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Mitochondrial plasticity is a key regulator of cell fate decisions. Mitochondrial division involves Dynamin-related protein-1 (Drp1) oligomerization, which constricts membranes at endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contact sites. The mechanisms driving the final steps of mitochondrial division are still unclear. Here, we found that microdomains of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [PI(4)P] on trans-Golgi network (TGN) vesicles were recruited to mitochondria-ER contact sites and could drive mitochondrial division downstream of Drp1. The loss of the small guanosine triphosphatase ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (Arf1) or its effector, phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ [PI(4)KIIIβ], in different mammalian cell lines prevented PI(4)P generation and led to a hyperfused and branched mitochondrial network marked with extended mitochondrial constriction sites. Thus, recruitment of TGN-PI(4)P-containing vesicles at mitochondria-ER contact sites may trigger final events leading to mitochondrial scission.

Population-level herd immunity is critical for long-term control of SARS-CoV-2. However, proposals to reach the herd immunity threshold through naturally acquired infection, rather than vaccination, have complicated public health efforts and popularized policies that will lead to widespread transmission and mortality. Vaccination is the only viable path to herd immunity.

In this paper, the Classic Lattice Spring Model is developed in order to be applied to probabilistic stability analyses of rock tunnels in low in situ stress environments, where the falling of blocks is the main failure mechanism. For this objective, the method is combined with the Synthetic Rock Mass technique and Barton-Bandis joint constitutive model, giving it a series of advantages: simulations with deformable blocks; possible formation of tension cracks; and an appropriate constitutive model for the mechanical behavior of joints. The use of cloud computing technology is proposed for efficient probabilistic analyses using the Monte Carlo simulation. A case study is presented based on an unsupported section of a shallow rock tunnel excavated in the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil. A 3D probabilistic stability analysis of the tunnel is performed with the proposed methodology. From the results, a positional probability map is elaborated, which indicates the likelihood of block failure around the excavation cross-section. The unstable zones indicated by the map are then compared to the failed region of the real tunnel so as to demonstrate the competence of the methodology.

The dynamic changes of lymphocyte subsets and cytokines profiles of patients with novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and their correlation with the disease severity remain unclear.Peripheral blood samples were longitudinally collected from 40 confirmed COVID-19 patients and examined for lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry and cytokine profiles by specific immunoassays.Of the 40 COVID-19 patients enrolled, 13 severe cases showed significant and sustained decreases in lymphocyte counts [0·6 (0·6-0·8)] but increases in neutrophil counts [4·7 (3·6-5·8)] than 27 mild cases [1.1 (0·8-1·4); 2·0 (1·5-2·9)]. Further analysis demonstrated significant decreases in the counts of T cells, especially CD8The degree of lymphopenia and a proinflammatory cytokine storm is higher in severe COVID-19 patients than in mild cases, and is associated with the disease severity. N8R and NLR may serve as a useful prognostic factor for early identification of severe COVID-19 cases.The National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Science and Technology Major Project, the Health Commission of Hubei Province, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, and the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen and Stiftung Universitaetsmedizin, Hospital Essen, Germany.

In this paper, the Rigid Body Spring Network method is further developed to perform analyses of transversely isotropic rocks. Two contributions are proposed: (1) an extension of the fictitious stress approach and (2) the combined application of the Smooth Joint Model and a discontinuous failure criterion. While the first contribution enables the numerical method to perform elastically homogeneous analysis of transversely isotropic materials, the second provides for the proper manifestation of sliding failure on a discontinuity. In order to verify the competence of the contributions, validation analyses are performed and a case study is presented based on an argillite rock.

Problem False-positive blood-culture results due to skin contamination of samples remain a persistent problem for health care providers. Our health system recognized that our rates of contamination across the 4 emergency department campuses were above the national average. Methods A unique specimen collection system was implemented throughout the 4 emergency departments and became the mandatory way to collect adult blood cultures. The microbiology laboratory reported contamination rates weekly to manage potential problems; 7 months of data are presented here. Results There was an 82.8% reduction in false positives with the unique specimen collection system compared with the standard method (chi-squared test with Yates correction, 2-tailed, P = 0.0001). Based on the historical 3.52% rate of blood-culture contamination for our health facilities, 2.92 false positives were prevented for every 100 blood cultures drawn, resulting from adoption of the unique specimen collection system as the standard of care. Conclusion This unique collection system can reduce the risk of blood culture contamination significantly and is designed to augment, rather than replace, the standard phlebotomy protocol already in use in most health care settings.Unlabelled BoxContribution to Emergency Nursing Practice •Decreasing blood-culture contamination rates •Decreasing false-positive blood-culture results •Decreasing patient length of stay

In this paper, the Rigid Body Spring Network method is extended in order to provide for a realistic representation of the fracturing processes of brittle rocks. To achieve this objective, three new contributions are given to the method: a Cohesive Zone Model; a representation of rock heterogeneity; and the consideration of preexisting natural microcracks. In order to verify the competence of the contributions proposed, a case study is presented based on a granite rock. Conventional laboratory tests are numerically performed and the results are compared to those obtained in laboratory in order to show the performance of the proposed model.

