Characterization of Pinus ectomycorrhizas from mixed conifer and pygmy forests using morphotyping and molecular methods

Published versio

The use of kainic acid for studying the origins of scalp-recorded auditory brainstem responses in the guinea pig

Kainic acid was injected into the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body (MNTB) of guinea pigs to evaluate its use in studying generator loci of the scalp-recorded auditory brain stem response (ABR). Sound-evoked near-field potentials from the MNTB and far-field ABRs were recorded before, during and up to 2 h after the injections. Two hours post-injection, small amounts of kainic acid (0.25 nmol in 0.1 [mu]l of Ringer solution) resulted in neuronal destruction which histologically appeared confined to the MNTB. Larger amounts (10 nmol in 1.0 [mu]l) produced more extensive lesions. Regardless of the dose of kainic acid, near-field activity evoked by contralateral ear stimulation was almost totally abolished and ABR wave III amplitude was reduced by as much as 60%. In future studies, the use of excitotoxic amino acids to produce lesions within complex nuclear subdivisions of the auditory pathway may yield valuable information as to the relative contributions that brainstem structures make to the various waves comprising the ABR and about the behavioral effects that axon sparing lesions produce.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24227/1/0000487.pd

Allogeneic Stem Cells Alter Gene Expression and Improve Healing of Distal Limb Wounds in Horses.

Distal extremity wounds are a significant clinical problem in horses and humans and may benefit from mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy. This study evaluated the effects of direct wound treatment with allogeneic stem cells, in terms of gross, histologic, and transcriptional features of healing. Three full-thickness cutaneous wounds were created on each distal forelimb in six healthy horses, for a total of six wounds per horse. Umbilical cord-blood derived equine MSCs were applied to each wound 1 day after wound creation, in one of four forms: (a) normoxic- or (b) hypoxic-preconditioned cells injected into wound margins, or (c) normoxic- or (d) hypoxic-preconditioned cells embedded in an autologous fibrin gel and applied topically to the wound bed. Controls were one blank (saline) injected wound and one blank fibrin gel-treated wound per horse. Data were collected weekly for 6 weeks and included wound surface area, thermography, gene expression, and histologic scoring. Results indicated that MSC treatment by either delivery method was safe and improved histologic outcomes and wound area. Hypoxic-preconditioning did not offer an advantage. MSC treatment by injection resulted in statistically significant increases in transforming growth factor beta and cyclooxygenase-2 expression at week 1. Histologically, significantly more MSC-treated wounds were categorized as pro-healing than pro-inflammatory. Wound area was significantly affected by treatment: MSC-injected wounds were consistently smaller than gel-treated or control wounds. In conclusion, MSC therapy shows promise for distal extremity wounds in horses, particularly when applied by direct injection into the wound margin. Stem Cells Translational Medicine 2018;7:98-108

An interdisciplinary overview of levee setback benefits: Supporting spatial planning and implementation of riverine nature-based solutions

Nature-based solutions (NbS, and related concepts like natural infrastructure, Ecosystem-based Adaptation, and green infrastructure) are increasingly recognized as multi-benefit strategies for addressing the critical sustainability challenges of the Anthropocene, including the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis. Mainstreaming NbS in professional practice requires strategic, landscape-level planning integrating multiple sources of benefits and their synergies and trade-offs. Levee setbacks (LS) are among the best-studied riverine NbS with recognized benefits for flood risk management, drought resilience, water quality management, recreational opportunities, and ecological restoration for biodiversity. Although awareness of the multifarious benefits of LS as forms of Natural Capital is growing, implementation remains ad-hoc and opportunistic. To address this critical implementation gap for one major example of NbS, we review and synthesize literature across diverse disciplines to provide an overview of the primary social, economic, and ecological mechanisms that affect the co-benefit delivery of LS projects. Next, to make this information relevant to NbS practitioners, we link these mechanisms to spatial metrics that can be used to approximate the relative magnitude of project benefits and costs across these mechanisms. Finally, we highlight examples of key synergies and trade-offs among benefits that should be considered for LS planning. This synthetic approach is intended to familiarize readers with the diverse potential benefits of LS, and provide an understanding of how to select and prioritize potential sites for further study and implementation. Synergies and trade-offs among important benefit drivers abound, and social equity concerns will be paramount in ensuring the successful implementation of LS and other NbS in the future. This article is categorized under: Engineering Water > Sustainable Engineering of Water Engineering Water > Planning Water Water and Life > Nature of Freshwater Ecosystems. © 2024 The Author(s). WIREs Water published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.This research was conducted as part of the Network for Engineering with Nature (N-EWN, https://n-ewn.org). This work was supported by the US Army Corps of Engineers Engineering With Nature® Initiative through Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit Agreement W912HZ-20-2-0031. Charles B. van Rees was partially supported by NASA Ecological Conservation Grant Number 80NSSC23K1562. Damon M. Hall and Angela J. Catalano supported by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. The use of products or trade names does not represent an endorsement by either the authors or the N-EW

