Investigation of the role of smooth muscle function in egg transport in the mouse oviduct.

The time course of egg transport along the mouse oviduct is important for successful implantation to occur. It is generally accepted that variations in the innate contractile activity of the oviduct musculature regulate the rate of egg transport, but the controlling mechanism behind these changes in muscular activity is unclear. This study investigated the role of calcium ions in oviduct smooth muscle function and the regulation of egg transport. A variety of methods were utilized including: a new in vitro technique, which allowed observation of egg movement and muscle activity in a controlled environment, in vivo measurement of transport rates and measurement of oviduct calcium ion content; and the effects of pharmacological agents, ovarian hormones, ovariectomy, and ligation and cauterization of the uterus from the oviduct on egg transport and oviduct calcium levels. The results indicate that the concentration of calcium could play an important role in the regulation of oviduct contractility and egg transport. A definite pattern of calcium ion concentration changes occurred during normal egg transport, and a close correlation was found between the effects of pharmacological stimuli on the rate of egg transport and on oviduct calcium concentrations. There was little evidence to support the concept of control of egg transport by post-ovulatory ovarian hormones, but pre-ovulatory progesterone levels may be important. If this is the case, variations in the contractile activity of the oviduct could perhaps be mediated through progesterone-induced changes in tissue calcium content or distribution, but further study is needed to clarify such a relationship

Hepatitis C virus genotype 1b chimeric replicon containing genotype 3 NS5A domain

AbstractInfections with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3 exhibit differences in clinical phenotype including an increase in response to interferon therapy and development of steatosis. To initiate studies on genotype 3, we created a chimeric genotype 1b replicon containing a genotype 3a NS5A domain. The chimera was capable of efficient colony formation after the selection of a novel dominant adaptive mutation. Thus, domains from highly different strains can interact to form a functional replicase. A new genotype 1a replicon was constructed as well. Genotype specific influence on interferon sensitivity was examined using genotype 1a, 1b and chimeric 1b–3a replicons. The genotype 3a NS5A domain did not increase the sensitivity of the chimeric replicon to IFNα. The results suggest that NS5A is not sufficient to convey the increased IFNα response by genotype 3 or the replicon model is not capable of mimicking the events involved in increased sustained viral response

Current EBC development and testing at NASA

SiC/SiC Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) are a game changer for advanced power generation equipment because of their high temperature capability, oxidation resistance, and light weight that translate to significant reduction in fuel consumption and emission. Limitations of SiC/SiC CMCs include surface recession and component cracking and associated chemical and physical degradation in the CMC. The solution pursued to mitigate surface recession of SiC/SiC CMCs is the incorporation of coating systems that provide surface protection, which has become known as an Environmental Barrier Coating (EBC). The development of EBCs for the protection of SiC/SiC CMCs was a continuation of coating development work for corrosion protection of silicon-based monolithics. The first and second generation EBCs developed in mid 1990s-early 2000s laid the foundation for current EBCs. Environmental degradation that limits EBC life includes surface recession by steam, oxidation in steam environments, and CMAS-EBC reactions. Many engine tests have been conducted since late 1990s and a first CMC component entered into service in 2016 in a commercial engine. The introduction of CMCs represents significant challenges as failure of the EBC means rapid reduction in component life. A reliable lifing method and engine-relevant testing methods to validate life need to be developed. This paper will current activities on EBC development and testing at NASA

Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2005

This report presents data on income, poverty, and health insurance coverage in the United States based on information collected in the 2006 and earlier Annual Social and Economic Supplements (ASEC) to the Current Population Survey (CPS) conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau. Real median household income increased between 2004 and 2005. Both the number of people in poverty and the poverty rate were not statistically different between 2004 and 2005. The number of people with health insurance coverage increased, while the percentage of people with health insurance coverage decreased between 2004 and 2005. Both the number and the percentage of people without health insurance coverage increased between 2004 and 2005. These results were not uniform across demographic groups. For example, the poverty rate for non-Hispanic Whites decreased, while the overall rate was statistically unchanged. This report has three main sections— income, poverty, and health insurance coverage

