Ultrastructural changes of the internal limiting membrane removed during indocyanine green assisted peeling versus conventional surgery for idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the histologic features of cellular retinal fragments on the internal limiting membrane (ILM) removed during idiopathic macular epiretinal membrane (MEM) peeling surgery with and without the aid of indocyanine green (ICG) diluted in 5% glucose. METHODS: ILM specimens removed from 88 eyes during idiopathic MEM surgery between 1995 and 2003 were reviewed retrospectively. Histologic analysis focused on the presence and characteristics of retinal fragments on the retinal surface of the ILM. Statistical analysis compared the results between group I (conventional surgery) and group II (ICG-assisted peeling). RESULTS: Seventy-one eyes underwent MEM surgery without the aid of ICG (group I) and seventeen underwent MEM ICG-assisted surgery (group II). The amount of Müller cell debris on the retinal surface of the ILM was more significant in the group I than in the group II (40.8 vs. 11.8; P = 0.024). Large fragments of Müller cells were more frequently observed in the group I (no ICG) than in the group II (ICG) (63.4 vs. 23.5%; P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The use of ICG diluted with 5% glucose in ILM removal during MEM surgery was associated with less retinal debris attached to the retinal face of the ILM compared with surgery in which ICG was not used.

Audit report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - Program of Competitive Grants for Worker Training and Placement in High Growth and Emerging Industry Sectors program for the Iowa Green Renewable Electrical Energy Network Inc. (IGREEN) for the year ended June 30, 2012

Audit report on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - Program of Competitive Grants for Worker Training and Placement in High Growth and Emerging Industry Sectors program for the Iowa Green Renewable Electrical Energy Network Inc. (IGREEN) for the year ended June 30, 2012

A cryptic heterogametic transition revealed by sex-linked DNA markers in Palearctic green toads.

In sharp contrast to birds and mammals, most cold-blooded vertebrates have homomorphic (morphologically undifferentiated) sex chromosomes. This might result either from recurrent X-Y recombination (occurring e.g. during occasional events of sex reversal) or from frequent turnovers (during which sex-determining genes are overthrown by new autosomal mutations). Evidence for turnovers is indeed mounting in fish, but very few have so far been documented in amphibians, possibly because of practical difficulties in identifying sex chromosomes. Female heterogamety (ZW) has long been established in Bufo bufo, based on sex reversal and crossing experiments. Here, we investigate a sex-linked marker identified from a laboratory cross between Palearctic green toads (Bufo viridis subgroup). The F(1) offspring produced by a female Bufo balearicus and a male Bufo siculus were phenotypically sexed, displaying an even sex ratio. A sex-specific marker detected in highly reproducible AFLP genotypes was cloned. Sequencing revealed a noncoding, microsatellite-containing fragment. Reamplification and genotyping of families of this and a reciprocal cross showed B. siculus to be male heterogametic (XY) and suggested the same system for B. balearicus. Our results thus reveal a cryptic heterogametic transition within bufonid frogs and help explain patterns of hybrid fitness within the B. viridis subgroup. Turnovers of genetic sex-determination systems may be more frequent in amphibians than previously thought and thus contribute to the prevalence of homomorphic sex chromosomes in this group.

The carbon isotope composition of natural SiC (moissanite) from the Earth's mantle: New discoveries from ophiolites

