Biogeochemical controls and isotopic signatures of nitrous oxide production by a marine ammonia-oxidizing bacterium

Nitrous oxide (N2O)[N subscript 2 O] is a trace gas that contributes to the greenhouse effect and stratospheric ozone depletion. The N2O [N subscript 2 O] yield from nitrification (moles N2O-N [N subscript 2 O - N] produced per mole ammonium-N consumed) has been used to estimate marine N2O [N subscript 2 O] production rates from measured nitrification rates and global estimates of oceanic export production. However, the N2O [N subscript 2 O] yield from nitrification is not constant. Previous culture-based measurements indicate that N2O [N subscript 2 O] yield increases as oxygen (O2) [O subscript 2] concentration decreases and as nitrite (NO2−) [NO subscript 2 overscore] concentration increases. Here, we have measured yields of N2O [N subscript 2 O] from cultures of the marine β-proteobacterium [beta-proteobacterium] Nitrosomonas marina C-113a as they grew on low-ammonium (50 μM)[50 mu M] media. These yields, which were typically between 4 × 10−4 [10 superscript -4] and 7 × 10−4 [10 superscript -4] for cultures with cell densities between 2 × 102 [10 super script 2] and 2.1 × 104 [10 superscript 4] cells ml−1 [ml superscript -1], were lower than previous reports for ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. The observed impact of O2 [O subscript 2] concentration on yield was also smaller than previously reported under all conditions except at high starting cell densities (1.5 × 106 cells ml−1) [1.5 x 10 superscript 6 cells ml superscript -1], where 160-fold higher yields were observed at 0.5% O2 [O subscript 2](5.1 μM [mu M] dissolved O2 [O subscript 2]) compared with 20% O2 [O subscript 2] (203 μM [mu M] dissolved O2 O subscript 2]). At lower cell densities (2 × 102 [10 superscript 2] and 2.1 × 104 [10 superscript 4] cells ml−1 [ml superscript -1]), cultures grown under 0.5% O2 [O subscript 2] had yields that were only 1.25- to 1.73-fold higher than cultures grown under 20% O2 [O subscript 2]. Thus, previously reported many-fold increases in N2O [N subscript 2 O] yield with dropping O2 [O subscript 2] could be reproduced only at cell densities that far exceeded those of ammonia oxidizers in the ocean. The presence of excess NO2− [NO subscript 2 overscore] (up to 1 mM) in the growth medium also increased N2O [N subscript 2 O] yields by an average of 70% to 87% depending on O2 [O subscript 2] concentration. We made stable isotopic measurements on N2O [N subscript 2 O] from these cultures to identify the biochemical mechanisms behind variations in N2O [N subscript 2 O] yield. Based on measurements of δ15Nbulk [delta superscript 15 N superscript bulk], site preference (SP = δ15Nα−δ15Nβ [delta superscript 15 N superscript alpha - delta superscript 15 N superscript beta]), and δ18O [delta superscript 18 O] of N2O [N subscript 2 O] (δ18O-N2O [delta superscript 18 O - N subscript 2 O]), we estimate that nitrifier-denitrification produced between 11% and 26% of N2O [N subscript 2 O] from cultures grown under 20% O2 [O subscript 2] and 43% to 87% under 0.5% O2 [O subscript 2]. We also demonstrate that a positive correlation between SP and δ18O-N2O [delta superscript 18 O - N subscript 2 O] is expected when nitrifying bacteria produce N2O [N subscript 2 O]. A positive relationship between SP and δ18O-N2O [delta superscript 18 O - N subscript 2 O] has been observed in environmental N2O [N subscript 2 O] datasets, but until now, explanations for the observation invoked only denitrification. Such interpretations may overestimate the role of heterotrophic denitrification and underestimate the role of ammonia oxidation in environmental N2O [N subscript 2 O] production

REUSABLE PROPULSION ARCHITECTURE FOR SUSTAINABLE LOW-COST ACCESS TO SPACE

The primary obstacle to any space-based mission is, and has always been, the cost of access to space. Even with impressive efforts toward reusability, no system has come close to lowering the cost a significant amount. It is postulated here, that architectural innovation is necessary to make reusability feasible, not incremental subsystem changes. This paper shows two architectural approaches of reusability that merit further study investments. Both #inherently# have performance increases and cost advantages to make affordable access to space a near term reality. A rocket launched from a subsonic aircraft (specifically the Crossbow methodology) and a momentum exchange tether, reboosted by electrodynamics, offer possibilities of substantial reductions in the total transportation architecture mass - making access-to-space cost-effective. They also offer intangible benefits that reduce risk or offer large growth potential. The cost analysis indicates that approximately a 50% savings is obtained using today#s aerospace materials and practices