In this issue of Cell, Korber et al. found that a SARS-CoV-2 variant in the spike protein D614G rapidly became dominant around the world. Although clinical and in vitro data suggest that D614G changes the virus phenotype, the impact of the mutation on transmission, disease, and vaccine and therapeutic development are largely unknown.

Dementia is one of the major causes of disability in later life, and ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Apolipoprotein E (apoE) plays a pivotal role in lipoprotein metabolism in the brain and in the periphery, and is implicated in both dementia and ischemic heart disease. Peripherally, liver-derived apoE is the main source of plasma apoE. Approximately half of plasma apoE is associated with triglyceride-rich lipoproteins, where apoE serves as the main ligand for the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor and the LDL receptor Related Protein (LRP). In the brain, apoE is produced mainly by astrocytes. Astrocyte-derived apoE is pivotal for cerebral cholesterol metabolism and clearance of β-amyloid, a major pathological hallmark of Alzheimer disease. Plasma levels of apoE and other lipids and lipoproteins are under strong genetic influence by the APOE polymorphism, and the ε4 allele is a strong genetic risk factor for Alzheimer disease. The characteristics of the APOE polymorphism thus suggest the qualitative importance of apoE, whereas studies of familial absolute apoE deficiency suggest a quantitative importance of plasma apoE levels in lipid metabolism. Whether plasma levels of apoE are associated with increased risk of dementia and ischemic heart disease, and whether these associations are independent of the APOE polymorphism and of lipids and lipoproteins has only recently been established. The aim of this review is to summarize and discuss the current epidemiological and biological evidence for an association of plasma levels of apoE with risk of dementia and ischemic heart disease.

Resume L’annonce diagnostique d’une maladie hemorragique constitutionnelle rare et grave chez un enfant constitue un traumatisme psychique pour ses parents. Cela remet en question la dynamique familiale et marque le debut de la construction d’une relation therapeutique a long terme entre une famille et une equipe soignante. Afin d’accompagner au mieux ces familles dans l’apprehension de la maladie des l’annonce du diagnostic, le Centre d’hemophilie de Marseille a mis en place depuis plus de dix ans un dispositif therapeutique d’accompagnement base sur la pluridisciplinarite : suivi medical et infirmier, programme d’education therapeutique du patient, accompagnement psychologique, groupe de paroles, creation d’un atelier axe sur la psychomotricite. L’Association francaise des hemophiles est partie prenante de ce dispositif, tout particulierement au niveau du programme d’education therapeutique. Une etude pilote a permis de s’interroger sur la pertinence de ce dispositif en analysant un groupe de 21 enfants dans des dimensions developpementales et psychiques, ainsi qu’en etudiant leur qualite de vie et celle de leurs parents. Les resultats encourageants au niveau du developpement psychomoteur, de l’etat emotionnel et de la qualite de vie incitent a proposer l’extension de ce type de dispositif d’accompagnement du diagnostic d’hemophilie qui place le psychologue au cœur de l’equipe multidisciplinaire d’un centre de traitement de l’hemophilie.

The Hybrid Lattice/Discrete Element Method is proposed for Bonded Block Modeling of rocks. The method is a combination of the Rigid Body Spring Network Lattice Model with the Discrete Element Method. The main advantages of the new method are: (i) it operates based on either a homogeneous or heterogeneous material assumption, with heterogeneity being represented by means of the Weibull probability distribution applied to elasticity and strength parameters; and (ii) it provides for a direct material calibration scheme for rock models based on both assumptions, which does not require trial-and-error iterations. Thirteen rock types, including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary ones were simulated in the two-dimensional version of the method considering both assumptions, and their numerical macroscale properties were compared to the laboratory ones. Results show that while deformability and peak strength properties were accurately represented by the homogeneous models, linear elastic-brittle behavior manifested. On the other hand, the heterogeneous models presented non-linear stress–strain behavior and provided reasonable matches for the following laboratory properties: Young modulus, Poisson’s ratio, crack initiation stress, crack damage stress, unconfined compression strength, and direct tensile strength.

In this paper, a Python library named U n B l o c k s g e n is presented for the generation and analysis of 3D rock block systems. The library provides the tools for the construction of Discrete Fracture Networks; the generation of rock blocks based on the constructed DFN; and the analysis of blocks’ geometrical characteristics, such as shape and size. An illustrative example is presented based on the Brazilian Monte Seco tunnel. It shows the library capabilities in dealing with complex Discrete Fracture Networks as well as performing excavation through a selected region of the block system. The library shall be valuable to research that attempts to understand the relations between rock masses’ geometrical characteristics and behavior during engineering works.

MCL-1 is a well characterized inhibitor of cell death that has also been shown to be a regulator of mitochondrial dynamics in human pluripotent stem cells. We used cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CMs) to uncover whether MCL-1 is crucial for cardiac function and survival. Inhibition of MCL-1 by BH3 mimetics resulted in the disruption of mitochondrial morphology and dynamics as well as disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton. Interfering with MCL-1 function affects the homeostatic proximity of DRP-1 and MCL-1 at the outer mitochondrial membrane, resulting in decreased functionality of hPSC-CMs. Cardiomyocytes display abnormal functional cardiac performance even after caspase inhibition, supporting a non-apoptotic activity of MCL-1 in hiPSC-CMs. BH3 mimetics targeting MCL-1 are promising anti-tumor therapeutics. Progression towards using BCL-2 family inhibitors, especially targeting MCL-1, depends on understanding not only its canonical function in preventing apoptosis, but also in the maintenance of mitochondrial dynamics and function.

