Dual MAPK Inhibition Triggers Pro-inflammatory Signals and Sensitizes BRAF Glioma to T Cell-Mediated Checkpoint Therapy.

BRAF pediatric low-grade gliomas frequently transform into high-grade gliomas (HGG) and poorly respond to chemotherapy, resulting in high mortality. Although combined BRAF and MEK inhibition (BRAFi+MEKi) outperforms chemotherapy, ∼70% of BRAF HGG patients are therapy resistant and undergo unbridled tumor progression. BRAF glioma have an immune-rich microenvironment suggesting that they could be responsive to immunotherapy but effects of BRAFi+MEKi on anti-tumor immunity are unclear.

Effect of organic biostimulants on cannabis productivity and soil microbial activity under outdoor conditions.

In 2019 and 2020, we investigated the individual and combined effects of two biofertilizers (manure tea and bioinoculant) and one humic acid (HA) product on cannabis biochemical and physiological parameters and soil CO evolution under outdoor conditions. Our hypothesis was that HA would increase the microbial activity in the biofertilizers and synergy of both compounds would promote better plant performance and stimulate soil microbial activity. In 2020, the individual and combined application of biofertilizers and HA increased cannabis height, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic efficiency, aboveground biomass, and bucked biomass by 105, 52, 43, 122, and 117%, respectively.

A paracrine circuit of IL-1β/IL-1R1 between myeloid and tumor cells drives genotype-dependent glioblastoma progression.

Monocytes and monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs) from blood circulation infiltrate glioblastoma (GBM) and promote growth. Here, we show that PDGFB-driven GBM cells induce the expression of the potent proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in MDM, which engages IL-1R1 in tumor cells, activates the NF-κB pathway, and subsequently leads to induction of monocyte chemoattractant proteins (MCPs). Thus, a feedforward paracrine circuit of IL-1β/IL-1R1 between tumors and MDM creates an interdependence driving PDGFB-driven GBM progression.

Monocyte depletion enhances neutrophil influx and proneural to mesenchymal transition in glioblastoma.

Myeloid cells comprise the majority of immune cells in tumors, contributing to tumor growth and therapeutic resistance. Incomplete understanding of myeloid cells response to tumor driver mutation and therapeutic intervention impedes effective therapeutic design. Here, by leveraging CRISPR/Cas9-based genome editing, we generate a mouse model that is deficient of all monocyte chemoattractant proteins.

Aerial high-throughput phenotyping of peanut leaf area index and lateral growth.

Leaf area index (LAI) is the ratio of the total one-sided leaf area to the ground area, whereas lateral growth (LG) is the measure of canopy expansion. They are indicators for light capture, plant growth, and yield. Although LAI and LG can be directly measured, this is time consuming.

Physiological and Molecular Traits Associated with Nitrogen Uptake under Limited Nitrogen in Soft Red Winter Wheat.

A sufficient nitrogen (N) supply is pivotal for high grain yield and desired grain protein content in wheat ( L.). Elucidation of physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) will enhance our ability to develop new N-saving varieties in wheat.

Genotypic and phenotypic characterization of a large, diverse population of maize near-isogenic lines.

Genome-wide association (GWA) studies can identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) putatively underlying traits of interest, and nested association mapping (NAM) can further assess allelic series. Near-isogenic lines (NILs) can be used to characterize, dissect and validate QTL, but the development of NILs is costly. Previous studies have utilized limited numbers of NILs and introgression donors.

Identification of quantitative trait loci associated with nitrogen use efficiency in winter wheat.

Maintaining winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) productivity with more efficient nitrogen (N) management will enable growers to increase profitability and reduce the negative environmental impacts associated with nitrogen loss. Wheat breeders would therefore benefit greatly from the identification and application of genetic markers associated with nitrogen use efficiency (NUE).

Validation and Characterization of Maize Multiple Disease Resistance QTL.

Southern Leaf Blight, Northern Leaf Blight, and Gray Leaf Spot, caused by ascomycete fungi, are among the most important foliar diseases of maize worldwide. Previously, disease resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) for all three diseases were identified in a connected set of chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) populations designed for the identification of disease resistance QTL. Some QTL for different diseases co-localized, indicating the presence of multiple disease resistance (MDR) QTL.

Cyberbiosecurity: A New Perspective on Protecting U.S. Food and Agricultural System.

Our national data and infrastructure security issues affecting the "bioeconomy" are evolving rapidly. Simultaneously, the conversation about cyber security of the U.S.

Using Maize Chromosome Segment Substitution Line Populations for the Identification of Loci Associated with Multiple Disease Resistance.

Southern Leaf Blight (SLB), Northern Leaf Blight (NLB), and Gray Leaf Spot (GLS) caused by , , and respectively, are among the most important diseases of corn worldwide. Previously, moderately high and significantly positive genetic correlations between resistance levels to each of these diseases were identified in a panel of 253 diverse maize inbred lines. The goal of this study was to identify loci underlying disease resistance in some of the most multiple disease resistant (MDR) lines by the creation of chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL) populations in multiple disease susceptible (MDS) backgrounds.

