Leaching potential of heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Pb, Cu and Zn) from acidic sandy soil amended with dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) fertilizers

There is an increasing concern on heavy metal leaching from the soils amended with sewage sludge. A column study was conducted to examine the extent of leaching of five important heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Pb, Cu and Zn) from an acidic sandy soil amended with different dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) fertilizers (an application rate of 1% fertilizers) developed from DPR and N-Viro (consisting of biosolids and fly ash) at 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 40%, 50% and 100% DPR. Ten leaching events were carried out with each event done at an interval of 7 days and with total leaching volume of 1183mm, which is equivalent to the mean annual rainfall of this region during the period of 2001-2003. Leachate was collected after each leaching event and analyzed for heavy metals. The maximum leachate concentrations of Cd, Ni, Pb, Cu and Zn were all below drinking water quality guidance limits set by Florida Department of Environmental Protection and World Health Organization, suggesting that the application of DPR fertilizers may not pose a threat to water quality by leaching. Most of leachate concentrations of Cd, Ni and Pb were below their detection limits and there were no significant differences between the control and the treatments with different DPR fertilizers. By contrast, there were higher leachate concentrations of Cu and Zn (ranging from 0.7 to 37.1mug Cu/l and 5.1 to 205.6mug Zn/l for all treatments) due to their higher contents in both the soil and different DPR fertilizers compared with Cd, Ni and Pb. The leachate concentrations of Cu and Zn for each treatment decreased with increasing leaching events. The differences in leachate concentrations of Cu and Zn between the control and the treatments with different DPR fertilizers containing N-Viro were significant, especially in the first several leaching events and, moreover, they increased with increasing proportion of N-Viro in the DPR fertilizers. There were similar trends in total losses of Cu and Zn after ten leaching events. Greater differences in both leachate concentrations and total losses of Zn between the control and the treatments containing N-Viro were noted. Total losses of Zn for the treatments containing N-Viro were 3.0-5.1 times higher than those for the control compared with 1.4-2.2 times higher for total losses of Cu, suggesting that greater proportions of Zn losses came from the DPR fertilizers due to the greater mobility of Zn in the DPR fertilizers compared with Cu.

Use of dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) fertilizers to reduce phosphorus leaching from sandy soil

There is increasing concern over P leaching from sandy soils applied with water-soluble P fertilizers. Laboratory column leaching experiments were conducted to evaluate P leaching from a typical acidic sandy soil in Florida amended with DPR fertilizers developed from dolomite phosphate rock (DPR) and N-Viro soil. Ten leaching events were carried out at an interval of 7 days, with a total leaching volume of 1,183 mm equivalent to the mean annual rainfall of this region during the period of 2001-2003. Leachates were collected and analyzed for total P and inorganic P. Phosphorus in the leachate was dominantly reactive, accounting for 67.7-99.9% of total P leached. Phosphorus leaching loss mainly occurred in the first three leaching events, accounting for 62.0-98.8% of the total P leached over the whole period. The percentage of P leached (in the total P added) from the soil amended with water-soluble P fertilizer was higher than those receiving the DPR fertilizers. The former was up to 96.6%, whereas the latter ranged from 0.3% to 3.8%. These results indicate that the use of N-Viro-based DPR fertilizers can reduce P leaching from sandy soils.

Complete nucleotide sequences and genome characterization of double-stranded RNA 1 and RNA 2 in the Raphanus sativus-root cv. Yipinghong

Four distinct double-stranded (ds) RNA bands were extracted from leaves of Raphanus sativus-root cv. Yidianhong [corrected] with yellowing at the leaf edge in China. Purified viral particles of 28-30 nm in diameter contained dsRNA segments with the same number and mobility as these extracted directly from radish leaves. The two major dsRNA segments, namely RasR 1 and RasR 2, were 1866 and 1791 bp in length, respectively. Computer analysis predicted that they both contained a single open reading frame (ORF) on their plus-stranded RNA, putatively encoding a RNA dependent RNA polymerase and a capsid protein similar to that encoded by members of the family Partitiviridae. In addition, both RasR 1 and RasR 2 were highly conserved at the 5' untranslated regions (UTR) and had an adenosine-uracil rich stretch at the 3' UTR, with an identical terminal motif (5'-AAAAUAAAACC-3'). Taken together, these results suggest that the two major dsRNA segments constitute the genome of a partitivirus infecting radish.

