The rapid and long-lasting growth of grasses following small falls of rain on stony downs in the arid interior of Australia

Abstract Stony downs consist of grassy areas that alternate with areas that have a substantial stone cover. The stone-covered areas are impermeable, and most rain falling on them runs off, substantially increasing the effective rainfall in adjacent grassy areas. As a result, 20–25 mm of rain on stony downs wetted the soil around the grass to a depth of 140–170 mm and allowed sustained grass response. This is much less than the 35–40 mm of rain required for the same response on red clay or grey clay plains. Grasses respond very rapidly after rain. Some have green shoots the day after rain, and all have responded by the second day. Ephemerals dry off in 4–6 weeks, but most tussock grasses still have some green foliage 8–10 weeks after rain. Deeper rooted tussock grasses remain green for so long because most of the moisture that reaches deeper roots after rain remains there. Most moisture loss is through the soil surface and is recognizable as a drying front that descends through the soil profile. Soil above the drying front is nearly air dry (<5% moisture) while soil below the front has substantial moisture (14–16%). By about a month after rain in summer, the drying front is at a depth of about 80–120 mm. This is near the tips of the roots of ephemeral grasses and the ephemerals then dry off rapidly. Only the tips of the leaves of deep rooted grasses like Mitchell grass (Astrebla spp.) dry off. Their leaves continue to remain mostly green during most of the second month after rain and they do not dry off completely until the third month when the drying front reaches the bottom of the main root system.     

A tree-ring densitometric transect from Alaska to Labrador

We describe a recently completed network of densitometric tree-ring time series representing various aspects of tree-growth for up to 200 years at 69 sites spread across the northern North American conifer zone from Yukon to Labrador. Duplicate cores, from 12 to 15 trees per site, provide time series for a suite of growth parameters including earlywood (spring), latewood (summer) and total (annual) ring widths and mean earlywood, mean latewood, minimum and maximum ring density. These data form the basis for extensive analyses of intra- and inter-site parameter comparisons and regional climate/tree-growth comparisons. Five large-scale regional chronologies do not suggest that any anomalous growth increases have occurred in recent decades, at least on these regional scales, despite the observed changes in atmospheric composition and climate.     

Application of continuous zone electrophoresis to preparative separation of proteins

A comprehensive study of the application of continuous zone electrophoresis to preparative separation of proteins in free solution is presented. First, the influence of electric field strength, buffer residence time in the chamber, sample flow rate, and sample concentration on separation resolution and throughput were studied. Using multiple injections of sample into the electrophoresis chamber, a throughput of 500 mg protein/h was achieved for partially purified model proteins. Experiments on Escherichia coli crude extracts yielded a fivefold purification of beta-galactosidase along with a simultaneous separation of proteins from cell debris in a single step. Experiments correlating the electrophoretic mobility in continuous electrophoresis with the elution behavior in ion-exchange chromatography were performed on more than a dozen proteins which conclusively showed that separation of proteins in continuous zone electrophoresis is governed by net surface charge. Based on these results, the fraction numbers in which the proteins eluted could be correctly predicted. Proteins and enzymes with differences >0.5 M elution molarities in ion-exchange chromatography were separated by continuous zone electrophoresis on a preparative scale (mg/h or g/h) with >90% recovery. This corresponds to a preparative scale separation of proteins and enzymes which differ in apparent electrophoretic mobility by only 0.70 x 10(-5) cm(2)/V . s. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Are active oxygen species involved in induction of β-carotene in Dunaliella bardawil?

The purpose of this work was to test whether induction of massive -carotene synthesis in the alga Dunaliella bardawil is triggered by oxygen radicals. The following results were obtained: (i) The induction of -carotene synthesis is preceded by a lag period of about 4 h during which the cells swell and photosynthesis is partially inhibited, (ii) Addition of promoters of oxygen radicals or of azide (an inhibitor of catalase and superoxide dismutase) during the induction period, under conditions which are suboptimal for massive -carotene accumulation, greatly enhances -carotene synthesis, photodegradation of chlorophyll and inhibition of photosynthesis, (iii) High irradiance, which induces massive -carotene accumulation, also induces a high catalase activity. It is suggested that photosynthetically produced oxygen radicals are involved in triggering massive -carotene accumulation in D. bardawil.     

