B758: A Biomass Study of the Thinning Potential and Productivity of Immature Forest Stands in Maine

The purpose of this study is to establish the degree of reliability that can be placed in biomass as a means of assessing thinning potential and site productivity of immature forest stands in Maine. The above ground biomass on 205 plots representing a variety of age classes in immature hardwood and softwood stands on meso, wet, and dry sites was cut and weighed including the standing dead trees on softwood sites. In addition, 45 point sample biomass plots were located and measured in mature all aged stands. Graphical analysis was used to relate stand characteristics to age by site and species groups for the immature stands.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_bulletin/1064/thumbnail.jp

Characterization of seed nuclei in glucagon aggregation using light scattering methods and field-flow fractionation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Glucagon is a peptide hormone with many uses as a therapeutic agent, including the emergency treatment of hypoglycemia. Physical instability of glucagon in solution leads to problems with the manufacture, formulation, and delivery of this pharmaceutical product. Glucagon has been shown to aggregate and form fibrils and gels <it>in vitro</it>. Small oligomeric precursors serve to initiate and nucleate the aggregation process. In this study, these initial aggregates, or seed nuclei, are characterized in bulk solution using light scattering methods and field-flow fractionation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>High molecular weight aggregates of glucagon were detected in otherwise monomeric solutions using light scattering techniques. These aggregates were detected upon initial mixing of glucagon powder in dilute HCl and NaOH. In the pharmaceutically relevant case of acidic glucagon, the removal of aggregates by filtration significantly slowed the aggregation process. Field-flow fractionation was used to separate aggregates from monomeric glucagon and determine relative mass. The molar mass of the large aggregates was shown to grow appreciably over time as the glucagon solutions gelled.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of this study indicate that initial glucagon solutions are predominantly monomeric, but contain small quantities of large aggregates. These results suggest that the initial aggregates are seed nuclei, or intermediates which catalyze the aggregation process, even at low concentrations.</p

Company matters:The presence of other genotypes alters traits and intraspecific selection in an Arctic diatom under climate change

Arctic phytoplankton and their response to future conditions shape one of the most rapidly changing ecosystems on the planet. We tested how much the phenotypic responses of strains from an Arctic diatom population diverge and whether the physiology and intraspecific composition of multi-strain populations differ from expectations based on single strain traits. To this end, we conducted incubation experiments with the diatom Thalassiosira hyalina under present-day and future temperature and pCO2 treatments. Six fresh isolates from the same Svalbard population were incubated as mono- and multi-strain cultures. For the first time, we were able to closely follow intraspecific selection within an artificial population using microsatellites and allele-specific quantitative PCR. Our results show not only that there is substantial variation in how strains of the same species cope with the tested environments, but also that changes in genotype composition, production rates and cellular quotas in the multi-strain cultures are not predictable from monoculture performance. Nevertheless, the physiological responses as well as strain composition of the artificial populations were highly reproducible within each environment. Interestingly, we only detected significant strain sorting in those populations exposed to the future treatment. This study illustrates that the genetic composition of populations can change on very short timescales through selection from the intraspecific standing stock, indicating the potential for rapid population level adaptation to climate change. We further show that individuals adjust their phenotype not only in response to their physico-chemical, but also to their biological surroundings. Such intraspecific interactions need to be understood in order to realistically predict ecosystem responses to global change

Microcraters in aluminum foils exposed by Stardust

We will present preliminary results on the nature and size frequency distribution of microcraters that formed in aluminum foils during the flyby of comet Wild 2 by the Stardust spacecraft

Planning for Sustainability in Small Municipalities: The Influence of Interest Groups, Growth Patterns, and Institutional Characteristics

How and why small municipalities promote sustainability through planning efforts is poorly understood. We analyzed ordinances in 451 Maine municipalities and tested theories of policy adoption using regression analysis.We found that smaller communities do adopt programs that contribute to sustainability relevant to their scale and context. In line with the political market theory, we found that municipalities with strong environmental interests, higher growth, and more formal governments were more likely to adopt these policies. Consideration of context and capacity in planning for sustainability will help planners better identify and benefit from collaboration, training, and outreach opportunities

Risks and benefits of sharing patient information on social media:a digital dilemma

Social media (SoMe) has witnessed remarkable growth and emerged as a dominant method of communication worldwide. Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have become important tools of the digital native generation. In the field of medicine, particularly, cardiology, attitudes towards SoMe have shifted, and professionals increasingly utilize it to share scientific findings, network with experts, and enhance teaching and learning. Notably, SoMe is being leveraged for teaching purposes, including the sharing of challenging and intriguing cases. However, sharing patient data, including photos or images, online carries significant implications and risks, potentially compromising individual privacy both online and offline. Privacy and data protection are fundamental rights within European Union treaties, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) serves as the cornerstone of data protection legislation. The GDPR outlines crucial requirements, such as obtaining 'consent' and implementing 'anonymization', that must be met before sharing sensitive and patient-identifiable information. Additionally, it is vital to consider the patient's perspective and prioritize ethical and social considerations when addressing challenges associated with sharing patient information on SoMe platforms. Given the absence of a peer-review process and clear guidelines, we present an initial approach, a code of conduct, and recommendations for the ethical use of SoMe. In conclusion, this comprehensive review underscores the importance of a balanced approach that ensures patient privacy and upholds ethical standards while harnessing the immense potential of SoMe to advance cardiology practice and facilitate knowledge dissemination.</p

