368 research outputs found
Herbicide-Resistant Soybeans in Arkansas: Lessons Learned and Future Direction
In Arkansas Delta soybean production, glyphosate resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth has significantly impacted weed management. The incidence of herbicide resistant (HR) weeds has farreaching crop science, economic, and communications implications, which have been explored by the corresponding expertise of our research team members to form a comprehensive literature review. The review was used to develop policy recommendations to address current and future HR genetically modified (GM) crop use and the associated issues. The review of crop science research indicated an overall increase in herbicide application, as well as an increase in weed management programs focused around glyphosate rather than the application of multiple herbicides. The review also revealed some management methods have potential to resolve the problem, including alternating herbicide application, avoiding sub-lethal rates, using âburn downâ herbicides prior to planting, crop rotation, tillage, and zero tolerance weed policies. The use of fewer herbicides rather than multiple types creates a monopolistic edge for the companies producing those few herbicides, allowing greater market control. Crisis communication methods, including developing internal readiness, conducting needs assessments, developing a relevant message, and conveying the message through appropriate channels, can be used to develop a response to the issue that will best communicate necessary information to the target audience. The team used these findings to formulate policy recommendations, which include management, economic, and communication plans that may provide a starting point to address the issue
The distribution of 4-nonylphenol in marine organisms of North American Pacific Coast estuaries
One of the chemical breakdown products of nonylphenol ethoxylates, 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), accumulates in organisms and is of concern as an environmental pollutant due to its endocrine disrupting effects. We measured 4-NP levels in the seawater, sediment, and twelve organisms within the California estuary, Morro Bay, and examined biomagnification of 4-NP using stable isotope abundances (ÎŽ15N and ÎŽ13C) to quantify trophic position. 4-NP concentrations in organisms from Morro Bay included 25000 ± 8600 ng gâ1 lw in liver of California sea lion, 14000 ± 5600 ng gâ1 lw in liver of harbor porpoise, 138000 ± 55000 ng gâ1 lw in liver of sea otters, 15700 ± 3600 ng gâ1 lw in liver of seabirds, 36100 ± 6100 ng gâ1 lw in arrow goby fish, 62800 ± 28400 ng gâ1 lw in oysters, and 12700 ± 1300 ng gâ1 lw in mussels. 4-NP levels generally showed a pattern of trophic dilution among organisms in Morro Bay, with exceptions of biomagnification observed between three trophic links: mussel to sea otter (BMF 10.9), oyster to sea otter (BMF 2.2), and arrow goby to staghorn sculpin (BMF 2.7). Our examination of other west coastestuaries of USA and Canada revealed that mean 4-NP concentrations in gobies and mussels from Morro Bay were significantly higher than those from a more urbanized estuary, San Francisco Bay (goby: 11100 ± 3800 ng gâ1 lw) and from a remote estuary, Bamfield Inlet, Canada (goby: 9000 ± 900 ng gâ1 lw, mussel: 6100 ± 700 ng gâ1 lw). Relative to other estuaries worldwide, 4-NP levels in seawater (0.42 ± 0.16 ÎŒg Lâ1) and sediment (53 ± 14 ng gâ1 dw) of Morro Bay are low, but gobies and oysters have higher 4-NP levels than comparable fauna
Disability Decolonized: Indigenous Peoples Enacting Self-determination
Populations researched often have little if any input in the means of data collection, analysis, or authorship of the findings published. They are excluded from participating in the scientific methods even though they are the subject of the content that is being produced. This is true for Indigenous populations and the disability community around the globe. Researchers usually use colonial methodology that does not encompass the values of these communities or have their well-being in mind. This paper examines the history of colonization and how it has infiltrated science and inhibits self-determination of Indigenous peoples. Indigenous communities need to have the means and power for self-determination. For individuals with disabilities, this includes rights to services and programs that give the respect and person-centered care they deserve to make informed decisions about their lives. Moreover, there is a recognized need for culturally appropriate services that empower American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people with disabilities to lead independent lives in their own communitiesâurban or rural. AI/AN cultures may view disabilities differently than those in the mainstream U.S. Barriers and challenges for AI/AN individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and AI/AN families of individuals with IDD in access to services include inadequate funding, personnel shortages, housing shortages, lack of coordination among agencies, lack of consultation with tribes, and problems identifying persons eligible for services. AI/AN-specific programs that have begun to bridge the gap in access to and development of culturally competent services such as OyĂĄte Circle and development of collegiate courses focused on AI/AN disabilities issues. There remains a need for partnership with AI/AN tribes for disability services and incorporation of AI/AN people with disabilities as equitable partners in program development and implementation. To reach a full decolonization of IDD health care and fully embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles, individuals in these communities need to be viewed as experts in their journey of resilience
What goes up must come down: The burden of bipolar depression in youth
