Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 Enhances Expansion of Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells without Diminishing Their Immunosuppressive Potential

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the main curative therapy for many hematologic malignancies. Its potential relies on graft-versus-tumor effects which associate with graft-versus-host disease. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) possess immunomodulatory properties that make them attractive therapeutic alternatives. We evaluated the in vitro immunosuppressive activity of medium conditioned by human MSCs from 5 donors expanded 13 passages with or without FGF-2. FGF-2 supplementation increased expansion 3,500- and 240,000-fold by passages 7 and 13, respectively. There were no differences in immunosuppressive activity between media conditioned by passage-matched cells expanded under different conditions, but media conditioned by FGF-treated MSCs were superior to population doubling-matched controls. The immunosuppressive activity was maintained in three of the preparations but decreased with expansion in two. The proliferation induced by FGF-2 did not result in loss of immunosuppressive activity. However, because the immunosuppressive activity was not consistently preserved, caution must be exercised to ensure that the activity of the cells is sufficient after extensive expansion

Nesting Habitat and Behavior of Spiny Softshell Turtles Apalone Spinifera Hartwegi in the Missouri River, MT

Little is known about the nesting behavior and habitat of the western spiny softshell (Apalone spinifera hartwegi) in Montana where they are at the northern extent of their range and are a state Species of Concern. Our objective was to document nesting behavior, habitat, and timing in a 97-kilometer reach of the Missouri River. We radio-tagged 47 female turtles and attempted to locate nesting areas using telemetry, visual surveys from jet boat and on foot, and by observation from shore-based blinds. We located 27 nests; 15 were on islands, 12 were aggregated, and 2 were depredated. Nesting occurred following the peak river stage from about July 7 to July 28. Twenty-three nests were in mixed gravel and 4 nests were in sand substrates. Distance from water’s edge to the nest ranged from 1.9 m to 27 m and height of nest above the water surface elevation ranged from 0.25 m to 1.9 m. Vegetation at nest sites was sparse, ranging from 0 to 15 percent vegetative cover. Emergence of hatchlings was documented for 17 nests and occurred from about September 1 to September 20. All 17 successful nests were in gravel substrate; we did not document any emergence from nests in sand. Lack of emergence from sand nests may be related to the cumulative thermal regime in the nest chamber during the period from peak discharge until the onset of freezing in autumn. In 2012, we will investigate the thermal environment in gravel and sand nesting substrates

Nesting Ecology of Spiny Softshell Turtles on the Missouri River in Montana: Zoogeographic and Management Implications

The nesting ecology of western spiny softshell turtles (Apolone spinifera hartwegi) in Montana, where they are at the northern extent of their range and a state Species of Concern, is poorly known. We used telemetry, visual surveys, observation from shore-based blinds, and remote cameras to document nesting behavior, habitat, and timing in a 97-km reach of the Missouri River. We located 25 nests in 2011 and 97 in 2012. Most nests were in mixed-gravel substrates; only 3 percent were in pure sand. Vegetative cover at nest sites was sparse. Mean distance of nests to the water’s edge was 13.7 m and mean height above the water surface elevation was 0.7 m. Proportion of nests found on island and mainland habitats were similar in 2011, but 90 percent of nests were on islands in 2012. Predation occurred on 46 nests; mainland nests incurred higher predation rates than island nests. Nesting followed annual peak river stage, and mostly occurred in the afternoon. Durations of nesting, incubation, and emergence periods were similar in both years, but nesting and emergence occurred about three weeks later in 2011 than in 2012. Only 36 percent of nests were successful in 2011, but 60 percent were successful in 2012. Flooding in 2011 probably decreased nesting effort and success by reducing habitat availability and delaying the onset of nesting, which thereby prematurely ended incubation. However, flood events maintain and create nesting habitats by clearing vegetation and depositing substrates. Premature termination of incubation suggests that the northern range of this species is probably limited by successful incubation

Nesting Ecology of Spiny Softshell Turtles on the Missouri River in Montana: Zoogeographic and Management Implications

The nesting ecology of western spiny softshell turtles (Apolone spinifera hartwegi) in Montana, where they are at the northern extent of their range and a state Species of Concern, is poorly known. We used telemetry, visual surveys, observation from shore-based blinds, and remote cameras to document nesting behavior, habitat, and timing in a 97-km reach of the Missouri River. We located 25 nests in 2011 and 97 in 2012. Most nests were in mixed-gravel substrates; only 3 percent were in pure sand. Vegetative cover at nest sites was sparse. Mean distance of nests to the water’s edge was 13.7 m and mean height above the water surface elevation was 0.7 m. Proportion of nests found on island and mainland habitats were similar in 2011, but 90 percent of nests were on islands in 2012. Predation occurred on 46 nests; mainland nests incurred higher predation rates than island nests. Nesting followed annual peak river stage, and mostly occurred in the afternoon. Durations of nesting, incubation, and emergence periods were similar in both years, but nesting and emergence occurred about three weeks later in 2011 than in 2012. Only 36 percent of nests were successful in 2011, but 60 percent were successful in 2012. Flooding in 2011 probably decreased nesting effort and success by reducing habitat availability and delaying the onset of nesting, which thereby prematurely ended incubation. However, flood events maintain and create nesting habitats by clearing vegetation and depositing substrates. Premature termination of incubation suggests that the northern range of this species is probably limited by successful incubation

Symptom Relief and Quality of Life in Autistic Children Using Medical Cannabis: A Secondary Analysis

