Correlation between CPT Data and Dynamic Properties of In Situ Frozen Samples

Correlations between cone penetration resistance and liquefaction resistance of sandy soils are examined, based on high quality undisturbed samples obtained by the in situ freezing method. For this purpose, the CPT tests are conducted at six sites where in situ frozen sands with fines contents up to 30 % were sampled and their dynamic properties were determined in the laboratory. The comparison of the CPT data with the soil properties of the in situ frozen samples has shown that: (1) Robertson\u27s soil classification chart performs well for sandy soils in Japan; (2) the CPT qt-value shows a good correlation with elastic shear modulus of the in situ frozen samples; and (3) the liquefaction resistance of the in situ frozen samples is uniquely expressed if the cone penetration resistance is normalized in terms of confining pressure and minimum void ratio

Interstitium: site of steroid synthesis in the ovary of the long term hypophysectomized hamster

The ovaries of hamsters hypophysectomized (H̅) on the afternoon of proestrus synthesize in vitro substantial amounts of progesterone for as long as 20 days post-H̅ (Taya and Greenwald, 1979b). The purpose of the present study was to identify by histochemistry and ultrastructure the ovarian cell type which still possessed the enzymes capable of steroidogenesis despite the long term absence of gonadotropins. After Day 6 post-H̅, the ovaries contained interstitium and viable and atretic small preantral follicles. The viable preantral follicles were histochemically devoid of Δ 5-3β -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3β -HSDH). Histochemically, there were no appreciable changes in lipids in the interstitial gland cells (IGC) until Day 20 post-H̅, followed by a slight decrease by Day 30. The 3β -HSDH activity in the IGC showed no appreciable changes until Day 6 and thereafter decreased gradually until Day 30. Trace amounts of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were found in the IGC until Day 6 and thereafter the enzyme was undetectable. The IGC contained only trace amounts of acid phosphatase until Day 10, followed by a gradual increase by Day 30. A single i.p. injection of 5 μg ovine LH on Day 10, 20 or 30 resulted 3 h later in dramatic increases in the concentration of serum progesterone and ovarian progesterone and testosterone but not estradiol-17β . Concomitantly, the depletion of lipid droplets in viable interstitial cells was observed by histochemical and ultrastructural criteria. However, lipid accumulations in degenerating interstitial cells and atretic granulosa cells were unaffected by LH treatment. These data indicate that the interstitium is an active steroidogenic tissue for at least 30 days post-H̅ and that LH can rapidly stimulate synthesis and secretion of progesterone and testosterone by the interstitium in long term hypophysectomized hamsters

Morphological Identification of Parasites Found in Ducks (Family Anatidae) Along the Mississippi River: A Parasitology Class Project

Ducks (Anatidae) can be found across much of the United States and are hosts to a variety of parasites such as nematodes, trematodes or cestodes. This study focused on identifying the species of the parasites found within ducks based on their morphological features. The morphological structures consisted of body shape, internal organs, mouthparts, and length. The ducks used in this study were legally harvested and donated by hunters from areas across the Mississippi River in Buffalo County and Trempealeau County Wisconsin. A total of 108 ducks have been analyzed for parasites. It is important to identify the types of parasites that use ducks as a host, to see if they are harmful to the ducks so that they can be better managed. Necropsy was performed on different species of ducks to extract endo and ectoparasites. The extracted parasites were stained using carmine borax so they could be viewed using microscopy. While examining the parasites under the microscope, length and width measurements were taken as well as identifying key features like hold fast organs. A published key was used as a guide to identify parasites based on the measurements and key features present. The identified parasites were compared with DNA analysis from another research group to help ensure that the identification of the parasites was correct. Finally, identifications were compared to published articles containing past research found on parasites in ducks

Water use, transpiration efficiency and yield in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) and peanut (Arachis hypogaea) across water regimes

