Loss Of Trees In Nemaha County, Nebraska, Since 1856 Due To Agricultural Expansion

Forest surveys of Nebraska were conducted in 1955 and 1977 (Shasby, 1977). These surveys sought to characterize species, total area, and size classes of economically important trees. Information gained from these surveys is very alarming. The counties of Nernaha, Otoe, and Richardson in the southeastern survey district have lost between 34.7% and 53.9% of their trees during that 22-yr period. These are critical losses considering that these counties are only 2.8% to 5.5% forested. The purpose of this study was to investigate historical changes in tree vegetation that occurred in Nemaha County. The trees as they occurred in the county when settlers started to colonize this part of Nebraska were studied. For this, the General Land Office surveys were helpful. Information of this type has been used to categorize presettlement forests in several states (Steams, 1949; Spurr, 1951; Shanks, 1953; Bourdo, 1956; Wuenscher and Valiunas, 1967; Leitner and J ackson, 1981). Most of these studies did not concentrate on using available information to define losses in vegetation that occurred since the original surveys. Information in the General Land Office surveys can be used to determine the location, area, size classes, and species of trees that occurred in the past

Loss Of Trees In Nemaha County, Nebraska, Since 1856 Due To Agricultural Expansion

Forest surveys of Nebraska were conducted in 1955 and 1977 (Shasby, 1977). These surveys sought to characterize species, total area, and size classes of economically important trees. Information gained from these surveys is very alarming. The counties of Nernaha, Otoe, and Richardson in the southeastern survey district have lost between 34.7% and 53.9% of their trees during that 22-yr period. These are critical losses considering that these counties are only 2.8% to 5.5% forested. The purpose of this study was to investigate historical changes in tree vegetation that occurred in Nemaha County. The trees as they occurred in the county when settlers started to colonize this part of Nebraska were studied. For this, the General Land Office surveys were helpful. Information of this type has been used to categorize presettlement forests in several states (Steams, 1949; Spurr, 1951; Shanks, 1953; Bourdo, 1956; Wuenscher and Valiunas, 1967; Leitner and J ackson, 1981). Most of these studies did not concentrate on using available information to define losses in vegetation that occurred since the original surveys. Information in the General Land Office surveys can be used to determine the location, area, size classes, and species of trees that occurred in the past

Transcriptomic Adjustments of Staphylococcus aureus COL (MRSA) Forming Biofilms Under Acidic and Alkaline Conditions

© Copyright © 2019 Efthimiou, Tsiamis, Typas and Pappas. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains are important human pathogens and a significant health hazard for hospitals and the food industry. They are resistant to β-lactam antibiotics including methicillin and extremely difficult to treat. In this study, we show that the Staphylococcus aureus COL (MRSA) strain, with a known complete genome, can easily survive and grow under acidic and alkaline conditions (pH5 and pH9, respectively), both planktonically and as a biofilm. A microarray-based analysis of both planktonic and biofilm cells was performed under acidic and alkaline conditions showing that several genes are up- or down-regulated under different environmental conditions and growth modes. These genes were coding for transcription regulators, ion transporters, cell wall biosynthetic enzymes, autolytic enzymes, adhesion proteins and antibiotic resistance factors, most of which are associated with biofilm formation. These results will facilitate a better understanding of the physiological adjustments occurring in biofilm-associated S. aureus COL cells growing in acidic or alkaline environments, which will enable the development of new efficient treatment or disinfection strategies

Effect of rocket (Eruca sativa) extract on MRSA growth and proteome: Metabolic adjustments in plant-based media

The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in food has provoked a great concern about the presence of MRSA in associated foodstuff. Although MRSA is often detected in various retailed meat products, it seems that food handlers are more strongly associated with this type of food contamination. Thus, it can be easily postulated that any food could be contaminated with this pathogen in an industrial environment or in household and cause food poisoning. To this direction, the effect of rocket (Eruca sativa) extract on MRSA growth and proteome was examined in the present study. This goal was achieved with the comparative study of the MRSA strain COL proteome, cultivated in rocket extract versus the standard Luria-Bertani growth medium. The obtained results showed that MRSA was able to grow in rocket extract. In addition, proteome analysis using 2-DE method showed that MRSA strain COL is taking advantage of the sugar-, lipid-, and vitamin-rich substrate in the liquid rocket extract, although its growth was delayed in rocket extract compared to Luria-Bertani medium. This work could initiate further research about bacterial metabolism in plant-based media and defense mechanisms against plant-derived antibacterials