Moissanite (natural SiC) has been recovered from podiform chromitites of several ophiolite complexes, including the Luobusa and Donqiao ophiolites in Tibet, the Semail ophiolite in Oman and the United Arab Emirates, and the Ray-Iz ophiolite of the Polar Urals, Russia. Taking these new occurrences with the numerous earlier reports of moissanite in diamondiferous kimberlites leads to the conclusion that natural SiC is a widespread mineral in the Earth's mantle, which implies at least locally extremely low redox conditions. The ophiolite moissanite grains are mostly fragments (20 to 150 mu m) with one or more crystal faces, but some euhedral hexagonal grains have also been recovered. Twinned crystals are common in chromitites from the Luobusa ophiolite. The moissanite is rarely colorless, more commonly light bluish-gray to blue or green. Many grains contain inclusions of native Si and Fe-Si alloys (FeSi(2), Fe(3)Si(7)). Secondary ion mass spectrometric (SIMS) analysis shows that the ophiolite-hosted moissanite has a distinctive (13)C-depleted isotopic composition (delta(13)C from -18 to -35 parts per thousand, n=36), much lighter than the main carbon reservoir in the upper mantle (delta(13)C near -5 parts per thousand). The compiled data from moissanite from kimberlites and other mantle settings share the characteristic of strongly (13)C-depleted isotopic composition. This suggests that moissanite originates from a separate carbon reservoir in the mantle or that its formation involved strong isotopic fractionation. The degree of fractionation needed to produce the observed moissanite compositions from the main C-reservoir would be unrealistically large at the high temperatures required for moissanite formation. Subduction of biogenic carbonaceous material could potentially satisfy both the unusual isotopic and redox constraints on moissanite formation, but this material would need to stay chemically isolated from the upper mantle until it reached the high-T stability field of moissanite. The origin of moissanite in the mantle is still unsolved, but all evidence from the upper mantle indicates that it cannot have formed there, barring special and local redox conditions. We suggest, alternatively, that moissanite may have formed in the lower mantle, where the existence of (13)C-depleted carbon is strongly supported by studies of extraterrestrial carbon (Mars, Moon, meteorites). (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.

Albedo and estimates of net radiation for green beans under polyethylene cover and field conditions

This paper describes the albedo (r) and estimates of net radiation and global solar irradiance for green beans crop (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), cultivated in greenhouse with cover of polyethylene and field conditions, in Botucatu, SP, Brazil (22º 54' S; 48º 27' W; 850 m). The solar global irradiance (Rg) and solar reflected radiation (Rr) were used to estimate the albedo through the ratio between Rr and Rg. The diurnal curves of albedo were obtained for days with clear sky and partially cloudy conditions, for different phenological stages of the crop. The albedo ranged with the solar elevation, the environment and the phenological stages. The cloudiness range have almost no influence on the albedo diurnal amount. The estimation of radiation were made by linear regression, using the global solar irradiance (Rg) and net short-waves radiation (Rc) as independent variables. All estimates of radiation showed better adjustment for specific phenological periods compared to the entire crop growing cycle. The net radiation in the greenhouse has been estimated by the global solar irradiance measured at field conditions.

Rearing the southern green stink bug using an artificial dry diet and an artificial plant

Laboratory and greenhouse studies were conducted with an artificial dry diet to rear nymphs, and with an artificial plant as substrate for egg laying by the southern green stink bug, Nezara viridula (L.). The artificial diet was composed of: soybean protein (15 g); potato starch (7.5 g); dextrose (7.5 g); sucrose (2.5 g); cellulose (12.5 g); vitamin mixture (niacinamide 1 g, calcium pantothenate 1 g, thiamine 0.25 g, riboflavin 0.5 g, pyridoxine 0.25 g, folic acid 0.25 g, biotin 0.02 mL, vitamin B12 1 g - added to 1,000 mL of distilled water) (5.0 mL); soybean oil (20 mL); wheat germ (17.9 g); and water (30 mL). Nymphs showed normal feeding behavior when fed on the artificial diet. Nymphal development time was longer than or similar to that of nymphs fed on soybean pods. Total nymphal mortality was low (ca. 30%), both for nymphs reared on the artificial diet, and for nymphs fed on soybean pods. At adult emergence, fresh body weights were significantly (P<0.01) less on the artificial diet than on soybean pods. Despite the lower adult survivorship and fecundity on artificial plants than on soybean plants, it was demonstrated for the first time that a model simulating a natural plant, can be used as a substrate for egg mass laying, in conjunction with the artificial diet.

