Texas USA Research Articles

Perceived influence of power shortage and release of radiation caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake on physical activity participation

The Toronto Charter for Physical Activity (2010) and several ational physical activity plans advocate sports participation as an mportant part of population targeted physical activity for youth. merging research evidence also suggests that sport participation n youth is linked to significant positive correlationswith academic nd behavioural performance. The purpose of this study was to ompare academic and behavioural performance between male nd female public school athletes (Total N=11,139; 38% Female) nd non-athletes (Total N=23,891; 52% Female) in a convenient, thnicity diverse, sample (grades 7–12) from the state of Texas USA). Methods:We examined the passing rates of individual athletes nd non-athletes on standardized tests (Texas Essential Knowledge nd Skills, TEKS) for math, language arts, reading, writing, science, nd social studies. We also examined the percentage of athletes nd non-athletes for being “at risk,” for dropping out of school nd for the total average number of disciplinary actions. All data ere collected from Texas school districts (N=7) with the help of eaders from the Texas High School Coaches Association (THSCA). nstitutional ReviewBoard approval fromTexas StateUniversity for uman subjects research was acquired prior to data analyses. Results: It was estimated that athletes were physically active t moderateto vigorousintensities for a minimum of 8hours er week (state practice rule limitations) and that they were ore physically active than non-athletes. Assumptionswere based n the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Youth ehaviour Risk Surveillance System (YRBS) 2009 data for high chool youth in Texas, which showed that 41.2% did not play on ports teams, and only 53.4% were active at least 60minutes per ay for less than 5 days. Chi-Square statistical analyses comparing thletes to non-athletes showed that athletes scored significantly etter (p <0.05) on all standardized tests compared to non-athletes passing rate ranges ranged from 77.1% to 92.9% versus 27.7% to 6.5% respectively). Athletes were at lower risk for dropout comared to non-athletes (35.6% versus 49.24%; p<0.05), and they had ewerdisciplinaryactions (meanof0.85perathletesperyearversus .23 for non-athletes; p <0.05). Discussion: Our results support the research findings of othrs that participation in school sports is positively correlated to etter academic and behavioural performances for athletes comared to non-athletes. Further studies are warranted to determine f there are causal associations between academic and behavioural erformances between athletes and non-athletes.

