Method for assessing the influence of additives on the effect of foliar-applied herbicides

The principles of parallel-line assay were employed lo assess the influence of various additives on the herbicidal activity of alloxydim-sodium, fluazifop-butyl and sethoxydim on winter barley (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Igri). The dose-response curves of the herbicides were parallel, only differing in their horizontal location, i.e., the relative potencies of the herbicide preparations were independent of the dose-response level considered. Except for one herbicide-additive combination, increasing the concentration of the additives in the spray solution increased herbicide activity. The prospects of using the parallel-line assay in studies examining the effect of additives on the activity of herbicides and its application in other kinds of herbicide studies are discussed. Méthode d'estimation de l'influence d'adjuvants sur l'efficacite de certains herbicides appliqués en pulvérisation foliaire Le principe d'essai des lignes parallèles a été utilise pour estimer l'influence d'adjuvants variés sur l'activité herbicide de l'alloxydine sodium, le fluazifop-butyl et la séthoxydine en orge d'hiver (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Igri). Les courbes de réponse à la dose entre les herbicides étaient parallèles, différant seulement dans leur localisation horizontale, par exemple les puissances relatives des préparations herbicides étaient indépendantes du niveau de la réponse à la dose pris en considération. Excepté pour un mélange herbicide-adjuvant, l'activité des herbicides a augmenté quand on a augmenté la concentration en adjuvants dans la bouillie de pulvérisation. Les possibilités d'utilisation de cette méthode des parallèles pour étudier l'effet des adjuvants sur l'activité des herbicides, et son application à d'autres secteurs d'étude des herbicides, fait l'objet d'une discussion. Eine Methode zur Beurteilung des Einflusses von Additiven auf die Wirkung von blattwirksamen Herbiziden Basierend auf den Grundlagen von ‘parallel line’-Bioassays wurde der Einfluss verschiedener Additive auf die herbizide Wirkung von Alloydim-Natrium, Fluazifop-Butyl und Sethoxydim auf Wintergerste (Hordeum vulgare L. cv. Igri) untersucht. Die Dosis/Wirkungs—Kurven waren parallel; sie unterschieden sich nur in ihrer horizontalen Lage, d.h. die relative Wirksamkeit der Herbizidformulierungen war unabhängig von einem bestimmten Dosis/Wirkungs–Niveau. Nur für eine Herbizid/Additiv—Kombination wurde eine zunchmende Aktivität der Herbizide mit steigender Additivkonzentration in der Spritzbrühe gefunden. Es werden die Möglichkeiten der Verwendung von ‘parallel line’-Bioassays zum Studium des Einflusses von Additiven auf den Effekt von Herbiziden sowie für andere Herbziduntersuchungen diskutiert.     

Climate-driven range expansion and morphological evolution in a marine gastropod

Little is known about the phenotypic consequences of global climate change, despite the excellent Pleistocene fossil record of many taxa. We used morphological measurements from extant and Pleistocene populations of a marine gastropod (Acanthinucella spirata) in conjunction with mitochondrial DNA sequence variation from living populations to determine how populations responded phenotypically to Pleistocene climatic changes. Northern populations show little sequence variation as compared to southern populations, a pattern consistent with a recent northward range expansion. These recently recolonized northern populations also contain shell morphologies that are absent in extant southern populations and throughout the Pleistocene fossil record. Thus, contrary to traditional expectations that morphological evolution should occur largely within Pleistocene refugia, our data show that geographical range shifts in response to climatic change can lead to significant morphological evolution.     

Quantitative structure-activity relationship modeling of peptide and protein behavior as a function of amino acid composition

A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) modeling approach based on the location of each amino acid along three axes obtained by principal component analysis (called z scores) was extended to physical and functional properties of proteins, where the proportion of particular amino acids rather than a precise sequence is the determining factor. Coomassie Brilliant Blue spectral responses to amino acid homopolymers (R = 0.926) and proteins, either as a function of their contents of six basic and aromatic amino acids (R = 0.976) or as a function of the contributions of these amino acids to the three z scores (R = 0.935), were modeled. The ultraviolet absorbance of proteins was modeled in terms of the z score contributions of tyrosine, tryptophan, and cysteine (R = 0.995). Modeling many protein functional properties in this manner appears to be possible. An approach to modeling peptide behaviors that depend on short sequences of amino acids was also considered.     

Comparison of oil and phytosterol levels in germplasm accessions of corn, teosinte, and Job's tears

Seeds of 49 accessions of corn (Zea mays ssp. mays), 9 accessions of teosinte (Zea species that are thought to be ancestors and probable progenitors to corn), and 3 accessions of Job's tears (Coix lacryma), obtained from a germplasm repository, were ground and extracted with hexane. Whole kernel oil yields and levels of four phytonutrients (free phytosterols, fatty acyl phytosterol esters, ferulate phytosterol esters, and gamma-tocopherol) in the oils were measured. Among the seeds tested, oil yields ranged from 2.19 to 4.83 wt %, the levels of ferulate phytosterol esters in the oil ranged from 0.047 to 0.839 wt %, the levels of free phytosterols in the oil ranged from 0.54 to 1.28 wt %, the levels of phytosterol fatty acyl esters in the oil ranged from 0.76 to 3.09 wt %, the levels of total phytosterols in the oil ranged from 1.40 to 4.38 wt %, and the levels of gamma-tocopherol in the oil ranged from 0.023 to 0.127 wt %. In general, higher levels of all three phytosterol classes were observed in seed oils from accessions of Zea mays ssp. mays than in seed oils from accessions of the other taxonomic groups. The highest levels of gamma-tocopherol were observed in teosinte accessions.     

An autoinhibitory mechanism for nonsyntaxin SNARE proteins revealed by the structure of Ykt6p

Ykt6p is a nonsyntaxin SNARE implicated in multiple intracellular membrane trafficking steps. Here we present the structure of the NH2-terminal domain of Ykt6p (Ykt6pN, residues 1 to 140). The structure of Ykt6pN differed entirely from that of syntaxin and resembled the overall fold of the actin regulatory protein, profilin. Like some syntaxins, Ykt6p adopted a folded back conformation in which Ykt6pN bound to its COOH-terminal core domain. The NH2-terminal domain plays an important biological role in the function of Ykt6p, which in vitro studies revealed to include influencing the kinetics and proper assembly of SNARE complexes.     

Clinical features of dilated cardiomyopathy in Great Danes and results of a pedigree analysis: 17 cases (1990-2000)

OBJECTIVE: To determine clinical features of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Great Danes and to determine whether DCM is familial in this breed. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 17 Great Danes with DCM. PROCEDURE: Medical records of Great Danes in which DCM was diagnosed on the basis of results of echocardiography (fractional shortening < 25%, end-systolic volume index > 30 ml/m2 of body surface area) were reviewed. Pedigrees were obtained for affected animals, as well as for other Great Danes in which DCM had been diagnosed. RESULTS: Dilated cardiomyopathy appeared to be familial and was characterized by ventricular dilatation, congestive heart failure (left-sided or biventricular), and atrial fibrillation. Pedigree analysis suggested that DCM was inherited as an X-linked recessive trait, but the mode of inheritance could not be definitively identified. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that DCM may be an X-linked recessive trait in Great Danes. Thus, dogs with DCM probably should not be used for breeding, and female offspring of affected dogs should be used cautiously. Male offspring of affected females are at an increased risk of developing DCM and should be evaluated periodically for early signs of disease. Results of pedigree analysis were preliminary and should be used only as a guide for counseling breeders, rather than as a basis for making breeding decisions.