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The article discusses the National Institute of Aging's (NIA) push for inclusion of diverse older adults in clinical studies as of September 2024. Topics covered include the barriers of comorbidities' exclusion, age limits, concerns on vulnerable persons, and distrust of the healthcare system, and the needs to ensure representation and for appropriate analysis and research expertise in designing trials. Also noted is the NIA's support of initiatives to diversify the research workforce.

“The first important point is to win the young women with whom we work,” explains an early campaign newsletter from the women's English Young Christian Workers (YCW) Movement. In a context where the Catholic community was still a defensive minority, the outward looking mission of the YCW was remarkable and unique. The Movement's praxis was particularly distinctive, focused on a demographic group, working‐class girls and young women, who held little significance in either Church or society. The YCW engaged them as apostles and activists, challenging ecclesial and social assumptions and expectations. This paper draws material from YCW archives and oral interviews to argue that what YCW offered young women in the 1940s–1960s expressed an ecclesiological vision that was ahead of its time. The YCW empowered them to be leaders in a Church where women still rarely spoke or held leadership roles. It also nudged them into a confident construction of their citizenship and agency within secular contexts. This is significant in relation to how the English Catholic Church negotiated its restored presence in a protestant state but is barely recognised in existing historical analysis. The YCW's “leaven in the dough” model of activism within workplaces and other political domains deserves greater notice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bumblebees have become model organisms for cognitive ecology and social learning. Quantifying the foraging behavior of free-flying bees, however, remains a methodological challenge. We describe and provide the code for a method of studying bee free flying foraging behavior using the open source neural-network based markerless tracking software DeepLabCut. From videos of bees foraging in an arena we trained a neural network to accurately track the position of each bee. We then used this approach to study foraging behavior and show that the ratio between flying time and flower visiting time decreases over repeated foraging bouts, indicating increasing efficiency of bee foraging behavior with experience. Visit durations, a laborious metric to measure by hand, were significantly shorter on flowers that had previously been visited. This experiment illustrates the usefulness of DeepLabCut for objective quantification of behavior, and in this case study shows that previous experience increases bee foraging efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of secondary metabolites in flower nectar can mediate interactions between plants, pollinators, herbivores, and microbes. Milkweeds range in concentrations of cardenolides in flower nectar from ~ 1 to 100 ng μl–1. Using three different behavioral assays with bumblebees Bombus impatiens, we examined the impacts of the commercially available cardenolide ouabain at the range of concentrations at which cardenolides naturally occur in milkweeds. We show that after four days of exposure bees in consumption assays drank more of a nectar solution with a low ouabain concentration of 10 ng μl–1 than the control sucrose nectar, and over the course of the experiment bees consumed less of the 100 ng μl–1 ouabain solution than the control. Bee activity levels in Petri dish arena assays were not impacted by ouabain consumption, even at the highest concentrations; however, in free‐flying choice assays, bees preferentially visited artificial flowers containing 10 ng μl–1 ouabain more than flowers with sucrose control, or flowers with 100 ng μl–1 of ouabain. We therefore conclude that cardenolides may provide plants advantages to pollination at the low end of the naturally occurring range of concentrations for cardenolides, but may be costly to plants at the high end of the range. This research highlights that secondary metabolites in nectar may be under selection to be maintained at low concentrations, and species with high concentrations of secondary metabolites may be under conflicting selection pressures to maintain high circulating levels to deter herbivores at the cost of reduced pollination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant secondary metabolites that defend leaves from herbivores also occur in floral nectar. While specialist herbivores often have adaptations providing resistance to these compounds in leaves, many social insect pollinators are generalists, and therefore are not expected to be as resistant to such compounds. The milkweeds, Asclepias spp., contain toxic cardenolides in all tissues including floral nectar. We compared the concentrations and identities of cardenolides between tissues of the North American common milkweed Asclepias syriaca, and then studied the effect of the predominant cardenolide in nectar, glycosylated aspecioside, on an abundant pollinator. We show that a generalist bumblebee, Bombus impatiens, a common pollinator in eastern North America, consumes less nectar with experimental addition of ouabain (a standard cardenolide derived from Apocynacid plants native to east Africa) but not with addition of glycosylated aspecioside from milkweeds. At a concentration matching that of the maximum in the natural range, both cardenolides reduced activity levels of bees after four days of consumption, demonstrating toxicity despite variation in behavioral deterrence (i.e., consumption). In vitro enzymatic assays of Na+/K+-ATPase, the target site of cardenolides, showed lower toxicity of the milkweed cardenolide than ouabain for B. impatiens, indicating that the lower deterrence may be due to greater tolerance to glycosylated aspecioside. In contrast, there was no difference between the two cardenolides in toxicity to the Na+/K+-ATPase from a control insect, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Accordingly, this work reveals that even generalist pollinators such as B. impatiens may have adaptations to reduce the toxicity of specific plant secondary metabolites that occur in nectar, despite visiting flowers from a wide variety of plants over the colony's lifespan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catholic social teaching (CST) has shown little interest in structural and social forces that impact negatively on the dignity and flourishing of women. Such inattention diminishes CST's credibility and neglects its liberative potential. This article examines an area of structural violence against women, the social reality of prostitution, to illuminate the imperative to expand normative CST to address specific experiences of women. Given the inadequacy of the Catechism's treatment of prostitution as an area of personal moral failing, a reading which fails to understand how cultural and legislative structures bear down on women's freedom and agency, a task for CST emerges. When CST principles are brought into dialogue with empirical attention to women's experience of prostitution, the tradition stands in solidarity with those who inhabit an existential and social periphery. The article argues that CST perspectives should nudge the Catholic Church towards proposing an abolitionist ethic in relation to prostitution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Google Scholar Google Preview OpenURL Placeholder Text WorldCat COPAC 6 Haines CD, Rose EM, Odom KJ, Omland KE. Google Scholar Google Preview OpenURL Placeholder Text WorldCat COPAC 18 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Google Scholar Google Preview OpenURL Placeholder Text WorldCat COPAC 24 Grants.nih.gov. National Institutes of Health (NIH) Data Book: Number of NIH Principal Investigators Funded by Grant Mechanism and Race, 2020. https://report.nih.gov/nihdatabook/category/25. [Extracted from the article]

