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Placental proteins, such as inhibin A and hCG and its subunits, as well as the placental steroid progesterone, are elevated in second-trimester maternal serum from cases of fetal Down syndrome. Since different cellular mechanisms are required for protein versus steroid synthesis and secretion, these data suggest that a generalized placental hypersecretory phenomenon is associated with Down syndrome. Inhibin A and hCG are also elevated in cases of Turner syndrome with hydrops, and are reduced in cases of Turner syndrome without hydrops and in trisomy 18. The objective of the present study was to determine maternal serum levels of the placental steroid progesterone in cases of Turner syndrome and trisomy 18. Twenty-one cases of trisomy 18, 10 cases of Turner syndrome without hydrops and 12 cases of Turner syndrome with hydrops were identified and each matched to five control samples. Maternal serum progesterone levels were significantly elevated in Turner syndrome with hydrops (2.11 MoM), slightly reduced in Turner syndrome without hydrops (0.90 MoM) and modestly, though significantly, reduced in trisomy 18 (0.73 MoM). These data are similar to the patterns seen for inhibin A and hCG, suggesting that the overall synthetic and/or secretory activity of the placenta is increased in Turner syndrome with hydrops and decreased in Turner syndrome without hydrops and in trisomy 18. These data may be helpful in understanding the pathophysiological basis of serum marker patterns in these aneuploidies.

Typical commercial bakeries in the United States are highly mechanized, mass-production facilities. U.S. hard wheat breeding programs use small-scale physical dough testing and pup loaf bake procedures to identify and select improved quality genotypes. The accuracy of such approaches in the prediction of commercial-scale quality performance is poorly understood. Samples from six hard red winter wheat cultivars grown in 11 locations over three harvest years were used to correlate grain hardness, small-scale test bakes, mixograph variables, and various measures of flour protein composition with quality assessments from commercial test laboratories. Samples were milled on both pilot- and small-scale mills. Protein content and 100-g pup loaf volume were more often significantly correlated with commercial test bake variables than all other small-scale variables. Stepwise multiple regression models explained, on average, ≈40% of the variation in commercial test bake procedures. Mixograph properties, pu...

Quality effects of rye (Secale cerealeL.) chromosome arm 1RL transferred to wheat (Triticum aestivumL.) were characterised by comparison of a group 1R(1B) substitution lines and 1BL.1RS translocation lines. The experimental materials were sister lines derived from the mating Mironovskaya10/NE7060//NE80413. 1R(1B) substitution lines were identified by the presence of ryeomega- andgamma-secalins among 70% ethanol soluble proteins, combined with the presence of high molecular weight (HMW) secalin proteins in total grain protein extracts. Genes on 1RL reduced grain weight, grain hardness, Mixograph time, Mixograph tolerance and SDS sedimentation volumes. 1RL had no effect on flour yield or grain and flour protein concentrations. The HMW secalin proteins encoded by genes on 1RL most probably caused the decline in dough strength seen in 1R(1B) lines relative to that of 1BL.1RS sister lines. Reduced grain hardness might also be related to the presence of HMW secalins, although a role for additional, unidentified genes on 1RL could not be discounted.

The 1AL.1RS wheat-rye chromosomal translocation originally found in 'Amigo' wheat possesses resistance genes for stem rust, powdery mildew and greenbug biotypes B and C, but also has a negative effect on wheat processing quality. Recently, a second 1AL.1RS translocation carrying Gb6, a gene conferring resistance to greenbug biotypes B, C, E, G and I, was identified in the wheat germplasm line 'GRS1201'. Protein analytical methods, and the DNA polymerase chain reaction were used to identify markers capable of differentiating the 1RS chromosome arms derived from 'Amigo' and 'GRS1201'. The secalin proteins encoded by genes on 1RS chromosome arms differed in 'Amigo' and 'GRS1201'. A 70 kDa secalin was found in the 'Amigo' 1AL.1RS, but did not occur in the 'GRS1201' 1AL.1RS. Polymorphisms detected by PCR primers derived from a family of moderately repetitive rye DNA sequences also differentiated the two translocations. When 'GRS1201' was mated with a non-1RS wheat, no recombinants between 1RS markers were observed. In crosses between 1RS and non-1RS parents, both DNA markers and secalins would be useful as selectable markers for 1RS-derived greenbug resistance. Recombination between 1RS markers did occur when 1RS from 'Amigo' and 1RS from 'GRS1201' were combined, but in such intermatings, the molecular markers described herein could still be used to develop a population enriched in lines carrying Gb6. No differences in grain yield or grain and flour quality characteristics were observed when lines carrying 1RS from 'Amigo' were compared with lines with 1RS from 'GRS1201'. Hence, differences in secalin composition did not result in differential quality effects. When compared with sister lines with 1AL.1AS derived from the wheat cultivar 'Redland', lines with 'GRS1201' had equal grain yield, but produced flours with significantly shorter mix times, weaker doughs, and lower sodium dodecyl sulphate sedimentation volumes.

The presence of the short arm of rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosome one (1RS) has been associated with an increase in grain yield in hard red winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). This positive effect has been demonstrated when the 1RS arm is present in the 1BL.1RS translocation. However, little information is available regarding the 1AL.1RS translocation. Our objective was to determine the effect of the 1AL.1RS translocation on yield and yield components and their stability across environments. Eighteen homogeneous 1A lines (non-1RS) and 16 1AL.1RS lines were randomly derived from the heterogeneous cultivar Nekota. These 34 lines, four composites (1A,1AL.1RS, 1AL.1RS + 1A, and Nekota), along with six check cultivars were grown in eight Nebraska environments. The 1AL.1RS translocation in the Nekota background increased kernel weight (3.3%) and grain volume weight (0.4%); had no effect on grain yield, kernels per spike, and anthesis date; and decreased plant height (1.2%) and number of spikes per square meter (2.9%). The 1A lines and 1AL.1RS lines were equally stable for grain yield, kernels per spike, spikes per square meter, and plant height. For kernel weight, the 1A lines were more responsive and tended to have heavier kernels under favorable environments, while the 1AL.1RS lines had heavier kernels under lower yielding environments. For grain volume weight, the 1A lines were more responsive than the 1AL.1RS lines, which had heavier grain volume weight under lower yielding environments. Hence, the 1AL.1RS translocation in Nekota was not beneficial for either agronomic performance or stability.

