A Perpetual Harvest Greenhouse System: Integrating Barn, Biofilter, and Greenhouse

A prototype was built to evaluate the performance of an integrated barn-biofilter-greenhouse system. The greenhouse floor in the integrated system consisted of a bed of gravel to store maximum solar energy. A vertical airflow biofilter (3.34 x 3.34 m) was constructed inside a solar energy greenhouse (floor area of 15 x 6.7 m); exhaust air from a barn was passed through the biofilter for odour treatment before being released into the greenhouse. A booster fan was used to provide a steady airflow rate of 1.4 m3/s to the biofilter. Data were collected from October 19 to December 6, 2007. The maximum temperature drop along the 15.5 m long, and insulated (R-20) duct carrying the exhaust air from the hog barn to the biofilter was 7°C. The lowest temperature recorded on top of the biofilter surface was 1.3°C when the biofilter booster fan was not working, while the lowest floor temperature was -3°C. On the coldest day in December, when the biofilter booster fan was not in service, the daily average temperature inside the greenhouse was 4.3°C, whereas the outdoor daily average temperature was -25°C. In order to keep the minimum greenhouse temperature at 10°C, the maximum required volumetric flow rate of barn exhaust air at 15°C was 1.60m3/s. Maximum hydrogen sulfide (H2S) removal efficiency was 55%. The weekly average concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) inside the greenhouse varied from 841 to 1536 ppm. The system has shown promise at creating an environment suitable for plant growth inside the greenhouse using a waste gas stream from a hog barn to provide both auxiliary heat and enhanced CO2 levels

pH-Dependent behaviour of soluble protein aggregates formed during heat-treatment of milk at pH 6.5 or 7.2

Soluble (SA) and micelle-bound (MA) protein aggregatesformed during the heat-treatment of milk are thought toincrease the gelation pH and gel strength of acid milk gels.The ratio SA/MA increases as heat-treatment pH is increased and the resulting gels are stronger. The objective was to study the pH-dependent behaviour of SA produced by heattreatment at pH 6.5 (SA6.5) and 7.2 (SA7.2) in order to get a better understanding of their role in acid gelation of heated skim milk

Identification of genomic regions determining the phenological development leading to floral transition in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Autumn-seeded winter cereals acquire tolerance to freezing temperatures and become vernalized by exposure to low temperature (LT). The level of accumulated LT tolerance depends on the cold acclimation rate and factors controlling timing of floral transition at the shoot apical meristem. In this study, genomic loci controlling the floral transition time were mapped in a winter wheat (T. aestivum L.) doubled haploid (DH) mapping population segregating for LT tolerance and rate of phenological development. The final leaf number (FLN), days to FLN, and days to anthesis were determined for 142 DH lines grown with and without vernalization in controlled environments. Analysis of trait data by composite interval mapping (CIM) identified 11 genomic regions that carried quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for the developmental traits studied. CIM analysis showed that the time for floral transition in both vernalized and non-vernalized plants was controlled by common QTL regions on chromosomes 1B, 2A, 2B, 6A and 7A. A QTL identified on chromosome 4A influenced floral transition time only in vernalized plants. Alleles of the LT-tolerant parent, Norstar, delayed floral transition at all QTLs except at the 2A locus. Some of the QTL alleles delaying floral transition also increased the length of vegetative growth and delayed flowering time. The genes underlying the QTLs identified in this study encode factors involved in regional adaptation of cold hardy winter wheat

Near-Infrared Spectroscopy-Derived Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation in Experimental Human Endotoxemia-An Exploratory Study

Cerebral perfusion may be altered in sepsis patients. However, there are conflicting findings on cerebral autoregulation (CA) in healthy participants undergoing the experimental endotoxemia protocol, a proxy for systemic inflammation in sepsis. In the current study, a newly developed near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS)-based CA index is investigated in an endotoxemia study population, together with an index of focal cerebral oxygenation. Methods: Continuous-wave NIRS data were obtained from 11 healthy participants receiving a continuous infusion of bacterial endotoxin for 3 h (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02922673) under extensive physiological monitoring. Oxygenated–deoxygenated hemoglobin phase differences in the (very)low frequency (VLF/LF) bands and the Tissue Saturation Index (TSI) were calculated at baseline, during systemic inflammation, and at the end of the experiment 7 h after the initiation of endotoxin administration. Results: The median (inter-quartile range) LF phase difference was 16.2° (3.0–52.6°) at baseline and decreased to 3.9° (2.0–8.8°) at systemic inflammation (p = 0.03). The LF phase difference increased from systemic inflammation to 27.6° (12.7–67.5°) at the end of the experiment (p = 0.005). No significant changes in VLF phase difference were observed. The TSI (mean ± SD) increased from 63.7 ± 3.4% at baseline to 66.5 ± 2.8% during systemic inflammation (p = 0.03) and remained higher at the end of the experiment (67.1 ± 4.2%, p = 0.04). Further analysis did not reveal a major influence of changes in several covariates such as blood pressure, heart rate, PaCO(2), and temperature, although some degree of interaction could not be excluded. Discussion: A reversible decrease in NIRS-derived cerebral autoregulation phase difference was seen after endotoxin infusion, with a small, sustained increase in TSI. These findings suggest that endotoxin administration in healthy participants reversibly impairs CA, accompanied by sustained microvascular vasodilation

