Trade-offs among transport, support, and storage in xylem from shrubs in a semiarid chaparral environment tested with structural equation modeling.

The xylem in plants is specialized to transport water, mechanically support the plant body, and store water and carbohydrates. Balancing these functions leads to trade-offs that are linked to xylem structure. We proposed a multivariate hypothesis regarding the main xylem functions and tested it using structural equation modeling. We sampled 29 native shrub species from field sites in semiarid Southern California. We quantified xylem water transport (embolism resistance and transport efficiency), mechanical strength, storage of water (capacitance) and starch, minimum hydrostatic pressures (Pmin), and proportions of fibers, vessels, and parenchyma, which were treated as a latent variable representing "cellular trade-offs." We found that xylem functions (transport, mechanical support, water storage, and starch storage) were independent, a result driven by PminPmin was strongly and directly or indirectly associated with all xylem functions as a hub trait. More negative Pmin was associated with increased embolism resistance and tissue strength and reduced capacitance and starch storage. We found strong support for a trade-off between embolism resistance and transport efficiency. Tissue strength was not directly associated with embolism resistance or transport efficiency, and any associations were indirect involving Pmin With Pmin removed from the model, cellular trade-offs were central and related to all other traits. We conclude that xylem traits are broadly governed by functional trade-offs and that the Pmin experienced by plants in the field exerts a strong influence over these relationships. Angiosperm xylem contains different cell types that contribute to different functions and that underpin trade-offs.

Measurements of impurity ion temperature and velocity distributions via active charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy in C-2W.

In TAE Technologies' C-2W experiment, electrode biasing is utilized for boundary control of a field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasma embedded in a magnetic mirror. Understanding the underlying physics associated with FRC rotation, stabilization, and heating is crucial for improving machine performance. Impurity ion rotation and temperature are sensitive to biasing effects, and measurements of these quantities can provide insight into important plasma dynamics and overall effectiveness of the biasing system. To this end, a charge-exchange recombination spectroscopy (ChERS) diagnostic was developed and deployed to measure local impurity ion temperature and velocity in the confinement vessel of C-2W. The system utilizes a new diagnostic neutral beam (40 keV, 8.5 A) and a fiber-coupled spectrometer with an image-intensified high-speed camera to measure beam-induced spectral line emission at multiple lines-of-sight. Design details and the first experimental results obtained with this new diagnostic are presented and discussed.

Comprehensive imaging of C-2W plasmas: Instruments and applications.

The C-2W device ("Norman") [Gota et al., Nucl. Fusion 59, 112009 (2019)] has produced and sustained beam-driven field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas embedded in a magnetic mirror geometry using neutral beams and end-bias electrodes located in expander divertors. Several discrete vessels comprise this device, and many imaging instruments are required in order to view the plasma throughout. To meet this need, a suite of spatially and radiometrically calibrated, high-speed camera systems have been deployed. Besides global visualization of the plasma evolution and macro-stability, this imaging suite has been used in a variety of applications. One example application is a tomographic reconstruction of passive impurity emission. Calculation of the magnetic field in the equilibrium vessel is complicated by eddy currents in conducting structures and internal currents in the high-ß FRC plasma. In addition, thus far non-perturbative measurements of internal field have not been available. The tomographic reconstruction of O4+ impurity emission enables an independent visualization of the plasma geometry, serving as a check on magnetic modeling and indirect evidence for field reversal within the FRC. A second application uses the cameras to view the Balmer-α emission throughout the plasma in order to estimate the ionization rate in each region. These rates can then be incorporated into particle balance calculations and a circuit model for currents from the end-bias electrodes. Finally, arcing on the electrode surfaces is identified through automated image processing of carefully selected spectral line emission.

MHD mode identification by higher order singular value decomposition of C-2W Mirnov probe data.

