Total Infiltration Research Articles

Exploring acoustical approach for pre-screening of building envelope airtightness level

Air infiltration plays a significant role in designing and evaluating the performance and air quality of a building. Air leakage through an existing building enclosure can both be localized and calculated by using experimental measurement, such as blower door test system, tracer gas method, and transient approach. Estimating building air permeability through these methods can be expensive, time consuming, and weather reliant. The economical and environmental effect of air infiltration through building envelope leads towards more research on detecting air leakage locations and estimating air infiltration rate through newly introduced techniques, such as using an acoustical method. As such, in this research, a general review of airtightness detection and quantification method will be presented, especially acoustical technique which will be explored more deeply. Moreover, due to significant impact of window systems on total air infiltration through building envelope, the correlation between sound transmission loss and air permeability through seven window assemblies in an existing building will be explored in order to investigate acoustical method further. In addition, the acoustic air leakage detection method based on standard ASTM E1186 will be instigated on the experimental windows. The results reveal the negative relationship between these two phenomena.Air infiltration plays a significant role in designing and evaluating the performance and air quality of a building. Air leakage through an existing building enclosure can both be localized and calculated by using experimental measurement, such as blower door test system, tracer gas method, and transient approach. Estimating building air permeability through these methods can be expensive, time consuming, and weather reliant. The economical and environmental effect of air infiltration through building envelope leads towards more research on detecting air leakage locations and estimating air infiltration rate through newly introduced techniques, such as using an acoustical method. As such, in this research, a general review of airtightness detection and quantification method will be presented, especially acoustical technique which will be explored more deeply. Moreover, due to significant impact of window systems on total air infiltration through building envelope, the correlation between sound transmissio...

Recovery of small-scale infiltration and erosion after wildfires

AbstractWildfires naturally occur worldwide, however the potential disruption to ecosystem services from subsequent post-fire flooding and erosion often necessitates a response from land managers. The impact of high severity wildfire on infiltration and interrill erosion responses was evaluated for five years after the 2003 Hot Creek Fire in Idaho, USA. Relative infiltration from mini-disk tension infiltrometers (MDI) was compared to rainfall simulation measurements on small burned and control plots. Vegetation recovery was slow due to the severity of the fire, with median cover of 6-8% on burned sites after 5 years. Consequently, interrill sediment yields remained significantly higher on the burned sites (329-1200 g m-2) compared to the unburned sites (3-35 g m-2) in year 5. Total infiltration on the burned plots increased during the study period, yet were persistently lower compared to the control plots. Relative infiltration measurements made at the soil surface, and 1- and 3-cm depths were significantly correlated to non-steady state total infiltration values taken in the first 10 minutes of the hour-long rainfall simulations. Significant correlations were found at the 1-cm (ρ = 0.4-0.6) and 3-cm (ρ = 0.3-0.6) depths (most p-values <0.001), and somewhat weaker correlations at the soil surface (ρ = 0.2-0.4) (p-values <0.05 and up). Soil water repellency is often stronger below the soil surface after severe wildfire, and likely contributes to the reduced infiltration. These results suggest that relative infiltration measurements at shallow depths may be useful to estimate potential infiltration during a short-duration high-intensity storm and could be used as an input for post-fire erosion models.

Reactivation characteristics and dynamic hazard prediction of an ancient landslide in the east margin of Tibetan Plateau

The increasing human engineering activities and frequent extreme weather events have caused extensive reactivation of ancient landslides, which are widely developed in the east margin of Tibetan Plateau. The Shangyaogou landslide, as a typical ancient landslide example in this area, was investigated to reveal the reactivation characteristics, and its stability was calculated under the continuous rainfall condition with the intensity 30 mm/day using the finite element software Geo-Studio. The whole movement process and hazard prediction under the different triggering conditions were simulated using the numerical software DAN3D. The study results showed that: (1) under the joint influence of Mw 7.9 Wenchuan earthquake, toe erosion and intensive rainfall, multi-stage deformations occurred to the front part of the Shangyaogou landslide in multiple periods and also indicated a significant potential instability; (2) under the continuous rainfall condition, when the single effective total infiltration reached about 65 mm, the reactivation part will become unstable. While the single effective total infiltration reached about 120 mm, both reactivation part and posterior part became instability; (3) the maximum run-out distance of the reactivation part was calculated to be 350 m, and the forefront of the accumulation deposit would not reach the residential area; When both parts failed simultaneously, the maximum run-out distance was calculated to be 550 m by considering the thickness and dynamic energy of the accumulation deposits, and the vulnerable elements inside the fan area with radius of 150 m would be severely threatened; (4) abundant earthquake-triggered landslides have been developing in history or in recent years in the eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau. Some of them have been partly reactivated due to the increasing human engineering activities and extreme rainfall events, and they have a potential for further deformation and failure. The presented study methods can provide guidance for local disaster prevention and mitigation, and can be used as a reference for the hazard prediction of the similar ancient landslides which have been reactivated.