Editorial introductions

Current Opinion in Ophthalmology was launched in 1990. It is one of a successful series of review journals whose unique format is designed to provide a systematic and critical assessment of the literature as presented in the many primary journals. The field of Ophthalmology is divided into nine sections that are reviewed once a year. Each section is assigned a Section Editor, a leading authority in the area, who identifies the most important topics at that time. Here we are pleased to introduce the Journal's Section Editors for this issue. SECTION EDITORS Alex V. LevinAlex V. LevinDr Levin is the Chief of Pediatric Ophthalmology and Ocular Genetics at Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, USA. After graduating from Muhlenberg College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA, and Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, USA, Dr Levin completed a pediatric residency at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, USA and continued on there as a staff child abuse pediatrician. He then completed an ophthalmology residency at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia. This was followed by a pediatric ophthalmology fellowship at The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Canada, where he continued as a staff ophthalmologist and Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics, Genetics and Ophthalmology and Vision Science at the University of Toronto, Canada, for over 16 years. He was the Director of the Pediatric Ophthalmology Fellowship program and Co-Director of their Ocular Genetics program. He completed a MHSc in Bioethics at the University of Toronto and was the university's Director of Postgraduate Bioethics Education. In 2008 he relocated back to Wills where he is also Professor of Ophthalmology and Pediatrics. He holds US Board certification in pediatrics, ophthalmology, and child abuse pediatrics. Dr Levin has a long-standing interest in ocular manifestations of child abuse, pediatric cataract, pediatric glaucoma, ocular genetics and the ophthalmic manifestations of pediatric systemic disease. Richard C. AllenRichard C. AllenRichard C. Allen MD PhD attended Duke University in Durham, North Carolina USA and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BS in Chemistry where he received the Departmental Award in Chemistry. He was accepted into the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas USA where he received his MD and PhD degrees. His dissertation was under the direction of John W. Belmont MD PhD in the Dept. of Human and Molecular Genetics. His dissertation “Molecular Genetics of X-linked Immunodeficiencies Affecting B Lymphocyte Function” was awarded the Sigma Xi Thesis Excellence Award. Other awards included first place for basic sciences for the MSTP class entering 1987 and the Medical Student Research Award from the Society of Pediatric Research. Dr Allen completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA and residency in ophthalmology at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, USA. Under the mentorship of Edwin M. Stone MD PhD and Thomas A. Oetting MD MS, he completed a fellowship in molecular ophthalmology and comprehensive ophthalmology at the University of Iowa. In 2000, Dr Allen joined the faculty in the Dept. of Ophthalmology at Baylor College of Medicine where he was Chief of the Ophthalmology Service at Ben Taub General Hospital. In 2002, he joined the faculty in the Division of Ophthalmology, Dept. of Surgery at the University of New Mexico, School of Medicine. From 2004 to 2006, he completed additional fellowship training in oculoplastic surgery at the University of Iowa under the direction of Jeffrey A. Nerad MD and Keith D. Carter MD, sponsored by the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ASOPRS). In 2006, Dr Allen returned to New Mexico where he rejoined the faculty at the University of New Mexico and also built a substantial oculoplastics practice at Eye Associates of New Mexico. Upon the departure of Dr Jeffrey Nerad from the University of Iowa in 2009, Dr Allen returned to Iowa City where he is currently an Associate Professor in the Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and the Dept. of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery. His practice is limited to ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery. Dr Allen is a member of ASOPRS and the American Eye Study Group, among others. He has published numerous peer-reviewed papers and book chapters. He is a reviewer for multiple medical journals and is a member of committees in ASOPRS, the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), and the International Council of Ophthalmology (ICO). He is an active lecturer for many universities, hospitals, and medical societies worldwide. His research interests include genetic diseases of the eyelids, orbit, and lacrimal system. He lives in Iowa City with his wife Missy, son Gus, and daughter Sophie.

Opportunities and Challenges for anti-CD73 Cancer Therapy

Biotherapy Center of the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China and Department of Medicine, Cancer Therapy & Research Center, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA and Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine – Division of Hematology/Oncology, Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, 300 E Superior Street‐Tarry 13‐766, Chicago, IL 60611, USA Tel.: +1 312 503 1104 Fax: +1 312 503 0189 bin.zhang@northwestern.edu Opportunities and challenges for anti-CD73 cancer therapy

Feedback from plant species change amplifies CO2 enhancement of grassland productivity

Dynamic global vegetation models simulate feedbacks of vegetation change on ecosystem processes, but direct, experimental evidence for feedbacks that result from atmospheric CO2 enrichment is rare. We hypothesized that feedbacks from species change would amplify the initial CO2 stimulation of aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) of tallgrass prairie communities. Communities of perennial forb and C4 grass species were grown for 5years along a field CO2 gradient (250-500μLL(-1) ) in central Texas USA on each of three soil types, including upland and lowland clay soils and a sandy soil. CO2 enrichment increased community ANPP by 0-117% among years and soils and increased the contribution of the tallgrass species Sorghastrum nutans (Indian grass) to community ANPP on each of the three soil types. CO2 -induced changes in ANPP and Sorghastrum abundance were linked. The slope of ANPP-CO2 regressions increased between initial and final years on the two clay soils because of a positive feedback from the increase in Sorghastrum fraction. This feedback accounted for 30-60% of the CO2 -mediated increase in ANPP on the upland and lowland clay soils during the final 3years and 1year of the experiment, respectively. By contrast, species change had little influence on the ANPP-CO2 response on the sandy soil, possibly because Sorghastrum increased largely at the expense of a functionally similar C4 grass species. By favoring a mesic C4 tall grass, CO2 enrichment approximately doubled the initial enhancement of community ANPP on two clay soils. The CO2 -stimulation of grassland productivity may be significantly underestimated if feedbacks from plant community change are not considered.

