Chemical composition and nutritive value of corn silage harvested in the northeastern United States after Tropical Storm Irene.

In the fall of 2011, Hurricane (Tropical Storm) Irene caused significant damage to the forage corn crop in the northeastern United States. Compromised crops were subjected to various degrees of flooding, lodging, and contamination with sediment. The objective of this study was to determine if compromised plants harvested for silage fermented normally and if the nutritive value of these silages was adversely affected. The chemical and nutrient composition of compromised silages was compared with that from silages made from unaffected plants from the same region. The concentration of NEL and in vitro digestibility of NDF were lower in plants compromised by the hurricane. In addition, the ash content of compromised silages was higher than that of unaffected silages. Specifically, concentrations of Al, Co, Fe, and Mn were higher in compromised silages. Overall, silage fermentation appeared to be normal; the final silage pH, and concentrations of fermentation acids, alcohols, and esters were similar between compromised and unaffected silages. Numbers of yeasts (but not molds) tended to be higher in compromised silage than in unaffected silage. Pathogenic microorganisms were not detected in any silage. The incidences and concentrations of mycotoxins were similar between compromised and normal silage. Several farms that fed compromised silage reported subsequent health issues with their animals.

Gait variability in people with multiple sclerosis.

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) present with varying symptoms that can differ between and within individuals. As new interventions and drug treatments become available to MS patients, it is essential to understand the relationship between fatigue and the variability of functional mobility measures in order to define a meaningful change due to treatment within the MS population. The purpose of this study was to examine the within-day and between-day changes in gait variability for subjects with MS in fresh and fatigued conditions. Walking gait parameters were measured from 20 subjects diagnosed with MS and eight healthy control subjects. Standard deviations of hip, knee and ankle kinematic and kinetic variables were quantified as the measure of variability and analysed with a two-way (group by condition) ANOVA. Results indicated MS subjects had significantly greater hip (P <0.020), knee (P <0.011) and ankle (P <0.034) joint angle variability than control subjects, but variability was not different between conditions. Kinetic variability was not different between groups or conditions. MS subjects in this study walked more slowly than the healthy controls and they also reported more fatigue. Research examining treatment effects within the MS population should account for increased levels of kinematic gait variability.

A leukocyte lipid up-regulates the avidity of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1.

An acidic lipid termed leukocyte adhesion lipid (LAL) was isolated from PMA stimulated lymphoid and myeloid cell lines HL60, Jurkat, K562 and U937 but not from unstimulated cells or PMA treated Cos7 cells. LAL treated peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) adhered strongly to IL-1 beta activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), and the interaction could be inhibited by antibodies to intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) or lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1). Leukocytes treated with LAL maintained the high avidity state of LFA-1 for at least 1 hr whereas the avidity of LFA-1 in PMA treated cells declined after 30 min. LAL was stable to heat (100 degrees C, 10 min), alkaline phosphatase and proteinase K treatments. Chemical analysis suggested that LAL contained unsaturated lipids. Our findings provide evidence for the involvement of lipids in LFA-1 activation.

Pineal indole metabolism in the mouse.

The activity of two pineal enzymes serotonin N-acetyltransferase (SNAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase, (HIOMT) and the pineal content of serotonin (5-HT) and N-acetylserotonin (NAS) were measured in several strains of mice (Mus domesticus) in order to compare melatonin synthetic pathways among them. Of the strains we examined, C57BL/6J, AKR/J, BALB/c, NZB/BLNJ and wild mice, only wild mice synthesize pineal melatonin. Wild mice had high activity of both SNAT and HIOMT; NZB had SNAT activity but did not have HIOMT; the three other strains had neither SNAT nor HIOMT; the activity of SNAT in wild mice showed a clear daily rhythm but HIOMT activity did not show any significant daily changes. The pineal content of 5-HT in wild and NZB mice was higher during the day than during the night, however in C57BL and AKR, 5-HT levels were higher during the night than during the day. As expected NAS was found in wild and NZB mice.

Genetic control of melatonin synthesis in the pineal gland of the mouse.

Pineal melatonin may play an important role in regulation of vertebrate circadian rhythms and in human affective disorders. In some mammals, such as hamsters and sheep, melatonin is involved in photoperiodic time measurement and in control of reproduction. Although wild mice (Mus domesticus) and some wild-derived inbred strains of mice have melatonin in their pineal glands, several inbred strains of laboratory mice (for example, C57BL/6J) were found not to have detectable melatonin in their pineal glands. Genetic analysis suggests that melatonin deficiency in C57BL/6J mice results from mutations in two independently segregating, autosomal recessive genes. Synthesis of melatonin from serotonin in the pineal gland requires the enzymes N-acetyltransferase (NAT) and hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT). Pineal glands from C57BL/6J mice have neither NAT nor HIOMT activity. These results suggest that the two genes involved in melatonin deficiency are responsible for the absence of normal NAT and HIOMT enzyme activity.

Circadian organization in Aplysia californica.

Substantial progress has been made in unraveling the organization of the circadian system of Aplysia californica. There are at least three circadian pacemakers in Aplysia. One has been localized in each eye and a third lies outside the eyes. Removal of the eyes disrupts the free-running locomotor activity rhythm; however, an extraocular oscillator can mediate a free-running rhythm in some eyeless animals. Although photoreceptors sufficient for entrainment of the ocular oscillator have been localized in the retina, photoreceptors outside the eyes are capable of "driving" a diurnal rhythm of locomotor activity and may also influence entrainment of ocular pacemakers. Finally, attention has been focused on the optic nerve as a coupling pathway between various parts of the system. The evidence suggests that information transmitted in the optic nerves is involved in entrainment of the ocular pacemaker by light, and in ocular control of the locomotor activity rhythm.