Treatment of Ligament Constructs with Exercise-conditioned Serum: A Translational Tissue Engineering Model.

In vitro experiments are essential to understand biological mechanisms; however, the gap between monolayer tissue culture and human physiology is large, and translation of findings is often poor. Thus, there is ample opportunity for alternative experimental approaches. Here we present an approach in which human cells are isolated from human anterior cruciate ligament tissue remnants, expanded in culture, and used to form engineered ligaments. Exercise alters the biochemical milieu in the blood such that the function of many tissues, organs and bodily processes are improved. In this experiment, ligament construct culture media was supplemented with experimental human serum that has been 'conditioned' by exercise. Thus the intervention is more biologically relevant since an experimental tissue is exposed to the full endogenous biochemical milieu, including binding proteins and adjunct compounds that may be altered in tandem with the activity of an unknown agent of interest. After treatment, engineered ligaments can be analyzed for mechanical function, collagen content, morphology, and cellular biochemistry. Overall, there are four major advantages versus traditional monolayer culture and animal models, of the physiological model of ligament tissue that is presented here. First, ligament constructs are three-dimensional, allowing for mechanical properties (i.e., function) such as ultimate tensile stress, maximal tensile load, and modulus, to be quantified. Second, the enthesis, the interface between boney and sinew elements, can be examined in detail and within functional context. Third, preparing media with post-exercise serum allows for the effects of the exercise-induced biochemical milieu, which is responsible for the wide range of health benefits of exercise, to be investigated in an unbiased manner. Finally, this experimental model advances scientific research in a humane and ethical manner by replacing the use of animals, a core mandate of the National Institutes of Health, the Center for Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration

Processing and Characterization of Oxide Dispersion Strengthened 14YWT Ferritic Alloys

Oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) ferritic steels are currently being investigated as candidate materials for nuclear applications due to their increased high temperature strength and low activation characteristics. Recent studies have shown that ODS ferritic steels containing Ti exhibit enhanced high temperature properties due to the formation of a very fine dispersion of nanometer-sized oxide clusters based on Ti, Y, and O. Studies are currently underway to examine so called 14YWT alloys with nominal compositions of Fe-14Cr-3W-0.4Ti (wt. %) mechanically alloyed with 0.25 (wt.%) Y2O3. The focus of this study was to investigate how the early stages of processing of 14YWT alloys during mechanical milling, heat treatment, and consolidation affect the structure and properties of the alloys. The 14YWT alloys were milled at different times up to 80 hours, along with alloy powder compositions of Fe-14Cr + 0.25 wt.% Y2O3 (14Y) and Fe-14Cr without Y2O3 (Fe-14Cr). The evolution of the microstructure and mechanical properties during milling was examined with a combination of optical metallography, x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, atom probe tomography, and nanoindentation. Alloy powders were also heat treated and studied using high temperature x-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry methods. Special attention was paid to milling parameters and temperature ranges which lead to the formation of nano-sized oxide clusters in the alloys. Finally, the microstructure of consolidated alloys was examined and related to milling and heat treatment methods. Mechanical properties and microstructure during milling were similar in the three alloy powders examined regardless of dispersoid or alloy addition. Mechanical mixing of the alloy powders was inefficient after 40 hours of milling. Milling did not produce bulk amorphous phases but quickly reduced the crystallite size to ~10-20 nm. Milling also resulted in relatively uniform dissolution of Y2O3. Thermal studies in the range of 600-850 °C showed precipitation of oxide clusters occurred before consolidation which blocked recrystallization and grain growth. Results also showed retention of sub-micron sized grains at high temperature in both the annealed powders and extruded material was seen to be direct evidence of nano-cluster formation. Alloy extrusions conducted at 1175 °C showed coarse oxide precipitation while extrusions at 850 °C showed nanometer-sized clusters. The results indicated that the heat treatment temperature before consolidation was very important for producing the most favorable microstructure

The effect of Vitamins A, D and E injections on the blood plasma of pregnant beef cows and on calf viability