Genotypic variation in crop response to drought depends on agronomic, environmental and genetic factors, and only limited work has compared responses of crop species to water limitation. Twenty genotypes of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) and of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) were tested in lysimeters under well-watered (WW) and water-stress (WS) conditions during two seasons, a post-rainy season with high evapotranspiration and a rainy season with low evapotranspiration (ET), in order to assess: (i) variability in the agronomic response to stress within and between species across the seasons; (ii) the water requirement of the two crops in each season; and (iii) the stress effect on harvest index (HI), transpiration efficiency (TE), pod yield and haulm yield. Cowpea required less water than peanut during the two seasons, and water use in cowpea varied less across seasons than in peanut. Peanut yield was more sensitive to water stress than cowpea yield, although its water use under WS was higher than in cowpea. Also, under WS conditions, TE, HI and pod yield were more stable across season in cowpea than in peanut. In the post-rainy season, the decrease in pod yield and HI under WS was higher in peanut (95% and 80%, respectively) than in cowpea (70% and 35%). In addition, TE was less affected by WS in cowpea (5%) than in peanut (24%). HI explained a large part of yield variation in both crops, especially under WS. Under WW, water use explained a large portion of the residual yield variations unexplained by HI, although TE also explained a substantial part of the variation in cowpea. Under WS, the main determinant of residual yield variations in both crops was TE. Generally, genetic variation for water use, TE and HI was found in both species across water regimes and seasons. A notable exception was the absence of variation in peanut water use and TE in the rainy season. Our results showed that cowpea, with lower water requirement and efficient water use under a high-ET season, was more resilient to water-limited and high-ET conditions than peanut

Immunohistochemical evidence: testicular and scented glandular androgen synthesis in muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) during the breeding season

In order to elucidate the relationship between androgens and the function of the muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) scented glands during the breeding season, we investigated immunolocalization of steroidogenic enzymes P450scc, 3βHSD and P450c17 in the muskrat testes and scented glands. Nine adult muskrats were obtained in March (n=3), May (n=3) and July (n=3) 2010. Steroidogenic enzymes were immunolocalized using polyclonal antisera raised against bovine adrenal P450scc, human placental 3βHSD and porcine testicular P450c17. Histologically, all types of spermatogenic cells including mature-phase spermatozoa in seminiferous tubules were observed in all testes. Glandular cells, interstitial cells, epithelial cells and excretory tubules were identified in scented glands during the breeding season. P450scc, 3βHSD and P450c17 were only identified in Leydig cells during the breeding season; P450scc and P450c17 were observed in glandular cells of scented glands, however, 3βHSD was not found in scented glands during the breeding season. These novel findings provide the first evidence showing that scented glands of the muskrats are capable of locally synthesizing androgens and androgens acting via an endocrine, autocrine or paracrine manner may play an important role in scented gland function during the breeding season

Elucidating the relationship between DISC1, NDEL1 and NDE1 and the risk for schizophrenia: Evidence of epistasis and competitive binding

DISC1 influences susceptibility to psychiatric disease and related phenotypes. Intact functions of DISC1 and its binding partners, NDEL1 and NDE1, are critical to neurodevelopmental processes aberrant in schizophrenia (SZ). Despite evidence of an NDEL1–DISC1 protein interaction, there have been no investigations of the NDEL1 gene or the relationship between NDEL1 and DISC1 in SZ. We genotyped six NDEL1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 275 Caucasian SZ patients and 200 controls and tested for association and interaction between the functional SNP Ser704Cys in DISC1 and NDEL1. We also evaluated the relationship between NDE1 and DISC1 genotype and SZ. Finally, in a series of in vitro assays, we determined the binding profiles of NDEL1 and NDE1, in relation to DISC1 Ser704Cys. We observed a single haplotype block within NDEL1; the majority of variation was captured by NDEL1 rs1391768. We observed a significant interaction between rs1391768 and DISC1 Ser704Cys, with the effect of NDEL1 on SZ evident only against the background of DISC1 Ser704 homozygosity. Secondary analyses revealed no direct relationship between NDE1 genotype and SZ; however, there was an opposite pattern of risk for NDE1 genotype when conditioned on DISC1 Ser704Cys, with NDE1 rs3784859 imparting a significant effect but only in the context of a Cys-carrying background. In addition, we report opposing binding patterns of NDEL1 and NDE1 to Ser704 versus Cys704, at the same DISC1 binding domain. These data suggest that NDEL1 significantly influences risk for SZ via an interaction with DISC1. We propose a model where NDEL1 and NDE1 compete for binding with DISC1