Perivascular delivery of resolvin D1 inhibits neointimal hyperplasia in a rabbit vein graft model

ObjectiveInflammation is a key driver of excessive neointimal hyperplasia within vein grafts. Recent work demonstrates that specialized proresolving lipid mediators biosynthesized from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as resolvin D1 (RvD1), actively orchestrate the process of inflammation resolution. We investigated the effects of local perivascular delivery of RvD1 in a rabbit vein graft model. MethodsIpsilateral jugular veins were implanted as carotid interposition grafts through an anastomotic cuff technique in New Zealand white rabbits (3-4 kg; N = 80). RvD1 (1 μg) was delivered to the vein bypass grafts in a perivascular fashion, using either 25% Pluronic F127 gel (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, Mo) or a thin bilayered poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) film. No treatment (bypass only) and vehicle-loaded Pluronic gels or PLGA films served as controls. Delivery of RvD1 to venous tissue was evaluated 3 days later by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Total leukocyte infiltration, macrophage infiltration, and cell proliferation were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Elastin and trichrome staining was performed on grafts harvested at 28 days after bypass to evaluate neointimal hyperplasia and vein graft remodeling. ResultsPerivascular treatments did not influence rates of graft thrombosis (23%), major wound complications (4%), or death (3%). Leukocyte (CD45) and macrophage (RAM11) infiltration was significantly reduced in the RvD1 treatment groups vs controls at 3 days (60%-72% reduction; P < .01). Cellular proliferation (Ki67 index) was also significantly lower in RvD1-treated vs control grafts at 3 days (40%-50% reduction; P < .01). Treatment of vein grafts with RvD1-loaded gels reduced neointimal thickness at 28 days by 61% vs bypass only (P < .001) and by 63% vs vehicle gel (P < .001). RvD1-loaded PLGA films reduced neointimal formation at 28 days by 50% vs bypass only (P < .001). RvD1 treatment was also associated with reduced collagen deposition in vein grafts at 28 days. ConclusionsLocal perivascular delivery of RvD1 attenuates vein graft hyperplasia without associated toxicity in a rabbit carotid bypass model. This effect appears to be mediated by both reduced leukocyte recruitment and decreased cell proliferation within the graft. Perivascular PLGA films may also impart protection through biomechanical scaffolding in this venous arterialization model. Our studies provide further support for the potential therapeutic role of specialized proresolving lipid mediators such as D-series resolvins in modulating vascular injury and repair.

Water use conflict between wetland and agriculture

To analyze the water use conflict and its driving factors between wetland and agriculture at both regional and local scales, agricultural water consumption and wetland water storage changes in the Sanjiang Plain, the main grain-producing area in Heilongjiang Province of Amur River Basin, were investigated based on statistical data, field survey and GIS calculation. A specific case study in the Qixing River National Nature Reserve (QNNR) wetland-farmland system was completed using a water balance approach. Results showed that the proportion of agricultural water increased from 71.8% to 88.0% while that of ecological water only hovered around approximately 1% in Heilongjiang Province during 2004–2015. Due to wetland loss and degradation, the total surface water storage in the Sanjiang Plain wetlands decreased from 14.46 × 109 t in the 1980s to 4.70 × 109 t in 2010. Agricultural development in successive years, and the dramatic increased requirement for water in paddy fields, intensified the water use conflict between wetlands in the QNNR and surrounding farmlands. Groundwater extraction for irrigation was approximately twice as high as the total infiltration recharge from wetlands and farmlands. It is concluded that the degraded natural water resource endowments are struggle to sustainably support stable grain production as a mainstay of national food safety, which determined the competitive relationship between wetland and agriculture. To mitigate this conflict, adaptive wetland (e.g. water transfer at stagger time, precise water recharge, resourced meltwater) and agricultural techniques (e.g. water-saving irrigation and planting, soil water capacity increment, rainfed agriculture) and five key management solutions were recommended.

