328 research outputs found
Recommended from our members
Evidence for both crustal and mantle earthquakes in the subducting Juan de Fuca plate
We investigate the relationship between high-precision hypocentres in the subducting Juan de Fuca plate beneath southwest British Columbia, and the velocity structure from receiver function analysis and reflection seismic data. 108 earthquakes at depths of 40 to 65 km were relocated using a double-difference algorithm to obtain precise earthquake locations. Correlation of the relocated seismicity with structural information shows a concentration of earthquakes near the top of the subducting oceanic crust, and a deeper layer of seismicity in the uppermost mantle of the subducting Juan de Fuca plate. The strong correlation of the seismicity with the structure of the subducting plate suggests that seismic failure is caused by changes in mechanical strength within the plate, supporting the hypotheses that phase transformations and thermal-petrological conditions play an important role in the seismogenesis of double-seismic zones
Frontiers in Pigment Cell and Melanoma Research
We identify emerging frontiers in clinical and basic research of melanocyte
biology and its associated biomedical disciplines. We describe challenges and
opportunities in clinical and basic research of normal and diseased melanocytes
that impact current approaches to research in melanoma and the dermatological
sciences. We focus on four themes: (1) clinical melanoma research, (2) basic
melanoma research, (3) clinical dermatology, and (4) basic pigment cell
research, with the goal of outlining current highlights, challenges, and
frontiers associated with pigmentation and melanocyte biology. Significantly,
this document encapsulates important advances in melanocyte and melanoma
research including emerging frontiers in melanoma immunotherapy, medical and
surgical oncology, dermatology, vitiligo, albinism, genomics and systems
biology, epidemiology, pigment biophysics and chemistry, and evolution
Ambient BTEX exposure and mid-pregnancy inflammatory biomarkers in pregnant African American women
Air pollution is associated with preterm birth (PTB), potentially via inflammation. We recently showed the mixture benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) is associated with PTB. We examined if ambient BTEX exposure is associated with mid-pregnancy inflammation in a sample of 140 African-American women residing in Detroit, Michigan. The Geospatial Determinants of Health Outcomes Consortium study collected outdoor air pollution measurements in Detroit; these data were coupled with Michigan Air Sampling Network measurements to develop monthly BTEX concentration estimates at a spatial density of 300 m(2). First trimester and mid-pregnancy BTEX exposure estimates were assigned to maternal address. Mid-pregnancy (mean 21.3 ± 3.7 weeks gestation) inflammatory biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin [IL]-6, IL-10, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were measured with enzyme immunoassays. After covariate adjustment, for every 1-unit increase in first trimester BTEX, there was an expected mean increase in log-transformed IL-1β of 0.05 ± 0.02 units (P = 0.014) and an expected mean increase in log-transformed tumor necrosis factor-α of 0.07 ± 0.02 units (P = 0.006). Similarly, for every 1-unit increase in mid-pregnancy BTEX, there was a mean increase in log IL-1β of 0.06 ± 0.03 units (P = 0.027). There was no association of either first trimester or mid-pregnancy BTEX with high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, IL-10, or IL-6 (all P \u3e 0.05). Ambient BTEX exposure is associated with inflammation in mid-pregnancy in African-American women. Future studies examining if inflammation mediates associations between BTEX exposure and PTB are needed
Epidemiological, clinical and genetic aspects of adult onset isolated focal dystonia in Ireland
Background: Adult onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia presents with a number of phenotypes. Reported prevalence rates vary considerably; well-characterized cohorts are important to our understanding of this disorder.
Aim: To perform a nationwide epidemiological study of adult onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia in the Republic of Ireland.
Methods: Patients with adult onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia were recruited from multiple sources. Diagnosis was based on assessment by a neurologist with an expertise in movement disorders. When consent was obtained, a number of clinical features including family history were assessed.
Results: On the prevalence date there were 592 individuals in Ireland with adult onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia, a point prevalence of 17.8 per 100 000 (95% confidence interval 16.4-19.2). Phenotype numbers were cervical dystonia 410 (69.2%), blepharospasm 102 (17.2%), focal hand dystonia 39 (6.6%), spasmodic dysphonia 18 (3.0%), musician\u27s dystonia 17 (2.9%) and oromandibular dystonia six (1.0%). Sixty-two (16.5%) of 375 consenting index cases had a relative with clinically confirmed adult onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia (18 multiplex and 24 duplex families). Marked variations in the proportions of patients with tremor, segmental spread, sensory tricks, pain and psychiatric symptoms by phenotype were documented.
