Upstream, Downstream: From Good Intentions to Cleaner Waters

Findings of a unique study of public attitudes about stormwater in the Baltimore, MD region are explored in this report. Four focus groups were conducted to develop themes for further followup in telephone surveys of 800 Baltimore area residents. Respondents clearly indicated that altruistic concern for the environment is not enough to spur behavior change. They are motivated by self interest. Key points of the research are:Stormwater is an urgent problemThe public is uninformed, but willing to be engagedPeople are motivated by health concernsA focused public information campaign has the capacity to reach people and change behavio

Gross Anatomy In the Library: Evaluating the Impact of Anatomical Models in Academic Health Sciences Libraries

Background: Laupus Library began its anatomical model collection in the late 1980s with one model. In intervening years, the collection has grown to 236 models ranging from single organs to entire bodies. As of March 25, 2021, the circulation count for the models was 21,571. During the 2018-2019 academic year, we observed that several of the models had become too damaged to continue circulating and we evaluated whether to replace them or slowly discontinue the service. Based on circulation numbers, as well as anecdotal evidence, we chose to replace the damaged models and expand the collection further. Description: We supplemented our previously collected data with empirical methods to provide additional evidence to inform future decisions about continued investments in the anatomical model lending program. We examined the types of patrons using the models, each model’s usage statistics, and their cost per use. As a comparison, we looked at the statistics for our virtual anatomy subscriptions. We surveyed the students who check out the physical models regarding their assessment of this program’s value to them. Finally, we surveyed all Association of Academic Health Sciences Libraries (AAHSL) members about their physical model collection and its usage in addition to searching the literature to find other evidence of the value that models provide in health sciences education. Conclusion: Our data shows that 80.39% of our models are checked out by undergraduates at our institution while graduate students account for 13.72% and faculty/staff make up 3.17%. Nursing students accounted for 62% of the model checkouts and 91% of students surveyed believed the models positively impacted their learning outcomes. We also surveyed all AAHSL libraries (n=181) and received responses from 89 (49%). Nearly 61% reported having at least one model with 9 having over 100 models. 77.53% reported having e-Anatomy resources as well. Responses about circulation ranged from hardly at all to several thousand per year. The model collection is a high use distinctive feature of Laupus Library and the data supports our decision to continue investing in it

Soil type and soil preparation influence vine development and grape composition through its impact on vine water and nitrogen status

The influence of soil type and preparation on vine development and grape composition was investigated in a 50 ha estate located in Saint-Emilion (Bordeaux, France) and planted predominantly with Merlot. Part of the vineyard was planted down the slopes and another part of the vineyard was planted on terraces, where soils were profoundly modified through soil preparation. Grape composition (berry weight, sugar, total acidity, malic acid and pH), vigor (pruning weight), vine nitrogen status (Yeast Available Nitrogen (YAN) in grapes) and vine water status (δ13C) was measured at a very high density grid of 10 data points per hectare. Water deficit was globally weak over the estate because of high soil water holding capacity whereas vine nitrogen status was highly variable. Vine vigor and grape composition were predominantly driven by vine nitrogen status. On terraces, where soils were deep, due to invasive soil preparation, water deficits were particularly small or non-existent and vine nitrogen status was highly variable. Grape quality potential was medium to low, except in places with low nitrogen status, but at the expense of low yields. On parcels planted down the slopes water deficits were recorded because vine rooting was limited by compact subsoils. Vine nitrogen status was homogeneous. Grape quality and yield were medium to high and relatively homogeneous. When possible, downhill plantations are to be preferred over terraces because in the latter vine yield and quality parameters are highly variable because of massive soil movements prior to plantation

Parabenos en agua: Una revisión usando Tree of Science

Although parabens are endocrine disruptors and bioaccumulate in the body, they are widely used in the pharmaceutical industry and the scientific literature on this subject is fragmented and current reviews have a narrative approach. The objective of this article is to understand the evolution of the different discussions about parabens. A query was made in Scopus and the Tree of Science algorithm was applied. The results are displayed in the form of root, trunk, and branches. These last ones identify the three most important themes, which were: chemical and analytical techniques for removing parabens in various matrices, bodies of water, and their relationship with the presence of parabens cataloged as emerging contaminants. The last sub-area is the identification of parabens using chromatographic techniques and the preparation of miniaturized samples. In general, a discussion is presented around the impact of parabens on human health.Aunque los parabenos son disruptores endocrinos y son bioacumulables en el organismo, son altamente usados en la industria farmacéutica y la literatura científica alrededor de este tema está fragmentada y las revisiones actuales tienen un enfoque narrativo. El objetivo de este artículo es entender la evolución de las diferentes discusiones sobre parabenos. Se realizó una consulta en Scopus y se aplicó el algoritmo de Tree of Science. Los resultados se muestran en forma de raíz, tronco y ramas. Estás últimas identifican las tres temáticas más importantes, que fueron: técnicas químicas y analíticas de remoción de parabenos en diversas matrices, los cuerpos de agua y su relación con la presencia de parabenos catalogados como contaminantes emergentes. La última subárea es la identificación de parabenos utilizando técnicas cromatográficas y preparación de muestras miniaturizadas. En general, se presenta una discusión alrededor del impacto de los parabenos en la salud humana.&nbsp

Subendocardial and Transmural Myocardial Ischemia: Clinical Characteristics, Prevalence, and Outcomes With and Without Revascularization

