Interactions of asbestos-activated macrophages with an experimental fibrosarcoma

Supernatants from in vivo asbestos-activated macrophages failed to show any cytostatic activity against a syngeneic fibrosarcoma cell line in vitro. UICC chrysotile-induced peritoneal exudate cells also failed to demonstrate any growth inhibitory effect on the same cells in Winn assays of tumor growth. Mixing UICC crocidolite with inoculated tumor cells resulted in a dose-dependent inhibition of tumor growth; this could, however, be explained by a direct cytostatic effect on the tumor cells of high doses of crocidolite, which was observed in vitro

Some Unique Benefits with Sudangrass for Improved U.S. #1 Yields and Size of Russet Burbank Potato

ABSTRACT Three studies provided additional knowledge of beneficial effects of sudangrass for yield and quality increases of the Russet Burbank potato. Thro of these studies showed significant 'increases of both U.S. #1 and smooth tubers >280 g following green manures of sudangrass. These sudangrass (HS-33) effects did not differ from a sorghum-sudan hybrid . When a sudangrass green manure was compared with a fallow treatment, results of the first study showed mean yield increases of 36% for U.S. #1 tubers >280 g and yields of a second study by 34% for U.S. #1 tubers. This same sudangrass treatment outperformed green manures of either Austrian winter pea, barley, or sweet corn by increased U.S. #1 yields that ranged from 27% to 61%. By several lines of evidence, these benefits were found to extend beyond the effect of Verticillium suppression. Soil N was significantly increased following green manures of sudangrass, and these increases were in turn negatively correlated with wilt incidence and positively correlated with yields of both U.S. #1 tubers and tubers >280 g. Additional benefits also included significant increases of tuber grade percentages for marketable tubers and of smooth tubers >280 g. Benefits from sudangrass green manures beyond the effects of Verticillium suppression became further evident following a greenhouse study that involved field soil and sudangrass that had been grown in the same field. This study corAccepted for publication 7 June 2004. ADDITIONAL KEY WORDS: Fusarium spp., green manures, Verticilhum dahliae roborated both field experiments by showing increased yields with green manures of sudangrass that approximated 5.5 t ha-1 dry wt. As with the field studies, these yield benefits also extended beyond the effects of Verticillium suppression and were closely associated with significant increases of Fusarium equiseti, F. oxysporum, and F. solani. Throughout all studies, sudangrass green manures significantly increased microbial activities with increased populations of Fusarium spp. and increased concentrations in soil of mineralizable N, organic P, K, Mn, along with the percent soil organic matter -all factors that could have contributed to significant increases of yield and quality. RE SUMEN Se obtuvo informaciOn adicional sobre los efectos beneficos del sorgo pars el increment° de rendimientos y calidad de papa Russet Burbank por medio de tres estudios. Dos de ellos mostraron un significativo increment° de U.S. #1 y tuberculos uniformes >280g despues de haber recibido sorgo como abono verde. Los efectos del sorgo (HS-33) no mostraron diferencias con el sorgo hibrido (Tridan-8). Cuando se comparO el abono verde de sorgo con un tratamiento de barbecho, los resultados del primer estudio mostraron un promedio de increment° del rendimiento de 36% para tuberculos U.S. #1 >280g y los del segundo estudio 34% para. tuberculos U.S. #1. El mismo tratamiento de sorgo, super° a los abonos verdes de alverjilla, cebada y maiz dulce con rendimientos de U.S. #1 que variaron entre 27 y 61%. Junto con estas evidencias, los beneficios logrados fueron adennis un efecto de supresión de Verticillium. El N del suelo se increment6 significativamente despues de un abonamiento verde con sorgo y este increment°e stuvo negativamente correlacionado con la incidencia de marchitez y positivamente con el rendimiento tanto de U.S. #1 come de tuberculos >280g. Los beneficios adicionales tambien incluyen un increment° significativo del porcentaje de tuberculos de grado comerciable y de tuberculos uniformes >280g. Ademas de los efectos de supresiOn de Verticillium, los efectos del abono verde con sorgo se hicieron evidentes despues de un estudio de invernadero que incluyii el uso de tierra de chacra y de sorgo que habia crecido en el mismo suelo. Este estudio corrobore ambos experimentos de campo, mostrando un increment° de rendimiento de aproximadamente 5.5 t ha-1 de peso seco con el uso de sorgo como abono verde. Como en el caso de los estudios de campo, estos beneficios en el rendimiento tambien se extendieron mas alla, de los efectos de supresiOn de Verticillium y estuvieron estrechamente asociados con un increment° significativo de Fusarium equiseti, F. oxysporum y F solani. A lo largo de todos los estudios, el uso de sorgo como abono verde increment° significativamente las actividades microbianas, con un aumento en la poblaciebn de Fusariurn spp. e increment° de las concentrations de N mineralizable, P,K y Mn organicos, junto con el porcentaje de materia organica en el suelo, factores todos que podrian contribuir a un aumento de rendimiento y calidad