Effect of tillage systems and polyacrylamide on soil physical properties and wheat grain yield in arid regions differing in fine soil particles

ABSTRACTA field study was performed for two consecutive seasons to evaluate the effect of polyacrylamide (PAM), tillage systems and particle size on soil physical properties and wheat grain yield. The PAM rates were 0, 10 and 20 kg ha−1 while the tillage treatments included no-tillage (NT), moldboard plowing (CT1), and chisel plowing (CT2). Soil fine particles size of two locations were A (25.2 silt + clay) and B (38.5 silt + clay). Location B reported higher organic matter and total porosity while lower in bulk density. The CT1 and NT treatments denoted better soil organic matter percentage. The CT1 presented maximum infiltration rate compared to other tillage systems. No tillage showed better soil water contents while the minimum was in CT1 of location A and CT2 of location B. Increasing the PAM rate increased total porosity, infiltration rate and soil water content while decreased soil bulk density. Possibly, the presence of compacted layer in location A hindered the effect of PAM. At location B, the CT2 with PAM of 20 kg ha−1 had the highest grain yield compared to other tillage systems. The PAM is beneficial for soil and water conservation and can be used in agriculture.

Abstract 2240: Diet and exercise-induced weight maintenance, alone and in combination with a whole tumor cell vaccine, delays mammary tumor growth and reduces tumor-infiltrating MDSCs expressing PD-L1 and IDO

Abstract Obesity and physical inactivity increase breast cancer risk, while the prevention of weight gain by diet and exercise can be protective. Numerous biological mechanisms are proposed to explain the beneficial effects of weight maintenance, including changes in metabolic, inflammatory and immune mediators. We have previously shown that diet and exercise-induced weight maintenance (WM), in combination with a whole 4T1.2luc tumor cell vaccine (VAX), significantly reduced mammary tumor growth and metastases in the 4T1.2luc murine mammary tumor model. This reduction in growth and metastases occurred concomitantly with an elevation in tumor antigen-induced splenic IFN-γ production and a reduction in the accumulation of splenic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) at day 35 post-tumor implantation. The goal of the current study was to determine if WM+VAX alters the tumor microenvironment at an early stage of tumor growth (day 24 post-tumor implantation) which may contribute to reduced tumor growth and enhanced immune outcomes at day 35 post-tumor implantation. Female BALB/c mice were randomized into sedentary, weight gain (WG) or exercising (access to voluntary running wheel), weight maintenance (WM) groups (n=22-27/group). After 8 weeks on the intervention, all mice were orthotopically injected with 5x104 4T1.2luc cells into the fourth mammary fat pad and continued on their intervention. Once injected, both WG and WM mice were further randomized into vaccination (VAX) or vehicle control (VEH) groups (n=10-15/group) and administered 1x106 irradiated 4T1.2luc cells (VAX) or HBSS (VEH) at day 7, 14 and 21 post-tumor implantation. Mice were sacrificed at day 24 post-tumor implantation and tumor-infiltrating immune cells were isolated for analyses. Both WM+VEH and WM+VAX groups showed a significant reduction in primary tumor growth and splenomegaly compared to both WG groups (p&amp;lt;0.001). Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the combination of WM+VAX significantly reduced total tumor-infiltrating MDSCs and MDSCs expressing PD-L1 and indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) compared to WG+VEH (p&amp;lt;0.05). This finding was consistent with a 1.5-4.5 fold decrease in the gene expression level of Pdcd1, Ido1 and Ifng in the total tumor infiltrates. These results suggest that the combination of weight maintenance and the whole tumor cell vaccine may be altering both the number and immunosuppressive capacity of tumor-infiltrating MDSCs. Thus, preventing weight gain through diet and exercise may be an important recommendation in combination with immune-based therapies to enhance efficacy and improve clinical outcomes. This work is supported by R21 CA209144; T32GM108563. W.J.T is currently funded by the NIH T32DK062710 grant; NORC, UAB, Birmngham, AL. Citation Format: Yitong Xu, William J. Turbitt, Andrea M. Mastro, Connie J. Rogers. Diet and exercise-induced weight maintenance, alone and in combination with a whole tumor cell vaccine, delays mammary tumor growth and reduces tumor-infiltrating MDSCs expressing PD-L1 and IDO [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 2240.

