Characterization Of Phosphorus, Nitrogen, And Sulfur Concentrations In A Paired Disturbed And Natural Wetland In Northwest Minnesota

A degraded wetland with a history of human-induced hydrologic alterations lies within northwestern Minnesota\u27s Skull Lake Wildlife Management Area (WMA). Although conservation practices have been enacted by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MNDNR), there remains interest in the wetland\u27s potential for ecological restoration. Restoration should not be undertaken without an understanding of underlying factors leading to degradation. A paired study between the disturbed wetland at Skull Lake WMA and the relatively natural wetland in the nearby Caribou WMA was designed to help understand near surface pore water geochemistry in an effort to determine causes of degradation and the potential for reversal. Shallow groundwater samples collected along and perpendicular to a major ditch flowing through the wetland were analyzed for pH, Eh, sulfide (H2S), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), sulfate (SO4), nitrate (NO3), and nitrite (NO2). Data revealed nutrient gradients and characterized nutrient transport relative to State Ditch 84. Wetland geochemistry comparisons between the disturbed cattail marsh and undisturbed sedge meadow showed increased concentrations of SRP, Eh, and pH. This indicates that Caribou WMA is a low nutrient ecosystem and suggests that Skull Lake WMA has become a phosphorus sink. Correlation between distance to State Ditch 84 and geochemical constituents indicated increased acidity and nitrite concentrations and possible SRP export out of the system during the fall. Ecological restoration through prescribed burning and water level control may reduce invasive macrophyte communities, but altered pore water chemistry and increased pore water SRP concentrations may inhibit the full restoration potential of Skull Lake WMAs wetland

Vision, challenges and opportunities for a Plant Cell Atlas

With growing populations and pressing environmental problems, future economies will be increasingly plant-based. Now is the time to reimagine plant science as a critical component of fundamental science, agriculture, environmental stewardship, energy, technology and healthcare. This effort requires a conceptual and technological framework to identify and map all cell types, and to comprehensively annotate the localization and organization of molecules at cellular and tissue levels. This framework, called the Plant Cell Atlas (PCA), will be critical for understanding and engineering plant development, physiology and environmental responses. A workshop was convened to discuss the purpose and utility of such an initiative, resulting in a roadmap that acknowledges the current knowledge gaps and technical challenges, and underscores how the PCA initiative can help to overcome them.</jats:p

Subsurface Temperature Properties for Three Types of Permeable Pavements in Cold Weather Climates and Implications for Deicer Reduction

Permeable pavement has been shown to be an effective urban stormwater management tool although much is still unknown about freeze-thaw responses and the implications for deicer reduction in cold weather climates. Temperature data from the subsurface of three permeable pavement types—interlocking concrete pavers (PICP), concrete (PC), and asphalt (PA)—were collected over a seven-year period and evaluated. Temperature profiles of all pavements indicate favorable conditions to allow infiltration during winter rain and melting events, with subsurface temperatures remaining above freezing even when air temperatures were below freezing. Data show that PICP surpassed PC and PA with fewer days below freezing, higher temperatures on melt days, slower freeze and faster thaw times, and less penetration of freezing temperatures at depth

Subsurface Temperature Properties for Three Types of Permeable Pavements in Cold Weather Climates and Implications for Deicer Reduction

Permeable pavement has been shown to be an effective urban stormwater management tool although much is still unknown about freeze-thaw responses and the implications for deicer reduction in cold weather climates. Temperature data from the subsurface of three permeable pavement types&mdash;interlocking concrete pavers (PICP), concrete (PC), and asphalt (PA)&mdash;were collected over a seven-year period and evaluated. Temperature profiles of all pavements indicate favorable conditions to allow infiltration during winter rain and melting events, with subsurface temperatures remaining above freezing even when air temperatures were below freezing. Data show that PICP surpassed PC and PA with fewer days below freezing, higher temperatures on melt days, slower freeze and faster thaw times, and less penetration of freezing temperatures at depth

p16INK4A tumor suppressor gene expression and CD3ϵ deficiency but not pre-TCR deficiency inhibit TAL1-linked T-lineage leukemogenesis

Inactivation of the CDKN2 genes that encode the p16INK4A and p14ARF proteins occurs in the majority of human T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemias (T-ALLs). Ectopic expression of TAL1 and LMO1 genes is linked to the development of T-ALL in humans. In TAL1xLMO1 mice, leukemia develops in 100% of mice at 5 months. To identify the molecular events crucial to leukemic transformation, we produced several mouse models. We report here that expression of P16INK4A in developing TAL1xLMO1 thymocytes blocks leukemogenesis in the majority of the mice, and the leukemias that eventually develop show P16INK4A loss of expression. Events related to the T-cell receptor β selection process are thought to be important for leukemic transformation. We show here that the absence of the pTα chain only slightly delays the appearance of TAL1xLMO1-induced T-ALL, which indicates a minor role of the pTα chain. We also show that the CD3ϵ-mediated signal transduction pathway is essential for this transformation process, since the TAL1xLMO1xCD3ϵ-deficient mice do not develop T-ALL for up to 1 year