Vine Response to Water Stress Induced by Polyethylene Glycol

Polyethylene glycol (P E G) was used at different concentrations in glasshouse studies to create a range of solution osmotic potentials in an attempt to simulate the effect of water stress on vines. This was found to be a feasible technique provided that special precautions were taken to prevent P E G uptake and toxicity symptoms caused by mechanical root damage. Vine response in terms of transpiration, shoot elongation rate, stomata! resistance and leaf water potential, was monitored. Significant correlations were found between solution osmotic potential and all these parameters. Shoot growth was more sensitive than stomata! opening to osmotic potential which, in turn, correlated well with transpiration rate

Interrogating Gender Texts: A Critical Review of the Literature

This paper synthesizes the Canadian adult education literature related to gender and adult learning. By examining how it has been written about, what it focuses on, and what the gaps are, the authors identified current contributions in the Canadian literature

Macrophages in Synovial Inflammation

Synovial macrophages are one of the resident cell types in synovial tissue and while they remain relatively quiescent in the healthy joint, they become activated in the inflamed joint and, along with infiltrating monocytes/macrophages, regulate secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enzymes involved in driving the inflammatory response and joint destruction. Synovial macrophages are positioned throughout the sub-lining layer and lining layer at the cartilage–pannus junction and mediate articular destruction. Sub-lining macrophages are now also considered as the most reliable biomarker for disease severity and response to therapy in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There is a growing understanding of the molecular drivers of inflammation and an appreciation that the resolution of inflammation is an active process rather than a passive return to homeostasis, and this has implications for our understanding of the role of macrophages in inflammation. Macrophage phenotype determines the cytokine secretion profile and tissue destruction capabilities of these cells. Whereas inflammatory synovial macrophages have not yet been classified into one phenotype or another it is widely known that TNFα and IL-l, characteristically released by M1 macrophages, are abundant in RA while IL-10 activity, characteristic of M2 macrophages, is somewhat diminished. Here we will briefly review our current understanding of macrophages and macrophage polarization in RA as well as the elements implicated in controlling polarization, such as cytokines and transcription factors like NFκB, IRFs and NR4A, and pro-resolving factors, such as LXA4 and other lipid mediators which may promote a non-inflammatory, pro-resolving phenotype, and may represent a novel therapeutic paradigm

New Records of Vascular Plants in the Yukon Territory VI

Based on field reconnaissance mainly in 2002 in the southern part of the Yukon and particularly in and adjacent to Kluane National Park, information is provided on geographically significant plant occurrences. Six native taxa, Atriplex alaskensis, Claytonia megarrhiza, Corispermum ochotense var. alaskanum, Oxytropis arctica, Polemonium acutiflorum forma lacteum and Polemonium boreale forma albiflorum, and four introduced taxa. Arabis caucasica, Camelina sativa, Senecio eremophilus, and Setaria viridis are reported new to the known flora of the Yukon Territory. Significant range extensions for 158 native and 21 introduced taxa are included. Parrya arctica, Armoracia rusticana, Atriplex patula and Papaver nudicaule ssp. nudicaule are excluded from the Yukon flora

New Records of Vascular Plants in the Yukon Territory V

Based on field reconnaissance in 2000 and 2001 throughout Yukon but particularly in the areas of the Upper Bonnet Plume River, Wind River, Eagle Plains and Vuntut National Park, information is provided on geographically significant plant occurrences. Three native taxa, Draba kananaskis, Hieracium albiflorum and Prunella vulgaris ssp. lanceolata and five introduced taxa, Alopecurus geniculatus, Dactylis glomerata, Elymus junceus, Lotus corniculatus, and Verbena hastata are reported new to the known flora of the Yukon Territory. Signifigant range extensions for 190 native and 24 introduced taxa are included. Maianthemum dilatatum is excluded from the Yukon flora

Metal-Poor Stars Observed with the Magellan Telescope I. Constraints on Progenitor Mass and Metallicity of AGB Stars Undergoing s-Process Nucleosynthesis

We present a comprehensive abundance analysis of two newly-discovered carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars. HE2138-3336 is a s-process-rich star with [Fe/H] = -2.79, and has the highest [Pb/Fe] abundance ratio measured thus far, if NLTE corrections are included ([Pb/Fe] = +3.84). HE2258-6358, with [Fe/H] = -2.67, exhibits enrichments in both s- and r-process elements. These stars were selected from a sample of candidate metal-poor stars from the Hamburg/ESO objective-prism survey, and followed up with medium-resolution (R ~ 2,000) spectroscopy with GEMINI/GMOS. We report here on derived abundances (or limits) for a total of 34 elements in each star, based on high-resolution (R ~ 30,000) spectroscopy obtained with Magellan-Clay/MIKE. Our results are compared to predictions from new theoretical AGB nucleosynthesis models of 1.3 Mo with [Fe/H] = -2.5 and -2.8, as well as to a set of AGB models of 1.0 to 6.0 Mo at [Fe/H] = -2.3. The agreement with the model predictions suggests that the neutron-capture material in HE2138-3336 originated from mass transfer from a binary companion star that previously went through the AGB phase, whereas for HE2258-6358, an additional process has to be taken into account to explain its abundance pattern. We find that a narrow range of progenitor masses (1.0 < M(Mo) < 1.3) and metallicities (-2.8 < [Fe/H] < -2.5) yield the best agreement with our observed elemental abundance patterns.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

The speaking vocabulary of 454 third grade children.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

An Interdisciplinary Approach to Community-Engaged Research Surrounding Lead in Drinking Water in the Mississippi Delta

Childhood lead poisoning is a problem requiring interdisciplinary attention from toxicology, public health, social sciences, environmental law, and policy. In the U.S., Mississippi was ranked as one of the worst states for lead poisoning with limited childhood screening measures. We conducted community-engaged research by working with leaders in the largely rural Mississippi Delta region from 2016-2019 to collect household water samples and questionnaires and involve their communities in lead poisoning risk awareness and outreach. Drinking water from 213 homes was collected and analyzed for pH and lead concentrations. Highest lead concentrations were from households served by private wells, and detectable concentrations at or above 0.09 ppb were found in 66.2 percent of all samples. Nine samples exceeded 5 ppb, and these households received certified sink filters. Findings indicated that community-engaged research and outreach could be used to address data gaps relating to lead in drinking water in rural decentralized water systems

The Alcohol Intervention Training Program (AITP): A response to alcohol misuse in the farming community

BackgroundFarm men and women in Australia have higher levels of problematic alcohol use than their urban counterparts and experience elevated health risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption. The Sustainable Farm Families (SFF) program has worked successfully with farm men and women to address health, well- being and safety and has identified that further research and training is required to understand and address alcohol misuse behaviours. This project will add an innovative component to the program by training health professionals working with farm men and women to discuss and respond to alcohol-related physical and mental health problems.Methods/DesignA mixed method design with multi-level evaluation will be implemented following the development and delivery of a training program (The Alcohol Intervention Training Program {AITP}) for Sustainable Farm Families health professionals. Pre-, post- and follow-up surveys will be used to assess both the impact of the training on the knowledge, confidence and skills of the health professionals to work with alcohol misuse and associated problems, and the impact of the training on the attitudes, behaviour and mental health of farm men and women who participate in the SFF project. Evaluations will take a range of forms including self-rated outcome measures and interviews.DiscussionThe success of this project will enhance the health and well-being of a critical population, the farm men and women of Australia, by producing an evidence-based strategy to assist them to adopt more positive alcohol-related behaviours that will lead to better physical and mental health.<br /