Fecal-Sac Ingestion by Spotted Towhees

Altricial nestlings encase excrement in fecal sacs that parents remove by either ingesting them or transporting them away from the nest. Ingestion may allow energetically or nutritionally deprived parents to recapture energy or nutrients that might be lost because of nestlings\u27 inefficient digestion (the parental-nutrition hypothesis ), but ingestion may also permit parents to avoid flights from the nest that interfere with parental care (e.g., brooding young; the economic-disposal hypothesis ). We used a hypothetico-deductive approach to test the two hypotheses\u27 ability to account for fecal-sac ingestion by the Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus). We confirmed the parental-nutrition hypothesis\u27 predictions that more fecal sacs should be ingested in years of food shortage (males only), late in the season when food supplies decline (both sexes), by parents that had the greatest difficulty raising young (i.e., underweight young), and that adults\u27 body condition should vary directly with their rate of fecal-sac ingestion (females only). We rejected the economic-disposal hypothesis\u27 prediction of a decline in fecal-sac ingestion with increasing brood size. The latter, plus the observation that nearly 40% of males ingest fecal sacs despite their spending virtually no time attending nests, suggests that fecal-sac ingestion is not a mechanism to avoid needless and time-consuming flights from the nest that interfere with parental care. Fecal-sac ingestion by Spotted Towhees is better interpreted as either a resource supplement to parents or as a mechanism to satiate hunger so that parents can maintain rates of feeding to dependent young

Prevalence of PTSD in Survivors of Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack: A Meta-Analytic Review

Background and Purpose Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in survivors of acute life-threatening illness, but little is known about the burden of PTSD in survivors of stroke and transient ischemic attack (TIA). This study estimated the prevalence of stroke or TIA-induced posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) using systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods Potentially relevant peer-reviewed journal articles were identified by searching the Ovid MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PILOTS Database, The Cochrane Library and Scopus from inception to January 2013; all searches were conducted on January 31, 2013. Observational cohort studies that assessed PTSD with specific reference to a stroke or TIA that occurred at least 1 month prior to the PTSD assessment were included. PTSD rates and characteristics of the study and sample were abstracted from all included studies. The coding of all articles included demographics, sample size, study country, and method and timing of PTSD assessment. Results Nine studies (N = 1,138) met our inclusion criteria. PTSD rates varied significantly across studies by timing of PTSD assessment (i.e., within 1 year of stroke/TIA versus greater than 1 year post-stroke/TIA; 55% of heterogeneity explained; Q1 = 10.30; P = .001). Using a random effects model, the estimated rate of PTSD following stroke or TIA was 23% (95% CI, 16%–33%) within 1 year of the stroke or TIA and 11% (95% CI, 8%–14%) after 1 year. Conclusions Although PTSD is commonly thought to be triggered by external events such as combat or sexual assault, these results suggest that 1 in 4 stroke or TIA survivors develop significant PTSD symptoms due to the stroke or TIA. Screening for PTSD in a large population-based prospective cohort study with cardiovascular outcome assessments is needed to yield definitive prevalence, and determine whether stroke or TIA-induced PTSD is a risk factor for subsequent cardiovascular events or mortality

Exploring the Association of Urban or Rural County Status and Environmental, Nutrition- and Lifestyle-related Resources With the Efficacy of SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program-Education) to Improve Food Security

Public Health Nutritio

A Coordinated X-ray and Optical Campaign of the Nearby Massive Binary δ\delta Orionis Aa: II. X-ray Variability

We present time-resolved and phase-resolved variability studies of an extensive X-ray high-resolution spectral dataset of the $\delta$ Orionis Aa binary system. The four observations, obtained with Chandra ACIS HETGS, have a total exposure time of ~479 ks and provide nearly complete binary phase coverage. Variability of the total X-ray flux in the range 5-25 $\AA$ is confirmed, with maximum amplitude of about +/-15% within a single ~125 ks observation. Periods of 4.76d and 2.04d are found in the total X-ray flux, as well as an apparent overall increase in flux level throughout the 9-day observational campaign. Using 40 ks contiguous spectra derived from the original observations, we investigate variability of emission line parameters and ratios. Several emission lines are shown to be variable, including S XV, Si XIII, and Ne IX. For the first time, variations of the X-ray emission line widths as a function of the binary phase are found in a binary system, with the smallest widths at phase=0.0 when the secondary $\delta$ Orionis Aa2 is at inferior conjunction. Using 3D hydrodynamic modeling of the interacting winds, we relate the emission line width variability to the presence of a wind cavity created by a wind-wind collision, which is effectively void of embedded wind shocks and is carved out of the X-ray-producing primary wind, thus producing phase-locked X-ray variability.Comment: 36 pages, 14 Tables, 19 Figures, accepted by ApJ, one of 4 related papers to be published togethe