BACKGROUND: Subendocardial ischemia is commonly diagnosed but not quantified by imaging. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to define size and severity of subendocardial and transmural stress perfusion deficits, clinical associations, and outcomes. METHODS: Regional rest-stress perfusion in mL/min/g, coronary flow reserve, coronary flow capacity (CFC), relative stress flow, subendocardial stress-to-rest ratio and stress subendocardial-to-subepicardial ratio as percentage of left ventricle were measured by positron emission tomography (PET) with rubidium Rb 82 and dipyridamole stress in serial 6,331 diagnostic PETs with prospective 10-year follow-up for major adverse cardiac events with and without revascularization. RESULTS: Of 6,331 diagnostic PETs, 1,316 (20.7%) had severely reduced CFC with 41.4% having angina or ST-segment depression (STΔ) \u3e1 mm during hyperemic stress, increasing with size. For 5,015 PETs with no severe CFC abnormality, 402 (8%) had angina or STΔ during stress, and 82% had abnormal subendocardial perfusion with 8.7% having angina or STΔ \u3e1 mm during dipyridamole stress. Of 947 cases with stress-induced angina or STΔ \u3e1 mm, 945 (99.8%) had reduced transmural or subendocardial perfusion reflecting sufficient microvascular function to increase coronary blood flow and reduce intracoronary pressure, causing reduced subendocardial perfusion; only 2 (0.2%) had normal subendocardial perfusion, suggesting microvascular disease as the cause of the angina. Over 10-year follow-up (mean 5 years), severely reduced CFC associated with major adverse cardiac events of 44.4% compared to 8.8% for no severe CFC (unadjusted P \u3c 0.00001) and mortality of 15.2% without and 6.9% with revascularization (P \u3c 0.00002) confirmed by multivariable Cox regression modeling. For no severe CFC, mortality was 3% with and without revascularization (P = 0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Reduced subendocardial perfusion on dipyridamole PET without regional stress perfusion defects is common without angina, has low risk of major adverse cardiac events, reflecting asymptomatic nonobstructive diffuse coronary artery disease, or angina without stenosis. Severely reduced CFC causes angina in fewer than one-half of cases but incurs high mortality risk that is significantly reduced after revascularization

Coronary Flow Capacity and Survival Prediction after Revascularization: Physiological Basis and Clinical Implications

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Coronary flow capacity (CFC) is associated with an observed 10-year survival probability for individual patients before and after actual revascularization for comparison to virtual hypothetical ideal complete revascularization. METHODS: Stress myocardial perfusion (mL/min/g) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) per pixel were quantified in 6979 coronary artery disease (CAD) subjects using Rb-82 positron emission tomography (PET) for CFC maps of artery-specific size-severity abnormalities expressed as percent left ventricle with prospective follow-up to define survival probability per-decade as fraction of 1.0. RESULTS: Severely reduced CFC in 6979 subjects predicted low survival probability that improved by 42% after revascularization compared with no revascularization for comparable severity (P = .0015). For 283 pre-and-post-procedure PET pairs, severely reduced regional CFC-associated survival probability improved heterogeneously after revascularization (P \u3c .001), more so after bypass surgery than percutaneous coronary interventions (P \u3c .001) but normalized in only 5.7%; non-severe baseline CFC or survival probability did not improve compared with severe CFC (P = .00001). Observed CFC-associated survival probability after actual revascularization was lower than virtual ideal hypothetical complete post-revascularization survival probability due to residual CAD or failed revascularization (P \u3c .001) unrelated to gender or microvascular dysfunction. Severely reduced CFC in 2552 post-revascularization subjects associated with low survival probability also improved after repeat revascularization compared with no repeat procedures (P = .025). CONCLUSIONS: Severely reduced CFC and associated observed survival probability improved after first and repeat revascularization compared with no revascularization for comparable CFC severity. Non-severe CFC showed no benefit. Discordance between observed actual and virtual hypothetical post-revascularization survival probability revealed residual CAD or failed revascularization

Multiethnic Meta-Analysis Identifies Ancestry-Specific and Cross-Ancestry Loci for Pulmonary Function

Nearly 100 loci have been identified for pulmonary function, almost exclusively in studies of European ancestry populations. We extend previous research by meta-analyzing genome-wide association studies of 1000 Genomes imputed variants in relation to pulmonary function in a multiethnic population of 90,715 individuals of European (N = 60,552), African (N = 8429), Asian (N = 9959), and Hispanic/Latino (N = 11,775) ethnicities. We identify over 50 additional loci at genome-wide significance in ancestry-specific or multiethnic meta-analyses. Using recent fine-mapping methods incorporating functional annotation, gene expression, and differences in linkage disequilibrium between ethnicities, we further shed light on potential causal variants and genes at known and newly identified loci. Several of the novel genes encode proteins with predicted or established drug targets, including KCNK2 and CDK12. Our study highlights the utility of multiethnic and integrative genomics approaches to extend existing knowledge of the genetics of lung function and clinical relevance of implicated loci

Multiethnic meta-analysis identifies ancestry-specific and cross-ancestry loci for pulmonary function

Nearly 100 loci have been identified for pulmonary function, almost exclusively in studies of European ancestry populations. We extend previous research by meta-analyzing genome-wide association studies of 1000 Genomes imputed variants in relation to pulmonary function in a multiethnic population of 90,715 individuals of European (N = 60,552), African (N = 8429), Asian (N = 9959), and Hispanic/Latino (N = 11,775) ethnicities. We identify over 50 additional loci at genome-wide significance in ancestry-specific or multiethnic meta-analyses. Using recent fine-mapping methods incorporating functional annotation, gene expression, and differences in linkage disequilibrium between ethnicities, we further shed light on potential causal variants and genes at known and newly identified loci. Several of the novel genes encode proteins with predicted or established drug targets, including KCNK2 and CDK12. Our study highlights the utility of multiethnic and integrative genomics approaches to extend existing knowledge of the genetics of l