Biomarkers for assessing human female reproductive health, an interdisciplinary approach.

Identification of environmental hazards to reproductive health and characterization of the adverse outcomes necessitate a multidisciplinary approach. Epidemiologic studies are required for the identification of adverse health effects in human populations and then to confirm that specific exposures are responsible. Clinical studies are required to develop assays for reproductive biomarkers and to validate these assays prior to their application in the field. Assays for field use must be formatted and streamlined for large-scale applications and, whenever possible, computer algorithms should be developed to interpret biomarker data. Appropriate animal models must be identified, biomarker assays validated for that model, and animal experiments conducted to identify the mode of action and target organ of a putative reproductive toxicant. Finally, in vitro studies at the level of the cell and cell organelle are essential for mechanisms for toxicity to be clearly identified and understood. In this article we describe the interdisciplinary approach that we have developed for study of the effects of environmental agents on female reproductive functions. This effort requires specific skills of toxicologists, epidemiologists, physicians, biochemists, and physiologists

Traffic placement policies for a multi-band network

Recently protocols were introduced that enable the integration of synchronous traffic (voice or video) and asynchronous traffic (data) and extend the size of local area networks without loss in speed or capacity. One of these is DRAMA, a multiband protocol based on broadband technology. It provides dynamic allocation of bandwidth among clusters of nodes in the total network. A number of traffic placement policies for such networks are proposed and evaluated. Metrics used for performance evaluation include average network access delay, degree of fairness of access among the nodes, and network throughput. The feasibility of the DRAMA protocol is established through simulation studies. DRAMA provides effective integration of synchronous and asychronous traffic due to its ability to separate traffic types. Under the suggested traffic placement policies, the DRAMA protocol is shown to handle diverse loads, mixes of traffic types, and numbers of nodes, as well as modifications to the network structure and momentary traffic overloads

CSMA/RN: A universal protocol for gigabit networks

Networks must provide intelligent access for nodes to share the communications resources. In the range of 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps, the demand access class of protocols were studied extensively. Many use some form of slot or reservation system and many the concept of attempt and defer to determine the presence or absence of incoming information. The random access class of protocols like shared channel systems (Ethernet), also use the concept of attempt and defer in the form of carrier sensing to alleviate the damaging effects of collisions. In CSMA/CD, the sensing of interference is on a global basis. All systems discussed above have one aspect in common, they examine activity on the network either locally or globally and react in an attempt and whatever mechanism. Of the attempt + mechanisms discussed, one is obviously missing; that is attempt and truncate. Attempt and truncate was studied in a ring configuration called the Carrier Sensed Multiple Access Ring Network (CSMA/RN). The system features of CSMA/RN are described including a discussion of the node operations for inserting and removing messages and for handling integrated traffic. The performance and operational features based on analytical and simulation studies which indicate that CSMA/RN is a useful and adaptable protocol over a wide range of network conditions are discussed. Finally, the research and development activities necessary to demonstrate and realize the potential of CSMA/RN as a universal, gigabit network protocol is outlined

Extremely high data-rate, reliable network systems research

Significant progress was made over the year in the four focus areas of this research group: gigabit protocols, extensions of metropolitan protocols, parallel protocols, and distributed simulations. Two activities, a network management tool and the Carrier Sensed Multiple Access Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) protocol, have developed to the point that a patent is being applied for in the next year; a tool set for distributed simulation using the language SIMSCRIPT also has commercial potential and is to be further refined. The year's results for each of these areas are summarized and next year's activities are described

The Impact of a Parkinson’s Disease Workshop on Student’s Attitudes and Competencies Towards Interprofessional Collaboration

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Preparation of a geologic photo map and hydrologic study of the Yemen Arab Republic

There are no author-identified significant results in this report

Description of Three Species of \u3ci\u3eIsorchis\u3c/i\u3e (Digenea: Atractotrematidae) from Australia

