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The evolution of lineage-specific gene families remains poorly studied across the eukaryotic tree of life, with most analyses focusing on the recent evolution of de novo genes in model species. Here we explore the origins of lineage-specific genes in ciliates, a ~1 billion year old clade of microeukaryotes that are defined by their division of somatic and germline functions into distinct nuclei. Previous analyses on conserved gene families have shown the effect of ciliates' unusual genome architecture on gene family evolution: extensive genome processing–the generation of thousands of gene-sized somatic chromosomes from canonical germline chromosomes–is associated with larger and more diverse gene families. To further study the relationship between ciliate genome architecture and gene family evolution, we analyzed lineage specific gene families from a set of 46 transcriptomes and 12 genomes representing x species from eight ciliate classes. We assess how the evolution lineage-specific gene families occurs among four groups of ciliates: extensive fragmenters with gene-size somatic chromosomes, non-extensive fragmenters with "large" multi-gene somatic chromosomes, Heterotrichea with highly polyploid somatic genomes and Karyorelictea with 'paradiploid' somatic genomes. Our analyses demonstrate that: 1) most lineage-specific gene families are found at shallow taxonomic scales; 2) extensive genome processing (i.e., gene unscrambling) during development likely influences the size and number of young lineage-specific gene families; and 3) the influence of somatic genome architecture on molecular evolution is increasingly apparent in older gene families. Altogether, these data highlight the influences of genome architecture on the evolution of lineage-specific gene families in eukaryotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical inheritance is foundational to Darwinian evolution, but fails to explain major innovations such as the rapid spread of antibiotic resistance among bacteria and the origin of photosynthesis in eukaryotes. While lateral gene transfer (LGT) is recognized as an evolutionary force in prokaryotes, the role of LGT in eukaryotic evolution is less clear. With the exception of the transfer of genes from organelles to the nucleus, a process termed endosymbiotic gene transfer (EGT), the extent of interdomain transfer from prokaryotes to eukaryotes is highly debated. A common critique of studies of interdomain LGT is the reliance on the topology of single-gene trees that attempt to estimate more than one billion years of evolution. We take a more conservative approach by identifying cases in which a single clade of eukaryotes is found in an otherwise prokaryotic gene tree (i.e. exclusive presence). Starting with a taxon-rich dataset of over 13,600 gene families and passing data through several rounds of curation, we identify and categorize the function of 306 interdomain LGT events into diverse eukaryotes, including 189 putative EGTs, 52 LGTs into Opisthokonta (i.e. animals, fungi and their microbial relatives), and 42 LGTs nearly exclusive to anaerobic eukaryotes. To assess differential gene loss as an explanation for exclusive presence, we compare branch lengths within each LGT tree to a set of vertically-inherited genes subsampled to mimic gene loss (i.e. with the same taxonomic sampling) and consistently find shorter relative distance between eukaryotes and prokaryotes in LGT trees, a pattern inconsistent with gene loss. Our methods provide a framework for future studies of interdomain LGT and move the field closer to an understanding of how best to model the evolutionary history of eukaryotes. Author summary: Typical models of evolutionary biology focus exclusively on how genetic material is passed on "vertically" from parents to their offspring through reproduction. However, there is another kind of inheritance that is not so clear-cut but which has important effects on many groups of organisms. The "lateral" transfer of genetic material, transfer of genetic material between individuals that is not from parent to offspring, profoundly impacts the evolution of bacteria and archaea (i.e. prokaryotes). Rapid resistance to antibiotics is largely driven by this well-accepted phenomenon, and the rise of broad-scale genomic datasets has allowed detailed exploration of lateral gene transfer events in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. However, there are few widely accepted standards for detecting genes that have been laterally transferred in eukaryotes, where many lineages remain under sampled. Here, we use a taxon-rich phylogenomic approach to develop and deploy a suite of methods for analyzing lateral gene transfer in eukaryotes. We first identify several hundred genes that have likely been transferred laterally from prokaryotes to eukaryotes, then we characterize their functions to detect broad-scale patterns, and finally, for most of these events, we reject the alternative hypothesis: gene loss explains the topology of laterally-transferred gene trees. Together, these data and approaches will be of use to future studies of LGT events in lineages across the eukaryotic tree of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The spirit of this essay is to put into dialogue the notions of 'body' and 'soul' narrated by the qom indigenous's people of the Argentine Gran Chaco and the events unfolding by the current Sars-Cov-2 pandemic. We will begin our development