Two experiments were conducted with bulls administered norgestomet and gonadorelin to determine if the gonadorelin-induced release of testosterone could be developed into a biological assay for quality assurance of gonadorelin. Implants containing norgestomet (0 to 36 mg) reduced the episodic release (r = -.81; P.05) and mean concentrations of testosterone (r = -.82; P.05). Gonadoreline-induced testosterone release increased (r = .99; P.05) with increasing dosage of gonadorelin (up to 5 micrograms) in norgestomet-implanted bulls (36 mg). Maximal testosterone was released (sixfold increase) with 5 to 40 micrograms of gonadorelin. In summary, the gonadorelin-induced testosterone release in bulls administered a synthetic progestin is a sensitive (0.008 microgram per kg body weight for 5 micrograms of gonadorelin) biological assay with a rapid turnaround time for the confirmation of gonadorelin potency. Based on a per-kg-body-weight basis, the norgestomet-treated bull is the most sensitive biological assay model.

Purpose:This study was undertaken to evaluate simplified methods of human embryo coculture using either attached or nonattached autologous cumulus tissue. Methods:Eight hundred one zygotes were cultured for 48 hr in a prospective, randomized trial comparing culture of embryos either with intact cumulus tissue, with cumulus tissue added to the droplet of culture medium, or without any cumulus tissue. In a follow-up study, embryo quality, pregnancy rates, and implantation rates were compared in 120 consecutive patients undergoing in vitro fertilization with a coculture system using cumulus tissue compared to a cohort of 127 patients undergoing IVF immediately preceding the institution of the coculture protocol. Results:Embryo morphology was significantly improved (P < 0.05) following culture with attached cumulus tissue (5.61 ± 0.29) and culture with added cumulus tissue (4.72 ± 0.31) compared to that of embryos grown in culture medium without cumulus tissue (3.95 ± 0.26). The clinical pregnancy rate improved from 39.4% (50/127) to 49.2% (59/120) following institution of a system of coculture with attached cumulus tissue. Conclusions:These data indicate that a simple coculture system using autologous cumulus tissue can result in improved embryo morphology, implantation rates, and clinical pregnancy rates during in vitro fertilization. This coculture system is simple, is non-labor intensive, and eliminates many of the risks which may be present in other embryo coculture systems.

The objective was to investigate whether cases of fetal trisomy 18 and Turner syndrome with and without hydrops were associated with alterations in the second-trimester levels of maternal serum inhibin A. Twenty-one cases of trisomy 18, 10 cases of Turner syndrome without hydrops and 12 cases of Turner syndrome with hydrops were identified. Five control samples were matched to each case for date of sample collection and completed week of gestation. Inhibin A levels were modestly, but significantly reduced in cases of trisomy 18 (median = 0.88 MoM) and Turner syndrome without hydrops (median = 0.64 MoM). In contrast, inhibin A levels were markedly increased in cases of Turner syndrome with hydrops (median = 3.91 MoM). These data for Turner syndrome are similar to those for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). The addition of inhibin A to multiple marker screening (alpha-fetoprotein, unconjugated oestriol and hCG) resulted in a median increase in the Down syndrome risk of 2.6-fold in cases of Turner syndrome with hydrops. The addition of inhibin A to multiple marker Down syndrome screening programmes will be likely to enhance the detection of fetal Turner syndrome with hydrops, but will not contribute substantially to the detection of fetal trisomy 18.

Breadmaking quality in wheat is one of several considerations that plant breeders face when developing new cultivars. In routine breeding programs, quality is assessed by small-scale dough-handling and bake tests, and to some extent, by biochemical analysis of gluten proteins. An alternative, not yet fully examined, method for wheat flour quality assessment is near-infrared reflectance (NIR) spectrophotometry. The present study was performed on 30 genotypes of hard red winter wheat grown during two crop years at eight to nine locations in the Great Plains area of the United States. Biochemical testing consisted of measuring protein fractions from size-exclusion HPLC (M r > 100k, M r 25–100k, and M r < 25k designated as glutenin, gliadins, and albumin and globulins, respectively), pentosan content, and SDS sedimentation volume. Dough-handling properties were measured on a mixograph and recorded as the time to peak dough development, the peak resistance, the width of the mixing curve, and the width...

The development and theory of an experiment to investigate quantum computation with trapped calcium ions is described. The ion trap, laser and ion requirements are determined, and the parameters required for quantum logic operations as well as simple quantum factoring are described.

Development of Appalachian coal mining regions of the USA has been severely hampered by lack of domestic waste disposal technologies suited to fills. The suitability of on-site wastewater treatment and disposal systems (OSWTDS) in fill material is uncertain due to the effects of surface mining on soil physical properties. This research was conducted to evaluate the potential for renovation of N and P present in domestic wastewater by fills produced from mining operations. Nitrogen and P were chosen because of their potential adverse environmental impacts. Soil-fill (a mixture of Jefferson, fine-loamy, siliceous, mesic Typic Hapludult and Muskingom, fine-loamy, mixed, mesic Typic Dystrochrept soils) and minespoil (spoil)-fill (blasted rock material associated with the Taggart Marker and Low Splint Bench coal seams of the Upper Middle Wise Formation) were used in this study. Septic tank effluent (STE) and sand filter effluent (SFE) were applied to spoil-fill columns at four loading rates (0, 5.4, 10.8, and 21.6 L m-2d-1) and spoil-fill columns at one loading rate (21.6 L m-2d-1) for a period of 20 wk. Renovation of wastewater was assessed by determining the concentration of N and P present in column leachate. Reduction of inorganic N (NO3- + NH4+), based on N/Cl ratios, ranged from 14.9 to 32.1% after the varying application rates of STE and SFE passed through the soil columns. However, leachate NO3--N concentrations were still above the 10 mg-1 drinking water standard. The quantity of P emerging from the spoil-fill columns (3.0 mg P L-1) was higher than anticipated and may be related to the indigenous P present in the minespoil. Sorption of P in the soil-fill column decreased with increased STE and SFE application (reductions ranged from 99.1 to 74.4%). Results from this study indicate that there is potential for renovating wastewater in OSWTDS in selected soil-fill areas in reclaimed minelands.

