Synonyms for sand corn, the common name of a flowering plant native to the western United States and parts of New Mexico

Sand corn is a flowering plant found in dry habitats of the western United States; for example in northwest Nevada. It has two accepted scientific names: Zigadenus paniculatus (Nutt.) S. Watson and  Toxicoscordion paniculatum (Nutt.) Rydb. [1-5].  Its scientific classification: order Liliales. In the literature, sand corn is taxonomically grouped either into Lilliaceae (lily family) or Melanthiaceae, the latter not unanimously recognized as a family and sometimes considered as part of the lily family.

Sand corn, also written sand-corn, is often referred to by its other common name: foothill deathcamas (also written: foothill death camas). This name indicates the poisonous character of the plant, which becomes relevant, when sand corns are growing on rangeland: intoxication of livestock may result from their alkaloid components such as zygacine [3].

Another synonym, panicled death camas [4], makes a reference to the often bending or nodding panicle with sometimes over fifty flowers (see Thomas Creek plant)—each having six small tepals with yellow-green splotch at base and showy, yellow anthers [5].

Keywords: botany, taxonomy, nomenclature, scientific name.

References and more to explore
[1] USDA Plants Profile: Zigadenus paniculatus (Nutt.) S. Watson [plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ZIPA2].
[2] Kew Royal Botanic Garden: Toxicoscordion paniculatum (Nutt.) Rydb., Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 30: 272 (1903) [apps.kew.org/wcsp/namedetail.do?name_id=289937].
[3] K. D. Welch et al.: The acute toxocity of the death camas (Zigadenus species) alkaloid zygacine in mice, including the effect of methyllycaconitine coadministration on zygacine toxity. J. Anim. Sci. 2011, 89 (5), pp. 1650-1657.  
doi: 10.2527/jas.2010-3444.
[4] Calflora Taxon Report 8367:  Zigadenus paniculatus [www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Zigadenus+paniculatus].
[5] Laird R. Blackwell: Tahoe Wildflowers. Morris Book Publishing, LLC, Guilford, Connecticut, 2007; page 37.

A term in microbial ecology: disappearing microbiota hypothesis

Occurrences of certain medical conditions and diseases such as asthma, food allergies, hay fever, eczema, diabetes, obesity and celiac disease are dramatically going up. The physician and director of the Human Microbiome Program, Martin Blaser at New York University's School of Medicine is hypothesizing that the disappearance of microbiota from the human body is to blame. This loss of  microbiome species is largely caused by our obsessive use of antibacterial soaps and lotions as well as frequent treatments with antibiotics [1,2]:

Though they have always known that antibiotics kill “good” bacteria as well as “bad,” doctors generally assumed the body's microbial community was resilient enough to bounce back. But new studies show that the microbiome struggles to recover from repeated assaults, and may lose species permanently. Blaser suspects that diversity loss is cumulative, worsening from one generation to the next. He calls it “the disappearing microbiota hypothesis.” [boldface by author]

How clean should we be, without cleaning out the good microbes—or disturbing the balance between good, bad and neutral ones—that live behind our ears, in our armpits and in our gut and mouth?

Keywords: microbial diversity, microbiome, microbiology, medicine, hygiene, human health.

References and more to explore
[1] Martin J. Blaser, M. D. [http://www.med.nyu.edu/biosketch/blasem01/research].
[2] Richard Conniff: The Body Eclectic. Smithsonian May 30, 2013, 44 (2), pp. 40-47 [www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/Microbes-The-Trillions-of-Creatures-Governing-Your-Health-204134001.html].

Trendy and inspirational: the suffixes -ome and -omics

In the beginning there was the word genome for the complete set of genetic material present in a cell or organism. The German botanist Hans Winkler came up with this term in 1920 [1]. It is a portmanteau blending the words gene and chromosome. An Oxford Dictionary of 2002 further tells us that [2]:

a  couple of terms have been formed on its model [the portmanteau genome]: proteome, the complete set of proteins produced from the instructions coded in a cell's genetic material, and metabolome (from metabolism), the complete set of metabolic processes within a cell. These seem to have been created partly by blending and partly by analogy with the older sense of the ending.

The older sense of -ome is the meaning of having a specified nature; for example, rhizome for the subterranean roots and shoots of a plant [2].

Now, ten years later, there are hundreds or even thousands of words derived by following the nomenclatural model creating the established terms genome, proteome and metabolome. The word transcriptome refers to the set of RNA molecules expressed from the genome. Emerging terms include variome for the set of genetic variation across a population of a species, epigenome for the set of chemical compounds involved in not-DNA-encoded gene expression, interactome for the set of molecular interactions in a biological system such as a cell, and fluxome for the set of small molecules changing along metabolic pathways in a dynamic system (due to flux responses resulting from both genetic and metabolic regulation). Terms you certainly will find more often in future publications include phenome for the set of physical descriptions that can ideally be related to genotype, regulome for the set of regulatory compounds in a cell, integrome for unions of 'omics data sets, omnisciome for the entirety of knowledge about a cell, organism or system, toxome for the set of cellular processes responsive to small molecules and involved in their toxicological activities, and lipidome for the set of all fatty molecules in an organism [3].