Abstract 3390: Comprehensive analysis of tumor immunity by integrating transcriptome and methylome

Abstract Immunotherapy has produced promising results in treating cancers. Further understanding of the crosstalk between tumor and its immune microenvironment is likely to have an immediate impact on therapeutic intervention as well as the development of markers of drug resistance. One main difficulty in quantifying the components of tumor microenvironment is that currently there are considerable technological and analytical barriers to assessing and measuring tumor immunity in situ. In this work, we propose to improve the prediction of cell mixtures by both gene expression and epigenetic information. The vast amount of DNA methylation data has been collected in public domain but remains under-analyzed and largely disconnected. No studies have yet investigated the value of using existing methylation panels for immune cell deconvolution in tumor tissues. In our preliminary data, we have observed a strong association between DNA methylation probes and immune signatures such as total TCR expression and tumor infiltrates estimation in melanoma and breast cancer. We have built a more rigorous prediction model based on methylation markers and to extend the analyses to all major cancer types. The results will be externally validated with pooled data from published studies with eligible methylation assay and immune signature measurements. We work closely with immunology scientists to perform a critical evaluation of the robustness and reproducibility of the predictive models. Results of the study, if validated, will have immediate clinical application in screening patient immunity, and will further support the hypothesis that the DNA methylome adds a new dimension to the pan-omic snapshot of cancer immunity and tumor microenvironment. Based on the proposed analytical framework, future prospective studies can be developed using newer methylation platforms—to compare patient groups with different immune conditions and patients in different stages of treatment. Citation Format: Xuefeng Wang, Cong Liang. Comprehensive analysis of tumor immunity by integrating transcriptome and methylome [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2018; 2018 Apr 14-18; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(13 Suppl):Abstract nr 3390.

Recycling Rice Straw as an Amendment for Improving Soil Evaporation and Infiltration Rates in Sandy Soils

Laboratory Experiments were conducted on the effects of surface and incorporating different rates of rice straw (RS) on evaporation rate and infiltration rate of two sandy soils, differ in sand fraction less than 250 µm (coarse sand (S1) and,fine sand, S2,) at three levels of RS application: 0.0, 1 and 2% on weight basis. It was observed that there was a significant effect as a result of adding different rates of rice straw (quantity or thickness of the layer), the addition methods of rice straw, percentage of the sand particles with a diameter less than 250 µm and the period between the drying and wetting cycles at p< 0.05 on both evaporation rate and accumulation evaporation of the two sandy soils at subjected to successive drying and wetting cycles (at different periods 4, 7, 11 days). Total cumulative infiltration in control (ZC), at 90 minutes, was reduced from 68.46 cm in S1 to 40.52 cm in S2( about 1.69 times) as the fraction of sand particles < 250 µm was increased from 47.44% in S1 to 72.08% in S2. The values of total cumulative infiltration, over 90 minutes, were reduced to 51.56 cm (24.7%) and 25.73 cm (62.4%) compared to the control treatment (68.46 cm) in sandy soil (S1) incorporated with1% and 2% of rice straw, respectively. The results showed that the incorporated 1% and 2% of rice straw with soil (S2) reduced total cumulative infiltration by 47.1% and 57.8% compared to control. The results showed that the incorporated 1% and 2% of rice straw with soil (S2) reduced total cumulative infiltration by 47.1% and 57.8% compared to control. The (Ib ) value was reached to 5.78 cm/hr (60% reduction compared to control) when S2 mixed with 2% of rice straw.

Protective role of commensal bacteria in Sjögren Syndrome

CD25 knock-out (CD25KO) mice spontaneously develop Sjögren Syndrome (SS)-like inflammation. We investigated the role of commensal bacteria by comparing CD25KO mice housed in conventional or germ-free conditions. Germ-free CD25KO mice have greater corneal barrier dysfunction, lower goblet cell density, increased total lymphocytic infiltration score, increased expression of IFN-γ, IL-12 and higher a frequency of CD4+IFN-γ+ cells than conventional mice. CD4+ T cells isolated from female germ-free CD25KO mice adoptively transferred to naive immunodeficient RAG1KO recipients caused more severe Sjögren-like disease than CD4+ T cells transferred from conventional CD25KO mice. Fecal transplant in germ-free CD25KO mice reversed the spontaneous dry eye phenotype and decreased the generation of pathogenic CD4+IFN-γ+ cells. Our studies indicate that lack of commensal bacteria accelerates the onset and severity of dacryoadenitis and generates autoreactive CD4+T cells with greater pathogenicity in the CD25KO model, suggesting that the commensal bacteria or their metabolites products have immunoregulatory properties that protect exocrine glands in the CD25KO SS model.

