Comparison of Bioactive Secondary Metabolites in Experimental and Natural Populations of Wild Tomatillos, Physalis longifolia Nutt.

We conducted a field experiment to determine the effects of mulch, fertilizer, and mycelium on biomass and important secondary metabolite concentrations in the edible and medicinal plant Physalis longifolia Nutt., with the hypothesis that increased plant stress (i.e., no mulch, fertilizer, or mycelium) would decrease biomass production and increase secondary compound content. Experimental cultivated plots and natural populations of P. longifolia were evaluated for the abundance of major bioactive withanolides previously isolated from the species: withalongolide A (1), withaferin A (2), and withalongolide B (3). Results indicated negligible differences between experimental treatments in biomass yield and withanolide abundance. However, withanolide concentrations from wild populations varied considerably with some being much higher than the source population used in the experiment. These results suggest that variation in secondary compound concentrations among wild populations is an important consideration when selecting source material for the cultivation of medicinal plants

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Enhancing organic agriculture in Oregon : research, education, and policy

The report integrates a survey of organic farmers in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho; conversations with focus groups made up of southern Oregon organic farmers and organic farming stakeholders; and interviews with Oregon State University organic agriculture researchers. It highlights research, education, and policy issues identified by organic farmers and researchers. The report is part of and a product of the innovative partnership between OSU and Oregon Tilth, Inc.Published July 2012. Reviewed October 2016. Please look for up-to-date information in the OSU Extension Catalog: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalo

Relapse Associated with Active Disease Caused by Beijing Strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis1

Risk for relapse was higher among persons of Asian–Pacific Islander descent

2015 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1002/thumbnail.jp

Male breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: pathology data from the Consortium of Investigators of Modifiers of BRCA1/2

Background BRCA1 and, more commonly, BRCA2 mutations are associated with increased risk of male breast cancer (MBC). However, only a paucity of data exists on the pathology of breast cancers (BCs) in men with BRCA1/2 mutations. Using the largest available dataset, we determined whether MBCs arising in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers display specific pathologic features and whether these features differ from those of BRCA1/2 female BCs (FBCs). Methods We characterised the pathologic features of 419 BRCA1/2 MBCs and, using logistic regression analysis, contrasted those with data from 9675 BRCA1/2 FBCs and with population-based data from 6351 MBCs in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. Results Among BRCA2 MBCs, grade significantly decreased with increasing age at diagnosis (P = 0.005). Compared with BRCA2 FBCs, BRCA2 MBCs were of significantly higher stage (P for trend = 2 × 10−5) and higher grade (P for trend = 0.005) and were more likely to be oestrogen receptor–positive [odds ratio (OR) 10.59; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 5.15–21.80] and progesterone receptor–positive (OR 5.04; 95 % CI 3.17–8.04). With the exception of grade, similar patterns of associations emerged when we compared BRCA1 MBCs and FBCs. BRCA2 MBCs also presented with higher grade than MBCs from the SEER database (P for trend = 4 × 10−12). Conclusions On the basis of the largest series analysed to date, our results show that BRCA1/2 MBCs display distinct pathologic characteristics compared with BRCA1/2 FBCs, and we identified a specific BRCA2-associated MBC phenotype characterised by a variable suggesting greater biological aggressiveness (i.e., high histologic grade). These findings could lead to the development of gender-specific risk prediction models and guide clinical strategies appropriate for MBC management

American Designer

Vogue American Designer Pattern #2006 by Lauren Sara to make a dress with a raised square neckline, bell-shaped sleeves, and contrasting sections for a two-piece effect; a dress or tunic with a raised waist, tapered skirt, and overlays; a semi-fitted straight lined skirt; and wide-legged pants, including illustrations of the finished pieces and information about sizing and construction on the back