In the pediatric bipolar disorder literature, mania has eclipsed depression as the mood state of most interest. Though depressive episodes tend to be more prevalent and persisting than manic episodes, research about the associated consequences is limited. The goal of the present study was to compare the influences of depressive and manic symptoms on domains of functioning in which youth with bipolar disorder often demonstrate deficits
Neuroanatomical Correlates of the Income-Achievement Gap
In the United States, the difference in academic achievement between higher- and lower-income students (i.e., the income-achievement gap) is substantial and growing. In the research reported here, we investigated neuroanatomical correlates of this gap in adolescents (N = 58) in whom academic achievement was measured by statewide standardized testing. Cortical gray-matter volume was significantly greater in students from higher-income backgrounds (n = 35) than in students from lower-income backgrounds (n = 23), but cortical white-matter volume and total cortical surface area did not differ significantly between groups. Cortical thickness in all lobes of the brain was greater in students from higher-income than lower-income backgrounds. Greater cortical thickness, particularly in temporal and occipital lobes, was associated with better test performance. These results represent the first evidence that cortical thickness in higher- and lower-income students differs across broad swaths of the brain and that cortical thickness is related to scores on academic-achievement tests.Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant F32 HD079143-01)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant F32 MH095354-01
The UV, Optical, and IR Properties of SDSS Sources Detected by GALEX
We discuss the UV, optical, and IR properties of the SDSS sources detected by
GALEX as part of its All-sky Imaging Survey Early Release Observations.
Virtually all of the GALEX sources in the overlap region are detected by SDSS.
GALEX sources represent ~2.5% of all SDSS sources within these fields and about
half are optically unresolved. Most unresolved GALEX/SDSS sources are bright
blue turn-off thick disk stars and are typically detected only in the GALEX
near-UV band. The remaining unresolved sources include low-redshift quasars,
white dwarfs, and white dwarf/M dwarf pairs, and these dominate the optically
unresolved sources detected in both GALEX bands.
Almost all the resolved SDSS sources detected by GALEX are fainter than the
SDSS 'main' spectroscopic limit. These sources have colors consistent with
those of blue (spiral) galaxies (u-r<2.2), and most are detected in both GALEX
bands. Measurements of their UV colors allow much more accurate and robust
estimates of star-formation history than are possible using only SDSS data.
Indeed, galaxies with the most recent (<20 Myr) star formation can be robustly
selected from the GALEX data by requiring that they be brighter in the far-UV
than in the near-UV band. However, older starburst galaxies have UV colors
similar to AGN, and thus cannot be selected unambiguously on the basis of GALEX
fluxes alone.
With the aid of 2MASS data, we construct and discuss median 10 band
UV-optical-IR spectral energy distributions for turn-off stars, hot white
dwarfs, low-redshift quasars, and spiral and elliptical galaxies. We point out
the high degree of correlation between the UV color and the contribution of the
UV flux to the UV-optical-IR flux of galaxies detected by GALEX.Comment: 35 pages, 11 figures, 3 tables; to appear in the AJ. PS with better
figures available from http://www.astro.washington.edu/agueros/pub
DomainĂą specific impairment in cognitive control among remitted youth with a history of major depression
AimImpairment in neuropsychological functioning is common in major depressive disorder (MDD), but it is not clear to what degree these deficits are related to risk (e.g. trait), scar, burden or state effects of MDD. The objective of this study was to use neuropsychological measures, with factor scores in verbal fluency, processing speed, attention, setĂą shifting and cognitive control in a unique population of young, remitted, unmedicated, early course individuals with a history of MDD in hopes of identifying putative trait markers of MDD.MethodsYouth aged 18Ăą 23 in remission from MDD (rMDD; n = 62) and healthy controls (HC; n = 43) were assessed with neuropsychological tests at two time points. These were from four domains of executive functioning, consistent with previous literature as impaired in MDD: verbal fluency and processing speed, conceptual reasoning and setĂą shifting, processing speed with interference resolution, and cognitive control.ResultsrMDD youth performed comparably to HCs on verbal fluency and processing speed, processing speed with interference resolution, and conceptual reasoning and setĂą shifting, reliably over time. Individuals with rMDD demonstrated relative decrements in cognitive control at Time 1, with greater stability than HC participants.ConclusionMDD may be characterized by regulatory difficulties that do not pertain specifically to active mood state or fluctuations in symptoms. Deficient cognitive control may represent a trait vulnerability or early course scar of MDD that may prove a viable target for secondary prevention or early remediation.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138407/1/eip12253_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/138407/2/eip12253.pd
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Trends in the Population Prevalence of People Who Inject Drugs in US Metropolitan Areas 1992â2007
Background:
People who inject drugs (PWID) have increased risk of morbidity and mortality. We update and present estimates and trends of the prevalence of current PWID and PWID subpopulations in 96 US metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for 1992â2007. Current estimates of PWID and PWID subpopulations will help target services and help to understand long-term health trends among PWID populations.
