A physical map of the 1-gigabase bread wheat chromosome 3B

As the staple food for 35% of the world's population, wheat is one of the most important crop species. To date, sequence-based tools to accelerate wheat improvement are lacking. As part of the international effort to sequence the 17-billion-base-pair hexaploid bread wheat genome (2n = 6x = 42 chromosomes), we constructed a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC)-based integrated physical map of the largest chromosome, 3B, that alone is 995 megabases. A chromosome-specific BAC library was used to assemble 82% of the chromosome into 1036 contigs that were anchored with 1443 molecular markers, providing a major resource for genetic and genomic studies. This physical map establishes a template for the remaining wheat chromosomes and demonstrates the feasibility of constructing physical maps in large, complex, polyploid genomes with a chromosome-based approach.     

Don't look back in anger! Responsiveness to missed chances in successful and nonsuccessful aging

Life-span theories explain successful aging with an adaptive management of emotional experiences like regret. As opportunities to undo regrettable situations decline with age, a reduced engagement into these situations represents a potentially protective strategy to maintain well-being in older age. Yet, little is known about the underlying neurobiological mechanisms supporting this claim. We used a multimodal psychophysiological approach in combination with a sequential risk-taking task that induces the feeling of regret and investigated young as well as emotionally successfully and unsuccessfully (i.e., late-life depressed) aged participants. Responsiveness to regret was specifically reduced in successful aging paralleled by autonomic and frontostriatal characteristics indicating adaptive shifts in emotion regulation. Our results suggest that disengagement from regret reflects a critical resilience factor for emotional health in older age.     

Arginine ammonification assay as a rapid index of gross N mineralization in agricultural soils

Seasonal dynamics of in situ gross nitrogen (N) mineralization rates were measured using the ¹⁵N-NH₄⁺ isotope dilution method in a Danish soil subjected to four different agricultural practices (set aside, barley, winter wheat and clover). Results were compared to arginine ammonification in the soil samples measured as NH₄⁺ production following addition of excess (1 mM) arginine. In the set aside, barley, winter wheat and clover soils the average annual rates of gross N mineralization (0.29, 0.60, 1.34 and 1.75 µg NH₄⁺-N g^-1 day^-1, respectively) and arginine ammonification activity (0.21, 0.55, 0.88, and 1.33 µg NH₄⁺-N g^-1 h^-1, respectively) were well correlated. Furthermore, the seasonal variations of gross N mineralization and arginine ammonification activities were very similar, showing rapid responses to rainfall and generally higher activities in wetted soils. As tested in the laboratory, the arginine ammonification activity correlated well with heterotrophic microbial respiration activity (CO₂ production) in soil samples and further displayed a simple, one-component Michaelis-Menten kinetics with a high affinity for arginine (K_m value of 48 µM LJ µM) as determined from non-linear parameter estimation. This indicated that arginine ammonification activity was primarily due to microorganisms, and the activity was also shown to be at a minimum in sterile soil samples. All evidence thus supported that our standard assay of arginine ammonification activity provides a good index of gross N mineralization rates by the microorganisms in soil under in situ conditions.     

Urine flavonoids and plasma carotenoids in the validation of fruit, vegetable and tea intake during pregnancy in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

OBJECTIVE: To validate a new food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for measuring the intake of fruit, vegetables and tea reported by women participating in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). DESIGN: Intake of fruits, vegetables and tea estimated by the FFQ was compared with urinary flavonoid excretion, plasma carotenoid concentration and intake measured by a 4-day weighed food diary (FD). The triangular method was applied to calculate FFQ validity coefficients using two independent biomarkers. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: One hundred and nineteen women participating in MoBa. RESULTS: The FFQ estimate of fruit intake was significantly correlated with urine phloretin (r = 0.33), citrus fruit/juice with urine hesperetin (r = 0.44), cooked vegetables with plasma alpha-carotene (r = 0.37), and tea with urine kaempferol (r = 0.41) (P < 0.01 for all). On average, 60% of the participants fell into the same or adjacent quintiles when classified by FFQ and biomarkers. Significant correlations between the FFQ and FD were found for fruit (r = 0.39), vegetables (r = 0.34), juices (r = 0.50) and tea (r = 0.53). The FFQ validity coefficient was 0.65 for citrus fruit/juice and 0.59 for cooked vegetables as calculated by the triangular method. CONCLUSIONS: The validation study shows that the MoBa FFQ can be used to estimate fruit, juice, vegetable and tea intake in pregnant Norwegian women, and to rank individuals within the distribution.     

Chemical conversion of alpha-keto acids in relation to flavor formation in fermented foods

Formation of flavor compounds from branched-chain alpha-keto acids in fermented foods such as cheese is believed to be mainly an enzymatic process, while the conversion of phenyl pyruvic acid, which is derived from phenylalanine, also proceeds chemically. In this research, the chemical conversion of alpha-keto acids to aldehydes with strong flavor characteristics was studied, with the main focus on the conversion of alpha-ketoisocaproic acid to the aldehyde 2-methylpropanal, and a manganese-catalyzed reaction mechanism is proposed for this conversion. The mechanism involves keto-enol tautomerism, enabling molecular oxygen to react with the beta-carbon atom of the alpha-keto acid, resulting in a peroxide. This peroxide can react in several ways, leading to unstable dioxylactone or noncyclic intermediates. These intermediates will break down into an aldehyde and oxalate or carbon oxides (CO and CO(2)). All the alpha-keto acids tested were converted at pH 5.5 and in the presence of manganese, although their conversion rates were rather diverse. This chemical reaction might provide new ways for controlling cheese flavor formation with the aim of acceleration of the ripening process or diversification of the flavor characteristics.     

