Search

Burkholderia thailandensis, a gram-negative bacterium found in the environment, poses a public health threat both because of its ability to cause infections as an opportunistic pathogen and potential misidentification as [...] more...

Author(s): Aleyah Johnson [sup.1] , Page D. Dobbs [sup.1] [sup.2] [sup.3] , Lois Coleman [sup.1] [sup.4] , Sarah Maness [sup.1] [sup.5] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.266900.b, 0000 0004 0447 0018, Department [...], Objectives Adverse birth outcomes among children born to women of color (WOC) have been associated with discrimination during pregnancy; however, little research has explored stressed caused by discrimination as well as pregnancy-specific stress. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in stress and racial discrimination (lifetime and during pregnancy) between U.S. women of different racial/ethnic groups. Methods Women between 18 and 45 years (n = 198; 101 non-Hispanic White, 58 Black, and 39 other WOC [i.e., Hispanic, Asian/Pacific Islander, American Indian, Mixed Race]) completed an online, cross-sectional survey between December 2019 and March 2020. Participants reported pregnancy-specific stress using the pregnancy distress questionnaire (PDQ) and pregnancy life events scale (PLE) and discrimination via the general ethnic discrimination scale (GED). ANOVAs explored differences between racial/ethnic groups&apos; stress and discrimination. Results We found non-Hispanic White (p < 0.05) and other WOC (p < 0.01) reported higher distress during pregnancy than Black women, and other WOC (p < 0.05) reported more stressful prenatal life events (p 0.05) than non-Hispanic Whites. However, Black (p 0.001) and other WOC (p 0.001) both experienced more ethnic discrimination throughout their lifetime and during their pregnancy than non-Hispanic Whites. Also, Black women experienced five times the stress from these encounters than White women (p < 0.001). Conclusions for Practice Previously developed pregnancy distress questionnaires may be better suited for non-Hispanic White populations and may miss important experiences unique to marginalized populations such as racial/ethnic discrimination. Adaptations to pregnancy-related stress scales are warranted given the toxicity of discrimination during pregnancy. more...

Dear Editor, While tobacco use is restricted in public spaces such as workplaces, restaurants, and public housing, non-smokers' exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) can happen in the home, especially [...] more...

Author(s): Page D. Dobbs [sup.1] [sup.5] , Yu Lu [sup.2] , Sarah Maness [sup.2] , Lois Coleman [sup.2] , Aleyah Johnson [sup.2] , Samantha Metz [sup.3] , Charlie Vidal [sup.4] [...], Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine differences between perceived harm of cigarette and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use while pregnant and differences between healthcare providers&apos; communication about these products during pregnancy. Methods A convenience sample of gestational women (n = 218; ages 18-45) living in the US completed an online survey between May and December 2017. Participants reported perceived likelihood of adverse health outcomes (e.g., low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome) among infants/children born to mothers who used cigarettes/e-cigarettes. T-tests and two-way ANOVAs examined differences between risk perceptions of using cigarettes/e-cigarettes while pregnant based on pregnancy status (previously pregnant, currently pregnant, future pregnant). Chi-square analyses examined differences between healthcare provider communication about cigarette/e-cigarette use during pregnancy. Results Overall, participants believed adverse health outcomes were significantly more likely to be caused by maternal use of cigarettes than e-cigarettes. Participants who planned to be pregnant reported higher endorsement that smoking combustible cigarettes would cause a miscarriage (p < .05) or increased blood pressure (p < .05) for a child than currently pregnant participants. Participants reported healthcare providers asked about (p < .05), advised them not to use (p < .001), and talked to them about health effects of smoking combustible cigarettes while pregnant (p < .001) significantly more than e-cigarettes. Conclusions for Practice Healthcare providers working with pregnant women should perform the 5As behavioral intervention method to provide pregnant women with tobacco cessation care. They should also discuss the absolute harm nicotine exposure (via cigarettes or e-cigarettes) can have on fetal health and development. more...