Objectives This study aimed to examine the experiences of parents and caregivers of autistic children who used medical cannabis (MMJ) for the treatment of core symptoms or co-occurring conditions Considered priorities and outcomes of medical cannabis use, including: 1) Quality of life (QoL) effects; 2) Symptoms of interest; 3) Symptoms of co-occurring conditionshttps://jdc.jefferson.edu/phbposters/1004/thumbnail.jp

Analyzing and predicting the spatial penetration of Airbnb in U.S. cities

In the hospitality industry, the room and apartment sharing platform of Airbnb has been accused of unfair competition. Detractors have pointed out the chronic lack of proper legislation. Unfortunately, there is little quantitative evidence about Airbnb's spatial penetration upon which to base such a legislation. In this study, we analyze Airbnb's spatial distribution in eight U.S. urban areas, in relation to both geographic, socio-demographic, and economic information. We find that, despite being very different in terms of population composition, size, and wealth, all eight cities exhibit the same pattern: that is, areas of high Airbnb presence are those occupied by the \newpart{``talented and creative''} classes, and those that are close to city centers. This result is consistent so much so that the accuracy of predicting Airbnb's spatial penetration is as high as 0.725

Identification, characterization, and gene expression analysis of nucleotide binding site (NB)-type resistance gene homologues in switchgrass

Abstract Background Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a warm-season perennial grass that can be used as a second generation bioenergy crop. However, foliar fungal pathogens, like switchgrass rust, have the potential to significantly reduce switchgrass biomass yield. Despite its importance as a prominent bioenergy crop, a genome-wide comprehensive analysis of NB-LRR disease resistance genes has yet to be performed in switchgrass. Results In this study, we used a homology-based computational approach to identify 1011 potential NB-LRR resistance gene homologs (RGHs) in the switchgrass genome (v 1.1). In addition, we identified 40 RGHs that potentially contain unique domains including major sperm protein domain, jacalin-like binding domain, calmodulin-like binding, and thioredoxin. RNA-sequencing analysis of leaf tissue from ‘Alamo’, a rust-resistant switchgrass cultivar, and ‘Dacotah’, a rust-susceptible switchgrass cultivar, identified 2634 high quality variants in the RGHs between the two cultivars. RNA-sequencing data from field-grown cultivar ‘Summer’ plants indicated that the expression of some of these RGHs was developmentally regulated. Conclusions Our results provide useful insight into the molecular structure, distribution, and expression patterns of members of the NB-LRR gene family in switchgrass. These results also provide a foundation for future work aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying disease resistance in this important bioenergy crop

Thermal Stability of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Receptors, CD4 and CXCR4, Reconstituted in Proteoliposomes

BACKGROUND: The entry of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) into host cells involves the interaction of the viral exterior envelope glycoprotein, gp120, and receptors on the target cell. The HIV-1 receptors are CD4 and one of two chemokine receptors, CCR5 or CXCR4. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We created proteoliposomes that contain CD4, the primary HIV-1 receptor, and one of the coreceptors, CXCR4. Antibodies against CD4 and CXCR4 specifically bound the proteoliposomes. CXCL12, the natural ligand for CXCR4, and the small-molecule CXCR4 antagonist, AMD3100, bound the proteoliposomes with affinities close to those associated with the binding of these molecules to cells expressing CXCR4 and CD4. The HIV-1 gp120 exterior envelope glycoprotein bound tightly to proteoliposomes expressing only CD4 and, in the presence of soluble CD4, bound weakly to proteoliposomes expressing only CXCR4. The thermal stability of CD4 and CXCR4 inserted into liposomes was examined. Thermal denaturation of CXCR4 followed second-order kinetics, with an activation energy (E(a)) of 269 kJ/mol (64.3 kcal/mol) and an inactivation temperature (T(i)) of 56°C. Thermal inactivation of CD4 exhibited a reaction order of 1.3, an E(a) of 278 kJ/mol (66.5 kcal/mol), and a T(i) of 52.2°C. The second-order denaturation kinetics of CXCR4 is unusual among G protein-coupled receptors, and may result from dimeric interactions between CXCR4 molecules. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our studies with proteoliposomes containing the native HIV-1 receptors allowed an examination of the binding of biologically important ligands and revealed the higher-order denaturation kinetics of these receptors. CD4/CXCR4-proteoliposomes may be useful for the study of virus-target cell interactions and for the identification of inhibitors

Competitive Interactions between Invasive Nile Tilapia and Native Fish: The Potential for Altered Trophic Exchange and Modification of Food Webs

Recent studies have highlighted both the positive and negative impacts of species invasions. Most of these studies have been conducted on either immobile invasive plants or sessile fauna found at the base of food webs. Fewer studies have examined the impacts of vagile invasive consumers on native competitors. This is an issue of some importance given the controlling influence that consumers have on lower order plants and animals. Here, we present results of laboratory experiments designed to assess the impacts of unintended aquaculture releases of the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), in estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico, on the functionally similar redspotted sunfish (Lepomis miniatus). Laboratory choice tests showed that tilapia prefer the same structured habitat that native sunfish prefer. In subsequent interspecific competition experiments, agonistic tilapia displaced sunfish from their preferred structured habitats. When a piscivore (largemouth bass) was present in the tank with both species, the survival of sunfish decreased. Based on these findings, if left unchecked, we predict that the proliferation of tilapia (and perhaps other aggressive aquaculture fishes) will have important detrimental effects on the structure of native food webs in shallow, structured coastal habitats. While it is likely that the impacts of higher trophic level invasive competitors will vary among species, these results show that consequences of unintended releases of invasive higher order consumers can be important