Mary H. Gibbon: teamwork of the heart.

Mary Maly Hopkinson Gibbon was born on September 25, 1903, to an affluent New England family who encouraged her to embrace her intelligence and to follow that by which she was intrigued. In doing this, Maly pursued work in scientific research, where she ultimately met her first husband, Dr. John ‘‘Jack’’ H. Gibbon. Jack and Maly were partners in every sense of the word. Their collaboration, both within and beyond the walls of the research laboratory, made it possible for the Gibbon dream of the heart–lung machine to be realized

Precision metering of microliter volumes of biological fluids in micro-gravity

Concepts were demonstrated and investigated for transferring accurately known and reproducible microliter volumes of biological fluids from sample container onto dry chemistry slides in microgravity environment. Specific liquid transfer tip designs were compared. Information was obtained for design of a liquid sample handling system to enable clinical chemical analysis in microgravity. Disposable pipet tips and pipet devices that were designed to transfer microliter volumes of biological fluid from a (test tube) sample container in 1-G environment were used during microgravity periods of parabolic trajectories of the KC-135 aircraft. The transfer process was recorded using charge coupled device camera and video cassette equipment. Metering behavior of water, a synthetic aqueous protein solution, and anticoagulated human blood was compared. Transfer of these liquids to 2 substrate materials representative of rapidly wettable and slowly wettable dry chemistry slide surface was compared

Dicliny in Bouteloua (Poaceae: Chloridoideae): Implications for the Evolution of Dioecy

The New World grass genus Bouteloua (Chloridoideae: Cynodonteae) comprises 57 species, 13 of which produce unisexual spikelets and hence are diclinous. Andromonoecy, gynodioecy, monoecy, trimonoecy, and dioecy all occur in the genus, and ten species are known to express more than one of these breeding systems. Employing a phylogenetic estimate based on parsimony analysis of DNA sequences from the ITS (nrDNA) and trnL–F (cpDNA) regions representing 35 species of Bouteloua, including ten of 13 diclinous species, we used parsimony character state reconstructions to investigate the evolution of unisexual spikelets and breeding systems. Our specific goals were to estimate (1) the ancestral condition in the genus, (2) the number of times spikelet unisexuality has arisen and/or been lost, and (3) the evolutionary pathways leading to dioecy and the other breeding systems. Although a number of related genera are diclinous, the reconstructions suggest that the common ancestor of Bouteloua probably was not diclinous. Spikelet unisexuality appears to have evolved two to seven times in the genus, but precisely how many times is uncertain; zero to four reversals to hermaphroditism are inferred. The reconstructions show andromonoecy arising from monoecy, and gynodioecy arising from monocliny. Neither andromonoecy nor gynodioecy are implicated in the origin of monoecy or dioecy. Monoecy is shown to evolve from monocliny and dioecy, and dioecy from monocliny and monoecy. Polyploidy and arid environments are possible factors in the evolution and variability of breeding systems in Bouteloua

Cultural identification and academic achievement: Validation of the Cultural Connectedness Achievement Measure and its use in understanding motivational characteristics of oppositional, racelessness and primary cultural identification.

The present study presents evidence regarding the reliability and validity of the Cultural Connectedness Achievement Measure (CLAM). The CCAM consist of three subscales representing three cultural dimensions of African American identity. Responses to the CCAM were collected from 201 African American high school students from a predominantly Black high school. Using factor analysis, evidence was found for the three predicted subscales (Oppositional Identity, Raceless Identity and Primary Cultural Identity) measuring unique cultural identifications for African American students. Results indicated that the CCAM is both internally and externally valid. Additionally, results indicated two new patterns of identity, one a combination of primary cultural and raceless identities and the other a combination of having primary cultural and oppositional identities. The second part of the study explored the motivational characteristics that distinguish these three groups of African American students. Distinct motivational patterns were found for the three cultural identities of the CCAM and for the two blended or combined identities

Special topic: The association between pulse ingredients and canine dilated cardiomyopathy: addressing the knowledge gaps before establishing causation.

In July 2018, the Food and Drug Administration warned about a possible relationship between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and the consumption of dog food formulated with potatoes and pulse ingredients. This issue may impede utilization of pulse ingredients in dog food or consideration of alternative proteins. Pulse ingredients have been used in the pet food industry for over 2 decades and represent a valuable source of protein to compliment animal-based ingredients. Moreover, individual ingredients used in commercial foods do not represent the final nutrient concentration of the complete diet. Thus, nutritionists formulating dog food must balance complementary ingredients to fulfill the animal's nutrient needs in the final diet. There are multiple factors that should be considered, including differences in nutrient digestibility and overall bioavailability, the fermentability and quantity of fiber, and interactions among food constituents that can increase the risk of DCM development. Taurine is a dispensable amino acid that has been linked to DCM in dogs. As such, adequate supply of taurine and/or precursors for taurine synthesis plays an important role in preventing DCM. However, requirements of amino acids in dogs are not well investigated and are presented in total dietary content basis which does not account for bioavailability or digestibility. Similarly, any nutrient (e.g., soluble and fermentable fiber) or physiological condition (e.g., size of the dog, sex, and age) that increases the requirement for taurine will also augment the possibility for DCM development. Dog food formulators should have a deep knowledge of processing methodologies and nutrient interactions beyond meeting the Association of American Feed Control Officials nutrient profiles and should not carelessly follow unsubstantiated market trends. Vegetable ingredients, including pulses, are nutritious and can be used in combination with complementary ingredients to meet the nutritional needs of the dog

Cancer and thrombosis: Managing the risks and approaches to thromboprophylaxis

Patients with cancer are at increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared with patients without cancer. This results from both the prothrombotic effects of the cancer itself and iatrogenic factors, such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy, indwelling central venous devices and surgery, that further increase the risk of VTE. Although cancer-associated thrombosis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality, it is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. However, evidence is accumulating to support the use of low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWHs) in the secondary prevention of VTE in patients with cancer. Not only have LMWHs been shown to be at least as effective as coumarin derivatives in this setting, but they have a lower incidence of complications, including bleeding, and are not associated with the practical problems of warfarin therapy. Furthermore, a growing number of studies indicate that LMWHs may improve survival among patients with cancer due to a possible antitumor effect. Current evidence suggests that LMWHs should increasingly be considered for the long-term management of VTE in patients with cancer

Can a single molecule trap the electron?

We suggest that it might be possible to trap the electron in a cavity of a macrocycle molecule, in the same way this trapping occurs cooperatively, by several solvent molecules, in hydroxylic liquids. Such an encapsulated electron is a "molecular capacitor," in which the excess electron is largely decoupled from valence electrons in the trap. A specific design for such a trap that is based on calix[4]cyclohexanol is discussed in detail. It is shown theoretically, by ab initio and density functional theory (DFT) modeling, that one of the conformations of this molecule forms the optimum tetrahedral trap for the electron. The resulting "encapsulated electron" strikingly resembles the solvated electron in alcohols and water.Comment: 13 pages 2 tables 5 figures, submitted to Chem Phys Let