Factors associated with healthcare professionals' intent to stay in hospital: a comparison across five occupational categories.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors associated with intent to stay in hospital among five different categories of healthcare professionals using an adapted version of the conceptual model of intent to stay (CMIS). DESIGN: A cross-sectional survey targeting Lausanne University Hospital employees performed in the fall of 2011. Multigroup structural equation modeling was used to test the adapted CMIS model among professional groups. Measures Satisfaction, self-fulfillment, workload, working conditions, burnout, overall job satisfaction, institutional identification and intent to stay. PARTICIPANTS: Surveys of 3364 respondents: 494 physicians, 1228 nurses, 509 laboratory technicians, 935 administrative staff and 198 psycho-social workers. RESULTS: For all professional categories, self-fulfillment increased intent to stay (all β > 0.14, P < 0.05). Burnout decreased intent to stay by weakening job satisfaction (β < -0.23 and β > 0.22, P < 0.05). Some factors were associated with specific professional categories: workload was associated with nurses' intent to stay (β = -0.15), and physicians' institutional identification mitigated the effect of burnout on intent to stay (β = -0.15 and β = 0.19). CONCLUSION: Respondents' intent to stay in a position depended both on global and profession-specific factors. The identification of these factors may help in mapping interventions and retention plans at both a hospital level and professional groups' level.

Emerald Ash Borer, The Green Menace, April 2006

The emerald ash borer (EAB) is a very small but very destructive beetle. Metallic green in color, its slender body measures 1/2 inch in length and 1/8 inch wide. The average adult

A new green fluorescent protein-based bacterial biosensor for analysing phenanthrene fluxes.

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-degrading strain Burkholderia sp. RP007 served as host strain for the design of a bacterial biosensor for the detection of phenanthrene. RP007 was transformed with a reporter plasmid containing a transcriptional fusion between the phnS putative promoter/operator region and the gene encoding the enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP). The resulting bacterial biosensor--Burkholderia sp. strain RP037--produced significant amounts of GFP after batch incubation in the presence of phenanthrene crystals. Co-incubation with acetate did not disturb the phenanthrene-specific response but resulted in a homogenously responding population of cells. Active metabolism was required for induction with phenanthrene. The magnitude of GFP induction was influenced by physical parameters affecting the phenanthrene flux to the cells, such as the contact surface area between solid phenanthrene and the aqueous phase, addition of surfactant, and slow phenanthrene release from Model Polymer Release System beads or from a water-immiscible oil. These results strongly suggest that the bacterial biosensor can sense different phenanthrene fluxes while maintaining phenanthrene metabolism, thus acting as a genuine sensor for phenanthrene bioavailability. A relationship between GFP production and phenanthrene mass transfer is proposed.

First detection of Waddlia chondrophila in Africa using SYBR Green real-time PCR on veterinary samples.

Waddlia chondrophila is a strict intracellular microorganism belonging to the order Chlamydiales that has been isolated twice from aborted bovine fetuses, once in USA and once in Germany. This bacterium is now considered as an abortigenic agent in cattle. However, no information is available regarding the presence of this bacterium in Africa. Given the low sensitivity of cell culture to recover such an obligate intracellular bacterium, molecular-based diagnostic approaches are warranted. This report describes the development of a quantitative SYBR Green real-time PCR assay targeting the recA gene of W. chondrophila. Analytical sensitivity was 10 copies of control plasmid DNA per reaction. No cross-amplification was observed when testing pathogens that can cause abortion in cattle. The PCR exhibited a good intra-run and inter-run reproducibility. This real-time PCR was then applied to 150 vaginal swabs taken from Tunisian cows that have aborted. Twelve samples revealed to be Waddlia positive, suggesting a possible role of this bacterium in this setting. This new real-time PCR assay represents a diagnostic tool that may be used to further study the prevalence of Waddlia infection.