Propranolol: a Treatment for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) Or a Breach in Neuroethics?

To date, very little is known about the neurocircuitry of posttraumatic stress disorder, and currently 5.2 million people are suffering from PTSD in the United States alone. In hopes to treat PTSD symptoms, researchers have targeted corticosteroids, beta-adrenergic antagonists, and opiate analgesics to reduce hormonally enhanced memories and fear conditioning. This paper focuses on a study involving propranolol, a beta-adrenergic antagonist, as a treatment for PTSD-like symptoms and its potentially unethical consequences. From the scientific standpoint, it seems great to eliminate suffering and it is fascinating that a drug can numb the emotional context of an experience. However, this great scientific goal does not seem quite so marvelous when one asks the question: is the cost of eliminating memories or the emotional aspects of memory worth the benefit of reducing suffering? This question, forces an individual to think of the value of his or her memory, the value of his or her emotions, and the problems that may arise for society if a treatment is found. Nothing is as simple as it seems. It is important to not accept things as right or wrong simply because one opinion is the general consensus. Instead, each person must ask his or herself tough questions and form his or her own answers to those questions. It is through the thought processes that one takes in answering such questions that truly informs the individual. Although the development of a treatment for PTSD is not a single person\u27s decision, the administration of a treatment does require one\u27s consent. Before consenting to a memory altering treatment, each person with the potential of developing PTSD must think of the consequences, both good and bad, that the treatment may have

Interplanting Annual Ryegrass, Wheat, Oat, and Corn to Mitigate Iron Deficiency in Dry Beans

This study evaluated whether grass intercropping can be used to alleviate Fe deficiency chlorosis in dry beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) grown in high pH, calcareous soils with low organic matter. Field studies were conducted at the University of Wyoming Sustainable Agriculture Research and Extension Center in 2009 and 2010. Black- and navy beans were grown alone or intercropped with annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), oat (Avena sativa L.), corn (Zea mays L.), or spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in a two-factor factorial strip-plot randomized complete block design. All four grass species increased chlorophyll intensity in dry beans. However, grass species did not increase iron (Fe) concentration in dry bean tissues suggesting inefficient utilization of Fe present in the dry bean tissues. In 2009, nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) and manganese (Mn) concentration in bean tissue were greater in bean monoculture than in grass intercropped beans. Bean monoculture also had greater soil NO3-N concentrations than grass intercropped treatments. In 2009, grass intercrops reduced dry bean yield \u3e25% compared to bean monoculture. Annual ryegrass was the least competitive of the four annual grass species. This suggests that competition from grasses for nutrients, water, or light may have outweighed benefits accruing from grass intercropping. Additional studies are required to determine the appropriate grass and dry bean densities, as well as the optimum time of grass removal

Minority Group Interests and Political Representation: Gay Elected Officials in the Policy Process

This is the publisher's version, which is also available electronically from http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/0022-3816.00026Of key importance to groups in a democracy is the political representation of their interests in the policy process. The most obvious strategy of groups to achieve representation is to elect officials that identify with group interests. Our research examines the political representation of lesbian and gay interests, exploring the influence of openly gay elected officials on domestic partner policies. Based on the literature, we select and operationalize variables that may influence policy adoption. Analysis on a dataset of 270 localities suggests that elected gay officials are an important determinant for achieving substantive political representation. Our findings also suggest that supportive non-gay elected officials can effectively represent gays in the policy process

Volunteer Corn (Zea mays) Interference in Dry Edible Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris)

Volunteer corn can affect dry bean by reducing yields; expanding the life cycle of insects, mites, and pathogens; interfering with harvest; and contaminating bean seed. Field studies were conducted at Lingle, WY, and Scottsbluff, NE, to determine the relationship between volunteer corn density and dry bean yield, establish the proper time of volunteer corn removal, and determine whether dry bean yield was affected by the method used to remove volunteer corn. Volunteer corn reduced dry bean yields, as recorded in other crops. Growing conditions for each location were different, as indicated by the accumulated growing degree days (GDD): Lingle 2008 (990), Lingle 2009 (780), and Scottsbluff 2009 (957). No difference in dry bean yields was observed between hand removal of volunteer corn and herbicide application. Dry bean yield loss increased with longer periods of volunteer corn competition and ranged from 1.2 to 1.8% yield loss for every 100 GDD that control was delayed. Control measures should be implemented 15 to 20 d after planting when volunteer corn densities are close to 1 plant m−2. Dry bean yield losses also increased as volunteer corn densities increased, with losses from 6.5 to 19.3% for 1 volunteer corn plant m−2. Based on 2015 prices, the cost of controlling volunteer corn would be the equivalent of 102 kg ha−1 of dry bean, and potential losses above 4% would justify control and should not be delayed beyond 15 to 20 d after planting

Effect of osmotic potential and temperature on germination of kochia (\u3ci\u3eBassia scoparia\u3c/i\u3e) populations from the U.S. Great Plains

