiltration was higher with surge-flow application of high saline and high saline-sodic waters than with the continuous-flow treatment. The observed contrasting results for the surge effect with the low saline, high saline, and high saline-sodic water-quality treatments were attributed to soil consolidation, formation of a depositional seal layer, and the different levels of irrigation water salinity and sodicity. It was concluded that the "surge effect" phenomena (reduction in soil infiltration caused by surge flow) under brackish (saline, sodic, and saline-sodic) water application was not pronounced and had adverse effects, in comparison to the low saline-sodic water application. Consequently, from theory, practical application of surge-flow irrigation under these circumstances, from viewpoints of infiltration reduction and irrigation efficiency improvements, is questionable.     

Effect of electrolyte solution on saturated hydraulic conductivity of soils varying in clay type and content,and iron oxides

Changes of hydraulic conductivity (HC) at electrolyte solutions having different combinations of sodium adsorption ratio (SAR)¹ and electrolyte concentration (EC), were monitored in soil columns packed with samples from Rhodustalf, Chromustert, Andic Eutropept and Oxic Rhodustult, four subtropical soils varying in clay type and content, and iron oxides. In general, it was observed that the HC dropped with the decrease of EC and with the increase in SAR of solutions, or, with the increase in exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) of the soil. In montmorillonitic soils the reduction of HC had been most pronounced, while the kaolinite-rich soils showed only an insignificant drop in HC even at the highest SAR coupled with the lowest EC. The improvement or revival of HC from its final drop was examined upon leaching the soil columns finally with the initial high concentration solution. Montmorillonitic soils showed moderate to high revival of HC, while for montmorillonite-illite-kaolinite mixed clayey soils and kaolinitic soils the improvement of HC was low and practically nil respectively. The percentage revival of HC from its final drop was employed as a criterion to assess the major cause of HC reduction and it was found that irrespective of clay mineralogy “dispersion and subsequent pore plugging” played a major role in reducing the HC of soils, though in montmorillonitic soils swelling had been found to be an almost equivalent additional cause of HC drop. Simple correlations (r) between the saturated HC at varying SAR & EC and different physico-chemical and mineralogical properties have been calculated and its role and implications have been discussed.     

Effect of potassium application on the transformation of zinc fractions in soil and on the zinc nutrition of wetland rice

The effect of different levels of K application on the transformation of native as well as applied Zn fractions in a rice-growing soil was studied under two moisture regimes viz. waterlogged and alternate waterlogged and saturation. Application of K caused an increase in the water-soluble plus exchangeable, organically complexed and carbonates, and other acid-soluble mineral fractions of native soil Zn. Application of K also caused an increase in the transformation of applied Zn into all the above three fractions of the element in soil. The above effects of K were more pronounced in soil under waterlogged than under alternate waterlogged and non-waterlogged moisture regimes. The results of a greenhouse experiment showed that K application caused an increase in Zn uptake and per cent utilization of both native and added Zn by rice. This was attributed to the increase in the water-soluble plus exchangeable and organically complexed forms of Zn in soil due to K application.     

Diet formulation for Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) broodstock based on essential amino acid profile of its eggs

Twelve pelleted diets containing a range of protein and energy levels from 30% protein, 400 kcal gross energy per 100 g diet to 40% protein and 520 kcal gross energy per 100 g diet were formulated. A least-cost linear programming package was applied to determine the optimum inclusion levels of some locally available ingredients. The essential amino acid constraints applied to the diets were based on the essential amino acid content of the eggs of broodstock Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man). The study was undertaken using 13 one-tonne capacity fibreglass tanks, each with a water recycling system. Each tank was partitioned into three equal compartments by nylon netting; each compartment was stocked with six female and one male prawn which were fed with the various diets at 2% body weight daily split into three feedings at 0800, 1200 and 1800 h. The results indicated that prawn fed the 40% protein diet with an energy level of 400 kcal per 100 g diet attained the highest fecundity, producing 1355 eggs per gram body weight, followed by those fed P40 with a gross energy level of 440 kcal 100 g^-1 (1354 eggs per gram body weight), and prawns fed control diet (30% protein with an energy level of 442 kcal 100 g diet^-1) attained the lowest fecundity (1080 eggs per gram body weight). However, statistically, no significant differences in fecundity were observed among prawn fed 35% protein diet with an energy level of 473 kcal 100 g^-1, 40 with energy levels of 400 or 440 kcal 100 g diet^-1. The essential amino acids index (EAAI) were calculated and were found to be a possible method of evaluating the broodstock diet of M. rosenbergii as a higher index indicates higher egg production. Therefore, a diet containing 40% protein, with an energy level of 400 kcal 100 g diet^-1 is recommended as a broodstock feed for M. rosenbergii in view of its superior performance and cost.