Evidence of Songbird Intoxication From Rozol Application at a Black-Tailed Prairie Dog Colony

Concerns about avian poisonings from anticoagulant rodenticides have traditionally focused on secondary poisoning of raptors exposed by feeding on contaminated mammalian prey. However, ground foraging songbirds can be directly poisoned from operational applications of the anticoagulant rodenticide RozolH (0.005% chlorophacinone, active ingredient) applied as a grain bait, at black-tailed prairie dog Cynomys ludovicianus colonies. A dead western meadowlark Sturnella neglecta recovered from the study prairie dog colony displayed hemorrhaging in brain and pectoral muscle tissue, and it contained chlorophacinone residue concentrations of 0.59 and 0.49 mg/g (wet weight) in the liver and intestinal contents, respectively. Chlorophacinone residues from two Rozol-colored songbird droppings found at the study colony were 0.09 and 0.46 mg/g (wet weight). The timing of the meadowlark mortality and the occurrence of discolored droppings show that songbird exposure and poisoning can occur weeks after a Rozol application

Continuum Gauge Fields from Lattice Gauge Fields

On the lattice some of the salient features of pure gauge theories and of gauge theories with fermions in complex representations of the gauge group seem to be lost. These features can be recovered by considering part of the theory in the continuum. The prerequisite for that is the construction of continuum gauge fields from lattice gauge fields. Such a construction, which is gauge covariant and complies with geometrical constructions of the topological charge on the lattice, is given in this paper. The procedure is explicitly carried out in the $U(1)$ theory in two dimensions, where it leads to simple results.Comment: 16 pages, HLRZ 92-3

Single-cell transcriptomics uncovers distinct molecular signatures of stem cells in chronic myeloid leukemia

Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics are ideally placed to unravel intratumoral heterogeneity and selective resistance of cancer stem cell (SC) subpopulations to molecularly targeted cancer therapies. However, current single-cell RNA-sequencing approaches lack the sensitivity required to reliably detect somatic mutations. We developed a method that combines high-sensitivity mutation detection with whole-transcriptome analysis of the same single cell. We applied this technique to analyze more than 2,000 SCs from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) throughout the disease course, revealing heterogeneity of CML-SCs, including the identification of a subgroup of CML-SCs with a distinct molecular signature that selectively persisted during prolonged therapy. Analysis of nonleukemic SCs from patients with CML also provided new insights into cell-extrinsic disruption of hematopoiesis in CML associated with clinical outcome. Furthermore, we used this single-cell approach to identify a blast-crisis-specific SC population, which was also present in a subclone of CML-SCs during the chronic phase in a patient who subsequently developed blast crisis. This approach, which might be broadly applied to any malignancy, illustrates how single-cell analysis can identify subpopulations of therapy-resistant SCs that are not apparent through cell-population analysis

Single-cell transcriptomics uncovers distinct molecular signatures of stem cells in chronic myeloid leukemia

Recent advances in single-cell transcriptomics are ideally placed to unravel intratumoral heterogeneity and selective resistance of cancer stem cell (SC) subpopulations to molecularly targeted cancer therapies. However, current single-cell RNA-sequencing approaches lack the sensitivity required to reliably detect somatic mutations. We developed a method that combines high-sensitivity mutation detection with whole-transcriptome analysis of the same single cell. We applied this technique to analyze more than 2,000 SCs from patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) throughout the disease course, revealing heterogeneity of CML-SCs, including the identification of a subgroup of CML-SCs with a distinct molecular signature that selectively persisted during prolonged therapy. Analysis of nonleukemic SCs from patients with CML also provided new insights into cell-extrinsic disruption of hematopoiesis in CML associated with clinical outcome. Furthermore, we used this single-cell approach to identify a blast-crisis-specific SC population, which was also present in a subclone of CML-SCs during the chronic phase in a patient who subsequently developed blast crisis. This approach, which might be broadly applied to any malignancy, illustrates how single-cell analysis can identify subpopulations of therapy-resistant SCs that are not apparent through cell-population analysis

Impact of technology transfer for fennel primary processing on income and employment opportunities for tribal women in district Sirohi (Rajasthan)

Krishi Vigyan Kendra organized a set of need based skill oriented training programmes for selected 500 tribal women (fennel producers) in small groups (25-30 trainees) during last four years (2008 to 2012) with an aim to develop their skills regarding harvesting of umbel at post-mature stage, grading of produce (A, B, C & D grades), drying of fennel in modified shade house made up of local indigenous material, threshing on RCC floor or polyether sheet and packaging in polythene lined bags and marketing of the final produce. The skill oriented trainings had a positive impact on tribal women and about half of the total area (50%) has been transformed in primary processing. By primary processing of fennel, additional employment of about one lakh man days have been generated in district Sirohi. By this intervention, additional monetary returns of around Rs. 29.0 crores have been generated in the district. In the district, trained tribal women are getting Rs. 200-250 day-1 for harvesting and primary processing of fennel, whereas other unskilled women are getting only Rs. 100-150 day-1. This intervention has not only improved the living standards of the rural and tribal households but also increased the socio-economic status by providing self employment opportunities and livelihood security. &nbsp