• Elevated C5-OH acylcarnitine in newborn screen has multiple causes. • Holocarboxylase synthetase deficiency was diagnosed by biochemical and genetic tests. • Timely identification of biotin-related defects prevents severe morbidities. Elevated 3-hydroxyisovaleryl-/2-methyl-3-hydroxybutyryl (C5-OH) acylcarnitine in blood can result from several genetic enzyme deficiencies: 3-methylcrotonyl CoA carboxylase deficiency, 3-hydroxy 3-methylglutaryl-CoA lyase deficiency, beta-ketothiolase deficiency, 2-methyl 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency, primary 3-methylglutaconic aciduria, multiple biotin-dependent carboxylase deficiencies and biotin metabolism disorders. Biochemical tests help differentiate these causes while molecular tests are usually required for definitive diagnosis. We reported an infant girl with newborn screen findings of elevated C5-OH acylcarnitine. She had further confirmational biochemical testing including plasma acylcarnitines, urine organic acids and urine acylglycines. Patient's urine organic acid profile showed markedly increased 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid and 3-methylcrotonylglycine. Urine acylglycine test reported a large increase of 3-methylcrotonylglycine and plasma acylcarnitine test repeated the finding of elevated C5-OH acylcarnitine together with propionyl acylcarnitine elevation. These results point to multiple biotin-dependent carboxylase deficiency. Molecular tests revealed a homozygous mutation in the holocarboxylase synthetase gene that is consistent with her biochemical test findings. This case demonstrated the critical role of newborn screen in identifying inborn errors of metabolism that may otherwise be missed and lead to severe morbidity later in life. It also showcased that both biochemical and molecular tests are essential tools in the diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One important cause of retinal haemorrhages (RHs) in children is abusive head trauma (AHT). Our programme of research was conducted on children admitted to hospital over a seven‐year period who had RHs as part of their clinical presentation. This paper summarises important findings from previous publications. As a prerequisite, two basic studies were necessary: (i) a method of reporting the precise location of the RH in the retina; and (ii) defining a simple clinical classification of RHs based on the appearance of the retinal layer involved. Because raised intracranial pressure (RICP) is a frequent secondary brain insult following serious adult head injury, causing hypoxic‐ischaemic injury with a resultant poor outcome, it was considered whether such RICP might also cause RHs in children. Detailed, state‐of‐the‐art monitoring methods were used to investigate this relationship along with retinal imaging. Methodical documentation of the type, area and lifespan of RHs meant that it was possible to address the question of predicting AHT from RH numbers and characteristics, and to describe not only the duration of different layer haemorrhages, but also a previously unreported observation that some RHs transiently enlarge over two to three days before resolving normally. 'One important cause of retinal haemorrhages (RHs) in children is abusive head trauma' Key Practitioner Messages: A new retinal zone classification for research and legal purposes has been developed, as well as a simplified five‐point working classification of RHs, based on existing fundoscopic descriptions.In this cohort study, a young age and a high 'dot‐blot' count (>25 intraretinal haemorrhages) are strong predictors of AHT.There is a complex association between the burden of intracranial pressure insult and RHs.Time to resolution of different RHs has been calculated using two‐dimensional RH area pixel counts from sequential retinal imaging. Two patterns of resolution are reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatitis B (HBV) is endemic in Haiti, therefore Haitian immigrants should be screened to identify and link affected individuals to care. Current screening approaches are ineffective. We assessed the acceptability and feasibility of home-based screening among Haitian immigrants using community health workers (CHWs). We recruited participants exiting a pragmatic trial evaluating strategies to improve care delivery (NCT02970136). Participants completed an acceptability questionnaire. Blood drawn by CHWs at participants' homes or community sites was tested for hepatitis B surface antigen, hepatitis B surface antibody and hepatitis B core antibody. Of 60 participants, 59 found screening acceptable; 53 had blood drawn. Of those, 45.3% had HBV previously, 49.1% remained susceptible and 5.7% were vaccinated. Respondents cited various reasons community members might find screening unacceptable. The high prior HBV rate highlights the need for effective outreach programs. Home-based HBV screening was both acceptable and feasible among Haitian immigrants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metabarcoding of prey DNA from fecal samples can be used to design behavioral experiments to study the foraging behavior and sensory ecology of predators. The frog-eating bat, Trachops cirrhosus , eavesdrops on the mating calls of its anuran prey. We captured wild T. cirrhosus and identified prey remains in the bats' fecal samples using DNA metabarcoding of two gene regions (CO1 and 16S). Bats were preying on frogs previously unknown in their diet, such as species in the genus Pristimantis , which occurred in 29% of T. cirrhosus samples. Twenty-three percent of samples also contained DNA of Anolis lizards. We additionally report apparently rare predation events on hummingbirds and heterospecific bats. We used results from metabarcoding to design acoustic and 3D model stimuli to present to bats in behavioral experiments. We show predatory responses by T. cirrhosus to the calls of the frog Pristimantis taeniatus and to the rustling sounds of anoles moving through leaf-litter, as well as attacks on a stuffed hummingbird and a plastic anole model. The combination of species-specific dietary information from metabarcoding analyses with behavioral responses to prey cues provides a unique window into the foraging ecology of predators that are difficult to observe in the wild. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Philaenus spumarius (Meadow Spittlebug, Homoptera: Cercopoidea) is a cosmopolitan generalist insect that feeds on a wide repertoire of host plants in the field. We studied density and growth of Meadow Spittlebugs on a range of host plants on Kent Island, a boreal island in the Bay of Fundy, NB, Canada. The highest spittlebug densities were on Cirsium arvense (Canadian Thistle), although spittlebugs had larger body sizes on Solidago rugosa (Rough-stemmed Goldenrod) and Anaphalis margaritacea (Pearly Everlasting). We fertilized plots of Rough-stemmed Goldenrod in the field over 3 weeks to examine the effects of plant quality on development of Meadow Spittlebugs. Following fertilization, there were fewer nymphs present in fertilized plots than in unfertilized plots, indicating faster nymph maturation to adulthood on fertilized plants. This study offers an initial report of the host plants used by Meadow Spittlebugs in northeastern boreal habitat, variation in density and performance of the species on a range of host plants, and the effects of plant fertilization on spittlebug life history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The Friedewald equation is the commonly used method of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) calculation, requiring reflex to direct LDL-C measurement when triglycerides (TG) ≥ 400 mg/dL. Recently formulated Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins methods have been validated with TG up to 800 mg/dL and thus have the potential to replace direct LDL-C measurement. Given the growing prevalence of childhood dyslipidemia, the objective of this study was to compare Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins methods of LDL-C calculation with the direct measurement in a pediatric cohort with 400 ≤ TG ≤ 799 mg/dL. Methods This study retrieved standard lipid panels and corresponding direct LDL-C measurements of 131 patients with 400 ≤ TG ≤ 799 mg/dL from a pediatric population. Following the application of Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins calculations, calculated values were compared with direct LDL-C measurements using ordinary least squares linear regression analysis and bias plotting. Results Both Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins LDL-C calculations exhibited a strong correlation with the direct measurements (Pearson r  = 0.89) in patients with 400 ≤ TG ≤ 800 mg/dL. Average percentages of bias of 45% and 21% were found between the direct LDL-C measurements and Sampson or extended Martin/Hopkins calculations, respectively.  Conclusion Both Sampson and extended Martin/Hopkins calculations are applicable as clinical alternatives of direct LDL-C measurement in pediatric patients given 400 ≤ TG ≤ 799 mg/dL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The connection between adult preferences and offspring performance is a long‐standing issue in understanding the evolutionary and ecological forces that dictate host associations and specialization in herbivorous insects. Indeed, decisions made by females about where to lay their eggs have direct consequences for fitness and are influenced by interacting factors including offspring performance, defence and competition. Nonetheless, in addition to these attributes of the offspring, a female's choices may be affected by her own prior experience. Here we examined oviposition preference, larval performance and the role of learning in the monarch butterfly, Danaus plexippus, which encounters diverse milkweed host species across its broad range and over the course of migration. Monarch females consistently preferred to oviposit on Asclepias incarnata subspecies pulchra. This plant, however, was associated with poor caterpillar growth, low sequestration of toxins and the highest plant defences (latex and trichomes). We examined flexibility in this apparently maladaptive preference by testing the impact of previous experience and competition on preference. Experience laying on an alternative plant species enhanced preference for that species in contrast to A. i. pulchra. In addition, presence of a (competing) conspecific caterpillar on A. i. pulchra had a strongly deterrent effect and reversed host plant preferences. Thus, monarch butterflies exhibit preferences contrary to what would be expected based on offspring development and sequestered defences, but their preferences are altered by learning and competition, which may allow butterflies to shift preferences as they encounter diverse milkweeds across the landscape. Learning and perception of threats (i.e. competition or predation) may be critical for most herbivorous insects, which universally experience heterogeneity among their potential host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, migrate long distances over which they encounter host plants that vary broadly in toxic cardenolides. Remarkably little is understood about the mechanisms of sequestration in Lepidoptera that lay eggs on host plants ranging in such toxins. Using closely-related milkweed host plants that differ more than ten-fold in cardenolide concentrations, we mechanistically address the intake, sequestration, and excretion of cardenolides by monarchs. We show that on high cardenolide plant species, adult butterflies saturate in cardenolides, resulting in lower concentrations than in leaves, while on low cardenolide plants, butterflies concentrate toxins. Butterflies appear to focus their sequestration on particular compounds, as the diversity of cardenolides is highest in plant leaves, lower in frass, and least in adult butterflies. Among the variety of cardenolides produced by the plant, sequestered compounds may be less toxic to the butterflies themselves, as they are more polar on average than those in leaves. In accordance with this, results from an in vitro assay based on inhibition of Na+/K+ ATPase (the physiological target of cardenolides) showed that on two milkweed species, including the high cardenolide A. perennis, extracts from butterflies have lower inhibitory effects than leaves when standardized by cardenolide concentration, indicating selective sequestration of less toxic compounds from these host plants. To understand how ontogeny shapes sequestration, we examined cardenolide concentrations in caterpillar body tissues and hemolymph over the course of development. Caterpillars sequestered higher concentrations of cardenolides as early instars than as late instars, but within the fifth instar, concentration increased with body mass. Although it appears that large amounts of sequestration occurs in early instars, a host switching experiment revealed that caterpillars can compensate for feeding on low cardenolide host plants with substantial sequestration in the fifth instar. We highlight commonalities and striking differences in the mechanisms of sequestration depending on host plant chemistry and developmental stage, which have important implications for monarch defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is increasing at differential rates depending on race. We aimed to identify associations between race and survival after HCC diagnosis in a diverse American population.Methods: Using the cancer registry