The Importance of Hormesis to Public Health

BACKGROUND: Hormesis is a specific type of nonmonotonic dose response whose occurrence has been documented across a broad range of biological models, diverse types of exposure, and a variety of outcomes. The effects that occur at various points along this curve can be interpreted as beneficial or detrimental, depending on the biological or ecologic context in which they occur. OBJECTIVE: Because hormesis appears to be a relatively common phenomenon that has not yet been incorporated into regulatory practice, the objective of this commentary is to explore some of its more obvious public health and risk assessment implications, with particular reference to issues raised recently within this journal by other authors. DISCUSSION: Hormesis appears to be more common than dose–response curves that are currently used in the risk assessment process [e.g., linear no-threshold (LNT)]. Although a number of mechanisms have been identified that explain many hormetic dose–response relationships, better understanding of this phenomenon will likely lead to different strategies not only for the prevention and treatment of disease but also for the promotion of improved public health as it relates to both specific and more holistic health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: We believe that ignoring hormesis is poor policy because it ignores knowledge that could be used to improve public health

Exploring the epistemic politics of urban niche experiments

Urban experiments have been initiated in several locations to purposively initiate and shape transitions to more sustainable urban socio-technical systems, e.g. for energy, water, mobility. Although knowledges produced within such learning spaces are often presented as logical, technical and rational (Vanolo, 2013 ; Kitchin, 2014), the actors and mechanisms which shape decisions are far from obvious, involving cultures, power relations and multiple logics that are profoundly political (Machin, 2013). This research presents a case study founded in a phronetic perspective (Flyvbjerg, 2001; Avelino and Grin, 2017), unpacking the epistemological politics of an urban experiment taking place within a ‘smart city’ programme. A ‘smart transport’ application for mobile phones, ‘MotionMap’ was developed to transform the mobility system of Milton Keynes, an expanding city located 80 km to the north of London, UK. The case study recognises power relations and reveals how various actors engaged in the development of this application have further rendered the MK mobility socio-technical system an object of urban governance

Genome sequence of Acetomicrobium hydrogeniformans OS1

Acetomicrobium hydrogeniformans, an obligate anaerobe of the phylum Synergistetes, was isolated from oil production water. It has the unusual ability to produce almost 4 molecules H2/molecule glucose. The draft genome of A. hydrogeniformans OS1 (DSM 22491T) is 2,123,925 bp, with 2,068 coding sequences and 60 RNA genes

Creep of (La0.55Sr0.45)0.99Mn1-yGayO3

Steady-state compressive creep was measured in (La0.55Sr0.45)0.99Mn1−yGayO3 at temperatures from 1200 to 1270 °C in air at stresses (σ) from 13 to 40 MPa. The Ga concentration was y = 0, 0.05, and 0.10. Strains to 0.14 were obtained. In the creep equation for strain rate, = An exp(−Q/RT), stress exponents (n) were between 1.3 and 1.7, indicating that diffusional flow is the dominant creep mechanism, and the activation energy (Q) was found to vary from 355 kJ mol−1 for y = 0 to 485 kJ mol−1 for y = 0.10

Reducing seed production using late post-emergence applications of selective herbicides to manage wild oat ('Avena' spp.) populations

'Avena' spp. (wild oats) continue to persist as a major weed of winter cereal crops as most control strategies fail to contain wild oat populations. From a review of literature it was concluded that the primary mechanism for wild oat persistence in Australia was associated with in-crop seed production, not seed dormancy as appeared to be the case for most northern hemisphere wheat growing countries. Late germination and recruitment of wild oat seedlings and incomplete kill of wild oat plants were likely causes of survival and subsequent seed production. It was also concluded from a review of literature that two herbicides, flamprop (and its various analogues of flamprop) and fenoxaprop-p-ethyl, exhibit potential to selectively reduce wild oat seed production if applied late post-emergence in wheat or barley. Time of application appears to be an important factor affecting efficacy of these herbicides

Community Conflicts over Intensive Livestock Operations: How and Why Do Such Conflicts Escalate?

Why do community groups and individuals oppose establishment of intensive scale livestock operations in communities? Why have established forms of economic activity become the pariah of rural communities across the nation? In December 1997, the Pennsylvania Senate passed Resolution 91. This article addresses the results of a research project funded by the state Department of Agriculture in response to Senate Resolution 91, directing the Secretary of Agriculture to develop a model of community dispute resolution to address community conflicts involving intensive livestock operations ( ILOs ). Specifically this article addresses project findings detailing why conflicts over ILOs arise and how they escalate

Phylogenetic analysis and temporal diversification of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) based on nuclear genes and morphology

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Phylogenetic analyses provide a framework for examining the evolution of morphological and molecular diversity, interpreting patterns in biogeography, and achieving a stable classification. The generic and suprageneric relationships within mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) are poorly resolved, making these subjects difficult to address.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We carried out maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood, including Bayesian, analyses on a data set consisting of six nuclear genes and 80 morphological characters to assess their ability to resolve relationships among 25 genera. We also estimated divergence times based on sequence data and fossil calibration points, using Bayesian relaxed clock methods. Strong support was recovered for the basal position and monophyly of the subfamily Anophelinae and the tribes Aedini and Sabethini of subfamily Culicinae. Divergence times for major culicid lineages date to the early Cretaceous.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Deeper relationships within the family remain poorly resolved, suggesting the need for additional taxonomic sampling. Our results support the notion of rapid radiations early in the diversification of mosquitoes.</p

1925 Ruby Yearbook

A digitized copy of the 1925 Ruby, the Ursinus College yearbook.https://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/ruby/1027/thumbnail.jp

A National Network of Neurotechnology Centers for the BRAIN Initiative

We propose the creation of a national network of neurotechnology centers to enhance and accelerate the BRAIN Initiative and optimally leverage the effort and creativity of individual laboratories involved in it. As ‘‘brain observatories,’’ these centers could provide the critical interdisciplinary environment both for realizing ambitious and complex technologies and for providing individual investigators with access to them