Analysis of energy consumption on Tennessee farms

A study was conducted to compare the results of energy use of fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals from an energy survey of farms across the state of Tennessee to the results of a study from financial information gathered by the Tennessee Resource Development Program. The study compared the estimated average energy use in diesel equivalent per acre to produce the crops corn, soybeans, and wheat. The information for the survey study was gathered from 11 farmers across the state. This information included actual energy use in fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals for the crops considered. The information gathered from the Tennessee Resource Development Program included expenses incurred for fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals. Calculations determined average costs per unit for each of the three energy forms. Energy use for fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals was then computed using average price of energy per unit and expenses incurred by the farmer. The final results of both studies show very similar amounts of computed energy use per acre. The total energy use in gallons of diesel equivalent per acre for fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals was 32.2, 11.0, and 13.9 respectively for corn, soybeans, and wheat for the survey data and 31.9, 13.6, and 17.4 for the Tennessee Resource Development Program data. These results would enable a farmer to estimate energy use and also estimate an energy budget for his crops

Analysis of energy consumption on Tennessee farms

A study was conducted to compare the results of energy use of fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals from an energy survey of farms across the state of Tennessee to the results of a study from financial information gathered by the Tennessee Resource Development Program. The study compared the estimated average energy use in diesel equivalent per acre to produce the crops corn, soybeans, and wheat. The information for the survey study was gathered from 11 farmers across the state. This information included actual energy use in fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals for the crops considered. The information gathered from the Tennessee Resource Development Program included expenses incurred for fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals. Calculations determined average costs per unit for each of the three energy forms. Energy use for fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals was then computed using average price of energy per unit and expenses incurred by the farmer. The final results of both studies show very similar amounts of computed energy use per acre. The total energy use in gallons of diesel equivalent per acre for fuel, fertilizer, and chemicals was 32.2, 11.0, and 13.9 respectively for corn, soybeans, and wheat for the survey data and 31.9, 13.6, and 17.4 for the Tennessee Resource Development Program data. These results would enable a farmer to estimate energy use and also estimate an energy budget for his crops

Altering temperature in a mammalian body

The present application relates to systems and methods for altering temperature in a mammalian body. Optionally, the systems and methods can be used to lower or raise core body temperature of a mammalian subject. Optionally, the systems and methods can be used to lower or raise the temperature of glabrous skin of a mammalian subject.Board of Regents, University of Texas Syste

Membrane protein alterations in rodent erythrocytes and synaptosomes due to aging and hyperoxia

AbstractWe have applied the technique of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) protein-specific spin labeling to the study of membrane protein alterations occurring during age and exposure to isobaric hyperoxia. Cortical synaptosomes and erythrocyte membranes (ghosts) were isolated from young rodents (Fisher 344 rats or mongolian gerbils, 3–4 months of age) and aged rodents (age 22–27 months for rats, greater than 15 months for gerbils). Membrane proteins were spin labeled with the thiol-specific spin label MAL-6 (2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-4-maleimido-piperdin-1-oxyl). The relevant EPR spectral parameter of MAL-6 labeled membranes, the W/S ratio, decreased significantly with age of animal in both synaptosomes and ghosts (P < 0.001). As a paradigm for accelerated oxidative stress, young and aged gerbils were exposed to an atmosphere of 90–100% O2 for 0–48 h. In both young and aged gerbils, the W/S ratio decreased significantly with hyperoxic stress (P < 0.003). The W/S ratio of synaptosomes isolated from aged gerbils decreased continually from 0–48 h hyperoxia, whereas the W/S ratio of synaptosomes from young animals demonstrated a pronounced rebound effect from 24–48 h. The results are discussed with reference to membrane protein oxidation in aging

Process for Enhancing the Activity of Amyloid β Peptides

A novel process for enhancing activity of an oligopeptide or polypeptide comprising the steps of: providing an oligopeptide or polypeptide, dissolving the oligopeptide or polypeptide in an organic solvent, heating, removing the solvent, and recovering an oligopeptide or polypeptide with enhanced activity is disclosed. Also disclosed are novel oligopeptides and polypeptides enhanced by the process according the invention