from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami and Jackson Memorial Hospitals, we performed retrospective analysis of 999 patients diagnosed with HCC between 9/24/2004 and 12/19/2014. We identified clinical characteristics by reviewing available electronic medical records. The association between race and survival was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards regression.Results: Median survival in days was 425 in Blacks, 904.5 in non-Hispanic Whites, 652 in Hispanics, 570 in Asians, and 928 in others, p < 0.01. Blacks and Asians presented at more advanced stages with larger tumors. Although Whites had increased severity of liver disease at diagnosis compared to other races, they had 36% reduced rate of death compared to Blacks, [hazard ratio (HR) 0.64, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.51-0.8, p < 0.01]. After adjusting for significant covariates, Whites had 22% (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.61-0.99, p 0.04) reduced risk of death, compared to Blacks. Transplant significantly reduced rate of death; however, only 13.3% of Blacks had liver transplant, compared to 40.1% of Whites, p < 0.01.Conclusions: In this diverse sample of patients, survival among Blacks is the shortest after HCC diagnosis. Survival differences reflect a more advanced tumor stage at presentation rather than severity of underlying liver disease precluding treatment. Improving survival in minority populations, in whom HCC incidence is rapidly increasing, requires identification and modification of factors contributing to late-stage presentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term memory has clear advantages for animals but also has neurological and behavioral costs 1–3. Encoding memories is metabolically expensive 1. Older memories can interfere with retrieval of more recent memories 3 , prolong decision-making and reduce cognitive flexibility 2,3. Given these opposing selection pressures, understanding how long memories last can shed light on how memory enhances or constrains animals' abilities to exploit their niches. Although testing memory retention in wild animals is difficult, it is important because captive conditions do not reflect the complex cognitive demands of wild environments, and long-term captivity changes the brain 4 (Data S1A). Here, we trained wild-caught frog-eating bats (Trachops cirrhosus) to find prey by flying to a novel acoustic cue. After they learned the rewarded sound, we released them back into the wild, and then re-captured some of them one to four years later. When re-tested, all eight 'experienced' bats that previously learned the novel prey sounds flew to those sounds within seconds, whereas 17 naïve bats tested with the same sounds showed weak responses. Experienced bats also showed behavior indicating generalization of memories between novel sounds and rewards over time. The frog-eating bat's remarkably long memory indicates that an ability to remember rarely encountered prey may be advantageous for this predator and suggests hitherto unknown cognitive abilities in bats. Frog-eating bats eavesdrop on prey mating calls and learn which calls indicate palatable prey. Dixon et al. report that bats trained to fly to a novel sound flew to that sound when recaptured 1–4 years later and generalized the response to acoustically similar stimuli. Long memories may aid predators that hunt seasonally variable or rare prey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevalence of stroke and traditional filial responsibility involve adult children in caregiving to their parent stroke survivors in China. Support resources are insufficient because of the shrinking size of family and the underdeveloped support system. Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the correlates of perceived social support among adult child caregivers of parent stroke survivors in China. Methods: A cross-sectional correlational design was used in this study. A nonproportional quota sample of 126 adult child caregivers was recruited from Zhejiang Province, China. Data were collected at either the hospital stroke units or the respondents' homes using structured questionnaires of caregiving dyadic demographics and caregiving characteristics, 14-item Activities of Daily Living, 15-item Mutuality Scale, and 12-item Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. SPSS 17.0 was used for analysis. Results: Caregivers' mutuality, education, full employment or being retired, monthly income, having a co-carer, and having a father as the care receiver were significantly positively associated with caregivers' perceived social support. However, mutuality was not significantly associated with caregivers' perceived social support after the other factors were adjusted. Conclusions/Implications for Practice: Adult child caregivers with higher levels of mutuality, education, or monthly income; who are fully employed or are retired; who have a co-carer; or who are caring for a father perceived more social support. Nursing strategies and social policies need to be directed to enhance caregiver mutuality and support caregiving efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the daily practice of forensic pathology, sudden cardiac death ( SCD) is a diagnostic challenge. Our aim was to determine the usefulness of blood biomarkers [creatine kinase CK- MB, myoglobin, troponins I and T ( cTn-I and T), and lactate dehydrogenase] measured by immunoassay technique, in the postmortem diagnosis of SCD. Two groups were compared, 20 corpses with SCD and 8 controls. Statistical significance was determined by variance analysis procedures, with a post hoc Tukey multiple range test for comparison of means ( p < 0.05). SCD cases showed significantly higher levels ( p < 0.05) of cTn-T and cTn-I compared to the control group. Although only cases within the first 8 h of postmortem interval were included, and the control group consisted mainly of violent death cases, our results suggest that blood troponin levels may be useful to support a diagnosis of SCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose. Caregiving to parent stroke survivors in China is increasing and adult child–parent relationships are being challenged. The purpose of this study was to explore whether mutuality and filial piety have a protective role against caregiver depression. Design. A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with a nonproportional quota sample of 126 caregivers. Surveys were conducted at hospitals or in homes using structured questionnaires: the 15-item Mutuality Scale, the 4-item Filial Attitude Scale, the 9-item Filial Behavior Scale, and the 10-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale. Results. Higher mutuality and stronger filial attitudes were significantly associated with less caregiver depression after the covariates were controlled. Mutuality explained 5.5% (p < .01) and filial attitude explained 4.6% (p < .01) of the variance in caregiver depression. Conclusion. Mutuality and filial attitude may be protective factors against caregiver depression. Implications for Practice. Supportive strategies can be implemented to enhance mutuality and filial attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The