Background and aims Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are causally associated with high risk of ischemic heart disease (IHD), and apolipoprotein E (apoE) has a central role in their plasma clearance. While both quantitative and qualitative changes of apoE are established causes of rare dyslipidemia syndromes, it remains unclear whether plasma levels of apoE are associated with risk of IHD in the general population. Methods We tested whether plasma levels of apoE at enrollment were associated with future risk of IHD and myocardial infarction (MI) in 91,695 individuals from the general population. Results Multifactorially adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for highest versus lowest apoE tertile were 1.15 (1.04–1.27) for IHD and 1.16 (1.00–1.36) for MI in men, and 0.94 (0.84–1.05) and 1.04 (0.85–1.26) in women. These associations were attenuated by adjustments for triglyceride levels. Corresponding HRs for highest versus lowest apoE tertile in e33 carriers were 1.18 (1.03–1.36) for IHD and 1.21 (0.98–1.49) for MI in men, and 0.91 (0.78–1.06) and 0.93 (0.71–1.21) in women. Thus, the present associations were independent of APOE genotype. Conclusion These findings suggest that high plasma levels of apoE are associated with IHD in men but not in women. Triglyceride-rich lipoproteins may partly explain these associations.

Summary Background & aim Stress metabolism is associated with accelerated loss of muscle that has large consequences for the old medical patient. The aim of this study was to investigate if an intervention combining protein and resistance training was more effective in counteracting loss of muscle than standard care. Secondary outcomes were changes in muscle strength, functional ability and body weight. Methods 29 acutely admitted old (>65 years) patients were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 14) or to standard care (n = 15). The Intervention Group received 1.7 g protein/kg/day during admission and a daily protein supplement (18.8 g protein) and resistance training 3 times per week the 12 weeks following discharge. Muscle mass was assessed by Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry. Muscle strength was assessed by Hand Grip Strength and Chair Stand Test. Functional ability was assessed by the de Morton Mobility Index, the Functional Recovery Score and the New Mobility Score. Changes in outcomes from time of admission to three-months after discharge were analysed by linear regression analysis. Results The intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant effect of the intervention on lean mass (unadjusted: β-coefficient = −1.28 P = 0.32, adjusted for gender: β-coefficient = −0.02 P = 0.99, adjusted for baseline lean mass: β-coefficient = −0.31 P = 0.80). The de Morton Mobility Index significantly increased in the Control Group (β-coefficient = −11.43 CI: 0.72–22.13, P = 0.04). No other differences were found. Conclusion No significant effect on muscle mass was observed in this group of acutely ill old medical patients. High compliance was achieved with the dietary intervention, but resistance training was challenging. Clinical trials identifier NCT02077491.

The SMYD (SET and MYND domain) family of lysine methyltransferases harbor a unique structure in which the methyltransferase (SET) domain is intervened by a zinc finger protein–protein interaction MYND domain. SMYD proteins methylate both histone and non-histone substrates and participate in diverse biological processes including transcriptional regulation, DNA repair, proliferation and apoptosis. Smyd1 is unique among the five family members in that it is specifically expressed in striated muscles. Smyd1 is critical for development of the right ventricle in mice. In zebrafish, Smyd1 is necessary for sarcomerogenesis in fast-twitch muscles. Smyd1 is expressed in the skeletal muscle lineage throughout myogenesis and in mature myofibers, shuttling from nucleus to cytosol during myoblast differentiation. Because of this expression pattern, we hypothesized that Smyd1 plays multiple roles at different stages of myogenesis. To determine the role of Smyd1 in mammalian myogenesis, we conditionally eliminated Smyd1 from the skeletal muscle lineage at the myoblast stage using Myf5cre. Deletion of Smyd1 impaired myoblast differentiation, resulted in fewer myofibers and decreased expression of muscle-specific genes. Muscular defects were temporally restricted to the second wave of myogenesis. Thus, in addition to the previously described functions for Smyd1 in heart development and skeletal muscle sarcomerogenesis, these results point to a novel role for Smyd1 in myoblast differentiation.