Power asymmetry in CMB polarization maps from PLANCK : a local variance analysis

A persistent signal of power asymmetry on opposite hemispheres of CMB sky was seen in full-sky temperature measurements made so far. This asymmetry was seen in microwave sky from WMAP as well as PLANCK satellites, and calls for attention the larger question of \emph{statistical isotropy}, one of the foundational principles of modern cosmology. In this work we present an analysis of polarized CMB maps from PLANCK 2015 full mission data. We apply the local variance estimator on low resolution $E-$mode maps from PLANCK 2015 polarization \texttt{Commander} solution. We find a significant hemispherical power asymmetry in polarization data on large angular scales, at the level of $\sim 2.6-3.9\%$ depending on the galactic mask, and the circular disc radius used for computing local variance maps. However the direction is found to be pointing broadly towards CMB kinetic dipole direction. Precise measurements of CMB polarization in future will shed light on this apparent discrepancy in the anisotropy axis seen in temperature and polarized CMB sky, and likely influence of systematics on our findings.Comment: 21 pages, 10 figures, 3 table

Derivation of therapeutic lung spheroid cells from minimally invasive transbronchial pulmonary biopsies

BACKGROUND: Resident stem and progenitor cells have been identified in the lung over the last decade, but isolation and culture of these cells remains a challenge. Thus, although these lung stem and progenitor cells provide an ideal source for stem-cell based therapy, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) remain the most popular cell therapy product for the treatment of lung diseases. Surgical lung biopsies can be the tissue source but such procedures carry a high risk of mortality. METHODS: In this study we demonstrate that therapeutic lung cells, termed "lung spheroid cells" (LSCs) can be generated from minimally invasive transbronchial lung biopsies using a three-dimensional culture technique. The cells were then characterized by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. Angiogenic potential was tested by in-vitro HUVEC tube formation assay. In-vivo bio- distribution of LSCs was examined in athymic nude mice after intravenous delivery. RESULTS: From one lung biopsy, we are able to derive >50 million LSC cells at Passage 2. These cells were characterized by flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry and were shown to represent a mixture of lung stem cells and supporting cells. When introduced systemically into nude mice, LSCs were retained primarily in the lungs for up to 21 days. CONCLUSION: Here, for the first time, we demonstrated that direct culture and expansion of human lung progenitor cells from pulmonary tissues, acquired through a minimally invasive biopsy, is possible and straightforward with a three-dimensional culture technique. These cells could be utilized in long-term expansion of lung progenitor cells and as part of the development of cell-based therapies for the treatment of lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)

Primary glia expressing the G93A-SOD1 mutation present a neuroinflammatory phenotype and provide a cellular system for studies of glial inflammation

Detailed study of glial inflammation has been hindered by lack of cell culture systems that spontaneously demonstrate the "neuroinflammatory phenotype". Mice expressing a glycine → alanine substitution in cytosolic Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (G93A-SOD1) associated with familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) demonstrate age-dependent neuroinflammation associated with broad-spectrum cytokine, eicosanoid and oxidant production. In order to more precisely study the cellular mechanisms underlying glial activation in the G93A-SOD1 mouse, primary astrocytes were cultured from 7 day mouse neonates. At this age, G93A-SOD1 mice demonstrated no in vivo hallmarks of neuroinflammation. Nonetheless astrocytes cultured from G93A-SOD1 (but not wild-type human SOD1-expressing) transgenic mouse pups demonstrated a significant elevation in either the basal or the tumor necrosis alpha (TNFα)-stimulated levels of proinflammatory eicosanoids prostaglandin E(2 )(PGE(2)) and leukotriene B(4 )(LTB(4)); inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and •NO (indexed by nitrite release into the culture medium); and protein carbonyl products. Specific cytokine- and TNFα death-receptor-associated components were similarly upregulated in cultured G93A-SOD1 cells as assessed by multiprobe ribonuclease protection assays (RPAs) for their mRNA transcripts. Thus, endogenous glial expression of G93A-SOD1 produces a metastable condition in which glia are more prone to enter an activated neuroinflammatory state associated with broad-spectrum increased production of paracrine-acting substances. These findings support a role for active glial involvement in ALS and may provide a useful cell culture tool for the study of glial inflammation

Landscape of coordinated immune responses to H1N1 challenge in humans

Influenza is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Here we show changes in the abundance and activation states of more than 50 immune cell subsets in 35 individuals over 11 time points during human A/California/2009 (H1N1) virus challenge monitored using mass cytometry along with other clinical assessments. Peak change in monocyte, B cell, and T cell subset frequencies coincided with peak virus shedding, followed by marked activation of T and NI&lt; cells. Results led to the identification of C038 as a critical regulator of plasmacytoid dendritic cell function in response to influenza virus. Machine learning using study-derived clinical parameters and single-cell data effectively classified and predicted susceptibility to infection. The coordinated immune cell dynamics defined in this study provide a framework for identifying novel correlates of protection in the evaluation of future influenza therapeutics