Toxic effects of estradiol E2 on development in the European tree frog (Hyla arborea)

Estrogenic hormones are a major environmental threat to aquatic wildlife. Here we report chronic toxic effects of exposure to the naturally excreted estrogen, 17β-estradiol (E2), on the larval and subadult development of the European tree frog (Hyla arborea), by an experimental setting and long-term monitoring. In addition to the documented impact on sexual development and mating behavior, the general toxicity of human-released estrogens may contribute to global amphibian declines

Minimal conditions on Clifford semigroup congruences

A known result in groups concerning the inheritance of minimal conditions on normal subgroups by subgroups with finite indexes is extended to semilattices of groups [E(S),Se,ϕe,f] with identities in which all ϕe,f are epimorphisms (called q partial groups). Formulation of this result in terms of q congruences is also obtained

Conivaptan and its role in the treatment of hyponatremia

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The recognition of the central role that arginin vasopressin plays in the pathogenesis of hyponatremia and the discovery that its actions are mediated by stimulation of V1A and V2 receptors have led to the development of a new class of drugs, the arginin vasopressin antagonists. Conivaptan is a nonselective V1A and V2 receptors antagonist that was the first of this class to be approved by the FDA for the management of euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia. Its short-term safety and efficacy for the correction of hyponatremia have been established by multiple double-blind, randomized, controlled studies. Blocking the effects of arginin vasopressin on V2 receptors produces aquaresis – the electrolyte-sparing excretion of water – an ideal approach to correct hypervolemic hyponatremia. The nonselectivity of conivaptan offers a theoretical advantage for its use in heart failure that may merit further exploration

Evaluation of complication rates after coronary artery bypass surgery using administrative data

Our objectives were (1) to determine if studying hospital complication rates after coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery provides information not available when only mortality is studied, and (2) to reexplore the utility of ICD-9-CM administrative data for CABG outcomes assessment. Using data from Massachusetts, we identified CABG cohorts from 1990 and 1992 to respectively develop and validate multivariate risk adjustment models predicting in-hospital mortality and complications. The resulting models had good discrimination and calibration. In 1992, adjusted hospital complication rates ranged widely from 13.0% to 57.6%, while mortality rates ranged from 1.4% to 6.1%. Hospitals with high complication rates tended to have high mortality (r = 0.74, p = 0.006), but 2 of the 12 hospitals studied ranked quite differently when judged by complications rather than mortality. We conclude that (1) complications after CABG occur frequently and may provide information about hospital quality beyond that obtained from hospital mortality rates, and that (2) administrative data continue to be a promising resource for outcomes research

Investing in PV Systems utilizing Savings from Building Envelop Replacement by Sustainable Local Material: A Case Study in Lebanese Inland Region

In this work, we propose to reduce the initial building construction cost by using local low-embodied energy materials and use savings to offset the cost of renewable energy installations. A typical house in the desert climate of inland Lebanon is modeled using commercial software for a conventional construction case and when using local construction materials. The savings from envelop replacement were used to invest in installing a solar water heater (SWH), and a photovoltaic (PV) system as well as double glazed windows. This resulted in net energy savings up to 97% and 59% for single and double glazed windows, respectively. When further investment in the PV system is evaluated and optimized based on life cycle cost, the savings from covering the electrical load and selling to the grid decreased respectively to 27% and 75% in the case of single glazing and to 28% and 76% in the case of double glazing. Keywords: Local construction material; Initial construction cost; PV system design and optimization; Renewable Energy JEL Classifications: C61; C63; L94; Q20; Q2

Tourism and the smartphone app: capabilities, emerging practice and scope in the travel domain.

Based on its advanced computing capabilities and ubiquity, the smartphone has rapidly been adopted as a tourism travel tool.With a growing number of users and a wide varietyof applications emerging, the smartphone is fundamentally altering our current use and understanding of the transport network and tourism travel. Based on a review of smartphone apps, this article evaluates the current functionalities used in the domestic tourism travel domain and highlights where the next major developments lie. Then, at a more conceptual level, the article analyses how the smartphone mediates tourism travel and the role it might play in more collaborative and dynamic travel decisions to facilitate sustainable travel. Some emerging research challenges are discussed