Changes in nutrient content of rye, triticale, and wheat whole-plant forages with maturity

We compared upland and bottomland cereals seeded during 1991 at the KSU Agricultural Research Center - Hays. The five crops (three varieties of triticale, a winter wheat, and a winter rye) were harvested as whole plants during the latter part of the growing season. Crude protein (CP), ac id detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were estimated using near infrared spectroscopy. Compute r models were developed to describe nutrient changes. Crude protein content decreased whereas the two fiber components increased with maturity. Rye and wheat tended to have lower CP values when day 125 was used as the arbitrary harvest date. We observed only slight differences i n nutritional components between upland and bottomland plantings

GPER/GPR30, a Membrane Estrogen Receptor, is Expressed in the Brain and Retina of a Social Fish (Carassius auratus) and Colocalizes with Isotocin

Estradiol rapidly (within 30 minutes) influences a variety of sociosexual behaviors in both mammalian and nonmammalian vertebrates, including goldfish, in which it rapidly stimulates approach responses to the visual cues of females. Such rapid neuromodulatory effects are likely mediated via membrane-associated estrogen receptors; however, the localization and distribution of such receptors within the nervous system is not well described. To begin to address this gap, we identified GPER/GPR30, a G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor, in goldfish (Carassius auratus) neural tissue and used reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and in situ hybridization to test if GPR30 is expressed in the brain regions that might mediate visually guided social behaviors in males. We then used immunohistochemistry to determine whether GPR30 colocalizes with isotocin-producing cells in the preoptic area, a critical node in the highly conserved vertebrate social behavior network. We used quantitative (q)PCR to test whether GPR30 mRNA levels differ in males in breeding vs. nonbreeding condition and in males that were socially interacting with a female vs. a rival male. Our results show that GPR30 is expressed in the retina and in many brain regions that receive input from the retina and/or optic tectum, as well as in a few nodes in the social behavior network, including cell populations that produce isotocin. J. Comp. Neurol. 525:252–270, 2017

Reduced Translocation of Glyphosate and Dicamba in Combination Contributes to Poor Control of Kochia scoparia: Evidence of Herbicide Antagonism

Citation: Ou, Junjun, Curtis R. Thompson, Phillip W. Stahlman, Nicholas Bloedow, and Mithila Jugulam. “Reduced Translocation of Glyphosate and Dicamba in Combination Contributes to Poor Control of Kochia Scoparia : Evidence of Herbicide Antagonism.” Scientific Reports 8, no. 1 (March 28, 2018): 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-23742-3.Kochia scoparia is a troublesome weed across the Great Plains of North America. Glyphosate and dicamba have been used for decades to control K. scoparia. Due to extensive selection, glyphosate- and dicamba-resistant (GDR) K. scoparia have evolved in the USA. Herbicide mixtures are routinely used to improve weed control. Herbicide interactions if result in an antagonistic effect can significantly affect the management of weeds, such as K. scoparia. To uncover the interaction of glyphosate and dicamba when applied in combination in K. scoparia management the efficacies of different doses of glyphosate plus dicamba were evaluated under greenhouse and field conditions using GDR and a known glyphosate- and dicamba-susceptible (GDS) K. scoparia. The results of greenhouse and field studies suggest that the combination of glyphosate and dicamba application controlled GDS, but glyphosate alone provided a better control of GDR K. scoparia compared to glyphosate plus dicamba combinations. Furthermore, investigation of the basis of this response suggested glyphosate and dicamba interact antagonistically and consequently, the translocation of both herbicides was significantly reduced resulting in poor control of K. scoparia. Therefore, a combination of glyphosate plus dicamba may not be a viable option to control GDR K. scoparia

Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Differential Sensitivity of Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) to Mesotrione at Varying Growth Temperatures

Citation: Godar, A. S., Varanasi, V. K., Nakka, S., Prasad, P. V. V., Thompson, C. R., & Mithila, J. (2015). Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Differential Sensitivity of Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) to Mesotrione at Varying Growth Temperatures. Plos One, 10(5), 17. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0126731Herbicide efficacy is known to be influenced by temperature, however, underlying mechanism(s) are poorly understood. A marked alteration in mesotrione [a 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitor] efficacy on Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Watson) was observed when grown under low- (LT, 25/15 degrees C, day/night temperatures) and high (HT, 40/30 degrees C) temperature compared to optimum (OT, 32.5/22.5 degrees C) temperature. Based on plant height, injury, and mortality, Palmer amaranth was more sensitive to mesotrione at LT and less sensitive at HT compared to OT (ED50 for mortality; 18.5, 52.3, and 63.7 g ai ha(-1), respectively). Similar responses were observed for leaf chlorophyll index and photochemical efficiency of PSII (F-v/F-m). Furthermore, mesotrione translocation and metabolism, and HPPD expression data strongly supported such variation. Relatively more mesotrione was translocated to meristematic regions at LT or OT than at HT. Based on T-50 values (time required to metabolize 50% of the C-14 mesotrione), plants at HT metabolized mesotrione faster than those at LT or OT (T-50; 13, 21, and 16.5 h, respectively). The relative HPPD: CPS (carbamoyl phosphate synthetase) or HPPD:beta-tubulin expression in mesotrione-treated plants increased over time in all temperature regimes; however, at 48 HAT, the HPPD:beta-tubulin expression was exceedingly higher at HT compared to LT or OT (18.4-, 3.1-, and 3.5-fold relative to untreated plants, respectively). These findings together with an integrated understanding of other interacting key environmental factors will have important implications for a predictable approach for effective weed management

