Construction and Measurements of an Improved Vacuum-Swing-Adsorption Radon-Mitigation System

In order to reduce backgrounds from radon-daughter plate-out onto detector surfaces, an ultra-low-radon cleanroom is being commissioned at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology. An improved vacuum-swing-adsorption radon mitigation system and cleanroom build upon a previous design implemented at Syracuse University that achieved radon levels of $\sim$0.2$\,$Bq$\,$m$^{-3}$. This improved system will employ a better pump and larger carbon beds feeding a redesigned cleanroom with an internal HVAC unit and aged water for humidification. With the rebuilt (original) radon mitigation system, the new low-radon cleanroom has already achieved a $>$$\,$300$\times$ reduction from an input activity of $58.6\pm0.7$$\,$Bq$\,$m$^{-3}$ to a cleanroom activity of $0.13\pm0.06$$\,$Bq$\,$m$^{-3}$.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, Proceedings of Low Radioactivity Techniques (LRT) 2015, Seattle, WA, March 18-20, 201

Metabolic flux analysis of 3D spheroids reveals significant differences in glucose metabolism from matched 2D cultures of colorectal cancer and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cell lines

Background Most in vitro cancer cell experiments have been performed using 2D models. However, 3D spheroid cultures are increasingly favored for being more representative of in vivo tumor conditions. To overcome the translational challenges with 2D cell cultures, 3D systems better model more complex cell-to-cell contact and nutrient levels present in a tumor, improving our understanding of cancer complexity. Despite this need, there are few reports on how 3D cultures differ metabolically from 2D cultures. Methods Well-described cell lines from colorectal cancer (HCT116 and SW948) and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (Panc-1 and MIA-Pa-Ca-2) were used to investigate metabolism in 3D spheroid models. The metabolic variation under normal glucose conditions were investigated comparing 2D and 3D cultures by metabolic flux analysis and expression of key metabolic proteins. Results We find significant differences in glucose metabolism of 3D cultures compared to 2D cultures, both related to glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Spheroids have higher ATP-linked respiration in standard nutrient conditions and higher non-aerobic ATP production in the absence of supplemented glucose. In addition, ATP-linked respiration is significantly inversely correlated with OCR/ECAR (p = 0.0096). Mitochondrial transport protein, TOMM20, expression decreases in all spheroid models compared to 2D, and monocarboxylate transporter (MCT) expression increases in 3 of the 4 spheroid models. Conclusions In this study of CRC and PDAC cell lines, we demonstrate that glucose metabolism in 3D spheroids differs significantly from 2D cultures, both in terms of glycolytic and oxidative phosphorylation metrics. The metabolic phenotype shift from 2D to 3D culture in one cell line is greater than the phenotypic differences between each cell line and tumor source. The results herein emphasize the need to use 3D cell models for investigating nutrient utilization and metabolic flux for a better understanding of tumor metabolism and potential metabolic therapeutic targets.publishedVersio

Striving for Success: Practical Advice for Reference Graduate Assistants (and Other New Reference Providers)

With a little reflection, most librarians can recall the excitement, anticipation, and fear that filled their early days at the reference desk: “What will people ask me?” “What if I don’t know how to help someone?” “What do I need to do to be successful?” Many librarians first experienced this emotional turbulence while working as graduate assistants (GAs) in academic library reference departments. Although demanding, working as a reference graduate assistant yields many benefits. An assistantship introduces participants to basics of reference librarianship like customer service, search techniques, and teamwork. Assistantships also help students get their foot in the door of the profession by giving them practical experience that can boost their employment prospects. Furthermore, participants profit greatly from networking with librarians who can offer guidance and encouragement. In view of the potential rewards and challenges of assistantships, we seek to provide current GAs with practical advice that can turn their assistantships into a successful debut into the field of reference

