Histopathologic and Biochemical Responses in Arctic Marine Bivalve Molluscs Exposed to Experimentally Spilled Oil

Following two experimental spills of chemically dispersed and undispersed crude oil in shallow bays on the northwest coast of Baffin Island, Canadian Arctic, the bivalve molluscs Mya truncata and Macoma calcarea accumulated significant amounts of petroleum hydrocarbons in bays receiving dispersed oil and in those receiving crude oil alone (Boehm et all., 1987). Following the spills, Mya released accumulated hydrocarbons more rapidly than Macoma. ... The results of the biochemical analyses indicate that Mya from the four bays were not severely stressed by either dispersed oil or oil alone. Immediately after the spill, clams from the dispersal oil bays were nearly normal, while those from the bay receiving oil alone appeared stressed. These results seem to corroborate results from analytical chemistry and histopathology: that the acute effects of dispersed oil are greater than those of undispersed oil, but effects of undispersed oil on infaunal molluscs develop more slowly and persist longer than those from dispersed oil.Key words: oil spill, dispersant, Mya truncata, Macoma calcarea, histopathology, biochemistry, neoplasia, free amino acids, glycogen, parasitesMots clés: marée noire, agent de dispersion, Mya truncata, Macoma calcarea, histopathologie, biochimie, néoplasme, acides aminés libres, glycogène, parasite

High level software for 4.8 GHz LHC Schottky system

The performance of the LHC depends critically on the accurate measurements of the betatron tunes. The betatron tune values of each LHC beam may be measured without excitation using a newly installed transverse Schottky monitor. A high-level software package written in Java has been developed for the Schottky system. The software allows end users to monitor and control the Schottky system, and provides them with non-destructive and continuous bunch-by-bunch measurements for the tunes, momentum spreads, chromaticities and emittances of the LHC beams. It has been tested with both proton and lead ion beams at the LHC with very successful results.Comment: 3 pp. Particle Accelerator, 24th Conference (PAC'11) 2011. 28 Mar - 1 Apr 2011. New York, US

Evidence and theory for lower rates of depression in larger US urban areas

It is commonly assumed that cities are detrimental to mental health. However, the evidence remains inconsistent and at most, makes the case for differences between rural and urban environments as a whole. Here, we propose a model of depression driven by an individual’s accumulated experience mediated by social networks. The connection between observed systematic variations in socioeconomic networks and built environments with city size provides a link between urbanization and mental health. Surprisingly, this model predicts lower depression rates in larger cities. We confirm this prediction for US cities using four independent datasets. These results are consistent with other behaviors associated with denser socioeconomic networks and suggest that larger cities provide a buffer against depression. This approach introduces a systematic framework for conceptualizing and modeling mental health in complex physical and social networks, producing testable predictions for environmental and social determinants of mental health also applicable to other psychopathologies

The psychopathology p factor: will it revolutionise the science and practice of child and adolescent psychiatry?

The psychopathology p factor has emerged from a series of strong empirical studies, largely in the adult psychiatry literature. Here, some of the recent findings relating to the p factor in children and adolescents are considered and the implications for child and adolescent psychiatry are discussed. Is it essential to covary for ‘p’ when we study specific domains of psychopathology? Do neurodevelopmental conditions make up part of the psychopathology p factor? How do we treat the ‘p factor’ in clinics? This editorial considers some of the contributions from this issue of Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry together with the wider literature that speak to these issues

Children's Medicines in Tanzania: A National Survey of Administration Practices and Preferences.

The dearth of age-appropriate formulations of many medicines for children poses a major challenge to pediatric therapeutic practice, adherence, and health care delivery worldwide. We provide information on current administration practices of pediatric medicines and describe key stakeholder preferences for new formulation characteristics. We surveyed children aged 6-12 years, parents/caregivers over age 18 with children under age 12, and healthcare workers in 10 regions of Tanzania to determine current pediatric medicine prescription and administration practices as well as preferences for new formulations. Analyses were stratified by setting, pediatric age group, parent/caregiver education, and healthcare worker cadre. Complete data were available for 206 children, 202 parents/caregivers, and 202 healthcare workers. Swallowing oral solid dosage forms whole or crushing/dissolving them and mixing with water were the two most frequently reported methods of administration. Children frequently reported disliking medication taste, and many had vomited doses. Healthcare workers reported medicine availability most significantly influences prescribing practices. Most parents/caregivers and children prefer sweet-tasting medicine. Parents/caregivers and healthcare workers prefer oral liquid dosage forms for young children, and had similar thresholds for the maximum number of oral solid dosage forms children at different ages can take. There are many impediments to acceptable and accurate administration of medicines to children. Current practices are associated with poor tolerability and the potential for under- or over-dosing. Children, parents/caregivers, and healthcare workers in Tanzania have clear preferences for tastes and formulations, which should inform the development, manufacturing, and marketing of pediatric medications for resource-limited settings

One-stage laparoscopic-assisted resection of gastrojejunocolic fistula after gastrojejunostomy for duodenal ulcer: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Gastrojejunocolic fistula is a rare condition after gastrojejunostomy. It was thought to be a late complication related to stomal ulcers as a result of inadequate gastrectomy or incomplete vagotomy. We report a case of gastrojejunocolic fistula after gastrojejunostomy for peptic ulcer treated with one-stage laparoscopic resection.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 41-year-old Japanese man complained of diarrhea for 10 months, as well as severe weight loss and weakness. After admission, we immediately started intravenous hyperalimentation. On performing colonoscopy and barium swallow, gastrojejunocolic fistula was observed close to the gastrojejunostomy site leading to the transverse colon. After our patient's nutritional status had improved, one-stage surgical intervention was performed laparoscopically. After the operation, our patient recovered uneventfully and his body weight increased by 5 kg within three months.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Modern management of gastrojejunocolic fistula is a one-stage resection because of the possibility of early recovery from malnutrition using parenteral nutritional methods. Today, laparoscopic one-stage en bloc resection may be feasible for patients with gastrojejunocolic fistula due to the development of laparoscopic instruments and procedures. We describe the first case of gastrojejunocolic fistula treated laparoscopically by one-stage resection and review the literature.</p

A genetically informed study of the associations between maternal age at childbearing and adverse perinatal outcomes

We examined associations of maternal age at childbearing (MAC) with gestational age and fetal growth (i.e., birth weight adjusting for gestational age), using two genetically informed designs (cousin and sibling comparisons) and data from two cohorts, a population-based Swedish sample and a nationally representative United States sample. We also conducted sensitivity analyses to test limitations of the designs. The findings were consistent across samples and suggested that, associations observed in the population between younger MAC and shorter gestational age were confounded by shared familial factors; however, associations of advanced MAC with shorter gestational age remained robust after accounting for shared familial factors. In contrast to the gestational age findings, neither early nor advanced MAC was associated with lower fetal growth after accounting for shared familial factors. Given certain assumptions, these findings provide support for a causal association between advanced MAC and shorter gestational age. The results also suggest that there are not causal associations between early MAC and shorter gestational age, between early MAC and lower fetal growth, and between advanced MAC and lower fetal growth.NonePublishe