Estimation of groundwater and nutrient fluxes to the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2008. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Springer for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Estuaries and Coasts 31 (2008): 501-520, doi:10.1007/s12237-008-9040-0.A study was conducted between April 2004 and September 2005 to estimate ground-water and nutrient discharge to the Neuse River estuary in North Carolina. Largest ground-water fluxes were observed to occur generally within 20 m of the shoreline. Ground-water flux estimates based on seepage-meter measurements ranged from 2.86 x 108 to 4.33 x 108 m3 annually and are comparable to estimates made using radon, a simple water-budget method, and estimates derived by using Darcy’s Law and previously published general aquifer characteristics of the area. The lower ground-water flux estimate (equal to about 9 m3 s–1), which assumed the narrowest ground-water discharge zone (20 m) of three zone widths selected for an area west of New Bern, North Carolina, most closely agrees with ground-water flux estimates made using radon (3–9 m3 s–1) and Darcy’s Law (about 9 m3 s–1). A ground-water flux of 9 m3 s–1 is about 40% of the surface-water flow to the Neuse River estuary between Streets Ferry and the mouth of the estuary and about 7% of the surface-water inflow from areas upstream. Estimates of annual nitrogen (333 tonnes) and phosphorus (66 tonnes) fluxes from ground water to the estuary, based on this analysis, are less than 6% of the nitrogen and phosphorus inputs derived from all sources (excluding oceanic inputs), and approximately 8% of the nitrogen and 17% of the phosphorus annual inputs from surface-water inflow to the Neuse River estuary assuming a mean annual precipitation of 1.27 m. We provide quantitative evidence, derived from three methods, that the contribution of water and nutrients from ground-water discharge to the NRE is relatively minor, particularly compared with upstream sources of water and nutrients and with bottom sediment sources of nutrients. Locally high ground-water discharges in the NRE do occur, however, and could help explain the occurrence of localized phytoplankton blooms, submerged aquatic vegetation, or fish kills.Funding support from the U.S. Geological Surve

Masked Hypertension and Incident Clinic Hypertension Among Blacks in the Jackson Heart StudyNovelty and Significance

Masked hypertension, defined as non-elevated clinic blood pressure and elevated out-of-clinic blood pressure may be an intermediary stage in the progression from normotension to hypertension. We examined the associations of out-of-clinic blood pressure and masked hypertension using ambulatory blood pressure monitoring with incident clinic hypertension in the Jackson Heart Study, a prospective cohort of African Americans. Analyses included 317 participants with clinic blood pressure <140/90mmHg, complete ABPM, who were not taking antihypertensive medication at baseline in 2000–2004. Masked daytime hypertension was defined as mean daytime blood pressure ≥135/85mmHg; masked nighttime hypertension as mean nighttime blood pressure ≥120/70mmHg; and masked 24-hour hypertension as mean 24-hour blood pressure ≥130/80mmHg. Incident clinic hypertension, assessed at study visits in 2005–2008 and 2009–2012, was defined as the first visit with clinic systolic/diastolic blood pressure ≥140/90mmHg or antihypertensive medication use. During a median follow-up of 8.1 years, there were 187 (59.0%) incident cases of clinic hypertension. Clinic hypertension developed in 79.2% and 42.2% of participants with and without any masked hypertension, 85.7% and 50.4% with and without masked daytime hypertension, 79.9% and 43.7% with and without masked nighttime hypertension and 85.7% and 48.2% with and without masked 24-hour hypertension, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) of incident clinic hypertension for any masked hypertension and masked daytime, nighttime, and 24-hour hypertension were 2.13 (1.51–3.02), 1.79 (1.24–2.60), 2.22 (1.58–3.12), and 1.91 (1.32–2.75), respectively. These findings suggest that ambulatory blood pressure monitoring can identify African Americans at increased risk for developing clinic hypertension