Cost-effectiveness in extracorporeal life support in critically ill adults in the Netherlands

Background: Extracorporeal life support (ECLS) is used to support the cardiorespiratory function in case of severe cardiac and/or respiratory failure in critically ill patients. According to the ELSO guidelines ECLS should be considered when estimated mortality risk approximates 80%. ECLS seems an efficient therapy in terms of survival benefit, but no undisputed evidence is delivered yet. The aim of the study is to assess the health-related quality of life after ECLS treatment and its cost effectiveness. Methods: We will perform a prospective observational cohort study. All adult patients who receive ECLS in the participating centers will be included. Exclusion criteria are patients in whom the ECLS is only used to bridge a procedure (like a high risk percutaneous coronary intervention or surgery) or the absence of informed consent. Data collection includes patient characteristics and data specific for ECLS treatment. Severity of illness and mortality risk is measured as precisely as possible using measurements for the appropriate age group and organ failure. For analyses on survival patients will act as their own control as we compare the actual survival with the estimated mortality on initiation of ECLS if conservative treatment would have been continued. Survivors are asked to complete validated questionnaires on health related quality of life (EQ5D-5 L) and on medical consumption and productivity losses (iMTA/iPCQ) at 6 and 12 months. Also the health related quality of life 1 month prior to ECLS initiation will be obtained by a questionnaire, if needed provided by relatives. With an estimated overall survival of 62% 210 patients need to be recruited to make a statement on cost effectiveness for all ECLS indications. Discussion: If our hypothesis that ECLS treatment is cost-effective is confirmed by this prospective study this could lead to an even broader use of ECLS treatment

Micro-computed tomography of pulmonary fibrosis in mice induced by adenoviral gene transfer of biologically active transforming growth factor-β1

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a novel tool for monitoring acute and chronic disease states in small laboratory animals. Its value for assessing progressive lung fibrosis in mice has not been reported so far. Here we examined the importance of in vivo micro-CT as non-invasive tool to assess progression of pulmonary fibrosis in mice over time.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Pulmonary fibrosis was induced in mice by intratracheal delivery of an adenoviral gene vector encoding biologically active TGF-ß1 (AdTGF-ß1). Respiratory gated and ungated micro-CT scans were performed at 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks post pulmonary adenoviral gene or control vector delivery, and were then correlated with respective histopathology-based Ashcroft scoring of pulmonary fibrosis in mice. Visual assessment of image quality and consolidation was performed by 3 observers and a semi-automated quantification algorithm was applied to quantify aerated pulmonary volume as an inverse surrogate marker for pulmonary fibrosis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We found a significant correlation between classical Ashcroft scoring and micro-CT assessment using both visual assessment and the semi-automated quantification algorithm. Pulmonary fibrosis could be clearly detected in micro-CT, image quality values were higher for respiratory gated exams, although differences were not significant. For assessment of fibrosis no significant difference between respiratory gated and ungated exams was observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Together, we show that micro-CT is a powerful tool to assess pulmonary fibrosis in mice, using both visual assessment and semi-automated quantification algorithms. These data may be important in view of pre-clinical pharmacologic interventions for the treatment of lung fibrosis in small laboratory animals.</p

Presence of Epstein-Barr virus latency type III at the single cell level in post- transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders and AIDS related lymphomas

