Full and reduced models for yield trials

Summary Empirical results routinely demonstrate that the reduced Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) model achieves better predictive accuracy for yield trials than does the full treatment means model. It may seem mysterious that treatment means are not the most accurate estimates, but rather that the AMMI model is often more accurate than its data. The statistical explanation involves the Stein effect, whereby a small sacrifice in bias can produce a large gain in accuracy. The corresponding agricultural explanation is somewhat complex, beginning with a yield trial's design and ending with its research purposes and applications. In essence, AMMI selectively recovers pattern related to the treatment design in its model, while selectively relegating noise related to the experimental design in its discarded residual. For estimating the yield of a particular genotype in a particular environment, the AMMI model uses the entire yield trial, rather than only the several replications of this particular trial, as in the treatment means model. This use of more information is the source of AMMI's gain in accuracy.This research was supported by the Rhizobotany Project of the USDA-ARS     

Neuroprotection against CCl4 induced brain damage with crocin in Wistar rats

Owing to its lipophilic property, carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄) is rapidly absorbed by both the liver and brain. We investigated the protective effects of crocin against brain damage caused by CCl₄. Fifty rats were divided into five groups of ten: control, corn oil, crocin, CCl₄ and CCl₄ + crocin. CCl₄ administration decreased glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels, and catalase (CAT) activity, while significant increases were observed in malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidant status (TOS) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity. The cerebral cortex nuclear lamina developed a spongy appearance, neuronal degeneration was observed in the hippocampus, and heterochromatic and pyknotic neurons with increased cytoplasmic eosinophilia were observed in the hippocampus after CCl₄ treatment. Because crocin exhibits strong antioxidant properties, crocin treatment increased GSH and TAS levels and CAT activities, and decreased MDA and TOS levels and SOD activity; significant improvements also were observed in histologic architecture. We found that crocin administration nearly eliminated CCl₄ induced brain damage by preventing oxidative stress.     

Termite (Insecta: Isoptera) Species Composition in a Primary Rain Forest and Agroforests in Central Amazonia

Termites play important roles in organic matter decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil structure in tropical rain forests. When forests are replaced by agriculture, termite species richness, abundance, and function often decline. We compared the termite assemblage of a primary forest site with that of a low plant diversity, palm-based agroforest (five plant species) and a high plant diversity, home-garden agroforest (10 plant species) using a rapid biodiversity assessment protocol. In comparing the primary forest termite species composition to previously published studies, we found soil feeders and the Apicotermitinae to be more dominant than previously reported in Amazonia. Thirty percent of the species belonged to the Apicotermitinae, and an unusually high percentage (57%) of species were soil feeders. Unexpectedly, the palm-based agroforest, despite its lower plant diversity, was closer to primary forest in termite species composition, rate of species accumulation, and proportions of species in taxonomic and functional classes than was the home-garden agroforest. This suggests that particular plant attributes may better determine the termite assemblage than plant diversity alone in these agroecosystems. Unlike other agroecosystems reported in the literature, Apicotermitinae and soil feeders were proportionally more abundant in these agroforests than in primary forest. The ability of agroforests to support populations of soil feeders has a potentially positive effect on soil fertility in these agroecosystems; insomuch as feeding guild is a proxy for function, these closed-canopy agroforests may be able to sustain the same termite-mediated functions as primary forest.     

Effect of zinc on translocation of iron in soybean plants

Zinc interfered with translocation of iron from roots to above ground parts of Glycine max. (L.) Merrill var. Hawkeye. During periods in which zinc impeded iron translocation, it also suppressed the production of reductant by roots. Addition of iron, as a ferric metal chelate (iron ethylenediaminedihydroxyphenylacetic acid), to the growth medium overcame the interference of zinc. In the root epidermis, potassium ferricyanide formed a precipitate (Prussian blue) with ferrous iron derived from the previously supplied iron ethylenediaminedihydroxyphenylacetic acid. The reduction of ferric iron was suppressed by zinc.     

Histopathological effects of cisplatin,doxorubicin and 5-flurouracil (5-FU) on the liver of male albino rats

Cisplatin, doxorubicin and fluorouracil (5-FU), drugs belonging to different chemical classes, have been extensively used for chemotherapy of various cancers. Despite extensive investigations into their hepatotoxicity, there is very limited information on their effects on the structure and ultra-structure of liver cells in vivo. Here, we demonstrate for the first time, the effects of these three anticancer drugs on rat liver toxicity using both light and electron microscopy. Light microscopic observations revealed that higher doses of cisplatin and doxorubicin caused massive hepatotoxicity compared to 5-FU treatment, including dissolution of hepatic cords, focal inflammation and necrotic tissues. Interestingly, low doses also exhibited abnormal changes, including periportal fibrosis, degeneration of hepatic cords and increased apoptosis. These changes were confirmed at ultrastructural level, including vesiculated rough endoplasmic reticulum and atrophied mitochondria with ill-differentiated cisternae, dense collection of macrophages and lymphocytes as well as fibrocytes with collagenous fibrils manifesting early sign of fibrosis, especially in response to cisplatin and doxorubicin -treatment. Our results provide in vivo evidence, at ultrastructural level, of direct hepatotoxicity caused by cisplatin, doxorubicin and 5-FU at both light and electron microscopi. These results can guide the design of appropriate treatment regimen to reduce the hepatotoxic effects of these anticancer drugs.     

Characterization of PR-10 genes from eight Betula species and detection of Bet v 1 isoforms in birch pollen

Background  

Bet v 1 is an important cause of hay fever in northern Europe. Bet v 1 isoforms from the European white birch (Betula pendula) have been investigated extensively, but the allergenic potency of other birch species is unknown. The presence of Bet v 1 and closely related PR-10 genes in the genome was established by amplification and sequencing of alleles from eight birch species that represent the four subgenera within the genus Betula. Q-TOF LC-MS^E was applied to identify which PR-10/Bet v 1 genes are actually expressed in pollen and to determine the relative abundances of individual isoforms in the pollen proteome.     

Accuracy and selection success in yield trial analyses

Summary Yield trials serve research purposes of estimation and selection. Order statistics are used here to quantify the successes or problems to be expected in selection tasks commonly encountered in breeding and agronomy. Greater accuracy of yield estimates implies greater selection success. A New York soybean yield trial serves as a specific example. The Additive Main effects and Multiplicative Interaction (AMMI) statistical model is used to increase the accuracy of these soybean yield estimates, thereby increasing the probability of successfully selecting, on the basis of the empirical yield data, that genotype which has the maximum true mean. The statistical strategy for increasing accuracy is extremely cost effective relative to the alternative strategy of increasing the number of replications. Better selections increase the speed and effectiveness of breeding programs, and increase the reliability of variety recommendations. Selection tasks are frequently more difficult than may be suspected.This research was supported by the Rhizobotany Project of the USDA-ARS     

Gradient analysis of the vegetation of the Byron-Bergen swamp,a rich fen in western New York

Transects of contiguous one square meter quadrats were sampled across the marl and peat mosaic of the Byron-Bergen swamp, a rich fen in western New York. The data were analyzed by detrended correspondence analysis (DCA). Ordination of species and samples produced arrangements reflecting a complex environmental gradient of hydrology, soil organic matter and soil carbonate-carbon concentration. They successfully separated fens underlain with peat from those underlain with marl and showed a physiognomic gradient associated with hummock development. This research was supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant DEB-7809340 to R. H. Whittaker, especially an amendment to support John M. Bernard under NSF Support for Small College Faculty through Grants at Large Institutions program. The Bergen Swamp Preservation Society, Inc. allowed us to sample on their property.