SPATIAL VARIABILITY OF SOIL PROPERTIES AND EFFECTS ON RICE YIELD GROWN ON EL-GEMMIEZA CLAYEY SOIL (MIDDLE OF NILE DELTA OF EGYPT)

Understanding the relationships between rice yield and soil properties is very critical importance in precision farming. The objective of this work was to evaluate the relationships between special variability of soil properties and rice yield (Oryza sativa). The area under study is 41.67 ha in EL-Gemmieza Agriculture Research Station,of the Agric. Rese. Center (ARC), El Gharbiah Governorate, Egypt (Middle of Nile Delta). The studied location divided into two sites varied in their productivity of rice. Soil pH was found slightly alkaline at site (1) and alkaline at site (2). The EC and CEC in site (1) were higher than at site (2). On contrary values of ESP were higher at site (2) than at site 1. Higher exchangeable cations were observed under site (1) than site (2) except of exchangeable -Na+showed a contrary behavior. Data also showed that values of soil bulk density were lower under site 1 than site (2) whereas; total porosity, hydraulic conductivity and infiltration rate were higher in site (1) than site (2). Higher values of grain yield, straw yield, harvest index and NPK content and uptake in grain and straw were found in site (1) than in site (2). The values of variation coefficients (CV) of the most studied traits showed low variability (< 20). At site 1 there is a significant correlation at 5% level with positive trends between grain yield and the traits of CEC, soluble K, exchangeable Ca++, Mg++, available N and K, total porosity and hydraulic conductivity. While, negative significant correlations at 5% level with negative trends were noticed between exchangeable Na+ and bulk density. On the other hand, result of satirical analysis of site 2 indicated a positive and significant correlations between grain yield of rice plant and all the traits of harvest index, N and K uptake in straw, CEC, O.M, exchangeable - Ca++& K+, available - N & available -P, total porosity and hydraulic conductivity. As the results of the stepwise regression analysis of site (1), it can arrange the soil physical characteristics, as their effective on rice yield, in the following order of: infiltration rate > soil total porosity > saturated hydraulic conductivity (Ksat). While the order of soil chemical characteristics were: ESP > pH > EC > O.M. As for soil available nutrients, their continuation factors were 90.7, and 7.0 % for soil available–K & available–N, respectively. For site (2) it can arrange the soil physical characteristics, as their effective on rice yield, in the following order of: bulk density > saturated hydraulic conductivity. While the order of soil chemical characteristics was: ESP > pH > CEC > O.M. As for soil available nutrients, their continuation factors were 91.1 and 5.6 % for soil available–K, and P, respectively.

Deviations of the immune cell landscape between healthy liver and hepatocellular carcinoma

Tumor-infiltrating immune cells are highly relevant for prognosis and identification of immunotherapy targets in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The recently developed CIBERSORT method allows immune cell profiling by deconvolution of gene expression microarray data. By applying CIBERSORT, we assessed the relative proportions of immune cells in 41 healthy human livers, 305 HCC samples and 82 HCC adjacent tissues. The obtained immune cell profiles provided enumeration and activation status of 22 immune cell subtypes. Mast cells were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in ten HCC patients. Activated mast cells, monocytes and plasma cells were decreased in HCC, while resting mast cells, total and naïve B cells, CD4+ memory resting and CD8+ T cells were increased when compared to healthy livers. Previously described S1, S2 and S3 molecular HCC subclasses demonstrated increased M1-polarized macrophages in the S3 subclass with good prognosis. Strong total immune cell infiltration into HCC correlated with total B cells, memory B cells, T follicular helper cells and M1 macrophages, whereas weak infiltration was linked to resting NK cells, neutrophils and resting mast cells. Immunohistochemical analysis of patient samples confirmed the reduced frequency of mast cells in human HCC tumor tissue as compared to tumor adjacent tissue. Our data demonstrate that deconvolution of gene expression data by CIBERSORT provides valuable information about immune cell composition of HCC patients.