Results from a natural experiment: initial neighbourhood investments do not change objectively-assessed physical activity, psychological distress or perceptions of the neighbourhood

Abstract Background Few studies have assessed objectively measured physical activity (PA), active transportation, psychological distress and neighborhood perceptions among residents of a neighborhood before and after substantial improvements in its physical environment. Also, most research-to-date has employed study designs subject to neighborhood selection, which may introduce bias in reported findings. We built upon a previously enrolled cohort of households from two low-income predominantly African American Pittsburgh neighborhoods, matched on socio-demographic composition including race/ethnicity, income and education. One of the two neighborhoods received substantial neighborhood investments over the course of this study including, but not limited to public housing development and greenspace/landscaping. We implemented a natural experiment using matched intervention and control neighborhoods and conducted pre-post assessments among the cohort. Our comprehensive assessments included accelerometry-based PA, active transportation, psychological distress and perceptions of the neighborhood, with assessments conducted both prior to and following the neighborhood changes. In 2013, we collected data from 1003 neighborhood participants and in 2016, we re-interviewed 676 of those participants. We conducted an intent to treat analysis, with a difference-in-difference estimator using attrition weighting to account for nonresponse between 2013 and 2016. In addition, we derived an individual-level indicator of exposure to neighbourhood investment and estimated effect of exposure to investment on the same set of outcomes using covariate-adjusted models. Results We observed no statistically significant differences in activity, psychological distress, satisfaction with one’s neighborhood as a place to live or any of the other measures we observed prior to and after the neighborhood investments between the intervention and control neighborhoods or those exposed vs not exposed to investments. Conclusions Using this rigorous study design, we observed no significant changes in the intervention neighborhood above and beyond secular trends present in the control neighborhood. Although neighborhood investment may have other benefits, we failed to see improvement in PA, psychological distress or related outcomes in the low-income African American neighborhoods in our study. This may be an indication that improvements in the physical environment may not directly translate into improvements in residents’ physical activity or health outcomes without additional individual-level interventions. It is also possible that these investments were not dramatic enough to spur change within the three year period. Additional studies employing similar design with other cohorts in other settings are needed to confirm these results. Trial registration Trial Registration is not applicable since we did not prospectively assign individuals to a health-related intervention.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/148333/1/12966_2019_Article_793.pd

An expert assessment on playspace designs and thermal environments in a Canadian context

Playgrounds are a hub for child play and concerns that may impact children\u27s play there may hinder their health and well-being. Extreme temperatures can increase risks in children of sunstroke, burns from playground surfaces, and exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Despite health risks from extreme heat to children, existing playground design standards around the world, including in Canada, make little-to-no mention of how to design playgrounds for thermal comfort, particularly in summer. To help fill this gap in the Canadian context, several organizations collaborated to develop guidance for thermally comfortable playgrounds in Canada. As part of this project, an online survey was administered to 55 experts with diverse professional backgrounds, largely from Canada and the United States, to determine how thermal comfort is viewed in playground design and safety. Survey results showed agreement among experts that thermal comfort receives low or no priority in playground design but should be prioritized or considered alongside other safety factors in relevant playground safety guidelines and standards. The results of this survey not only helped inform the 2020 publication of a Thermal Comfort annex to the CSA Group\u27s Children\u27s playgrounds and equipment standard (CAN/CSA Z614) but could also help inform future research and practice globally

The association between protease inhibitors and anal cancer outcomes in veterans living with HIV treated with definitive chemoradiation: a retrospective study

Background: The incidence of anal squamous cell carcinoma has been increasing, particularly in people living with HIV (PLWH). There is concern that radiosensitizing drugs, such as protease inhibitors, commonly used in the management of HIV, may increase toxicities in patients undergoing chemoradiation. This study examines treatment outcomes and toxicities in PLWH managed with and without protease inhibitors who are receiving chemoradiation for anal cancer. Methods: Patient demographic, HIV management, and cancer treatment information were extracted from multiple Veterans Affairs databases. Patients were also manually chart reviewed. Among PLWH undergoing chemoradiation for anal carcinoma, therapy outcomes and toxicities were compared between those treated with and without protease inhibitors at time of cancer treatment. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-square, Cox regression analysis, and logistic regression. Results: A total of 219 PLWH taking anti-retroviral therapy undergoing chemoradiation for anal cancer were identified and included in the final analysis. The use of protease inhibitors was not associated with any survival outcome including colostomy-free survival, progression-free survival, or overall survival (all adjusted hazard ratio p-values\u3e 0.05). Regarding toxicity, protease inhibitor use was not associated with an increased odds of hospitalizations or non-hematologic toxicities; however, protease inhibitor use was associated with increased hospitalizations for hematologic toxicities, including febrile neutropenia (p \u3c 0.01). Conclusion: The use of protease inhibitors during chemoradiation for anal carcinoma was not associated with any clinical outcome or increase in non-hematologic toxicity. Their use was associated with increased hospitalizations for hematologic toxicities. Further prospective research is needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of protease inhibitors for patients undergoing chemoradiation