contemplating the scene of the arrival of the Spanish in America and the investment that is presented today with respect to the diacritics deployed at that time. In order to 'familiarize' the virus, we will call it 'Covi-cho' and place it in tension with the pathogenic entity that the indigenous people compose. In turn, we will examine various ends of world experienced by the indigenous groups of Argentina. The objective will be to detail what these other ends of worlds teach us with their particular developments and what are the tips that, putting in tension a multiplicity of human and non-human bodies and interiorities, we could add to those already known and promoted from the state spheres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single-event upsets (SEUs) were measured in thermal neutron-irradiated microcontrollers with 65- and 130-nm-node static random-access memories (SRAMs). The suspected upset mechanism is charge deposition from the energetic byproducts of 10B thermal neutron capture. Although elemental analysis confirmed that both microcontrollers contain 10B, only the 65-nm node microcontroller exhibited a strong response to thermal neutrons. Monte Carlo simulations were performed to investigate the effects of 11B enrichment on thermal neutron-induced SEUs in a 65-nm SRAM node when boron is present in the p-type well, p-type source and drain, or tungsten plug. Simulations indicate that the byproducts of 10B(n, α) 7Li reactions are capable of generating sufficient charge to upset a 65-nm SRAM. The highest amount of charge deposition from 10B(n, α) 7Li reaction byproducts occurs when natural boron is used to dope the p-type source and drain regions. Simulations also show that the SEU cross section is nonnegligible when 11B-enriched boron is used for doping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Germline selection affects inheritance of mitochondrial disease and accumulation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in the population. • Previous finding of purifying mtDNA selection in primordial germ cells (PGCs) was confounded by contamination with NUMTs (mtDNA pseudogenes). • Analysis of uncontaminated single-PGC data shows positive selection, i.e., paradoxical increase of detrimental mutations in the germ line. • Increase of mutations in mutant carriers may benefit the species by ensuring removal of such carriers from population by conventional selection. The resilience of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) to a high mutational pressure depends, in part, on negative purifying selection in the germline. A paradigm in the field has been that such selection, at least in part, takes place in primordial germ cells (PGCs). Specifically, Floros et al. (Nature Cell Biology 20: 144–51) reported an increase in the synonymity of mtDNA mutations (a sign of purifying selection) between early-stage and late-stage PGCs. We re-analyzed Floros' et al. data and determined that their mutational dataset was significantly contaminated with single nucleotide variants (SNVs) derived from a nuclear sequence of mtDNA origin (NUMT) located on chromosome 5. Contamination was caused by co-amplification of the NUMT sequence by cross-specific PCR primers. Importantly, when we removed NUMT-derived SNVs, the evidence of purifying selection was abolished. In addition to bulk PGCs, Floros et al. reported the analysis of single-cell late-stage PGCs, which were amplified with different sets of PCR primers that cannot amplify the NUMT sequence. Accordingly, there were no NUMT-derived SNVs among single PGC mutations. Interestingly, single PGC mutations show a decrease of synonymity with increased intracellular mutant fraction. More specifically, nonsynonymous mutations show faster intracellular genetic drift towards higher mutant fraction than synonymous ones. This pattern is incompatible with predominantly negative selection. This suggests that germline selection of mtDNA mutations is a complex phenomenon and that the part of this process that takes place in PGCs may be predominantly positive. However counterintuitive, positive germline selection of detrimental mtDNA mutations has been reported previously and potentially may be evolutionarily advantageous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Marketing aims to foster brand allegiance, and alcohol is a heavily marketed commodity. We hypothesize that exposed youth who are able to identify an aspirational alcohol brand will be at higher risk for underage drinking.Method: U.S. youth ages 15-20 (N = 2,012; 51% female) were surveyed twice in 2011-2013. Aspirational brand was assessed by asking, "If you could drink any brand you want, what is the name of the brand of alcohol you would choose?" Multivariable logistic regression tested associations between having an aspirational brand at baseline and onset of ever, binge (≥6 drinks/occasion), and hazardous drinking (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption ≥ 4).Results: Baseline ever, binge, and hazardous drinking prevalence was 55%, 26%, and 19%, respectively; 47% reported having an aspirational brand, of whom 20% were nondrinkers. Top five reported brands were Budweiser, Smirnoff, Corona, Jack Daniels, and Bacardi, all heavily advertised brands. Older age, male gender, sensation seeking, and peer/parent drinking were associated with having an aspirational brand. After we controlled for these confounders, having an aspirational brand was independently associated cross-sectionally with greater risk of ever, binge, and