EuPathDB: the eukaryotic pathogen genomics database resource

The Eukaryotic Pathogen Genomics Database Resource (EuPathDB, http://eupathdb.org) is a collection of databases covering 170+ eukaryotic pathogens (protists &amp; fungi), along with relevant free-living and non-pathogenic species, and select pathogen hosts. To facilitate the discovery of meaningful biological relationships, the databases couple preconfigured searches with visualization and analysis tools for comprehensive data mining via intuitive graphical interfaces and APIs. All data are analyzed with the same workflows, including creation of gene orthology profiles, so data are easily compared across data sets, data types and organisms. EuPathDB is updated with numerous new analysis tools, features, data sets and data types. New tools include GO, metabolic pathway and word enrichment analyses plus an online workspace for analysis of personal, non-public, large-scale data. Expanded data content is mostly genomic and functional genomic data while new data types include protein microarray, metabolic pathways, compounds, quantitative proteomics, copy number variation, and polysomal transcriptomics. New features include consistent categorization of searches, data sets and genome browser tracks; redesigned gene pages; effective integration of alternative transcripts; and a EuPathDB Galaxy instance for private analyses of a user's data. Forthcoming upgrades include user workspaces for private integration of data with existing EuPathDB data and improved integration and presentation of host–pathogen interactions

Modifiable Risk Factors Versus Age on Developing High Predicted Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Blacks

Background: Clinical guidelines recommend using predicted atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk to inform treatment decisions. The objective was to compare the contribution of changes in modifiable risk factors versus aging to the development of high 10‐year predicted ASCVD risk. Methods and Results: A prospective follow‐up was done of the Jackson Heart Study, an exclusively black cohort at visit 1 (2000–2004) and visit 3 (2009–2012). Analyses included 1115 black participants without high 10‐year predicted ASCVD risk (<7.5%), hypertension, diabetes mellitus, or ASCVD at visit 1. We used the Pooled Cohort equations to calculate the incidence of high (≥7.5%) 10‐year predicted ASCVD risk at visit 3. We recalculated the percentage with high 10‐year predicted ASCVD risk at visit 3 assuming each risk factor (age, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive medication use, diabetes mellitus, smoking, total and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol), one at a time, did not change from visit 1. The mean age at visit 1 was 45.2±9.5 years. Overall, 30.9% (95% CI 28.3–33.4%) of participants developed high 10‐year predicted ASCVD risk. Aging accounted for 59.7% (95% CI 54.2–65.1%) of the development of high 10‐year predicted ASCVD risk compared with 32.8% (95% CI 27.0–38.2%) for increases in systolic blood pressure or antihypertensive medication initiation and 12.8% (95% CI 9.6–16.5%) for incident diabetes mellitus. Among participants <50 years, the contribution of increases in systolic blood pressure or antihypertensive medication initiation was similar to aging. Conclusions: Increases in systolic blood pressure and antihypertensive medication initiation are major contributors to the development of high 10‐year predicted ASCVD risk in blacks, particularly among younger adults

VEuPathDB: the eukaryotic pathogen, vector and host bioinformatics resource center in 2023.

The Eukaryotic Pathogen, Vector and Host Informatics Resource (VEuPathDB, https://veupathdb.org) is a Bioinformatics Resource Center funded by the National Institutes of Health with additional funding from the Wellcome Trust. VEuPathDB supports >600 organisms that comprise invertebrate vectors, eukaryotic pathogens (protists and fungi) and relevant free-living or non-pathogenic species or hosts. Since 2004, VEuPathDB has analyzed omics data from the public domain using contemporary bioinformatic workflows, including orthology predictions via OrthoMCL, and integrated the analysis results with analysis tools, visualizations, and advanced search capabilities. The unique data mining platform coupled with >3000 pre-analyzed data sets facilitates the exploration of pertinent omics data in support of hypothesis driven research. Comparisons are easily made across data sets, data types and organisms. A Galaxy workspace offers the opportunity for the analysis of private large-scale datasets and for porting to VEuPathDB for comparisons with integrated data. The MapVEu tool provides a platform for exploration of spatially resolved data such as vector surveillance and insecticide resistance monitoring. To address the growing body of omics data and advances in laboratory techniques, VEuPathDB has added several new data types, searches and features, improved the Galaxy workspace environment, redesigned the MapVEu interface and updated the infrastructure to accommodate these changes

