Early above- and below-ground responses of subboreal conifer seedlings to various levels of deciduous canopy removal

We examined the growth of understory conifers, following partial or complete deciduous canopy removal, in a field study established in two regions in Canada. In central British Columbia, we studied the responses of three species (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Beissn.) Franco, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss x Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm., and Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.), and in northwestern Quebec, we studied one species (Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.). Stem and root diameter and height growth were measured 5 years before and 3 years after harvesting. Both root and stem diameter growth increased sharply following release but seedlings showed greater root growth, suggesting that in the short term, improvement in soil resource capture and transport, and presumably stability, may be more important than an increase in stem diameter and height growth. Response was strongly size dependent, which appears to reflect greater demand for soil resources as well as higher light levels and greater tree vigour before release for taller individuals. Growth ratios could not explain the faster response generally attributed to true fir species or the unusual swift response of spruces. Good prerelease vigour of spruces, presumably favoured by deciduous canopies, could explain their rapid response to release

Mountain maple and balsam fir early response to partial and clear-cut harvesting under aspen stands of northern Quebec

This study is a component of the Sylviculture et am

A Biological Caste System? An Investigation of Epigenetics and Socioeconomic Status in Western Society

Epigenetic research has revealed that socioeconomic status (SES) affects people’s lives much more than previously thought. Studies have previously found links between SES and health outcomes that could not be explained by factors classically attributed to the phenomenon of health disparities between the rich and the poor. Further research suggests that epigenetic markers that correlate with SES can have physiologic effects on the individual carrying them, including risk for cardiovascular disease and depression. These markers modulate gene expression without altering the genetic code and are typically regulated by the environment in which an individual or their ancestors lived.  Current findings highlight the importance of putting medical care in the context of patient experience, but this research only scratches the surface of the association between SES-related changes in the epigenome and social mobility. Future studies can further investigate if stressors related to low SES are driving epigenetic changes that affect health outcomes. This relationship may have societal consequences and could shape the future of medicine by influencing policy making and personalized patient care

Variant Mixed-Type Inguinal Hernia: A Cadaveric Case Report

During cadaveric dissection of an 84-year-old male, a previously undocumented mixed-type (direct/indirect) inguinal hernia was found within the spermatic cord. Unlike typical indirect hernias, it did not originate from the deep inguinal ring. Instead, the hernia penetrated the abdominal wall medial to the inferior epigastric vessels, through the wall of the spermatic cord, and continued distally into the scrotum within the spermatic cord. The hernia consisted of a peritoneal sac containing compressed omental tissue. This sac protruded through a weakening in the abdominal wall and into the spermatic cord, but not beyond the superficial ring. The hernia observed presents with characteristics of both direct and indirect inguinal hernias. Consequently, it cannot be classified in the traditional way. This appears to be the first reported instance of this type of hernia

The Master Settlement Agreement and Its Impact on Tobacco Use 10 Years Later: Lessons for Physicians About Health Policy Making

The issue of tobacco industry responsibility for population health problems and compensation for their treatment has been growing since the 1960s. In 1999, the state attorneys general collectively launched the largest class action lawsuit in US history and sued the tobacco industry to recover the costs of caring for smokers. In what became known as the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), states were rewarded billions of dollars and won concessions regarding how cigarettes could be advertised and targeted to minors. Ten years after this settlement, much is known about how MSA monies were distributed and how states have used the money. There is some understanding about how much of the money went toward offsetting the health-care costs attributable to smoking and whether resources were allocated to efforts to reduce smoking in a particular state. However, there are few data on what effect, if any, the MSA had on tobacco control locally and nationally. This commentary explores these issues, as well as how the tobacco industry has evolved to offset the losses incurred by the settlement. Finally, an analysis of the complexities of current tobacco policy making is provided so that physicians and other health-care advocacy groups can more completely understand the present-day political dynamics and be more effective in shaping tobacco control policy in the future