Purpose:The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible correlation of low-dose heparin-induced decondensation of sperm chromatin with sperm concentration, motility, morphology, membrane hypoosmotic response, ejaculate volume, and the ability of sperm to penetrate zona-free hamster oocytes.

A variable variety grain drill, with the ability to plant three different varieties of grain, was constructed and tested. Switching of each variety of grain was controlled by a computer which used the global positioning system (GPS) as a locator. The grain drill was used to ground proof the accuracy of the spatially variable application of fertilizer, also controlled by a computer using GPS as a locator, through the placement of different seeds rather than different liquid nitrogen rates. Lentils, oats, and peas were planted in a grid on a small plot and measurements were taken from the surveyed grid to determine the accuracy of placement. An average switching accuracy of 5.5 m (18 ft) was found at 7.2 km/h (4.5 mph). The maximum error was 20 m (66 ft) which was adequate for large fields of cereal grains. Reduced computer sampling times were suggested for reducing the error. The feasibility of varying varieties of wheat based on slope position was also investigated through a field study using Basin, Eltan, and Madsen cultivars of winter wheat and a blend of the three varieties. These varieties were selected because Basin is lodging resistant, Madsen is a higher yielding cultivar and Eltan is winter hardy. Yields were compared based on slope position and aspect and were used along with other studies found in the literature to determine the feasibility of varying the winter wheat variety based on slope position. From this it was determined that Basin or Madsen should be used at the toe slope, Madsen or a mix should be selected at the midslope, and any of the varieties could be used at the ridge top position. Therefore, Madsen could have been used alone as effectively as varying the varieties. However, the winter was mild and the value of Eltan in preventing winter kill on the ridge top was not adequately tested.

Objective: To evaluate pregnancy rates (PRs) in women undergoing artificial insemination with sperm alternately prepared by one of five techniques: sperm washing, Percoll gradient centrifugation, swim-up, swim-down, or refrigeration/heparin treatment. Design: Each treatment group alternated in a different order through the five sperm preparations. Pregnancy rates were compared for each sperm preparation. Setting: Two infertility centers, one located in an academic institution and the other a regional hospital. Patient(s): Three hundred sixty-three women undergoing 898 artificial inseminations with husband semen with a progressive motile sperm count of > 20 million sperm per mL were randomly placed in the five treatment groups. Main Outcome Measure(s): Pregnancy rates. Result(s): The overall ongoing PR per insemination was 9.7% (87/898), including 6.12% for natural cycles ( n = 196), 12.8% for clomiphene citrate-stimulated cycles ( n = 101), and 10.3% for gonadotropin-stimulated cycles ( n = 601). The highest ongoing PRs for sperm preparations followed the swim-up technique (13.2%, 26/197) and the Percoll gradient centrifugation technique (12.7%, 26/204). Conclusion(s): These data suggest that the swim-up and Percoll gradient preparations result in higher PRs than the wash, swim-down, and refrigeration/heparin techniques.

Measurement and analysis of the spatial variability of fields are two important aspects of site-specific crop management. In this study, data for wheat yield, ground slope and aspect were intensively collected from five fields in the Palouse region of Washington using a set of sensors and a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver. A Geographic Information System (GIS) database was developed to manage the field-collected data and information from topographic maps and to group the data from each field into different regions for analysis. Relative elevation differences across the five fields ranged from 29 to 70 m. Slope steepness ranged from 0 to 30° with field means of 9 to 12°. Geostatistical analyses showed that the spatial patterns of variability in wheat yields differed not only from one field to another but also from one region to another within a field. The ranges of influence in wheat yield for the five whole fields were from 55 to 86 m, while those for the within-field regions varied from 20 to over 100 m. Regression analyses indicated that topographic attributes including elevation, slope and aspect had significant effects on wheat yield. These topographic attributes could explain 13 to 35% of the variability in wheat yield for the whole fields, though 49 to 84% of the yield variability could be explained by topography in some regions within the five fields. These results provided useful quantitative information about the influence of topography on crop yield in the Palouse region.

Granule-bound starch synthase (GBSS) is the primary enzyme responsible for the synthesis of amylose in amyloplasts of cereal endosperm cells. Bread wheats, due to their hexaploid genetic system, carry three genes (wx loci) encoding GBSS. Purification and separation of GBSS from more than 200 North American hexaploid wheats allowed the identification of genotypes that carry null alleles at either the wx-A1 and wx-B1 loci. In addition, the cultivar Ike carried both wx-A1 and wx-B1 null alleles. No wx-D1 nulls were detected. Null alleles were found in 10% of the hard winter wheats tested, but in only 2% of the sampled soft winter wheats. Amylose contents of wheats carrying single null alleles at either the wx-A1 or wx-B1 loci often were lower than those of wild type wheats, but greater reduction in amylose content was observed in Ike. Monoclonal antibodies were used to quantify water-extractable GBSS in both wild-type and null genotypes. Gene dosage compensation was evident, although GBSS content, a...

Identification of marker–trait associations is the first step towards marker-assisted selection in plant breeding. Here we assess genetic diversity and population structure of 94 diverse wheat elite lines and use genome-wide association mapping to identify marker–trait associations for five important traits: kernel hardness (KHA), thousand-kernel weight, grain protein content, test weight (TWT), and plant height (PHT). The 94 accessions employed in this study were grouped into three subpopulations based on the first three principal components, which accounted for 51.5 % of the variations. A mixed linear model was used to detect marker–trait associations incorporating covariance of population structure and relative kinship. A total of six marker loci was significantly associated with KHA, TWT, and PHT after the correction of false discovery rate (α c = 0.05). The gene pinB was found to be highly associated with KHA, and is reported to be a major determinant of KHA together with the gene pinA at the Ha locus on chromosome 5D. Marker XwPt-7187 on chromosome 2A was also significantly associated with KHA, two Diversity Arrays Technology markers XwPt-1250 and XwPt-4628 with TWT, and marker Xgwm512 with PHT, making the first report of marker–trait associations in these genomic regions.