VEuPathDB: the eukaryotic pathogen, vector and host bioinformatics resource center

The Eukaryotic Pathogen, Vector and Host Informatics Resource (VEuPathDB, https://veupathdb.org) represents the 2019 merger of VectorBase with the EuPathDB projects. As a Bioinformatics Resource Center funded by the National Institutes of Health, with additional support from the Welllcome Trust, VEuPathDB supports &gt;500 organisms comprising invertebrate vectors, eukaryotic pathogens (protists and fungi) and relevant free-living or non-pathogenic species or hosts. Designed to empower researchers with access to Omics data and bioinformatic analyses, VEuPathDB projects integrate &gt;1700 pre-analysed datasets (and associated metadata) with advanced search capabilities, visualizations, and analysis tools in a graphic interface. Diverse data types are analysed with standardized workflows including an in-house OrthoMCL algorithm for predicting orthology. Comparisons are easily made across datasets, data types and organisms in this unique data mining platform. A new site-wide search facilitates access for both experienced and novice users. Upgraded infrastructure and workflows support numerous updates to the web interface, tools, searches and strategies, and Galaxy workspace where users can privately analyse their own data. Forthcoming upgrades include cloud-ready application architecture, expanded support for the Galaxy workspace, tools for interrogating host-pathogen interactions, and improved interactions with affiliated databases (ClinEpiDB, MicrobiomeDB) and other scientific resources, and increased interoperability with the Bacterial &amp; Viral BRC

Working memory and inhibition performance predicts phonological processing in elderly women: Evidence from behavioral and electrophysiological indices

To determine how event-related electrical activity in the brain relates to cognitive functioning in a group of 27 normally aging females (68-73 years of age), participants were separated into high and low groups based on their performance on cognitive measures of three domains: Verbal working memory; Immediate auditory recall; and Inhibition. The aim of the study was to expand our understanding of language processing in normal aging, and to characterize how neural indices mediating phonologic processing are related to inhibitory and working memory abilities in healthy, elderly women. Participants were challenged with a visual word pair rhyme judgment task, from which eventrelated brain potentials, reaction time, and accuracy were recorded. Consisting of a prime and target, rhyming word pairs (orthographically congruent: THROWN-OWN and incongruent: CONE-OWN) and non-rhyming word pairs (orthographically congruent: GOWN-OWN, and incongruent: CAKE-OWN) were used. Verbal Working Memory: High performers were distinguished from low performers on both reaction time and accuracy. High performers also distinguished themselves electrophysiologically by an increased amplitude contingent negative variation, a working memory indicator, and by displaying earlier N100 peak latencies, an indicator of early cortical visual processing. Immediate Auditory Recall: Reaction time and accuracy were similar for low and high performers, although high performers displayed an increased N400, the component elicited by the rhyme judgment stimuli. High performers displayed increased rhyme effect mean amplitudes, which are believed to reflect processes underlying the ability to determine whether or not congruent pairs rhyme. Inhibition: High performers displayed faster reaction times and greater accuracy. Additionally, high performers displayed earlier N100 peak latencies under congruent conditions, which was significant over the left hemisphere in incongruent conditions. Lastly, high performers exhibited increased amplitude “later” rhyme effects for incongruent conditions when compared to low performers. In summary, the results of this study clearly demonstrate that differences in behavioral and cognitive abilities mediating verbal working memory, immediate auditory recall, and inhibition predict neural functions for language processing in the elderly, hinting at future opportunities for developing new biomarkers of successful aging

Masked Hypertension and Incident Clinic Hypertension Among Blacks in the Jackson Heart Study