hazardous drinking (adjusted odds ratio = 4.47, 95% CI [3.33, 6.00], 4.84 [3.41, 6.86], and 5.46 [3.63, 8.23], respectively) and longitudinally with initiation of binge and hazardous drinking (1.80 [1.19, 2.73] and 2.02 [1.33, 3.06], respectively).Conclusions: Having an aspirational alcohol brand is both common and independently associated with subsequent underage alcohol use and misuse. Further studies examining how youth interact with and are affected by branded advertising are critical to guide development of effective education and policy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Method to measure ear canal geometry from CT scans • First objective definitions for canal length and first bend location • Canal cross sectional area appears to increase with adult age cohorts along majority of canal length • Mean canal areas and lengths larger than previously reported, with large population variations Description of the ear canal's geometry is essential for describing peripheral sound flow, yet physical measurements of the canal's geometry are lacking and recent measurements suggest that older-adult-canal areas are systematically larger than previously assumed. Methods to measure ear-canal geometry from multi-planar reconstructions of high-resolution CT images were developed and applied to 66 ears from 47 subjects, ages 18–90 years. The canal's termination, central axis, entrance, and first bend were identified based on objective definitions, and the canal's cross-sectional area was measured along its canal's central axis in 1–2 mm increments. In general, left and right ears from a given subject were far more similar than measurements across subjects, where areas varied by factors of 2–3 at many locations. The canal areas varied systematically with age cohort at the first-bend location, where canal-based measurement probes likely sit; young adults (18–30 years) had an average area of 44 mm 2 whereas older adults (61–90 years) had a significantly larger average area of 69 mm 2. Across all subjects ages 18–90, measured means ± standard deviations included: canals termination area at the tympanic annulus 56 ± 8 mm 2 ; area at the canal's first bend 53 ± 18 mm 2 ; area at the canal's entrance 97 ± 24 mm 2 ; and canal length 31.4 ± 3.1 mm 2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Hecht equation can be used to model the nonlinear degradation of charge collection efficiency (CCE) in response to radiation-induced displacement damage in both fully and partially depleted GaAs photodiodes. CCE degradation is measured for laser-generated photocurrent as a function of fluence and bias in Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As/GaAs/Al 0.25 Ga 0.75 As p-i-n photodiodes which have been irradiated with 12 MeV C and 7.5 MeV Si ions. CCE is observed to degrade more rapidly with fluence in partially depleted photodiodes than in fully depleted photodiodes. When the intrinsic GaAs layer is fully depleted, the 2-carrier Hecht equation describes CCE degradation as photogenerated electrons and holes recombine at defect sites created by radiation damage in the depletion region. If the GaAs layer is partially depleted, CCE degradation is more appropriately modeled as the sum of the 2-carrier Hecht equation applied to electrons and holes generated within the depletion region and the 1-carrier Hecht equation applied to minority carriers that diffuse from the field-free (non-depleted) region into the depletion region. Enhanced CCE degradation is attributed to holes that recombine within the field-free region of the partially depleted intrinsic GaAs layer before they can diffuse into the depletion region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The enormous population sizes and wide biogeographical distribution of many microbial eukaryotes set the expectation of high levels of intraspecific genetic variation. However, studies investigating protist populations remain scarce, mostly due to limited 'omics data. Instead, most genetics studies of microeukaryotes have thus far relied on single loci, which can be misleading and do not easily allow for detection of recombination, a hallmark of sexual reproduction. Here, we analyze >40 genes from 72 single-cell transcriptomes from two morphospecies--Hyalosphenia papilio and Hyalosphenia elegans--of testate amoebae (Arcellinida, Amoebozoa) to assess genetic diversity in samples collected over four years from New England bogs. We confirm the existence of cryptic species based on our multilocus dataset, which provides evidence of recombination within and high levels of divergence between the cryptic species. At the same time, total levels of genetic diversity within cryptic species are low, suggesting that these abundant organisms have small effective population sizes, perhaps due to extinction and repopulation events coupled with efficient modes of dispersal. This study is one of the first to investigate population genetics in uncultivable heterotrophic protists using transcriptomics data and contributes towards understanding cryptic species of nonmodel microeukaryotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Displacement damage reduces ion beam induced charge (IBIC) through Shockley–Read–Hall recombination. Closely spaced pulses of \200 keV\ \Si^ + + ions focused in a 40 nm beam spot are used to create damage cascades within \0.25 \mu\m^2 areas. Damaged areas are detected through contrast in IBIC signals generated with focused ion beams of \200 \keV\ \Si^ + + ions and \60 keV\ \Li^+ ions. IBIC signal reduction can be resolved over sub-micron regions of a silicon detector damaged by as few as 1000 heavy ions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background The average U.S. adolescent is exposed to about 2.5 hours of popular music and 8 mentions of alcohol brands every day. Alcohol brand mentions may function as advertising whether or not they are sanctioned by the alcohol industry. Our study aimed to determine associations between adolescents' involvement with music containing alcohol brand mentions and alcohol-related behaviors. Methods In 2010 to 2011, we conducted a random-digit-dial survey using national U.S. land line and cell phone frames. Through screening interviews, we identified 6,466 eligible households with subjects between 15 and 23 years of age, of whom 3,422 (53%) completed the telephone survey. Of these, 2,541 opted to participate in a subsequent web-based component. Independent variables included a composite score indicating owning and liking popular songs with alcohol brand mentions and correct recall of alcohol brands in songs. Outcome measures included ever having consumed a complete drink, ever bingeing, bingeing at least monthly, and having experienced problems from alcohol use. Results Among the 2,541 participants, compared with those in the lowest tertile on the receptivity scale, those in the highest tertile had higher odds of having had a complete drink ( OR = 3.4; 95% CI = 2.2, 5.2) after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sensation seeking, friend alcohol use, and parent alcohol use. Compared with those who did not identify at least 1 alcohol brand correctly, those who did had over twice the odds of having had a complete drink ( OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2, 3.8) after adjusting for all covariates. Results were also significant for the outcome of ever bingeing, but not for bingeing at least monthly or having had problems due to drinking. Conclusions In a national sample of U.S. adolescents and young adults, there were independent associations between involvement with popular music containing alcohol brand mentions and both having ever had a complete drink and having ever binged on alcohol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L7799 --> 801.14 --> Mitochondria, widely studied for their crucial role in cell bioenergetics, carry independent genomes that are inherited in offspring maternally. Understanding of the dynamics of the mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) is critical to further study of a large host of diseases (such as MELAS and LHON) that are caused by mtDNA mutations. One of the key steps in the inheritance of mtDNA is the germline bottleneck in the development and proliferation of primordial germ cells, during which process the mtDNA copy number of these cells fluctuates greatly. This leads to key alterations in and increased variance of mutation frequencies and allows complex patterns of selection at the organellar and cellular level. Furthermore, there can be varying degrees or patterns of selection that are present throughout the bottleneck process. Gaining an understanding of how these pressures interact with other factors such as genetic drift and Muller's ratchet can better elucidate the inheritance of mtDNA mutations. To date, however, there is little consensus on how this process occurs and though numerous models have been developed to explain trends in experimental data, a thorough analysis of the different components and parameters of these models and how they relate to biological systems is lacking. Drawing from extensive intergenerational datasets of pathogenic mutations in mice and humans, we develop models based on trends that appear in the transmission of mtDNA between mothers and their offspring. The combination of diverse datasets comprising high fidelity single molecule‐sequence and NGS data allows sufficient resolution to support detailed, multivariate analysis. We derive novel metrics for describing these data and create biologically informed simulations that can flexibly account for constant, variable, and multiphasic modes of selection. We apply these models to datasets generated from simulating bottlenecked cell proliferation, using previously proposed and newly derived bottleneck frameworks and population dynamics. The resulting mutational profiles allow deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying the biological data and provide a foundation for further development of computational approaches to studying germline mtDNA. Our simulations thus represent a substantial step forward in the understanding of the complex inheritance of mitochondrial mutations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measurements of single particle displacement damage are presented as discrete increases in reverse-biased diode leakage current, or current steps, caused by individual heavy ions in ^252Cf-irradiated JFET diodes. The maximum size of measured current steps agrees with calculations obtained from the expression for Shockley-Read-Hall generation when the radiation-induced defect density is derived from Monte Carlo simulations of atomic displacements and the electric field enhancement of defect emission is taken into account. The distribution of the current steps shows good agreement with experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background: Advertisement of fast food on TV may contribute to youth obesity. Purpose: The goal of the study was to use cued recall to