A BIOGEOGRAPHIC PERSPECTIVE ON THE IMPACTS AND IMPORTANCE OF RODENT GRANIVORY ON NATIVE VS. INVASIVE PLANTS

One of the most well-known explanations for the success of invasive plants in novel environments is enemy release, which predicts that 1) invasive plants are limited by natural enemies in the native range but not the non-native range, and 2) native competitors in recipient communities remain limited by their natural enemies. Despite considerable empirical attention, very few studies have tested these basic predictions, especially with respect to generalist herbivores. We tested whether invasive cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) has experienced enemy release from granivorous rodents – an important guild of generalists – using exclosures and experimental seed additions in western Asia (where cheatgrass is native) and the Great Basin Desert, USA (where cheatgrass is invasive). Rodent exclusion improved cheatgrass establishment in western Asia but had no effect in the Great Basin (Ch. 1), and rodent exclusion in the Great Basin improved the establishment of a suite of native grasses but not cheatgrass (Ch. 2). Interestingly, rodent exclusion benefited native grasses to the same extent as eliminating cheatgrass competition (Ch. 3). These results suggest that cheatgrass in the Great Basin has experienced enemy release from an important group of generalists, which may help explain its exceptional invasiveness. In addition, seed predation from native rodents and competition from cheatgrass can present equally important barriers to the establishment of native grasses in the Great Basin

Near-infrared imaging of demineralization on the occlusal surfaces of teeth without the interference of stains.

Most new caries lesions are found in the pits and fissures of the occlusal surface. Radiographs have extremely low sensitivity for early occlusal decay, and by the time the lesion is severe enough to appear on a radiograph, it typically has penetrated well into the dentin and surgical intervention is required. The occlusal surfaces are often heavily stained, and visual and tactile detection have poor sensitivity and specificity. Previous near-infrared imaging studies at wavelengths beyond 1300 nm have demonstrated that stains are not visible and demineralization on the occlusal surfaces can be viewed without interference from stains. The objective of our study is to determine how the contrast between sound and lesion areas on occlusal surfaces varies with wavelength from the visible to 2350 nm and determine to what degree stains interfere with that contrast. The lesion contrast for reflectance is measured in 55 extracted teeth with suspected occlusal lesions from 400 to 2350 nm employing silicon and indium gallium arsenide imaging arrays. In addition, the lesion contrast is measured on 25 extracted teeth with suspected occlusal lesions from 400 to 1600 nm in reflectance and from 830 to 1400 nm in transillumination before and after stains are removed using a ultrasonic scaler. The highest lesion contrast in reflectance is measured at wavelengths >1700  nm. Stains interfere significantly at wavelengths <1150  nm (400 to 1150) for both reflectance and transillumination measurements. Our study suggests that the optimum wavelengths for imaging decay in the occlusal surfaces are >1700  nm for reflectance (1700 to 2350 nm) and near 1300 nm (1250 to 1350 nm) for transillumination

Timely publication and sharing of trial data: opportunities and challenges for comparative effectiveness research in cardiovascular disease

There is growing enthusiasm for the timely publication and sharing of clinical trial data. The rationale for open access includes greater transparency, reproducibility, and efficiency of the research enterprise. In cardiovascular diseases, routinely sharing clinical trial data would create opportunities for undertaking comparative effectiveness research, providing much needed evidence on how different interventions compare to each other on key outcomes. Access to individual patient-level data would strengthen the validity of such research. Novel methodological approaches like network meta-analyses using individual patient-level data could reliably compare interventions that have not been compared to each other in head-to-head trials. However, there are significant practical, methodological, financial, and legal challenges to this utopian open access that need to be continually addressed. Sharing clinical trial data openly will only occur when the previously tolerated process of clinical research involving direct ownership and secrecy is abandoned for a new culture in which medical science is open to all of its stakeholders. With this new culture, data will be accessible, reanalysis and further analysis will be considered commonplace, and comparative effectiveness research through novel synthesis approaches such as network meta-analysis can thrive—as long as measures are taken to adequately ensure the goal remains to promote public health

It Remains Unknown Whether Filaggrin Gene Mutations Evolved to Increase Cutaneous Synthesis of Vitamin D