The C-2W device (also known as "Norman") at TAE Technologies has proven successful at generating stable, long-lived field-reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas with record temperatures. The largest Mirnov probe array in C-2W measures three components of the magnetic field just inside the vessel wall at 64 locations distributed approximately evenly in the cylindrical vessel's azimuthal and axial dimensions. This nearly rectangular array of probes creates a unique opportunity to apply higher order singular value decomposition (HOSVD) to efficiently analyze the external magnetic field data for the purposes of reconstructing the magnetohydrodynamic mode structures in the FRC. In the first application of this method for this purpose, HOSVD is shown to quickly and effectively detect and separate toroidal modes while indicating longitudinal dependence of mode phases and amplitudes, enhancing the coherence and utility of the vast quantity of data produced by this array. Analysis of the data from the entire array at once via HOSVD proves not only computationally more efficient than methods that separately analyze groups of probes at different axial locations but also leads to improved mode resolution at axial locations where these modes are weaker.

Fast recovery of disrupted tip links induced by mechanical displacement of hair bundles.

Hearing and balance rely on the capacity of mechanically sensitive hair bundles to transduce vibrations into electrical signals that are forwarded to the brain. Hair bundles possess tip links that interconnect the mechanosensitive stereocilia and convey force to the transduction channels. A dimer of dimers, each of these links comprises two molecules of protocadherin 15 (PCDH15) joined to two of cadherin 23 (CDH23). The "handshake" that conjoins the four molecules can be disrupted in vivo by intense stimulation and in vitro by exposure to Ca2+ chelators. Using hair bundles from the rat's cochlea and the bullfrog's sacculus, we observed that extensive recovery of mechanoelectrical transduction, hair bundle stiffness, and spontaneous bundle oscillation can occur within seconds after Ca2+ chelation, especially if hair bundles are deflected toward their short edges. Investigating the phenomenon in a two-compartment ionic environment that mimics natural conditions, we combined iontophoretic application of a Ca2+ chelator to selectively disrupt the tip links of individual frog hair bundles with displacement clamping to control hair bundle motion and measure forces. Our observations suggest that, after the normal Ca2+ concentration has been restored, mechanical stimulation facilitates the reconstitution of functional tip links.

Magnetic diagnostic suite of the C-2W field-reversed configuration experiment.

A fundamental component of any magnetically confined fusion experiment is a firm understanding of the magnetic field. The increased complexity of the C-2W machine warrants an equally enhanced diagnostic capability. C-2W is outfitted with over 700 magnetic field probes of various types. They are both internal and external to the vacuum vessel. Inside, a linear array of innovative in-vacuum annular flux loop/B-dot combination probes provide information about plasma shape, size, pressure, energy, temperature, and trapped flux when coupled with established theoretical interpretations. A linear array of B-dot probes complement the azimuthally averaged measurements. A Mirnov array of 64 3D probes, with both low and high frequency resolution, detail plasma motion and MHD modal content via singular value decomposition analysis. Internal Rogowski probes measure axial currents flowing in the plasma jet. Outside, every feed-through for an internal probe has an external axial field probe. There are many external loops that measure the plasma formation dynamics and the total external magnetic flux. The external measurements are primarily used to characterize eddy currents in the vessel during a plasma shot. Details of these probes and the data derived from their signals are described.

Assessing atmospheric nitrogen losses with photoacoustic infrared spectroscopy: Polymer coated urea.

Although N is beneficial and essential for life, it is also a common atmospheric pollutant as nitrous oxide (N2O) and ammonia (NH3)-contributed largely from N fertilization. Polymer-coated urea (PCU) fertilizer is a promising controlled release fertilizer that provides improved N-release timing. Glasshouse studies were conducted to compare N2O and NH3 emissions from PCU and uncoated urea to an untreated control utilizing a non-static, non-flow-through chamber in conjunction with photoacoustic infrared spectroscopy (PAIRS) for gas collection and analysis. Three short-term 20-Day Studies with sand, sandy loam, and loam soils and a full-term 45-Day Study with loam soil were completed. Volatilization of NH3 was reduced by 72% and 22% in the sandy loam and loam soils, respectively, in two of the short-term studies and by 14% in the loam in the full-term study. Evolution of N2O was reduced by 42% and 63% in the sandy loam and loam soils of the short-term studies and by 99% in the loam soil of the full-term study. No differences were observed in the sand soil. Overall, PCU decreased gaseous losses of N following fertilization while providing a steady supply of N to the plant. Higher temporal resolution was observed with the PAIRS instrumentation as compared to what is typically reported and, as such, we recommend PAIRS analysis as a viable method for studying N gas emissions.

