Abstract: Effect of a hydrophobic peptide on folding of oxidized cytochrome c (cyt c) is studied with trityrosine. Folding of cyt c was initiated by pH jump from 2.3 (acid-unfolded) to 4.2 (folded). The Soret band of the 2-ms transient absorption spectrum during folding decreased its intensity and red-shifted from 397 to 400 nm by interaction with trityrosine, whereas tyrosinol caused no significant effect. The change in the transient absorption spectrum by interaction with trityrosine was similar to that obtained with 100 mM imidazole, which showed that the population of the intermediate His/His coordinated species increased during folding of cyt c by interaction with trityrosine. The absorption change was biphasic, the fast phase (82+/-9s(-1)) corresponding to the transition from the His/H(2)O to the His/Met coordinated species, whereas the slow phase (24+/-3s(-1)) from His/His to His/Met. By addition of trityrosine, the relative ratio of the slow phase increased, due to increase of the His/His species at the initial stage of folding. According to the resonance Raman spectra of cyt c, the high-spin 6-coordinate and low-spin 6-coordinate species were dominated at pH 2.3 and 4.2, respectively, and these species were not affected by addition of trityrosine. These results demonstrated that the His/His species increased by interaction with trityrosine at the initial stage of cyt c folding, whereas the heme coordination structure was not affected by trityrosine when the protein was completely unfolded or folded. Hydrophobic peptides thus may be useful to study the effects of hydrophobic interactions on protein folding.

Abstract: The feeding value of fresh pasture grazed in situ is determined by animal performance or productivity and could be relatively easily established for growing and lactating horses. Despite this, there is a lack of published information on the relative feeding value of different pastures and forages grazed by horses in New Zealand and the world. In addition, for adult breeding or non-breeding and young or adult sport or performance horses, the definition of feeding value and its determination remain problematic. Limited information suggests that the feeding value of perennial ryegrass-based pasture in New Zealand for young growing horses is high, and growth rates for Thoroughbred horses fed solely on pasture in New Zealand are similar to those reported from the Northern Hemisphere where grain-based supplements are fed in addition to pasture or other forages. Attempts to assess the ability of fresh pastures to meet the nutrient requirements of horses are hampered by problems associated with determination of feed intake by grazing horses and lack of knowledge of the digestibility and utilisation of digested nutrients, including the relative bioavailability of macro- and micro-minerals in pasture. A further challenge for future research is to determine the effect of herbage allowance and grazing behaviour, including pasture species preferences, on voluntary feed intake by grazing horses. Grazing pasture has benefits for equine health and well-being including reduced risk of some nutrition-related disorders and reduced prevalence of stereotypic behaviour. Pastured horses have greater freedom for expression of natural behaviours including social interaction and exercise. However, grazing pasture is also associated with animal health problems, particularly parasitism and diseases related to pasture-associated toxins.

Abstract: The trunk and back movements of the horse during locomotion determine seat position and leg aids of the rider, this is the basis for horse-oriented and cultivated, sensitive riding. In their tendency these movements could now be derived from the foot sequences of the basic paces. The realizations are verified by video. By translating these movements into diagrams, the author is making an attempt to present the current state of knowledge for non-riding scholars and academically oriented riders alike. The acceptance of the prepared riding knowledge would be improved if one could produce measured values of the horse's back and trunk movements. An appeal of a rider for relevant, scholarly research.

Abstract: The 'crafting' of tools involves (i) selection of appropriate raw material, (ii) preparatory trimming and (iii) fine, three-dimensional sculpting. Its evolution is technologically important because it allows the open-ended development of tools. New Caledonian crows manufacture an impressive range of stick and leaf tools. We previously reported that their toolkit included hooked implements made from leafy twigs, although their manufacture had never been closely observed. We describe the manufacture of 10 hooked-twig tools by an adult crow and its dependent juvenile. To make all 10 tools, the crows carried out a relatively invariant three-step sequence of complex manipulations that involved (i) the selection of raw material, (ii) trimming and (iii) a lengthy sculpting of the hook. Hooked-twig manufacture contrasts with the lack of sculpting in the making of wooden tools by other non-humans such as chimpanzees and woodpecker finches. This fine, three-stage crafting process removes another alleged difference between humans and other animals.

Abstract: Auditory-visual processing of species-specific vocalizations was investigated in a female chimpanzee named Pan. The basic task was auditory-visual matching-to-sample, where Pan was required to choose the vocalizer from two test movies in response to a chimpanzee's vocalization. In experiment 1, movies of vocalizing and silent faces were paired as the test movies. The results revealed that Pan recognized the status of other chimpanzees whether they vocalized or not. In experiment 2, two different types of vocalizing faces of an identical individual were prepared as the test movies. Pan recognized the correspondence between vocalization types and faces. These results suggested that chimpanzees possess crossmodal representations of their vocalizations, as do humans. Together with the ability of vocal individual recognition, this ability might reflect chimpanzees' profound understanding of the status of other individuals.