Edaphic and Phytochemical Factors as Predictors of Equine Grass Sickness Cases in the UK

Background: Equine dysautonomia or equine grass sickness (EGS), as it is more commonly known, is a usually fatal disease of equids of uncertain etiology, although associated with grazing, that affects the autonomic and enteric nervous system. Lowered gastrointestinal motility, leading to paralysis of the gut, is one of the main symptoms of EGS. Previous studies have implicated anaerobic bacteria, notably Clostridium botulinum, but what triggers the severe bacterial infestations remains enigmatic. We hypothesized that a detailed comparison of soil mineral and botanical composition of EGS and control sites would yield new insights into the causation of the disease. Results: Between March 2007 and September 2008, soil, plant, and water samples from a total of 23 EGS sites and 11 control sites were studied. Metal and non-metal element levels of the soil and herbage samples were assessed. Significantly, EGS sites had higher levels of soil nitrogen, and significantly higher levels of iron, lead, arsenic, and chromium in the herbage. Toxic Ranunculus spp. (buttercups) were found in abundance at every EGS site, making ingestion plausible. Conversely, neurotoxin-producing cyanobacteria were not found in any of the water samples analyzed. Conclusions: The significantly higher levels of iron and heavy metals found in herbage growing in EGS sites, in addition to toxic Ranunculus species, suggest that previously unknown triggers are involved in a multi-factorial EGS etiology. Our results also show that cyanobacteria on the other hand, are unlikely to be a factor in EGS. Consequently, the concomitant presence of two (or more) factors could be the trigger for an outbreak of EGS

Perspectives on Chemical Oceanography in the 21st century: Participants of the COME ABOARD Meeting examine aspects of the field in the context of 40 years of DISCO

The questions that chemical oceanographers prioritize over the coming decades, and the methods we use to address these questions, will define our field's contribution to 21st century science. In recognition of this, the U.S. National Science Foundation and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration galvanized a community effort (the Chemical Oceanography MEeting: A BOttom-up Approach to Research Directions, or COME ABOARD) to synthesize bottom-up perspectives on selected areas of research in Chemical Oceanography. Representing only a small subset of the community, COME ABOARD participants did not attempt to identify targeted research directions for the field. Instead, we focused on how best to foster diverse research in Chemical Oceanography, placing emphasis on the following themes: strengthening our core chemical skillset; expanding our tools through collaboration with chemists, engineers, and computer scientists; considering new roles for large programs; enhancing interface research through interdisciplinary collaboration; and expanding ocean literacy by engaging with the public. For each theme, COME ABOARD participants reflected on the present state of Chemical Oceanography, where the community hopes to go and why, and actionable pathways to get there. A unifying concept among the discussions was that dissimilar funding structures and metrics of success may be required to accommodate the various levels of readiness and stages of knowledge development found throughout our community. In addition to the science, participants of the concurrent Dissertations Symposium in Chemical Oceanography (DISCO) XXV, a meeting of recent and forthcoming Ph.D. graduates in Chemical Oceanography, provided perspectives on how our field could show leadership in addressing long-standing diversity and early-career challenges that are pervasive throughout science. Here we summarize the COME ABOARD Meeting discussions, providing a synthesis of reflections and perspectives on the field

Burnt and Blossoming: Material Mysticism in Trilogy and Four Quartets

This paper brings two WWII poems into dialogue: H.D.'s Trilogy and Eliot's Four Quartets. Both poems express a creative response to the destruction of war. My reading of Trilogy suggests a material mysticism in which vision and renewal are situated within the natural world, rituals and bodily experience. Bringing this understanding of mysticism to bear on Four Quartets reveals tension between transcendence and materiality. For Eliot, redemption comes through time and location, while for H.D., redemption lies within material particularity. Four Quartets oscillates between an apophatic discourse that seeks to transcend desire and history and an emphasis on material particularities

Connecting our roots : holistic health research with Boston Bar First Nation revitalizing traditional plant knowledge and building education capacity using an integrated community-based participatory action research approach