strain inherent in caregiving relationships between adult children and aging parents is a prominent issue in contemporary China due to a combination of demographic and socioeconomic changes. The purpose of this study was to explore how mutuality, a positive quality of caregiving relationships, contributes to the physical health and mental health (healthrelated quality of life [HRQoL]) of adult child caregivers [ACCs] of parent stroke survivors. A cross-sectional correlational study was conducted on a nonproportional quota sample of 126 ACCs, using questionnaires of demographics, the 15-item Mutuality Scale, and the Second Version of the Standard 12-Item Health Survey (SF-12v2). Higher mutuality was found to be correlated with better caregiver physical health and mental health. However, after adjusting for the covariates, mutuality significantly explained 4.6% of the variance of caregiver physical health (β = .22, ΔR2 = .046, p < .01) but it did not significantly explain the variance of caregiver mental health. Although multiple factors correlate with Chinese family caregivers' HRQoL, this was the first study exploring the impact of caregiver-care receiver dyadic relationships on caregiver HRQoL in mainland China by using a mutuality scale with SF-12v2. Despite the fact that the Chinese tradition of filial piety can facilitate mutuality, socioeconomic changes and legislation that require adult children to care for aging parents appear to create high stress among family caregivers. Higher levels of mutuality contribute to better physical health in Chinese family caregivers. Therefore, culturally appropriate family nursing strategies and social policies in China could enhance caregiver mutuality and potentially promote their HRQoL, in particular physical health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To explore the relationship between raised intracranial pressure (RICP) and retinal haemorrhages in traumatic and non-traumatic childhood encephalopathies.Method: A prospective study of 112 children (35 females and 77 males, age range 0.01mo-17y 8.3mo; mean 5y 8.6mo, median 4y 5.6mo) included 57 accidental traumatic brain injuries (ATBIs), 21 inflicted traumatic brain injuries (ITBIs), and 34 non-traumatic encephalopathy cases. Measurements included intracranial pressure (ICP), cerebral perfusion pressure, pressure-time index of ICP, and number, zone, and layer of retinal haemorrhages on retinal imaging.Results: Group I had measured elevated ICP (n=42), Group II had clinical and/or radiological signs of RICP (n=21), and Group III had normal ICP (n=49). In the combined Groups I and II, 38% had retinal haemorrhages. Multiple logistic regression confirmed that the presence of retinal haemorrhages was significantly related to the presence of RICP independent of age and aetiology; however, the occurrence and overall numbers were not significantly related to the specific ICP level. The numbers of intraretinal (nerve-fibre layer and dot blot) retinal haemorrhages were significantly greater in those with RICP. The ITBI population was significantly different from the other combined aetiological categories.Interpretation: The study results indicate a complex RICP/retinal haemorrhage relationship. There was no evidence of existing retinal haemorrhages being exacerbated or new retinal haemorrhages developing during periods of confirmed RICP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between plants and insects is influenced by insects' behavioral decisions during foraging and oviposition. In mutualistic pollinators and antagonistic herbivores, past experience (learning) affects such decisions, which ultimately can impact plant fitness. The higher levels of dietary generalism in pollinators than in herbivores may be an explanation for the differences in learning seen between these two groups. Generalist pollinators experience a high level of environmental variation, which we suggest favors associative learning. Larval herbivores employ habituation and sensitization-strategies useful in their less variable environments. Exceptions to these patterns based on habitats, mobility, and life history provide critical tests of current theory. Relevant plant traits should be under selection to be easily learned and remembered in pollinators and difficult to learn in herbivores. Insect learning thereby has the potential to have an important, yet largely unexplored, role in plant-insect coevolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Attraction of mutualists and defense against antagonists are critical challenges for most organisms and can be especially acute for plants with pollinating and non-pollinating flower visitors. Secondary compounds in flowers have been hypothesized to adaptively mediate attraction of mutualists and defense against antagonists, but this hypothesis has rarely been tested. The tissues of milkweeds ( Asclepias spp.) contain toxic cardenolides that have long been studied as chemical defenses against herbivores. Milkweed nectar also contains cardenolides, and we have examined the impact of manipulating cardenolides in nectar on the foraging choices of two flower visitors: generalist bumble bees, Bombus impatiens, which are mutualistic pollinators, and specialist monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, which are herbivores as larvae and ineffective pollinators as adults. Although individual bumble bees in single foraging bouts showed no avoidance of cardenolides at the highest natural concentrations reported for milkweeds, a pattern of deterrence did arise when entire colonies were allowed to forage for several days. Monarch butterflies were not deterred by the presence of cardenolides in nectar when foraging from flowers, but laid fewer eggs on plants paired with cardenolide-laced flowers compared to controls. Thus, although deterrence of bumble bees by cardenolides may only occur after extensive foraging, a primary effect of nectar cardenolides appears to be reduction of monarch butterfly oviposition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foraging decisions can be influenced by innate biases, previous individual experience and social information acquired from conspecifics. We examined how these factors interact to affect flower colour preference in the large earth bumblebee, Bombus terrestris dalmatinus . Individual bees with no experience foraging on coloured flowers were first tested for innate colour biases on an unrewarded array of blue and yellow artificial flowers. Depending on treatment, bees then acquired individual experience foraging on a colour (either blue or yellow) associated with high-quality sucrose rewards, or a colour with low-quality sucrose rewards, or they did not acquire any individual experience. Bees were then exposed to the alternative colour associated with conspecific demonstrator bees (social information) or the alternative colour with no social information. Bees that had no individual experience visited flower colours that were associated with conspecific demonstrators (social information) but only significantly if the socially demonstrated colour was one for which bees had an innate bias. When bees had individual experience foraging on a colour with high-quality