Dietary nitrate lowers ambulatory blood pressure in treated, uncontrolled hypertension: a 7d, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trial

Dietary nitrate has been shown to increase nitrate/nitrite levels and decrease blood pressure (BP) in multiple populations. There are few reports among hypertensives and these reports have provided conflicting evidence. We aimed to assess the effect of daily nitrate compared to placebo in subjects with uncontrolled hypertension. On day 0, hypertensives wore an ambulatory BP monitor (ABPM) for 24h and blood was taken. Subjects were then randomized to 7d nitrate-rich beetroot juice (12.9mmol nitrate) followed by 7d nitrate-depleted beetroot juice (0.5mmol nitrate) or vice versa. ABPM and blood was assessed before and after both conditions. 20 subjects with treated yet uncontrolled hypertension entered and completed the trial (mean age = 62.5y, mean BMI = 30.7kg/m2). Baseline BP was 137/80 ± 7/7mmHg. Dietary nitrate was well tolerated and resulted in significantly increased plasma nitrite (p=0.0004) and decreased 24h SBP and DBP compared to placebo (-8mmHg; p =0.012 and -4mmHg; p=0.018 respectively). Our results support the existing data suggesting an anti-hypertensive effect of dietary nitrate in treated yet uncontrolled hypertensives. Targeted dietary strategies appear promising contributors to BP control

Final Field Report of the Matacapan Archaeological Project: The 1982 Season

In 1982 we initiated a program of archaeological fieldwork at the site of Matacapan, a large Classic Period urban center in the Tuxtlas Region of the South Gulf Coast of Veracruz, Mexico (see Figure 1). Our working hypothesis was that Matacapan contained an encl ave of merchants from the the city of Teotihuacan in Central Mexico. That research had two principal objectives: (1) to define the structure of the Teotihuacan barrio, that portion of Matacapan where past research indicated that Teotihuacan materials were most highly concentrated; and (2) to establish the context of the barrio within the urban center of Matacapan. The following is a report of that research. Our presentation is divided into several parts. First, we discuss a general model describing Teotihuacan influence throughout Mesoamerica. We then summarize the methods we employed during surface survey and excavation, review the settlement history of the site, as defined by the survey, and discuss the evidence we retrieved from a series of excavations conducted in the Teotihuacan barrio. Next, we present an analysis of the obsidian assemblage, outlining major sources of variability across space and through time. Obsidian, we believe, was an important commodity traded to the Tuxtlas by Teotihuacan. We close with a prospectus for future research

Livestock predation in South Africa: The need for and value of a scientific assessment

Predation of livestock in South Africa has been estimated to cost in excess of ZAR1 billion in losses per year1 and has complex social, economic and ecological drivers and consequences. In this context, livestock can be broadly defined as domesticated animals and wildlife (the former excluding poultry and the latter including ostrich, Struthio camelus) managed for commercial purposes or human benefit in free-ranging (or semi-free ranging) circumstances that render them vulnerable to predation. This conflict between livestock producers and predators, and the attempts to manage it, has persisted for over 350 years, with the most notable outcome being the eradication of the majority of the apex predators across much of South Africa.2 In contrast, the mesopredators, black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas) and caracal (Caracal caracal) are by all accounts thriving, at least as measured by their impact on livestock production. Increasingly, attempts to manage livestock predation give rise to deep polarisations, particularly between animal rightists and livestock producers, which further confounds an already complex situation. This complexity hampers the development of policy and regulations with regard to managing livestock predation. A recent global review of the scientific merit of studies on the efficacy of various predator control interventions highlighted the paucity of adherence to acceptable scientific methods in these studies, and recommends ‘suspending lethal control methods’ while appropriately designed studies are undertaken.3 Treves et al.3 did not identify any valid (by their criteria) studies undertaken in South Africa. This example highlights the need for a scientifically robust basis for policy and management of livestock predation issues.http://www.sajs.co.za/am2017Centre for Wildlife Managemen

Political marketing segmentation the case of UK local government

This article considers the nature and use of segmentation in political marketing. The importance of an awareness of political marketing at a more local level will become particularly important with the onset of regional government. The article particularly concerned with segmentation in local government where there has been little empirical research. The results of a survey amongst local government officers are presented. The article concludes that a significant minority of local government officers use segmentation. The key factors facilitating the use of segmentation were found to be education, experience, the role of the chief executive and central government pressure