Flow cytometric evaluation of red blood cells transformed with variable amounts of synthetic A and B glycolipids

Background: According to national guidelines or directives, monoclonal ABO reagents may be required to detect Ax and B weak subgroup red blood cells (RBCs). Many routine laboratories do not have access to naturallyoccurring ABO subgroups that can be used as weak controls for these reagents. Group O RBCs modified with synthetic analogs of blood group A and/or B glycolipids (KODE technology) to mimic weak ABO subgroups could be used for quality control purposes. Aim: Extensive serological testing of KODE RBCs has previously been performed. An extended evaluation of KODE RBCs using flow cytometry was performed to explore the correlation between the concentrations of synthetic glycolipids and A/B site density of the resulting RBCs. The aim of this study was to examine if KODE RBCs mimic the distinct flow cytometric patterns of naturally-occurring ABO subgroups. Material and Methods: KODE RBCs were prepared according to a previously decribed procedure [Frame et al., Transfusion 2007; 47: 876–82]. RBCs were modified with 15 different concentrations of synthetic glycolipids, ranging from 1 mg/mL to 60 ng/mL for KODE-A and 5 mg/mL to 0.3 lg/mL for KODE-B. The concentration was decreased by doubling dilution steps. Sensitive and specific flow cytometry [Hult & Olsson. Transfusion 2006; 9S: 32A] was used to characterize and semiquantify the synthetic A and B antigen levels on RBCs. Relevant control RBCs (A1, A2, Ax, B, Bweak and O) were included in each run. For both KODE-A and KODE-B RBCs, repeat samples were produced for four selected concentrations and all KODE batches were tested in triplicate. Results: Flow cytometric testing of KODE RBCs modified with high concentrations of synthetic glycolipids revealed a uniform and even distribution of antigens in the cell population as shown by a single narrow peak in the FACS histograms. When lower concentrations were used, peaks tended to broaden to a pattern found in Ax and most B subgroups indicating a more variable antigen site density on the cells in the population. The concentrations of synthetic glycolipids that produced KODE cells that resembled the naturally-occurring subgroup control RBCs used in this study are ~2–4 lg/mL for KODE-A and ~10 lg/mL for KODEB. Repeat testing demonstrated good correlation between flow cytometric runs. Discussion and Conclusion: Using very low amounts of synthetic glycolipids, KODE-A and KODE-B RBCs can be made to mimic Ax and Bweak subgroup control RBCs, respectively, according to this flow cytometry method. With higher concentrations of synthetic glycolipids, the KODE RBCs demonstrated a more uniform and even distribution of antigens among the cells. This is in contrast to naturally-occurring subgroups in which some cells express almost no A or B antigen whilst others have close to normal levels. The reason for this is unknown. KODE RBCs obviously lack A carrying glycoproteins but it is not fully understood to what extent glycolipid versus glycoprotein epitopes contribute to the phenotype of weak subgroups. This study indicates that KODE RBCs with weak expression of A and/or B antigen have characteristics compatible with use as quality controls for monoclonal ABO reagents and could be a valuable addition in the serological laboratory

Short-term and long-term outcomes in 133 429 emergency patients admitted with angina or myocardial infarction in Scotland, 1990-2000: population-based cohort study

Objective: To analyse short- and long-term outcomes and prognostic factors in a large population-based cohort of unselected patients with a first emergency admission for suspected acute coronary syndrome between 1990 and 2000 in Scotland. Methods: All first emergency admissions for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and all first emergency admissions for angina (the proxy for unstable angina) between 1990 and 2000 in Scotland (population 5.1 million) were identified. Survival to five years was examined by Cox multivariate modelling to examine the independent prognostic effects of diagnosis, age, sex, year of admission, socioeconomic deprivation and co-morbidity. Results: In Scotland between 1990 and 2000, 133 429 individual patients had a first emergency admission for suspected acute coronary syndrome: 96 026 with AMI and 37 403 with angina. After exclusion of deaths within 30 days, crude five-year case fatality was similarly poor for patients with angina and those with AMI (23.9% v 21.6% in men and 23.5% v 26.0% in women). The longer-term risk of a subsequent fatal or non-fatal event in the five years after first hospital admission was high: 54% in men after AMI (53% in women) and 56% after angina (49% in women). Event rates increased threefold with increasing age and 20–60% with different co-morbidities, but were 11–34% lower in women. Conclusions: Longer-term case fatality was similarly high in patients with angina and in survivors of AMI, about 5% a year. Furthermore, half the patients experienced a fatal or non-fatal event within five years. These data may strengthen the case for aggressive secondary prevention in all patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome

An examination of the teaching of motor vehicle technology in colleges in the north east of England

The main purpose behind this work was to try and establish why so many motor vehicle students in the North East of England, having embarked on a course of study, fail to successfully complete it. Briefly, the correlated information indicates:-(a) Students who found their way into the motor industry as apprentices had not, in general, been given sufficient careers advice, either at home or from outside agencies.(b) It was also apparent that many of the students taking part in this work had obtained their apprenticeships by what can only be described as 'chance factors'. There is little evidence to support the view that 'constructive selection' is practised in the motor industry.(c) It was discovered that those students who had been selected for technician courses, primarily because of their superior mathematical ability over their craft counterparts, were far less likely to have had previous employment, and were less likely to leave their college course prematurely.(d) The majority of students taking part showed a willingness to participate in college administration, had very definite opinions on their lecturers and on the way courses should be organised and presented to them, and were far more constructive about these matters than lecturers anticipated,(e) Lecturers, even when given clear definitions of intellectual levels, found it difficult to place specific objectives within these levels, particularly at the higher grades. Nevertheless even accepting a certain amount of confusion concerning the correct intellectual levels of objectives, the results obtained from student evaluation tests were encouraging. The indicants were that specific objectives when used for lesson presentation and/or revision purposes enabled the students to score significantly higher than those students who had been taught and had revised in the traditional way

FAK acts as a suppressor of RTK-MAP kinase signalling in Drosophila melanogaster epithelia and human cancer cells

Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) and Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) regulate multiple signalling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase pathway. FAK interacts with several RTKs but little is known about how FAK regulates their downstream signalling. Here we investigated how FAK regulates signalling resulting from the overexpression of the RTKs RET and EGFR. FAK suppressed RTKs signalling in Drosophila melanogaster epithelia by impairing MAPK pathway. This regulation was also observed in MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, suggesting it is a conserved phenomenon in humans. Mechanistically, FAK reduced receptor recycling into the plasma membrane, which resulted in lower MAPK activation. Conversely, increasing the membrane pool of the receptor increased MAPK pathway signalling. FAK is widely considered as a therapeutic target in cancer biology; however, it also has tumour suppressor properties in some contexts. Therefore, the FAK-mediated negative regulation of RTK/MAPK signalling described here may have potential implications in the designing of therapy strategies for RTK-driven tumours

Evaluation of interprofessional relational coordination and patients’ perception of care in outpatient oncology teams

This pilot study was designed to measure teamwork and the relationship of teamwork to patient perceptions of care among 63 members of 12 oncology teams at a Cancer Centre in the Midwest. Lack of teamwork in cancer care can result in serious clinical errors, fragmentation of care, and poor quality of care. Many oncology team members, highly skilled in clinical care, are not trained to work effectively as members of a care team. The research team administered the Relational Coordination survey to core oncology team members—medical oncologists, nurse coordinators, and clinical secretaries—to measure seven dimensions of team skills (four relating to communication [frequency, timeliness, accuracy, and problem solving] and three relating to relationship [shared goals, shared knowledge, and mutual respect]) averaged to create a Relational Coordination Index. The results indicated that among the team member roles, nurse coordinator relational coordination indices were the strongest and most positively correlated with patient perception of care. Statistically significant correlations were intra-nurse coordinator relational coordination indices and two patient perception of care factors (information and education and patient’s preferences). All other nurse coordinator intra-role as well as inter-role correlations were also positively correlated, although not statistically significant

Instability and Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Alternans in Paced Cardiac Tissue

We derive an equation that governs the spatiotemporal dynamics of small amplitude alternans in paced cardiac tissue. We show that a pattern-forming linear instability leads to the spontaneous formation of stationary or traveling waves whose nodes divide the tissue into regions with opposite phase of oscillation of action potential duration. This instability is important because it creates dynamically an heterogeneous electrical substrate for inducing fibrillation if the tissue size exceeds a fraction of the pattern wavelength. We compute this wavelength analytically as a function of three basic length scales characterizing dispersion and inter-cellular electrical coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to PR