A Comparison of Methodologies for Valuing Decreased Health Effects from Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense throughout the world, making it increasingly important to monetize the full damages caused by wildfires when analyzing various fire management policies. We estimate the economic costs of the health effects associated with exposure to wildfire smoke using a simple cost of illness approach and for the first time to our knowledge we estimate willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a decrease in symptom days from wildfire smoke using the contingent valuation method and the averting behavior method. Comparing estimates across all three common approaches for estimating the economic cost of exposure to an air pollutant is an important contribution to the literature. This study uses data from the largest wildfire in Los Angeles County’s modern history, the Station Fire of 2009. Our results show that a simple cost of illness estimate is about $3 per day of symptoms, the averting behavior method results in a WTP value of$43 or $94 to avoid one day of wildfire-smoke induced symptom days, depending on the model used, and the contingent valuation method results in a WTP estimate of$74 - $98 to avoid one day of wildfire-smoke induced symptom days, depending on model specification.averting behavior method, contingent valuation method, cost of illness, wildfire smoke, health, morbidity, Environmental Economics and Policy, Health Economics and Policy, Q,

Espin cross-links cause the elongation of microvillus-type parallel actin bundles in vivo

The espin actin-bundling proteins, which are the target of the jerker deafness mutation, caused a dramatic, concentration-dependent lengthening of LLC-PK1-CL4 cell microvilli and their parallel actin bundles. Espin level was also positively correlated with stereocilium length in hair cells. Villin, but not fascin or fimbrin, also produced noticeable lengthening. The espin COOH-terminal peptide, which contains the actin-bundling module, was necessary and sufficient for lengthening. Lengthening was blocked by 100 nM cytochalasin D. Espin cross-links slowed actin depolymerization in vitro less than twofold. Elimination of an actin monomer-binding WASP homology 2 domain and a profilin-binding proline-rich domain from espin did not decrease lengthening, but made it possible to demonstrate that actin incorporation was restricted to the microvillar tip and that bundles continued to undergo actin treadmilling at ∼1.5 s−1 during and after lengthening. Thus, through relatively subtle effects on actin polymerization/depolymerization reactions in a treadmilling parallel actin bundle, espin cross-links cause pronounced barbed-end elongation and, thereby, make a longer bundle without joining shorter modules

Citron Kinase, a RhoA Effector, Enhances HIV-1 Virion Production by Modulating Exocytosis

RhoGTPases play important roles in the regulation of protein transport and membrane recycling. Little is known, however, about how RhoGTPases affect HIV-1 virion production, which is dependent on the endosomal sorting pathway. We report that ectopic expression of citron kinase (citron-K), a RhoA effector, preferentially enhances HIV-1 virion production. Depletion of endogenous citron-K inhibits HIV-1 virion production. Citron-N, which lacks the kinase domain, also enhances HIV-1 virion production. The leucine zipper, Rho-binding and zinc finger domains of citron-N are necessary for the enhancement activity. Citron-K also enhances murine leukemia virion production and the HIV-1 late domain is not required for the citron-K-mediated enhancement. Ectopic expression of citron-K leads to the formation of cytoplasmic structures containing citron-K and HIV-1 Gag proteins. HIV-1 and citron-K cooperatively enhance acidic endosome and lysosome compartments. Finally, citron-K promotes exocytosis of microvesicles or exosomes that co-purify with HIV-1 virions. We conclude that citron-K enhances HIV-1 virion production by stimulating the endosomal compartments and exocytosis

Update: cohort mortality study of workers highly exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) during the manufacture of electrical capacitors, 1940-1998

BACKGROUND: The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health previously reported mortality for a cohort of workers considered highly exposed to polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) between 1939 and 1977 at two electrical capacitor manufacturing plants. The current study updated vital status, examined liver and rectal cancer mortality previously reported in excess in this cohort and evaluated mortality from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and cancers of the stomach, intestine, breast, prostate, skin (melanoma) and brain reported to be in excess in other cohort and case-control studies of PCB-exposed persons. METHODS: Mortality was updated through 1998 for 2572 workers. Age-, gender-, race- and calendar year-adjusted standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using U.S., state and county referent rates. SMRs using U.S. referent rates are reported. Duration of employment was used as a surrogate for exposure. RESULTS: Consistent with the previous follow-up, mortality from biliary passage, liver and gall bladder cancer was significantly elevated (11 deaths, SMR 2.11, CI 1.05 – 3.77), but mortality from rectal cancer was not (6 deaths, SMR 1.47, CI 0.54 – 3.21). Among women, mortality from intestinal cancer (24 deaths, SMR 1.89, CI 1.21 – 2.82) and from "other diseases of the nervous system and sense organs", which include Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, (15 deaths, SMR 2.07, CI 1.16 – 3.42) were elevated. There were four ALS deaths, all women (SMR 4.35, CI 1.19–11.14). Mortality was elevated for myeloma (7 deaths, SMR 2.11, CI 0.84 – 4.34), particularly among workers employed 10 years or more (5 deaths, SMR 2.80, CI 0.91 – 6.54). No linear associations between mortality and duration of employment were observed for the cancers of interest. CONCLUSION: This update found that the earlier reported excess in this cohort for biliary, liver and gall bladder cancer persisted with longer follow-up. Excess mortality for intestinal cancer among women was elevated across categories of duration of employment; myeloma mortality was highest among those working 10 years or more. The small numbers of deaths from liver and intestinal cancers, myeloma and nervous system diseases coupled with the lack of an exposure-response relationship with duration of employment preclude drawing definitive conclusions regarding PCB exposure and these causes of death