Three species of Isorchis Durio and Manter, 1969 are described from Australian waters. Isorchis megas sp. nov. is described from the spotbanded scat, Selenotoca multifasciata (Richardson), off Western Australia (WA) and Northern Territory (NT); Isorchis currani sp. nov. is described from S. multifasciata off NT; and Isorchis anomalus sp. nov. is described from the milkfish, Chanos chanos Forsskål, off WA. Isorchis megas sp. nov. can be differentiated from the other species of Isorchis by possessing a single, large egg that is greater than 20% of the body length; having a shorter body (the largest specimen is less than 500 μm); and utilizing a scatophagid rather than a chanid host. Isorchis currani sp. nov. can be differentiated from all other species of Isorchis in possessing an irregular-shaped genital pore rather than one that is circular to oblong. A Bayesian inference analysis of partial 28S rDNA sequences of the three new species of Isorchis and 30 other haploporoids revealed (1) the monophyly of the Atractotrematidae Yamaguti, 1939, (2) the two species of Isorchis infecting S. multifasciata were each other\u27s closest relative, and (3) that Isorchis was most closely related to Pseudomegasolena Machida and and Komiya, 1976 rather than Atractotrema Goto and Ozaki, 1929 although sequence data are not yet available for a member of Pseudisorchis Ahmad, 1985

Phylogenetic Afficity of \u3ci\u3eGenolopa\u3c/i\u3e (Digenea: Monorchiidae) With Descriptions of Two New Species

The validity of Genolopa Linton, 1910 has been controversial because the observation of presently recognized critical diagnostic morphological features (spines in the genital atrium and a bipartite, anteriorly spined terminal organ) were omitted from the original diagnosis, and these features were not universally appreciated as important diagnostic features until 2008. Modern taxonomists have been further challenged by inappropriate fixation techniques that have resulted in various interpretations of morphological features. Consequently, named species in the genus have fluctuated among other monorchiid genera depending on various interpretations by taxonomists, and a modern consensus on classifying these species is lacking. This study combines a molecular approach with modern conventional morphological techniques to investigate the validity of Genolopa as a lineage within the Monorchiidae. New morphology and molecular sequence data from the type-species of Genolopa were studied, and two new species in the genus were described, Genolopa vesca n. sp. and Genolopa minuscula n. sp. Interrelationships among the Monorchiidae were explored using Bayesian inference analysis of the partial 28S rDNA fragment, incorporating three species of Genolopa for the first time. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the genus represents a natural lineage, supporting the presence of spines in the genital atrium in conjunction with a bipartite and anteriorly spined terminal organ as key features of the generic diagnosis. This study also provides for the first time partial 28S rDNA data for Postmonorchis orthopristis, Lasiotocus trachinoti, Lasiotocus glebulentus, and an unidentified species of Lasiotocus

Effects of Space Shuttle Exhaust Plumes on Gills of Some Estuarine Fishes: A Light and Electron Microscopic Study

The first few launches of the space shuttle resulted in fish kills in a lagoon near the launch site. To study this phenomenon further, sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus), sailfin molly (Poecilia latipinna), and mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) were exposed to the exhaust plume in buckets placed near the launch site. An open bucket provided a full exposure, a partly closed one provided an intermediate exposure, and a closed one was the control. Three h after launch, the pH of the water from the full exposure had decreased from about 7 to about 3, Al and Fe levels had increased, and some fish had died. Gills ol most fishes from full exposures and some from intermediate exposures were damaged. Gills, however, exhibited no aneurysms, mucus coagulation, or hemorrhaging. Some secondary lamellae swelled, some fused with adjacent lamellae, and others clubbed or retracted into the filament. Many lamellar pavement cells died and sloughed off. Mucous cells of intermediate exposure specimens bulged on the filament surface and pavement cells lost their microridges. Mineral deposits, probably aluminum oxide, occurred on gills of fishes from full exposures. Focally, pavement cells were eroded exposing the underlying structures. The sudden pH drop in the full exposures probably caused the gill damage. However, we could not determine the effect of previous exposure on the experimental fish, or whether gill damage was the lethal lesion. The possibility is indicated that some fish recover after exposure to the exhaust plume