An isothermal transient-state non-Fickian diffusion model is developed and analytically solved for description of gas dissolution in locally heterogeneous media suddenly exposed to a high pressure gas. The full-, short-, and long-time analytical solutions are used to establish the significance of the non-Fickian gas dissolution in heterogeneous media compared to the Fickian diffusion assumption. Parametric studies are carried out by means of the special analytical-solutions obtained for gas transport in the semi-infinite and finite-thickness heterogeneous media involving a delay time. The profiles of concentration and diffusion flux obtained for the non-Fickian wave-diffusion case are compared with the Fickian pure-diffusion case. The initial propagation of a right-running wave and its reflection from the wall are illustrated for the concentrations and diffusion fluxes. The small-time behavior is shown to be inherently wave-like and the discontinuity wave front propagates into the medium with the speed decreasing with time. For small times, the differences between the wave- and pure-diffusion cases are found to be significant depending on the magnitude of the delay time. For sufficiently large times, the wave behavior dies out and the wave solutions approach the equilibrium pure-diffusion solutions, except very near the decaying wave front. The formulations presented in this paper are of practical importance because they can be instrumental in determination of the diffusivity, interface surface mass-transfer coefficient, and rate of dissolution of gases in heterogeneous medium. A parameter estimation method is also proposed and elaborated for estimation of the diffusion and interface surface mass-transfer coefficients from measured pressure decay data.

Host response to infection is a major determinant of disease severity in Ebola virus disease (EVD), but gene expression programs associated with clinical outcome are poorly characterized. Using the Collaborative Cross (CC) mouse model of genetic diversity, we developed a model of differential EVD severity. CC mice develop a strain-dependent spectrum of distinct EVD phenotypes, ranging from tolerance (mild, transient disease with full recovery) to lethality (severe disease that may include hemorrhagic syndrome). We performed a screen of 10 CC lines with differential phenotypes and identified clinical, virologic, and transcriptomic features that distinguish tolerant from lethal outcomes. Tolerance is associated with tightly regulated induction of immune and inflammatory responses early following infection, as well as reduced numbers of inflammatory macrophages and increased numbers of mature antigen-presenting cells, B-1 cells, and γδ T cells, allowing for control of viral replication and subsequent recovery. Lethal disease is characterized by broad suppression of early gene expression and reduced quantitiesof lymphocytes, followed by uncontrolled inflammatory signaling leading to death. Using machine learning classification, we developed and trained a transcriptomic signature that predicted outcome in CC mice at any time point post-infection with 99% accuracy. This signature predicted outcome in a cohort of EVD patients from West Africa with 75% accuracy, demonstrating its utility as a prognostic tool to guide EVD patient treatment in future outbreaks.

In this paper, an investigation is performed regarding the applicability of the Rigid Body Spring Network method (RBSN) to the analysis of hard rock tunnels in massive and fractured rock masses. For this objective, the method is enhanced with a new meshing scheme and a Cohesive Zone Model (CZM) formulation based on an exponential softening law. While the new meshing scheme provides for models containing complex Discrete Fracture Networks, the CZM affords realistic representations of fracturing phenomena. In order to demonstrate the robustness of the contributions, a verification model and three study cases are presented. The verification concerns the analysis of an elastic jointed medium with a circular hole, from which stresses and displacements are calculated and checked against Finite Element solution. The study cases are based on the real Monte-Seco and Mine-By tunnels and on a hypothetical tunnel. Simulations are performed, and the results are compared to either observed in situ behavior or Finite Element analyses. In the end, the cases show that the enhanced RBSN can realistically represent both gravity and stress-driven types of failures that are encountered in hard rock tunneling. Additional results highlight the method’s simple material calibration procedure and the practicality of the new meshing scheme.

Rhizopus oligosporus was cultivated on thin stillage from a dry-grind corn ethanol plant. The aim of the research was to develop a process to replace the current energy-intensive flash evaporation and make use of this nutrient-rich stream to create a new co-product in the form of protein-rich biomass. Batch experiments in 5- and 50-L stirred bioreactors showed prolific fungal growth under non-sterile conditions. COD, suspended solids, glycerol, and organic acids removals, critical for in-plant water reuse, reached ca. 80%, 98%, 100% and 100%, respectively, within 5 d of fungal inoculation, enabling effluent recycle as process water. R. oligosporus contains 2% lysine, good levels of other essential amino acids, and 43% crude protein - a highly nutritious livestock feed. Avoiding water evaporation from thin stillage would furthermore save substantial energy inputs on corn ethanol plants.

Hepatitis C virus/human immunodeficiency virus (HCV/HIV) coinfected patients demonstrate accelerated progression to severe liver injury in comparison to HCV monoinfected patients, although the underlying mechanisms are unclear owing to infection of separate tissue compartments with two distinct viral pathogens. Microarray analysis of paired liver biopsy and peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) specimens from HCV/HIV coinfected and HCV monoinfected patients identified a gene expression signature associated with increased inflammation and immune activation that was present only in liver and PBMC samples from coinfected patients. We also identified in these samples liver- and PBMC-specific signatures enriched with fibrogenic/hepatic stellate activation and proinflammatory genes, respectively. Finally, Bayesian networks were constructed by assimilating these data with existing data from liver and PBMC samples from other cohorts, augmenting enrichment of biologically important pathways and further indicating that chronic immune activation in HCV/HIV coinfection may exacerbate liver disease progression in coinfected patients.