Parameters affecting HS emissions removal and re-circulating water quality in a pilot-scale sequential biological treatment system at a wastewater lift station in Brownsville, Texas, USA

In this study, a pilot-scale sequential biological treatment system combining a biotrickling filter and biofilter was used to optimize the removal of variable emission H2S loadings ranging from 30 to 120 g m−3 h−1at a wastewater lift station in Brownsville, Texas USA. The biotrickling filter recycle water pH remained between 2.0 to 3.0 during the four months of unit operation and the overall removal efficiency for H2S was >99%. The biotrickling filter removal efficiency was 70 ± 8%, with an elimination capacity of 10 to 80 g m−3 h−1 while the biofilter elimination capacity ranged from 10 to 40 g m−3 h−1. The sequential treatment system was operated initially at an Empty Bed Residence Time (EBRT) of 120 s (50 s for the biotrickling filter and 70 s for biofilter) for two months and then at an EBRT of 60 s (25 s for biotrickling filter and 35s for biofilter) for the remainder of the operating period; remarkably, there was only a slight decrease in removal efficiency at 60 s EBRT. In order to qualitatively evaluate the changes in recycle water quality in the system on the performance of the unit in precipitating sulfur species, the equilibrium chemical model, Visual MINTEQ was employed. The model predicted speciation results based on the feed water quality and sulfur loadings, and also forecast some iron-sulfur complexes which have potential to form some complex precipitates. This research demonstrated that low pH re-circulating water quality in the biological treatment of H2S was possible without compromising the high removal efficiency, and that an improved understanding of the recycle water chemistry of the trickling unit of a sequential treatment system could be useful in the overall optimization of the process.

CO2‐caused change in plant species composition rivals the shift in vegetation between mid‐grass and tallgrass prairies

AbstractAtmospheric CO2 enrichment usually changes the relative contributions of plant species to biomass production of grasslands, but the types of species favored and mechanisms by which change is mediated differ among ecosystems. We measured changes in the contributions of C3 perennial forbs and C4 grasses to aboveground biomass production of tallgrass prairie assemblages grown along a field CO2 gradient (250–500 μmol mol−1) in central Texas USA. Vegetation was grown on three soil types and irrigated each season with water equivalent to the growing season mean of precipitation for the area. We predicted that CO2 enrichment would increase the forb contribution to community production, and favor tall‐grasses over mid‐grasses by increasing soil water content and reducing the frequency with which soil water fell below a limitation threshold. CO2 enrichment favored forbs over grasses on only one of three soil types, a Mollisol. The grass fraction of production increased dramatically across the CO2 gradient on all soils. Contribution of the tall‐grass Sorghastrum nutans to production increased at elevated CO2 on the two most coarse‐textured of the soils studied, a clay Mollisol and sandy Alfisol. The CO2‐caused increase in Sorghastrum was accompanied by an offsetting decline in production of the mid‐grass Bouteloua curtipendula. Increased CO2 favored the tall‐grass over mid‐grass by increasing soil water content and apparently intensifying competition for light or other resources (Mollisol) or reducing the frequency with which soil water dipped below threshold levels (Alfisol). An increase in CO2 of 250 μmol mol−1 above the pre‐industrial level thus led to a shift in the relative production of established species that is similar in magnitude to differences observed between mid‐grass and tallgrass prairies along a precipitation gradient in the central USA. By reducing water limitation to plants, atmospheric CO2 enrichment may alter the composition and even structure of grassland vegetation.