Engaging Women Who Are Depressed and Economically Disadvantaged in Mental Health Treatment

Women disadvantaged by poverty, as well as racial or ethnic minority status, are more likely to experience depression than the rest of the U.S. population. At the same time, they are less likely to seek or remain in treatment for depression in traditional mental health settings. This article explores a therapeutic, psychosocial engagement strategy developed to address the barriers to treatment engagement and the application of this strategy to a special population—women of color and white women who are depressed and living on low incomes. The conceptual foundations of this intervention—ethnographic and motivational interviewing—as well as its key techniques and structure are reviewed. Finally, a case example description and promising pilot data demonstrate the usefulness of this strategy

Post-traumatic stress disorder following patient assaults among staff members of mental health hospitals: a prospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Violence by patients against staff members in mental health institutions has become an important challenge. Violent attacks may not only cause bodily injuries but can also have posttraumatic consequences with high rates of stress for mental health staff. This study prospectively assessed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in employees who were severely assaulted by patients in nine German state mental health institutions. METHODS: During the study period of six months 46 assaulted staff members were reported. Each staff member was interviewed three times after the violent incident, using the Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), a widely used PTSD research tool, as well as the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Civilian (PCL-C). RESULTS: In the baseline assessment following an assault by a patient, eight subjects (17%) met the criteria for PTSD. After two and six months, three and four subjects respectively still met diagnosis criteria. CONCLUSION: A small minority of assaulted employees suffer from PTSD for several months after a patient assault

Study of jet fuel natural attenuation - biodegradation effects in groundwater (Vitanovac, Serbia)

Biodegradation often plays a major role among natural attenuation processes in the reduction of groundwater contamination by petroleum hydrocarbons. The study was conducted 25 years after the accidental spill of jet fuel at the site in Vitanovac in Serbia (1993-2018). During this period, natural attenuation processes were active without any anthropogenic stimulation. The traces of groundwater contamination were analyzed using GCxGC-MS chromatography. The microbiological analysis included measurements of total chemoorganoheterotrophs (TC), hydrocarbon degrading (HD), and anaerobic bacterial (AB) content in groundwater and sediments. The following hydrochemical indicators in groundwater were measured: O2, NO3−, Mn, Fe, SO42−, HCO3−. Due to the long-term hydrocarbon contamination and exposure to different biodegradation mechanisms, the lowest concentrations of electron acceptors and the highest concentrations of microbial metabolic activity products overlap. Based on the analysis of redox-sensitive compounds in groundwater samples, the terminal electron accepting processes ranged from mixed oxic-anoxic (O2-Fe(III)/SO4) to oxic (O2). The most anoxic conditions were registered in monitoring wells closest to the former source of contamination, as also confirmed by redox potential (Eh) in situ measurements. Overall, the study provides clear evidence of the activity and effects of biodegradation mechanisms under natural attenuation processes in groundwater contaminated by jet fuel.[https://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2019AM/webprogram/Paper332500.html

Intramedullary melanotic schwannoma

We present a case of an intramedullary melanotic schwannoma (IMS) of the thoracic spinal cord. To our knowledge, this is the seventh reported case of an IMS of the central nervous system. Schwannomas are benign nerve sheath tumors of neural crest origin composed entirely of well differentiated Schwann cells that typically occur in peripheral nerves. Both the intramedullary location and the melanotic component of the reported lesion make it exceedingly rare. We will present our case, theories as to the origin of these tumors, clues in radiographic identification, and current clinical follow-up recommendations