Effects of feeding hulled and hull-less barley with low- and high-forage diets on lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and milk fatty acid composition of lactating dairy cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate lactation performance, nutrient digestibility, and milk fatty acid composition of high-producing dairy cows consuming diets containing hulled or hull-less barley as the grain source when feeding low-forage (LF) or high-forage (HF) diets. Eight primiparous (610 ± 40 kg of body weight and 72 ± 14 d in milk) and 16 multiparous (650 ± 58 kg of body weight and 58 ± 16 d in milk) Holstein cows were randomly assigned to 1 of 4 diets in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments and 21-d periods. Cows were assigned to squares based on parity (1, 2, and ≥3) and days in milk.

Nutritional composition and in vitro digestibility of grass and legume winter (cover) crops.

In dairy farming systems, growing winter crops for forage is frequently limited to annual grasses grown in monoculture. The objectives of this study were to determine how cropping grasses alone or in mixtures with legumes affects the yield, nutritional composition, and in vitro digestibility of fresh and ensiled winter crops and the yield, nutritional composition, and in vitro digestibility of the subsequent summer crops. Experimental plots were planted with 15 different winter crops at 3 locations in Virginia.

Fine mapping of a quantitative resistance gene for gray leaf spot of maize (Zea mays L.) derived from teosinte (Z. mays ssp. parviglumis).

In this study we mapped the QTL Qgls8 for gray leaf spot (GLS) resistance in maize to a ~130 kb region on chromosome 8 including five predicted genes. In previous work, using near isogenic line (NIL) populations in which segments of the teosinte (Zea mays ssp. parviglumis) genome had been introgressed into the background of the maize line B73, we had identified a QTL on chromosome 8, here called Qgls8, for gray leaf spot (GLS) resistance.

Effects of feeding hull-less barley on production performance, milk fatty acid composition, and nutrient digestibility of lactating dairy cows.

The objectives of this study were to evaluate production performance, milk fatty acid composition, and nutrient digestibility in high-producing dairy cows consuming diets containing corn and hull-less barley (cultivar Amaze 10) in different proportions as the grain source. Eight primiparous and 16 multiparous Holstein cows were assigned to 1 of 4 diets in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with 21-d periods. Cows were fed once daily (1200 h) by means of a Calan gate system (American Calan Inc.

Decomposition, nitrogen and carbon mineralization from food and cover crop residues in the central plateau of Haiti.

Cover crops are a major focus of conservation agriculture efforts because they can provide soil cover and increase nutrient availability after their mineralization in cropping systems. To evaluate the effect of residue type and placement on rate of decomposition and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization, residues from two food crops, maize (Zea mays L.) and common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.

The suitability of teff flour in bread, layer cakes, cookies and biscuits.

A niche market in alternative foods has emerged in response to interest in a health conscientious diet. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the baking characteristics of teff to determine whether teff could produce satisfactory baked products. Cakes, cookies, biscuits and bread were made in triplicate from composites of wheat flour with 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 100% teff flour.

The Spread of a Released Clone of Gibberella zeae from Different Amounts of Infested Corn Residue.

Corn residue is a significant source of inoculum for epidemics of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat and barley, but little is known about the influence of different amounts of corn residue on FHB. We monitored the spread of a released clone of Gibberella zeae (Fusarium graminearum), causal agent of FHB, from small 0.84-m-diameter research plots containing 45, 200, or 410 g of infested corn stalk pieces in winter wheat and barley fields in Virginia over 3 years (2008 to 2010).

Painless hematuria and urethral discharge secondary to ectopic prostate.

We report a case of ectopic prostatic tissue found in the penile urethra of a 16-year-old boy. A literature review and discussion of this rare entity are presented.

Human dirofilariasis of the bladder.

We report the first case of dirofilariasis of the human bladder. This organism is endemic in the southern and southeastern United States, and is responsible for the common dog heartworm disease. Since man is an unnatural host for this parasite this disease in humans still is uncommon, although it has been reported with increasing frequency in the last 3 decades.

Non-operative management of severe renal lacerations.

The management of severe renal lacerations produced by blunt trauma requires accurate diagnosis and close followup. All severe renal lacerations cannot be treated expectantly and non-operatively. However, in the stable patient with an accurately defined lesion and no other injury requiring surgical intervention a non-operative approach appears to be acceptable.

Infrared pulse contours obtained with an inexpensive detector.

A method for obtaining true temporal contours of ir pulses with an inexpensive detector is described. The method reduces the frequency response requirements placed upon the detector.

Embryonal carcinoma of the testis in elderly men.

A rare case of pure embryonal carcinoma of the testis in a black man in the tenth decade of life is presented, as well as a review of the literature on germ cell testicular tumors in men 60 years old or more. It is noteworthy that nearly 9 per cent of testicular tumors occur in this age group and a third of these tumors are of germ cell origin.