Burkholderia pseudomallei, which causes melioidosis, is a gram-negative saprophytic bacterium endemic to tropical and subtropical environments worldwide; to our knowledge, isolation from the continental United States has not been reported [...] more...

Introduction2017 was a year of extreme hurricane activity in Texas and Puerto Rico, with lasting effects that will not quickly be forgotten. Extensive flooding and damaging winds are usually the [...], While hurricanes are known to cause immediate destruction through flooding and strong winds, pathogenic diseases as a result of hurricanes are less recognized. Evidence shows that airborne opportunists and waterborne diseases are more common in the environment after hurricanes, as are visits to the emergency room for respiratory and skin ailments. In addition, infections that result from overcrowding tend to increase in shelters while mosquito-borne viruses can increase in number over the long-term. Understanding the effect of hurricanes on these pathogens in the environment can help public health professionals and the public be better prepared when major hurricanes occur, as well as decrease the incidence of illness and death after a hurricane. more...

INTRODUCTION There is a strong relationship between social smoking and alcohol use in young adults (Harrison & McKee, 2008; Jiang & Ling, 2013). Non-daily young adult smokers (smoking on one [...], Objective Fraternity and sorority members have one of the highest smoking rates among college students, yet little is known about the social influences on smoking within this subculture. The objective of this study was to examine sorority and fraternity member beliefs about smoking and alcohol use. Methods In-depth individual interviews were conducted with active members of sororities (n=16) and fraternities (n=17). Members were recruited through posters and electronic postings using purposive sampling techniques and continued until saturation was reached. Interviews were conducted in community settings chosen by the participant. Transcribed interviews were coded and analyzed for themes. Results Fraternity parties and bars/clubs provide a smoking-friendly environment where members expect to be offered both alcohol and cigarettes without negative evaluation from others. Fraternity members take on the role of providing cigarettes to others. Members discussed positive beliefs about smoking while using alcohol. Beliefs that smoking is an extension of drinking behaviors, smoking enhances the experience of alcohol, smoking while drunk does not lead to addiction and getting cigarettes from others is different than buying your own were examples of how members adopted beliefs that promote an addictive behavior. Conclusions Fraternity and sorority member alcohol use may increase their risk for smoking because of their positive beliefs about smoking and alcohol use and smoking tolerant social environments. Increasing smoke-free perimeters at fraternity houses and bars/clubs and intervening with pledge classes to de-link smoking from alcohol use are needed to reduce non-daily smoking in members. more...

Using a scoring rubric based on RUSA's 'Guidelines for Behavioral Performance of Reference and Information Service Providers' (RUSA Guidelines), librarians' performance in 106 chat reference transcripts in which a patron [...] more...

