Leaf Mining Insects and Their Parasitoids in the Old-Growth Forest of the Huron Mountains

Leaf mining insects in an old-growth forest along the south central shore of Lake Superior in Michigan are documented. We present the results of a 13-year survey of leaf mining species, larval hosts, seasonal occurrence, and parasitoids, as well as report biological observations. Representative larvae, mines, adults, and parasitoids were preserved. Among the larval host associations, 15 are reported as new. Additionally, 42 parasitoid taxa were identified resulting in six first reports from the New World and 32 new host associations. Two undescribed species (Gelechiidae and Figitidae) discovered through this research were described in earlier publications

Groundwater Hydrology of a Population of Lindera melissifolia in Arkansas

Groundwater hydrology was monitored from October through August in and around a bottomland forest pond containing Lindera melissifolia, pondberry. The study site exhibited a series of low ancient dunes and depressions, with seasonal ponds in the depressions. Ponds showed no surface inlets or outlets. Shallow wells were made and soil cores removed along a transect from the top of one dune across the pond to a lower dune. Piezometers were installed in the wells and groundwater levels monitored. Soil core samples were analyzed to determine particle size distribution at soil profile positions selected during field analysis. It was shown that a subsurface hydrologic gradient exists between surrounding dune slopes and the pond bottom, delivering groundwater to the pond during the season when precipitation exceeds evapotranspiration. The hydrologic gradient was shown to be substrate-dependent

Leaf Mining Insects and Their Parasitoids in the Old-Growth Forest of the Huron Mountains

Leaf mining insects in an old-growth forest along the south central shore of Lake Superior in Michigan are documented. We present the results of a 13-year survey of leaf mining species, larval hosts, seasonal occurrence, and parasitoids, as well as report biological observations. Representative larvae, mines, adults, and parasitoids were preserved. Among the larval host associations, 15 are reported as new. Additionally, 42 parasitoid taxa were identified resulting in six first reports from the New World and 32 new host associations. Two undescribed species (Gelechiidae and Figitidae) discovered through this research were described in earlier publications

The Endoscopic Approach to the Diagnosis of Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding

Fifty-nine consecutive patients who were bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract were examined endoscopically with fiberoptic instruments. The site and nature of the bleeding were identified in 84% of the patients without significant morbidity or mortality. Endoscopic examination of the esophagus, stomach and duodenum in the bleeding patient should be done within 12 to 24 hours after hospital admission and before barium study of the upper gastrointestinal tract

Cabin Point Creek Channelization Study : Final Report

In the realm of environmental impact assessment and analysis the effects of a proposed project are most often referred to in the subjunctive sense because of the qualifications and probabilities related to these postulations. Seldom does the opportunity present itself to follow a project to fruitition and beyond to, in fact, determine the validity of the assumptions made in arriving at the potential impacts of a project. Even less often is it possible to monitor a project from prior to construction to several years after the project has been completed to ascertain the exact nature of the projects impacts, compare pre- and post-project conditions and verify with some certainty the predicted impacts. The present study of the channelization of Cabin Point Creek is one such opportunity

Investigation of myositis and scleroderma specific autoantibodies in patients with lung cancer

BACKGROUND: The close temporal association between onset of some connective tissue diseases and cancer suggests a paraneoplastic association. Adult patients with scleroderma with anti-RNA polymerase III autoantibodies and adult patients with dermatomyositis with anti-transcriptional intermediary factor 1 (anti-TIF1) or anti-nuclear matrix protein 2 (anti-NXP2) autoantibodies have a significantly increased risk of developing cancer. Autoantibodies may serve as biomarkers for early detection of cancer and also could be relevant for prediction of responses to immune therapies. We aimed to test whether myositis and scleroderma specific or associated autoantibodies are detectable in individuals with lung cancer.METHODS: Serum from 60 Caucasian patients with lung cancer (30 with small cell lung cancer, 30 with non-small cell lung cancer) was screened for myositis and scleroderma specific and associated autoantibodies by radiolabelled immunoprecipitation.RESULTS: Anti-TIF1, anti-NXP2 or anti-RNA polymerase III autoantibodies were not detected in any of the 60 patients with lung cancer. Anti-glycyl-transfer RNA (tRNA) synthetase (anti-EJ) autoantibodies were detected in one patient with non-small cell lung cancer. No other known myositis or scleroderma autoantibodies were identified.CONCLUSIONS: Myositis and scleroderma specific autoantibodies, including anti-TIF1, anti-NXP2 and anti-RNA polymerase III, are rare in patients with lung cancer without an autoimmune disease. We report here the first case of anti-EJ autoantibodies being detected in a patient with lung cancer without clinical or radiographic evidence of the anti-synthetase syndrome.</p