S100A12 concentrations and myeloperoxidase activities are increased in the intestinal mucosa of dogs with chronic enteropathies

BackgroundIntestinal mucosal S100A12 and myeloperoxidase (MPO) are inflammatory biomarkers in humans with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, these biomarkers have not been studied in the intestinal mucosa of dogs with chronic enteropathies (CE), even though dogs with CE have increased S100A12 concentrations in feces and serum. This study investigated mucosal S100A12 concentrations and MPO activities in both dogs with CE and healthy Beagles. ELISA (S100A12 concentrations) and spectrophotometric methods (MPO activity) were used. The associations of both biomarkers with canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI), histopathologic findings, clinical outcome, and serum albumin concentrations were also investigated. We studied intestinal mucosal samples originating from different intestinal regions of 40 dogs with CE and 18 healthy Beagle dogs (duodenum, ileum, colon, and cecum).ResultsCompared with healthy Beagles, mucosal S100A12 concentrations in dogs with CE were significantly higher in the duodenum (p < 0.0001) and colon (p = 0.0011), but not in the ileum (p = 0.2725) and cecum (p = 0.2194). Mucosal MPO activity of dogs with CE was significantly higher in the duodenum (p < 0.0001), ileum (p = 0.0083), colon (p < 0.0001), and cecum (p = 0.0474). Mucosal S100A12 concentrations in the duodenum were significantly higher if the inflammatory infiltrate consisted mainly of neutrophils (p = 0.0439) or macrophages (p = 0.037). Mucosal S100A12 concentrations also showed a significant association with the severity of total histopathological injury and epithelial injury in the colon (p < 0.05). Mucosal MPO activity showed a significant association (p < 0.05) with the severity of total histopathological injury, epithelial injury, and eosinophil infiltration in the duodenum. There was no significant association of both biomarkers with CIBDAI or clinical outcome.ConclusionsThis study showed that both mucosal S100A12 concentrations and MPO activities are significantly increased in the duodenum and colon of dogs with CE; mucosal MPO was also increased in the ileum and cecum. Future research should focus on assessing the clinical utility of S100A12 and MPO as diagnostic markers in dogs with CE.

Effect of stand origin and slope position on infiltration pattern and preferential flow on a Loess hillslope

AbstractPreferential flow is expected to provide an important pathway to replenish soil water at deep soil layers in arid or semiarid areas; however, few studies have addressed this topic, especially in semiarid Loess hillslopes. This study aimed to quantify the effect of stand origin and slope position on the contribution of preferential flow to total infiltration and spatial variations in water flow. A blue dye tracer experiment was conducted to visualize water flow in Robinia pseudoacacia plantation (PL), natural forestland (NF), and natural grassland (NG) at the upslope, midslope, and downslope, and semivariance analysis was used to determine spatial variability at the centimeter scale. The results showed that role of macropore flow was dominant in upslope and midslope, and larger in NF than that in PL and NG, due to presence of abundant root systems in the upper soil of NF. Moreover, contribution of preferential flow at the upper slope in NF was larger than that in PL. At the downslope, the role of rock fragments coverage at the downslope was emphasized, leading lateral flow dominant at the downslope in PL and NG. In addition, contribution of preferential flow and vertical variability of infiltration at the downslope in PL was higher than that in NF. The findings demonstrate that compared with PL, NF has a more positive impact on increasing infiltration and preferential flow that can replenish deep soil water, and reducing surface runoff and soil erosion. The presence of rock fragments coverage can make lateral flow dominant at the downslope on the Loess hillslope, related to water movement along the slope toward streams and catchment outlets.

Rag1-null Dahl SS rats reveal that adaptive immune mechanisms exacerbate high protein-induced hypertension and renal injury.

The present study, performed in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) and SS- Rag1-/- rats lacking T and B lymphocytes, tested the hypothesis that immune cells amplify salt-sensitive hypertension and kidney damage in response to a high-protein diet. After being weaned, SS and SS- Rag1-/- rats were placed on an isocaloric, 0.4% NaCl diet containing normal (18%) or high (30%) protein. At 9 wk of age, rats were switched to a 4.0% NaCl diet containing the same amount of dietary protein and maintained on the high-salt diet for 3 wk. After being fed the high-salt diet, SS rats fed high protein had amplified hypertension and albumin excretion (158.7 ± 2.6 mmHg and 140.8 ± 16.0 mg/day, respectively, means ± SE) compared with SS rats fed normal protein (139.4 ± 3.6 mmHg and 69.4 ± 11.3 mg/day). When compared with the SS rats, SS- Rag1-/- rats fed high protein were protected from exacerbated hypertension and albuminuria (142.9 ± 5.8 mmHg and 66.2 ± 10.8 mg/day). After 3 wk of the high-salt diet, there was a corresponding increase in total leukocyte infiltration (CD45+) in the kidneys of both strains fed high-protein diet. The SS- Rag1-/- rats fed high-protein diet had 74-86% fewer CD3+ T lymphocytes and CD45R+ B lymphocytes infiltrating the kidney versus SS rats, but there was no difference in the infiltration of CD11b/c+ monocytes and macrophages, suggesting that the protective effects observed in the SS- Rag1-/- rats are specific to the reduction of lymphocytes. With the SS- Rag1-/- rats utilized as a novel tool to explore the effects of lymphocyte deficiency, these results provide evidence that adaptive immune mechanisms contribute to the exacerbation of salt-induced hypertension and renal injury mediated by increased dietary protein intake.

