Relationship of climate and genotype to seasonal variation in the glucosinolate–myrosinase system. I. Glucosinolate content in ten cultivars of Brassica oleracea grown in fall and spring seasons

Two cultivars each of broccoli (Brassica oleracea L var italica), Brussels sprouts (B oleracea var gemmifera), cabbage (B oleracea var capitata), cauliflower (B oleracea var botrytis) and kale (B oleracea var acephala) were grown during two fall seasons and two spring seasons to determine whether significant seasonal effects on glucosinolate (GS) concentrations could be explained by mean temperature, photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) and daylength during the growing seasons. Concentrations of total GSs, indole GSs and glucoraphanin differed by genotype and season. Total GS concentrations at harvest had a negative linear but positive quadratic relationship with temperature and daylength over the 2 weeks preceding harvest and a positive linear but negative quadratic relationship with PPF over the same 2 weeks. The regression model for indole GS concentrations similarly varied with mean temperature, daylength and PPF over the 4 weeks prior to harvest. Glucoraphanin concentrations at harvest decreased linearly with mean PPF from transplanting to harvest and had a negative linear but positive quadratic relationship with daylength from transplanting to harvest. Because glucoraphanin and other GSs in cruciferous crops are important for cancer chemoprotection, climatic conditions should be considered when planning planting dates or when making breeding selections for GS concentration. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry     

FACTORS AFFECTING SAGGING TESTS ON ENAMELING IRON*

A method is described by which sagging tests may be made and the determinations may be duplicated with considerable accuracy. The effect of different furnaces is noted as well as such factors as furnace size, temperature and its control, width of samples, enamel coating, time of testing, size of sample, and metal composition.     

Transdermal nicotine-induced tobacco abstinence symptom suppression: Nicotine dose and smokers' gender.

An aversive tobacco abstinence syndrome, thought to reflect an underlying level of nicotine dependence, contributes to cigarette smokers' failed quit attempts. Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) suppresses tobacco abstinence, but high relapse rates suggest room for improvement. Improving NRT's efficacy might begin with identifying factors that influence tobacco abstinence symptom suppression. Two such factors are smokers' gender and NRT dose. The purpose of this study was to determine the dose-related effects of transdermal nicotine (TN) on tobacco abstinence symptoms in 75 men and 53 women who regularly smoked cigarettes but who had abstained from smoking for at least 8-12 hr. Participants completed 4 double-blind, randomized 6.5-hr laboratory sessions that differed by TN dose (0, 7, 21, or 42 mg). Each session included blood sampling for plasma nicotine level, measurement of heart rate, participants' ratings of tobacco abstinence symptoms and effects of nicotine, and psychomotor performance. Increases in plasma nicotine level were related to TN dose and were independent of gender. TN-induced abstinence symptom suppression was dose-related for items assessing craving and urge to smoke and largely was independent of gender. TN increased heart rate and ratings of aversive side effects (e.g., nausea, lightheadedness) in a dose-related manner, and women were more sensitive at higher doses. Results from this laboratory study support the continued use of TN as a pharmacotherapy. Higher doses may ameliorate some abstinence symptoms, although the side effect profile, at least in the short term, may limit effectiveness, especially for women. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Genomic regions governing soybean seed nitrogen accumulation

Nitrogen accumulation in the form of seed protein takes place in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] during the reproductive stages of development. The purpose of this study was to relate genotypic differences in seed nitrogen accumulation with genomic regions controlling nitrogen accumulation in soybean during R₅, R₆, and R₇ growth stages. A population of 101 F_6∶8 recombinant inbred lines (RIL) developed from a cross of N87-984-16×TN93-99 was utilized. The RIL were grown at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Experiment Station, in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2002. Seed nitrogen was determined from pod samples harvested at the R₅, R₆, and R₇ growth stages. A significant (P<0.05) difference among genotypes was found for nitrogen accumulation at all three growth stages. Single-factor ANOVA revealed that quantitative trait loci (QTL) governing nitrogen accumulation in soybean seed were distributed in the linkage groups A2, B2, D1a, D1b, E, G, and M. Phenotypic variation explained by an individual QTL ranged from 5 to 11.6%. These QTL may provide useful marker-assisted selection opportunities for soybean protein improvement.     

Human auditory cortical mechanisms of sound lateralization: II. Interaural time differences at sound onset

Neuromagnetic responses were recorded over the right temporal cortex using a 24-channel gradiometer. Stimuli were binaural click trains, presented with six separate interaural time differences (ITDs). N100m to sound onset was larger and earlier for stimuli presented with left- than with right-leading ITDs. With stimulus lateralization taken into account, monaural and binaural stimuli evoked responses of roughly equal amplitude. In selective adaptation and oddball experiments, stimuli presented with different ITDs excited overlapping neuronal populations, but the amount of overlap decreased as the ITD between the stimuli increased. There were no systematic differences in the cortical source locations of the N100m as a function of ITD, however. Thus it appears that ITD-sensitive neurons in the human auditory cortex are not organized into a large-scale, orderly representation, which could be resolved by MEG.     