249 Strongyloides Stercoralis Infection After Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney Transplant; A Case Report in Survival

STRONGYLOIDES STERCORALIS INFECTION AFTER SIMULTANEOUS PANCREAS AND KIDNEY TRANSPLANT; A CASE REPORT IN SURVIVAL Ameena Bagree, Amber Podoll, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, Texas USA Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection has been described rarely in single solid organ transplant patients but never in dual organ transplants to date. It is associated with a very high mortality rate (80-90%). We present a 50 year old Canadian-born male 4 months status post simultaneous pancreas kidney (SPK) transplant that was maintained on prograf, mycophenolic acid and low dose prednisone. He had several months of indolent symptoms of nausea and diarrhea with no identifiable source and multiple negative stool cultures. He, then, acutely represented with diarrhea, vomiting, larva currens abdominal rash, and acute respiratory failure with no readily identifiable exposures. Mycophenolic acid was discontinued. Extensive Strongyloides larval infiltration was detected by duodenal biopsy with massive shedding in nasogastric and respiratory secretions. An initial regimen of enteric Ivermectin 15mg daily and Albendazole 400mg BID was started. His Ivermectin was titrated to three times daily. The patient improved clinically and was extubated 10 days after initiation of therapy. Ivermectin was discontinued following negative larval samples from stool, tracheal, and gastric aspirates but had to be resumed due to one episode of recurrence of larva. Once the larval samples cleared, the ivermectin dosing was eventually minimized to the lowest possible dose and tapered off along with albendazole. The main concern during his therapeutic course was diminished responsiveness and neurotoxicity from ivermectin. The patient has now begun to make a slow neurologic recovery and long term outcomes remain to be determined. His renal and pancreatic grafts remained fully functional throughout his illness. This unique case highlights the importance of aggressive, early diagnosis and proposes a potential treatment regimen that can reduce this infection’s high mortality.

Genetic predisposition to fracture non-union: a case control study of a preliminary single nucleotide polymorphisms analysis of the BMP pathway

BackgroundDespite the known multi-factorial nature of atrophic fracture non-unions, a possible genetic predisposition for the development of this complication after long bone fractures remains unknown. This pilot study aimed to address this issue by performing a preliminary SNP analysis of specific genes known to regulate fracture healing.MethodsA total of fifteen SNPs within four genes of the Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) pathway (BMP-2, BMP-7, NOGGIN and SMAD6) were examined, in 109 randomly selected patients with long bone fractures as a result of motor vehicle accident, fall or direct blow. There were sixty-two patients with atrophic non-union and forty-seven patients (54 fractures) with uneventful fracture union. Overall SNPs frequencies were computed with respect to patient's age, gender, smoking habits, fracture-associated parameters and the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and tested for their association to the impaired bone healing process, using binary logistic regression (STATA 11.1; StataCorp, Texas USA).ResultsStatistical analysis revealed age to be an important covariate in the development of atrophic non-union (p = 0.01, OR 1.05 [per year]), and two specific genotypes (G/G genotype of the rs1372857 SNP, located on NOGGIN and T/T genotype of the rs2053423 SNP, located on SMAD6) to be associated with a greater risk of fracture non-union (p = 0.02, OR 4.56 and p = 0.04, OR 10.27, respectively, after adjustment for age).ConclusionsThis is the first clinical study to investigate the potential existence of genetic susceptibility to fracture non-union. Even though no concrete conclusions can be obtained from this pilot study, our results indicate the existence of a potential genetically predetermined impairment within the BMP signalling cascade, initiated after a fracture and when combined with other risk factors could synergistically increase the susceptibility of a patient to develop non-union. Further research is desirable in order to clarify the genetic component and its role and interaction with other risk factors in the development of atrophic long bone non-union, as simple genetic testing may contribute to the early identification of patients at risk in the future and the on-time intervention at the biologic aspects of bone healing.

Estrogens of multiple classes and their role in mental health disease mechanisms

Gender and sex hormones can influence a variety of mental health states, including mood, cognitive development and function, and vulnerability to neurodegenerative diseases and brain damage. Functions of neuronal cells may be altered by estrogens depending upon the availability of different physiological estrogenic ligands; these ligands and their effects vary with life stages, the genetic or postgenetic regulation of receptor levels in specific tissues, or the intercession of competing nonphysiological ligands (either intentional or unintentional, beneficial to health or not). Here we review evidence for how different estrogens (physiological and environmental/dietary), acting via different estrogen receptor subtypes residing in alternative subcellular locations, influence brain functions and behavior. We also discuss the families of receptors and transporters for monoamine neurotransmitters and how they may interact with the estrogenic signaling pathways.