Carbon sequestration in the agricultural soils of Europe

In this review, technical and economically viable potentials for carbon sequestration in the agricultural soils of Europe by 2008-2012 are analysed against a business-as-usual scenario. We provide a quantitative estimation of the carbon absorption potential per hectare and the surface of agricultural land that is available and suitable for the implementation of those measures, their environmental effects as well as the effects on farm income. Realistically, agricultural soils in EU-15 can sequester up to 16-19 Mt C year⁻¹ during the first Kyoto commitment period (2008-2012), which is less than one fifth of the theoretical potential and equivalent to 2% of European anthropogenic emissions. We identified as most promising measures: the promotion of organic inputs on arable land instead of grassland, the introduction of perennials (grasses, trees) on arable set-aside land for conservation or biofuel purposes, to promote organic farming, to raise the water table in farmed peatland, and—with restrictions—zero tillage or conservation tillage. Many options have environmental benefits but some risk of increasing N₂O emissions. For most measures it is impossible to determine the overall impact on farm profitability. Efficient carbon sequestration in agricultural soils demands a permanent management change and implementation concepts adjusted to local soil, climate and management features in order to allow selection of areas with high carbon sequestering potential. Some of the present agricultural policy schemes have probably helped to maintain carbon stocks in agricultural soils.     

Elucidation of membrane destabilization in post-mortem muscles using an extracellular paramagnetic agent (Gd-DTPA): an NMR study

The effect of Gd-DTPA on the development in NMR relaxation of skeletal rabbit muscles post-mortem was investigated by dynamic low-field (0.47 T) relaxation measurements from 4 min post-mortem and until 23 h post-mortem. Twelve rabbits were included in the study, and half of the animals were administered 0.2 mmol of Gd-DTPA iv 15 min before sacrifice, while the other half was administered an isotonic salt solution. A significant effect of Gd-DTPA treatment corresponding to a 25% reduction in the T(1) relaxation time was observed. T(2) relaxation was decomposed into two components reflecting intra- and extracellular components (T(2)()alpha and T(2)()beta, respectively), and Gd-DTPA treatment was found to affect both components. However, around 150 min post-mortem a dramatic increase in the difference between control and Gd-DTPA-treated rabbits was observed in the relaxation time of the intracellular water population (T(2)()alpha). Electrical stimulation of the muscles resulted in a significantly earlier onset of the increased effect of Gd-DTPA on the T(2)()alpha population. The increased effect of Gd-DTPA treatment on the T(2)()alpha component is believed to reflect leakage of water from the muscle cells due to membrane destabilization, known to be promoted by electrical stimulation. Accordingly, the present study demonstrates how Gd-DTPA can be used for probing membrane integrity in post-mortem muscles known to be of importance for subsequent water distribution and final water-holding capacity.     

Effect of improved fallow on crop productivity, soil fertility and climate-forcing gas emissions in semi-arid conditions

The impacts of fallow on soil fertility, crop production and climate-forcing gas emissions were determined in two contrasting legumes, Gliricidia sepium and Acacia colei, in comparison with traditional unamended fallow and continuous cultivation systems. After 2 years, the amount of foliar material produced did not differ between the two improved fallow species; however, grain yield was significantly elevated by 55% in the first and second cropping season after G. sepium compared with traditional fallow. By contrast, relative to the unamended fallow, a drop in grain yield was observed in the first cropping season after A. colei, followed by no improvement in the second. G. sepium had higher foliar N, K and Mg, while A. colei had lower foliar N but higher lignin and polyphenols. In the third year after fallow improvement, a simulated rainfall experiment was performed on soils to compare efflux of N₂O and CO₂. Improved fallow effects on soil nutrient composition and microbial activity were demonstrated through elevated N₂O and CO₂ efflux from soils in G. sepium fallows compared with other treatments. N₂O emissions were around six times higher from this nitrogen-fixing soil treatment, evolving 69.9 ngN₂O–N g⁻¹soil h⁻¹ after a simulated rainfall event, compared with only 8.5 and 4.8 ngN₂O–N g⁻¹soil h⁻¹ from soil under traditional fallow and continuous cultivation, respectively. The findings indicate that selection of improved fallows for short-term fertility enhancement has implications for regional N₂O emissions for dry land regions.     

Macroinvertebrate Community and Chemistry of the Most Atmospherically Acidified Streams in the Czech Republic

We performed a comparative study of strongly acidified mountain streams covering 10 sites in the Czech Republic in the season 1999/2000. The aim of the study was to determine how acidification influenced macroinvertebrate community structure within a relatively narrow pH range. We focused on strongly acidified, non-humic running waters with low ionic content (pH < 4.6, total organic carbon < 10 mg l^?1, specific conductivity < 100 μS cm^?1) and minimum human influence in the catchment. The actual pH values ranged from 3.98 to 4.65, and concentrations of reactive aluminium ranged from 0.2 to 2.0 mg l^?1. Characteristic macroinvertebrates were the stoneflies Leuctra nigra, Nemurella pictetii, and Protonemura spp.; the chironomids Corynoneura spp.; and the caddisfly Plectrocnemia conspersa – the former two stoneflies formed together 46% of total organisms. The sites were divided into three groups with use of divisive classification. Individual groups reflected similarity in water chemistry, catchment characteristics, and geographical proximity. The largest biotic difference detected by PCA was in the abundance of stoneflies, mainly Diura bicaudata and Leuctra major. The strongest correlation with this gradient was shown by pH (and associated heavy metals), followed by the distance from source. The results show that even in such narrow pH range, the number of taxa is determined by the low pH value and related high concentrations of aluminium and heavy metals.