Dreaming of Pegasus: Equine imaginings

This is a book about passion for horses; contributors write about the horses in their lives, and how relationships with these wonderful animals have shaped their life journeys, their dreams, and also their professional careers as academics. In particular, they muse upon how imagining and being with horses influences how they, as researchers, investigate horses and their relationship with humans. These chapters introduce many different equine characters, in many different stories and in various places around the world. These are stories of love, and also of loss. They are also stories of love and loss of our great friend, Karen Dalke, with whom we have shared many tales of equine adventures, but who died suddenly in 2018. Karen was a compassionate horsewoman, whose life and work were intertwined with the lives of these wonderful animals. This book is both a tribute to her, and also to the many horses we have known and with whom we have shared our lives

Vitamin D Status in Bipolar Disorder

Vitamin D status may impact acute affective symptomatology and the severity of symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder (BD). Therefore, this cross-sectional study analyzed 25(OH)D, 24,25(OH)2D, and the vitamin D metabolite ratio (VMR) in BD and correlated the results with clinical affective symptomatology and functionality. The inactive precursor 25(OH)D, and its principal catabolite 24,25(OH)2D, were measured simultaneously with a validated liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry method in 170 BD outpatients and 138 healthy controls. VMR was calculated as follows: VMR = 100×(24,25(OH)2D/25(OH)D). The psychometric assessment comprised: Beck Depression Inventory-II, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Young Mania Rating Scale, Global Assessment of Functioning, and number of suicide attempts. We did not find a significant difference between patients and controls in the concentrations of 25(OH)D and 24,25(OH)2D. Additionally, the VMR was comparable in both groups. The calculations for the clinical parameters showed a negative correlation between the Young Mania Rating Scale and 24,25(OH)2D (r = −0.154, p = 0.040), as well as the Young Mania Rating Scale and the VMR (r = −0.238, p = 0.015). Based on the small effect size and the predominantly euthymic sample, further exploration in individuals with manic symptoms would be needed to confirm this association. In addition, long-term clinical markers and an assessment in different phases of the disease may provide additional insights

2003-2004 Research Honors Program Abstracts (for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Undergraduates)

Faculty in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University mentor and guide undergraduate students who have chosen to pursue a research project and graduate with honors. These abstracts reflect the depth of their scholarship and intellectual ability. The research projects encompass work in animal science, biological science, entomology, landscape studies, natural resources, physical science, plant science, and social science