Masked hypertension, defined as nonelevated clinic blood pressure (BP) and elevated out-of-clinic BP may be an intermediary stage in the progression from normotension to hypertension. We examined the associations of out-of-clinic BP and masked hypertension using ambulatory BP monitoring with incident clinic hypertension in the Jackson Heart Study, a prospective cohort of blacks. Analyses included 317 participants with clinic BP <140/90 mm Hg, complete ambulatory BP monitoring, who were not taking antihypertensive medication at baseline in 2000 to 2004. Masked daytime hypertension was defined as mean daytime blood pressure ≥135/85 mm Hg, masked night-time hypertension as mean night-time BP ≥120/70 mm Hg, and masked 24-hour hypertension as mean 24-hour BP ≥130/80 mm Hg. Incident clinic hypertension, assessed at study visits in 2005 to 2008 and 2009 to 2012, was defined as the first visit with clinic systolic/diastolic BP ≥140/90 mm Hg or antihypertensive medication use. During a median follow-up of 8.1 years, there were 187 (59.0%) incident cases of clinic hypertension. Clinic hypertension developed in 79.2% and 42.2% of participants with and without any masked hypertension, 85.7% and 50.4% with and without masked daytime hypertension, 79.9% and 43.7% with and without masked night-time hypertension, and 85.7% and 48.2% with and without masked 24-hour hypertension, respectively. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) of incident clinic hypertension for any masked hypertension and masked daytime, night-time, and 24-hour hypertension were 2.13 (1.51-3.02), 1.79 (1.24-2.60), 2.22 (1.58-3.12), and 1.91 (1.32-2.75), respectively. These findings suggest that ambulatory BP monitoring can identify blacks at increased risk for developing clinic hypertension

The Good, the Bad, and the Lethal: Gene Expression and Metabolomics Reveal Physiological Mechanisms Underlying Chronic Thermal Effects in Mayfly Larvae (Neocloeon triangulifer)

Temperature dictates the performance of aquatic ectotherms. However, the physiological and biochemical processes that drive thermally-mediated life history patterns (and limits) remain poorly understood because they are rarely studied simultaneously. In our previous work, we have established life history outcomes (e.g., survivorship, development time, growth rates, and fitness) in mayflies (Neocloeon triangulifer) reared at static temperatures ranging from 14 to 30°C at 2°C intervals. In this study, we conducted biochemical measurements (RT-qPCR of select genes and targeted, quantitative metabolomic profiling) on N. triangulifer mature larvae reared at temperatures associated with excellent survival and fitness (22–24°C), compromised survival and fitness (28°C), and chronic lethality (30°C—larvae survived for a few weeks but failed to emerge to adulthood). Patterns of gene expression were similar to those observed in acute ramping experiments reported previously: larvae reared at 30°C resulted in significant upregulation in the thermally responsive gene HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 90 (HSP90) but no significant changes in hypoxia responsive genes [EGGLAYING DEFECTIVE9 (EGL-9) and LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE (LDH)]. Additionally, primers for genes associated with energy: INSULIN RECEPTOR (IR), mechanistic TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (mTOR), and TREHALOSE 6 PHOSPHATE SYNTHASE (T6PS) were developed for this study. IR and mTOR were significantly upregulated while T6PS showed trend of downregulation in larvae reared at 30°C. Metabolomic profiles revealed general depletion of lipids and acylcarnitines in larvae exposed to chronic thermal stress, suggesting that larvae were energetically challenged despite continuous access to food. For example, concentrations of lysoPhosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) a C20:3 decreased as fitness decreased with increasing temperature (2.3- and 2.4-fold at 28 and 30°C relative to controls). Tissue concentrations of the biogenic amine histamine increased 2.1- and 3.1-fold with increasing temperature, and were strongly and negatively correlated with performance. Thus, both histamine and lysoPC a C20:3 are potential biomarkers of thermal stress. Taken together, our results primarily associate energetic challenge with thermally mediated fitness reduction in N. triangulifer