The response of four calcium hydroxides on monkey pulps

. Dentinal bridge formation and pulpal responses of four calcium hydroxide materials, pulp capping medicaments, MFC®, Experimental MFC-12, Dycal® and Pulpdent®, were evaluated in primary and permanent monkey teeth. A total of 60 primary and 60 permanent teeth were used with each material placed in a Class V cavity exposure in Rhesus monkey teeth. The materials were placed on the exposed pulp tissue and were histologically evaluated at 3 days, 5 weeks and 8 weeks. After perfusion the teeth were processed using routine histological procedures. The 3-day pulpal responses in both primary and permanent teeth were moderate, characterized by disruption of the pulpal tissue directly beneath the exposure site and a zone of acute inflammation and hemorrhage in the underlying pulp. The 5-week response showed histological differences between the four medicaments, with Dycal producing the least amount of pulpal irritation with reparative dentin bridges occurring in 50% of the permanent teeth. Experimental MFC-12 stimulated one reparative dentin bridge, while Pulpdent and MFC showed no evidence of bridge formation. Pulpal responses to Dycal were moderate and moderate to severe for the other calcium hydroxide compounds. No reparative dentin bridges were seen in the primary teeth at 5 weeks with any of the materials, and the pulpal responses were of a moderate degree at that time. Eight-week responses were similar to the 5-week responses. Dycal provoked a slight to moderate pulpal response with 50% success at bridging. Experimental MFC-12 initiated pulpal responses in the moderate to severe range with some bridging evident. Pulpdent incited moderate to severe histological responses with three teeth demonstrating bridge formation, and MFC provoked severe pulpal responses with no bridging. Primary teeth showed some bridging for all compounds except those treated with MFC, in which no evidence of bridging occurred, and moderate to severe pulpal responses were present.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72823/1/j.1600-0714.1980.tb00393.x.pd

A comparison of the effects of manual hyperinflation and ventilator hyperinflation on restoring end-expiratory lung volume after endotracheal suctioning: a pilot physiologic study

Purpose: Endotracheal suctioning (ES) of mechanically ventilated patients decreases end-expiratory lung volume (EELV). Manual hyperinflation (MHI) and ventilator hyperinflation (VHI) may restore EELV post-ES but it remains unknown which method is most effective. The primary aim was to compare the efficacy of MHI and VHI in restoring EELV post-ES. Materials and methods: ES was performed on mechanically ventilated intensive care patients, followed by MHI or VHI, in a randomised crossover design. The washout period between interventions was 1 h. End-expiratory lung impedance (EELI), measured by electrical impedance tomography, was recorded at baseline, during ES, during hyperinflation and 1, 5, 15 and 30 min post-hyperinflation. Results: Nine participants were studied. ES decreased EELI by 1672z (95% CI, 1204 to 2140) from baseline. From baseline, MHI increased EELI by 1154z (95% CI, 977 to 1330) while VHI increased EELI by 769z (95% CI, 457 to 1080). Five minutes post-VHI, EELI remained 528z (95% CI, 4 to 1053) above baseline. Fifteen minutes post-MHI, EELI remained 351z (95% CI, 111 to 592) above baseline. At subsequent time-points, EELI returned to baseline. Conclusions: MHI and VHI effectively restore EELV above baseline post-ES and should be considered post suctioning

Camptothecin and khat (Catha edulis Forsk.) induced distinct cell death phenotypes involving modulation of c-FLIPL, Mcl-1, procaspase-8 and mitochondrial function in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An organic extract of the recreational herb khat (<it>Catha edulis </it>Forsk.) triggers cell death in various leukemia cell lines <it>in vitro</it>. The chemotherapeutics camptothecin, a plant alkaloid topoisomerase I inhibitor, was tested side-by-side with khat in a panel of acute myeloid leukemia cell lines to elucidate mechanisms of toxicity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Khat had a profound effect on MOLM-13 cells inducing mitochondrial damage, chromatin margination and morphological features of autophagy. The effects of khat on mitochondrial ultrastructure in MOLM-13 correlated with strongly impaired routine respiration, an effect neither found in the khat-resistant MV-4-11 cells nor in camptothecin treated cells. Enforced expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein provided protection against camptothecin-induced cell death and partly against khat toxicity. Khat-induced cell death in MOLM-13 cells included reduced levels of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 protein, while both khat and camptothecin induced c-FLIP_Lcleavage and procaspase-8 activation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Khat activated a distinct cell death pathway in sensitive leukemic cells as compared to camptothecin, involving mitochondrial damage and morphological features of autophagy. This suggests that khat should be further explored in the search for novel experimental therapeutics.</p