determine whether TV fast-food advertising is associated with youth obesity. Methods: A national sample of 2541 U.S. youth, aged 15–23 years, were surveyed in 2010–2011; data were analyzed in 2012. Respondents viewed a random subset of 20 advertisement frames (with brand names removed) selected from national TV fast-food restaurant advertisements (n=535) aired in the previous year. Respondents were asked if they had seen the advertisement, if they liked it, and if they could name the brand. A TV fast-food advertising receptivity score (a measure of exposure and response) was assigned; a 1-point increase was equivalent to affirmative responses to all three queries for two separate advertisements. Adjusted odds of obesity (based on self-reported height and weight), given higher TV fast-food advertising receptivity, are reported. Results: The prevalence of overweight and obesity, weighted to the U.S. population, was 20% and 16%, respectively. Obesity, sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, fast-food restaurant visit frequency, weekday TV time, and TV alcohol advertising receptivity were associated with higher TV fast-food advertising receptivity (median=3.3 [interquartile range: 2.2–4.2]). Only household income, TV time, and TV fast-food advertising receptivity retained multivariate associations with obesity. For every 1-point increase in TV fast-food advertising receptivity score, the odds of obesity increased by 19% (OR=1.19, 95% CI=1.01, 1.40). There was no association between receptivity to televised alcohol advertisements or fast-food restaurant visit frequency and obesity. Conclusions: Using a cued-recall assessment, TV fast-food advertising receptivity was found to be associated with youth obesity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background Exposure to alcohol marketing is prevalent and is associated with both initiation and progression of alcohol use in underage youth. The mechanism of influence is not well understood, however. This study tests a model that proposes alcohol-specific cognitions as mediators of the relation between alcohol marketing and problematic drinking among experimental underage drinkers. Methods This study describes a cross-sectional analysis of 1,734 U.S. 15- to 20-year-old underage drinkers, recruited for a national study of media and substance use. Subjects were queried about a number of alcohol marketing variables including TV time, Internet time, favorite alcohol ad, ownership of alcohol-branded merchandise ( ABM), and exposure to alcohol brands in movies. The relation between these exposures and current (30-day) binge drinking was assessed, as were proposed mediators of this relation, including marketing-specific cognitions (drinker identity and favorite brand to drink), favorable alcohol expectancies, and alcohol norms. Paths were tested in a structural equation model that controlled for sociodemographics, personality, and peer drinking. Results Almost one-third of this sample of ever drinkers had engaged in 30-day binge drinking. Correlations between mediators were all statistically significant (range 0.16 to 0.47), and all were significantly associated with binge drinking. Statistically significant mediation was found for the association between ABM ownership and binge drinking through both drinker identity and having a favorite brand to drink, which also mediated the path between movie brand exposure and binge drinking. Peer drinking and sensation seeking were associated with binge drinking in paths through all mediators. Conclusions Associations between alcohol marketing and binge drinking were mediated through marketing-specific cognitions that assess drinker identity and brand allegiance, cognitions that marketers aim to cultivate in the consumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single particle displacement damage events are reported in silicon diodes irradiated with ^252Cf and ^241Am. In situ measurements of reverse current show the result of displacement damage incurred from individual fission fragments in ^252Cf irradiated diodes. Discrete increases in reverse current exceeding 20 fA are measured. The increases are temporally correlated with fission fragment-induced ionization events. The ratio of the damage factor associated with fission fragments to the damage factor associated with alpha particles is in good agreement with the ratio of non-ionizing energy loss calculated for fission fragments to NIEL calculated for alpha particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that electrons in a Europa-like radiation environment produce single events capable of depositing more than 100 keV in a shielded focal plane array (FPA). Aluminum shielding slows down high energy free space electrons through collisions. Incident electrons can also generate secondary particles within shielding through electromagnetic cascades, nuclear interactions, and other mechanisms. When incident electrons and secondary particles deposit energy in FPA pixels, the result is transient increases in background noise. We compare the energy deposition integral cross sections and estimate the single event effect rate for a range of electron energies incident upon an FPA shielded with 1, 5, and 10 cm of aluminum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explains the nature of human habits and how they are developed. It suggests that maybe a lesson on how human habist develop can be used for driving corporate action on climate change. Should businesses decide to make emissions reduction their habit then society wil be on its way to solving the problem of climate change. Various environmental groups are providing information on how can society and businesses help in addressing the problem of climate change. It provides information on the Web sites of some these environmental groups.