About 8-10% of normal Northern Europeans are heterozygous carriers of common FLG mutations, while only 1-4% of southern Europeans display these mutations, and only very rarely are mutations detected in African populations. Although mutations are found in Asians, they are different from those encountered in Northern Europeans. Importantly, FLG mutation carriers have 10% increased serum vitamin D concentrations compared to controls. Based on these observations, we have proposed that this latitude-dependent gradient of FLG mutations across Europe, Asia and Africa could have provided an evolutionary advantage for heterozygous FLG mutation carriers, residing at northern latitudes, depletion of the FLG downstream product, trans-urocanic acid, would facilitate the intracutaneous synthesis of vitamin D3 by allowing increased transcutaneous absorption of UVB photons. Such loss-of-function FLG mutations would have provided an evolutionary advantage for modern humans, living in the far North of Europe, where little UV-B penetrates the atomosphere. In a recent article, it was concluded not only that the UVB-Vitamin D3 hypothesis is invalid, but also that FLG genetic variations, including loss-of-function variants, provide little or no impact on the fitness of modern humans. While we welcome studies that reassess our hypothesis, their conclusions are not valid for reasons explained in this letter

Generic cardiology drug prices: the potential benefits of the Marc Cuban cost plus drug company model

Introduction: Generic pharmaceuticals account for the majority of the $359 billion US pharmaceutical market, including for cardiology drugs. Amidst a lack of price transparency and administrative inefficiencies, generic drug prices are high, causing an undue burden on patients. Methods: We identified the 50 most used generic cardiology drugs by volume per the 2020 Medicare Part D spending data. We extracted cost per dose of each drug from the Marc Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (MCCPDC) website and estimated the aggregate cost savings if MCCPDC were employed on a national scale by calculating the difference between this cost and Medicare spending. Results: Medicare spent$7.7 billion on the 50 most used generic cardiology drugs by volume in 2020 according to Medicare Part D data. Pharmacy and shipping costs accounted for a substantial portion of expenditures. Per our most conservative estimate, $1.3 billion (17$2.9 billion (38%) savings for 35 of 50 drugs. Discussion: There is enormous potential for cost savings in the US market for generic cardiology drugs. By encouraging increased competition, decreasing administrative costs, and advocating for our patients to compare prices between the MCCPDC and other generic pharmaceutical dispensers, we have the potential to improve access to care and corresponding outcomes for cardiology patients

The Suprafroth (Superconducting Froth)

The structure and dynamics of froths have been subjects of intense interest due to the desire to understand the behaviour of complex systems where topological intricacy prohibits exact evaluation of the ground state. The dynamics of a traditional froth involves drainage and drying in the cell boundaries, thus it is irreversible. We report a new member to the froths family: suprafroth, in which the cell boundaries are superconducting and the cell interior is normal phase. Despite very different microscopic origin, topological analysis of the structure of the suprafroth shows that statistical von Neumann and Lewis laws apply. Furthermore, for the first time in the analysis of froths there is a global measurable property, the magnetic moment, which can be directly related to the suprafroth structure. We propose that this suprafroth is a new, model system for the analysis of the complex physics of two-dimensional froths

Aeshna vercanica sp. nov. from Iran with a new insight into the Aeshna cyanea-group (Odonata: Aeshnidae)

Aeshna vercanica sp. nov. is described and illustrated. The male holotype and four male paratypes were collected on 15-vii-2013 in the Hyrcanian forest of the Alborz Mountains, Mazandaran province, northwestern Iran. A specimen collected on 29-vi-2002 in the Talysh Hills, Lankoran area, Azerbaijan, also belongs to the new species. In July 2014 the species, including females, was recorded again at the type locality and additionally ca 400 km further east in Golestan province. Males are similar to Aeshna cyanea in the structure of genitalia and terminalia but differ in head morphology, pterostigma length, colour pattern, and behaviour. Females have small abdominal blue or turquoise postero-median dorsal spots which are absent on S9 and S10, thin green antehumeral stripes, a less robust appearance than females of A. cyanea, and are more slender and longer. The range of A. vercanica sp. nov. covers the Hyrcanian forest along the southern margin of the Caspian Sea. Analysis of the barcoding COI sequence of DNA confirmed that A. vercanica sp. nov. is separated from A. cyanea by a genetic distance of ca 4%. The ITS gave a similar result. A haplotype map could not derive A. vercanica sp. nov. directly from A. cyanea. They are thus related but different species, and we suggest the common ancestor lived in pre-Pleistocene times. Analysis of A. cyanea specimens from across its range also revealed a western clade from the Maghreb to Central Europe. Populations from the Caucasus to Eastern Europe were polytomous, a common scenario for post-glacial invaders. A molecular comparison of the species pair A. juncea and A. subarctica showed these to be even more closely related than A. cyanea and A. vercanica sp. nov