Half of a group of 358 pregnant Angus and Hereford cows at three different experiment stations were injected intramuscularly with 9 ml of a solution containing 4.5 million I.U. of vitamin A, 675,000 I.U. of vitamin D3 and 450 I.U. of vitamin E. An equal volume of physiological saline was injected into the remainder of the cows. The purpose was to determine the effect of the vitamin injections on plasma beta-carotene, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium, potassium and on calf viability. ​​Blood samples were taken from the jugular vein immediately prior to the injection, 24 hours later and 28 days later. No noticeable effects were evident due to treatment for any of the plasma values. However, differences in time of sampling were observed for plasma beta-carotene, calcium and potassium. Differences were detected (P\u3c.05) among station source for cow plasma beta-carotene. Values for forage beta-carotene corresponded to plasma beta-carotene at the stations sampled, with those from Alcoa being highest. Breed differences were not found in plasma beta-carotene and vitamin A levels but the Angus cows were higher (P\u3c.05) for plasma calcium and magnesium. Calves born to the injected cows were scored on viability. More weak calves and fewer healthy calves were born to the vitamin injected cows. It was concluded that vitamina A, D and E injections given to pregnant beef cows under the conditions of this study do not affect plasma beta-carotene, vitamin A, calcium, magnesium or potassium. Also these vitamin injections when given to pregnant beef cows showed no beneficial effects on calf viability

Interview with Rev. Keith Stuart

Keith Stuart talks about the First Congregational United Church of Christhttps://digital.kenyon.edu/ps_interviews/1046/thumbnail.jp

The non-linear dual gravity equation of motion in eleven dimensions

We derive the non-linear dual graviton equation of motion in eleven dimensions in the context of E theory

Gravity, Dual Gravity and A1+++

We construct the non-linear realisation of the semi-direct product of the very extended algebra A1+++ and its vector representation. This theory has an infinite number of fields that depend on a spacetime with an infinite number of coordinates. Discarding all except the lowest level field and coordinates the dynamics is just Einstein's equation for the graviton field. We show that the gravity field is related to the dual graviton field by a duality relation and we also derive the equation of motion for the dual gravity field.Comment: 27 page

Reevaluation of Wolfcampian Cyclothems in Northeastern Kansas: Significance of Subaerial Exposure and Flooding Surfaces

Ten cyclothems from the Wolfcampian of northeastern Kansas, including parts of the Council Grove and Chase Groups, were examined in detail with particular attention to discontinuity surfaces and paleosol development. These cyclothems are shown to be bounded by major discontinuities, or sequence boundaries, where marine limestones abruptly overlie paleosol profiles. Occurring within these cyclothemic sequences are prominent meter-scale cycles that are bounded by flooding surfaces, many of which overlie facies exhibiting evidence of subaerial exposure. They are developed within both the marine carbonate and shale intervals and variegated mudstone intervals of the cyclothems. These meter-scale cycles show a consistent carbonate-to-clastic pattern regardless of their stratigraphic position or component facies. Climate fluctuations within a generally monsoonal environment are determined to be the most likely forcing mechanism for the meter-scale cycles, with wetter climate phases resulting in the increased influx of terrigenous clastic sediment and drier climate phases favoring carbonate precipitation. Evidence of climate change at the scale of the cyclothemic sequences is also recognized in the studied interval. Cycles at both scales indicate that relative sea-level rise was associated with increasingly arid conditions and that sea-level fall was associated with an intensification of seasonal rainfall

Freedom of Religion and Eternal Accountability: Internal Auditing and its Implications within the Seventh-day Adventist Church

Based on archival resources, this study examines how accountability and internal auditing practices emerged and evolved within the distinctive setting of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. Traditionally, this organisation was reluctant to account to its constituents in conventional financial terms. The Church administration prioritised notions of righteous accountability, while the general members of the church were concerned primarily with their own eternal accountability. That is, and reflecting its religious character, an emphasis on accountability relationships at a higher plane permeated the organisation: the Church with carrying out the mission it believed it had been entrusted with, and individual members with their own religious salvation. However, reservations over a perceived lack of monetary stewardship subsequently came to the fore. This precipitated an increased emphasis on financial accountability, with the adoption of an internal auditing function identified as a key outcome of this change

Images Across the Prairie : the Birth of Wky-tv�

Mass Communication