LIGO’s quantum response to squeezed states

Gravitational Wave interferometers achieve their profound sensitivity by combining a Michelson interferometer with optical cavities, suspended masses, and now, squeezed quantum states of light. These states modify the measurement process of the LIGO, VIRGO and GEO600 interferometers to reduce the quantum noise that masks astrophysical signals; thus, improvements to squeezing are essential to further expand our gravitational view of the universe. Further reducing quantum noise will require both lowering decoherence from losses as well more sophisticated manipulations to counter the quantum back-action from radiation pressure. Both tasks require fully understanding the physical interactions between squeezed light and the many components of km-scale interferometers. To this end, data from both LIGO observatories in observing run three are expressed using frequency-dependent metrics to analyze each detector's quantum response to squeezed states. The response metrics are derived and used to concisely describe physical mechanisms behind squeezing's simultaneous interaction with transverse-mode selective optical cavities and the quantum radiation pressure noise of suspended mirrors. These metrics and related analysis are broadly applicable for cavity-enhanced optomechanics experiments that incorporate external squeezing, and -- for the first time -- give physical descriptions of every feature so far observed in the quantum noise of the LIGO detectors

Measurement of the inclusive charmless semileptonic branching ratio of B mesons and determination of vertical bar V-ub vertical bar

We report a measurement of the inclusive charmless semileptonic branching fraction of B mesons in a sample of 89x10(6) B(b) over bar events recorded with the BABAR detector at the Y(4S) resonance. Events are selected by fully reconstructing the decay of one B meson and identifying a charged lepton from the decay of the other B meson. The number of signal events is extracted from the mass distribution of the hadronic system accompanying the lepton and is used to determine the ratio of branching fractions B((B) over bar --> X(u)l (v) over bar)/B((B) over bar --> Xl (v) over bar) = [2.06 +/- 0.25(stat) +/- 0.23(syst) +/- 0.36(theo)] x 10(-2). Using the measured branching fraction for inclusive semileptonic B decays, we find B((B) over bar --> X(u)l (V) over bar) = [2.24+/-0.27(stat) +/- 0.26(syst) +/- 0.39(theo)] x 10(-3) and derive the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element parallel toV(ub)parallel to = [4.62 +/- 0.28(stat) +/- 0.27(syst) +/- 0.48(theo)] x 10(-3)

F.: Metabolism of aldosterone in several experimental situations with altered aldosterone secretion

In an earlier study (1), the rate of metabolism of aldosterone was found to be decreased in dogs with chronic passive congestion of the liver secondary to thoracic inferior vena caval constriction. After hepatectomy of these animals and of normal dogs, the metabolism of aldosterone was almost abolished. It was suggested that the decreased aldosterone metabolism during liver congestion might be secondary to decreased hepatic blood flow and associated hepatic anoxia. More recently, Tait and his colleagues (2, 3) have provided evidence that the rate of hepatic blood flow is one of the primary determinants of the rate of aldosterone metabolism. The present observations were undertaken to examine the metabolism of aldosterone in several experimental situations in which altered aldosterone secretion occurs and in which there are known or suspected alterations in liver blood flow. The primary objectives were twofold: 1) to define the distribution, metabolic clearance rate (MCR), and hepatic extraction of aldosterone, and 2) to determine the contribution of altered aldosterone metabolism to the peripheral plasma level of aldosterone. Aldosterone metabolism was studied following acute hemorrhage, in dogs depleted of sodium, and in dogs with chronic experimental heart failure. Observations were made in both low and high output failure because hepatic blood flow is reduced in the former and, presumably, normal or elevated in the latter situation. Since exercise greatly reduces the blood flow through the liver in patients with heart failure (4), observations were made before and during ex- hausting exercise in dogs with low output heart failure. The metabolism of aldosterone was also studied in hypophysectomized dogs; in this situation there is a low rather than a high rate of aldosterone secretion, and hepatic blood flow is probably reduced. Finally, the hepatic extraction of aldosterone was measured in several experimental situations. Methods The rate of metabolism of aldosterone was studied by observing the rate of disappearance of 1,2-H'-d-aldosterone from peripheral plasma; single iv injections of 12 X 10' cpm of 1,2-H3-d-aldosterone with a SA of 100 Acc per ug were made. The efficiency of the liquid scintillation spectrometer was approximately 25%b. Peripheral venous blood samples of 20 ml were drawn at 5, 10, To study the effects of hemorrhage, 30 ml of arterial blood per kg body weight was removed over a 5-to 15-minute period in nine dogs anesthetized with Na pentobarbital. As soon as the arterial pressure had stabilized, tritiated aldosterone was injected, and peripheral venous blood samples were obtained. Arterial pressure was measured continuously throughout the experiment by means of a Statham strain gauge and a Sanborn recording system. As a control experiment, the disappearance of tritiated aldosterone was studied in a series of seven normal dogs anesthetized similarly. Sodium depletion was produced in seven normal dogs by feeding a diet containing less than 2 mEq per day of Na and by administration of 2 ml of Mercuhydrin intramuscularly on 4 successive days. The average negative Na balance for the 4 days in the group of seven dogs was 161 mEq. The disappearance of H'-d-aldosterone was studied in these conscious Na-depleted animals, and the data were compared with results obtained in normal conscious dogs on a Na intake of 60 mEq per day. Chronic congestive heart failure of the low output type was produced by a combination of tricuspid insufficiency and pulmonic stenosis (5, 6). Pulmonic stenosis was achieved by an adjustable ligature that was placed around the main pulmonary artery and tightened under 143