Empathy at Play:Embodying Posthuman Subjectivities in Gaming

In this article, we address the need for a posthuman account of the relationship between the avatar and player. We draw on a particular line of posthumanist theory associated closely with the work of Karen Barad, Rosi Braidotti and N. Katherine Hayles that suggests a constantly permeable, fluid and extended subjectivity, displacing the boundaries between human and other. In doing so, we propose a posthuman concept of empathy in gameplay, and we apply this concept to data from the first author’s 18-month ethnographic field notes of gameplay in the MMORPG World of Warcraft. Exploring these data through our analysis of posthuman empathy, we demonstrate the entanglement of avatar–player, machine–human relationship. We show how empathy allows us to understand this relationship as constantly negotiated and in process, producing visceral reactions in the intra-connected avatar–player subject as well as moments of co-produced in-game action that require ‘affective matching’ between subjective and embodied experiences. We argue that this account of the avatar–player relationship extends research in game culture, providing a horizontal, non-hierarchical discussion of its most necessary interaction

Strategic market planning for value-added natural beef products: A cluster analysis of Colorado consumers

In the past decade, sales of meat products labeled as natural (minimally processed) and produced without antibiotics and hormones have increased dramatically. In response to growing demand for meat products differentiated by various production attributes, many smaller-scale beef enterprises are considering direct marketing of their beef products to end-consumers as a viable approach to sustaining their family farming operations. This research uses survey data from Colorado consumers, and factor and cluster analysis to determine market segments for various (varied by production protocols and other meat attributes) natural beef products. Findings from the cluster analysis indicate that there are multiple segments of consumers who are likely to purchase natural beef, and that different segments are motivated by different factors. The most important factor explaining almost two-thirds of the differences among consumer responses relates to consumers' perceptions of the importance of meat attributes related to production practices (e.g. use of antibiotics, hormones and environmentally friendly grazing). Interestingly, the two consumer segments that are willing to pay a significantly higher premium for natural, local beef are motivated by different aspects of the meat and its intrinsic production attributes. One segment, representing 12.5% of consumers, ranked the importance of all production attributes significantly lower than the sample average. Consumers in this segment appear to be motivated by their perceptions of the extrinsic quality of natural beef products. The other segment, 13% of consumers, appears to be altruistic, ranking all production attributes such as ‘no antibiotics’, ‘no hormones’, and ‘humane treatment’, significantly higher than all of the other clusters. These results indicate the potential strength of production methods (and marketing of such quality differences) as product differentiation criteria. This paper illustrates the type of market research that may be useful for beef producers seeking value-added marketing opportunities, and portrays the types of consumers who are fueling the growth in natural meats in the United States. Such market analysis can facilitate producers' ability to effectively develop product concepts, labeling and promotional strategies targeted at the most receptive consumer segments, and illustrates that there is more than one type of consumer interested in purchasing products differentiated by sustainable production methods.Dawn D. Thilmany, Wendy J. Umberger and Amanda R. Zieh

Characterising the trophic niches of stocked and resident cyprinid fishes: consistency in partitioning over time, space and body sizes.

Hatchery-reared fish are commonly stocked into freshwaters to enhance recreational angling. As these fishes are often of high trophic position and attain relatively large sizes, they potentially interact with functionally similar resident fishes and modify food web structure. Hatchery-reared barbel Barbus barbus are frequently stocked to enhance riverine cyprinid fish communities in Europe; these fish can survive for over 20 years and exceed 8 kg. Here, their trophic consequences for resident fish communities were tested using co-habitation studies, mainly involving chub Squalius cephalus, a similarly large-bodied, omnivorous and long-lived species. These studies were completed over three spatial scales: pond mesocosms, two streams and three lowland rivers, and used stable isotope analysis. Experiments in mesocosms over 100 days revealed rapid formation of dietary specialisations and discrete trophic niches in juvenile B. barbus and S. cephalus. This niche partitioning between the species was also apparent in the streams over two years. In the lowland rivers, where fish were mature individuals within established populations, this pattern was also generally apparent in fishes of much larger body sizes. Thus, the stocking of these hatchery-reared fish only incurred minor consequences for the trophic ecology of resident fish, with strong patterns of trophic niche partitioning and diet specialisation. Application of these results to decision-making frameworks should enable managers to make objective decisions on whether cyprinid fish should be stocked into lowland rivers according to ecological risk