Connecting Our Roots (COR) is based within a collaborative research partnership between the Boston Bar First Nation (BBFN), the UBC Institute for Aboriginal Health (UBC IAH) and the Faculty of Land and Food Systems (FLFS). It was the Boston Bar First Nation who approached UBC IAH and wanted to address their community health concerns holistically through revitalizing traditional plant knowledge and usage. As a graduate student I started working with BBFN in fall of 2003 and lived on the BBFN reserve for 3 summers from 2004 to 2006. During this time the participatory research process unfolded summarized as three main parts: process, plant research and transformation. Process involved building a culturally appropriate research environment (CARE) through an integrated Indigenous and academic research approach and the development of a local code of research ethics. This was the foundation for community and university-based plant research that included documenting local plant knowledge and inspired laboratory analysis on the chemistry, biological activity and nutritional analysis of Tseweta (Lomatium nudicaule), a traditionally used plant with contemporary importance in Nlaka'pamux and other Indigenous communities. Over the three years the transformative element of the research evolved resulting in local actions, including culturally contextual summer youth programs. These summer programs supported the revitalization of local plant knowledge and usage and intergenerational knowledge transmission. They also facilitated building cultural, social, economic and health capacity, as well as local research expertise. Tangible outcomes of the plant research combined with the youth education programs included the creation of an interpretive traditional plant trail, a community herbarium, a greenhouse initiative, and several community publications. Overall, the Connecting Our Roots research initiative was successful in supporting BBFN's self-determination, built local research capacity, created new knowledge on Tseweta, and through its transdisciplinary and participatory research approach created meaningful and transformative research outcomes.Land and Food Systems, Faculty ofGraduat

Bacterial biofilm formation on the bladder epithelium of spinal cord injured patients. ii. Toxic outcome on cell viability

The process that changes a relatively sparse vaginal microbiota of healthy women into a dense biofilm of pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacteria is poorly understood. Likewise, the reverse step whereby an aberrant biofilm is displaced and returns to a healthy lactobacilli dominated microbiota is unclear. In order to study these phenomena, in vitro experiments were performed to examine the structure of biofilms associated with aerobic vaginosis, urinary tract infections, and bacterial vaginosis (BV). Uropathogenic Escherichia coli were able to form relatively thin biofilms within five days (6 μm height), while Atopobium vaginae and Gardnerella vaginalis formed thicker biofilms 12 μm in height within two days. Challenge of E. coli biofilms with lactobacilli did not result in pathogen displacement. However, the resulting thicker lactobacilli infused biofilms, caused significant E. coli killing. E. coli biofilms challenged with secreted products of L. rhamnosus GR-1 caused a marked decrease in cell density, and increased cell death. Similarly challenge of BV biofilms with lactobacilli infiltrated BV biofilms and caused bacterial cell death. Metronidazole produced holes in the biofilm but did not eradicate the organisms. The findings provide some evidence of how lactobacilli probiotics might interfere with an aberrant vaginal microbiota, and strengthen the position that combining probiotics with antimicrobials could better eradicate pathogenic biofilms. © 2011 Elsevier B.V

Sex differences in neural responsivity to reward and loss: Associations with triarchic model traits and antisocial behavior

Deficits in response to reward and loss are implicated in antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and psychopathy. This study examined sex differences in associations of neural response to reward and loss with triarchic model traits and ASPD symptoms. Functional neuroimaging data was collected during a monetary incentive delay task from 158 participants. We predicted that males high in ASPD would show greater neural response to reward anticipation and less neural response to loss. Analyses examining the triarchic model were exploratory. A significant sex by Boldness interaction was associated with left nucleus accumbens response during loss anticipation. There were also significant sex by ASPD associations with left nucleus accumbens and left amygdala activation during the loss feedback condition and left nucleus accumbens during loss anticipation. These results demonstrate the importance of considering the effects of sex and triarchic model traits when examining reward and loss processing in the context of antisocial behavior