This paper describes the development and implementation of CAMBIUM, an agent-based forest sector model for strategic analysis. This model is designed as a decision-support tool for assessing the effects that changes in product demand and resource inventories can have on the structure and economic viability of the forest sector. CAMBIUM models aggregate product supply as an emergent property of individual companies' production decisions and stand-level ecological processes. Modeling the forest-products sector as a group of interacting autonomous economic agents makes it possible to include production capacity dynamics and the potential for mill insolvencies as factors in analyzing the effects of market and forest inventory based disturbances. The utility of this model is tested by assessing the impacts of a market downturn in the US forest products market on forest industry structure and mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) salvage harvesting in British Columbia, Canada. Simulation results indicate a significant medium-term timber supply shortage; reduced stumpage revenues; intensive cost competition among primary wood-products manufacturers; and a large number of insolvencies in the panel, lumber, and pulp sectors. Cet article decrit le developpement et l'implantation de CAMBIUM, un modele d'analyse strategique du secteur forestier base sur les agents. Ce modele est concu comme un outil d'aide a la decision pour evaluer les effets des changements dans la demande des produits forestiers et les stocks de la resource sur la structure et la viability economique du secteur forestier. Les modeles CAMBIUM regroupent l'offre de produits comme une propriete qui decoule des decisions de production de compagnies individuelles et des processes ecologiques a fechelle du peuplement. En modelisant le secteur des produits forestiers comme un groupe d'agents economiques autonomes qui interagissent, il est possible de considerer la dynamique de la capacity de production et la faillite potentielle des usines comme des facteurs dans l'analyse des effets des perturbations reliees aux marches et aux stocks de bois. L'utilite de ce modele a ete testee en evaluant les impacts d'un flechissement du marche des produits forestiers aux Etats-Unis sur la structure de findustrie forestiere et des coupes de recuperation reliees au dendroctone du pin ponderosa (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) en Colombie-Britannique, au Canada. Les resultats de la simulation prevoient une importante penurie de bois a moyen terme, une baisse des revenus provenant des droits de coupe, une forte competition des touts parmi les manufacturiers de produits primaires du bois et un grand nombre de faillites dans les secteurs des panneaux, du bois d'oeuvre et de la pulpe. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction The forest-products industry in British Columbia is facing an uncertain future. The mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) outbreak in the interior of the province has affected mature lodgepole [...] more...

The precise immunological role played by [CD4.sup.+] T cells in retroviral infections is poorly defined. Here, we describe a new function of these cells, the elimination of retrovirus-infected macrophages. After experimental [CD8.sup.+] cell depletion, elite controlling macaques with set-point viral loads [less than or equal to] 500 viral RNA copies/mL mounted robust Gag-and Nef-specific [CD4.sup.+] T cell responses during reestablishment of control with [greater than or equal to] 54% of all virus-specific [CD4.sup.+] T cells targeting these 2 proteins. Ex vivo, these simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-specific [CD4.sup.+] T cells neither recognized nor suppressed viral replication in SIV-infected [CD4.sup.+] T cells. In contrast, they recognized SIV-infected macrophages as early as 2 h postinfection because of presentation of epitopes derived from virion-associated Gag and Nef proteins. Furthermore, virus-specific [CD4.sup.+] T cells displayed direct effector function and eliminated SIV-infected macrophages. These results suggest that retrovirus-specific [CD4.sup.+] T cells may contribute directly to elite control by inhibiting viral replication in macrophages. antigen processing and presentation | HIV more...

It is critical to understand how the public prioritizes multiple forestry values when establishing objectives for sustainable forest management. While this is a complex and difficult task, a necessary step is to elicit a broad range of public opinions in forest planning to ensure that decisions serve the needs of various forest stakeholders and society at large. This study seeks to understand how six forest dependent communities in British Columbia prioritize a number of attributes associated with sustainable forest management by using a simple survey-based measurement tool, the Thurstone scale. The results suggest that ecological attributes are a higher priority for survey respondents followed by quality of life, global warming, and economic considerations. This paper explores some of the ramifications of the priorities for sustainable forest management measured in these six communities as well as implications for using the Thurstone scale in processes like Public Advisory Groups. Il est crucial de comprendre comment le public etablit des priorites parmi les multiples valeurs forestieres lors-qu'il s'agit de fixer des objectifs d'amenagement forestier durable. Bien que cette tache soit difficile et complexe, il faut obtenir une vaste gamme d'opinions du public en planification forestiere pour s'assurer que les decisions satisfassent les diverses parties prenantes en foret et l'ensemble de la societe. Cette etude cherche a comprendre comment six communautes qui dependent de la foret en Colombie-Britannique etablissent des priorttes parmi plusieurs attributs associes a 1'amenagement forestier durable, en utilisant un outil de mesure simple base sur un sondage, soit l'echelle de Thurstone. Les resultats indiquent que les attributs ecologiques ont le plus haut niveau de priority pour ceux qui ont repondu an sondage, suivis par la quality de vie et les considerations d'ordre economique. Cet article explore quelques-unes des consequences de ces priorites pour l'amenagement forestier durable dans ces six communautes ainsi que les implications de l'utilisation de l'echelle de Thurstone dans les processus comme les groupes consultatifs publics. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Increasingly, the management of forest lands in British Columbia must address multiple values. The recognition of the multiple values provided by forests (e.g., quality of life, economic values, ecosystem [...] more...