Tocilizumab in rheumatoid arthritis: A case study of safety evaluations of a large postmarketing data set from multiple data sources

AbstractObjectivesTo evaluate the magnitude of serious adverse events (SAEs) observed in postmarketing reports of tocilizumab (TCZ) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in relation to SAEs observed in TCZ clinical trials and external epidemiology data.MethodsA total of 64,000 patient-years (PY) of TCZ exposure was needed to determine, with 90% power, whether rates of SAEs of interest (eg, death, hepatic, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular) were ≥50% higher (agreed with the Food and Drug Administration) than expected. Reporting rates were calculated for spontaneously reported SAEs, open-label or unblinded postmarketing clinical trials (phase 3b/4), and a Japanese postmarketing surveillance program in the global postmarketing safety database. Event rates were calculated for the registrational placebo-controlled trials and long-term extension data. External comparators for anti-tumor necrosis factor (aTNF)-treated RA patients were derived from a US-based health care insurance claims database or published literature.ResultsThe global postmarketing safety database provided 65,099 PY of TCZ exposure; the aTNF external comparator population provided 53,360 PY. Spontaneous reporting rates per 100 PY (95% confidence interval) were 8.3 (8.1, 8.5) SAEs, 0.39 (0.34, 0.44) deaths, 0.06 (0.04, 0.08) serious hepatic events, 0.15 (0.12, 0.18) serious gastrointestinal events, 0.09 (0.07, 0.12) serious myocardial infarctions, 0.15 (0.12, 0.18) serious strokes, and 0.07 (0.05, 0.09) cardiac deaths in the global postmarketing safety database. These were of similar magnitude to corresponding rates from registrational clinical trials, the aTNF external comparator population, and published literature.ConclusionsSAE rates observed among postmarketing TCZ users were similar to those of various comparison populations. Predetermined design of studies to compare postmarketing AEs using multiple data sources is a useful strategy that can be applied to other medications

Physiological and Molecular Characterization of Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibitor Resistance in Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.)

Citation: Nakka, S., Godar, A. S., Wani, P. S., Thompson, C. R., Peterson, D. E., Roelofs, J., & Jugulam, M. (2017). Physiological and Molecular Characterization of Hydroxyphenylpyruvate Dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibitor Resistance in Palmer Amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri S. Wats.). Frontiers in Plant Science, 8, 12. doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.00555Herbicides that inhibit hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) such as mesotrione are widely used to control a broad spectrum of weeds in agriculture. Amaranthus palmeri is an economically troublesome weed throughout the United States. The first case of evolution of resistance to HPPD-inhibiting herbicides in A. palmeri was documented in Kansas (KS) and later in Nebraska (NE). The objective of this study was to investigate the mechansim of HPPD-inhibitor (mesotrione) resistance in A. palmeri. Dose response analysis revealed that this population (KSR) was 10-18 times more resistant than their sensitive counterparts (MSS or KSS). Absorbtion and translocation analysis of [C-14] mesotrione suggested that these mechanisms were not involved in the resistance in A. palmeri. Importantly, mesotrione (>90%) was detoxified markedly faster in the resistant populations (KSR and NER), within 24 hours after treatment (HAT) compared to sensitive plants (MSS, KSS, or NER). However, at 48 HAT all populations metabolized the mesotrione, suggesting additional factors may contribute to this resistance. Further evaluation of mesotrione-resistant A. palmeri did not reveal any specific resistance-conferring mutations nor amplification of HPPD gene, the molecular target of mesotrione. However, the resistant populations showed 4- to 12-fold increase in HPPD gene expression. This increase in HPPD transcript levels was accompanied by increased HPPD protein expression. The significant aspects of this research include: the mesotrione resistance in A. palmeri is conferred primarily by rapid detoxification (non-target-site based) of mesotrione; additionally, increased HPPD gene expression (target-site based) also contributes to the resistance mechanism in the evolution of herbicide resistance in this naturally occurring weed species