The name of a scientific field associated with an ome-ending word is typically built by replacing the suffix -ome with -omics. Genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics are well known examples. Transcriptomics, variomics, epigenomics, interactomics, fluxomics, phenomics, regulomics, integromics and lipidomics are emerging names and disciplines of scientific study. Omnisciomics and toxomics may follow. Data and knowledge within these fields have not all been derived from recent studies, some insight has been accumulated over decades. But recent advances, driven by modern analytical devices and high-throughput technology, are accelerating application and impact of these fields. Dedicated to the integration of  'omics domains is a peer-reviewed journal with the name OMICS [4].

And then there is the ending -etics, as in genetics. The distinction between 'omics and 'etics may seem confusing for outsiders. Let's conclude this with the description of the fine line between epigenomics and epigenitcs [5]: “Epigenetics focuses on processes that regulate how and when certain genes are turned on and turned off, while epigenomics pertains to analysis of epigenetic changes across many genes in a cell or entire organism.”

Keywords: biochemistry, linguistics, nomenclature, terminology, meta-data, integrative research.

References and more to explore
[1] Where the Word 'Genome' Came From [www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128410577].
[2] Michael Quinion: Ologies and Ismas. A Dictionary of Word Beginnings and Endings. Oxford University Press, Oxford and New York, 2002..
[3] Monya Baker: The 'omes puzzle. Nature February 28, 2013, 494, pp.416-419. doi: 10.1038/494416a. 
[4] OMICS: A Journal of Integrative Biology [www.liebertpub.com/OMI].
[5] National Cancer Institute: Epigenomics and Epigenetics Research [epi.grants.cancer.gov/epigen.html].

“How pinteresting”

Pinteresting, rhyming with interesting, is an adjective derived from the latter and the name of an exciting, rapidly evolving online pinboard, named Pinterest. This hot social network tool helps you collect and share pictures, illustrations, graphs, schemes and anything else visual. It lets you organize things on boards—making your great stuff or little niche toy available online and ready for repinning. For example, Axeleratio's Pinterest Boards contain a Sculptures & Architecture, Plant Life and a Petroversity board. The number of creative and pinteresting boards is increasing daily. People also use Pinterest to market their business, sell products and build their brands [1]. Pinterestingly, there is a board with the title “Pinteresting” [2]. Keep staying pinterested!

Dog sculpture pinned to my Sculptures & Architecture board

Pinning tips and trends can be found in the Pinterest Blog [3]. The Pinterest Twitter microblog, @Pinterest, has over one million followers. Also, more and more businesses are taking note on what Pinterest can do for them [4]. It eventually will pay to keep your level of pinterestness or pinterestedness high. Pinteressantissimo!

Keywords: Internet, social media marketing, visual platform, networking.

References and more to explore
[1] Jason Miles and Karen Lacey: Pinterest Power. Mc-Graw Hill, New York, 2013.
[2] Pinteresting: pinterest.com/bop/pinteresting.
[3] Pinterest Blog: blog.pinterest.com.
[4] Samantha Noble: Pinterst Tips for Business Profile Pages [www.stateofsearch.com/pinterest-business-profile-pages].

Abbreviations and acronyms in business

Business communication is full of secret messages, short lingo, abbreviations and specific acronyms. Whether you are running or working for an enterprise or firm, are planning a start-up or simply are doing business with an individual or an organization, you certainly will encounter some frequently used short terms. I have collected, briefly explained and linked selected terms, particularly for small businesses and entrepreneur interests and activities. They can broadly be categorized as follows:

• International agencies, organizations and councils including ICANN, ISO, WBCSD, WIPO, WTO;
• National (mainly U.S.) agencies, offices and organizations including MBDC, NAPEO, OSHA, SBA, SBAC, SBDC;
• Legislative acts, regulations, policies, and programs including BABCPA, BOB, CAIP, CAN-SPAM, EAR, ERISA, ESOP, FAR, FICA, FUTA, ITL, MACRS, REACH, SBIR, SCOR, SIC, SIMPLE, STTR, TSR, WAWF;
• E-commerce related terms including CPC, CPI, CTR, PPA, PPC, SEO;
• Miscellaneous other codes and notations such as Ad, ADR, B2B, B2G, BATNA, COGS, CRM, D-U-N-S, d/b/a, EBIT, EIN, EOQ, IFB, JIT, L/C, LOHAS, POS, PPP, ROAS, ROI, ROMI, TQM, USP, VMI.