A field and petro-chemical classification of felsic magmatic phases (FMPs) at the world-class Cantung W skarn deposit was undertaken to document the evolution of magmatism and the relationships between different FMPs, metasomatism, and mineralization. Early FMPs include moderately differentiated (Zr/Hf = 18–26, Ti/Zr = 14–15) biotite monzogranitic plutons and early biotite-rich granitic dykes, and compositionally similar quartz–feldspar porphyry dykes. Late, highly fractionated (Zr/Hf = 8–17, Ti/Zr = 3–13) FMPs sourced from a deeper monzogranitic intrusion include: (1) leucocratic biotite- or tourmaline-bearing dykes derived from localized entrapments of residual magma; and, (2) sub-vertical NE-trending aplitic dykes derived from a larger segregation of residual fluid- and incompatible element-enriched magma. The aplitic dykes have textures, morphologies, spatial associations, and a pervasive calcic metasomatic mineral assemblage (Ca-plagioclase + quartz or clinozoisite) indicative of syn-mineralization emplacement. Very late-stage overpressuring and initiation of sub-vertical fractures into the overlying plutonic carapace and country rocks by supercritical magmatic fluid led to an interaction with calcareous country rocks that resulted in an increased aCa2+ in the fluid and the concurrent precipitation of W skarn. Residual magma also ascended with, and quenched in equilibrium with the magmatic fluid to from the aplitic dykes, then was metasomatized by the fluid as it interacted with calcareous country rocks. Overall, highly fractionated and moderately to very highly undercooled FMPs at Cantung provide evidence for a large and evolving felsic magmatic system at depth that segregated and maintained a stable fluid- and incompatible element-enriched residual magma until the latest stages of crystallization. The detailed study of FMPs associated with magmatic-hydrothermal mineral deposits allow us to refine our understanding of these mineralizing systems and better define metallogenic and exploration models for intrusion-related mineralization.

Legislation has been introduced this year in the U.S. Congress, but not yet enacted, that would direct the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to complete a study of the options that would prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species between the Great Lakes and Mississippi River Basins. Hydrologic separation is the only option which closes the aquatic connection between the two basins and does not require continuous operation and maintenance of various technologies that have some risk of failure. The one-time, capital cost to separate the two basins is widely acknowledged to be high, and the outstanding question is whether the costs are justified given the significant risk of future ecological damages and long-term economic losses. Interests opposing separation have mounted a public campaign that the news media have picked up to deny that hydrologic separation should be considered or that a problem even exists. The campaign rests on four assertions: (1) existing electric barriers in the Chicago canals are effective; (2) it is too late--the carps are already in the Great Lakes or soon will be; (3) Asian carps will not thrive in the Great Lakes due to inadequate food and spawning habitat; and (4) Asian carps are unlikely to cause serious harm. Our review of these assertions and the ecological and socio-economic threats to both basins supports our recommendation that the pending legislation be passed and that it include analysis of hydrologic separation of the two basins.

SummaryPopulations of most marine organisms are connected by the dispersal of larval stages, with profound implications for marine conservation [1]. Because of the extreme effort needed to empirically measure larval exchange, multispecies conservation efforts must estimate connectivity by extrapolation using taxonomy, adult distribution, life history, behavior, or phenology. Using a 6-year record of connectivity realized through trace-elemental fingerprinting of larval shells, we document the seasonal and interannual variability of larval exchange for two congeneric mussel species with overlapping but distinct distribution, life history, and reproduction timing. We reveal consistent autumn poleward movement and spring equatorward movement for both species, coincident with near-shore surface currents. However, because the major reproductive seasons differ, the dominant source-sink dynamics of these two congeneric species are nearly opposite. Consideration of present and future reproductive timing as altered by climate change is crucial to marine connectivity and conservation, especially for the numerous coastal areas subject to seasonal current reversals.

Degradation of lignocellulosic biomass to sugars through a purely biological process is a key to sustainable biofuel production. Hydrolysis of the corn wet-milling co-product-corn fiber-to simple sugars by the brown rot fungus Gloeophyllum trabeum was studied in suspended-culture and solid-state fermentations. Suspended-culture experiments were not effective in producing harvestable sugars from the corn fiber. The fungus consumed sugars released by fungal extracellular enzymes. Solid-state fermentation demonstrated up to 40% fiber degradation within 9days. Enzyme activity assays on solid-state fermentation filtrates confirmed the involvement of starch- and cellulose-degrading enzymes. To reduce fungal consumption of sugars and to accelerate enzyme activity, 2- and 3-d solid-state fermentation biomasses (fiber and fungus) were submerged in buffer and incubated at 37 degrees C without shaking. This anaerobic incubation converted up to almost 11% of the corn fiber into harvestable reducing sugars. Sugars released by G. trabeum were fermented to a maximum yield of 3.3g ethanol/100g fiber. This is the first report, to our knowledge, of G. trabeum fermenting sugar to ethanol. The addition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a co-culture led to more rapid fermentation to a maximum yield of 4.0g ethanol/100g fiber. The findings demonstrate the potential for this simple fungal process, requiring no pretreatment of the corn fiber, to produce more ethanol by hydrolyzing and fermenting carbohydrates in this lignocellulosic co-product.