rewards they continued foraging on that colour, and generally did not visit the socially demonstrated alternative colour, regardless of innate colour bias. Alternatively, when bees had individual experience foraging on colours with low-quality rewards, they made more visits to the socially demonstrated alternative flower colour, but only when the alternative colour was the colour for which they had an innate bias. Bees that had no access to social information continued to forage on low-reward coloured flowers. Thus we show that reward quality of resources with which bees have individual experience affects the use of social information but with an important role of innate biases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mating calls of male túngara frogs, Physalaemus pustulosus, attract intended (conspecific females) and unintended (eavesdropping predators and parasites) receivers. The calls are complex, having two components: a frequency-modulated 'whine' followed by 0-7 harmonic bursts or 'chucks'. The whine is necessary and sufficient to elicit phonotaxis from females and the chuck enhances call attractiveness when it follows a whine. Although chucks are never made alone, females perceptually bind the whine and chuck when they are spatially separated. We tested whether an unintended receiver with independent evolution of phonotaxis, the frog-eating bat, Trachops cirrhosus, has converged with frogs in its auditory grouping of the call components. In contrast to frogs, bats approached chucks broadcast alone; when the chuck was spatially separated from the whine the bats preferentially approached the whine, and bats were sensitive to whine-chuck temporal sequence. This contrast suggests that although disparate taxa may be selected to respond to the same signals, different evolutionary histories, selective regimes, and neural and cognitive architectures may result in different weighting and grouping of signal components between generalist predators and conspecific mates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article describes how Sister to Sister, an evidence-based HIV/STD intervention for African American women in clinical settings, was prepared for national dissemination using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Replicating Effective Programs research translation process. To test the feasibility of the intervention in the “real world,” Sister to Sister’s original research team collaborated with community partners to field-test the intervention in three clinical settings. Experiences from field-testing and input from a community advisory board were used to translate research protocols into a package of user-friendly materials that could be easily adopted by frontline clinic staff throughout the nation. Process monitoring and evaluation data demonstrated that Sister to Sister could be implemented successfully by a variety of practitioners including nurses, health educators, and HIV test counselors. “Buy-in” from clinic administrators and providers was a prerequisite to the success of the intervention. Replicating Effective Programs provided a useful process that can be applied by others to successfully prepare evidence-based interventions such as Sister to Sister for national dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) increases risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis B; however, HDV screening rates are low. We assessed providers' perceived barriers to HDV screening and management. METHODS: We distributed an Internet-based survey to members of 3 gastroenterology/hepatology organizations. RESULTS: Most respondents, 69.3%, correctly identified the appropriate HDV screening test. Several reported barriers to HDV care, including uncertainty of screening criteria, 55.5%, and lack of treatment knowledge, 66.7%. DISCUSSION: Our findings highlight the need for increased education regarding HDV care. Education should be combined with standardized approaches that increase ease of HDV screening. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biomass settleability, filament content, density, and factors known to affect density were monitored at a full-scale enhanced biological phosphorus (EBPR) plant to characterize system performance during start-up and several subsequent short-term process disruptions. Settleability fluctuated for two months after initial start-up, which corresponded to changes in both filamentous bacteria content and biomass density. Following start-up, a rain event was associated with greatly increased density (possibly because of washing of inorganic particulates to the system), and decreased filament content, and both of these factors may have contributed to improved settleability. Five months after start-up, a 36-hour repair-related process disruption resulted in decreased biomass density and stored polyphosphate simultaneously with degraded settleability, whereas filament content remained at low levels, and actually decreased after the disruption. During recovery, biomass density increased (simultaneously with increased storage of high-density polyphosphate) and settleability improved. A second, shorter aeration disruption also was linked to decreased density and degraded settleability, but not to changes in filament content. Although the observed changes in settleability were not severe, these results suggested that short-term process upsets can affect biomass density, and this in turn can affect the performance of biomass sedimentation. This research confirmed that well-performing EBPR can improve settleability by increasing biomass density, and it provided insights to how process disruptions can affect settleability. This may aid in the development of strategies for system recovery after disruptions; for example, avoiding planned disruptions during periods of lower density (e.g., winter months) may be useful to minimize negative effects on settleability, and prioritizing recovery of EBPR after a disruption may also help recover settleability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: L-3-Hydroxy fatty acids are unusual metabolites and rarely occur in significant quantities in normal human physiology. Genetic defects of both long-chain and medium-/short-chain mitochondrial L-3 hydroxyacyl coenzyme A dehydrogenases (LCHAD, M/SCHAD) have been identified as significant metabolic diseases in humans often with severe clinical phenotypes and pathophysiology that appears to differ from other defects of straight chain fatty acid oxidation. It is felt that accumulation of these atypical fatty acid species may play a role in this pathology. We have therefore developed an assay to measure these compounds in body fluids, and tissue culture medium to help in the diagnosis of these disorders and to better study the effects of 3-hydroxy fatty acid accumulation. Methods: We have developed a stable isotope dilution, selected ion-monitoring gas chromatography-mass spectrometric assay for the measurement of all 3-hydroxy fatty acids from chain lengths C6 to C18 using 1,2 13C-labeled internal standards for all species. Authentic patient samples were utilized to develop reference intervals for control subjects, for those associated with patient samples confirmed at the