Distribution of Terrestrial Isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda) Throughout Michigan: Early Results

Results are reported from the first two years of a multi-year study on the distribution of terrestrial isopods (Crustacea: Isopoda) in Michigan. During the first year of the study (1997), intensive investigations were carried out us­ing pitfall traps in a small area of Midland, MI. The study was resumed in 2001 with opportunistic collection and hand-sorting of litter samples for terrestrial isopods throughout 30 Michigan counties. As a result of this data collection, the species Haplophthalmus danicus, previously unrecorded in the state, has been located in seven counties, and 83 new county records have been established for eight other terrestrial isopod species in Michigan. In particular, this study adds extensively to distributional knowledge for four species so far: Hyloniscus riparius, Trichoniscus pusillus, Oniscus asellus, and Armadillidium vulgare. Another species, Armadillidium nasatum, previously reported only inside greenhouses in three somewhat southern locations in the state, was found as clearly well-established outdoor populations in two additional counties further north. Habitat/microhabitat information is presented for all species

Accuracy of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging to detect significant prostate cancer and index lesion location

Background: Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) of the prostate appears to improve prostate cancer detection, but studies comparing mpMRI to histopathology at the time of radical prostatectomy (RP) are lacking. This retrospective study determined the accuracy of mpMRI predicting Gleason score and index lesion location at the time of RP, the current gold standard for diagnosis. Methods: Between April 2013 and April 2016, a database of all men aged more than 40 years who underwent RP after positive transrectal ultrasound biopsy by an experienced urological surgeon was collated at a single regional centre. This was cross‐referenced with a database of all men who had mpMRIs performed at a single centre and reported according to Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS version 1) during this period to generate a sample size of 64 men. A Spearman\u27s rho test was utilized to calculate correlation. Results: Median age of patients was 64 years, the median prostate‐specific antigen at RP was 6.22 ng/mL. mpMRI was positive (≥PI‐RADS 3) in 85.9% of patients who underwent RP. More than 92% of participants had Gleason ≥7 disease. A positive relationship between mpMRI prostate PI‐RADS score and RP cancer volume was demonstrated. An anatomical location correlation calculated in octants was found to be 89.1% accurate. Conclusion: mpMRI accurately detects prostate cancer location and severity when compared with gold standard histopathology at the time of RP. It thus has an important role in planning for future prostate biopsy and cancer treatment

Storeria occipitomaculata

Number of Pages: 8Integrative BiologyGeological Science

Correlation between X-ray Lightcurve Shape and Radio Arrival Time in the Vela Pulsar

We report the results of simultaneous observations of the Vela pulsar in X-rays and radio from the RXTE satellite and the Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory in Tasmania. We sought correlations between the Vela's X-ray emission and radio arrival times on a pulse by pulse basis. At a confidence level of 99.8% we have found significantly higher flux density in Vela's main X-ray peak during radio pulses that arrived early. This excess flux shifts to the 'trough' following the 2nd X-ray peak during radio pulses that arrive later. Our results suggest that the mechanism producing the radio pulses is intimately connected to the mechanism producing X-rays. Current models using resonant absorption of radio emission in the outer magnetosphere as a cause of the X-ray emission are explored as a possible explanation for the correlation.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Ap

Biogeochemistry of deep lakes in the central Alaskan Range: Completion report

Casper, one of the investigators, was a guest of the National Park Service as a weekend camper at the Wonder Lake Campground within Mount McKinley National Park. On the next visit to this campground for the same purpose, Mr. Casper took along several pieces of equipment for making simple limnological measurements. On this trip, he was accompanied by Frederick Payne, a graduate student from Michigan State University, who was in Alaska working with aquatic plant community structure. Following this visit to the lake, a research project proposal was drawn up for the purpose of obtaining funds in order to study several limnological aspects of this lake and others related to it. The relative high importance of vascular aquatic plant production in the Arctic had been noticed by John Hobbie (1973). In an intensive study of a deep subarctic lake, Harding Lake, being conducted by the Institute of Water Resources, University of Alaska, the relative high importance of rooted aquatic plants had also been noted. Thus, a question arose as to whether or not the primary production of vascular aquatic plants is higher than that of phytoplankton in subarctic lakes as is the case in arctic lakes which usually have higher biomass concentrations of algae than subarctic lakes (Hobbie, 1973). The stated objectives of this project were: 1) To conduct a biogeochemical reconnaissance of selected deep subarctic lakes in the central Alaska Range. 2) To develop hypotheses concerning the regional limnology. 3) To collect biological specimens to extend knowledge of taxonomic distributions, especially of aquatic plants and phytoplankton. 4) To estimate the seasonal nutrient budget for these lakes.The work upon which this completion report is based was supported by funds provided by the U.S. Department of Interior, Office of Water Research and Technology (Grant No. A-051-ALAS), as authorized under the Water Resources Research Act of 1964, Public Law 88-379, as amended

IRE1 phosphatase PP2Ce regulates adaptive ER stress response in the postpartum mammary gland.

We recently reported that the PPM1l gene encodes an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane targeted protein phosphatase (named PP2Ce) with highly specific activity towards Inositol-requiring protein-1 (IRE1) and regulates the functional outcome of ER stress. In the present report, we found that the PP2Ce protein is highly expressed in lactating epithelium of the mammary gland. Loss of PP2Ce in vivo impairs physiological unfolded protein response (UPR) and induces stress kinase activation, resulting in loss of milk production and induction of epithelial apoptosis in the lactating mammary gland. This study provides the first in vivo evidence that PP2Ce is an essential regulator of normal lactation, possibly involving IRE1 signaling and ER stress regulation in mammary epithelium