The effects of ultrasound and heat pretreatments on ethanol yields from cassava chips were investigated. Cassava slurries were sonicated for 10 and 30 s at the amplitudes of 80, 160, and 320 μmpp (peak to peak amplitude in μm) corresponding to low, medium, and high power levels, respectively. The sonicated and non-sonicated (control) samples were then subjected to simultaneous liquefaction-saccharification and ethanol fermentation. Cassava starch-to-ethanol conversion efficiencies showed that higher ethanol yields were directly related to sonication times, but not to power levels. Significantly higher ethanol yields were observed only for sonicated samples at the high power level. The ethanol yield from the sonicated sample was 2.7-fold higher than yield from the control sample. Starch-to-ethanol conversion rates from sonicated cassava chips were also significantly higher; the fermentation time could be reduced by nearly 24 h for sonicated samples to achieve the same ethanol yield as control samples. Thus, ultrasound pretreatment enhanced both the overall ethanol yield and fermentation rate. When compared to heat-treated samples, the sonicated samples produced nearly 29% more ethanol yield. Combined heat and ultrasound treatment had no significant effect on overall ethanol yields from cassava chips. Ultrasound is also preferable to heat pretreatment because of lower energy requirements, as indicated by energy balances. Integration of ultrasound application in cassava-based ethanol plants can significantly improve ethanol yields and reduce the overall production costs.

Proper analytical procedures presented here allow for rapid simultaneous determination of the diffusion and film-mass-transfer coefficients, the equilibrium gas pressure and solubility, and the effective equilibrium time from a model-assisted analysis of the time-limited experimental data of a gas/liquid system obtained by the method of Isothermal Pressure Decay. Being able to determine all four parameters simultaneously from the same data set, the present data interpretation method provides an additional reduction in the overall effort by a factor of four on top of the reduction in time required for data gathering. The parameter estimation method yields results with high accuracy indicating the validity of the proposed phenomenological model.

Within the past decade, reproductive and health disorders have been reported to occur in unique populations of Atlantic stingrays (Dasyatis sabina) inhabiting certain components of Florida’s St. Johns River. Since these irregularities are consistent with the alleged effects of organochlorine (OC) contaminant exposure in other Florida wildlife, the goal of this study was to examine possible associations between OC concentrations and reproduction and/or immune function in stingrays from this river system. Liver concentrations of 30 OC pesticides/pesticide metabolites and total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured and compared in D. sabina collected from four central Florida lakes of the St. Johns River: Lake George, Lake Harney, Lake Jesup, and Lake Monroe. Reproductive biology, serum testosterone and 17β-estradiol concentrations, and circulating white blood cell counts were examined and compared in stingrays from lakes that were determined to contain low (Lake George), intermediate (Lake Monroe), and high (Lake Jesup) levels of pesticide contamination, based on the results of liver OC assessments. Successful breeding occurred in Lake Jesup stingrays, indicating that the degree of OC accumulation in these animals is not high enough to cause reproductive impairment. However, elevated serum steroid concentrations and white blood cell counts were observed in Lake Jesup stingrays, suggesting that endocrine and immune function may be altered in these animals due to OC exposure and/or other, as yet unknown, ecological factors. Inconsistencies in the reproductive success of Lake Monroe stingrays were observed, confirming earlier reports of reproductive complications in this sub-population. Based on these findings, previous occurrences of reproductive failure in St. Johns River stingrays may be due to environmental factors other than OC exposure.

Among vertebrates, maternal transfer of hormones to offspring has been studied extensively in mammals (placental transfer) and more recently in oviparous birds and reptiles (yolk transfer). The placental viviparous bonnethead shark, Sphyrna tiburo, allows the investigation of both yolk and placental hormone transfers in a single organism. In this species, yolk provides nutrition for the first half of embryonic development and placental transfer provides the second half. As sex determination is complete prior to development of placental connections, it was postulated that yolk hormones would have a prominent role in embryonic regulation. The goal of the current study was to determine serum and yolk hormone concentrations during five reproductive stages, from pre-ovulatory through pre-implantation (pre-placental) stages. Radioimmunoassay was used to determine 17beta-estradiol, progesterone, and testosterone concentrations in both serum and yolk. When yolk and serum concentrations were compared, the yolk had significantly higher concentrations of both estradiol and progesterone during post-ovulation and early pregnancy. Yolk concentrations of testosterone were significantly less than serum at pre-ovulation, but there were no differences after that stage. When yolk concentrations were compared between stages, significantly higher concentrations of estradiol were present in ovulatory, post-ovulatory, and pre-implantation stages, while progesterone was significantly higher in post-ovulatory, early pregnancy, and pre-implantation stages and testosterone was higher in pre-ovulation. Most of these results are consistent with the published findings in birds and reptiles. Further, in the bonnethead shark, they suggest that yolk transfer of hormones is adequate for sexual differentiation in embryonic development and that estradiol probably has a significant developmental role.

This pilot study applied a theoretically derived model of acceptance-based treatment process to smoking cessation, and compared it to a pharmacological treatment based on a medical dependence model. Seventy-six nicotine-dependent smokers were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: Nicotine Replacement Treatment (NRT), or a smoking-focused version of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). There were no differences between conditions at posttreatment; however, participants in the ACT condition had better long-term smoking outcomes at 1-year follow-up. As predicted by the acceptance process model, ACT outcomes at 1 year were mediated by improvements in acceptance-related skills. Withdrawal symptoms and negative affect neither differed between conditions nor predicted outcomes. Results were consistent with the functional acceptance-based treatment model.