Methodology:
We calculated the number of PWID in the US annually from 1992â2007 and apportioned estimates to MSAs using multiplier methods. We used four types of data indicating drug injection to allocate national annual totals to MSAs, creating four distinct series of component estimates of PWID in each MSA and year. The four component estimates are averaged to create the best estimate of PWID for each MSA and year. We estimated PWID prevalence rates for three subpopulations defined by gender, age, and race/ethnicity. We evaluated trends using multi-level polynomial models.
Results:
PWID per 10,000 persons aged 15â64 years varied across MSAs from 31 to 345 in 1992 (median 104.4) to 34 to 324 in 2007 (median 91.5). Trend analysis indicates that this rate declined during the early period and then was relatively stable in 2002â2007. Overall prevalence rates for non-Hispanic black PWID increased in 2005 as compared to other racial/ethnic groups. Hispanic prevalence, in contrast, declined across time. Importantly, results show a worrisome trend in young PWID prevalence since HAART was initiated â the mean prevalence was 90 to 100 per 10,000 youth in 1992â1996, but increased to >120 PWID per 10,000 youth in 2006â2007.
Conclusions:
Overall, PWID rates remained constant since 2002, but increased for two subpopulations: non-Hispanic black PWID and young PWID. Estimates of PWID are important for planning and evaluating public health programs to reduce harm among PWID and for understanding related trends in social and health outcomes
Development and Validation of a 28-gene Hypoxia-related Prognostic Signature for Localized Prostate Cancer.
BACKGROUND: Hypoxia is associated with a poor prognosis in prostate cancer. This work aimed to derive and validate a hypoxia-related mRNA signature for localized prostate cancer.
METHOD: Hypoxia genes were identified in vitro via RNA-sequencing and combined with in vivo gene co-expression analysis to generate a signature. The signature was independently validated in eleven prostate cancer cohorts and a bladder cancer phase III randomized trial of radiotherapy alone or with carbogen and nicotinamide (CON).
RESULTS: A 28-gene signature was derived. Patients with high signature scores had poorer biochemical recurrence free survivals in six of eight independent cohorts of prostatectomy-treated patients (Log rank test PâŻ\u3câŻ.05), with borderline significances achieved in the other two (PâŻ\u3câŻ.1). The signature also predicted biochemical recurrence in patients receiving post-prostatectomy radiotherapy (nâŻ=âŻ130, PâŻ=âŻ.007) or definitive radiotherapy alone (nâŻ=âŻ248, PâŻ=âŻ.035). Lastly, the signature predicted metastasis events in a pooled cohort (nâŻ=âŻ631, PâŻ=âŻ.002). Prognostic significance remained after adjusting for clinic-pathological factors and commercially available prognostic signatures. The signature predicted benefit from hypoxia-modifying therapy in bladder cancer patients (intervention-by-signature interaction test PâŻ=âŻ.0026), where carbogen and nicotinamide was associated with improved survival only in hypoxic tumours.
CONCLUSION: A 28-gene hypoxia signature has strong and independent prognostic value for prostate cancer patients
A global perspective on marine photosynthetic picoeukaryote community structure
A central goal in ecology is to understand the factors affecting the temporal dynamics and spatial distribution of microorganisms and the underlying processes causing differences in community structure and composition. However, little is known in this respect for photosynthetic picoeukaryotes (PPEs), algae that are now recognised as major players in marine CO2 fixation. Here, we analysed dot blot hybridisation and cloningâsequencing data, using the plastid-encoded 16S rRNA gene, from seven research cruises that encompassed all four ocean biomes. We provide insights into global abundance, α- and ÎČ-diversity distribution and the environmental factors shaping PPE community structure and composition. At the class level, the most commonly encountered PPEs were Prymnesiophyceae and Chrysophyceae. These taxa displayed complementary distribution patterns, with peak abundances of Prymnesiophyceae and Chrysophyceae in waters of high (25:1) or low (12:1) nitrogen:phosphorus (N:P) ratio, respectively. Significant differences in phylogenetic composition of PPEs were demonstrated for higher taxonomic levels between ocean basins, using Unifrac analyses of clone library sequence data. Differences in composition were generally greater between basins (interbasins) than within a basin (intrabasin). These differences were primarily linked to taxonomic variation in the composition of Prymnesiophyceae and Prasinophyceae whereas Chrysophyceae were phylogenetically similar in all libraries. These data provide better knowledge of PPE community structure across the world ocean and are crucial in assessing their evolution and contribution to CO2 fixation, especially in the context of global climate change
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