Dasatinib in chronic myeloid leukemia: a review

Deregulated BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase (TK) activity is the molecular marker for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), which provides an identifiable target for developing therapeutic agents. Imatinib mesylate, a BCR-ABL TK inhibitor, is the frontline therapy for CML. Despite the stunning efficacy of this agent, a small number of patients develop a suboptimal response or resistance to imatinib. In newly diagnosed patients with chronic phase CML, the rate of resistance to imatinib at 4 years was up to 20%, increasing to 70% to 90% for patients in the accelerated/blastic phase. Resistance to imatinib led to the development of novel TK inhibitors such as dasatinib. Several clinical trials have reported more durable complete hematologic and cytogenetic responses with this agent in patients who are resistant or intolerant to imatinib. Dasatinib is well tolerated and has broad efficacy, resulting in durable responses in patients with any BCR-ABL mutation except for T3151 and mutations in codon 317 - most commonly F317L - including mutations that were highly resistant to imatinib, such as L248, Y253, E255, F359, and H396. Dasatinib is recommended for CML in chronic, blastic or accelerated phase that is resistant or intolerant to imatinib. Dasatinib was approved by the FDA at 100 mg once daily as the starting dose in patients with chronic phase CML and at 70 mg twice daily in patients with accelerated or blastic phase CML. Various clinical trial results provided evidence that resistance to one TK inhibitor can be reversed with the use of a different TK inhibitor (TKI). Other second-generation TKIs with activity in CML include nilotinib, bosutinib and INNO 406. New molecules, such as the inhibitor of Aurora family serine-threonine kinases, MK0457, which has antileukemic activity in CML associated with a T315I mutation, are being investigated. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation remains an option for selected patients.

A survey of oil and gas wells in the Texas Gulf Coast, USA, and implications for geological sequestration of CO2

Subsurface sequestration of CO2 in oil and gas provinces where permanence of hydrocarbon accumulations has proven the reliability of potential traps is rightly seen as a solid option for containment of CO2 atmospheric concentrations. However, one of the most promising provinces for carbon storage in North America, the Texas Gulf Coast, has also been heavily drilled for more than a century, puncturing many otherwise perfectly sound seals (>125,000 wells over ~50,000 km2). As a result, boreholes and, in particular, older abandoned wells could be major leakage pathways for sequestered CO2. This article presents statistics on well spatial and depth distribution that have been drawn from public domain sources and relates these data to historical plugging and abandonment regulations in the Texas Gulf Coast. Surface-well density averages of 2.4 wells/km2 can be locally much higher—but also much lower in larger areas. Average well penetration density drops to 0.27 and 0.05 well/km2 below a depth of 2,440 and 3,660 m, respectively. Natural mitigating factors such as thief zones and heaving “shales” could also play a role in limiting the impact of these direct conduits to the shallow subsurface and surface.

Light and Electron Microscopic Observations on Erythrolobus coxiae gen.et sp.nov. (Porphyridiophyceae, Rhodophyta) from Texas U.S.A.

Species of the unicellular red algae Dixoniella, Flintiella, Glaucosphaera, Porphyridium, Rhodosorus and Rhodella have been formally described and their fine structure investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM; Broadwater and Scott 1994) while the unicellular genus Rhodospora (Geitler 1927, Johansen et al. 2005) is described only at the light microscopic level. Several other new species and genera of unicellular red algae have also been isolated and briefly examined by molecular analysis and light and electron microscopy (Hara et al. 2000, Yokoyama et al. 2004) and formal description of several of these is currently underway (Yokoyama and Hara, personal communication). Recently our understanding of phylogenetic interrelationships of red algal unicells has progressed significantly using molecular techniques in combination with several TEM features (Hara et al. 2000, Saunders and Hommersand 2004, Yoon et al. 2006). Ultrastructural features considered most valuable in unicellular red algal systematics include Golgi apparatus associations with other organelles, presence or absence of pyrenoids and pyrenoid attributes, the morphology and precise details of chloroplasts and certain details of nuclei and mitosis (Broadwater and Scott 1994). In the mid-1970s a unicellular red alga believed to be a new genus was isolated from coastal Texas USA. Initial work describing growth characteristics and behavior in culture, phycobilin pigments and light and electron microscopy was completed but the results were not published (see Baca 1978). Recently, we conducted microscopic studies on this strain in order to formally describe this new coccoid red alga as Erythrolobus coxiae nov.gen et nov. sp. Algae Volume 21(4): 407-416, 2006