The response of an entire catchment to increased CO 2 and temperature was studied by experimental ecosystem manipulation during a 4-year period. The project was part of the CLIMEX project (Climate Change Experiment) conducted in a mountainous pine–birch forest ( Pinus sylvestris , Betula pubescens ) at an elevation of 300 m above sea level at Risdalsheia, southernmost Norway. The trees were up to 160 years old with a maximum height of 9 m. The site is typical for large areas of upland boreal forest in Scandinavia. The project involved five catchments, two of which were divided into two subcatchments covered with a big greenhouse or a roof construction. The total set-up at the experimental site employed multiple treatments and controls. Data from four catchments are presented here: (1) control, (2) greenhouse control, (3) CO 2 enriched from the ambient level of ca. 360 to 560 ppmv and air temperature increased 3–5 °C above ambient, and (4) soil temperature increased 3–5 °C with heating cables. The results showed that increased CO 2 and/or temperature did not significantly influence tree growth—measured as tree ring increment. This finding is opposed the increased primary production found for the forest floor vegetation in the present experiment and it contradicts the results from many short-term studies, done with seedlings or young plants. It is concluded that effects of increased CO 2 and temperature observed in experiments with seedlings, saplings and forest floor plants may not reflect the effects on mature trees and therefore cannot be directly extrapolated to whole ecosystem effects. In the end this may cause C sequestration in forests to be less than anticipated in general. An increased needle weight and shoot length in all roof- and greenhouse-covered catchments in the present study indicated that the reduced light conditions and shelter effect under the roof and greenhouses have blurred the possible small treatment effects.

Although numerous studies demonstrate the efficacy of writing about stressful events on measures of participants' health, most studies have included psychologically and physically healthy participants. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether writing about stressful or traumatic events would have the same effect with participants who had experienced a significant trauma. The physical and psychological impact of writing about child sexual abuse (CSA) experiences or time management was examined in 61 women (mean age 35.0) who reported a CSA history. Participants completed biweekly telephone interviews for 12 weeks after writing, as well as 12-week follow-up questionnaires. The results indicate that writing about CSA history alone is not sufficient to provide psychological or physical health benefits. As these results diverge from the extant literature, possible reasons for these findings are discussed, along with implications for writing interventions with survivors of significant traumas.

Increased iron stores may play a role in the development of coronary heart disease (CHD) by increasing lipoprotein oxidation. Recently, mutations have been discovered in the gene (HFE) for hereditary hemochromatosis, an autosomal recessive condition of disordered iron metabolism, absorption, and storage. It is possible that people who carry HFE mutations have increased risk of CHD. We used a prospective case-cohort design (243 CHD cases and 535 non-cases) to determine whether the HFE C282Y mutation was associated with incident CHD in a population-based sample of middle-aged men and women. The frequencies of homozygosity and heterozygosity for the C282Y mutation in the ARIC study population were 0.2% (one homozygous person) and 6%, respectively. The C282Y mutation was associated with nonsignificantly increased risk of CHD (relative risk=1.60, 95% CI 0.9-2.9). After adjusting for other confounding risk factors (age, race, gender, ARIC community, smoking status, diabetes status, hypertension status, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides), the association became stronger (relative risk=2.70, 95% CI 1.2-6.1). However, a sensitivity analysis showed that this estimate of relative risk was somewhat unstable due to few subjects in some strata. Our prospective findings suggest that individuals carrying the HFE C282Y mutation may be at increased risk of CHD.

Composite materials reinforced with long fibers can have a unique characteristic: distortion of the reinforcing fibers into wavy patterns which may be beneficial or deleterious, depending on the applications. The effect of the resulting smooth periodic stiffness variation in the material on wave propagation along the fiber direction is the focus of this study. The problem of wave propagation in a material with a smooth periodic stiffness variation is simplified by assuming that the stiffness variation is sinusoidal. The simplified problem is studied by means of an analytic small-perturbation method and a numerical finite-difference scheme. The perturbation analysis reveals that there is a critical excitation frequency for a wavy stiffness material at which resonance occurs in the propagating waves. The finite-difference simulation corroborates the presence of resonance effects at and around the critical frequency. The resonant growth of the propagating waves could result in premature fatigue failure, due to resonance increased loading, or sudden unexpected failure if the resonance induced stresses are large enough.

We have searched for the flavor-changing neutral current decay b -> s mu+ mu- in p pbar collisions at sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV with the DO detector at Fermilab. We determine the 90% confidence level limit for the branching fraction to be B(b -> X_s mu+ mu-) < 3.2 x 10^{-4}. We argue that this limit is more stringent than the best published limit on this decay rate.