The pharmacology and pharmacokinetics of high-dose methocarbamol in horses

The haemodynamic, respiratory and behavioural effects and pharmacokinetics of methocarbamol were studied in eight healthy, adult horses after intravenous (i.v.) and oral administration of large dosages. Heart rate, cardiac output, mean pulmonary arterial blood pressure, systolic, diastolic and mean aortic blood pressure, respiratory rate and arterial blood gases did not change after either i.v. (30 mg/kg bodyweight [bwt]) or oral (50 and 100 mg/kg bwt) dosages of methocarbamol. Mild to moderate depression was observed in five of eight horses administered i.v. methocarbamol, and in all horses administered oral methocarbamol. Plasma methocarbamol concentration declined very rapidly during the initial or rapid disposition phase after i.v. administration; the terminal elimination half-life ranged from 59 to 90 mins. Peak plasma methocarbamol concentrations following oral administration occurred within 15 to 45 mins and oral bioavailability ranged from 50.7 to 124 percent.     

Molecular mapping and identification of soybean fatty acid modifier quantitative trait loci

Altering FA content in soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] oil for improved functionality is a research goal of many soybean breeders. Several of the genes that alter palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids are modifier genes with small effects, causing these FA traits to act as quantitative traits. The objective of this study was to identify modifier FA quantitative trait loci (QTL) in soybean. A recombinant inbred line population was created from two prominent ancestors of currently available U.S. cultivars (Essex and Williams) and grown in five environments. One hundred simple sequence repeat markers spaced throughout the genome were mapped in this population. QTL were found for all five FA traits on the soybean linkage groups C2, D2, D1b, F, K, and L. A single marker interval on linkage group L contained the largest QTL for palmitic (r ²=13.1%), oleic (r ²=35.3%), linoleic (r ²=50.5%), and linolenic acids (r ²=24.8%); however, this interval also contained the gene for growth habit (Dt1) and was significantly associated with maturity. Other modifier QTL found in this study may be of use in marker-assisted selection to enable breeders to increase genetic gains for desirable FA composition of soybean.     

Evaluation of Airborne Thermal Infrared Imagery for Locating Mine Drainage Sites in the Lower Youghiogheny River Basin,Pennsylvania, USA

Abstract.  Nighttime high-resolution airborne thermal infrared imagery (TIR) data were collected in the predawn hours during Feb 5-8 and March 11-12, 1999, from a helicopter platform for 72.4 km of the Youghiogheny River, from Connellsville to McKeesport, in southwestern Pennsylvania. The TIR data were used to identify sources of mine drainage from abandoned mines that discharge directly into the Youghiogheny River. Image-processing and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques were used to identify 70 sites within the study area as possible mine drainage sources. The combination of GIS datasets and the airborne TIR data provided a fast and accurate method to target the possible sources. After field reconnaissance, it was determined that 24 of the 70 sites were mine drainage. This paper summarizes: the procedures used to process the TIR data and extract potential mine-drainage sites; methods used for verification of the TIR data; a discussion of factors affecting the TIR data; and a brief summary of water quality.     

Nicotine delivery, cardiovascular profile, and subjective effects of an oral tobacco product for smokers.

The tobacco industry markets potential reduced exposure products (PREPs) to smokers, including oral products that are intended to be used in situations where cigarettes cannot. For example, Ariva, marketed by Star Scientific, is a tablet made from compressed tobacco powder and is intended for "adult smokers in situations where they cannot or choose not to smoke." No objective data are available regarding Ariva's effects in smokers, including its nicotine delivery, cardiovascular profile, or subjective effects. In this single-session, clinical laboratory study, 10 overnight-abstinent cigarette smokers were administered one Ariva tablet, followed 90 min later by two Ariva tablets, followed 90 min later by three Ariva tablets. Participants allowed each dose to dissolve in their mouths according to package instructions. Blood was sampled, heart rate monitored, and subjective effects assessed regularly. Ariva delivered nicotine in a dose-dependent manner; mean (SD) nicotine levels increased from 2.4 ng/ml (0.9) at baseline, to 3.4 ng/ml (1.4) 45 min post-1 tablet, 7.3 ng/ml (4.0) 45 min post-2 tablets, and 9.7 ng/ml (4.4) 45 min post-3 tablets. Heart rate increased after tablet administration, independent of dose. The tablets also significantly decreased subjective ratings of craving and urge, and increased ratings of nausea. Based on this short-term laboratory evaluation, Ariva exposes users to nicotine and may suppress some symptoms of tobacco abstinence, though its nausea-inducing characteristics may limit initial acceptability.