Regulation of Retention of FosB Intron 4 by PTB

One effect of stressors such as chronic drug administration is that sequence within the terminal exon of the transcription factor FosB is recognized as intronic and removed by alternative splicing. This results in an open-reading-frame shift that produces a translation stop codon and ultimately a truncated protein, termed ΔFosB. In vitro splicing assays with control and mutated transcripts generated from a fosB mini-gene construct indicated a CU-rich sequence at the 3′ end of intron 4 (I4) plays an important role in regulating fosB pre-mRNA splicing due to its binding of polypyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB). PTB binding to this sequence is dependent upon phosphorylation by protein kinase A and is blocked if the CU-rich sequence is mutated to a U-rich region. When this mutated fosB minigene is expressed in HeLa cells, the splicing efficiency of its product is increased compared to wild type. Moreover, transient transfection of PTB-1 in HeLa cells decreased the splicing efficiency of a wild type fosB minigene transcript. Depletion of PTB from nuclear extracts facilitated U2AF65 binding to wild type sequence in vitro, suggesting these proteins function in a dynamic equilibrium to modulate fosB pre-mRNA alternative splicing. These results demonstrate for the first time that phosphorylated PTB promotes intron retention and thereby silences the splicing of fosB I4

Формирование эмоциональной культуры как компонента инновационной культуры студентов

Homozygosity has long been associated with rare, often devastating, Mendelian disorders1 and Darwin was one of the first to recognise that inbreeding reduces evolutionary fitness2. However, the effect of the more distant parental relatedness common in modern human populations is less well understood. Genomic data now allow us to investigate the effects of homozygosity on traits of public health importance by observing contiguous homozygous segments (runs of homozygosity, ROH), which are inferred to be homozygous along their complete length. Given the low levels of genome-wide homozygosity prevalent in most human populations, information is required on very large numbers of people to provide sufficient power3,4. Here we use ROH to study 16 health-related quantitative traits in 354,224 individuals from 102 cohorts and find statistically significant associations between summed runs of homozygosity (SROH) and four complex traits: height, forced expiratory lung volume in 1 second (FEV1), general cognitive ability (g) and educational attainment (nominal p<1 × 10−300, 2.1 × 10−6, 2.5 × 10−10, 1.8 × 10−10). In each case increased homozygosity was associated with decreased trait value, equivalent to the offspring of first cousins being 1.2 cm shorter and having 10 months less education. Similar effect sizes were found across four continental groups and populations with different degrees of genome-wide homozygosity, providing convincing evidence for the first time that homozygosity, rather than confounding, directly contributes to phenotypic variance. Contrary to earlier reports in substantially smaller samples5,6, no evidence was seen of an influence of genome-wide homozygosity on blood pressure and low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, or ten other cardio-metabolic traits. Since directional dominance is predicted for traits under directional evolutionary selection7, this study provides evidence that increased stature and cognitive function have been positively selected in human evolution, whereas many important risk factors for late-onset complex diseases may not have been

The Science Performance of JWST as Characterized in Commissioning

This paper characterizes the actual science performance of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), as determined from the six month commissioning period. We summarize the performance of the spacecraft, telescope, science instruments, and ground system, with an emphasis on differences from pre-launch expectations. Commissioning has made clear that JWST is fully capable of achieving the discoveries for which it was built. Moreover, almost across the board, the science performance of JWST is better than expected; in most cases, JWST will go deeper faster than expected. The telescope and instrument suite have demonstrated the sensitivity, stability, image quality, and spectral range that are necessary to transform our understanding of the cosmos through observations spanning from near-earth asteroids to the most distant galaxies.Comment: 5th version as accepted to PASP; 31 pages, 18 figures; https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1538-3873/acb29

Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease

BACKGROUND: Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization. RESULTS: During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)