Within the framework of the EU-funded EXMAN (EXperimental MANipulation of Forest Ecosystems) project drought experiments were conducted at four different European Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) plantations in the year 1992–1995. The aim of the project was to investigate if there is an additional risk of soil acidification due to nitrification/acidification pulses after extended periods of summer droughts. The sites included (Ballyhooly/BH, southwest of Ireland. Klosterhede/KH, west coast of Denmark, Hoglwald/HW, northwest of Munich, and Solling/SL, central Germany) cover considerable gradients of climatic and air pollution regimes. Artificial droughts were produced by using different types of roof constructions installed below the forest canopy (non-permanent constructions in BH and HW, permanent installations in KH and SL). Each drought was started in spring time and dry conditions were maintained until the soil water tension was below a potential of −700 hPa at 70 cm depth in the mineral soil. Results given are focused on changes in the soil solution concentrations during the rewetting of severely dried out soils. No marked nitrification pulses were observed after any of the droughts carried out at any site. Only single lysimeters/sample locations showed the hypothesized reaction with increasing aluminum concentrations and decreasing pH values, but spatial heterogeneity was high during rewetting. In the first soil solution samples after the drought, occasionally distinct peaks of NH4+, DOC and K+, and partly also Norg and HPO42− appeared. For the BH site the respective potassium concentrations increased 10 to 20 times compared to the level of the control plot. Presented data indicate a certain potential for nitrification pulses at the BH and KH site, but probably due to a fast root uptake, below the rooting zone no nitrate was determined. At the HW site, the drought induced reactions in the soil solution composition were only visible in humus water samples. At SL, nitrate concentrations were generally reduced at the drought plot. During rewetting in 1992 samples from a single lysimeter indicated a clear nitrification pulse. Applied flux calculations for SL showed a significant increase of the nitrate budget but a distinct decrease of the potassium budget. It is concluded that drought phases can influence the element cycling, but there seems to be no risk that forest soils will be subjected to pronounced acidification after summer droughts.

European concern over the cause and consequences of forest decline, acidification of soils and surface waters, and the nutrient enrichment of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, led to the establishment of the NITREX (Nitrogen saturation experiments) and EXMAN (Experimental Manipulation of Forest Ecosystems in Europe) projects, two research networks of large-scale manipulation experiments under the auspices of the EU Commission of European Communities. NITREX comprises 10 experiments at 8 sites in 7 countries at which nitrogen is either added to or removed from ambient atmospheric deposition to simulate major changes in nitrogen deposition. EXMAN comprises experiments at 6 sites in 4 countries at which ambient atmospheric deposition is experimentally altered in chemical composition and/or quantity. The ultimate goal of this research is to contribute to the scientific basis required for the refinement of EU policy on atmospheric quality, and the legislation which will emanate from that policy.

During the last three decades the experimental manipulations of whole ecosystems have been a useful and widely-used tool for investigation of the effects of air pollution, air pollution reduction strategies and management practices on the health and productivity of forests and the acidification of catchments and fresh waters. NITREX and EXMAN projects involve whole-ecosystem manipulations of forest ecosystems in Europe. The aims of these ecosystem experiments have been to investigate the impact of a continued or increased load of air pollutants on the ecosystems, and the possibilities of reversing the acidifying effects by soil amelioration, addition of buffer-acting substances or by removal of the air pollutants. Along with the field experiments, models have been used to predict future effects and dynamics in the ecosystems under different air pollution scenarios. The major findings from those projects have been used in political decisions on reduction of sulphur emission in Europe via the sulphur protocol signed in 1994. Today work is going on to formulate a NOx protocol. NITREX and EXMAN results contribute to the scientific information base for these protocols. Large-scale ecosystem manipulation projects have increased our understanding of ecosystem function and response to external change and created scientific evidence for political environmental decisions and legislation. In the future, controlled-ecosystem experiments clearly play an important role in new research on ecological effects of changes in the global atmosphere and climate.

We have studied J ψ production in p p collisions at s = 1.8 TeV with the DO detector at Fermilab using μ+μ− data. We have measured the inclusive J ψ production cross section as a function of J ψ transverse momentum, pT. For the kinematic range pT > 8 GeV/c and |η| σ(p p → J ψ + X) · Br ( J ψ → μ + μ − ) = 2.08 ± 0.17( stat) ± 0.46(syst) nb. Using the muon impact parameter we have estimated the fraction of J ψ mesons coming from B meson decays to be fb = 0.35 ± 0.09(stat)±0.10(syst) and inferred the inclusive b production cross section. From the information on the event topology the fraction of nonisolated J ψ events has been measured to be fnonisol = 0.64 ± 0.08(stat)±0.06(syst). We have also obtained the fraction of J ψ events resulting from radiative decays of χc states, fχ = 0.32 ± 0.07(stat)±0.07(syst). We discuss the implications of our measurements for charmonium production processes.

The distribution of the transverse energy in jets has been measured in p p collisions at s =1.8 TeV TeV using the DO detector at Fermilab. This measurement of the jet shape is made as a function of jet transverse energy in both the central and forward rapidity regions. Jets are shown to narrow both with increasing transverse energy and with increasing rapidity. Next-to-leading order partonic QCD calculations are compared to the data. Although the calculations qualitatively describe the data, they are shown to be very dependent on renormalization scale, parton clustering algorithm, and jet direction definition and they fail to describe the data in all regions consistently.