Prolactin (PRL) signaling has been implicated in the regulation of glucose homeostatic adaptations to pregnancy. In this report, the PRL receptor (Prlr) gene was conditionally disrupted in the ...pancreas, creating an animal model which proved useful for investigating the biology and pathology of gestational diabetes including its impacts on fetal and placental development. In mice, pancreatic PRLR signaling was demonstrated to be required for pregnancy-associated changes in maternal β cell mass and function. Disruption of the Prlr gene in the pancreas resulted in fewer insulin-producing cells, which failed to expand appropriately during pregnancy resulting in reduced blood insulin levels and maternal glucose intolerance. This inability to sustain normal blood glucose balance during pregnancy worsened with age and a successive pregnancy. The etiology of the insulin insufficiency was attributed to deficits in regulatory pathways controlling β cell differentiation. Additionally, the disturbance in maternal blood glucose homeostasis was associated with fetal overgrowth and dysregulation of inflammation and PRL-associated transcripts in the placenta. Overall, these results indicate that the PRLR, acting within the pancreas, mediates maternal pancreatic adaptations to pregnancy. PRLR dysfunction is associated with glucose intolerance during pregnancy and pathological features consistent with gestational diabetes.
The invasion of woody vegetation into deserts, grasslands and savannas is generally thought to lead to an increase in the amount of carbon stored in those ecosystems. For this reason, shrub and ...forest expansion (for example, into grasslands) is also suggested to be a substantial, if uncertain, component of the terrestrial carbon sink. Here we investigate woody plant invasion along a precipitation gradient (200 to 1,100 mm yr-1) by comparing carbon and nitrogen budgets and soil δ13C profiles between six pairs of adjacent grasslands, in which one of each pair was invaded by woody species 30 to 100 years ago. We found a clear negative relationship between precipitation and changes in soil organic carbon and nitrogen content when grasslands were invaded by woody vegetation, with drier sites gaining, and wetter sites losing, soil organic carbon. Losses of soil organic carbon at the wetter sites were substantial enough to offset increases in plant biomass carbon, suggesting that current land-based assessments may overestimate carbon sinks. Assessments relying on carbon stored from woody plant invasions to balance emissions may therefore be incorrect.
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Previous studies of tumor cell-associated procoagulants and fibrinolytic factors have strongly suggested that local thrombin and plasmin generation may be important in tumor growth and dissemination. ...Given that one central target of both of these serine proteases is fibrin(ogen), a logical extension of this hypothesis is that local fibrin deposition and dissolution may be key determinants of tumor progression. In this paper, the role of fibrin(ogen) and its degradation products in the growth and spontaneous metastasis of Lewis lung carcinoma was directly examined by comparative studies of control and fibrinogen-deficient mice. Fibrinogen deficiency was found to have no effect on the time required for the formation of palpable tumors, tumor angiogenesis, overall tumor architecture, or primary (s.c.) or secondary (pulmonary) tumor growth. However, fibrinogen deficiency markedly reduced the incidence of spontaneous macroscopic metastases in the lung and regional lymph nodes, a process that occurred relatively late in tumor development. Furthermore, a significant quantitative reduction in pulmonary micrometastases was observed in fibrinogen-deficient mice. Quantitative analyses of pulmonary micrometastases in primary tumor-bearing mice indicated that spontaneous showering of tumor cell emboli into the lung was robust, regardless of animal genotype. Hence, our results suggest fibrin(ogen) plays an important role in spontaneous metastasis, facilitating the stable adhesion and/or survival of metastatic emboli after tumor cell intravasation. These studies suggest that therapeutic strategies focusing on hemostatic factors may be effective in controlling solid tumor metastasis, particularly if used for the treatment of micrometastatic disease.
A novel astaxanthin-amino acid conjugate was prepared, which demonstrated potent, direct superoxide scavenging ability in an in vitro isolated human neutrophil assay.
The aqueous solubility and/or ...dispersibility of synthetic carotenoid analogs can be improved by varying the chemical structure(s) of the esterified moieties. In the current study, a highly water-dispersible astaxanthin (3,3′-dihydroxy-β,β-carotene-4,4′-dione) derivative was synthesized by esterification to the amino acid
l-lysine, and subsequently converted to the tetrahydrochloride salt. Deep violet, evenly colored aqueous suspensions were obtained with addition of the novel derivative to USP purified water up to a maximum of 181.6
mg/mL. These aqueous suspensions were obtained without the addition of heat, detergents, co-solvents, or other additives. At higher concentrations (above 181.6
mg/mL), the dispersion became turbid and viscous. There was no saturation point up to 181.6
mg/mL. The direct superoxide scavenging ability of the tetrahydrochloride dilysine astaxanthin salt was also evaluated by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in a well-characterized in vitro isolated human neutrophil assay. The novel derivative was an extremely potent (micromolar concentration) aqueous-phase scavenger, with near-complete suppression of the superoxide anion signal (as detected by spin-trap adducts of DEPMPO) achieved at 100
μM. To the authors' knowledge, this novel carotenoid derivative exhibits the greatest aqueous dispersibility yet described for a natural and/or synthetic C40 carotenoid, and as such, will find utility in those applications for which aqueous-phase singlet oxygen quenching and direct radical scavenging are required.