A Comparison of Methodologies for Valuing Decreased Health Effects from Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire seasons are becoming longer and more intense throughout the world, making it increasingly important to monetize the full damages caused by wildfires when analyzing various fire management policies. We estimate the economic costs of the health effects associated with exposure to wildfire smoke using a simple cost of illness approach and for the first time to our knowledge we estimate willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a decrease in symptom days from wildfire smoke using the contingent valuation method and the averting behavior method. Comparing estimates across all three common approaches for estimating the economic cost of exposure to an air pollutant is an important contribution to the literature. This study uses data from the largest wildfire in Los Angeles County’s modern history, the Station Fire of 2009. Our results show that a simple cost of illness estimate is about $3 per day of symptoms, the averting behavior method results in a WTP value of$43 or $94 to avoid one day of wildfire-smoke induced symptom days, depending on the model used, and the contingent valuation method results in a WTP estimate of$74 - $98 to avoid one day of wildfire-smoke induced symptom days, depending on model specification

Game Birds of the World: A catalog of the Madson collection

This remarkable collection of ornithological specimens is a gift of Everett C. Madson, M.D., a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to the University of Nebraska State Museum in honor of Paul Johnsgard, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of the School of Biological Sciences. Contents: Foreword Introduction Biography - Paul A. Johnsgard Biography - Everett C. Madson Species Profiles and Photographs Tinamous (Order Tinamiformes, Family Tinamidae) Spotted Tinamou (Nothura maculosa) Waterfowl (Order Anseriformes) Ducks, Geese and Swans (Family Anatidae) Whistling Ducks (Tribe Dendrocygnini) White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna vidu Geese and Swans (Tribe Anserini) Black Swan (Cygnus atratus). Tundra [Whistling] Swan (Cygnus columbianus) Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons). Lesser White-fronted Goose (Anser erythropus) Greylag Goose (Anser anser) Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) Ross\u27s Goose (Anser rossii) Emperor Goose (Anser canagicus) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) and Cackling Goose (B. hutchinsii) Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) Brant (Branta bernicla) Red-breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) Sheldgeese and Shelducks (Tribe Tadornini) Andean [Upland] Sheldgoose (Chloephaga picta) Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) New Zealand [Paradise] Shelduck (Tadorna variegata) Radjah Shelduck (Tadorna radjah) Ashy-headed Sheldgoose (Chloephaga poliocephala) Perching Ducks (Tribe Cairinini) White-winged Wood Duck (Carina scutulata). African Pygmy Goose (Nettapus auritus) Ringed Teal (Callonetta leucophrys) North American Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata) Brazilian Teal (Amazonetta brasiliensis) Dabbling Ducks (Tribe Anatini) American Wigeon (Anas americana) Chiloe Wigeon (Anas sibilatrix) Falcated Duck (Anas falcata) Gadwall (Anas strepera) Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) American Black Duck (Anas rubripes). Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) Brown [Yellow-billed] Pintail (Anas georgica). White-cheeked [Bahama] Pintail (Anas bahamensis) Silver Teal (Anas versicolor) Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors) Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) Red Shoveler (Anas platalea) Pochards (Tribe Aythyini) Rosybill [Rosy-billed Pochard] (Netta peposaca) Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) Redhead (Aythya americana) Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) Sea Ducks (Tribe Mergini) Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) Steller\u27s Eider (Polysticta stelleri) American [Black] Scoter (Melanitta americana) Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca deglandi) Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Barrow\u27s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) Smew (Mergus mergellus) Stiff-tailed Ducks (Tribe Oxyurini) Black-headed Duck (Heteronetta atricapilla). North American Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) Gallinaceous Birds (Order Galliformes) Guineafowl (Family Numididae) Helmeted Guineafowl (Numida meleagris) Crested Guineafowl (Guttera edouardi) Vulturine Guineafowl (Acryllium vulturinum) New World Quails (Family Odontophoridae) Mountain Quail (Oreortyx picta) Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata) Gambel\u27s Quail (Callipepla gambelii) California Quail (Callipepla californianus) Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginanus) Montezuma Quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) Pheasants, Quails, Partridges and Turkeys (Family Phasianidae) Old World Quails and Partridges (Tribe Perdicini) Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) Himalayan Snowcock (Tetraogallus himalayensis) Red-legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Pheasants and Junglefowl (Tribe Phasianini) Himalayan Monal (Lophophorus impejanus). Reeve\u27s Pheasant (Syrmaticus reevesii) Golden Pheasant (Chrysolophus pictus). Lady Amherst\u27s Pheasant (Chrysolophus amherstiae). Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) Grouse and Ptarmigan (Subfamily Tetraoninae) Greater Sage-Grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). Dusky Grouse (Dendragapus obscurus) Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) Capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) Black Grouse (Tetrao tetrix) Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) Hazel Grouse (Bonasa bonasia) Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) Lesser Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) Turkeys (Subfamily Meleagridinae) Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Ocellated Turkey (Meleagris ocellata) Shorebirds (Order Charadriiformes) Woodcocks and Snipes (Family Scolopacidae) American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) Wilson\u27s Snipe (Gallinago wilsoni) Cranes, Rails and Gallinules (Order Gruiformes) Rails and Gallinules (Family Rallidae) Purple Swamp Hen (Porphyrio porphyrio) Pigeons and Doves (Order Columbiformes, Family Columbidae) Spot-winged Pigeon (Columba maculosa) Acknowledgements Reference