Third Annual Report of the Farm Management Service for Farmers in Soil Conservation Demonstration Areas for the year 1937 (April 1937 to March 1938)

Farm Management,

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Bibliographic Control of Electronic Serials

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Bibliographic Control of Electronic Serials of the University of Rhode Island Libraries. Recommends six policies related to the bibliographic control of electronic journals. The charge to the committee was as follows: The Ad Hoc Committee on the Bibliographic Control of Electronic Serials will review present library practice for the handling of electronic serials from the point of order, through invoicing, payment and cataloging in the HELIN system and on the library\u27s home page. It will review the process for the continuing management of the bibliographic record for accuracy, currency, and quality. The committee will consider the process for paid subscriptions, free subscriptions, type of access points, consortia implications, branch implications, and any other issues which are uncovered during the committee\u27s deliberations

Isolation and characterization of Desulfovibrio dechloracetivorans sp. nov., a marine dechlorinating bacterium growing by coupling the oxidation of acetate to the reductive dechlorination of 2-chlorophenol. Appl Environ Microbiol 66

Strain SF3, a gram-negative, anaerobic, motile, short curved rod that grows by coupling the reductive dechlorination of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) to the oxidation of acetate, was isolated from San Francisco Bay sediment. Strain SF3 grew at concentrations of NaCl ranging from 0.16 to 2.5%, but concentrations of KCl above 0.32% inhibited growth. The isolate used acetate, fumarate, lactate, propionate, pyruvate, alanine, and ethanol as electron donors for growth coupled to reductive dechlorination. Among the halogenated aromatic compounds tested, only the ortho position of chlorophenols was reductively dechlorinated, and additional chlorines at other positions blocked ortho dechlorination. Sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, and nitrate were also used as electron acceptors for growth. The optimal temperature for growth was 30°C, and no growth or dechlorination activity was observed at 37°C. Growth by reductive dechlorination was revealed by a growth yield of about 1 g of protein per mol of 2-CP dechlorinated, and about 2.7 g of protein per mole of 2,6-dichlorophenol dechlorinated. The physiological features and 16S ribosomal DNA sequence suggest that the organism is a novel species of the genus Desulfovibrio and which we have designated Desulfovibrio dechloracetivorans. The unusual physiological feature of this strain is that it uses acetate as an electron donor and carbon source for growth with 2-CP but not with sulfate. Substantial amounts of halogenated aromatic compounds have been released to the environment and many of them have accumulated in groundwater and sediments To date, much of the dehalogenation research has been directed toward understanding the fate and behavior of halogenated pollutants in freshwater sediments, soils, and sludges. Comparatively little is known about the fates of these pollutants or dehalogenating organisms from the marine environment despite the fact that marine biota produce a remarkable array of halogenated compounds (12). For example, studies by King (15) indicate that 2,4-dibromophenol occurred at concentrations of up to several hundred micromolar in hemichordate burrow walls and that this chemical was dehalogenated in these sediments under anaerobic conditions. This result suggested that bacterial populations from some marine habitats may have developed enzymatic capabilities to degrade these naturally occurring organohalides. Hence, marine sources may reveal further diversity of dehalogenating microorganisms. Here, we describe enrichment, isolation, and characterization of a novel marine bacterium capable of growth in a synthetic seawater medium on 2-CP and acetate. This new isolate dechlorinates ortho-chlorophenol, producing phenol as a product. Phenotypic and 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) phylogenetic studies indicate that the organism belongs to the Desulfovibrio group of the sulfate-reducing bacteria. To our knowledge, this is the first member of the Desulfovibrio group that is capable of oxidizing acetate. MATERIALS AND METHODS Media and growth conditions. Cultures were grown in 160-ml serum bottles with 50 or 100 ml of anaerobic synthetic seawater medium or in 30-ml anaerobic culture tubes with 20 ml of medium. The medium was modified from standard seawater media to remove sulfate so that dechlorinators rather than sulfate reducers could be enriched, and to achieve an Na ϩ concentration of 0.46 M, which approximates that of seawater. It contained the following mineral salts (in grams/liter): NaCl, 25; MgCl 2 , 1.4; KH 2 PO 4 , 0.2; NH 4 Cl, 0.3; KCl, 0.5; and CaCl 2 , 0.1. A trace element solution was added to give the following final concentrations (in milligrams/liter): MnCl 2 ⅐ 6H 2 O, 5; H 3 BO 3 , 0.5; ZnCl 2 , 0.5; CoCl 2 ⅐ 6H 2 O, 0.5; NiSO 4 ⅐ 6H 2 O, 0.5; CuCl 2 ⅐ 2H 2 O, 0.3; and NaMoO 4 ⅐ 2H 2 O, 0.1. In addition, the medium contained 0.003 mg of NaSeO 3 and 0.008 mg of Na 2 WO 4 per liter and 10 mg of resazurin per liter. The medium was boiled under oxygen-free N 2 and cooled to room temperature under N 2 -CO 2 (95:5). Na 2 S (as a reductant) and NaHCO 3 were then added to final concentrations of 1 and 30 mM, respectively, and the pH of the medium was adjusted to 7.3 to 7.5 by varying the CO 2 concentration in the headspace. The medium was dispensed into N 2 -CO 2 -flushed serum bottles or culture tubes capped with butyl rubber stoppers and sterilized by autoclaving. The sterile medium was amended with an anaerobic sterile Wolin vitamin solution (34) plus thiamine, 1,4-naphthoquinone

