Impact of Photooxidation and Biodegradation on the Fate of Oil Spilled During the Deepwater Horizon Incident: Advanced Stages of Weathering.

While the biogeochemical forces influencing the weathering of spilled oil have been investigated for decades, the environmental fate and effects of "oxyhydrocarbons" in sand patties deposited on beaches are not well-known. We collected sand patties deposited in the swash zone on Gulf of Mexico beaches following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. When sand patties were exposed to simulated sunlight, a larger concentration of dissolved organic carbon was leached into seawater than the corresponding dark controls.

Metabolic Capability of a Predominant Halanaerobium sp. in Hydraulically Fractured Gas Wells and Its Implication in Pipeline Corrosion.

Microbial activity associated with produced water from hydraulic fracturing operations can lead to gas souring and corrosion of carbon-steel equipment. We examined the microbial ecology of produced water and the prospective role of the prevalent microorganisms in corrosion in a gas production field in the Barnett Shale. The microbial community was mainly composed of halophilic, sulfidogenic bacteria within the order Halanaerobiales, which reflected the geochemical conditions of highly saline water containing sulfur species (S2O3 (2-), SO4 (2-), and HS(-)).

Inserting random and site-specific changes into the genome of chickens.

During the past decade, modifications to the chicken genome have evolved from random insertions of small transgenes using viral vectors to site-specific deletions using homologous recombination vectors and nontargeted insertions of large transgenes using phi-31 integrase. Primordial germ cells (PGC) and gonocytes are the germline-competent cell lines in which targeted modifications and large transgenes are inserted into the genome. After extended periods of in vitro culture, PGC retain their capacity to form functional gametes when reintroduced in vivo.

Youngiibacter fragilis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from natural gas production-water and reclassification of Acetivibrio multivorans as Youngiibacter multivorans comb. nov.

A taxonomic study employing a polyphasic approach was performed on a novel anaerobic bacterium isolated from natural gas production-water. The bacterium stained Gram-negative and consisted of non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped cells. Products of glucose or starch fermentation were ethanol, CO2, formate, acetate and H2.

Rapid, colorimetric quantification of lipid from algal cultures.

Algae have significant potential as a source of biomass for the production of biofuels, due to their high growth rates and high cellular lipid content. Studies that address the use of algae as biofuels often require the frequent measurement of algal lipid content. Traditional methods for the quantification of lipid are, however, costly if sub-contracted, or involve the use of expensive analytical equipment that is not available in many labs.

Comparison of methods for erythroblast selection: application to selecting fetal erythroblasts from maternal blood.

Background: Many methods have been employed to obtain fetal cells from maternal blood for prenatal diagnostics, but there has been little work done that compares the efficacy of different methods. This study presents a comparison of two commonly used methods for selecting erythroblasts with selection directly from whole blood.

Methods: Erythroblasts were isolated from maternal blood by either differential lysis or density separation, followed by selection with an antibody to the transferrin receptor.

Cloning and characterization of human erythroid membrane-associated protein, human ERMAP.

We describe here the cloning and characterization of the human gene ERMAP, identified by subtractive hybridization using early and late gestation human fetal liver. By in situ hybridization, we found human ERMAP to be expressed not only in erythoid cells in fetal liver and adult bone marrow, but also in reticulocytes and circulating erythroblasts in 8-12-week fetal cord blood. The human ERMAP protein is predicted to contain a transmembrane segment and one extracellular immunoglobulin fold (IgV).

Müllerian adenosarcoma of the uterine cervix.

We present a tumor of the uterine cervix that was composed of histologically benign glandular epithelium and a malignant stromal component, justifying the term müllerian adenosarcoma. Ultrastructurally the stromal cells resemble the endometrial stromal cells, the tumor cells of an endolymphatic stromal myosis of the uterine cervix, and the stromal cells of a stromomyoma of the uterus. In addition there is evidence strongly suggesting a differentiation toward smooth muscle.

Myxoid adrenal cortical carcinoma: a light and electron microscopic study.

An adrenal cortical carcinoma demonstrating a peculiar myxoid background similar to that of a myxoma was found in a 41-year-old woman who also had parathyroid hyperplasia and clinical evidence of a pituitary tumor. The electron microscopic study demonstrated its value in establishing the diagnosis that was not possible to make with absolute certainty at the light microscopic level alone. The combination of endocrine disorders strongly suggests the possibility of an unusual multiple endocrine syndrome.

Superficial lymph node infarction.

A case of spontaneous superficial lymph node infarction points up the rarity of the lesion as well as the necessity to include its consideration in the differential diagnosis of groin masses.