Relationship between cardiac output and oxygen uptake at the onset of exercise

The purpose of the present study was to assess the relationship between the rapidity of increased gas exchange (i.e. oxygen uptake ) and increased cardiac output ( ) during the transient phase following the onset of exercise. Five healthy male subjects performed multiple rest-exercise or light exercise (25 W)-exercise transitions on an electrically braked ergometer at exercise intensities of 50, 75, or 100 W for 6 min, respectively. Each transition was performed at least eight times for each load in random order. The was obtained by a breath-by-breath method, and was measured by an impedance method during normal breathing, using an ensemble average. On transitions from rest to exercise, rapidly increased during phase I with time constants of 6.8–7.3 s. The also showed a similar rapid increment with time constants of 6.0–6.8 s with an apparent increase in stroke volume (SV). In this phase I, increased to about 29.7%–34.1% of the steady-state value and increased to about 58.3%–87.0%. Thereafter, some 20 s after the onset of exercise a mono-exponential increase to steady-state occurred both in and with time constants of 26.7–32.3 and 23.7–34.4 s, respectively. The insignificant difference between and time constants in phase I and the abrupt increase in both and SV at the onset of exercise from rest provided further evidence for a cardiodynamic contribution to following the onset of exercise from rest.     

Effects of prolonged cycle ergometer exercise on maximal muscle power and oxygen uptake in humans

The mechanical power (W_tot, W·kg^–1) developed during ten revolutions of all-out periods of cycle ergometer exercise (4–9 s) was measured every 5–6 min in six subjects from rest or from a baseline of constant aerobic exercise [50%–80% of maximal oxygen uptake (VO_2max)] of 20–40 min duration. The oxygen uptake [VO₂ (W·kg^–1, 1 ml O₂ = 20.9 J)] and venous blood lactate concentration ([la]_b, mM) were also measured every 15 s and 2 min, respectively. During the first all-out period, W_tot decreased linearly with the intensity of the priming exercise (W_tot = 11.9–0.25·VO₂). After the first all-out period (i greater than 5–6 min), and if the exercise intensity was less than 60% VO_2max, W_tot, VO₂ and [la]_b remained constant until the end of the exercise. For exercise intensities greater than 60% VO_2max, VO₂ and [la]_b showed continuous upward drifts and W_tot continued decreasing. Under these conditions, the rate of decrease of W_tot was linearly related to the rate of increase of V [(d W_tot/dt) (W·kg^–1·s^–1) = 5.0·10^–5 –0.20·(d VO₂/dt) (W·kg^–1·s^–1)] and this was linearly related to the rate of increase of [la]_b [(d VO₂/dt) (W·kg^–1·s^–1) = 2.310^–4 + 5.910^–5·(d [la]_b/dt) (mM·s^–1)]. These findings would suggest that the decrease of W_tot during the first all-out period was due to the decay of phosphocreatine concentration in the exercising muscles occurring at the onset of exercise and the slow drifts of VO₂ (upwards) and of W_tot (downwards) during intense exercise at constant W_tot could be attributed to the continuous accumulation of lactate in the blood (and in the working muscles).     

Severe hypoxia decreases oxygen uptake relative to intensity during submaximal graded exercise

The effect of severe acute hypoxia (fractional concentration of inspired oxygen equalled 0.104) was studied in nine male subjects performing an incremental exercise test. For power outputs over 125 W, all the subjects in a state of hypoxia showed a decrease in oxygen consumption ( O₂) relative to exercise intensity compared with normoxia (P < 0.05). This would suggest an increased anaerobic metabolism as an energy source during hypoxic exercise. During submaximal exercise, for a given O₂, higher blood lactate concentrations were found in hypoxia than in normoxia (P < 0.05). In consequence, the onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA) was shifted to a lower O₂ ( O₂ 1.77 l·min^–1 in hypoxia vs 3.10 l·min^–1 in normoxia). Lactate concentration increases relative to minute ventilation ( _E) responses were significantly higher during hypoxia than in normoxia (P < 0.05). At OBLA, _E during hypoxia was 25% lower than in the normoxic test. This study would suggest that in hypoxia subjects are able to use an increased anaerobic metabolism to maintain exercise performance.     