Interplay of Staphylococcal and Host Proteases Promotes Skin Barrier Disruption in Netherton Syndrome.

Netherton syndrome (NS) is a monogenic skin disease resulting from loss of function of lymphoepithelial Kazal-type-related protease inhibitor (LEKTI-1). In this study we examine if bacteria residing on the skin are influenced by the loss of LEKTI-1 and if interaction between this human gene and resident bacteria contributes to skin disease. Shotgun sequencing of the skin microbiome demonstrates that lesional skin of NS subjects is dominated by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis). Isolates of either species from NS subjects are able to induce skin inflammation and barrier damage on mice. These microbes promote skin inflammation in the setting of LEKTI-1 deficiency due to excess proteolytic activity promoted by S. aureus phenol-soluble modulin α as well as increased bacterial proteases staphopain A and B from S. aureus or EcpA from S. epidermidis. These findings demonstrate the critical need for maintaining homeostasis of host and microbial proteases to prevent a human skin disease

The mPEG-PCL Copolymer for Selective Fermentation of Staphylococcus lugdunensis Against Candida parapsilosis in the Human Microbiome.

Many human skin diseases, such as seborrheic dermatitis, potentially occur due to the over-growth of fungi. It remains a challenge to develop fungicides with a lower risk of generating resistant fungi and non-specifically killing commensal microbes. Our probiotic approaches using a selective fermentation initiator of skin commensal bacteria, fermentation metabolites or their derivatives provide novel therapeutics to rein in the over-growth of fungi. Staphylococcus lugdunensis (S. lugdunensis) bacteria and Candida parapsilosis (C. parapsilosis) fungi coexist in the scalp microbiome. S. lugdunensis interfered with the growth of C. parapsilosis via fermentation. A methoxy poly(ethylene glycol)-b-poly(ε-caprolactone) (mPEG-PCL) copolymer functioned as a selective fermentation initiator of S. lugdunensis, selectively triggering the S. lugdunensis fermentation to produce acetic and isovaleric acids. The acetic acid and its pro-drug diethyleneglycol diacetate (Ac-DEG-Ac) effectively suppressed the growth of C. parapsilosis in vitro and impeded the fungal expansion in the human dandruff. We demonstrate for the first time that S. lugdunensis is a skin probiotic bacterium that can exploit mPEG-PCL to yield fungicidal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The concept of bacterial fermentation as a part of skin immunity to re-balance the dysbiotic microbiome warrants a novel avenue for studying the probiotic function of the skin microbiome in promoting health

