Dietary phosphorus restriction affects bone metabolism,vitamin D metabolism and rumen fermentation traits in sheep

Homeostasis of calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P_i) is maintained by a concerted interplay of absorption and reabsorption via the gastrointestinal tract and the kidney and by storage and mobilization from the bone regulated mainly by parathyroid hormone (PTH), 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and calcitonin. The present study aimed at characterizing the effects of dietary P restriction on bone, vitamin D metabolism and rumen fermentation traits reflecting the endogenous P cycle maintaining the ruminal P supply for microbial metabolism. The experiments were done in eleven female, non-pregnant, non-lactating four- to nine-year-old Black Headed Mutton sheep allotted to two feeding groups: "P-restricted" (0.11% P/kg DM and 0.88% Ca/kg DM) and "Control" (0.38% P/kg DM and 0.88% Ca/kg DM). Dietary P restriction did not lead to hypophosphataemia, probably due to a compensation by bone mobilization, demonstrated by increased serum concentrations of a resorption marker and altered gene expression in bone tissue. In addition, the RNA expression of fibroblast growth factor 23, a bone-derived factor involved in the regulation of vitamin D metabolism, was significantly reduced with dietary P restriction. Furthermore, several genes related to vitamin D metabolism and plasma concentrations of 1,25-(OH)₂D were associated with serum concentrations of phosphate (P_i). In the parotid gland, the expression of the P_i transporter NaPi2b was negatively associated with serum P_i and positively with parathyroid PTH expression. Although P_i concentrations in saliva and the gastrointestinal tract were significantly reduced, we found no adverse effects of the P-restricted ration on the production of short chain fatty acids, but slight differences in the production of butyrate as well as its relationship to rumen P_i and ammonia concentrations that might indicate an impact on ruminal fermentation.     

Evaluating the effect of plant water availability on inner alpine coniferous trees based on sap flow measurements

Climate simulations anticipate an increase in mean summer temperature with synchronous decrease in summer precipitation during the course of the current century in Central Europe. As a consequence, transpiration of forest trees and stands may be altered along with soil water availability. In this study, the effect of reduced plant water availability to conifers was investigated into an open Pinus sylvestris forest (Erico-Pinetum typicum; P. sylvestris 60 %, Picea abies 20 %; and Larix decidua 20 %) within the inner alpine dry valley of the Inn River in Tyrol, Austria. For reducing plant water availability, we installed a transparent roof construction above the forest floor to prevent precipitation to reach the soil. The roofed area covered 240 m² and included 10 trees. A respective number of 11 trees served as controls in the absence of any manipulation. Roofing significantly reduced plant water availability as indicated in lower predawn needle water potentials. Sap flow density (Q _s) was 63, 47, and 24 % lower in roofed P. sylvestris, P. abies, and L. decidua trees, respectively, as compared to control trees. Our findings suggest that P. sylvestris and P. abies behaves “isohydric” as they close their stomata relatively early under conditions of reduced plant water availability and thus stabilize their water relations, whereas L. decidua behaves “anisohydric” and maintains high transpiration rates.     

Linear alkane polymerization on a gold surface

In contrast to the many methods of selectively coupling olefins, few protocols catenate saturated hydrocarbons in a predictable manner. We report here the highly selective carbon-hydrogen (C-H) activation and subsequent dehydrogenative C-C coupling reaction of long-chain (>C(20)) linear alkanes on an anisotropic gold(110) surface, which undergoes an appropriate reconstruction by adsorption of the molecules and subsequent mild annealing, resulting in nanometer-sized channels (1.22 nanometers in width). Owing to the orientational constraint of the reactant molecules in these one-dimensional channels, the reaction takes place exclusively at specific sites (terminal CH(3) or penultimate CH(2) groups) in the chains at intermediate temperatures (420 to 470 kelvin) and selects for aliphatic over aromatic C-H activation.     

A quantitative link between recycling and osmium isotopes

Recycled subducted ocean crust has been traced by elevated 187Os/188Os in some studies and by high nickel and low manganese contents in others. Here, we show that these tracers are linked for Quaternary lavas of Iceland, strengthening the recycling model. An estimate of the osmium isotopic composition of both the recycled crust and the mantle peridotite implies that Icelandic Quaternary lavas are derived in part from an ancient crustal component with model ages between 1.1 _ 109 and 1.8 _ 109 years and from a peridotitic end-member close to present-day oceanic mantle.     

