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We present a novel lung aerosol exposure system named MALIES (modular air–liquid interface exposure system), which allows three-dimensional cultivation of lung epithelial cells in alveolar-like scaffolds (MatriGrids®) and exposure to nanoparticle aerosols. MALIES consists of multiple modular units for aerosol generation, and can be rapidly assembled and commissioned. The MALIES system was proven for its ability to reliably produce a dose-dependent toxicity in A549 cells using CuSO4 aerosol. Cytotoxic effects of BaSO4- and TiO2-nanoparticles were investigated using MALIES with the human lung tumor cell line A549 cultured at the air–liquid interface. Experiments with concentrations of up to 5.93 × 105 (BaSO4) and 1.49 × 106 (TiO2) particles/cm3, resulting in deposited masses of up to 26.6 and 74.0 µg/cm2 were performed using two identical aerosol exposure systems in two different laboratories. LDH, resazurin reduction and total glutathione were measured. A549 cells grown on MatriGrids® form a ZO-1- and E-Cadherin-positive epithelial barrier and produce mucin and surfactant protein. BaSO4-NP in a deposited mass of up to 26.6 µg/cm2 resulted in mild, reversible damage (~ 10% decrease in viability) to lung epithelium 24 h after exposure. TiO2-NP in a deposited mass of up to 74.0 µg/cm2 did not induce any cytotoxicity in A549 cells 24 h and 72 h after exposure, with the exception of a 1.7 fold increase in the low exposure group in laboratory 1. These results are consistent with previous studies showing no significant damage to lung epithelium by short-term treatment with low concentrations of nanoscale BaSO4 and TiO2 in in vitro experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A SWAT model equipped with an alternative auto-irrigation algorithm was used to evaluate the effects of planting date on hybrid corn yield and seasonal water use in the Texas High Plains. Research field data from the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory at Bushland, TX and the Texas A&M AgriLife North Plains Research Field near Etter, TX were used for model calibration. A long-term weather data set was used to simulate continuous corn using five planting dates (15-April, 1-May, 15-May, 1-June, and 15-June) for both long- and short-season corn hybrids. Results suggested that delayed planting resulted in a reduction of seasonal water use for both hybrids. Reductions in seasonal irrigation between the 15-April and 15-June were 28 % and 31 % for long- and short-season hybrids, respectively, using an application depth of 25.4 mm. Corresponding reductions in yield were considerably less at 8.9 and 8.8 % for long- and short-season hybrids. Reduced irrigation was attributed to decreased temperature stress and lower evapotranspiration of the later growing season. However, simulation of long season corn for the 15-June planting resulted in late season cold temperature stress. Further analysis of 19.1 mm and 31.8 mm irrigation depths revealed the latter resulted in an average of 4.4 and 4.7 % reductions in seasonal irrigation for long- and short-season hybrids, respectively. Results from this assessment study suggest the delayed planting of corn may result in decreased irrigation while maintaining profitable yields, potentially reducing withdrawals from the Ogallala Aquifer in the Texas High Plains region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agroforestry systems (AFS) have the potential to foster long-term carbon sequestration and nutrient uptake. Yet, information on sequestration rates is still scarce, especially for AFS in temperate regions and for maturing AFS. This study aims to determine the rate and amount of carbon and nitrogen uptake in a 17-year-old northern red oak (Quercus rubra)–pecan (Carya illinoinensis) silvopastoral planting in Fayetteville, AR, USA. Seven oak and pecan trees were felled to develop AFS-specific allometric equations for above-ground biomass, carbon, and nitrogen. Tree-stand woody biomass (DWw), carbon (Cw) and nitrogen (Nw) and leaf biomass (DWL), carbon (CL), and nitrogen (NL) were calculated with these equations. Diameter at 1.37 m above ground (DBH) was measured annually, and a non-linear mixed-effect model was used to estimate absolute (AGR) and relative growth rates. DWw and Cw was 7.1 and 3.4 Mg ha−1 for pecan and 26.6 and 12.7 Mg ha−1 for oak, which corresponds to a carbon sequestration rate of 0.75 and 0.20 Mg C ha−1 yr−1, respectively. Total N uptake was approximately 66 and 71 g N tree−1 yr−1 for oak and pecan. The mixed-effect model with individual-tree-level random effects for all parameters provided the best representation of DBH growth of oak and pecan, likely due to the high heterogeneity of site characteristics. The AGR explained the non-linear plant growth and reached its maximum of 0.017 and 0.0179 m yr−1 for oak and pecan, respectively, 11 years after planting. This suggests that carbon and nitrogen uptake also declined after 11 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ogalalla Aquifer is used to supplement insufficient precipitation for agricultural production in the semiarid Texas High Plains. However, decades of pumping combined with minimal recharge has resulted in decreased well capacity in most areas. A calibrated Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was used to compare simulated yields, crop water use, and required irrigation for crop rotations of the region using measured long-term (90 years) historical weather data. Crop rotations included continuous corn and cotton, corn-cotton, sorghum-cotton, cotton-winter wheat, and corn-winter wheat. Results demonstrated that a calibrated SWAT model simulated crop water use and yields well for all listed crops except cotton. The plant growth algorithms in SWAT appear unable to simulate representative cotton yields typical of cotton management in the Texas High Plains. A work-around for a limitation of the auto-irrigate function in SWAT to be suspended during the dormancy period of winter wheat was also used. Summary statistics for crop yield, crop water use, and irrigation were presented for all rotations. Long-term water use of simulations and irrigation probability exceedance statistics are presented for all simulated crops. These data may serve as a decision support tool for producers considering crop rotation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black walnut ( Juglans nigra L.) is commonly grown in agroforestry practices for nuts and/or timber with little knowledge of