Biomolecular Mechanisms Controlling Metal and Radionuclide Transformations in Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans

Microbiological reduction and immobilization of U(VI) and Tc(VII) has been proposed as a strategy for remediating radionuclide-contaminated environments. Numerous studies focusing on the reduction kinetics and speciation of these metals have been carried out using contaminated sediment samples, microbial consortia, and pure bacterial cultures. While previous work with model organisms has increased the general understanding of radionuclide transformation processes, fundamental questions regarding radionuclide reduction mechanisms by indigenous microorganisms are poorly understood, especially under the commonly encountered scenario where multiple electron acceptors are present. Therefore, the overall goal of the proposed research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of radionuclide biotransformation by Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans, a predominant member of indigenous microorganism commonly found in contaminated subsurface environments, and to assess the effects of relevant environmental factors affecting these transformation reactions

Social Preferences and the Efficiency of Bilateral Exchange

Under what conditions do social preferences, such as altruism or a concern for fair outcomes, generate efficient trade? I analyze theoretically a simple bilateral exchange game: Each player sequentially takes an action that reduces his own material payoff but increases the other player’s. Each player’s preferences may depend on both his/her own material payoff and the other player’s. I identify necessary conditions and sufficient conditions on the players’ preferences for the outcome of their interaction to be Pareto efficient. The results have implications for interpreting the rotten kid theorem, gift exchange in the laboratory, and gift exchange in the field

Compositions and Methods of Modulating 15-PGDH Activity

Compounds and methods of modulating 15-PGDH activity, modulating tissue prostaglandin levels, treating disease, diseases disorders, or conditions in which it is desired to modulate 15-PGDH activity and/or prostaglandin levels include 15-PGDH inhibitors and 15-PGDH activators described herein

Surgical versus nonsurgical treatment for lumbar degenerative spondylolisthesis.

BACKGROUND: Management of degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis is controversial. Surgery is widely used, but its effectiveness in comparison with that of nonsurgical treatment has not been demonstrated in controlled trials. METHODS: Surgical candidates from 13 centers in 11 U.S. states who had at least 12 weeks of symptoms and image-confirmed degenerative spondylolisthesis were offered enrollment in a randomized cohort or an observational cohort. Treatment was standard decompressive laminectomy (with or without fusion) or usual nonsurgical care. The primary outcome measures were the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) bodily pain and physical function scores (100-point scales, with higher scores indicating less severe symptoms) and the modified Oswestry Disability Index (100-point scale, with lower scores indicating less severe symptoms) at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year, and 2 years. RESULTS: We enrolled 304 patients in the randomized cohort and 303 in the observational cohort. The baseline characteristics of the two cohorts were similar. The one-year crossover rates were high in the randomized cohort (approximately 40% in each direction) but moderate in the observational cohort (17% crossover to surgery and 3% crossover to nonsurgical care). The intention-to-treat analysis for the randomized cohort showed no statistically significant effects for the primary outcomes. The as-treated analysis for both cohorts combined showed a significant advantage for surgery at 3 months that increased at 1 year and diminished only slightly at 2 years. The treatment effects at 2 years were 18.1 for bodily pain (95% confidence interval [CI], 14.5 to 21.7), 18.3 for physical function (95% CI, 14.6 to 21.9), and -16.7 for the Oswestry Disability Index (95% CI, -19.5 to -13.9). There was little evidence of harm from either treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In nonrandomized as-treated comparisons with careful control for potentially confounding baseline factors, patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis and spinal stenosis treated surgically showed substantially greater improvement in pain and function during a period of 2 years than patients treated nonsurgically. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00000409 [ClinicalTrials.gov].)