AIMS: To investigate the expression pattern of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent genes at the single cell level in post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders and acquired immunodefiency syndrome (AIDS) related lymphomas, in relation to cellular morphology. METHODS: Nine post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders and three AIDS related lymphomas were subjected to immunohistochemistry using monoclonal antibodies specific for EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1) (2H4), EBNA2 (PE2 and the new rat anti-EBNA2 monoclonal antibodies 1E6, R3, and 3E9), and LMP1 (CS1-4 and S12). Double staining was performed combining R3 or 3E9 with S12. RESULTS: R3 and 3E9 anti-EBNA2 monoclonal antibodies were more sensitive than PE2, enabling the detection of more EBNA2 positive lymphoma cells. Both in post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders and AIDS related lymphomas, different expression patterns were detected at the single cell level. Smaller neoplastic cells were positive for EBNA2 but negative for LMP1. Larger and more blastic neoplastic cells, sometimes resembling Reed-Sternberg cells, were LMP1 positive but EBNA2 negative (EBV latency type II). Morphologically intermediate neoplastic cells coexpressing EBNA2 and LMP1 (EBV latency type III), were detected using R3 and 3E9, and formed a considerable part of the neoplastic population in four of nine post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders and two of three AIDS related lymphomas. All samples contained a subpopulation of small tumour cells positive exclusively for Epstein-Barr early RNA and EBNA1. The relation between cellular morphology and EBV expression patterns in this study was less pronounced in AIDS related lymphomas than in post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders, because the AIDS related lymphomas were less polymorphic than the post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders. CONCLUSIONS: In post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorders and AIDS related lymphomas, EBV latency type III can be detected by immunohistochemistry in a subpopulation of tumour cells using sensitive monoclonal antibodies R3 and 3E9. Our data suggest that EBV infected tumour cells in these lymphomas undergo gradual changes in the expression of EBV latent genes, and that these changes are associated with changes in cellular morphology

Genetic characterization of leaf and stripe rust resistance in the Brazilian wheat cultivar toropi.

Leaf and stripe rust are major threats to wheat production worldwide. The effective, multiple rust resistances present in the Brazilian cultivar Toropi makes it an excellent choice for a genetic study of rust resistance. Testing of DNA from different seed lots of Toropi with 2,194 polymorphic 90K iSelect single nucleotide polymorphism markers identified significant genetic divergence, with as much as 35% dissimilarity between seed lots. As a result, further work was conducted with a single plant line derived from Toropi variant Toropi-6.4. A double haploid population with 168 lines derived from the cross Toropi-6.4 × Thatcher was phenotyped over multiple years and locations in Canada, New Zealand, and Kenya, with a total of seven field trials undertaken for leaf rust and nine for stripe rust. Genotyping with the 90K iSelect array, simple sequence repeat and Kompetitive allelespecific polymerase chain reaction markers resulted in a genetic map of 3,043 cM, containing 1,208 nonredundant markers. Significant quantitative trait loci (QTL) derived from Toropi-6.4 were identified in multiple environments on chromosomes 1B (QLr.crc-1BL/QYr.crc-1BL), 3B (QLr.crc3BS), 4B (QYr.crc-4BL), 5A (QLr.crc-5AL and QYr.crc-5AL), and 5D (QLr.crc-5DS). The QTL QLr.crc-1BL/QYr.crc-1BL colocated with the multi-rust resistance locus Lr46/Yr29, while the QTL QLr.crc-5DS located to the Lr78 locus previously found in a wheat backcross population derived from Toropi. Comparisons of QTL combinations showed QLr.crc-1BL to contribute a significantly enhanced leaf rust resistance when combined with QLr.crc-5AL or QLr.crc-5DS, more so than when QLr.crc-5AL and QLr.crc5DS were combined. A strong dditive effect was also seen when the stripe rust resistance QTL QYr.crc-1BL and QYr.crc-5AL were combined. Keywords: adult plant resistance, durable resistance, leaf rust, stripe rust, QTL, whea

Preferential risk of HPV16 for squamous cell carcinoma and of HPV18 for adenocarcinoma of the cervix compared to women with normal cytology in The Netherlands

We present the type-distribution of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) types in women with normal cytology (n=1467), adenocarcinoma in situ (ACIS) (n=61), adenocarcinoma (n=70), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) (n=83). Cervical adenocarcinoma and ACIS were significantly more frequently associated with HPV18 (ORMH 15.0; 95% CI 8.6–26.1 and 21.8; 95% CI 11.9–39.8, respectively) than normal cytology. Human papillomavirus16 was only associated with adenocarcinoma and ACIS after exclusion of HPV18-positive cases (ORMH 6.6; 95% CI 2.8–16.0 and 9.4; 95% CI 2.8–31.2, respectively). For SCC, HPV16 prevalence was elevated (ORMH 7.0; 95% CI 3.9–12.4) compared to cases with normal cytology, and HPV18 prevalence was only increased after exclusion of HPV16-positive cases (ORMH 4.3; 95% CI 1.6–11.6). These results suggest that HPV18 is mainly a risk factor for the development of adenocarcinoma whereas HPV16 is associated with both SCC and adenocarcinoma