Climate change vulnerability assessment for rare plants of the San Juan Region of Colorado

Prepared for: Tres Rios Bureau of Land Management and San Juan U.S. Forest Service.May 2014.Includes bibliographical references.The 5 million-acre San Juan Region lies in southwest Colorado and is considered part of the Four Corners area. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program tracks 122 plant species within this region. Recently published climate models for the Southern San Juan Region project a median decrease in May precipitation across southwestern Colorado and a 4.3° F increase in average annual temperatures, suggesting drought may become problematic for these species in the future (Lukas et al. 2014). As of 2014, we have conducted Climate Change Vulnerability Assessments using methodology developed by NatureServe for 60 of the tracked plant species known from the region, primarily focused on federally listed or agency sensitive species. Our results indicate that nearly 60% (36 species) of these plant species are extremely vulnerable to climate change. The most vulnerable species were from alpine, cliff and canyon, barrens, and groundwater dependent wetland habitats. Spruce-fir and ponderosa pine forests, and montane grasslands had the least amount of vulnerable species. Of the 60 species assesed, 37% (22 species) are endemic to the Four Corners region and most (19 species) are extremely vulnerable. Barrens support the highest number of endemic species of any habitat (7), and all but one barrens species is extremely vulnerable. We recommend developing climate adaptation strategies for extremely and highly vulnerable species and as time permits, assessing additional rare species

Ion-Pair-Directed Borylation of Aromatic Phosphonium Salts.

Control of positional selectivity in C-H activation reactions remains a challenge for synthetic chemists. Noncovalent catalysis has the potential to be a powerful strategy to address this challenge. As a part of our ongoing investigations into the use of ion-pairing interactions in site-selective catalysis, we demonstrate that several classes of aromatic phosphonium salts undergo iridium-catalyzed C-H borylation with a high selectivity for the arene meta position. This is achieved using a bifunctional bipyridine ligand bearing a pendant sulfonate group, which had previously been successful for borylation of aromatic ammonium salts. In this case, the phosphonium salts give a higher meta selectivity than the corresponding ammonium salts. We propose that the high selectivity occurs due to an attractive electrostatic interaction between the substrate and the ligand in the transition state for borylation

The current status of advanced environmentanl barrier coatings for ceramic matrix composites at NASA

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Diagnostic accuracy of image guided biopsies in small (<4cm) renal masses with implications for active surveillance:A systematic review of the evidence

The objective of this study was to determine the safety and diagnostic accuracy of renal tumour biopsies in a defined population of small renal masses (SRMs) only < 4cm using a 3 x 2 table intention-to-diagnose approach. The 3 x 2 table approach examines indeterminate results as a separate category, rather than pushing these through traditional a 2 x 2 table (four-cell matrix) approach. A highly sensitive search was performed in the Cochrane Library Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, MEDLINE and MEDLINE in Process, EMBASE and conference proceedings (1966 to 2016). The search sought the acquisition of data on the diagnostic accuracy and complications of RTB in patients with SRM < 4cm. Methodological quality and risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2. Test characteristics were calculated using a conventional 2 x 2 contingency table analysis excluding non-diagnostic biopsies, and an intention-to-diagnose approach with a 3 x 2 table for pooled estimates of the sensitivity and specificity. A total of twenty studies were included, with a total sample size of 974. The pooled estimates for sensitivity and specificity of RTB based upon univariate analysis using a 2 x 2 table observed sensitivity 0.952 (confidence interval (CI) 0.908-0.979) and specificity 0.824 (CI 0.566-0.962). Using the 3 x 2 table and intention-to-diagnose principle, sensitivity 0.947 (CI 0.925-0.965) and specificity 0.609 (CI 0.385-0.803) decreased. In conclusion, renal tumour biopsy in SRMs < 4cm is associated with a high diagnostic sensitivity, but poor specificity when non-diagnostic results are included by a 3 x 2 table for analysis (intention-to-diagnose approach). The risk of non-diagnostic results and poor quality of research need addressing through future studies, preferably by a well-designed prospective study, appropriately powered for diagnostic accuracy using valid reference standards