HIV Risk Knowledge among Hispanic Adults in a U.S. – Mexico Border Community: Opportunities for Sexual Health Promotion and Education

Background and Purpose: Hispanics experience a disproportionate burden of chronic disease, including HIV/AIDS. Community-level data regarding HIV risk and transmission are vital to effectively respond to health disparities in unique, high-risk populations. This study described HIV risk behavior knowledge among Hispanics in El Paso, Texas, in order to contribute to culturally and linguistically appropriate services for clinical and community settings in this U.S.-Mexico border community. Specifically, this project highlights misconceptions and gaps in HIV risk knowledge in two Mexican-American adult samples: (1) 103 men recruited primarily through agencies providing HIV-related medical and social services, and (2) 98 women recruited primarily through events hosted at a local community center. Methods: Data were gathered through structured interviews with participants as part of a larger study of HIV risk factors. Results: Less than 20% of men and 5% of women answered all 12 knowledge items correctly. Conclusion: This study builds on previous research identifying gaps in HIV knowledge by prioritizing two different at-risk populations in a U.S.- Mexico border community, where sociodemographic factors such as poverty, stigma, and limited access to healthcare services may contribute to increased HIV risk

Die makedonischen Königssarkophage

Allt sedan människan övergick till fasta bosättningar från ett jägar- och samlarsamhälle har den fasta boendemiljön påverkat individen, dess livsvillkor och i de identitetsskapande processerna. Idag ställs stora krav på en flexibel identitetsprocess och det innebär att den sociala miljön är mer föränderlig och osäkrare än tidigare. Den fysiska miljön däremot, utgör en trygghet i att den är stabil för var dag som går. Vår presentation kommer att handla om hur det lokala rummet, både ur ett socialt och fysiskt perspektiv, påverkar identitetsskapandet för den enskilde individen. Genom de studier vi presenterar hoppas vi kunna ge svar på vilka effekter som det lokala rummet, i form av både fysisk och social miljö, har för de identitetsskapande processer som vi lever med. Våra studier samverkar till hur vi kan betrakta det lokala rummet som en helhet. En av studierna visar på kombinationen av de externa och interna faktorerna och deras ömsesidiga inverkan och påverkan av varandra medan de tre övriga främst har visat på betydelsen och meningen av de interna faktorerna. Vi presenterar teorier kring denna helhet som, vill vi hävda, utgör den lokala organisation som den differentierade identiteten rör sig i och som vi relaterar vårt komplexa identitetsskapande till

PELATIHAN PENULISAN JURNAL ILMIAH DI SEKOLAH TINGGI ILMU-ILMU SOSIAL (STIS) TUAL

Pengabdian masyarakat bukan saja dilakukan pada masyarakat pada umumnya, namun juga bisa untuk masyarakat kampus, yang salah satunya adalah dosen. Dosen merupakan ujung tombak perubahan, sehingga kualitas dosen dapat diukur dari penelitian dan pengabdian yang dipublikasikan pada jurnal, pengabdian ini dilakukan pada Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu-Ilmu Sosial (STIS) Tual. Metode pengabdian mengunakan sosialisasi dan model pembelajaran jigsaw Hasilnya pengabdian ini mereka jadi mengetahui pentingnya publikasi jurnal dan tumbuh budaya menulis, pelatihan dilakuan enam tahap yang tiap tahap akan diukur perubahannya, tahap pertama menjadi kunci karena hasil tes akan kami campur yang sudah mampu publikasi karya ilmiah dan yang belum bisa, jika belum ada perhubahan bagi temang yang belum mampu maka teman yang sudah mampu publikasi akan membantu teman yang belum bisa memahami materi yang disampaikan, hal inilah mengapa sampai memakai metode jigsaw agar penyerapan materi dapat dilakukan dengan baik. Kurang mampu dosen mempublikasikan karya penelitian dan pengabdian, akan merugikan masyarakat umumnya dan dosen sendiri pada khususnya, hasil karya ilmiah ini dapat diakses gratis oleh semua orang