Media analysts have long discussed the powerful role of media in discursively constructing realities pertaining to foreign conflicts (Price and Tewksbury, 1997). According to Tumber and Webster (2006), media are central to the debate on how to comprehend international conflict. Media representations are thought to be particularly influential when an audience has limited or no contact with the portrayed population (Fujioka, 1999). Scholars have examined the dominant media portrayal of the Middle East, which they claim is most often articulated via frames of terrorism, fanaticism, Islamist radicalism and an overall threat to Western society (Hashem, 1997; Slade, 1981). The 9/11 tragedy and subsequent US-led wars in the Middle East are currently central to the framing of this region (Steiner, 2007; Timothy and Daher, 2009). As Wang, Ding, Scott and Fan (2010) argue, ‘The watershed events of September 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent worldwide war on terrorism have exacerbated an already distorted attitude towards Muslims and the Islamic regions’ (p. 118). Post 9/11, Kumar (2010), for instance, outlines five central frames used in dominant American media constructions of the Middle East: hideboundness/inflexibility, gender discrimination — male dominance/oppressed women, irrationality, violence and terrorism. The ideology underpinning these frames regards the ‘West’ as a leader of democracy and enlightenment and the Muslim world as mired in backwardness and intolerance (Kumar, 2010).

The Schottky barrier height of Ti and W on n-type and p-type Si 1− x − y Ge x C y alloys has been investigated as a function of the composition and for different states of strain of the epilayers. The barrier on p-type, Φ Bp , differs slightly on the metal. However, the variation of the band gap is better correlated to the barrier heights to W than those to Ti. In the case of n-type, the addition of Ge in Si does not modify the position of the Fermi level at the interface with W, while it strongly shifts E F towards the valence band at the interface with Ti. In addition, we have observed a degradation of the interfaces for the high Ge content, and this degradation is more pronounced for Ti. In conclusion, the dependence of the Schottky barrier height on the metal workfunction is more reduced for IV-IV compounds than for pure Si and the addition of Ge leads to a change in the Fermi level pinning position with Ti.

Slope and aspect are two important topographic attributes affecting crop production. In order to quantitatively describe the influence of slope and aspect, two electronic inclinometers and a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver were installed on two combines and a tractor to measure ground slope and aspect under actual field working conditions. A computerized data acquisition system was used to sample angle data and position information. The general case of a vehicle moving on ground having both direct and cross slopes was examined and algorithms were developed to calculate ground slope and aspect based on the angles measured by the inclinometers and the position data from GPS. Field tests showed the system performed well under severe conditions. A comparison between the calculated slope and aspect values and those derived from a contour map showed that the procedures and algorithms presented in this article were correct and accurate.

Hybrid hard winter wheats (Trictum aestivum L.) have shown superior grain yield potential in regional performance trials during the last decade. Evidence for enhanced yield stability, combined with enhanced yield potential, would facilitate wider acceptance of hybrid wheat by growers. Hybrid and pureline yield stability and environmental responsiveness were compared with the use of data from the Southern Regional Performance Nursery (SRPN), 1990 through 1995, and Agripro Standard Variety Trial (SVT), 1993 and 1994. Hybrid and pureline yields were regressed on an environmental index based on location mean yields for purelines, and response slope and deviations were calculated. Analyses were conducted separately for each nursery, as hybrid and pureline entries varied. Hybrids showed significantly higher mean yields compared with purelines and the yield advantage generally increased with increasing environmental yield potential. Average regression slope for hybrids was significantly higher (1.09-1.12) than for purelines (1.0) in the 1994 and 1995 SRPN and 1993 and 1994 SVT. Hybrid slopes were not significantly different from those for purelines in the 1990 through 1993 SRPN, where they ranged from 1.0 to 1.07. There was no crossover in yield response between hybrids and purelines at lower yield levels. Deviations from regression were of similar magnitude for hybrids and purelines. Confidence intervals for hybrid and pureline regressions generally overlapped throughout the observed yield ranges in the SRPN. In the 1993 and 1994 SVT, hybrid and pureline confidence intervals diverged as environmental yield potential increased. Compared with pureline cultivars, hybrid wheats have potential for enhanced mean yield and greater yield response to favorable environmental conditions with similar deviations from expected response.

Polyphenol oxidase (PPO) has been related to an undesirable brown discoloration of wheat-based end products. Consumer acceptance and product quality are generally decreased by the darkening phenomena. Two sets of wheat samples (Triticum aestivum L.) were investigated for variation in grain and flour PPO levels. Samples included 40 advanced experimental hard white winter wheat lines grown at two Kansas locations and 10 hard red winter wheat genotypes grown at three Nebraska locations. The variability in grain and flour PPO activities was influenced by growing location and population for the hard white wheat samples. There also was a significant influence of population by growing location interactions on PPO activity in both grain and flour. Genotype and growing location both contributed to variability in flour PPO activity among the hard red wheat samples. The variation in flour PPO activities among growing locations appeared larger than variation produced by genotypes tested for the hard red whea...

Rapeseed oil has been found to be a potentially useful substitute for petroleum-based hydraulic fluid. This article compares the hydraulic fluid properties of raw rapeseed oil with three commercially available hydraulic fluids: Mobil EAL 224H, PlantoHyd 40, and Hy-TransPlus. Experimental results showed that rapeseed oil has hydraulic fluid properties comparable to the three commercial hydraulic fluids. Some of the hydraulic fluid properties, like flash point, viscosity index, and mist spray flammability, were better for rapeseed oil.