Development of integrated weed management strategies requires knowledge of weed emergence timing and patterns, which are regulated primarily by water and thermal requirements for seed germination. Laboratory experiments were conducted in fall 2017 to fall 2018 to quantify the effect of osmotic potential and temperature on germination of 44 kochia [Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott] populations under controlled conditions. Bassia scoparia populations were collected in fall 2016 from northern (near Huntley, MT, and Powell, WY) and southern (near Lingle, WY, and Scottsbluff, NE) regions of the U.S. Great Plains. Ten osmotic potentials from 0 to −2.1 MPa and eight constant temperatures from 4 to 26 C were evaluated. Response of B. scoparia populations to osmotic potential did not differ between the northern and southern regions. At an osmotic potential of 0 MPa, all B. scoparia populations had greater than 98% germination, and the time to achieve 50% germination (t50) was less than 1 d. At −1.6 MPa, 25% of seeds of all B. scoparia populations germinated. Osmotic potentials of −0.85 and −1.9 MPa reduced B. scoparia germination by 10% and 90%, respectively. Regardless of temperature regime, all populations exhibited greater than 88% germination. The germination rate was highest at temperatures between 15 to 26 C and did not differ between populations from northern versus southern regions. At this temperature range, all populations had a t50 of less than 1 d. However, at 4 C, B. scoparia populations from the northern region had a higher germination rate (5 h) and cumulative germination (7%) than populations from the southern region. Overall, these results indicate a wide range of optimum temperatures and osmotic potential requirements for B. scoparia germination

Structure of oxidative and sulphate-clorinating roasting products of nickel converter matte

The structure and phase composition of the nickel converter matte roasting products has been studied in the sulphate-chlorinating process stage. In stages of the converter matte oxidation in the "fluidized bed" and flash smelting remainder roasting together with silvinite the distribution of non-ferrous metals on the phase constituents has been estimated. In the article data from optical spectroscopy, as well as X-ray diffraction, microprobe and chemical analyze are used. As following from the composition of the phases formed during sulphate-chlorinating roasting and thermodynamic modeling data a number of reactions proceeding in the process is presented. © 2013 Allerton Press, Inc

The Hydrogel Endovascular Aneurysm Treatment Trial (HEAT): A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Second-Generation Hydrogel Coil

© 2020 Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2020. BACKGROUND: Aneurysm recurrence after coiling has been associated with aneurysm growth, (re)hemorrhage, and a greater need for follow-up. The second-generation HydroCoil Embolic System (HES; MicroVention, Inc) consists of a platinum core with integrated hydrogel and was developed to reduce recurrence through enhancing packing density and healing within the aneurysm. OBJECTIVE: To compare recurrence between the second-generation HES and bare platinum coil (BPC) in the new-generation Hydrogel Endovascular Aneurysm Treatment Trial (HEAT). METHODS: HEAT is a randomized, controlled trial that enrolled subjects with ruptured or unruptured 3- to 14-mm intracranial aneurysms amenable to coiling. The primary endpoint was aneurysm recurrence using the Raymond-Roy scale. Secondary endpoints included minor and major recurrence, packing density, adverse events related to the procedure and/or device, mortality, initial complete occlusion, aneurysm retreatment, hemorrhage from target aneurysm during follow-up, aneurysm occlusion stability, and clinical outcome at final follow-up. RESULTS: A total of 600 patients were randomized (HES, n = 297 and BPC, n = 303), including 28% with ruptured aneurysms. Recurrence occurred in 11 (4.4%) subjects in the HES arm and 44 (15.4%) subjects in the BPC arm (P =. 002). While the initial occlusion rate was higher with BPC, the packing density and both major and minor recurrence rates were in favor of HES. Secondary endpoints including adverse events, retreatment, hemorrhage, mortality, and clinical outcome did not differ between arms. CONCLUSION: Coiling of small-to-medium aneurysms with second-generation HES resulted in less recurrence when compared to BPC, without increased harm. These data further support the use of the second-generation HES for the embolization of intracranial aneurysms. Video Abstract: 10.1093/neuros/nyaa006 nyaa006Media1 613226478400

Influence of glyphosate on Rhizoctonia and Fusarium root rot in sugar beet.

Abstract: This study tests the effect of glyphosate application on disease severity in glyphosate-resistant sugar beet, and examines whether the increase in disease is fungal or plant mediated. In greenhouse studies of glyphosateresistant sugar beet, increased disease severity was observed following glyphosate application and inoculation with certain isolates of Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and Fusarium oxysporum Schlecht. f. sp. betae Snyd. & Hans. Significant increases in disease severity were noted for R. solani AG-2-2 isolate R-9 and moderately virulent F. oxysporum isolate FOB13 on both cultivars tested, regardless of the duration between glyphosate application and pathogen challenge, but not with highly virulent F. oxysporum isolate F-19 or an isolate of R. solani AG-4. The increase in disease does not appear to be fungal mediated, since in vitro studies showed no positive impact of glyphosate on fungal growth or overwintering structure production or germination for either pathogen. Studies of glyphosate impact on sugar beet physiology showed that shikimic acid accumulation is tissue specific and the rate of accumulation is greatly reduced in resistant cultivars when compared with a susceptible cultivar. The results indicate that precautions need to be taken when certain soil-borne diseases are present if weed management for sugar beet is to include post-emergence glyphosate treatments