Cutaneous infiltration of plasmacytoid dendritic cells and T regulatory cells in skin lesions of polymorphic light eruption.

Polymorphic light eruption (PLE) is the most common autoimmune photodermatosis. Plasmacytoid dendritic cells (PDCs) are important mediators of innate antimicrobial immunity involved in the pathogenesis of many inflammatory skin diseases. In addition to PDCs, regulatory T cells (Tregs) are involved in controlling inflammation and adaptive immunity in skin by their immunosuppressive capacity. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of PDCs and Tregs in photoexposed skin from PLE compared to healthy skin. Patients with PLE diagnosis and healthy controls were recruited and underwent a photoprovocative test. A 4-mm punch biopsy was taken from the site of positive photoprovocation test reaction, and immunohistochemistry for BDCA2 as marker for PDCs, CD4 and FOXP3 as markers for Tregs was performed. Double immunostain for FOXP3 and CD4 was performed as well. Absolute counts for CD4, BDCA2 and FOXP3 were performed in at least 5 High Power Fields (HPF). Percentage of CD4-, BDCA2- and CD4FOXP3-positive cells over the total inflammatory infiltrate was assessed for each case. We enrolled 23 patients and controls. BDCA2+ cells were present in 91.3% of PLE skin samples and 100% of healthy volunteer. Both in PLE patients and healthy controls, PDCs distribution was mainly dermic (P < 0.05). Compared to healthy controls, both epidermic and dermic BDCA2+ cells count were significantly higher in PLE patients (P < 0.05). Both in PLE patients and healthy controls, Tregs distribution was mainly dermic (P < 0.05). The presence of both CD4+ cells and FOXP3+ cells was significantly higher in the dermis of PLE patients compared to controls (P < 0.05). Relative percentages of cellular infiltrations confirmed these results. D-PDCS and Tregs may play a significant role in the development of PLE, and dermal distribution of PDCs in PLE skin biopsies seems to confirm a possible overlap with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE).

Accumulation of tumor infiltrating myeloid-derived suppressor cells associates with changes in the immune landscape of clear cell renal cell carcinoma.

655 Background: Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) are capable of inducing profound immune suppression of anti-tumor T cell responses. Here we examined the ability of intratumoral MDSC accumulation to alter the immune landscape of RCC and to identify the factors involved. Methods: Using flow cytometry, 41 clear cell RCC nephrectomy samples were assessed for their total MDSC infiltrate and the percentage of granulocytic (PMN-MDSC) or monocytic (M-MDSC) subsets. RNA isolated from these tumor samples and 4 non-tumor samples was also evaluated for expression levels of immune-related genes using a Nanostring PanCancer immune panel. A multiple linear regression model was used to identify which immune-related genes might be significantly associated with PMN-MDSC intratumoral accumulation. Log-Rank test was used for comparison of survival curves. Results: Genes encoding cytokines, cancer-testis antigens, interleukins, and T cell function were differentially expressed by clear cell RCC and the non-tumor samples. The transcription of 55 immune-related genes was significantly associated (FDR adjusted p &lt; 0.05) with PMN-MDSC infiltration, including mediators of MDSC recruitment such as CXCL1, CXCL3, CXCL5, CXCR2, IL8, LIF, S100A8, CSF3R, and CCR3, and molecules governing MDSC expansion and function such as IL10, C/EBPB, CD44, COX2, and NFATC3. When a statistically significant 10 gene signature was analyzed in the context of patient survival using the TCGA database of clear cell RCC patients (n = 945), a strong association between the expression of these genes and reduced survival was observed. Moreover, this association seemed to be additive, with expression of 7-10 of these genes correlating with poorer survival when compared to patients expressing 3 or less (p &lt; 0.0001). Conclusions: Consistent with previous studies defining the immunoregulatory role of MDSCs, these results suggest that MDSC accumulation can alter the inflammatory state of the tumor, and indicate that mediators associated with the function of PMN-MDSCs can have a negative impact on outcome. Mechanistic studies aimed at identifying the functionally relevant mediators are ongoing.