Enhancing the dissolution of phenylbutazone using Syloid? based mesoporous silicas for oral equine applications / 药物分析学报

Three mesoporous silica excipients (Syloid? silicas AL-1 FP, XDP 3050 and XDP 3150) were formulated with a model drug known for its poor aqueous solubility, namely phenylbutazone, in an attempt to enhance the extent and rate of drug dissolution. Although other forms of mesoporous silica have been investigated in previous studies, the effect of inclusion with these specific Syloid? silica based excipients and more interestingly, with phenylbutazone, is unknown. This work reports a significant enhancement for both the extent and rate of drug release for all three forms of Syloid? silica at a 1:1 drug:silica ratio over a period of 30 min. An explanation for this increase was determined to be conversion to the amorphous form and an enhanced drug loading ability within the pores. Differences between the release profiles of the three silicas were concluded to be a consequence of the physicochemical differences between the three forms. Overall, this study confirms that Syloid? silica based excipients can be used to enhance dissolution, and potentially therefore bioavailability, for compounds with poor aqueous solubility such as phenylbutazone. In addition, it has been confirmed that drug release can be carefully tailored based on the choice of Syloid? silica and desired release profile.

Determinants of day-night difference in blood pressure, a comparison with determinants of daytime and night-time blood pressure.

Blunted day-night difference in blood pressure (BP) is an independent cardiovascular risk factor, although there is limited information on determinants of diurnal variation in BP. We investigated determinants of day-night difference in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP and how these compared with determinants of daytime and night-time SBP and DBP. We analysed the association of mean daytime, mean night-time and mean day-night difference (defined as (mean daytime-mean night-time)/mean daytime) in SBP and DBP with clinical, lifestyle and biochemical parameters from 1562 adult individuals (mean age 38.6) from 509 nuclear families recruited in the GRAPHIC Study. We estimated the heritability of the various BP phenotypes. In multivariate analysis, there were significant associations of age, sex, markers of adiposity (body mass index and waist-hip ratio), plasma lipids (total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglycerides), serum uric acid, alcohol intake and current smoking status on daytime or night-time SBP and/or DBP. Of these, only age (P=4.7 × 10-5), total cholesterol (P=0.002), plasma triglycerides (P=0.006) and current smoking (P=3.8 × 10-9) associated with day-night difference in SBP, and age (P=0.001), plasma triglyceride (P=2.2 × 10-5) and current smoking (3.8 × 10-4) associated with day-night difference in DBP. 24-h, daytime and night-time SBP and DBP showed substantial heritability (ranging from 18-43%). In contrast day-night difference in SBP showed a lower heritability (13%) while heritability of day-night difference in DBP was not significant. These data suggest that specific clinical, lifestyle and biochemical factors contribute to inter-individual variation in daytime, night-time and day-night differences in SBP and DBP. Variation in day-night differences in BP is largely non-genetic.

Association Between Prolactin and Incidence of Cardiovascular Risk Factors in the Framingham Heart Study.

BACKGROUND: Prolactin is an anterior pituitary hormone that may modulate the adverse effects of obesity. Prolactin has been associated with cardiovascular disease mortality, but less is known about whether prolactin predicts incidence of cardiovascular disease risk factors. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our sample (n=3232, mean age 40.4 years, 52.1% women) was drawn from Framingham Heart Study participants who attended 2 examinations an average of 6.1 years apart. After excluding those with elevated prolactin (>30 mg/dL for women, >20 mg/dL for men), multivariable-adjusted regressions modeled the associations between baseline prolactin and changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors. Models were adjusted for age, sex, baseline value of the risk factor, smoking status, hormone replacement therapy, and menopausal status and additionally for body mass index. Mean prolactin levels were 11.9 mg/dL (SD 5.2) in women and 8.0 mg/dL (SD 2.9) in men. No associations were observed for change in weight, body composition, total cholesterol, triglycerides, or fasting glucose. In women, for example, for each 5-mg/dL increment in prolactin, odds of incident hypercholesterolemia were 1.06, which was not significant (95% CI 0.91-1.23, P=0.46). Some exceptions were of note. In women, for each 5-mg/dL increment in prolactin, we observed increased odds of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol at follow-up (odds ratio 1.50, 95% CI 1.18-1.91, P=0.001) that persisted after adjustment for body mass index (P=0.001). In men, a 5-mg/dL increment in prolactin was associated with increased odds of incident hypertension (odds ratio 1.61, 95% CI 1.18-2.20 P=0.002) and incident diabetes (odds ratio 1.70, 95% CI 1.04-2.78, P=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Prolactin is not associated with a comprehensive panel of incident cardiovascular disease risk factors. Measurement of circulating prolactin levels in the community likely does not provide substantial insight into cardiometabolic risk.