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Texas comprises the eastern portion of the Southwest region, where the convergence of climatological and geopolitical forces has the potential to put extreme stress on water resources. Geologic ...records indicate that Texas experienced large climate changes on millennial time scales in the past, and over the last thousand years, tree-ring records indicate that there were significant periods of drought in Texas. These droughts were of longer duration than the 1950s “drought of record” that is commonly used in planning, and they occurred independently of human-induced global climate change. Although there has been a negligible net temperature increase in Texas over the past century, temperatures have increased more significantly over the past three decades. Under essentially all climate model projections, Texas is susceptible to significant climate change in the future. Most projections for the 21st century show that with increasing atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, there will be an increase in temperatures across Texas and a shift to a more arid average climate. Studies agree that Texas will likely become significantly warmer and drier, yet the magnitude, timing, and regional distribution of these changes are uncertain. There is a large uncertainty in the projected changes in precipitation for Texas for the 21st century. In contrast, the more robust projected increase in temperature with its effect on evaporation, which is a dominant component in the region’s hydrologic cycle, is consistent with model projections of frequent and extended droughts throughout the state. For these reasons, we recommend that Texas invest resources to investigate and anticipate the impacts of climate change on Texas’ water resources, with the goal of providing data to inform resource planning. This investment should support development of 1) research programs that provide policy-relevant science; 2) education programs to engage future researchers and policy-makers; and 3) connections between policy-makers, scientists, water resource managers, and other stakeholders. It is proposed that these goals may be achieved through the establishment of a Texas Climate Consortium, consisting of representatives from academia, industry, government agencies, water authorities, and other stakeholders. The mission of this consortium would be to develop the capacity to provide decision makers with the information needed to develop adaptation strategies in the face of future climate change and uncertainty.
Citation: Banner JL, Jackson CS, Yang ZL, Hayhoe K, Woodhouse C, Gulden L, Jacobs K, North G, Leung R, Washington W, Jiang X, Casteel R. 2010. Climate Change Impacts on Texas Water: A white paper assessment of the past, present and future and recommendations for action. Texas Water Journal. 1(1):1-19. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v1i1.1043.
??ntideva's eighth-century work, the Guide to Bodhisattva Practice (Bodhicary?vat?ra), is known for its eminently practical instructions and its psychologically vivid articulations of the Mah?y?na ...path. It is a powerful, succinct poem into which are woven diverse Buddhist traditions of moral transformation, meditative cultivation, and philosophical insight. Since its composition, it has seen continuous use as a ritual, contemplative, and philosophical manual, making it one of the crucial texts of the Buddhist ethical and philosophical tradition. This book serves as a companion to this Indian Buddhist classic. The fifteen essays contained here illuminate the Guide 's many philosophical, literary, ritual, and ethical dimensions. Distinguished scholars discuss the historical significance of the text as an innovative piece of Indian literature, illuminate the important roles it played in shaping Buddhism in Tibet, and bring to light its contemporary significance for philosophy and psychology. Whether experienced or first-time students of Buddhist literature, readers will find compelling new approaches to this resonant masterpiece.
It is important to introduce computer programming concepts to K-12 students in preparation and motivation for college-level programming courses. Furthermore, generalization and abstraction are skills ...needed in computer science and other STEM majors. The Collaborative Partnership to teach mathematical Reasoning through Computer PRogramming (CPR2) Instructional Model (IM) was developed to use Python programming as a vehicle for explicit instruction in mathematical generalization and abstraction. Students are introduced to programming for the purpose of exploring mathematical concepts. They write code embedded with mathematical general expressions, observe the behavior of those expressions at scale in the execution of their programs, make conjectures about emerging patterns, and write convincing arguments to support these conjectures. During a two-week summer institute in 2020, middle school math teachers participated in professional development using the CPR2 instructional model. Teachers were provided with an introduction to programming and then shown how to apply the instructional model to math concepts while addressing computer science and math standards in the process. During the following fall and spring, the CPR2-trained teachers piloted lessons using Python programming to explore math concepts in their own classrooms. In this paper, details about the instructional model, the collaborative design research process used to refine professional development sessions, the key role of experienced teacher mentors in supporting new participants, and the incorporation of programming into the teachers' math classrooms are detailed. The results of design sessions and the pilot implementation are also discussed.
Recent guidance advocates daily consultant-led ward rounds, conducted in the morning with the presence of senior nursing staff and minimising patients on outlying wards. These recommendations aim to ...improve patient management through timely investigations, treatment and discharge. This study sought to evaluate the current surgical ward round practices in England.
Information regarding timing and staffing levels of surgical ward rounds was collected prospectively over a one-week period. The location of each patient was also documented. Two surgical trainee research collaboratives coordinated data collection from 19 hospitals and 13 surgical subspecialties.
Data from 471 ward rounds involving 5622 patient encounters was obtained. 367 (77.9%) ward rounds commenced before 9am. Of 422 weekday rounds, 190 (45%) were consultant-led compared with 33 of the 49 (67%) weekend rounds. 2474 (44%) patients were seen with a nurse present. 1518 patients (27%) were classified as outliers, with 361 ward rounds (67%) reporting at least one outlying patient.
Recommendations for daily consultant-led multi disciplinary ward rounds are poorly implemented in surgical practice, and patients continue to be managed on outlying wards. Although strategies may be employed to improve nursing attendance on ward rounds, substantial changes to workforce planning would be required to deliver daily consultant-led care. An increasing political focus on patient outcomes at weekends may prompt changes in these areas.
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This chapter reflects an on-going effort to use autoethnography as a medium to understand, analyze, and make meaning of the experiences of three African American female junior faculty members working ...in a predominantly White institution. Drawing on data that include in-depth phenomenological interviews, reflection journals, formal/informal dialogues, and official documentation, we explore a notable predicament that occurred during our second year in the academy and its subsequent impact on our professional and personal identities as well as our day-to-day existence within the college. The dilemma, which is detailed in a narrative format, highlights the conflicts that inevitably result from the daily negotiation between our self-imposed identities as scholar/activists and thus, "change agents," and the "agents of change" identity imposed upon us by our colleagues and administration.
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