Distance learning offers many advantages to students and teachers of almost any scientific discipline. Toxicology is no exception. For example, should Paracelsus be interested in learning more about toxicology at Drexel University, he would have the opportunity to take two courses in this subject utilizing the content management software, WebCT. The two courses would offer a website from which he could view and/or download his notes for each class. He could correspond with the instructor as well as fellow students, participate in discussions about timely topics, and make presentations to the class, all via electronic communication. Moreover, his examinations would also be computerized. Although he might have the option of attending traditional "face-to-face" lectures with other students in the class, he could also access these lectures at any time from a remote location by using the archive of taped lectures on the class website. Overall, Paracelsus would have access to many tools to enhance his understanding of toxicology, and he probably would never have to worry about parking before class (!). The two WebCT modules in toxicology that we have developed at Drexel represent the successful migration of two courses from a traditional "face-to-face" model of classroom instruction to hybrid models that combine "face-to-face" interaction with online instruction. Student and faculty evaluations of these courses have been very positive. Future plans include linking the two modules together so that students in the advanced class can do "review" or "remedial" work in the basic module. Furthermore, a library of video clips is also planned in which researchers will be discussing their work on various toxicologic topics. Students will be able to access these clips as resources from which to write research papers.

Objective: To explore the relation between bisphenol A and 14 phthalate metabolites and endometriosis. Design: Matched cohort design. Setting: Fourteen clinical centers. Patient(s): The operative cohort comprised 495 women undergoing laparoscopy/laparotomy, whereas the population cohort comprised 131 women matched on age and residence. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Surgically visualized or pelvic magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed endometriosis in the two cohorts, respectively. Result(s): Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression adjusting for age, body mass index, and creatinine. In the population cohort, six phthalate metabolites - mono-n-butyl phthalate, mono-[(2-carboxymethyl) hexyl] phthalate, mono (2-ethyl-5-carboxyphentyl) phthalate, mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, mono (2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, and mono (2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate - were significantly associated with an approximately twofold increase in the odds of an endometriosis diagnosis. Two phthalates were associated with endometriosis in the operative cohort when restricting to visualized and histologic endometriosis (monooctyl phthalate; OR 1.38; 95% CI 1.10-1.72) or when restricting comparison women to those with a postoperative diagnosis of a normal pelvis [mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; OR 1.35; 95% CI 1.03-1.78]. Conclusion(s): Select phthalates were associated with higher odds of an endometriosis diagnosis for women with magnetic resonance imaging-diagnosed endometriosis. The lack of consistency of findings across cohorts underscores the impact of methodology on findings. Copyright © 2013 Published by Elsevier Inc.

To develop and characterize the pre-clinical suitability of a syngeneic mouse epithelial ovarian cancer model in immunocompetent hosts.ID8 mouse ovarian surface epithelium cells were implanted into the left ovarian bursa of C57BL/6 mice. Using conventional as well as ultrasound-based techniques and histopathological analysis, the tumor weights, volumes, metastases, ascites and vascularity were observed over a period of 16 weeks.Ovarian weights and volume increased 12- and 7-fold, respectively. Ultrasound measurements of ovarian ID8 tumors correlated with the actual size obtained following surgical excision. Ascites and metastasis were first observed at 12 weeks post-orthotopic implantation. Histopathological analysis indicated similarities between orthotopically-generated ovarian tumors and human ovarian tumors. However, there was less evidence of angiogenesis in this animal model.The development of this mouse model closely replicates characteristics seen in human ovarian cancer with feasibility of using ultrasound to assess tumor formation, progression and vascularization.

There has been limited study of trace elements and endometriosis. Using a matched cohort design, 473 women aged 18-44 years were recruited into an operative cohort, along with 131 similarly aged women recruited into a population cohort. Endometriosis was defined as surgically visualized disease in the operative cohort, and magnetic resonance imaging diagnosed disease in the population cohort. Twenty trace elements in urine and three in blood were quantified using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Logistic regression estimated the adjusted odds (aOR) of endometriosis diagnosis for each element by cohort. No association was observed between any element and endometriosis in the population cohort. In the operative cohort, blood cadmium was associated with a reduced odds of diagnosis (aOR=0.55; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.98), while urinary chromium and copper reflected an increased odds (aOR=1.97; 95% CI: 1.21, 3.19; aOR=2.66; 95% CI: 1.26, 5.64, respectively). The varied associations underscore the need for continued research.

Since the first in vitro fertilisation (IVF) pregnancy was delivered in 1978, this procedure has resulted in thousands of pregnancies and opened a vast new frontier of research and treatment for the infertile couple. Pregnancy rates with IVF improve as the number of high quality embryos available for transfer increases; therefore, ovarian stimulation agents to produce multiple oocysts for IVF are advantageous. Clomifene (clomiphene citrate), human menopausal gonadotrophin (hMG; menotropins), and subsequent generations of products are commonly used as stimulation agents. In conjunction with the stimulation agents, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) serve as adjuvants for successful control of all events in the induction process. Clomifene, an estrogen agonists/antagonist, occupies the estrogen receptor for a longer period of time than estrogen (weeks versus hours). Because this signal is interpreted as low estrogen, GnRH is released, which produces a rise in circulating levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinising hormone (LH) and subsequent ovarian follicular development. Menotropins is collected by passing urine from menopausal donors over a Sepharose column, followed by removal of high molecular weight impurities by chromatography. The mixture of FSH and LH is biologically standardised. This product stimulates multiple ovarian follicular development. Urofollitrophin is produced using antibodies to hCG anchored to a separation column. LH then can be excluded from the eluate by binding to the hCG antibodies (LH immunoaffinity column). Highly purified FSH is obtained by passing menopausal urine over a column with monoclonal antibodies to FSH. The isolated FSH is then eluted from the column by a highly basic solution and crystallised. This product delivers FSH at a 90% purity and can be administered subcutaneously rather than intramuscularly. Dosage is standardised on a mg/kg basis. Recombinant human FSH is completely free of LH and offers the advantages of better batch consistency, greater purity, and absence of any human contaminants. It may be given both subcutaneously and intravenously. Genetically engineered FSH combines portions of the native protein with another protein (hCG) which enhances its potency and extends the half-life compared with wild-type FSH. Short, medium and ultra-long activity analogues of genetically engineered FSH may be used to tailor stimulation protocols in various clinical situations. Growth hormone is an adjuvant to ovarian stimulation which results in a decreased number of ampoules of menotropins being required to achieve ovulation in poor responders. Ovulation triggers include both hCG and GnRH agonists. Progesterone supplementation is generally used in the luteal phase of the IVF cycle and is administered by intramuscular injection or vaginal suppository. It appears that conscious sedation with midazolam, pethidine (meperidine) and fentanyl is nontoxic for oocyte recovery. If full anaesthesia is required for gamete intrafallopian tube transfer (GIFT) or zygote intrafallopian tube transfer (ZIFT), balanced anaesthesia with nitrous oxide and an opioid appears to be the most appealing option. Appropriate information on the clinical use of the drugs used in IVF greatly reduces patient stress associated with the complex multidrug regimens associated with the procedure.