Male Rio Grande Turkey Survival and Movements in the Texas Panhandle and Southwestern Kansas

Wildlife managers depend on accurate information regarding wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) survival patterns to properly manage turkey populations. Survival patterns of male Rio Grande wild turkeys (M. g. intermedia) have not been studied intensively. Wildlife managers in the Texas Panhandle, USA, and southwestern Kansas, USA, suspected that turkey populations were declining. From January 2000 through August 2002, we studied survival and movement of 107 juvenile male and 115 adult male radiomarked Rio Grande wild turkeys on 4 study sites in the Texas Panhandle and southwestern Kansas. We predicted that males would experience lowest survival during spring and that there would be no difference in survival between age classes. We also predicted that greater male movement rates would lead to lower survival rates. Juvenile males had a higher annual survival rate (0.597 [95% CI hereafter: 0.478–0.716]) than adults (0.364 [0.257–0.472]). Juvenile male survival did not differ among seasons, with survival rates of 0.813 (0.736–0.891), 0.904 (0.837–0.972), and 0.917 (0.838–0.996) for spring, summer, and autumn, respectively. Adult male turkey survival was higher during summer (0.915 [0.859–0.972]) than during spring (0.725 [0.651–0.799]), autumn (0.671 [0.536–0.807]), and winter (0.792 [0.732–0.851]). Males had lower survival rates during seasons when long-distance movements were common. The annual survival rate for turkeys that moved to new core-use areas (0.383 [0.282–0.484]) was lower than that for turkeys that did not (0.535 [0.460–0.609]). Also, survival rates increased with time since relocation of core-use areas. Hunting accounted for 18.5% of all mortalities. However, most (80.7%) mortality was attributed to natural causes, mostly mammalian predation. We suspected most predation was the result of coyotes (Canis latrans) and bobcats (Lynx rufus). Managers in the northern portion of the natural range of Rio Grande wild turkeys should be aware of the presence of natural mortality factors that are evident in lightly hunted populations. Managers interested in increasing the survival of male Rio Grande wild turkeys should concentrate on efforts that will provide needed resources in close proximity to roosts.

The discovery after 94 years of the elusive female of a myrmecolacid (Strepsiptera), and the cryptic species of Caenocholax fenyesi Pierce sensu lato

Due to its extreme sexual dimorphism and disparate hosts, no female myrmecolacid has been matched to its conspecific male to date. Here, for the first time to our knowledge, a morphological description is given of the matched female and male myrmecolacid, Caenocholax fenyesi waloffi ssp. nov. from Veracruz, Mexico: the female parasitic in a cricket and the male parasitic in an ant. For examined segments of DNA, the male and female are identical. Male C. fenyesi Pierce sensu lato was described 94 years ago from Veracruz. The male from Texas USA, which, for the same DNA segments, shows 15% divergence from the morphologically identical male from Veracruz, is given subspecies status, and is named Caenocholax fenyesi texensis ssp. nov. The discovery of the female finally enables many interesting studies to be pursued, such as speciation in morphologically cryptic taxa, the sexes of which parasitize disparate hosts. Caenocholax fenyesi sensu lato may also be evaluated for biocontrol of the red imported fire ant, Solenopsis invicta Buren, which is a pest in the USA and Australia.