Clinical and demographic factors associated with change and maintenance of disease severity in a large registry of patients with rheumatoid arthritis

BACKGROUND: We examined models to predict disease activity transitions from moderate to low or severe and associated factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Data from RA patients enrolled in the Corrona registry (October 2001 to August 2014) were analyzed. Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) definitions were used for low ( \u3c /=10), moderate ( \u3e 10 and \u3c /=22), and severe ( \u3e 22) disease activity states. A Markov model for repeated measures allowing for covariate dependence was used to model transitions between three (low, moderate, severe) states and estimate population transition probabilities. Mean sojourn times were calculated to compare length of time in particular states. Logistic regression models were used to examine impacts of covariates (time between visits, chronological year, disease duration, age) on disease states. RESULTS: Data from 29,853 patients (251,375 visits) and a sub-cohort of 9812 patients (46,534 visits) with regular visits (every 3-9 months) were analyzed. The probability of moving from moderate to low or severe disease by next visit was 47% and 18%, respectively. Patients stayed in moderate disease for mean 4.25 months (95% confidence interval: 4.18-4.32). Transition probabilities showed 20% of patients with low disease activity moved to moderate or severe disease within 6 months; \u3e 35% of patients with moderate disease remained in moderate disease after 6 months. Results were similar for the regular-visit sub-cohort. Significant interactions with prior disease state were seen with chronological year and disease duration. CONCLUSION: A substantial proportion of patients remain in moderate disease, emphasizing the need for treat-to-target strategies for RA patients

Immunosuppressive treatment and the risk of diabetes in rheumatoid arthritis

OBJECTIVE: Inflammation and anti-inflammatory treatments might influence the risk of diabetes. The objective of this study was to assess factors associated with incident diabetes in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: The study population consisted of RA patients from a multi-center cohort study, Corrona. To assess risk associated with disease modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) exposure, we assessed five mutually exclusive DMARD groups. Additionally, we assessed the risk associated with body mass index (BMI, \u3c 25, 25-30, \u3e 30 kg/m2) and glucocorticoid usage. Incident cases of diabetes were confirmed through adjudication, and Cox regression models were fit to estimate the risk of incident diabetes. RESULTS: We identified 21,775 DMARD treatment regimens, the mean (SD) age at the index visit was 58 (13) years, disease duration 10 (10) years, and 30% used oral glucocorticoids at the time. Eighty-four incident cases of diabetes were confirmed within the treatment exposure periods. The hazard ratio (HR, 95% confidence interval) for diabetes was significantly reduced in patients receiving TNF inhibitors, HR 0.35 (0.13, 0.91), compared to patients treated with non-biologic DMARDs other than hydroxychloroquine and methotrexate. Hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate and use of other biologic DMARDs had a numerically reduced risk compared to the same group. Patients prescribed \u3e /=7.5 mg of glucocorticoids had a HR of 2.33 (1.68, 3.22) of incident diabetes compared with patients not prescribed oral glucocorticoids. RA patients with a BMI \u3e 30 had a HR of 6.27 (2.97, 13.25) compared to patients with BMI \u3c /=25. CONCLUSION: DMARDs, glucocorticoids and obesity influenced the risk of incident diabetes in a large cohort of RA patients. Monitoring for the occurrence of diabetes should be part of routine RA management with a focus on specific subgroups

Identifying factors associated with concordance with the American College of Rheumatology rheumatoid arthritis treatment recommendations