Identification of the biochemical factors responsible for end-use quality variation of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) would have important consequences for breeders, producers, grain handlers, millers, and bakers. Flour protein composition, or the distribution of flour protein in classes based on molecular size and solubility, has been reported to be a major variable influencing wheat processing quality. The proportions of five major protein fractions in flour samples of 30 wheat genotypes, obtained from 17 Nebraska environments, were measured by size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (SE-HPLC). Total flour protein content and sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) sedimentation volume (SDSS), the latter a measure of flour protein aggregative ability, also were measured. The extent to which each character was modified by genotypic, environmental, and genotype x environment interaction sources of variation was determined. Phenotypic correlations were used to relate biochemical variation to wheat end-use quality characteristics. Flour protein concentration and SDSS were more consistently correlated with quality variables than any of the protein fractions measured by SE-HPLC. Interdependence of flour protein concentration and SE-HPLC protein fractions prevented the identification of specific effects of the latter on wheat processing quality. The proportion of glutenin, however, was found to be significantly related to loaf grain properties, a parameter of critical concern to the milling and baking industry. Genotypes with both elevated and depressed proportions of glutenin, independent of flour protein concentration, were identified.

There is an increased requirement for nutrients in normal pregnancy, not only due to increased demand, but also increased loss. There is also an increased insulin-resistant state during pregnancy mediated by the placental anti-insulin hormones estrogen, progesterone, human somatomammotropin; the pituitary hormone prolactin; and the adrenal hormone, cortisol. If the maternal pancreas cannot increase production of insulin of sustain normoglycemia despite these anti-insulin hormones, gestational diabetes occurs. Gestational diabetes is associated with excessive nutrient losses due to glycosuria. Specific nutrient deficiencies of chromium, magnesium, potassium and pyridoxine may potentiate the tendency towards hyperglycemia in gestational diabetic women because each of these four deficiencies causes impairment of pancreatic insulin production. This review describes the pathophysiology of the hyperglycemia and the nutrient loss in gestational diabetes and further postulates the mechanism whereby vitamin/mineral supplementation may be useful to prevent or ameliorate pregnancy-related glucose intolerance.

The inflation of a modern parachute encompasses several of the most com- plex phenomena in classical fluid dynamics, such as porous, bluff-body aero- dynamics; highly deformable structures that change shape rapidly in response to the surrounding flow field; and time-dependent flow phenomena caused by the rapid deceleration of the parachute and payload. This article summarizes recent progress made in physically understanding and numerically describing the coupled fluid and structural dynamics of parachute inflation. Experimental and computational advances in the modeling of bluff-body flows and parachute infla- tion are reviewed. The development of computational parachute inflation models has progressed to the point where their potential value has been proved, but they are not yet ready to be used as trusted parachute design tools. The ultimate goal is to predict with confidence the fully coupled time-dependent fluid dynamics and structural dynamics of parachutes in flight before flying them.

Background and Objective A polypoid uterine hemangioendothelioma was treated by conservative means. Study Design/Materials and Methods The diagnosis of hemangioendothelioma was confirmed by histopathology and angiography. The patient desired to retain her fertility; therefore, the hemangioendothelioma was treated by hysteroscopically guided Nd:YAG laser ablation. Results Five years of follow-up by hysteroscopy and dilation and curettage reveal no evidence of recurrence. The patient continues to have regular menses. Conclusion Conservative management of a uterine hemangioendothelioma by Nd:YAG laser ablation was successful over 5 years of follow-up. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Objective We sought to identify risk factors for endometriosis and their consistency across study populations in the Endometriosis: Natural History, Diagnosis, and Outcomes (ENDO) Study. Study Design In this prospective matched, exposure cohort design, 495 women aged 18-44 years undergoing pelvic surgery (exposed to surgery, operative cohort) were compared to an age- and residence-matched population cohort of 131 women (unexposed to surgery, population cohort). Endometriosis was diagnosed visually at laparoscopy/laparotomy or by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging in the operative and population cohorts, respectively. Logistic regression estimated the adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for each cohort. Results The incidence of visualized endometriosis was 40% in the operative cohort (11.8% stage 3-4 by revised criteria from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine), and 11% stage 3-4 in the population cohort by magnetic resonance imaging. An infertility history increased the odds of an endometriosis diagnosis in both the operative (AOR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.57−3.76) and population (AOR, 7.91; 95% CI, 1.69−37.2) cohorts. In the operative cohort only, dysmenorrhea (AOR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.28−4.72) and pelvic pain (AOR, 3.67; 95% CI, 2.44−5.50) increased the odds of diagnosis, while gravidity (AOR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.32−0.75), parity (AOR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.28−0.64), and body mass index (AOR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.93−0.98) decreased the odds of diagnosis. In all sensitivity analyses for different diagnostic subgroups, infertility history remained a strong risk factor. Conclusion An infertility history was a consistent risk factor for endometriosis in both the operative and population cohorts of the ENDO Study. Additionally, identified risk factors for endometriosis vary based upon cohort selection and diagnostic accuracy. Finally, endometriosis in the population may be more common than recognized.