Isometries of a function space

It is proved here that an isometry on the subset of all positive functions of L1⋂Lp(ℝ) can be characterized by means of a function h together with a Borel measurable mapping ϕ of ℝ, thus generalizing the Banach-Lamparti theorem of Lp spaces

Malignant placental trophoblastic tumour a diagnostic dilemma: rare association with focal segmental glomerulonephritis and cardiomyopathy

Placental site trophoblastic tumour (PSTT) is the rarest form of Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).It has a wide clinical spectrum of presentation and its complications have a multi organ involvment. Inspite of the advances in HCG assays and sensitive unltrasounds, its diagnosis and course in every case is a mystery. However, it is only rarely associated with glomerulonephritis. Most cases have not been biopsied and the specific nature of renal involvement is not clearly understood. Here we report a case of PSTT with glomerulonephritis and cardiomyopathy

Charge Delocalization in Self-Assembled Mixed-Valence Aromatic Cation Radicals

The spontaneous assembly of aromatic cation radicals (D+•) with their neutral counterpart (D) affords dimer cation radicals (D2+•). The intermolecular dimeric cation radicals are readily characterized by the appearance of an intervalence charge-resonance transition in the NIR region of their electronic spectra and by ESR spectroscopy. The X-ray crystal structure analysis and DFT calculations of a representative dimer cation radical (i.e., the octamethylbiphenylene dimer cation radical) have established that a hole (or single positive charge) is completely delocalized over both aromatic moieties. The energetics and the geometrical considerations for the formation of dimer cation radicals is deliberated with the aid of a series of cyclophane-like bichromophoric donors with drastically varied interplanar angles between the cofacially arranged aryl moieties. X-ray crystallography of a number of mixed-valence cation radicals derived from monochromophoric benzenoid donors established that they generally assemble in 1D stacks in the solid state. However, the use of polychromophoric intervalence cation radicals, where a single charge is effectively delocalized among all of the chromophores, can lead to higher-order assemblies with potential applications in long-range charge transport. As a proof of concept, we show that a single charge in the cation radical of a triptycene derivative is evenly distributed on all three benzenoid rings and this triptycene cation radical forms a 2D electronically coupled assembly, as established by X-ray crystallography

Standardization of primary processing of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) in tribal area of Sirohi (Rajasthan)

An experiment was conducted in a farmer’s field at Sirohi (Rajasthan) during 2009–10 and 2010–11. Five separate experiments on (i) harvesting time (ii) umbels drying structure (iii) fennel threshing floor (iv) grading stages and (v) packing material of fennel, were laid out in a completely randomized design with four treatments replicated five times. The results revealed that different treatments had significant effect on sensory attributes, geometry and economics of fennel seed quality. The fennel umbels which were harvested at post maturity stage [31-40 days after flower initiation (DAFI)] were superior to rest of the harvesting stages and recorded maximum sensory scores, seed dimensions and highest yield (17.35 q ha-1), maximum market rate (Rs. 150.24 kg-1) and B:C ratio (4.62). Results also showed that drying of fennel umbels in modified locally made structures gave better quality of seed over other structures, giving good market price (Rs. 135.74 kg-1). Threshing on RCC floor was found to be better for maintaining good quality of seed. The grading and packing also improved the quality of seed. The fennel seed which was packed in polyethylene lined gunny bag was found to be better because the quality of seed did not deteriorate in terms of taste, colour, and flavour for longer time. Maximum shelf life of produce along with better quality and higher market price was also obtained in this treatment. &nbsp

Conceptualizing pathways linking women's empowerment and prematurity in developing countries.

BackgroundGlobally, prematurity is the leading cause of death in children under the age of 5. Many efforts have focused on clinical approaches to improve the survival of premature babies. There is a need, however, to explore psychosocial, sociocultural, economic, and other factors as potential mechanisms to reduce the burden of prematurity. Women's empowerment may be a catalyst for moving the needle in this direction. The goal of this paper is to examine links between women's empowerment and prematurity in developing settings. We propose a conceptual model that shows pathways by which women's empowerment can affect prematurity and review and summarize the literature supporting the relationships we posit. We also suggest future directions for research on women's empowerment and prematurity.MethodsThe key words we used for empowerment in the search were "empowerment," "women's status," "autonomy," and "decision-making," and for prematurity we used "preterm," "premature," and "prematurity." We did not use date, language, and regional restrictions. The search was done in PubMed, Population Information Online (POPLINE), and Web of Science. We selected intervening factors-factors that could potentially mediate the relationship between empowerment and prematurity-based on reviews of the risk factors and interventions to address prematurity and the determinants of those factors.ResultsThere is limited evidence supporting a direct link between women's empowerment and prematurity. However, there is evidence linking several dimensions of empowerment to factors known to be associated with prematurity and outcomes for premature babies. Our review of the literature shows that women's empowerment may reduce prematurity by (1) preventing early marriage and promoting family planning, which will delay age at first pregnancy and increase interpregnancy intervals; (2) improving women's nutritional status; (3) reducing domestic violence and other stressors to improve psychological health; and (4) improving access to and receipt of recommended health services during pregnancy and delivery to help prevent prematurity and improve survival of premature babies.ConclusionsWomen's empowerment is an important distal factor that affects prematurity through several intervening factors. Improving women's empowerment will help prevent prematurity and improve survival of preterm babies. Research to empirically show the links between women's empowerment and prematurity is however needed