Large-scale synthesis of "Cpep" RNA monomers and their application in automated RNA synthesis

Small interfering RNAs (siRNA) are the latest candidates for oligonucleotide-based therapeutics. Should siRNA be successful in clinical trials, a huge demand for synthetic RNA is anticipated. We believe that 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-4-ethoxypiperidin-4-yl (Cpep) is an ideal 2'-protecting group for large-scale syntheses. Unlike 2'-silyl groups, mild acid hydrolysis instead of fluoride ion is used for the 2'-deprotection. The syntheses of 2'-Cpep protected nucleosides (A, C, G, and U) has been accomplished on a 0.5 Kg scale. The 2'-Cpep monomers were transformed into 3'-O-phosphoramidites for conventional automated solid-phase synthesis. Cost-effective processes for large-scale synthesis of Cpep monomers and initial automated solid-phase synthesis are demonstrated.

Frequency of truly cryptic subtelomere abnormalities--a study of 534 patients and literature review

Frequency of truly cryptic subtelomere abnormalities - a study of 534 patients and literature review. Unbalanced subtelomere chromosome rearrangements are a significant cause of mental retardation with approximately 5% of over 3000 affected individuals tested worldwide having a chromosome rearrangement of this type. Many of these abnormalities are detectable using routine karyotyping at the 550 band level and therefore are not considered to be cryptic. The frequency of truly cryptic subtelomere abnormality should be less than 5% but has not been established. In this study, we defined 'cryptic abnormality' as one not detectable at the 550 band level on routine karyotyping. Using this as one of the selection criteria, we have studied 534 individuals with mental retardation/ developmental delay (MR/DD) and referred for subtelomere study by clinical geneticists. We have identified seven cases with cryptic subtelomere abnormalities. The clinical features of the seven abnormal cases are summarized. Literature review identified five publications on the identification of subtelomere abnormalities which used similar recruitment criteria: (a) normal karyotype at the 550 band level and (b) subjects were selected for subtelomere studies. Combining the data from these studies with those of the current study, 1154 patients were tested and 30 subtelomere abnormalities were identified. We estimate the frequency of truly cryptic subtelomere abnormality to be approximately 2.6% (30/1154) in children with MR/DD who are referred for subtelomere study.

Search for new physics using high-mass tau pairs from 1.96 TeV pp collisions

We present the results of a search for anomalous resonant production of tau lepton pairs with large invariant mass, the first such search using the CDF II Detector in Run II of the Tevatron pp collider. Such anomalous production could arise from various new physics processes. In a data sample corresponding to 195 pb(-1) of integrated luminosity we predict 2.8+/-0.5 events from standard model background processes and observe 4. We use this result to set limits on the production of heavy scalar and vector particles decaying to tau lepton pairs.

Measurement of B(t --> Wb)/B(t--> Wq) at the collider detector at fermilab

We present a measurement of the ratio of top-quark branching fractions R = B(t --> Wb)/B(t --> Wq), where q can be a b, s, or a d quark, using lepton-plus-jets and dilepton data sets with an integrated luminosity of approximately 162 pb(-1) collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab during Run II of the Tevatron. The measurement is derived from the relative numbers of tt events with different multiplicity of identified secondary vertices. We set a lower limit of R > 0.61 at 95% confidence level.

Search for long-lived doubly charged Higgs bosons in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We present a search for long-lived doubly charged Higgs bosons (H(+/- +/-)), with signatures of high ionization energy loss and muonlike penetration. We use 292 pb(-1) of data collected in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV by the CDF II detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. Observing no evidence of long-lived doubly charged particle production, we exclude H(+/- +/-)(L) and H(+/- +/-)(R) bosons with masses below 133 GeV/c(2) and 109 GeV/c(2), respectively. In the degenerate case we exclude H(+/- +/-) mass below 146 GeV/c(2). All limits are quoted at the 95% confidence level.

Search for Higgs bosons decaying into bb and produced in association with a vector boson in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.8 TeV

We present a new search for H0V production, where H0 is a scalar Higgs boson decaying into bb with branching ratio beta, and V is a Z0 boson decaying into e+e-, mu+mu-, or nunu. This search is then combined with previous searches for H0V where V is a W+/- boson or a hadronically decaying Z0. The data sample consists of 106 +/- 4 pb(-1) of pp collisions at square root of s = 1.8 TeV accumulated by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. Observing no evidence of a signal, we set 95% Bayesian credibility level upper limits on sigma(pp --> H0V) x beta. For H0 masses of 90, 110, and 130 GeV/c2, the limits are 7.8, 7.2, and 6.6 pb, respectively.