how understory herbage management might affect tree phenology. We compared black walnut plant type (variety and wild-type) for phenological response in date of budburst, leaf area index (LAI), quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), radial stem growth, and total chlorophyll concentration in response to understory herbage N fertilization and herbage suppression in an agroforestry practice on an alluvial soil. Herbage treatments generally had little impact on phenological responses, although N fertilization increased herbage yield that delayed budburst. Radial stem growth commenced at about budburst (mid-April) and virtually ceased in late October, about 30 days before leaf drop. Early-season radial stem growth was greater for the wild-type than the variety, while the variety had more rapid late-season growth. The wild-type had consistently greater LAI than the variety at any given day-of-year (DOY), and usually had greater LAI than the variety regardless of herbage treatment. Leaves of both plant types maintained a high Fv/Fm during most of the growing season, but total chlorophyll concentration decreased across DOY regardless of plant type. N fertilizer should be applied with understory herbage suppression to avoid delay of budburst. Further study is needed of phenological responses during longer growth periods, or as affected by latitude, soil water, and soil fertility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pecan ( Carya illinoiensis) and white oak ( Quercus alba) produce multiple products and wildlife values, but their phenological responses to N fertilization have not been well characterized. We compared tree growth at planting and for six consecutive growing seasons during establishment (2003-2008, Test 1), and determined if phenology of budburst, leaf area index (LAI), quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), radial growth, and total chlorophyll concentration ( a, b) responded to poultry litter fertilization supplying 0, 50, and 100 kg ha N (2010-2012, Test 2) in a mixed-species orchard on an upland site near Booneville, Arkansas. Species did not differ significantly in height in Test 1. Budburst was 9 days earlier for white oak than pecan in 2010. Budburst for both species could be predicted by accumulating chilling and forcing units throughout the dormant season. Maximum predicted radial growth was comparable for pecan (2.19 mm) and white oak (2.26 mm), and peaked 28 days earlier for white oak (3 June) than pecan (1 July). White oak LAI generally exceeded that of pecan during the growing season. Senescence began about 27 October regardless of species, and was better characterized by decreasing Fv/Fm or total chlorophyll concentration than LAI. Phenology was generally not responsive to N fertilization, perhaps because of adequate soil and foliar N. The study provides additional information on growth responses of these high-valued species to supplemental fertilization on an upland site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In rabbit kidney cells infected with strains of Herpes simplex virus producing either cell-rounding or polycaryocytosis, Vinblastine induced paracrystals. This could be shown by phase-contrast- and electron-microscopy. Infections were done under one-step-growth conditions or at low MOI. 90 per cent noninfected cells contained stress fibers as detected by Servablue R250-staining. Shortly after recruitment into polycaryocytes, stress fibers of normal length appearing in criss-cross arrangement can be seen in the periphery of these cells. Later they polymerize to very long fibers and finally they are partially destroyed. The time of destruction depends on the MOI employed. By using Actinomycin D and/or Cycloheximide as blocking agents, it could be shown that polymerization of microfilaments correlates in time with giant cell formation. In view of the fact that the virus synthesis is accompanied in parallel by a special rearrangement of microfilaments as well as polycaryocytosis, both these processes have to be considered as caused by early (and late?) protein-synthesis (β-/γ-proteins) but not as induced by 'very-early' proteins (α-proteins). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 68-year-old male and a 26-year-old with male with prolonged post-transplant cytopenia associated with hypersplenism following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). The two patients were treated through splenectomy to shorten myeloid recovery following HSCT. The article discusses the use of splenectomy to facilitate engraftment in patients with myeloproliferative disorder.

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Copyright of Archiv für Klinische Und Experimentelle Ohren-, Nasen- Und Kehlkopfheilkunde is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In the original publication of the article, the Abstract was published with an error in a sentence. The correct version is given with this Correction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnesium and zinc ions play various key roles in the human body, being involved, among others, in skeletal development and wound healing. Zinc is also known to have antimicrobial properties. While low concentrations can stimulate cells in vitro, high concentrations of magnesium or zinc introduced into bioactive glasses significantly reduce glass degradation and ion release and inhibit apatite precipitation. On the other hand, magnesium and zinc ions improve the high temperature processing of bioactive glasses, even when present at low concentrations only. Results here show that by substituting small amounts of Mg or Zn for Ca, ion release remains high enough to allow for apatite precipitation. In addition, magnesium and zinc containing bioactive glasses are shown to be very susceptible to changes in particle size and relative surface area. For a given magnesium or zinc content in the glass, ion release and apatite formation can be enhanced dramatically by reducing the particle size, reaching comparable levels as Bioglass 45S5 of the same particle size range. Taken together, these findings suggest that when introducing these ions into bioactive glasses, ideally low Mg or Zn for Ca substitution as well as small particle sizes are used. This way, bioactive glasses combining good high temperature processing with fast ion release and apatite precipitation can be obtained, providing the potential additional benefit of releasing magnesium or zinc ions in therapeutic concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]