Explore the vast range of titles available.

Climate change due to increased [CO2] and elevated temperature may impact the composition of crop seed. This study was conducted to determine the potential effects of climate change on composition and gene expression of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. cv. ‘Bragg’] seed. Soybean plants were grown in sunlit, controlled environment chambers under diel, sinusoidal temperatures of 28/18, 32/22, 36/26, 40/30, and 44/34°C (day/night, maximum/minimum), and two levels of [CO2], 350 and 700 μmol mol−1, imposed during the entire life cycle. The effect of temperature on mature seed composition and transcripts in developing seed was pronounced, but there was no effect of [CO2]. Total oil concentration was highest at 32/22°C and decreased with further increase in temperature. Oleic acid concentration increased with increasing temperature whereas linolenic acid decreased. Concentrations of N and P increased with temperature to 40/30°C, then decreased. Total nonstructural carbohydrates (TNC) decreased as temperatures increased, and the proportion of soluble sugars to starch decreased. Transcripts of a gene that is downregulated by auxin (ADR12) were dramatically downregulated by elevated temperature, possibly reflecting the altered course of seed development under environmental stress. Transcripts of β‐glucosidase, a gene expressed during normal soybean seed development, were detected in seed grown at 28/18°C but not in seed grown at 40/30°C, which also suggests that normal programs affecting seed composition were perturbed by elevated temperature. These results confirm previous studies indicating that high temperature alters soybean seed composition, and suggest possible mechanisms by which climate change may affect soybean seed development and composition.

Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration [CO2] will increase in the future and will affect global climate and ecosystem productivity. Crop models used in past assessments of climate change effect on ecosystem productivity have not been adequately tested for the ability to simulate ecosystem responses to [CO2]. Our objective was to evaluate the ability of the default CROPGRO-Soybean model to predict the responses of net leaf photosynthesis (A) and canopy photosynthesis (A(can)) to photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) at different [CO2]. We also compared the default leaf photosynthesis equations in CROPGRO with the full Farquhar equations for ability to predict the response of A to [CO2]. Simulated and observed A and A(can) were light saturated at 800 micromol m(-2) s(-1) PPF at ambient [CO2] but did not light saturate at PPF >1100 micromol m(-2) s(-1) at elevated [CO2]. Observed and simulated A responded asymptotically to increasing intercellular [CO2]. The CROPGRO default photosynthesis equations and the Farquhar equations simulated A equally well at all [CO2]. Doubled [CO2] increased simulated A by 52% and A(can) by 42%; these values are close to the increases of 39 to 48% for A and 59% for A(can) reported in the literature. Root mean square errors for simulated A and A(can) were low, and Willmott's index of agreement ranged from 0.86 to 0.99, confirming that the CROPGRO model with default photosynthesis equations can be used to evaluate potential effects of [CO2] on soybean photosynthesis and productivity.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Compromised vitamin D status is common in pregnancy and may have adverse impacts on fetal development. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of infant whole-body bone mineral content (WBBMC) at 8–21 days of age with feto-maternal vitamin D status in a multiethnic population in Oakland, California. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 120 women and their newborn infants. Maternal and cord blood were collected at delivery. WBBMC was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in term-born infants 8–21days post birth. RESULTS: No significant association was observed between unadjusted or size-adjusted WBBMC and feto-maternal vitamin D status analyzed continuously or categorically. In multivariate modeling, unadjusted WBBMC was predicted by bone area ( P <0.0001), weight-for-age ( P <0.0001) and weight-for-length ( P =0.0005) Z -scores, but not by feto-maternal vitamin D status. Anthropometric predictors but not vitamin D remained significant in the multivariate model after adjustment of WBBMC for weight, bone area (bone mineral density) or logarithmically derived exponents of the denominators. CONCLUSIONS: Results of the present study do not support an association between feto-maternal vitamin D status and early infant WBBMC, raw or adjusted for inter-individual differences in size, in a multiethnic population in Northern California.