Counterselection on sex chromosomes in the Mus musculus European hybrid zone

The extent to which alleles can disperse across a hybrid zone depends on the selection they are subjected to in the hybrid genetic background or, for those that are selectively neutral, on their ability to escape from the unfavourable environment by recombination. Three markers spanning a 45 cM segment in the center of the X chromosome were used to investigate the degree to which selection against X chromosome linked genes helps to maintain the barrier to gene flow in the hybrid zone between Mus musculus domesticus and M. m. musculus in Denmark. The introgression of all the sex chromosome specific markers was more limited than that of the autosomal enzymes (Idh1, Amy, Gpd1, Pgm1, Es1, Es2, Mpi, Np1, Es10, Sod1) and the mitochondrial DNA. The cline for DXPas2, which is in the center of the X chromosome, is extremely steep and shows that certain genes located in this region are strongly selected against in the hybrid background. The clines of the other two X-linked markers, Hprt and DXPas1, and of the Y chromosome are not as abrupt and all three have similar asymmetric introgression patterns. Although the musculus variants appear to behave in much the same way as those of the autosomal genes, the domesticus variants do not introgress. The results show that X-linked and to a lesser extent Y-linked genes are more strongly selected against in the hybrid genome than the mitochondrial genome or the different autosomal loci. This suggests that co-adapted gene systems involving the sex chromosomes may play an important role in the hybrid breakdown between the two subspecies.     

Alpha-Phenyl-Tert-Butyl-Nitrone (PBN) Attenuates Hydroxyl Radical Production During Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury of Rat Brain: An EPR Study

-phenyl-tert-butyl-nitrone (PBN) a spin adduct forming agent is believed to have a protective action in ischemia-reperfusion injury of brain by forming adducts of oxygen free radicals including ±OH radical. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) has been used to both detect and monitor the time course of oxygen free radical formation in the in vivo rat cerebral cortex. Cortical cups were placed over both cerebral hemispheres of methoxyflurane anesthetized rats prepared for four vessel occlusion-evoked cerebral ischemia. Prior to the onset of sample collection, both cups were perfused with artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) containing the spin trap agent -(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert butylnitrone (POBN 100 mM) for 20 min. In addition 50 mg/kg BW of POBN was administered intraperitoneally (IP) 20 min prior to ischemia in order to improve our ability to detect free radical adducts. Cup fluid was subsequently replaced every 15 min during ischemia and every 10 min during reperfusion with fresh POBN containing CSF and the collected cortical superfusates were analyzed for radical adducts by EPR spectroscopy. After a basal 10 min collection, cerebral ischemia was induced for 15 or 30 min (confirmed by EEG flattening) followed by a 90 min reperfusion. -OH radical adducts (characterized by six line EPR spectra) were detected during ischemia and 90 min reperfusion. No adduct was detected in the basal sample or after 90 min of reperfusion. Similar results were obtained when diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid (100 μM; DETAPAC) a chelating agent was included in the artificial CSF. Systemic administration of PBN (100 mg/kg BW) produced a significant attenuation of radical adduct during reperfusion. A combination of systemic and topical PBN (100 mM) was required to suppress -OH radical adduct formation during ischemia as well as reperfusion. PBN free radical adducts were detected in EPR spectra of the lipid extracts of PBN treated rat brains subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. Thus this study suggests that PBN's protective action in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury is related to its ability to prevent a cascade of free radical generation by forming spin adducts.     

Effects of nitrite-induced methaemoglobinaemia on oxygen affinity of carp blood

Synopsis The oxygen transport characteristics and the acid-base status of carp blood was studied in vitro by equilibration of blood samples with and without addition of 5mmol l^–1 of nitrite for 30 min at various Po₂ values in combination with Pco₂ of 1.5 and 5.7mmHg (0.2 and 0.76kPa). After equilibration pH, Po₂, Pco₂, and Co₂ as well as methaemoglobin and HCO₃ ^– concentration were determined and oxygen dissociation curves established. At Pco₂ of 1.5mmHg (0.2kPa) oxygen affinity, expressed by a normal P₅₀ of 3.3mmHg (0.44kPa) was unaffected by nitrite exposure, whereas at Pco₂ 5.7 (0.76kPa), nitrite exposure shifted P₅₀ from 7.59mmHg (1.01kPa) to 21.9mmHg (2.92kPa). Methaemoglobin formation was greater at the higher Pco₂ and increased with falling Po₂. Erythrocyte shrinkage and rising plasma [HC0₃ ^–] during nitrite exposure indicated that the erythrocyte osmoregulation was significantly affected. The present results indicate significantly reduced oxygen affinity upon exposure of carp blood to nitrite. This result contrasts with findings in mammalian blood, where oxygen affinity is greatly enhanced.