Near-infrared reflectance spectra were used to investigate the composition and origin of the various geologic units in the Grimaldi region as well as the stratigraphy of the Grimaldi pre-impact target site. The results of our spectral analysis indicate that the portions of the Hevelius Formation that occur in the Grimaldi region are composed of noritic anorthosite and anorthositic norite. Gabbroic material was excavated from beneath Orientale-related units by small impact craters in three areas in the Grimaldi region. The primary ejecta deposits of the Grimaldi basin as well as the pre-Orientale floor unit are dominated by noritic anorthosite and anorthositic norite. The peak ring of Grimaldi is composed, at least in part, of pure anorthosite. The anorthosites on the inner ring and elsewhere within Grimaldi were derived from a layer of pure anorthosite that exists at depth beneath a more pyroxene-rich unit.

Considering the differing mechaniisms of cytotoxicity produced by adriamycin and the photosensitizer meso-chlorin e6 monoethylene diamine (Mce6) with light, the interaction of these agants in combination on human ovarian epithelial carcinoma (OVCAR-3 in vitro) was evaluated by dose and effect addition isobole analysis. Mitochondrial respiration via the 3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazeol-2 yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide cleavage assay (MTT) and reproductive capacity via the tritiated thymidine incorporation assay (TI) were assessed 72 and 144 hours after exposure to adriamycin, Mce6, and light (650 nm), and to their combinations, in OVCAR-3 cells grown in vitro (20,000 cells per well). In the majority of assays, reproductive capacity was more sensitive to the drug(s) than was mitochondrial respiration (2–10X). Dose-addition isobole analysis showed synergy for the combination of 50% median effective dose (ED50) adriamycin with 50% ED50Mce6/light in all assays (all P ≤.027). Antagonism was noted with the combination 25% ED50 adriamycin with 75% ED50 Mce6/light. Additivity and synergy were the predominant interactions for 75% ED50 adriamycin with 25% ED50 Mce6/light by dose-addition isobole analyses. Effect-addition isoboles showed a preominance of synergy, particularly for the combination 50% ED50 adriamycin with 50% ED50Mce6/light. Synergy and additivity are the primary in vitro interactions for the combination of adriamycin and Mce6/light in the dosage range tested. Reproductive capacity is more sensitive to the these agents than in mitochondrial respiration.

The winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivar Rawhide is heterogenous for the 1BL/1RS translocation. The 1BL/1RS translocation has been proven to increase grain yield and decrease end-use quality in bread wheat. The objective of this research was to investigate if the excellent yield performance of Rawhide was due to higher yielding 1BL/1RS lines compensating for lower yielding 1B lines and if the acceptable quality of Rawhide was produced by higher end-use quality 1B lines compensating for lower end-use quality 1BL/1RS lines. To do so, 19 homogeneous 1B genotypes and 18 homogeneous 1BL/1RS genotypes were selected from Rawhide. These genotypes, three composites (Composite 1B, Composite 1BL/1RS, and Composite Total), Rawhide, and three check cultivars, were evaluated in four Nebraska environments for grain yield, yield components, and end-use quality traits. No significant differences were found between chromosome classes for grain yield. The 1BL/1RS genotypes had a higher kernel weight (4%) than 1B genotypes ; however, the 1B genotypes had a greater number of spikes per square meter (5%). Composites were no different from Rawhide and from each other for grain yield and yield components. For end-use quality traits, the 1BL/1RS genotypes had a higher protein content (137 mg g -1 ), similar mixing time (4.8 min), and lower mixing tolerance (3.5) than 1B genotypes (132 mg g -1 , 5.0 min, and 4.9, respectively). However, a mixing tolerance value of 3.5 is acceptable. In general, no differences were found among the composites and between the composites and Rawhide for quality traits. Hence, the 1BL/1RS translocation was not beneficial for yield nor was it detrimental for end-use quality in this genetic background.

PZT thin film capacitors with the composition Pb(Zr0.53Ti0.47)O3 were deposited via metallo-organic decomposition (MOD) and rapid thermally processed (RTP) at a substrate temperature of 825°C. The photo-response of these capacitors was determined by measuring the change in saturation polarization and resistance as a function of incident photon energy prior to and after fatigue testing. We propose that photo-generated free carriers can screen and/or recombine with trapped charge which restores local charge equilibrium within the PZT capacitor and hence, temporarily restores polarization.

The optimum diet composition for weight loss in obese women with or without previous gestational diabetes mellitus remains to be determined. Weight loss may be especially important for the latter group in terms of preventing future gestational as well as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. We studied 40% vs. 55% carbohydrate calorically restricted diets to compare weight loss and metabolic response.We performed a prospective, 12-week, blinded, randomized crossover study of 25 obese women; 13 of whom had previous gestational diabetes. Each woman was allocated to a treatment regimen for 6 weeks and then "crossed over" to the alternative regimen for an additional 6 weeks. Calories were provided in the form of nutritional supplement bars except for the evening meal that comprised 1/3 of the caloric needs. All subjects were seen and weighed weekly. Metabolic variables including glucose tolerance, glycated proteins, lipids, and percent body fat were measured at the beginning, crossover, and end of the study.Women with previous gestational diabetes mellitus were comparable to obese women without a history of previous gestational diabetes except that the former had higher maximum levels of glucose on a glucose tolerance test and higher fasting insulin levels consistent with greater insulin resistance. Weight loss was comparable for all groups during the first 6 weeks but attenuated in all groups during the second 6 weeks of the trial regardless of diabetes history or treatment group allocation. Women with or without a previous history of gestational diabetes had higher triglycerides while on a 55% carbohydrate diet than while on a 40% carbohydrate diet.A weight loss regimen consisting of 40% carbohydrate results in lower triglyceride levels than those achieved with a 55% carbohydrate content diet in obese women. Thus, the hypocaloric diet with the higher fat content produced the more favorable lipid profile in all obese women.