Enhanced and delayed stress-induced alcohol drinking in mice lacking functional CRH1 receptors

There is a relation between stress and alcohol drinking. We show that the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) system that mediates endocrine and behavioral responses to stress plays a role in the control of long-term alcohol drinking. In mice lacking a functional CRH1 receptor, stress leads to enhanced and progressively increasing alcohol intake. The effect of repeated stress on alcohol drinking behavior appeared with a delay and persisted throughout life. It was associated with an up-regulation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit NR2B. Alterations in the CRH1 receptor gene and adaptional changes in NR2B subunits may constitute a genetic risk factor for stress-induced alcohol drinking and alcoholism.     

Controlling the charge state of individual gold adatoms

The nature and control of individual metal atoms on insulators are of great importance in emerging atomic-scale technologies. Individual gold atoms on an ultrathin insulating sodium chloride film supported by a copper surface exhibit two different charge states, which are stabilized by the large ionic polarizability of the film. The charge state and associated physical and chemical properties such as diffusion can be controlled by adding or removing a single electron to or from the adatom with a scanning tunneling microscope tip. The simple physical mechanism behind the charge bistability in this case suggests that this is a common phenomenon for adsorbates on polar insulating films.     

Glutamate receptor-like genes form Ca2+ channels in pollen tubes and are regulated by pistil D-serine

Elevations in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca(2+)](cyt)) constitute a fundamental signal transduction mechanism in eukaryotic cells, but the molecular identity of Ca(2+) channels initiating this signal in plants is still under debate. Here, we show by pharmacology and loss-of-function mutants that in tobacco and Arabidopsis, glutamate receptor-like channels (GLRs) facilitate Ca(2+) influx across the plasma membrane, modulate apical [Ca(2+)](cyt) gradient, and consequently affect pollen tube growth and morphogenesis. Additionally, wild-type pollen tubes grown in pistils of knock-out mutants for serine-racemase (SR1) displayed growth defects consistent with a decrease in GLR activity. Our findings reveal a novel plant signaling mechanism between male gametophyte and pistil tissue similar to amino acid-mediated communication commonly observed in animal nervous systems.     

The origin of aluminum flocs in polluted streams

About 240,000 square kilometers of Earth's surface is disrupted by mining, which creates watersheds that are polluted by acidity, aluminum, and heavy metals. Mixing of acidic effluent from old mines and acidic soils into waters with a higher pH causes precipitation of amorphous aluminum oxyhydroxide flocs that move in streams as suspended solids and transport adsorbed contaminants. On the basis of samples from nine streams, we show that these flocs probably form from aggregation of the epsilon -Keggin polyoxocation AlO4Al12(OH)24(H2O)12(7+)(aq) (Al13), because all of the flocs contain distinct Al(O)4 centers similar to that of the Al13 nanocluster.     

Germplasm characterization of Sesbania accessions based on isozyme analyses

Twenty-two accessions belonging to seven species of Sesbania Scop. (S. emerus, S. exasperata, S. grandiflora, S. rostrata, S. sesban, S. tetrapteraand S. virgata), were evaluated in order to characterize the isozyme electrophoretic patterns and to estimate their genetic variability and outcrossing rates. Eight isozyme systems were used: acid phosphatase (ACP), isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH), phosphoglucomutase (PGM), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), phosphoglucoisomerase (PGI), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), peroxidase (PRX) and catalase (CAT), with two gel/electrode buffers and distilled water as the extraction buffer. Cotyledons were chosen for enzyme extraction. The accessions were compared considering the presence/absence of bands for each system. A dendrogram was obtained using the Jaccard similarity index and the UPGMA clustering method, classifying the accessions into eight groups, evidencing both inter- and intraspecific variability. Annual species were classified in one major group separate from the perennials (S. grandiflora, S. sesban, S. virgata), which were allocated into two other main groups. S. virgata accessions (subgenus Daubentonia) were clearly separated from the other species. Isozyme banding patterns for the accessions are presented for each system. A high incidence of intraspecific monomorphism was observed. Interpretation in terms of loci and alleles was made for S. sesbanand S. virgataaccessions, which presented polymorphism for the systems PGI, GOT (S. sesban) and MDH (S. virgata). The average expected heterozygosity estimates varied from 0.0 to 0.231 for S. sesban and 0.0 to 0.20 for S. virgata. A mean number of 2.0 alleles per locus was observed for both species. Population multilocus outcrossing rate (t _m) of 0.62 was estimated for S. sesban, indicating a partial allogamy mode of reproduction. Individual families presented multilocus rates varying from 0.00 to 1.00, indicating both self-pollination and cross-pollination.