A Comparative Study of the Absolute-Magnitude Distributions of Supernovae

The Asiago Supernova Catalog is used to carry out a comparative study of supernova absolute-magnitude distributions. An overview of the absolute magnitudes of the supernovae in the current observational sample is presented, and the evidence for subluminous and overluminous events is examined. The fraction of supernovae that are underluminous (M_B > -15) appears to be higher (perhaps much higher) than one fifth but it remains very uncertain. The fraction that are overluminous (M_B < -20) is lower (probably much lower) than 0.01. The absolute-magnitude distributions for each supernova type, restricted to events within 1 Gpc, are compared. Although these distributions are affected by observational bias in favor of the more luminous events, they are useful for comparative studies. We find mean absolute blue magnitudes (for H_0=60) of -19.46 for normal Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), -18.04 for SNe Ibc, -17.61 and -20.26 for normal and bright SNe Ibc considered separately, -18.03 for SNe II-L, -17.56 and -19.27 for normal and bright SNe II-L considered separately, -17.00 for SNe II-P, and -19.15 for SNe IIn.Comment: 27 pages, accepted for publication by the Astronomical Journal (Feb. 2002

Sociodemographic characteristics and longitudinal progression of multimorbidity:A multistate modelling analysis of a large primary care records dataset in England

BackgroundMultimorbidity, characterised by the coexistence of multiple chronic conditions in an individual, is a rising public health concern. While much of the existing research has focused on cross-sectional patterns of multimorbidity, there remains a need to better understand the longitudinal accumulation of diseases. This includes examining the associations between important sociodemographic characteristics and the rate of progression of chronic conditions.Methods and findingsWe utilised electronic primary care records from 13.48 million participants in England, drawn from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD Aurum), spanning from 2005 to 2020 with a median follow-up of 4.71 years (IQR: 1.78, 11.28). The study focused on 5 important chronic conditions: cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes (T2D), chronic kidney disease (CKD), heart failure (HF), and mental health (MH) conditions. Key sociodemographic characteristics considered include ethnicity, social and material deprivation, gender, and age. We employed a flexible spline-based parametric multistate model to investigate the associations between these sociodemographic characteristics and the rate of different disease transitions throughout multimorbidity development. Our findings reveal distinct association patterns across different disease transition types. Deprivation, gender, and age generally demonstrated stronger associations with disease diagnosis compared to ethnic group differences. Notably, the impact of these factors tended to attenuate with an increase in the number of preexisting conditions, especially for deprivation, gender, and age. For example, the hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI; p-value) for the association of deprivation with T2D diagnosis (comparing the most deprived quintile to the least deprived) is 1.76 ([1.74, 1.78]; p ConclusionsOur results indicate that early phases of multimorbidity development could warrant increased attention. The potential importance of earlier detection and intervention of chronic conditions is underscored, particularly for MH conditions and higher-risk populations. These insights may have important implications for the management of multimorbidity

The lifelong impact of fetal growth restriction on cardiac development

Background: Maternal nutrient restriction (MNR) is a widespread cause of fetal growth restriction (FGR), an independent predictor of heart disease and cardiovascular mortality. Our objective was to examine the developmental and long-term impact of MNR-induced FGR on cardiac structure in a model that closely mimics human development. Methods: A reduction in total caloric intake spanning pregestation through to lactation in guinea pig sows was used to induce FGR. Proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of cardiomyocytes were assessed in late-gestation fetal, neonatal, and adult guinea pig hearts. Proteomic analysis and pathway enrichment were performed on fetal hearts. Results: Cardiomyocyte proliferation and the number of mononucleated cells were enhanced in the MNR–FGR fetal and neonatal heart, suggesting a delay in cardiomyocyte differentiation. In fetal hearts of MNR–FGR animals, apoptosis was markedly elevated and the total number of cardiomyocytes reduced, the latter remaining so throughout neonatal and into adult life. A reduction in total cardiomyocyte number in adult MNR–FGR hearts was accompanied by exaggerated hypertrophy and a disorganized architecture. Pathway analysis identified genes related to cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Conclusions: FGR influences cardiomyocyte development during critical windows of development, leading to a permanent deficiency in cardiomyocyte number and compensatory hypertrophy in a rodent model that recapitulates human development