Variability for Traits Used to Estimate Silage Quality in Forage Sorghum Hybrids

The variation among 49 F1 forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] hybrids from a 7 X 7 cross-classified design was explored in 1979 and 1980 for the following silage traits: dry matter (DM), crude protein, in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD), neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, ammonia, lactate, and Brix of the juice from fresh stalks. Wider ranges generally were found for male than for female parental means. Means for most traits were significantly different among entries. Significant differences among hybrid means over males and over females were found for only DM, IVDMD, and Brix. Interactions with years existed for most traits. Genetic ratios calculated from the mean squares indicated that general combining ability was important for DM, IVDMD, and Brix. Simple correlation coefficients between traits measured on silage and on fresh-dried samples from the same hybrids were all significant. In view of the effort required to make and evaluate silage samples, initial selection for traits used to estimate quality in fresh-dried samples appears to be the best approach for improving the quality of forage sorghum silage

Variability for Traits Used to Estimate Silage Quality in Forage Sorghum Hybrids

The variation among 49 F1 forage sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench.] hybrids from a 7 X 7 cross-classified design was explored in 1979 and 1980 for the following silage traits: dry matter (DM), crude protein, in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD), neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, acid detergent lignin, ammonia, lactate, and Brix of the juice from fresh stalks. Wider ranges generally were found for male than for female parental means. Means for most traits were significantly different among entries. Significant differences among hybrid means over males and over females were found for only DM, IVDMD, and Brix. Interactions with years existed for most traits. Genetic ratios calculated from the mean squares indicated that general combining ability was important for DM, IVDMD, and Brix. Simple correlation coefficients between traits measured on silage and on fresh-dried samples from the same hybrids were all significant. In view of the effort required to make and evaluate silage samples, initial selection for traits used to estimate quality in fresh-dried samples appears to be the best approach for improving the quality of forage sorghum silage

Quantitative Microscopy of Hepatic Changes Induced by Phenethyl Isothiocyanate in Fischer-344 Rats Fed Either a Cereal-Based Diet or a Purified Diet

Hepatic changes induced by phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) in the liver of rats were determined by quantitative microscopy. Groups of male Fischer-344 rats were fed either a standard, cereal-based diet (Wayne rodent meal) or a purified diet (AIN-76A) containing PEITC at concentrations of 0.75 and 6.0 mmol/kg for 13 wk. Severe hepatic lipidosis was observed in control rats fed the purified diet. Addition of PEITC to the purified diet significantly reduced lipid content in hepatocytes. In contrast, lipid content in the liver of the rats fed the cereal-based diet containing PEITC was greater than in control rats maintained on the same diet. In addition, dose-related reductions in hepatocyte, lipid droplet, peroxisome, and mitochondrial volumes were observed in PEITC-treated rats fed the cereal-based diet. These results indicate that PEITC exerts differential effects on the liver of rats fed either the cereal-based or purified diet.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68493/2/10.1177_019262339502300602.pd

BioTIME: A database of biodiversity time series for the Anthropocene.

MotivationThe BioTIME database contains raw data on species identities and abundances in ecological assemblages through time. These data enable users to calculate temporal trends in biodiversity within and amongst assemblages using a broad range of metrics. BioTIME is being developed as a community-led open-source database of biodiversity time series. Our goal is to accelerate and facilitate quantitative analysis of temporal patterns of biodiversity in the Anthropocene.Main types of variables includedThe database contains 8,777,413 species abundance records, from assemblages consistently sampled for a minimum of 2 years, which need not necessarily be consecutive. In addition, the database contains metadata relating to sampling methodology and contextual information about each record.Spatial location and grainBioTIME is a global database of 547,161 unique sampling locations spanning the marine, freshwater and terrestrial realms. Grain size varies across datasets from 0.0000000158 km2 (158 cm2) to 100 km2 (1,000,000,000,000 cm2).Time period and grainBioTIME records span from 1874 to 2016. The minimal temporal grain across all datasets in BioTIME is a year.Major taxa and level of measurementBioTIME includes data from 44,440 species across the plant and animal kingdoms, ranging from plants, plankton and terrestrial invertebrates to small and large vertebrates.Software format.csv and .SQL

The James Webb Space Telescope Mission

Twenty-six years ago a small committee report, building on earlier studies, expounded a compelling and poetic vision for the future of astronomy, calling for an infrared-optimized space telescope with an aperture of at least $4m$. With the support of their governments in the US, Europe, and Canada, 20,000 people realized that vision as the $6.5m$ James Webb Space Telescope. A generation of astronomers will celebrate their accomplishments for the life of the mission, potentially as long as 20 years, and beyond. This report and the scientific discoveries that follow are extended thank-you notes to the 20,000 team members. The telescope is working perfectly, with much better image quality than expected. In this and accompanying papers, we give a brief history, describe the observatory, outline its objectives and current observing program, and discuss the inventions and people who made it possible. We cite detailed reports on the design and the measured performance on orbit.Comment: Accepted by PASP for the special issue on The James Webb Space Telescope Overview, 29 pages, 4 figure

Thiazolidinedione toxicity to isolated hepatocytes revealed by coherent multiprobe flourescence microscopy and correlated with multiparameter flow cytometry of peripheral leukocytes

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are effective for the treatment of adult-onset insulin-resistant diabetes. Unfortunately, TZDs are associated with sporadic hepatic dysfunction that is not predictable from experimental animal studies. We investigated the response of isolated rat and human hepatocytes to various TZDs using biochemical assays, coherent multiprobe fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometric analyses. The results identified direct effects of TZD on mitochondria from live human and rodent hepatocytes. The multiprobe fluorescence assays showed disruption of mitochondrial activity as an initiating event followed by increased membrane permeability, calcium influx and nuclear condensation. Other TZD-related cellular effects were increased hepatic enzyme leakage, decreased reductive metabolism and cytoplasmic adenosine triphosphate depletion. Mitochondrial effects were similar in cryopreserved hepatocytes from diabetic or non-diabetic donors. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) had baseline mitochondrial energetics and metabolism comparable with isolated hepatocytes. Mitochondrial effects in isolated hepatocytes were found in human PBMCs exposed to the TZDs. The relative potency of TZDs for causing hepatocyte and PBMC effects was troglitazone >pioglitazone >rosiglitazone. These studies clearly demonstrated that hepatic alterations in vitro are characteristic of TZDs, with only quantitative differences in subcellular organelle dysfunction. Monitoring mitochondrial function in isolated PBMCs may be beneficial in diabetics undergoing TZD therapy.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41920/1/204-75-7-425_s002040100251.pd

Does Head Start Improve Children's Life Chances? Evidence from a Regression Discontinuity Design

This paper exploits a new source of variation in Head Start funding to identify the program's effects on health and schooling. In 1965 the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) provided technical assistance to the 300 poorest counties to develop Head Start proposals. The result was a large and lasting discontinuity in Head Start funding rates at the OEO cutoff for grant-writing assistance. We find evidence of a large drop at the OEO cutoff in mortality rates for children from causes that could be affected by Head Start, as well as suggestive evidence for a positive effect on educational attainment. Copyright by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.