Factors affecting haemoglobin dynamics in African children with acute uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria treated with single low dose primaquine or placebo

Background: Single low-dose primaquine (SLDPQ) effectively blocks the transmission of Plasmodium falciparum malaria, but anxiety remains regarding its haemolytic potential in patients with glucose-6-phopshate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. We, therefore, examined the independent effects of several factors on haemoglobin (Hb) dynamics in falciparum-infected children with a particular interest in SLDPQ and G6PD status. Methods: This randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, safety trial was conducted in Congolese and Ugandan children aged 6 months–11 years with acute uncomplicated P. falciparum and day (D) 0 Hbs ≥ 6 g/dL who were treated with age-dosed SLDPQ/placebo and weight-dosed artemether lumefantrine (AL) or dihydroartemisinin piperaquine (DHAPP). Genotyping defined G6PD (G6PD c.202T allele), haemoglobin S (HbS), and α-thalassaemia status. Multivariable linear and logistic regression assessed factor independence for continuous Hb parameters and Hb recovery (D42 Hb > D0 Hb), respectively. Results: One thousand one hundred thirty-seven children, whose median age was 5 years, were randomised to receive: AL + SLDPQ (n = 286), AL + placebo (286), DHAPP + SLDPQ (283), and DHAPP + placebo (282). By G6PD status, 284 were G6PD deficient (239 hemizygous males, 45 homozygous females), 119 were heterozygous females, 418 and 299 were normal males and females, respectively, and 17 were of unknown status. The mean D0 Hb was 10.6 (SD 1.6) g/dL and was lower in younger children with longer illnesses, lower mid-upper arm circumferences, splenomegaly, and α-thalassaemia trait, who were either G6PDd or heterozygous females. The initial fractional fall in Hb was greater in younger children with higher D0 Hbs and D0 parasitaemias and longer illnesses but less in sickle cell trait. Older G6PDd children with lower starting Hbs and greater factional falls were more likely to achieve Hb recovery, whilst lower D42 Hb concentrations were associated with younger G6PD normal children with lower fractional falls, sickle cell disease, α-thalassaemia silent carrier and trait, and late treatment failures. Ten blood transfusions were given in the first week (5 SLDPQ, 5 placebo). Conclusions: In these falciparum-infected African children, posttreatment Hb changes were unaffected by SLDPQ, and G6PDd patients had favourable posttreatment Hb changes and a higher probability of Hb recovery. These reassuring findings support SLDPQ deployment without G6PD screening in Africa

Abnormal behavior in mice mutant for the Disc1 binding partner, Dixdc1

Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1) is a genetic susceptibility locus for major mental illness, including schizophrenia and depression. The Disc1 protein was recently shown to interact with the Wnt signaling protein, DIX domain containing 1 (Dixdc1). Both proteins participate in neural progenitor proliferation dependent on Wnt signaling, and in neural migration independently of Wnt signaling. Interestingly, their effect on neural progenitor proliferation is additive. By analogy to Disc1, mutations in Dixdc1 may lead to abnormal behavior in mice, and to schizophrenia or depression in humans. To explore this hypothesis further, we generated mice mutant at the Dixdc1 locus and analyzed their behavior. Dixdc1−/− mice had normal prepulse inhibition, but displayed decreased spontaneous locomotor activity, abnormal behavior in the elevated plus maze and deficits in startle reactivity. Our results suggest that Dixdc1−/− mice will be a useful tool to elucidate molecular pathophysiology involving Disc1 in major mental illnesses