molecular level to have either LCHAD or M/SCHAD deficiency and for patients who did not have disease but were fasting or on diets high in medium-chain fatty acids. Likewise, skin fibroblasts were obtained from patients with confirmed disease for additional study. Samples were also obtained from the hadh (M/SCHAD) knockout mouse. Results: The measurement of 3-hydroxy fatty acids in patient plasma is a valuable tool in the identification of defects of both enzymes. Severe starvation, prolonged fasting and increased medium-chain triglycerides in the diet produce a profile that is similar to that seen in M/SCHAD deficiency, making this a more difficult condition to diagnose but these biomarkers provide an important clue to the diagnosis, particularly in non-fasted, diet-controlled patients. Fibroblast studies in LCHAD deficiency demonstrate that long-chain 3-hydroxy fatty acid accumulation can be observed in cultured tissues. Incubation of cultured fibroblasts from LCHAD deficient patients with labeled fatty acids demonstrated a process of chain lengthening that has not previously been recognized. Conclusions: The measurement of body fluid and cultured cell 3-hydroxy fatty acids provides both diagnostic and pathogenic information regarding these genetic diseases of fatty acid oxidation in the mitochondrion. Presently, the measurement of medium- and short-chain species provides a major metabolic biomarker for the recognition of M/SCHAD deficiency. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Lipodomics and Imaging Mass Spectrometry. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article presents a study which focuses on the role of self-help housing in dealing with homelessness. It states the benefits of self-help housing which include filling the demand for housing, development of social relationships, and conquer social isolation. It mentions the ways for it to succeed which include financial assistance from cooperatives, offering of abandoned properties by local authorities and housing associations, and collaboration of homelessness referral agencies.

Students with hearing loss attending general education classrooms have been reported to experience difficulties in social skills and relationships. This 5-year longitudinal study examined the social skills and problem behaviors of students who were deaf or hard of hearing, and who attended general education classrooms. Data were obtained from classroom teachers and students themselves. The mean Social Skills and Problem Behavior scores (Social Skills Raring Scales; Gresham & Elliott, 1990) were within the average range and normally distributed each year. The average change over 5 years in social skills and problem behavior was not significant. The most consistent predictors of social outcomes were the students' classroom communication participation and participation in extracurricular activities. Implications for placement, intervention, and further research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding teacher and school librarian collaboration is essential for school librarians to be able to comply with professional school librarian guidelines. While information exists about what school librarians perceive teacher and school librarian collaboration to be, little is understood about teachers' perceptions of collaborative endeavors with school librarians. This study examines teachers' perceptions of teacher and school librarian collaboration. The study surveyed 194 elementary school teachers in two school districts to determine how frequently teachers engaged in collaborative endeavors and how important to student learning teachers' perceived the collaborative endeavors to be. A 16 item self-administered survey was used for data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is currently no universally accepted classification of childhood retinal haemorrhages. Aim To measure the inter- and intra-observer agreement of clinical classifications of retinal haemorrhages in children. Methods Four examiners (two consultant ophthalmologists and two other clinicians) were shown 142 retinal haemorrhages on 31 RetCam photographs. The retinal haemorrhages were from children with accidental or abusive head injury, or other encephalopathies, and included retinal haemorrhages of different ages. Specified haemorrhages were initially classified by each examiner according to their clinical understanding. Altogether, 26 haemorrhages were represented to test intra-observer consistency. Examiners then agreed a common description for each haemorrhage type and five categories were described (vitreous, pre-retinal, nerve fibre layer, intra-retinal/subretinal or indeterminate) and the study repeated. Results There was 'fair agreement' initially (Fleiss' unweighted κ=0.219) and, with the agreed classification, slight improvement (0.356). Intra-observer agreement marginally improved on re-test. The two consultant ophthalmologists showed 'fair' agreement on both occasions (paired κ statistic). The other rater pair improved from 'fair' to 'substantial' agreement with the new classification. Conclusions The classification of retinal haemorrhage in children by appearance alone shows only fair agreement between examiners. Clinicians who are not consultant ophthalmologists appear to benefit from the new succinct classification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Biosolids sedimentation is a critical component of the activated sludge wastewater treatment process. Seasonal variability of biomass settleability has been previously reported and linked to variable filament content in some studies, but others have reported seasonal variations without changes in filament content. Biomass density (mass per microbial floc volume, not including pore spaces) has recently been shown to vary substantially and to affect settleability in full-scale systems, but its potential role in seasonal variations has not been previously evaluated. Four full-scale activated sludge systems were monitored for density, filament content, and settleability for a year. Biomass density values were significantly higher in warm weather than in cold weather in all plants. Settleability was significantly worse in cold weather in three of the four systems, and the inverse of the buoyant density was correlated with settleability in these three systems. Filament content, on the other hand, exhibited seasonal variability and was correlated with settleability in only one of the four plants. Non-volatile suspended solids content was correlated with buoyant density and exhibited seasonal variability in all four systems. Biomass phosphorus content measurements suggested that seasonally variable enhanced biological phosphorus removal activity affected density in one of the systems. These results suggest that variable density plays a role in seasonally variable settleability in some full-scale wastewater treatment systems, they help to clarify previously unexplained reports of seasonally variable settleability that were independent of changes in filament content, and they provide the basis for development of strategies for improved performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An obituary for poet Florence Anthony is presented.