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2008.04.020 Byline: Terri J. Maness, David J. Anderson Abstract: The formation and dissolution of mating pair bonds have been fruitful areas of investigation for evolutionary biologists. Adaptive mate choice has been the focus of most research on pair dissolution. However, recent work has shown that an important cause of pair dissolution can be involuntary forced divorce, where intruder(s) oust one or both partners. Previously, we presented evidence that, in a male-biased population, females exchanged a reproductively depleted male for a new 'refreshed' mate. This 'mate rotation' model of divorce could be driven by female choice, forced divorce by unpaired males, or by males forgoing reproduction to recover condition. Here, we examine these alternatives with behavioural and demographic data from our long-term study of banded Nazca boobies. The mate rotation pattern of divorce appears to be driven by a combination of two circumstances involving a female's abandonment of a previous partnership. In some cases, the female appeared to cooperate with a male intruder, causing her former partner to leave the nest. In other cases, the female abandoned her former mate and joined a new male at another nest site. Recent studies that have disentangled age and breeding experience from pair bond length have shown that an initial increase in reproductive output correlated with pair bond length, but after a period of time together the reproductive success of the pair declined. Given the assumed ubiquity of the cost of reproduction, divorce after a lengthy pair bond would seem to be advantageous for one or both mates when fresh potential partners are available. Author Affiliation: Department of Biology, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, U.S.A. Article History: Received 27 December 2007; Revised 14 February 2008; Accepted 7 April 2008 Article Note: (miscellaneous) MS. number: A08-00004R more...

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that increased masticatory muscle accompanied morphologic changes in the temporal bone and squamosal suture. Ten mice deficient for the protein myostatin (Mstn -/-) had significantly increased skeletal muscle mass and were compared with nine controls (Mstn +/+). Variables measured include linear and areal metrics describing temporal size and temporal bone shape as well as the extent of the area of the squamosal suture that overlaps, or bevels, with parietal bones. Mstn-/- mice showed significantly larger temporalis muscles. Their temporal bones showed significantly decreased size as well as decreased beveling of the squamosal suture. These decreases were absolute as well as relative and were not restricted to either vertical or horizontal axes. The increased masticatory musculature of Myostatin-null mice had a shrinking effect on the temporal aspect of the cranium. These results are inconsistent with the interpretation that increased temporalis mass induces morphologic changes in temporal bone that compensate for putative increases in compressive forces transduced at this region. Rather than increase in the area of overlap between two calvarial bones, potential increase in biomechanical loading along the temporal squama led to a smaller bevel which would presumably weaken this joint. It is unclear why this is so. Either compressive forces are not anabolic to suture beveling or they do upregulate growth of the suture bevel, with compression not being the primary loading regime at this suture. more...

Abstract: A review of studies on nestling bird food requirements indicates that degree of sexual size dimorphism reliably predicts disparity in sex-specific food requirements, but that parents often fail to [...] more...

A report was created on energy generation from the CO oxidation-hydrogen production pathway in Rubrivivax gelatinosus. The purpose of this report is to demonstrate that the CO oxidation pathway in Rubrivivax gelatinosus CBS could indeed generate energy by using CO as the sole carbon substrate. more...

Beta-hairpins constitute an important class of connecting protein secondary structures. A simple framework is provided by peptide models for exploring the molecular details of the formation of beta-hairpin structures. more...

Beta-hairpins constitute an important class of connecting protein secondary structures. A simple framework is provided by peptide models for exploring the molecular details of the formation of beta-hairpin structures. more...

