University of Saint Mary

About: University of Saint Mary is a education organization based out in Leavenworth, Kansas, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Galaxy. The organization has 2276 authors who have published 2399 publications receiving 58990 citations. The organization is also known as: University of St. Mary & University of St Mary.

Identification of QTL underlying the leaf length and area of different leaves in barley.

Abstract: Leaf is the main organ of photosynthesis, which significantly impacts crop yield. A high-density linkage map containing 1894 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and 68 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers was used to identify quantitative trait locus (QTL) for flag leaf length (FLL), second leaf length (SLL), third leaf length (TLL), fourth leaf length (FOLL), flag leaf area (FLA), second leaf area (SLA), third leaf area (TLA) and fourth leaf area (FOLA). In total, 57 QTLs underlying the top four leaf length and area traits were identified and mapped on chromosome 2H, 3H, 4H and 7H. Individual QTL accounted for 5.17% to 37.11% of the phenotypic variation in 2015 and 2016. A major stable QTL qFLL2-2 close to the marker 2HL_25536047 was identified on the long arm of chromosome 2H. The most important QTL clustered region at M_256210_824 - 2HL_23335246 on chromosome 2H was associated with FLL, SLL, FLA and SLA and explained high phenotypic variation. These findings provide genetic basis for improving the leaf morphology of barley. In addition, our results suggested that the top four leaves were significantly positively correlated with plant height and some yield-related traits.

Evaluation of thermal decomposition phenomenon for 1,1-bis( tert -butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane by DSC and VSP2

Abstract: 1,1-bis(tert-butylperoxy)-3,3,5-trimethylcyclohexane (TMCH), like many organic peroxides (OPs), is generally employed as a polymerization initiator and is also used comprehensively in the manufacturing process. There are two peroxy groups (–O–O–) in TMCH’s structure, so the entropy of TMCH is relatively higher than other OPs. Therefore, TMCH may release enormous amounts of energy when it decomposes and may cause serious accidents, including runaway reaction, fire, explosion, and toxic release. The aim of this study was to appraise the thermokinetic parameters of TMCH, such as heat of decomposition (ΔH d), exothermic onset temperature (T 0), maximum pressure and temperature ( P max and T max ), and other safety parameters by vent sizing package 2 (VSP2) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). ΔH d of TMCH is detected by DSC averaging 1103 J g−1, and apparent activation energy (E a) of different mass% of TMCH, such as 20, 25, and 30 mass%, were evaluated as 154.45, 150.07, and 142.98 kJ mol−1, respectively. Furthermore, we applied a novel advanced kinetics software to simulate the thermokinetic parameters of TMCH. According to this study, we can not only grasp the thermal properties and runaway reaction of TMCH, but also build up a safer process design to prevent and mitigate the runaway reaction.

Cows' milk allergy

Abstract: A majority of mothers in the developed world have chosen to replace the nutritive material that had evolved for the species by milk naturally intended for a quadruped. It is remarkable that infants totally nourished by cows' milk cannot usually be distinguished, either in growth or in biochemical profile, from those who have been exclusively breast fed in the first months of life. Certainly there are less overt benefits that can be demonstrated. Breast fed infants have significantly less gastrointestinal infection than those given formulae and they also obtain a degree of protection against respiratory disease [1]. The extent to which breast feeding offers protection against the development of allergic disease remains a matter of debate eventhough the subject has been investigated almost to the point of tedium. Sauls pointed out that direct comparisons between breast and bottle fed infants are likely to be Hawed as there are so many confounding variables between groups of mothers in the western world who choose the two methods of feeding [2]. However, whole population studies have not been able to demonstrate less allergy in breast fed infants even when all confounding factors are included in the analysis [3]. Nevertheless, there is evidence that exclusive breast feeding may diminish, or at least postpone, manifestations of allergy in high-risk infants [4,5].

Identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced genes in human mast cells using suppression subtractive hybridization: up-regulation of IL-8 and CCL4 production.

Abstract: Mast cells have recently been found to be a major player in the host defence against bacterial infection through secretion of potent mediators. Identification of bacteria-induced mast cell mediators and intracellular signalling molecules involved during bacterial infection remains a major area of investigation. Recently we found an active interaction between mast cells and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. To further characterize specific genes in mast cells modulated by P. aeruginosa, we used a new approach for the study of mast cell-bacteria interaction; the suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). SSH approach does not require a prerequisite knowledge of target genes and does not rely on the availability of the assay reagents for the specific genes. Using SSH, 94 clones were randomly selected from the subtracted cDNA library for differential screening leading to the identification of 14 P. aeruginosa-up-regulated transcripts. Sequence analysis revealed that expression of IL-1, IL-8 and CCL4 was increased by human mast cells after P. aeruginosa infection. Increased production of IL-1, IL-8 and CCL4 was confirmed at the protein levels. In addition, sequence analysis of the clones also suggests that ribosomal protein S3 and cytochrome b as well as additional 4 uncharacterized genes may potentially be involved in P. aeruginosa pathogenesis. Thus, SSH is an effective approach by identifying potential molecular targets for the study of mechanisms involved in P. aeruginosa and mast cell interaction.

Intraoperative dexmedetomidine sedation reduces the postoperative agitated behavior in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery compared to the propofol sedation.

Abstract: Background Postoperative agitation or confusion is one of the symptoms of hyperactive delirium in elderly patients. We retrospectively evaluated the incidence of postoperative abnormal psychomotor behavior in elderly surgical patients according to the use of different intraoperative sedative agents: dexmedetomidine vs. propofol. Methods The medical records of 855 elderly patients, who underwent orthopedic surgery with regional anesthesia between July 2012 and September 2015, were divided into two groups, the dexmedetomidine group (N.=263) and the propofol group (N.=592), and then evaluated. Agitated behavior was evaluated as the primary outcome, and patient-, surgery-, and anesthesia-related factors, as well as other postoperative complications, were investigated as secondary outcomes. To reduce the risk of confounder effects between the two groups, 263 patients were selected from the propofol group by propensity score matching. Results In the propensity-score-matched groups, the incidence of agitated behavior was lower in the dexmedetomidine group compared with the propofol group (6 [2.3%] vs. 17 [6.5%], P=0.027). All pre- and postoperative laboratory values were comparable between the two groups, including hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, C-reactive protein, electrolytes, creatinine, glomerular filtration rate, and albumin. Moreover, intraoperative propofol sedation, older age, higher Charlson comorbidity index, and hip surgery were found to be significant factors for the occurrence of agitation. Conclusions This study suggests that intraoperative dexmedetomidine sedation, as compared with propofol sedation, may have a greater beneficial effect in reducing agitated behavior in elderly patients undergoing orthopedic surgery with regional anesthesia.