Comparison of Summer Forages and the Effect of Nitrogen Fertilizers on \u3ci\u3eBrassica\u3c/i\u3e Forages in Tasmania

Summer forage crops, and in particular Brassica spp., have become increasingly popular in dairy production systems in Tasmania. Field experiments were conducted for 3 years in northwestern Tasmania, in the spring/summers beginning in 1995. The study aimed to compare yield and quality of Brassica and Poaceae forages and the response of Brassica species to nitrogen (N) (50, 100 and 200 kg N/ha) and irrigation. The average total yields of dryland (rainfed) crops in 1995 to 1997 experiments, were turnip (Brassica rapa) 9.3 t/ha, rape (B. napus) 5.9 t/ha, oats (Aevena sativa) 5.2 t/ha, kale (B. oleracea) 5.1 t/ha, short-lived ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) 5.1 t/ha, pasja (B. campestris × B. napus) 4.3 t/ha, perennial ryegrass (L. perenne) 4.2 t/ha, millet (Echinochloa utilis) 3.8 t/ha, and maize. (Zea mays) 2.9 t/ha. Irrigation increased the yield of turnips by 4.8 t/ha (mainly bulbs) and millet yields by 1.4 t/ha and reduced maize yield by 1.2 t/ha. Brassica species were higher in ME and lower in CP than the Poaceae forages. Nitrogen fertilizer increased the DM yield of tops of all Brassica crops in the 1997/98 experiments under irrigation, but it decreased the yield of turnips bulbs. The total yields with 50, 100 and 200 kg N/ha were 14, 15.2 and 15 t DM/ha for turnips, 7.5, 8.5 and 10 t for pasja and 10, 12 and 12.2 t DM/ha for rape, respectively. With 100 kg N/ha the average concentration of quality attributes of turnips, pasja and rape were CP 14, 22 and 19%, ME 12, 14.6 and 12.6 MJ/kg DM respectively. Nitrogen increased the CP, but had no effect on ME of any Brassica crops. Brassica forage are superior to Poaceae forages for summer feed production and as a part of pasture renovation process. They are higher in their yields, quality and water use efficiency and respond well to N fertilizer

Asthma exacerbations and worsenings in patients aged 1-75 years with add-on tiotropium treatment

This review explores the effect of tiotropium Respimat® add-on therapy on asthma exacerbations and worsenings, adverse events (AEs) related to exacerbations and symptoms and any effects on seasonality across the 10 UniTinA-asthma® clinical trials comprising over 6000 patients. When added on to inhaled corticosteroids ± additional therapies, tiotropium significantly reduced the risk of exacerbations and worsenings in adults with symptomatic severe asthma and provided a non-significant improvement in worsenings in adults with symptomatic moderate and mild asthma, which was significant for patients with moderate asthma receiving tiotropium 2.5 µg once daily vs. placebo. Trials in paediatric patients were not powered to assess exacerbations or worsenings, but when AEs related to asthma exacerbations and symptoms were grouped into a composite endpoint and pooled, tiotropium improved outcomes vs. placebo (rate ratio 0.76; 95% confidence interval 0.63, 0.93). The reduction in exacerbations with tiotropium is apparent across all patients during the observed seasonal peaks of these events

Virulence of in vivo and in vitro produced conidia of Metarhizium brunneum strains for control of wireworms

Wireworms are the soil inhabiting larvae of click beetles and can cause severe damage to arable crops such as potatoes (Solanum tuberosum, L.). Several strains of the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum (Petch) are pathogenic to wireworms. In this study, three European strains of M. brunneum were tested in the laboratory against the most damaging wireworm species in Europe, Agriotes lineatus (L.), Agriotes obscurus (L.) and Agriotes sputator (L.). A Swiss strain, isolated from an A. obscurus cadaver, proved to be most effective, killing up to 73% of A. lineatus and 83% A. obscurus individuals, respectively. The median lethal time (LT50) was 21 days post inoculation (dpi) for A. lineatus and 14 dpi for A. obscurus. The strain did not lose virulence through subsequent cultivation on artificial medium and thus seems to be suitable for mass production as a biocontrol agent for wireworm control

Nitrogen Balances in High Rainfall, Temperate Dairy Pastures of South Eastern Australia

Nitrogen (N) fertilizer use on dairy pastures in south eastern Australia has increased exponentially over the past 15 years, causing increasing environmental concerns. Volatilisation, denitrification and leaching of N were measured for one year (1998-1999) in pastures receiving no N fertilizer (grass/clover), or 200 kg N/ha applied as urea (46%N) or ammonium nitrate (34.5%N). Nitrogen balances were calculated for each treatment. Significantly more N was lost through volatilisation and denitrification when N was applied as urea compared to ammonium nitrate. Nitrate leaching losses were significantly greater with the application of N fertilizer, although the maximum loss was only 4.1 kg N/ha due to low rainfall between May and September. Nitrogen balances were -15, +87 and +82 kg N/ha per year for the grass/clover, 200 kg N/ha urea and 200 kg N/ha ammonium nitrate treatments, respectively. Given the large range in N losses and balances, there is opportunity for improving the N efficiency in dairy pastures, through lower stocking rates and more tactical use of grain and N fertilizer