Evidence for B0 s-->phiphi decay and measurements of branching ratio and A(CP) for B+ -->phiK+

We present the first evidence of charmless decays of the B(0)(s) meson, the decay B(0)(s)--> phiphi, and a measurement of the branching ratio BR(B(0)(s)--> phiphi) using 180 pb(-1) of data collected by the CDF II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. In addition, the BR and direct CP asymmetry for the B+-->phiK+ decay are measured. We obtain BR(B(0)(s)--> phiphi)=[14(+6)(-5)(stat)+/-6(syst)] x 10(-6), BR(B+-->phiK+)=[7.6+/-1.3(stat)+/-0.6(syst)] x 10(-6), and A(CP)(B+-->phiK+)= -0.07+/-0.17(stat)+0.03 / -0.02(syst). Both decays are governed in the standard model by second order (penguin) b-->s(-)ss amplitudes.

Search for anomalous kinematics in tt dilepton events at CDF II

We report on a search for anomalous kinematics of tt dilepton events in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV using 193 pb(-1) of data collected with the CDF II detector. We developed a new a priori technique designed to isolate the subset in a data sample revealing the largest deviation from standard model (SM) expectations and to quantify the significance of this departure. In the four-variable space considered, no particular subset shows a significant discrepancy, and we find that the probability of obtaining a data sample less consistent with the SM than what is observed is 1.0%-4.5%.

Measurement of the cross section for prompt diphoton production in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV

We report a measurement of the rate of prompt diphoton production in pp collisions at square root of s=1.96 TeV using a data sample of 207 pb(-1) collected with the upgraded Collider Detector at Fermilab. The background from nonprompt sources is determined using a statistical method based on differences in the electromagnetic showers. The cross section is measured as a function of the diphoton mass, the transverse momentum of the diphoton system, and the azimuthal angle between the two photons and is found to be consistent with perturbative QCD predictions.

Measurement of the W(+)W(-) production cross section in pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV using dilepton events

We present a measurement of the W(+)W(-) production cross section using 184 pb(-1) of p(p) collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 1.96 TeV collected with the Collider Detector at Fermilab. Using the dilepton decay channel W(+)W(-)-->l(+)nul(-), where the charged leptons can be either electrons or muons, we find 17 candidate events compared to an expected background of 5.0(+2.2)(-0.8) events. The resulting W(+)W(-) production cross-section measurement of sigma(pp-->W(+)W(-))=14.6(+5.8)(-5.1)(stat)(+1.8)(-3.0)(syst) +/- 0.9(lum) pb agrees well with the standard model expectation.

Motor neuron pathology in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis: studies in THY1-YFP transgenic mice

Using adult male C57BL/6 mice that express a yellow fluorescent protein transgene in their motor neurons, we induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) by immunization with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein peptide 35-55 (MOG peptide) in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Control mice of the same transgenic strain received CFA without MOG peptide. Early in the course of their illness, the EAE mice showed lumbosacral spinal cord inflammation, demyelination and axonal fragmentation. By 14 weeks post-MOG peptide, these abnormalities were much less prominent, but the mice remained weak and, as in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis, spinal cord atrophy had developed. There was no significant loss of lumbar spinal cord motor neurons in the MOG peptide-EAE mice. However, early in the course of the illness, motor neuron dendrites were disrupted and motor neuron expression of hypophosphorylated neurofilament-H (hypoP-NF-H) immunoreactivity was diminished. By 14 weeks post-MOG peptide, hypoP-NF-H expression had returned to normal, but motor neuron dendritic abnormalities persisted and motor neuron perikaryal atrophy had appeared. We hypothesize that these motor neuron abnormalities contribute to weakness in this form of EAE and speculate that similar motor neuron abnormalities are present in patients with progressive multiple sclerosis.

Measurement of charged-particle multiplicities in gluon and quark jets in pp collisions at square root of s = 1.8 TeV

We report the first largely model independent measurement of charged particle multiplicities in quark and gluon jets, Nq and Ng, produced at the Fermilab Tevatron in pp collisions with a center-of-mass energy of 1.8 TeV and recorded by the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The measurements are made for jets with average energies of 41 and 53 GeV by counting charged particle tracks in cones with opening angles of theta(c) = 0.28, 0.36, and 0.47 rad around the jet axis. The corresponding jet hardness Q = Ejet theta c varies in the range from 12 to 25 GeV. At Q = 19.2 GeV, the ratio of multiplicities r = Ng/Nq is found to be 1.64+/-0.17, where statistical and systematic uncertainties are added in quadrature. The results are in agreement with resummed perturbative QCD calculations.