Abstract: The Drosophila transcription factor Grainyhead (grh) is expressed in ectoderm-derived tissues where it regulates several key developmental events including cuticle formation, tracheal elongation and dorsal closure. Our laboratory has recently identified three novel mammalian homologues of the grh gene, Grainyhead-like 1, -2 and -3 (Grhl1–3) that rewrite the phylogeny of this family. Using gene targeting in mice, we have shown that Grhl3 is essential for neural tube closure, skin barrier formation and wound healing. Despite their extensive sequence homology, Grhl1 and Grhl2 are unable to compensate for loss of Grhl3 in these developmental processes. To explore this lack of redundancy, and to gain further insights into the functions of this gene family in mammalian development we have performed an extensive in situ hybridisation analysis. We demonstrate that, although all three Grhl genes are highly expressed in the developing epidermis, they display subtle differences in the timing and level of expression. Surprisingly, we also demonstrate differential expression patterns in non-ectoderm-derived tissues, including the heart, the lung, and the metanephric kidney. These findings expand our understanding of the unique role of Grhl3 in neurulation and epidermal morphogenesis, and provide a focus for further functional analysis of the Grhl genes during mouse embryogenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The alcohol industry spends over $5 billion a year on marketing, much of which is accessible to children. The distribution of branded articles of clothing and other personal items is one aspect of alcohol marketing that has not been adequately studied. In this study, the prevalence of ownership of alcohol-branded merchandise (ABM) was determined in a sample of rural northern New England adolescents, and the relationship between ownership of such items and initiation of alcohol use was examined. Design/Methods: Northern New England middle school students who had not yet initiated alcohol use were captured at baseline in a 1999 school-based survey, and ownership of an ABM item and initiation of alcohol use were determined 1 to 2 years later by telephone. The analysis controlled for demographics (gender, grade in school); characteristics of the child (school performance, sensation seeking, rebelliousness); parenting style; and peer alcohol use. Results: Of 2406 baseline never-drinkers, 15% had initiated alcohol use and 14% owned an ABM item by follow-up. ABM items consisted primarily of articles of clothing such as t-shirts and hats. ABM ownership was associated with higher grade in school, male gender, exposure to peer drinking, having tried smoking, poorer academic performance, higher levels of sensation seeking and rebelliousness, and less-responsive and restrictive parenting styles. Owners of ABM items at follow-up had higher rates of alcohol initiation compared with non-owners (25.5% vs 13.1%, respectively, p<0.001). After adjusting for the above confounders, students who owned an ABM item were significantly more likely to have initiated alcohol use compared with students who did not own one (adjusted odds ratio 1.5, 95% confidence interval, 1.1–2.0). Conclusions: In this northern New England adolescent sample, ownership of alcohol-branded merchandise was prevalent and exhibited an independent cross-sectional association with onset of adolescent drinking. Further studies are necessary to determine whether the relationship is causal, and whether teen use of ABM items influences peer drinking norms and behavior. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Industrial ecology (IE) has historically focused on manufacturing but could be applied more broadly, particularly to sectors of the economy not typically considered "dirty." The guest-service sector, for example, has a significant ecological footprint, often in environmentally sensitive areas, and would benefit from an IE perspective. Colorado's Aspen Skiing Company, which hosts 1.3 million skiers annually on 5,000 acres of skiable terrain, is integrating concepts of energy efficiency, feedback, life-cycle costing, nutrient cycling, renewable energy, ecosystem diversity, local sourcing, and human capital into operations at four ski areas and two hotels. An IE perspective offers the guest service sector a holistic view of its environmental impacts, a big-picture view that is missing from an industry where environmentalism has historically meant "recycling" or end-of-pipe pollution control. Many industrial ecology principles are directly applicable to resorts, but implementers will encounter a host of obstacles cultural, institutional, and economic that express themselves in unique ways in the guest service sector. Written using firsthand experiences from Aspen's ski slopes, restaurants, and a five-star hotel, this article explores what happens when the principles of industrial ecology are applied to the guest service sector, particularly what goes right, and what goes wrong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dr. Alice Stewart conclusively demonstrated, in 1958, that pediatric X-rays doubled the risk of childhood leukemia. Nevertheless, doctors continued