Semiclassical wave equation and exactness of the WKB method

The exactness of the semiclassical method for three-dimensional problems in quantum mechanics is analyzed. The wave equation appropriate in the quasiclassical region is derived. It is shown that application of the standard leading-order WKB quantization condition to this equation reproduces exact energy eigenvalues for all solvable spherically symmetric potentials.Comment: 13 page

Expression of ICOS In Vivo Defines CD4+ Effector T Cells with High Inflammatory Potential and a Strong Bias for Secretion of Interleukin 10

The studies performed to date analyzed the overall participation of the inducible costimulator (ICOS) in model diseases, but did not yield information on the nature and function of ICOS-expressing T cells in vivo. We examined ICOS+ T cells in the secondary lymphoid organs of nonmanipulated mice, in the context of an “unbiased” immune system shaped by environmental antigens. Using single cell analysis, ICOSlow cells were found to be loosely associated with the early cytokines interleukin (IL)-2, IL-3, IL-6, and interferon (IFN)-γ. ICOSmedium cells, the large majority of ICOS+ T cells in vivo, were very tightly associated with the synthesis of the T helper type 2 (Th2) cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13, and these cells exhibited potent inflammatory effects in vivo. In contrast, ICOShigh T cells were highly and selectively linked to the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Overall, these data seem to indicate that ICOS cell surface density serves as a regulatory mechanism for the release of cytokines with different immunological properties. Further in vivo functional experiments with in vitro–activated T cells strongly suggested that the ICOS+ population, although representing in vivo only around 10% of T cells bearing early or late activation markers, nevertheless encompasses virtually all effector T cells, a finding with major diagnostic and therapeutic implications

Weight gain and enteric methane production of cattle fed on tropical grasses

Context: Planted grasses are becoming an increasingly important feed resource for tropical smallholder ruminant production; yet, limited research has been conducted to quantify productivity or enteric methane (CH$_4$) production of animals consuming these grasses. Aim: An experiment was conducted to assess yields and nutritional attributes of the following three tropical grasses: Cenchrus purpureus var. Kakamega 1 (Napier), Chloris gayana var. Boma (Rhodes) and Urochloa brizantha var. Xaeres (Brachiaria), and quantify enteric CH$_4$ production of cattle fed on them. Methods: Yearling Boran steers (n:18; initial liveweight 216 ± 5.8 kg (mean ± s.e.m.) were allocated to one of three grasses, in a completely randomised design and fed ad libitum for two feeding periods, each period lasting for 70 days. Intake, liveweight (LW), apparent total-tract digestibility and enteric CH$_4$ production were assessed. The grasses used were grown on site and biomass yields were monitored over a 2-year period. Animal growth was also simulated to a final weight of 350 kg, and the amount of feed and size of land required to produce, and days to reach final weight, were estimated. Key results: Mean voluntary dry-matter intake (DMI) and ADG were higher (P 0.05) within period. Methane yield (MY; CH$_4$ g/DMI kg) was similar among treatments (26.7–28.5, P = 0.26) but Napier had a higher CH$_4$ conversion factor [Ym; CH$_4$ (MJ)/gross energy intake (MJ)] than did Rhodes and Brachiaria (0.0987 vs 0.0873 and 0.0903 respectively; P = 0.013). Our modelling indicated that steers consuming Rhodes took at least 30 more days to reach the target LW, required larger land area for feed production and produced more enteric CH$_4$ than did the other two diets. Conclusion: Even though animal performance and MY among treatments did not differ, the animals had higher MY and Y$_m$ than currently estimated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Implication: The three grasses supported similar animal growth rate, implying that growing of higher-yielding grasses such as Napier offers an opportunity to optimise land productivity in the tropics. However, suitable feeding practices such as protein supplementation need to be explored to enhance ruminant production and reduce enteric CH$_4$ production

Comparative Responses in Lung Function Measurements with Tiotropium in Adolescents and Adults, and Across Asthma Severities:A Post Hoc Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Airway obstruction is usually assessed by measuring forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC) and peak expiratory flow (PEF). This post hoc study investigated comparative responses of lung function measurements in adults and adolescents (full analysis set, N = 3873) following treatment with tiotropium Respimat®. METHODS: Lung function outcomes were analysed from five phase III trials in adults (≥ 18 years) with symptomatic severe, moderate and mild asthma (PrimoTinA-asthma®, MezzoTinA-asthma® and GraziaTinA-asthma®, respectively), and one phase III trial in adolescents (12-17 years) with symptomatic moderate asthma (RubaTinA-asthma®). Changes from baseline versus placebo in FEV1, FVC, PEF and FEV1/FVC ratio with tiotropium 5 µg or 2.5 µg added to at least stable inhaled corticosteroids at week 24 (week 12 in GraziaTinA-asthma) were analysed. RESULTS: All lung function measures improved in all studies with tiotropium 5 µg (mean change from baseline versus placebo), including peak FEV1 (110-185 mL), peak FVC (57-95 mL) and morning PEF (15.8-25.6 L/min). Changes in adolescents were smaller than those in adults, and were statistically significant primarily for FEV1 and PEF, but not for FVC. CONCLUSION: Consistent improvements were seen across all lung function measures with the addition of tiotropium to other asthma treatments in adults across all severities, whereas the improvements with tiotropium in adolescents primarily impacted measures of flow rather than lung volume. This may reflect less pronounced airway remodelling and air trapping in adolescents with asthma versus adults