The meaning of an acronym often depends on the context within it is used.  For example, CPA may stand for Certified Public Accountant or Critical Path Analysis.

Keywords: solopreneur, management, trading, marketing, legislation, schemes, short terms, phrases, category, disambiguation.

The more common term for additive manufacturing: 3D printing

The term additive manufacturing refers to technologies through which solid, three-dimensional products are constructed by successive addition of parts. Typically, these parts are layers that are deposited or printed on top of each other. Therefore, the common term 3D printing (or 3-D printing) is used. 3D printing is applied in rapid prototyping—the printing of plastic models to explore ideas and innovations. Currently, 3D printing is maturing to an advanced stage enabling the composition of complex devices and machinery [1]. Bioprinters are developed to biofabricate body tissue by printing living cells [2].
 
The typical 3D-printing process is based on inkjet printing: A layer of resin or polymers is precisely placed onto a substrate, while the deposited layer is turning itself—by hardening—into the substrate for the next layer. Also, metal or ceramic pigments or nanoparticles (or precursor compounds thereof) are spread out on a build platform and then reacted, melted, alloyed or sintered together; for example, by laser treatment.

A lot of excitement about 3D printing derives from envisioning all the possibilities people will get to digitally design and make their own toys and goods [3].

The term additive manufacturing contrasts the term subtractive manufacturing, which refers to the traditional machining and manufacturing processes including cutting, sawing, fracturing, cleaving, carving, drilling, polishing and finishing off. Instead of shaping a product by starting with a material piece or block and generating dust and waste, the 3D approach structures a product by building lightweight architectures from optimized resource minima. 

Keywords: engineering, chemistry, nanotechnology, advanced materials, design, fabrication, mass production.

References and more to explore
[1] Larry Greenemeier: To Print the Impossible. Scientific American May 2013, 308 (5), pp. 44-47. 
[2] Larry Greenemeier: Scientists Use 3-D Printer to Speed Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research [blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2013/02/04/scientists-use-3-d-printer-to-speed-human-embryonic-stem-cell-research/].
[3] The Economist: The printed world [www.economist.com/node/18114221?story_id=18114221]

Tockolith: a series of paints named after their inventors, the Toch Brothers

Tockolith is a patented paint combination invented by the Toch Brothers, claiming that Tockolith makes steel protection permanent and prevents corrosion of, for example, bridge steel, when it is exposed to high-temperature locomotive gases containing sulfur. In their neat book about Tockolith, published in 1914, the Toch Brothers explain that their paints are the only ones which combine with rust and form calcium ferrite, inhibiting progressive oxidation [1].

The Toch Brothers' iron and steel protecting formula, first sold in 1903, included organic lime salt as a binder, alumina silicate and other components of Portland cement [1,2]. Therefore it's longer name: Portland Cement Paint (see pages 15 to 17 in [1]). But the Toch Brothers distinguished Tockolith from Portland Cement by the way the final, hardened coating is chemically formed:

It must not be inferred that Tockolith sets in a few hours when applied to iron or steel, in the same manner as Portland Cement; such is not the case. The binder holds the cement in place and the setting process continues with exceeding slowness, under certain conditions requiring four months. It dries to the touch, however, in about six hours. When the binder has fully disintegrated an exceedingly hard cement coating remains on the steel, and this coating is a perfect preventive of corrosion. 

The older Toch brothers were Jewish immigrants from Bohemia (today part of the Czech Republic) living in New York's Lower East Side. Their business, the Toch Brothers firm, imported and sold paints and varnishes, and eventually ventured into manufacturing paints. Maximilian Toch, one of the sons of one of the brothers, had a passion for science, art and photography. He studied industrial paints and focused his research on protective materials for the modern urban landsacpe [2].

The word “Tockolith” combines the brother's family name “Toch,” changed into “Tock” with an appended letter “o” for easier pronunciation, and the word stem “lith” from the Greek word lithos, meaning stone or rock. Thus, the designation “Tockolith” underlines Maximilian Toch's “struggle for permanence” within his family's paint-manufacturing firm leading to the invention of quality paints for enduring steelworks.

Keywords: chemistry, steel, concrete, cityscape, pollution, deterioration, restoration.

References and more to explore
[1] Toch Brothers: Tockolith, R. I. W. Paints. 320 Fifth Ave., New York, 1914 [archive.org/stream/tockolithr.i.w.PaintsTheTochPreservativesOfCorrosionInducedBy/Cca39895TochBros.#page/n1/mode/2up].
[2] Augustin Cerveaux and Evan Hepler-Smith: Quest for Permanence. Chemical Heritage Spring 2013, 31 (1), pp. 20-26 [www.chemheritage.org/discover/media/magazine/articles/31-1-quest-for-permanence.aspx].