BACKGROUND: Factors associated with care concordant with the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) recommendations for the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are unknown. METHODS: We identified a national cohort of biologic-naive patients with RA with visits between December 2008 and February 2013. Treatment acceleration (initiation or dose escalation of biologic and nonbiologic DMARDs) in response to moderate to high disease activity (using the Clinical Disease Activity Index) was assessed. The population was divided into two subcohorts: (1) methotrexate (MTX)-only users and (2) multiple nonbiologic DMARD users. In both subcohorts, we compared the characteristics of patients who received care consistent with the ACR recommendations (e.g., prescriptions for treatment acceleration) and their providers with the characteristics of those who did not at the conclusion of one visit and over two visits, using logistic regression and adjusting for clustering of patients by rheumatologist. RESULTS: Our study included 741 MTX monotherapy and 995 multiple nonbiologic DMARD users cared for by 139 providers. Only 36.2 % of MTX monotherapy users and 39.6 % of multiple nonbiologic DMARD users received care consistent with the recommendations after one visit, which increased over two visits to 78.3 % and 76.2 %, respectively (25-30 % achieved low disease activity by the second visit without DMARD acceleration). Increasing time since the ACR publication on RA treatment recommendations was not associated with improved adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Allowing two encounters for treatment acceleration was associated with an increase in care concordant with the recommendations; however, time since publication was not

Single-Dose Mucosal Immunization with a Candidate Universal Influenza Vaccine Provides Rapid Protection from Virulent H5N1, H3N2 and H1N1 Viruses

The sudden emergence of novel influenza viruses is a global public health concern. Conventional influenza vaccines targeting the highly variable surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin and neuraminidase must antigenically match the emerging strain to be effective. In contrast, "universal" vaccines targeting conserved viral components could be used regardless of viral strain or subtype. Previous approaches to universal vaccination have required protracted multi-dose immunizations. Here we evaluate a single dose universal vaccine strategy using recombinant adenoviruses (rAd) expressing the conserved influenza virus antigens matrix 2 and nucleoprotein.In BALB/c mice, administration of rAd via the intranasal route was superior to intramuscular immunization for induction of mucosal responses and for protection against highly virulent H1N1, H3N2, or H5N1 influenza virus challenge. Mucosally vaccinated mice not only survived, but had little morbidity and reduced lung virus titers. Protection was observed as early as 2 weeks post-immunization, and lasted at least 10 months, as did antibodies and lung T cells with activated phenotypes. Virus-specific IgA correlated with but was not essential for protection, as demonstrated in studies with IgA-deficient animals.Mucosal administration of NP and M2-expressing rAd vectors provided rapid and lasting protection from influenza viruses in a subtype-independent manner. Such vaccines could be used in the interval between emergence of a new virus strain and availability of strain-matched vaccines against it. This strikingly effective single-dose vaccination thus represents a candidate off-the-shelf vaccine for emergency use during an influenza pandemic

Diversity of Diatom Communities in Delaware Tidal Wetland and Their Relationship to Water Quality

Diatoms are strongly influenced by water quality and serve as indicators of water quality degradation in freshwater systems. Here, sediment and water samples were collected from four sites in Blackbird Creek, DE, a salt marsh characterized as mostly freshwater to low saline brackish (<8ppt). Recent changes in land use resulted in increased agricultural activity, suggesting the need to develop water quality indicators in this region. To test the hypothesis that diatom community composition changes seasonally with variations in water quality parameters, sediment and water samples were collected in 2009 and 2010 for analysis. Water temperature, salinity, pH, and dissolved oxygen were measured as well as water and sediment dissolved nutrient concentrations (nitrate, ammonia, and total and reactive phosphorous). DNA was extracted from sediments and changes in diatom community composition were evaluated by amplification of 18S rRNA gene using diatom-specific primers, followed by Terminal Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (TRFLP) analysis. Shannon (H') index for TRFLP profiles ranged from 2.5 to 3.0 and Simpson (Ds) index was 0.9 which infers moderate levels of diatom species richness and high diversity in these study sites. Although there were no water quality parameters that were significantly correlated with diatom community composition as determined by TRFLP patterns, temperature was the most highly correlated (r = 0.203). Dissolved oxygen, salinity, and pH of water also had moderate but insignificant impacts on the diatom community. Further analysis of cloned 18S rRNA sequences revealed the presence of diatom taxa that tolerate wide salinity ranges, and included Navicula, Cyclotella, Thalassiosira and Skeletonema. Entomoneis sp. were also present in the spring and fall seasons. Overall, results in this study demonstrate significant differences in water qualities among the study years but little change in diatom community composition between study sites and seasons, but may serve as a baseline for future studies