Expression profiling reveals functionally important genes and coordinately regulated signaling pathway genes during in vitro angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is a complex multicellular process requiring the orchestration of many events including migration, alignment, proliferation, lumen formation, remodeling, and maturation. Such complexity indicates that not only individual genes but also entire signaling pathways will be crucial in angiogenesis. To define an angiogenic blueprint of regulated genes, we utilized our well-characterized three-dimensional collagen gel model of in vitro angiogenesis, in which the majority of cells synchronously progress through defined morphological stages culminating in the formation of capillary tubes. We developed a comprehensive three-tiered approach using microarray analysis, which allowed us to identify genes known to be involved in angiogenesis and genes hitherto unlinked to angiogenesis as well as novel genes and has proven especially useful for genes where the magnitude of change is small. Of interest is the ability to recognize complete signaling pathways that are regulated and genes clustering into ontological groups implicating the functional importance of particular processes. We have shown that consecutive members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase and leukemia inhibitory factor signaling pathways are altered at the mRNA level during in vitro angiogenesis. Thus, at least for the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway, mRNA changes as well as the phosphorylation changes of these gene products may be important in the control of blood vessel morphogenesis. Furthermore, in this study, we demonstrated the power of virtual Northern blot analysis, as an alternative to quantitative RT-PCR, for measuring the magnitudes of differential gene expression.

Measurement of partial widths and search for direct CP violation in D0 meson decays to K-K+ and pi-pi+

We present a measurement of relative partial widths and decay rate CP asymmetries in K-K+ and pi(-)pi(+) decays of D0 mesons produced in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=1.96 TeV. We use a sample of 2x10(5) D(*+)-->D0pi(+) (and charge conjugate) decays with the D0 decaying to K-pi(+), K-K+, and pi(-)pi(+), corresponding to 123 pb(-1) of data collected by the Collider Detector at Fermilab II experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. No significant direct CP violation is observed. We measure Gamma(D0-->K-K+)/Gamma(D0-->K-pi(+))=0.0992+/-0.0011+/-0.0012, Gamma(D0-->pi(-)pi(+))/Gamma(D0-->K-pi(+))=0.035 94+/-0.000 54+/-0.000 40, A(CP)(K-K+)=(2.0+/-1.2+/-0.6)%, and A(CP)(pi(-)pi(+))=(1.0+/-1.3+/-0.6)%, where, in all cases, the first uncertainty is statistical and the second is systematic.

Measurement of the lifetime difference between Bs mass eigenstates

We present measurements of the lifetimes and polarization amplitudes for B(0)(s)-->J/psiphi and B(0)(d)-->J/psiK(*0) decays. Lifetimes of the heavy and light mass eigenstates in the B(0)(s) system are separately measured for the first time by determining the relative contributions of amplitudes with definite CP as a function of the decay time. Using 203+/-15 B(0)(s) decays we obtain tau(L) = (1.05(+0.16)(-0.13) +/- 0.02) ps and tau(H) = (2.07(+0.58)(-0.46) +/- 0.03) ps. Expressed in terms of the difference DeltaGamma(s) and average Gamma(s), of the decay rates of the two eigenstates, the results are DeltaGamma(s)/Gamma(s) = (65(+25)(-33) +/- 1)% and DeltaGamma(s) = (0.47(+0.19)(-0.24) +/- 0.01) ps(-1).

Search for excited and exotic electrons in the egamma decay channel in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV

We present a search for excited and exotic electrons (e(*)) decaying to an electron and a photon, both with high transverse momentum. We use 202 pb(-1) of data collected in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.96 TeV with the Collider Detector at Fermilab II detector. No signal above standard model expectation is seen for associated ee(*) production. We discuss the e(*) sensitivity in the parameter space of the excited electron mass M(e(*)) and the compositeness energy scale Lambda. In the contact interaction model, we exclude 132 GeV/c(2)<M(e(*))<879 GeV/c(2) for Lambda = M(e(*)) at 95% confidence level (C.L.). In the gauge-mediated model, we exclude 126 GeV/c(2) < M(e(*)) < 430 GeV/c(2) at 95% C.L. for the phenomenological coupling f/Lambda approximately 10(-2) GeV-1.

First measurements of inclusive W and Z cross sections from run II of the fermilab tevatron collider

We report the first measurements of inclusive W and Z cross sections times leptonic branching ratios for pp collisions at square root[s]=1.96 TeV, based on their decays to electrons and muons. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 72 pb(-1) recorded with the CDF detector at the Fermilab Tevatron. We test e-mu universality in W decays, and we measure the ratio of leptonic W and Z rates from which the leptonic branching fraction B(W-->lnu) can be extracted as well as an indirect value for the total width of the W and the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa matrix element, |V(cs)|.

Measurement of Wgamma and Zgamma production in pp collisions at square root s=1.96 TeV

The standard model predictions for Wgamma and Zgamma production are tested using an integrated luminosity of 200 pb(-1) of pp collision data collected at the Collider Detector at Fermilab. The cross sections are measured by selecting leptonic decays of the W and Z bosons, and photons with transverse energy ET>7 GeV that are well separated from leptons. The production cross sections and kinematic distributions for the Wgamma and Zgamma data are compared to SM predictions.