Soil Susceptibility to Macropore Flow Across a Desert‐Oasis Ecotone of the Hexi Corridor, Northwest China

AbstractMacropore flow not only provides a fast pathway for water and solute transport and increases the risks of water and nutrient loss but also enhances soil aeration and groundwater recharge. However, macropore flow characteristics in irrigated oasis soils subject to continuous crop cultivation are poorly understood. This study was to investigate the effect of continuous cultivation on soil properties and macropore flow and to quantify the changes in macropore flow characteristics in an old oasis field (&gt;50 years of cultivation, OOF), young oasis field (20 years, YOF), and adjacent uncultivated sandy area (0 year, USL) in Northwest China. Triplicate soil samples were collected from each site to investigate soil properties. Dye tracer experiments with also three replicates were conducted at each site. The degree of macropore flow (i.e., parameters of macropore flow) was highest at the OOF, intermediate at the YOF, and minimal at the USL. The macropore flow fraction (i.e., fraction of total infiltration flows through macropore flow pathways) at the OOF was 3.4 times greater than at the USL. The heterogeneous infiltration pattern at the OOF was dominated by macropore flow, while funnel flow was predominant at the USL. Long‐term irrigation with silt‐laden river water has increased silt + clay contents of the oasis soils. Irrigation and high‐input crop cultivation also increased organic matter. These changes in soil properties contributed to the interaggregate voids formation. The conversion of native desert soils to irrigated croplands increases the degree of macropore flow, which might enhance groundwater recharge in the desert‐oasis ecotone.

Evaluation of sexual function in women with deep infiltrating endometriosis

IntroductionThe influence of deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE) on sexual function has been poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of DIE on sexual function by administering questionnaires to women. MethodsWomen with a clinical and ultrasound diagnosis of DIE and histological confirmation of endometriosis were included in the study. In interview, women were asked to rate five pain symptoms, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, dyschezia, dysuria and Cronic Pelvic Pain (CPP), on a visual analogue scale (VAS), and sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). ResultsA total of 170 women with DIE were identified. A VAS score of 7 or more was taken to indicate that a symptom was ‘severe’. Dysmenorrhea was reported to be severe by 66.5% of the sample, dyspareunia by 41.8%, dyschezia by 32.4% and dysuria by 6.5%. Mean FSFI scores did not differ significantly between women with and without endometriosis lesions at particular sites, except for rectovaginal nodules, which were found to be associated with more impaired sexual activity and sexual function. ConclusionsWomen with DIE had significant impairment of sexual activity when a partial or total infiltration of the rectovaginal septum occurred. Particular attention should be given to women with this kind of lesion.

Swine Finishing Room Air Infiltration: Part 1. Quantification and Prediction

Abstract. Air infiltration through unplanned inlets is an integral component of any ventilation process. Air infiltration affects the quality of the room environment and can also increase winter heating costs. Precise data on air infiltration is very important in the design of animal room ventilation systems. Nineteen mechanically ventilated (negative pressure type) swine finishing rooms in Iowa were tested for their air infiltration potential. Using the data of 17 rooms, air infiltration rate through the whole room (i.e., total air infiltration, It), curtains (Ic), fans (If), and net building shell (other components, Io) were quantified. Power law equations were developed for infiltration prediction of different room configurations grouped on the basis of their construction style, age, ceiling material, curtain perimeter, and fan backdraft shutter area. All power law models reported in this study were adjusted to predict standard (sea level) infiltration rates. At 20 Pa pressure difference across the room envelope, the predicted standard It infiltration rate for the 17 rooms was 5.96±1.49 air changes per hour (ach); whereas, the predicted standard Ic, If, and Io infiltration rates were 1.49 ±1.00 ach (about 25% of It), 1.52 ±1.38 ach (about 26% of It) and 2.90 ±1.42 ach (about 49% of It), respectively. The standard It infiltration rate trended lower for rooms (n=8) from single room layout barns (5.85 ±1.66 at 20 Pa), rooms (n=8) having a non-metal ceiling (5.85 ±2.15 at 20 Pa), and rooms (n=8) aged = 13 years (5.85 ±2.15 at 20 Pa). The infiltration resistances, calculated using standard sea level infiltration rates, indicated that the curtain, fan, and other infiltration areas of swine finishing rooms changes with barn layout, age, construction material, and pressure difference. Methodology to convert measured infiltration rates to standard sea level weather conditions and to any desired room location was included. Keywords: Infiltration, Swine finishing Barns, Swine finishing rooms, Infiltration prediction, Infiltration quantification, Ventilation.