Conclusions: The prevalence of adult onset idiopathic isolated focal dystonia in Ireland is higher than that recorded in many similar service-based epidemiological studies but is still likely to be an underestimate. The low proportion of individuals with blepharospasm may reflect reduced environmental exposure to sunlight in Ireland. This study will serve as a resource for international comparative studies of environmental and genetic factors in the pathogenesis of the disorder
The Cognitive Ageing, Nutrition and Neurogenesis trial: Design and progress
Introduction: Cohort studies indicate that long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and flavonoids may improve cognition and reduce dementia risk. The neuroprotective effects of these dietary components indicate that they are likely to be additive and potentially synergistic. Methods: The Cognitive Ageing, Nutrition and Neurogenesis trial hypothesizes that an intervention comprising long-chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (docosahexaenoic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid) and cocoa flavan-3-ols (n-3 FLAV) will mitigate the cognitive decline anticipated to naturally occur over 1 year in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or subjective memory impairment. A double-blinded, placebo-controlled parallel design is used. Two hundred fifty-nine adults (aged ≥55 years) with mild cognitive impairment or subjective memory impairment were recruited and randomized to a control or n-3 FLAV group (1.5 g docosahexaenoic acid + eicosapentaenoic acid and 500 mg n-3 FLAV daily) for 12 months. Cognitive performance was measured three times over the 1-year intervention, at 0 (baseline), 3, and 12 months. The primary end point is hippocampus-sensitive cognitive function (e.g., number of false-positives on the Picture Recognition Task of the Cognitive Drug Research test battery). Secondary outcomes include additional cognitive measures, brain atrophy and blood flow (assessed by magnetic resonance imaging), vascular function, circulating biomarkers of cardiovascular and cognitive health, gut microflora speciation and metabolism, red blood cell fatty acid status, and urine flavan-3-ol metabolites. The intervention arms were matched for sex and apolipoprotein E4 status to allow retrospective exploratory analysis of the impact of these variables on response to intervention. Results: Screening began in 2015, with all baseline visits completed in March 2017. The intervention was finished in March 2018. Discussion: Cognitive Ageing, Nutrition and Neurogenesis aims to identify an effective diet-based intervention to prevent or delay cognitive impairment in cognitively at-risk individuals, which could ultimately contribute to a reduced population burden of dementia
Recommended from our members
Fall 1956
Greetings from the Club President (page 2) Winter School and Turf Conference Cancelled for 1957 (2) Value of Turf Clippings (3) Dedication--Minor J. Markuson (4) Interrelations between Design, Construction and Maintenance (6) Golf Course Design (6) Relationship of Golf Course Design to Maintenance Costs (9) Influence of Construction upon maintenance (12) Snow Blue - Snow White (14) Post Emergence Control of Crabgrass (15) Third Generation in Greenkeeping (16) Hand Greens Mowers (17) Equipment (18) Pelham Country Club vs New England Thruway (18) Should Junior Memberships be Allowed (19) Meet the Staff (20) Turf Club News (23) Chairman-superintendent Relationship: Quote by Dickinson (24) Letter To Dean Sieling from New England Golf Course Superintendent\u27s Association (24) Associate Members of Stockbridge Turf Management Club (25) Membership Application Form for Turf Management Club (26
Recommended from our members
1964
Turf Management Club by John Traynor (page 1) Who Is Superintendent Here by H.E. Frenette (1) Good Turf Can Result from good Sodding (3) Golf Course Superintendent by Edwart Wiacek (4) Picture - Outstanding Senior Prof. Troll Picture - recognition for Blazers St. Andrew\u27s, Scotland by William Hynd (5) Analogy of a Turf Manager by James B. Cole (6) Fish Trouble by Peter A. Langelier and Dennis P. Leger (8) Square Rings by Robert P. McGuire (9) A Different Type of Course by Robert Hall (10) Literature by Pierre Coste (11) Weeds in Golf Course Turf and Their Control by John F. Cornman (A-1) The USe of Liquid Fertilizer by Anthony B. Longo (A-3) Fertilizing a Golf Course Through an Irrigation System by Herbert E. Berg (A-6) The Extent of Winter Injury on Golf Courses by James L. Holmes (A-11) The Problem of Winter Injury by James B. Beard (A-13) Establishing, Maintaining, and Selling Sod for Turf Areas in New England by George F. Stewart (A-20) Problems of Maintaining Turf Around Industrial Grounds by George Moore (A-22) Landscaping Industrial sites by A.W. Boicourt (A-25) Introduction to the panel Discussion on Grasses for Tees and Their Management by Alexander M. Radko (A-28) Building a Golf Tee by Phil Cassidy (A-29) Grasses for Tees and Their Management by Wm. Dest (A-31) Golf Course Tee maintenance by Jim Fulwider (A-32) Tees by F. Thompson (A-33) How to Draw up a Contract by Lawrence D. Rhoades (A-34) My Contract by Lucien E. Duval (A-37) The Golf Car Problem by Geoffrey S. Cornish (A-41) Golf Cars and Turfgrass by Lee Record (A-42) Course Design and Golf Cars by William F. Mitchell (A-42) Golf Cars and the Established Course by Sherwood Moore (A-45) Course Design and Golf Cars by Phil Wogan (a-52) Introduction of Cars to the New Course by M. Ovian (A-56
Dynamics of direct inter-pack encounters in endangered African wild dogs
Aggressive encounters may have important life history consequences due to the potential for injury and death, disease transmission, dispersal opportunities or exclusion from key areas of the home range. Despite this, little is known of their detailed dynamics, mainly due to the difficulties of directly observing encounters in detail. Here, we describe detailed spatial dynamics of inter-pack encounters in African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus), using data from custom-built high-resolution GPS collars in 11 free-ranging packs. On average, each pack encountered another pack approximately every 7 weeks and met each neighbour twice each year. Surprisingly, intruders were more likely to win encounters (winning 78.6% of encounters by remaining closer to the site in the short term). However, intruders did tend to move farther than residents toward their own range core in the short-term (1 h) post-encounter, and if this were used to indicate losing an encounter, then the majority (73.3%) of encounters were won by residents. Surprisingly, relative pack size had little effect on encounter outcome, and injuries were rare (<15% of encounters). These results highlight the difficulty of remotely scoring encounters involving mobile participants away from static defendable food resources. Although inter-pack range overlap was reduced following an encounter, encounter outcome did not seem to drive this, as both packs shifted their ranges post-encounter. Our results indicate that inter-pack encounters may be lower risk than previously suggested and do not appear to influence long-term movement and ranging
- …