A comprehensive review of the nasal microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has been known as a disease with strong infectious and inflammatory components for decades. The recent advancement in methods identifying microbes has helped implicate the airway microbiome in inflammatory respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD. Such studies support a role of resident microbes in both health and disease of host tissue, especially in the case of inflammatory mucosal diseases. Identifying interactive events between microbes and elements of the immune system can help us to uncover the pathogenic mechanisms underlying CRS. Here we provide a review of the findings on the complex upper respiratory microbiome in CRS in comparison with healthy controls. Furthermore, we have reviewed the defects and alterations of the host immune system that interact with microbes and could be associated with dysbiosis in CRS.

Association between visceral and subcutaneous adipose depots and incident cardiovascular disease risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) vary in volume and quality. We evaluated whether fat volume or attenuation (indirect measure of quality) predicts metabolic risk factor changes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Framingham Heart Study Multi-detector Computed Tomography Substudy participants (n=1730, 45% women) were followed up over a mean of 6.2 years. Baseline VAT and SAT volume (in cm(3)) and attenuation (in Hounsfield units) were assessed. Outcomes included blood pressure, lipids, and glucose. We constructed multivariable regression models predicting change from baseline to follow-up. Baseline VAT was associated with metabolic risk factors at follow-up. Per 500-cm(3) increase in baseline VAT, glucose was 2.34 mg/dL higher (95% confidence interval, 1.71-2.97) and high-density lipoprotein was 1.62 mg/dL lower (95% confidence interval, 0.97-2.28) in women (P<0.0001 for both). These findings remained significant after adjustment for body mass index. Results for SAT were similar although less striking. Lower (more negative) fat attenuation was associated with more adverse metabolic profiles at follow-up. For example, per 5-unit decrease in baseline VAT Hounsfield units, log triglycerides increased by 0.08 mg/dL (95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.12; P=0.005), which remained significant after adjustment for baseline VAT. Among men, VAT and SAT Hounsfield units were associated with changes in cardiovascular disease risk factors but were mostly attenuated after baseline volume adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: VAT volume and SAT volume are associated with incident metabolic risk factors beyond overall adiposity. Decreases in fat attenuation are also associated with incident risk factors. These findings suggest that both volume and quality of VAT and SAT contribute to metabolic risk.

SR-FTIR Coupled with Principal Component Analysis Shows Evidence for the Cellular Bystander Effect.

Synchrotron radiation-Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR) microscopy coupled with multivariate data analysis was used as an independent modality to monitor the cellular bystander effect. Single, living prostate cancer PC-3 cells were irradiated with various numbers of protons, ranging from 50-2,000, with an energy of either 1 or 2 MeV using a proton microprobe. SR-FTIR spectra of cells, fixed after exposure to protons and nonirradiated neighboring cells (bystander cells), were recorded. Spectral differences were observed in both the directly targeted and bystander cells and included changes in the DNA backbone and nucleic bases, along with changes in the protein secondary structure. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to investigate the variance in the entire data set. The percentage of bystander cells relative to the applied number of protons with two different energies was calculated. Of all the applied quantities, the dose of 400 protons at 2 MeV was found to be the most effective for causing significant macromolecular perturbation in bystander PC-3 cells.