Cultivar comparisons have suggested that the 1BL/1RS wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)-rye (Secale cereale L.) chromosomal translocation enhances agronomic performance and environmental stability of wheat. This advantage has been attributed either to disease resistance genes or to improved adaptation genes on the 1RS segment. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of 1BL/1RS without the confounding effect of cultivar background by evaluating 17 homogeneous 1B, 20 heterogeneous 1B:1BL/1RS, and 22 homogeneous 1BL/ 1RS lines. The lines were randomly selected from the cross Siouxland/ Ram. The 59 progeny lines and the two parents were tested in seven Nebraska field environments with a randomized complete-block design. Data were obtained for grain yield, components of yield, grain volume weight, anthesis date, plant height, and leaf rust infection. The 1BL/1RS class was 9% higher yielding than 1B and heterogeneous classes. This yield advantage was attributed to increased kernel weight, which was generally expressed in lower yielding environments. Differential response to disease pressure did not explain yield differences. Within chromosome classes, differences in grain yield were attributed more to variation in number of spikes per square meter not kernel weight. The grain yield advantage of the 1BL/1RS appeared to be associated with a postanthesis stress tolerance, which resulted in increased kernel weight of the 1BL/1RS genotypes.

The intrinsic processing quality of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars is modified significandy by cultural conditions and climate. In an attempt to understand the biochemical basis of such variation, environmental modification of flour protein content and composition was measured. Thirty hard red winter wheat cultivars and experimental lines were grown at 17 Nebraska environments during 1990 and 1991. Environmental conditions, including grain filling duration, temperature and relative humidity during grain filling, were monitored. Grain yield and test weight also were determined as environmental indicators. Significant linear correlations between flour protein content, as measured by near-infrared spectroscopy, were observed only with the duration of grain filling. Protein quality, as measured by SDS sedimentation volumes and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography, was highly influenced by the frequency of high temperatures during grain filling and by the relative humidity. Observed ranges in genotypic responses (variance) at locations also were altered by environmental factors. Optimal protein quality, as determined by SDS sedimentation volumes, was observed with exposure to less than 90 h of temperature greater than 32 °C during grain filling. Protein quality declined with exposure to a greater number of hours of elevated temperature. © 1995 Academic Press Limited

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of tumor cells capable of self-renewal, tumor initiation, and growth. Isolation, expansion, and differentiation of CSCs in the proper stem niches remain a topic of great debate. To address some of the challenges, we developed bioengineered-induced cancer like stem cells (iCLSCs) through in vitro oncogenic reprograming of C57BL/6 mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs). We constructed retroviral plasmids through integration of well-defined oncogenic elements such as SV40LTg and HrasV12 into a mouse stem virus long terminal repeat (MSCV-LTR) plasmid fused with either a GFP or RFP gene. We successfully acquired these bioengineered-iCLSCs through retroviral introduction alongside with FACS sorting of positively infected mESCs. We then cultured the bioengineered-iCLSCs on mouse embryonic fibroblast (mEF) feeder cells. Bioengineered-iCLSCs expressed the introduced oncogenic genes and showed enhanced proliferation similar to cancer cells. In addition, we ascertained the unhampered stem properties of the bioengineered-iCLSCs by examining the maintenance of alkaline phosphatase activity as well as the expression of mouse stem cell marker SSEA-1. Furthermore, the orthotopic inoculation of these bioengineered-iCLSCs into either the mammalian fat pad or the ovarian bursa of female C57BL/6 mice lead to the formation of teratomas in supportive niches. Interestingly, the teratomas formed in the ovarian bursa exhibited malignant and immature features, whereas the iCLSCs introduced to the mammary fat pad were not able to generate teratomas with similar features. These observations call for additional research to identify the dependency on a supportive niche and their role in metastasis based on a tumor-favorable microenvironment. Our study helped to establish the use of in vitro oncogenic reprograming to generate bioengineered-iCLSCs and suggests the potential application for the initiation of organ-specific, malignant tumor formation in an orthotopic small animal cancer model. Citation Format: Sungpil Cho, Hongsuk Park, Elke A. Jarboe, C Matthew Peterson, You Han Bae, Margit Matthew Janat-Amsbury. Bioengineered-induced cancer-like stem cells: characterization and applications. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 2502.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the fourth most frequently diagnosed gynecological cancer among American Women. Steady increased numbers of newly diagnosed cases and deaths necessitates an added attention. Despite survival rates between 60-80% for localized, early stage disease, only marginal advances have been made in the treatment of distant (16%) and recurrent (15% of early stage) EC over the past two decades. New treatment strategies, guided by more predictive preclinical disease models incorporating molecular characteristics are crucial. Recent findings from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network suggested that the current histo-pathologically-guided classification of EC may not suffice to direct treatment recommendations, and introduced the potential adequacy of genomic profiling for reclassifying EC. However, these findings are hampered by the lack of appropriate in vivo models, which adequately facilitate obtaining the necessary preclinical evidence before translating findings to genome-guided clinical trials. Objectives: To establish patient derived orthotopic endometrial tumor grafts recapitulating histology, metastasis, and molecular characteristics of the original tumor specimen, and integrating TCGA genomic characterization to facilitate the development of genomic-guided treatment. Methods: Patient derived EC tissues were orthotopically transplanted to murine uteri and propagated over multiple generations. Generated tumor grafts were characterized for metastases, histopathology, and molecular profiles to ensure grafts resemblance of the original tumor samples. Tumor grafts were then further categorized into the four reported TCGA clusters on the basis of mutation frequency, somatic copy number alterations, microsatellite instability, and POLE mutation. Results: Twenty EC tumor grafts were successfully generated. Histological features, including tumor grade and hormone receptor status, as well as genomic profiles were maintained for up to 7 generations. Xenografts were capable to form metastasis closely parallel to clinical relevant sites. Results from a survival study demonstrated that the established tumor grafts reflected clinical stage-, and grade-based disease progression, and recapitulate TCGA cluster-based survival findings. Conclusions: This study reports the first successful generation of orthotopic EC patient-derived tumor grafts, which retain crucial histo-pathological characteristics, the capacity to form distant metastasis following known clinical patterns, as well as recapitulating molecular features of the original human tumor specimen. Additionally, our model can indeed be used as a tool to investigate the need for reclassifying EC into four clusters rather than two simplified disease subtypes and feasibility in directing genomic-guided treatment based on TCGA recommendations. Citation Format: Chieh-Hsiang Yang, Elke A. Jarboe, Jason Gertz, Katherine E. Varley, C. Matthew Peterson, Margit M. Janát-Amsbury. Integrated genomic characterization of endometrial cancer tumor grafts: a step toward genomic-guided treatment. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 648.