Abstract: Homarus americanus (Milne-Edwards), the American lobster, is a predator in New England subtidal communities, feeding on ecologically important grazers (sea urchins), mesopredators (crabs), and basal species (mussels). In this study, we provide the first report of adult American lobsters foraging in rocky intertidal habitats during nocturnal high tides. Censuses by SCUBA divers in the low intertidal (Chondrus crispus Stackhouse) zone showed mean densities of 2.2 lobsters/20 m2 on nocturnal high tides, with contrasting low densities of 0.18/20 m2 during diurnal high tides. Nocturnal high-tide intertidal densities were 62% of those reported in a previous study of lobsters in nearby subtidal rocky areas (Novak, 2004). The average carapace length of lobsters in the intertidal at night was >50 mm. These lobsters were actively foraging in the intertidal with collected individuals having a mean stomach fullness of 67%. Prey found in the stomach contents primarily consisted of crabs, mussels and snails. Field experiments showed that lobsters rarely fed on medium to large size individuals of the common intertidal snail, Littorina littorea (L.). In contrast, experiments with local crab species demonstrated that lobsters actively and readily prey on Cancer irroratus (Say) and Carcinus maenas (L.), but were significantly less likely to consume Cancer borealis (Stimpson). The abundance of Carcinus maenas and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) in the intertidal zone may explain the upshore movement of lobsters. Since nocturnal migration of Homarus americanus into the intertidal zone has not been documented before, our understanding of the dynamics of New England intertidal communities needs to be expanded to include this predator. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Explaining the coexistence of closely related species sharing a single resource has been a long-standing challenge in ecology. Here we report on studies comparing the aphids Aphis nerii and A. asclepiadis that feed sympatrically on the milkweed Asclepias syriaca in northeastern North America. We sought to identify tradeoffs among species’ attributes that might promote coexistence, but in most instances A. nerii was superior to A. asclepiadis. Aphis nerii was 84% more fecund, fed upon 880% more phloem sap, and was affected 70% less by intraspecific competition as compared to A. asclepiadis. In interspecific competition, A. nerii reduced A. asclepiadis abundance by 77%, whereas A. asclepiadis did not affect A. nerii. In dispersal trials, 10% of winged A. nerii but only 1% of A. asclepiadis successfully moved from non-host plants to A. syriaca. We also investigated whether there were differences in aphid interactions with milkweed cardenolides. Jasmonic acid increased milkweed cardenolides by 33%, a realistic amount similar to that induced by several leaf-chewing herbivores. Nevertheless, jasmonate-induced cardenolides failed to affect aphid performance and aphid feeding had no effect on milkweed cardenolide concentration. Yet cardenolides were important for aphid resistance to predators; A. nerii sequestered 25% more cardenolides and was preyed upon 50% less than A. asclepiadis. Interactions with cardenolides thus again favored A. nerii over A. asclepiadis. Given that A. nerii and A. asclepiadis are decidedly not equivalent in their demography, competitive ability, defense and dispersal, our results strongly refute the notion that neutral processes can explain coexistence of these aphids. Based on field observations, we propose two tradeoffs – timing of milkweed colonization and relationships with ants – as putative mechanisms for the coexistence of these congeners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Although mitochondrial fatty acid β-oxidation (FAO) is considered to be well understood, further elucidation of the pathway continues through evaluation of patients with FAO defects. The FAO pathway can be examined by measuring the 3-hydroxy-fatty acid (3-OHFA) intermediates. We present a unique finding in the study of this pathway: the addition of medium-chain fatty acids to the culture media of fibroblasts results in generation of 3-OHFAs which are two carbons longer than the precursor substrate. Cultured skin fibroblasts from normal and LCHAD-deficient individuals were grown in media supplemented with various chain-length fatty acids. The cell-free medium was analyzed for 3-OHFAs by stable-isotope dilution gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry. Our finding suggests that a novel carbon chain-length elongation process precedes the oxidation of medium-chain fatty acids. This previously undescribed metabolic step may have important implications for the metabolism of medium-chain triglycerides, components in the dietary treatment of a number of disorders. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The treatment for patients with genetic disorders of mitochondrial long-chain fatty acid β-oxidation is directed toward providing sufficient sources of energy for normal growth and development, and at the same time preventing the adverse effects that precipitate or result from metabolic decompensation. Standard of care treatment has focused on preventing the mobilization of lipids that result from fasting and providing medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) in the diet in order to bypass the long-chain metabolic block. MCTs that are currently available as commercial preparations are in the form of even-chain fatty acids that are predominately a mixture of octanoate and decanoate. Recently, the use of odd-chain fatty acids has been proposed as an alternative treatment. We have shown previously that the even-numbered medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) that are found in MCT preparations can reduce the accumulation of potentially toxic long-chain metabolites of fatty acid oxidation (FAO). In the current study, we undertook to determine if the same is true of odd-numbered MCFAs. We found that provision of odd-chain species does decrease the build-up of long-chain FAO intermediates in our in vitro skin fibroblast model, but to a lesser extent than even-numbered MCFAs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Asian American immigrant women engaged in filial caregiving are at special risk for health problems due to complex contextual factors related to immigration, cultural traditions, and role transition. This study examines the experience of two groups of immigrant Asian American women who are caring for older parents. A total of 41 women (22 Chinese American and 19 Filipino American) were interviewed in a study based on Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory methodology. The women were determined to be loyal to their traditional culture, which included strong filial values, while adapting to a new culture. Through the struggle of meeting role expectations and coping with paradox, the women mobilized personal and family resources to transform vulnerability into strength and well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with a study which described the process of caring for elderly parents by Asian-American women in the U.S. Methodology of the study based on the Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory of methodology; Strategies in caregiving; Implications of transitions to the contexts and roles of caregivers.