Michigan State University

About: Michigan State University is a education organization based out in East Lansing, Michigan, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 60109 authors who have published 137074 publications receiving 5633022 citations. The organization is also known as: MSU & Michigan State.

Electricity Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells Using Neutral Red as an Electronophore

Abstract: Neutral red (NR) was utilized as an electron mediator in microbial fuel cells consuming glucose to study both its efficiency during electricity generation and its role in altering anaerobic growth and metabolism of Escherichia coli and Actinobacillus succinogenes. A study of chemical fuel cells in which NADH, NR, and ferricyanide were the electron donor, the electronophore, and the electron acceptor, respectively, showed that electrical current produced from NADH was proportional to the concentration of NADH. Fourfold more current was produced from NADH in chemical fuel cells when NR was the electron mediator than when thionin was the electron mediator. In microbial fuel cells in which E. coli resting cells were used the amount of current produced from glucose when NR was the electron mediator (3.5 mA) was 10-fold more than the amount produced when thionin was the electron mediator (0.4 mA). The amount of electrical energy generated (expressed in joules per mole of substrate) and the amount of current produced from glucose (expressed in milliamperes) in NR-mediated microbial fuel cells containing either E. coli or A. succinogenes were about 10- and 2-fold greater, respectively, when resting cells were used than when growing cells were used. Cell growth was inhibited substantially when these microbial fuel cells were making current, and more oxidized end products were formed under these conditions. When sewage sludge (i.e., a mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria) was used in the fuel cell, stable (for 120 h) and equivalent levels of current were obtained with glucose, as observed in the pure-culture experiments. These results suggest that NR is better than other electron mediators used in microbial fuel cells and that sludge production can be decreased while electricity is produced in fuel cells. Our results are discussed in relation to factors that may improve the relatively low electrical efficiencies (1.2 kJ/mol) obtained with microbial fuel cells.

Estrogenic Effects of Genistein on the Growth of Estrogen Receptor-positive Human Breast Cancer (MCF-7) Cells in Vitro and in Vivo

Abstract: Genistein, found in soy products, is a phytochemical with several biological activities. In the current study, our research focused on the estrogenic and proliferation-inducing activity of genistein. We have demonstrated that genistein enhanced the proliferation of estrogen-dependent human breast cancer (MCF-7) cells in vitro at concentrations as low as 10 nM, with a concentration of 100 nM achieving proliferative effects similar to those of 1 nM estradiol. Expression of the estrogen-responsive gene pS2 was also induced in MCF-7 cells in response to treatment with a concentration of genistein as low as 1 microM. At higher concentrations (above 20 microM), genistein inhibits MCF-7 cell growth. In vivo, we have shown that dietary treatment with genistein (750 ppm) for 5 days enhanced mammary gland growth in 28-day-old ovariectomized athymic mice, indicating that genistein acts as an estrogen in normal mammary tissue. To evaluate whether the estrogenic effects observed in vitro with MCF-7 cells could be reproduced in vivo, MCF-7 cells were implanted s.c. in ovariectomized athymic mice, and the growth of the estrogen-dependent tumors was measured weekly. Negative control animals received the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN)-93G diet, the positive control group received a new s.c. estradiol (2 mg) pellet plus the AIN-93G diet, and the third group received genistein at 750 ppm in the AIN-93G diet. Tumors were larger in the genistein (750 ppm)-treated group than they were in the negative control group, demonstrating that dietary genistein was able to enhance the growth of MCF-7 cell tumors in vivo. Increased uterine weights were also observed in the genistein-treated groups. In summary, genistein can act as an estrogen agonist in vivo and in vitro, resulting in the proliferation of cultured human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and the induction of pS2 gene expression. Here we present new information that dietary genistein stimulates mammary gland growth and enhances the growth of MCF-7 cell tumors in ovariectomized athymic mice.

Developing and validating the Communication Function Classification System for individuals with cerebral palsy

Abstract: Individuals with cerebral palsy (CP) have sensorimotor and developmental issues that affect their daily lives by restricting their mobility, manipulation of objects, and/or communication.1 Within the framework of the World Health Organization’s International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF),2,3 the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS)4 and the Manual Ability Classification System (MACS) for children with CP5 make it possible to classify mobility and handling objects respectively, at the ICF activity/participation level.6 However, no analogous classification of functional communication has been available for use in CP practice and research. The lack of a communication classification tool that is quick, reliable, valid, and easy to use limits the comparison of descriptive CP epidemiology studies as well as the interpretation and generalizability of CP treatment studies. Communication disorders can be described from several perspectives: body structure and function level, activity level, and participation level, as well as environmental and personal levels.2,3,7–13 Estimates of communication disorders in CP have varied from 31%14 to 88%.15 This wide range is partly a result of the lack of a consensus definition of communication disorders within CP research and practice. A recent study from a Norwegian CP registry reported that 51% of children with CP had speech problems as classified by ratings of ‘slightly indistinct’, ‘obviously indistinct’, ‘severely indistinct’, or ‘no speech’, including 19% who had ‘no speech’.16 This population-based estimate reporting indistinct or no speech may underestimate CP communication disorders as it may not capture other types of communication problems resulting from hearing or language impairments. However, reporting speech, language, and hearing difficulties simply suggests the range of associated impairments in CP, not the more pertinent daily-life issues of how well a child with CP communicates with family, friends, acquaintances, and strangers.13 The purpose of this study was to create and validate a communication function classification system (CFCS) for children with CP, for use by a wide variety of individuals interested in CP. This required a shift from the traditional focus on body structure and function (i.e. assessing components of speech, language, and hearing problems), to a focus on activity/participation, specifically the way in which to classify a person’s communication capacity within real-life situations.

Perceived Information Quality in Data Exchanges: Effects on Risk, Trust, and Intention to Use

Abstract: This study examines the role of information quality in the success of initial phase interorganizational (I-O) data exchanges. We propose perceived information quality (PIQ) as a factor of perceived risk and trusting beliefs, which will directly affect intention to use the exchange. The study also proposes that two important system design factors---control transparency and outcome feedback---will incrementally influence PIQ. An empirical test of the model demonstrated that PIQ predicts trusting beliefs and perceived risk, which mediate the effects of PIQ on intention to use the exchange. Thus, PIQ constitutes an important indirect factor influencing exchange adoption. Furthermore, control transparency had a significant influence on PIQ, while outcome feedback had no significant incremental effect over that of control transparency. The study contributes to the literature by demonstrating the important role of PIQ in I-O systems adoption and by showing that information cues available to a user during an initial exchange session can help build trusting beliefs and mitigate perceived exchange risk. For managers of I-O exchanges, the study implies that building into the system appropriate control transparency mechanisms can increase the likelihood of exchange success.