X-raying mothers-to-be until 1980. Margaret Heffernan's (2011) book, Willful Blindness: Why We Ignore the Obvious at Our Peril, documents this and numerous other examples of our skill at ignoring information that points to something we don't want to know. Specifically, on the topic of climate change, Heffernan notes: '[I]n failing to confront the greatest challenge of our age - climate change - all the forces of willful blindness come together, like synchronized swimmers in a spectacular water ballet.' When it comes to corporate sustainability, we're seeing some recent efforts to get past willful blindness. In 2013, we saw examples such as Auden Schendler (co-author of this piece) and Michael Toffel's (2013) publication in Grist, Corporate Sustainability is Not Sustainable, which itself built upon Professor Robin Craig's (2012) article provocatively entitled 'Climate Change Means the Death of Sustainability.' More recently, in Lima, Unilever's Paul Polman said that '.. most CEOs...know that their companies cannot prosper in a world with runaway climate change.' Perhaps, after years of corporate sustainability flag waving, it is no longer possible to ignore the fact that much of what companies classify as 'sustainability' is, at best, green fluff that is fundamentally out of touch with the realities of anticipated climate change. Significantly, chief executive officers (CEOs) themselves are questioning the historic focus on corporate sustainability policies and targets. As summarized in the CEO Study on Sustainability, jointly published by the United Nations (UN) Global Compact and Accenture (2013): 'Business leaders [now] believe that only with greater government intervention - at global, national and local levels - can sustainability move from sporadic incremental advances to a collective and transformative impact.' [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous transmitter with the potential to regulate aqueous humor dynamics and protect retinal neurons from degeneration. The aim of the present study was two-fold: (a) to evaluate the release of H2S from two polysulfides, diallyl disulfide (DADS), and diallyl trisulfide (DATS); and (b) to investigate their ocular hypotensive actions in normotensive male and female rabbits in the presence and absence of GSH. Materials and Methods: H2S was quantified hourly for up to 6 h using a H2S-Biosensor (World Precision Instruments, Sarasota, Fl). Intraocular pressure (IOP) was assessed in normotensive New Zealand Albino rabbits using a pneumotonometer (model 30 classic; Reichert Ophthalmic Instruments, Depew, NY, USA). Results: In the presence of GSH, there was an increase in the in vitro release of H2S produced by DADS and DATS. Both DADS and DATS also caused a dose-dependent reduction in IOP in male and female rabbits, in both treated and untreated eyes. For instance, in male animals, the presence of GSH (3% and 5%) significantly (p < 0.05, n = 5) enhanced the ocular hypotensive action of DADS (2%) and DATS (2%) from 14.02 ± 2.89% to 18.67 ± 5.6% and from 16.22 ± 3.48 to 23.62 ± 5.79%, respectively. Conclusions: GSH enhanced both H2S release and ocular hypotensive action of the polysulfides in a manner that was dependent on the number of sulfur atoms present in each polysulfide. Furthermore, female animals were less sensitive to the IOP-lowering action of the polysulfides, when compared to their male counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryWe prospectively studied one hundred ASA physical status I–II children, ages six months to six years, undergoing myringotomy surgery. Children were randomly assigned to one of four anaesthetic groups receiving either halothane or sevoflurane for anaesthesia and oral midazolam premedication or no premedication. We found that children anaesthetized with sevoflurane had significantly faster recovery times and discharge home times than those who received halothane. Patients given oral midazolam premedication had significantly longer recovery times, but no delay in discharge home compared with those not premedicated. However, children anaesthetized with sevoflurane and no premedication had an unacceptably high incidence (67%) of postoperative agitation. The use of oral midazolam preoperatively did decrease the amount of postoperative agitation seen with sevoflurane. We conclude that although sevoflurane does shorten recovery times, the degree of associated postoperative agitation makes it unacceptable as a sole anaesthetic for myringotomy surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Effective weight-management interventions require frequent interactions with specialised multidisciplinary teams of medical, nutritional and behavioural experts to enact behavioural change. However, barriers that exist in rural areas, such as transportation and a lack of specialised services, can prevent patients from receiving quality care.Methods: We recruited patients from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Weight & Wellness Center into a single-arm, non-randomised study of a remotely delivered 16-week evidence-based healthy lifestyle programme. Every 4 weeks, participants completed surveys that included their willingness to pay for services like those experienced in the intervention. A two-item Willingness-to-Pay survey was administered to participants asking about their willingness to trade their face-to-face visits for videoconference visits based on commute and copay.Results: Overall, those with a travel duration of 31-45 min had a greater willingness