Purpose To report the clinicopathologic features of a series of patients with Melkersson–Rosenthal syndrome (MRS). Methods Patients in this clinicopathological case series were identified through retrospective review. Five Caucasian patients (2 women and 3 men; age range, 46 to 73 years) with isolated eyelid swelling presented over an 11-month period to two Canadian tertiary Oculoplastic referral centres. All underwent clinical examination and had tissue biopsies. Results The patients presented with non-pitting, non-pruritic, painless and recurrent eyelid swelling. None had evidence of cranial nerve palsy or fissured tongue. The duration of symptoms before referral was between 1–5 years. Histopathological examination showed granulomatous inflammation in four patients. Granulomatous folliculitis was a novel finding in three patients. Conclusions Monosymptomatic patients with MRS require a high index of suspicion. Histopathological confirmation is vital for the diagnosis.

Rising CO2 and potential global warming will cause changes in evapotranspiration (ET). Our research objective was to determine the impact of CO2 and air temperature on canopy ET, water use efficiency (WUE), foliage temperature, and canopy resistance (Rc) of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.]. Plants were grown in sunlit, controlled-environment chambers at cyclic maximum/minimum air temperatures from 28/18°C to 44/34°C and CO2 of 350 or 700 μmol mol−1 Maximum ET rate in the early afternoon at 35 d after planting ranged from 7.5 mol m−2 s−1 at 28/18°C to 19.0 mol m−2 s−1 at 44/34°C. Daily ET during the middle of the season ranged from 260 mol H2O m−2 d−1 (4.7 mm d−1) at 28/18°C to 660 mol H2O m−2 d−1 (11.9 mm d−1) at 44/34°C. Mean daily ET was linearly related to mean air temperature (T air) as: [Mean daily ET = 21.4 × T air − 306, r 2 = 0.99 (mol H2O m−2 d−1), or mean daily ET = 0.385 × T air − 5.5 (mm d−1)]. Doubled CO2 caused a 9% decrease in ET at 28/18°C, but CO2 had little effect at 40/30°C or 44/34°C. Whole-day WUE declined linearly with air temperature, with a slope of −0.150 [(μmol CO2 mmol−1 H2O) °C−1]. Changes in ET and WUE were governed by changes in foliage temperature and Rc. In conclusion, increases in temperature anticipated by climate change could more than offset decreases of ET that would be caused by increases in CO2.

Unique capabilities of various systems for studying the impacts of rising atmospheric CO2 concentration and other environmental factors on growth and yield of plants are presented. These systems include soil–plant–atmosphere research (SPAR) chambers, free‐air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) facilities, temperature‐gradient greenhouses (TGG), and open top chambers (OTC). The SPAR chambers have several advantages compared to FACE and other facilities, including: (a) constant CO2 concentration and stabile setpoints; (b) CO2 concentration controlled to any range of sub‐ambient through supra‐ambient levels, providing comparison of plant responses to past and future climates; (c) precise air and dewpoint temperature setpoints; (d) calculation of whole‐canopy photosynthesis and evapotranspiration rates at short time intervals; (e) calculation of whole‐canopy respiration rates during the night; (f) determination of plant responses to temperature alone or including other factors; (g) multiple chambers for simultaneous comparison of plant responses to varying environments, providing data for plant growth modeling; (h) low operating expense for CO2 concentration; and (i) capability of measuring N2 fixation rates in the rooting zone of legumes or methane emissions from rice (Oryza sativa L.). SPAR systems were better suited than FACE systems for more than half of the attributes of enrichment systems identified in this paper. Limitations of plant responses due to fluctuating elevated CO2 concentration and limitations of range of elevated CO2 concentration exist for FACE systems. Controlled environments are needed for developing mathematical growth response functions under a wide range of conditions. Finally, we identified a use of portable SPAR chambers within FACE experiments for confirmation of diminished plant photosynthesis in fluctuating CO2 concentration.

Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia are prevalent among pregnant women. The extent to which iron deficiency affects maternal and neonatal health is uncertain. Existing data suggest that maternal iron deficiency anemia may be associated with adverse outcomes, including preterm delivery and higher maternal mortality. Further research is needed on the maternal and neonatal benefits of iron supplementation during pregnancy

Objective : To examine maternal intake of a mildly alcoholic beverage ( pulque ) during pregnancy and lactation, and its potential effect on postpartum child growth and attained size. Design : A prospective cohort study that followed mothers (during pregnancy and lactation) and their offspring (from birth to approximately 57 months of age). Setting : Six villages in rural, central Mexico. Subjects : Subjects are 58 mother–child pairs. Pulque intake was measured as part of a dietary assessment that was conducted for 2days/month during pregnancy and early lactation. Results : Most mothers consumed pulque during pregnancy (69.0%) and lactation (72.4%). Among pulque drinkers, the average ethanol intake was 125.1 g/week during pregnancy and 113.8 g/week during lactation. Greater pulque intake during lactation, independent of intake during pregnancy, was associated with slower weight and linear growth from 1 to 57 months, and smaller attained size at 57 months. Low-to-moderate pulque intake during pregnancy, in comparison to either nonconsumption or heavy intake, was also associated with greater stature at 57 months. Conclusions : Pulque intake during lactation may have adversely influenced postnatal growth in this population. Public health interventions are urgently needed in Mexico to reduce heavy intake of pulque by pregnant and lactating women, and to replace intake with foods that provide the vitamins and minerals present in the traditional alcoholic beverage.

We have designed and fabricated a standardized specimen holder that allows the operation of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device inside a transmission electron microscope (TEM). The details of the design and fabrication processes of the holder are presented. The sample loading mechanism is simple and allows reliable electrical contact to eight signal lines on the device. Using a MEMS-based, nanojoule calorimeter, we performed rapid-heating experiments on Bi nanoparticles to demonstrate the functionality of the holder. We show that the heat capacity can be measured simultaneously with TEM observations. The size-dependent melting of Bi nanoparticles was observed simultaneously by nanocalorimetry and selected area diffraction measurements. We believe this approach will open up new experimental pathways to researchers, combining the speed and resolution of transmission electron microscopy with the flexibility, precision, and compactness of MEMS-based sensors and actuators.

Studies assessing the impact of climate change have focused on plant production, but forage nutritive value, especially of legumes, has often been overlooked. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of increasing temperature and atmospheric CO2 concentration on chemical composition and digestibility of rhizoma peanut (RP, Arachis glabrata Benth.) leaf and stem. In vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM), neutral and acid detergent fiber (NDF and ADF), and lignin concentrations were determined for plants grown in all combinations of two CO2 (360 and 700 micromol mol(-1)) and four temperature environments (baseline, or ambient temperature in the greenhouse, B; B + 1.5; B + 3.0; and B + 4.5 degrees C). Forage was sampled every 6 to 8 wk during two growing seasons. Neither increasing CO2 nor temperature affected leaf IVDOM, but stem IVDOM declined from 562 (B) to 552 g kg(-1) (B + 4.5) with increasing temperature in Year 1 and from 577 to 511 g kg(-1) in Year 2. Stem NDF increased with increasing temperature from 556 to 561 g kg(-1) in Year 1 and from 519 to 526 g kg(-1) in Year 2. Stem ADF (412 to 418 g kg(-1)) and lignin (80 to 93 g kg(-1)) increased linearly as temperature increased in 1 of 2 yr. Lignin as a proportion of NDF or ADF (lignin/NDF or lignin/ADF) accounted for a large proportion of the variation in stem IVDOM. The RP nutritive value decreases with increasing air temperature, but it is relatively unaffected by atmospheric CO2 concentrations in the range studied.