A fundamental question in industrial organization regards the relationship between price and the number of sellers. This relationship has been particularly important in the pharmaceutical industry where legislative changes were specifically designed to foster competition. Previous research on the pharmaceutical industry has shown generic entry has a mixed impact; generic prices fall rapidly with generic entry, whereas branded prices tend to increase or decrease only slightly. Using more complete data, focused on one segment of the pharmaceutical industry--anti-infectives--we find that the relationship between pharmaceutical prices and the number of sellers is more like that found in other industries. (JEL L11, L65, D4), I. INTRODUCTION A fundamental question in industrial organization regards the relationship between price and the number of sellers (N). The interest in this issue has been rekindled by substantial recent [...] more...

African marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) flower pigments can be extracted and used as a natural food additive to color egg yolks orange and poultry skin yellow. Five cultivars were examined for their ability to be grown commercially and mechanically harvested. 'E-1236' was consistently a top producer for three seasons in terms of flower number, flower diameter, plant and flower canopy height, plant stand, and fresh flower, dried flower, and dried petal yield. E-1236 produced the greatest quantity of lutein, a carotenoid pigment, in 1998 (22.0 kg [ha.sup.-1]), and E-1236 and 'Orange Lady' both produced the greatest quantities in 1999 (20.7 and 21.3 kg [ha.sup.-1], respectively). Transplanted rather than direct-seeded plants produced two more harvests in a single season resulting in greater amounts of lutein production by transplants. In 1998, one mid-season ammonium nitrate application (28 kg [ha.sup.-1]) resulted in larger flower diameters with direct-seeded plants but did not affect dried petal yield. Plants were hedge trimmed in 1999 to mimic mechanical harvesting; this resulted in a 45 to 55% reduction in flower harvest data compared with hand-harvested flowers. Of the cultivars tested, Orange Lady produced the greatest quantity of lutein (10.6 kg [ha.sup.-1]) when hedge trimmed., AFRICAN MARIGOLD PETALS are commercially valuable as a natural source of lutein pigments (yellow-orange pigments). The poultry industry uses them primarily as feed additives to color egg yolks orange and [...] more...

Research has been conducted on the hydrogenase linked to Rubrivivax gelatinosus's carbon monoxide oxidation pathway. Results indicate that hydrogen produced from this hydrogenase has been detected when the prokaryotic source ferredoxins, photoreduced by spinach thylakoid membranes with water-splitting activity, were the immediate electron mediator. more...

In this study, we compared the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory--2 (MMPI-2) performance of male university students and incarcerated criminal offenders in Mexico. Our aim was to determine whether the MMPI-2 can effectively differentiate between these two distinct groups on scales that are reflective of antisocial behaviors, Our expectations were highly confirmed across the three sets of scales that we considered: the validity and clinical, content, and supplementary scales. Criminal offenders obtained higher or more pathological scores on such scales as Infrequency (F), Schizophrenia (Sc), MacAndrew Alcoholism Scale (MAC-R), Fears (FRS), and so on, Overall, these findings support further research with such target populations as prison inmates in Mexico and other countries in Latin America. Keywords: MMPI-2; Spanish; Mexico; criminal offenders; Latin America more...

Research was conducted to prove for the first time that the TiO2 photocatalytic reaction triggers the lipid peroxidation reaction which results in the normal functions related to an intact membrane such as respiratory activity to be lost. It is proposed that the loss of membrane structure and, subsequently, membrane functions is the root cause of cell death when photocatalytic TiO2 particles are outside the cell. more...

Investigations into the use of titanium dioxide as a mineralization agent for bacterial contaminants showed that the effectivity of a titanium dioxide coated surface increases with exposure to ultraviolet light. Radioactive labelling of carbon showed that bacteria trapped in the titanium dioxide-coated surface was mineralized, releasing carbon dioxide, that is consistent with the mass balance of the trapped bacteria. more...