to trade in-person visits for telehealth than any other group. Participants who had a travel duration less than 15 min, 16-30 min and 46-60 min experienced a positive trend in willingness to have telehealth visits until Week 8, where there was a general negative trend in willingness to trade in-person visits for virtual. Participants believed that telemedicine was useful and helpful.Conclusions: In rural areas where patients travel 30-45 min a telemedicine-delivered, intensive weight-loss intervention may be a well-received and cost-effective way for both patients and the clinical care team to connect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The firn layer covers 98% of Antarctica's ice sheets, protecting underlying glacial ice from the external environment. Accurate measurement of firn properties is essential for assessing cryosphere mass balance and climate change impacts. Characterizing firn structure through core sampling is expensive and logistically challenging. Seismic surveys, which translate seismic velocities into firn densities, offer an efficient alternative. This study employs Distributed Acoustic Sensing technology to transform an existing fiber‐optic cable near the South Pole into a multichannel, low‐maintenance, continuously interrogated seismic array. The data resolve 16 seismic wave propagation modes at frequencies up to 100 Hz that constrain P and S wave velocities as functions of depth. Using co‐located geophones for ambient noise interferometry, we resolve very weak radial anisotropy. Leveraging nearby SPICEcore firn density data, we find prior empirical density‐velocity relationships underestimate firn air content by over 15%. We present a new empirical relationship for the South Pole region. Plain Language Summary: Firn, the layer of compacted snow merging into glacial ice covering Antarctica, acts as an insulating blanket that mitigates environmental perturbations to the polar ice sheet. Understanding the density and seismic characteristics of the firn layer helps scientists better infer its properties and variation, including factors relevant to glacial stability and sea level change. Firn density is the major uncertainty source for measuring ice sheet mass changes via satellite and airborne sensing. Traditional methods of assessing firn density involve drilling or snow pit analyses and are expensive and time‐consuming. We utilize the rapidly developing technology of Distributed Acoustic Sensing to transform a data communication cable near the South Pole into a dense array of seismic sensors, allowing us to noninvasively estimate firn properties by studying seismic waves propagating in the firn to assess its physical properties. Our findings suggest that previous parameterizations overestimate firn density by over 5% and underestimate its air content by over 15% and highlight the value of seismology for advancing glaciological and polar region's climate research. Key Points: Distributed Acoustic Sensing repurposes an 8 km fiber‐optic cable at the South Pole into a dense seismic arrayGathered data resolve 16 dispersion modes at frequencies up to 100 Hz that constrain P‐ and S‐wave velocities in the firn layerPrevious density‐velocity empirical relations overestimate the dry firn density at South Pole [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Defective tissue fusion during mammalian embryogenesis results in congenital anomalies, such as exencephaly, spina bifida and cleft lip and/or palate. The highly conserved transcription factor grainyhead-like 2 (Grhl2) is a crucial regulator of tissue fusion, with mouse models lacking GRHL2 function presenting with a fully penetrant open cranial neural tube, facial and abdominal clefting (abdominoschisis), and an open posterior neuropore. Here, we show that GRHL2 interacts with the soluble morphogen protein and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibitor noggin (NOG) to impact tissue fusion during development. The maxillary prominence epithelium in embryos lacking Grhl2 shows substantial morphological abnormalities and significant upregulation of NOG expression, together with aberrantly distributed pSMAD5-positive cells within the neural crest cell-derived maxillary prominence mesenchyme, indicative of disrupted BMP signalling. Reducing this elevated NOG expression (by generating Grhl2−/−;Nog+/− embryos) results in delayed embryonic lethality, partial tissue fusion rescue, and restoration of tissue form within the craniofacial epithelia. These data suggest that aberrant epithelial maintenance, partially regulated by noggin-mediated regulation of BMP-SMAD pathways, may underpin tissue fusion defects in Grhl2−/− mice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An anxious resident paged ethics at 2:00 a.m. His patient, Mr. M, a twenty-nine-year-old man with a history of multiple substance abuse, was in the hospital after cardiac arrest and lack of cerebral perfusion. Sadly, the young man probably met the criteria for brain death, but the final apnea test to confirm the diagnosis could not be done for another forty-eight to seventy-two hours because the Klonopin in his system might confound the results. The resident's concern, however, addressed a request made by the patient's mother for a sperm harvest. The patient's mother maintained that her son had said he wanted to give her grandchildren. She wished to harvest sperm from him for a future use with an as-yet-to-be-determined surrogate mother. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]