Static opaque chamber-based technique for determination of net exchange of CO2 between terrestrial ecosystem and atmosphere

Terrestrial carbon cycling is one of the hotspots in global change issues. In this paper, we presented the ra-tionale for determination of net exchange of CO2 between terrestrial and the atmosphere (NEE) and the methods for measuring several relevant components. Three key processes for determination of NEE were addressed, including the separation of shoot autotrophic respiration from total CO2 emissions of the ecosystem, the partition of root respiration from soil CO2 efflux, and the quantification of rhizodeposi-tion C from NPP. With an understanding of the processes involved in the CO2 exchange between terrestrial and the atmosphere, we estimated NEE of rice ecosystem in Nanjing based on field measurements of CO2 emissions and several relevant biotic components as well as abiotic factors. The field measurements of CO2 emissions were made over the rice-growing seasons in 2001 and 2002 with the static opaque chamber method. Calculations indicated that the seasonal pattern of NEE is comparable for two seasons. Either net carbon emission or fractional carbon fixation occurred dur-ing 3 weeks after rice transplanting and thereafter net car-bon fixation appeared with an increasing trend as rice grow-ing. Higher net carbon fixation occurred in the rice devel-opmental period from elongating to heading. A decline trend in the fixation was documented after rice heading. The mean daily NEE was -6.06 gC·m-2 in 2001 season and -7.95 gC·m-2 in 2002 season, respectively. These values were comparable to the results obtained by Campbell et al. who made field measurements with the Bowen ratio-energy bal-ance technique in irrigated rice, Texas USA. Moreover, the mean daily NEE in this study was also comparable to the values obtained from a Japanese rice paddy with the eddy covariance method under the similar water regime, either drainage course or waterlogged. It is concluded that NEE determined by the static opaque chamber method is compa-rable and in agreement with those measured by Bowen ratio- energy balance and eddy covariance methods.

Sitting Targets and the Joking Relationships

Sitting Targets and the Joking Relationships

Future directions in the development of small molecule immunosuppressants

Division of Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Houston, Texas USA. Correspondence to Barry D. Kahan, PhD, MD, The University of Texas Medical School at Houston, Division of Immunology and Organ Transplantation, 6431 Fannin Street, Suite 6.240, Houston, TX 77030 USA; e-mail: [email protected] This work was supported in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK 38016–15).

Metals and grain size distributions in soil of the middle Rio Grande basin, Texas USA

This paper deals with the problem of increased heavy metal constituents in agricultural soils due to the expanded use of fertilizers and elevated atmospheric deposition. It discusses the extent of contamination in soil and establishes an environmental monitoring program in the chosen area of concern in the southern coastal region of Texas. Grain size, pH, and metals (Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni, Ba, As, Cr, Mn, and Fe) were determined in soils of the middle Rio Grande basin. The soils were mainly of sand texture and alkaline in character. Fine sand constituted the major proportion of the soil, and clay and silt ranged from 8–30% of the soil. Correlations of metal concentrations to grain size and iron contents were performed. Metals, except Cd and Pb, gave positive to negative relationships with decreases in grain size. Silt gave no relationship with metal content while clay and silt had a positive relationship. All these metals had a positive correlation with iron in the soil. The results indicate metals are associated with coarse sand, clay, and iron hydroxides surfaces of the soil. The comparison of metal content in soil of the middle Rio Grande basin with metals from other areas of the world suggests that it is relatively uncontaminated.

Clarification of Follicular Unit Survival

1. Bob Limmer, MD 1. San Antonio, Texas USA Please forgive me, but I cannot resist replying to Walter’s calculations of follicular death due to FU hair transplants lest others remain or become confused also regarding our reported data. First, the 2.3 hairs per follicular unit arise from

Identification and Mapping of Flow Units in Carbonate Reservoirs an Example from the Happy Spraberry (Permian) Field Garza County, Texas USA

Identification and Mapping of Flow Units in Carbonate Reservoirs an Example from the Happy Spraberry (Permian) Field Garza County, Texas USA