Trends in diabetes incidence: the Framingham Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE: Obesity and type 2 diabetes continue to increase in prevalence in the U.S. Whether diabetes incidence continues to increase in recent times is less well documented. We examined trends in diabetes incidence over the previous four decades. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Framingham Heart Study participants ages 40-55 years and free of diabetes at baseline (n = 4,795; mean age 45.3 years; 51.6% women) were followed for the development of diabetes in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. Diabetes was defined as either fasting glucose ≥126 mg/dL or use of antidiabetes medication. Poisson regression was used to calculate sex-specific diabetes incidence rates for a 47-year-old individual in each decade. Rates were also calculated among obese, overweight, and normal weight individuals. RESULTS: The annualized rates of diabetes per 1,000 individuals were 2.6, 3.8, 4.7, and 3.0 (women) and 3.4, 4.5, 7.4, and 7.3 (men) in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, respectively. Compared with the 1970s, the age- and sex-adjusted relative risks of diabetes were 1.37 (95% CI 0.87-2.16; P = 0.17), 1.99 (95% CI 1.30-3.03; P = 0.001), and 1.81 (95% CI 1.16-2.82; P = 0.01) in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, respectively. Compared with the 1990s, the relative risk of diabetes in the 2000s was 0.85 (95% CI 0.61-1.20; P = 0.36). CONCLUSIONS: In our community-based sample, the risk of new-onset diabetes continued to be higher in the 2000s compared with the 1970s. In the past decade, diabetes incidence remained steady despite the ongoing trend of rising adiposity.

Metabolic characterization of adults with binge eating in the general population: the Framingham Heart Study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the metabolic profile of individuals with objective binge eating (OBE) and to evaluate whether associations between OBE and metabolic risk factors are mediated by body mass index (BMI). METHODS: Participants from the Framingham Heart Study, Third Generation and Omni 2 cohorts (n = 3,551, 53.1% women, mean age 46.4 years) were screened for binge eating. Multivariable-adjusted regression models to examine the associations of OBE with metabolic risk factors were used. RESULTS: The prevalence of OBE was 4.8% in women and 4.9% in men. Compared to non-binge eating, OBE was associated with higher odds of hypertension (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.32-2.60), hypertriglyceridemia (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.01-2.01), low HDL (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.18-2.44), insulin resistance (OR 3.18, 95% CI 2.25-4.50) and metabolic syndrome (OR 2.75, 95% CI 1.94-3.90). Fasting glucose was 7.2 mg dl(-1) higher in those with OBE (P = 0.0001). Individuals with OBE had more visceral, subcutaneous and liver fat. Most of these associations were attenuated with adjustment for BMI, with the exception of fasting glucose. CONCLUSIONS: Binge eating is associated with a high burden of metabolic risk factors. Much of the associated risk appears to be mediated by BMI, with the exception of fasting glucose.

A comparative study between caudal bupivacaine and bupivacaine co-administered with neostigmine for postoperative analgesia in children.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the duration of postoperative analgesia and possible adverse effects produced by caudal bupivacaine 0.25% at 1 ml/kg with or without 1.5 ug/kg of neostigmine in children undergoing unilateral herniotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixty-six children aged 1-6 years, of ASA physical status classes I or II for elective unilateral herniotomy under general anaesthesia without premedication were studied. The patients were randomly allocated into two groups of 33 each. Group B received caudal analgesia with plain bupivacaine 0.25% at 1 ml/kg alone, while group BN received caudal analgesia using a mixture of plain bupivacaine 0.25% at 1 ml/kg and neostigmine 1.5 ug/ kg. Postoperatively, monitoring of pain scores and time to first analgesic request and, total dose of analgesics administered in the first 24 hours were recorded. RESULTS: All the patients participated throughout the study. There were no differences in the demographic characteristics (age, weight, ASA status)between the two groups. The mean duration of effective analgesia was significantly longer in group BN, 460 ± 60.2 min. compared to group B, 286.4 ± 47.8 mins, (p < 0.001). The analgesic requirement within the first 24 hours postoperatively was also significantly reduced in group BN, p < 0.001. CONCLUSION: The study shows that the addition of low dose neostigmine to caudal isobaric bupivacaine significantly prolonged the time to first analgesic request and hence significantly reduced postoperative analgesic requirement.