Risks and benefits of sharing patient information on social media:a digital dilemma

Social media (SoMe) has witnessed remarkable growth and emerged as a dominant method of communication worldwide. Platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube have become important tools of the digital native generation. In the field of medicine, particularly, cardiology, attitudes towards SoMe have shifted, and professionals increasingly utilize it to share scientific findings, network with experts, and enhance teaching and learning. Notably, SoMe is being leveraged for teaching purposes, including the sharing of challenging and intriguing cases. However, sharing patient data, including photos or images, online carries significant implications and risks, potentially compromising individual privacy both online and offline. Privacy and data protection are fundamental rights within European Union treaties, and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) serves as the cornerstone of data protection legislation. The GDPR outlines crucial requirements, such as obtaining 'consent' and implementing 'anonymization', that must be met before sharing sensitive and patient-identifiable information. Additionally, it is vital to consider the patient's perspective and prioritize ethical and social considerations when addressing challenges associated with sharing patient information on SoMe platforms. Given the absence of a peer-review process and clear guidelines, we present an initial approach, a code of conduct, and recommendations for the ethical use of SoMe. In conclusion, this comprehensive review underscores the importance of a balanced approach that ensures patient privacy and upholds ethical standards while harnessing the immense potential of SoMe to advance cardiology practice and facilitate knowledge dissemination.</p

“Dogged” Search of Fresh Nakhla Surfaces Reveals New Alteration Textures

Special Issue: 74th Annual Meeting of the Meteoritical Society, August 8-12, 2011, London, U.K.International audienceCarbonaceous chondrites are considered as amongst the most primitive Solar System samples available. One of their primitive characteristics is their enrichment in volatile elements.This includes hydrogen, which is present in hydrated and hydroxylated minerals. More precisely, the mineralogy is expected to be dominated by phyllosilicates in the case of CM chondrites, and by Montmorillonite type clays in the case of CI. Here, in order to characterize and quantify the abundance of lowtemperature minerals in carbonaceous chondrites, we performed thermogravimetric analysis of matrix fragments of Tagish Lake, Murchison and Orgueil

Routine clinical cardiovascular magnetic resonance in paediatric and adult congenital heart disease: patients, protocols, questions asked and contributions made

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CMR) of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) has become routine clinical practice. However, existing CMR protocols focus predominantly on patients with ischemic heart disease, and information is limited on the types of patient with CHD who benefit from CMR investigation, and in what ways. Therefore the aim of this study was to answer the questions: What type of patients were studied by CMR in a centre specializing in paediatric and adult CHD management? What questions were asked, which protocols were used and were the questions successfully answered? To answer these questions, we conducted a cohort study of all 362 patients that received routine clinical CMR during 2007 at the Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease at the Deutsches Herzzentrum München.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Underlying diagnosis was in 33% Fallot's tetralogy, 17% aortic coarctation, 8% Ebstein's disease, 6% Marfan's disease, 4% single ventricle with Fontan-like circulation, and 32% others. Median age was 26 years (7 days – 75 years). Ventricular volumes were assessed in 67% of the patients; flow in 74%; unknown anatomy only in 9%; specific individual morphology of known anatomy in 83%; myocardial fibrosis in 8%; stress-induced myocardial perfusion defects in 1%. Only in 3% of the cases the question could not be fully answered.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Contrary to common belief, routine CMR of patients with CHD was not requested to address global anatomical questions so much as to clarify specific questions of morphology and function of known anatomy. The CMR protocols used differed markedly from those widely used in patients with ischemic heart disease.</p

PHYOX2: a pivotal randomized study of nedosiran in primary hyperoxaluria type 1 or 2

Nedosiran is an investigational RNA interference agent designed to inhibit expression of hepatic lactate dehydrogenase, the enzyme thought responsible for the terminal step of oxalate synthesis. Oxalate overproduction is the hallmark of all genetic subtypes of primary hyperoxaluria (PH). In this double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we randomly assigned (2:1) 35 participants with PH1 (n = 29) or PH2 (n = 6) with eGFR ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m2 to subcutaneous nedosiran or placebo once monthly for 6 months. The area under the curve (AUC) of percent reduction from baseline in 24-hour urinary oxalate (Uox) excretion (primary endpoint), between day 90-180, was significantly greater with nedosiran vs placebo (least squares mean [SE], +3507 [788] vs -1664 [1190], respectively; difference, 5172; 95% CI 2929-7414; P < 0.001). A greater proportion of participants receiving nedosiran vs placebo achieved normal or near-normal (<0.60 mmol/24 hours; <1.3 × ULN) Uox excretion on ≥2 consecutive visits starting at day 90 (50% vs 0; P = 0.002); this effect was mirrored in the nedosiran-treated PH1 subgroup (64.7% vs 0; P < 0.001). The PH1 subgroup maintained a sustained Uox reduction while on nedosiran, whereas no consistent effect was seen in the PH2 subgroup. Nedosiran-treated participants with PH1 also showed a significant reduction in plasma oxalate versus placebo (P = 0.017). Nedosiran was generally safe and well tolerated. In the nedosiran arm, the incidence of injection-site reactions was 9% (all mild and self-limiting). In conclusion, participants with PH1 receiving nedosiran had clinically meaningful reductions in Uox, the mediator of kidney damage in PH