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I'm just dropping you a line to say how much I appreciate the Affinity Photo tutorials in the magazine. I do not use Photoshop or Lightroom, especially as this requires [...]

Previous clinical studies indicate that monoamine oxidase-B (MAO-B) inhibition by blackcurrants must be predominantly attributed to bioactives other than anthocyanins. In this natural products discovery study, MAO-A/B inhibitory phytochemicals were isolated from blackcurrants, and a double-blind crossover study investigated the efficacy of freeze-dried whole-fruit blackcurrant powder in inhibiting MAO-B compared with blackcurrant juice in healthy adults. Platelet MAO-B inhibition was comparable between powder (89% ± 6) and juice (91% ± 4), and it was positively correlated with MAO-modulated plasma catecholamines, subjective alertness, and reduced mental fatigue, assessed using the Bond-Lader questionnaire. Sarmentosin, a nitrile glycoside, and its hydroxycinnamoyl esters were identified as novel MAO-A/B inhibitors from blackcurrant in vitro, and sarmentosin was demonstrated to inhibit platelet MAO-B activity in vivo. These findings confirm sarmentosin as the primary bioactive for MAO-A/B inhibition in blackcurrants, as well as its bioavailability and stability during freeze-drying, and suggest that consuming blackcurrant powder and juice may positively affect mood in healthy adults.

Snowshoe hare virus (SSHV), within the California serogroup of the genus Orthobunyavirus, family Peribunyaviridae, was first isolated from a snowshoe hare (Lepus americanus) in Montana, United States, in 1959. The virus, closely related to LaCrosse virus (LACV) and Chatanga virus (CHATV), occurs across Canada and the northern latitudes of the United States, primarily in the northern tier of states bordering Canada. Reports of SSHV in northern Europe and Asia are probably the closely related to CHATV, or the less closely related Tahyna virus. Vertebrate associations include snowshoe hares and ground squirrels, demonstrated by field isolation of virus from wild-caught animals, seroconversion of snowshoe hares, seroconversion of sentinel rabbits, isolation of virus from sentinel rabbits, and experimental infections demonstrating viremia. Isolations of virus from field populations of mosquitoes include primarily univoltine and boreal mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, Culiseta impatiensand Culiseta inornata; and, rarely, certain multivoltine floodwater Aedesspecies. Experimental transmission studies in mosquitoes show infection in and transmission by boreal Aedesand Culiseta inornata. Isolation of SSHV from larval Aedeson three occasions, and experimentation in Culiseta inornata, reveal transovarial transmission of the virus in mosquitoes. Serosurveys reveal exposure to SSHV in human and domestic animals, with rates of seropositivity commonly high in some settings in Alaska and Canada, but disease in humans or horses has rarely been reported, only in Canada.

In Brief Different accounting methods can yield substantially different results for competitors in the same industry. For example, Boeing and Airbus, the two largest international commercial airline manufacturers in the [...]

Sociological research on social movements and politics holds that advocacy organizations are typically trusted to be authentic agents of their constituents. At the same time, however, businesses and other outside interests often engage in covert “astroturfing” strategies in which they ventriloquize claims through apparently independent grassroots associations (but which are entirely funded and staffed to benefit the sponsor). These widespread and deceptive strategies may harm trust in advocacy groups overall, extending beyond those revealed to be involved, through a mechanism of categorical stigmatization. This study is the first to test how revealed covert patronage may “poison the well” for all advocacy groups, with implications for how social movements and other advocacy causes suffer harm from illegitimate political practices by other organizations. The authors carried out two survey-experiments in which a local advocacy organization was revealed to be operating, respectively, as a “front” for either a corporation or think tank; in each experiment, conditions varied depending upon whether the sponsor was presented as highly reputable, low reputation, or with no specified reputation. In both experiments, astroturfing led to significant declines in trust in advocacy groups overall. We highlight implications for theory and research on social movements, organizational theory, and political processes.

OBJECTIVE--The goal of this study was to determine the behavioral and clinical characteristics of diabetes that are associated with depression after controlling for potentially confounding variables RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--A [...]

Dietary restrictions or reductions such as fasting for weight loss are often difficult to adhere to due to increased appetite and food cravings. Recently, gastrointestinal delivery of bitter hops has been shown to be effective at reducing appetite in men. Our aim was to determine the effect of a bitter hop extract on appetite and cravings in women, using a 24 h, water-only fast.

Q: Should the president's road map to peace include an independent Palestinian state? YES: Statehood will force militant groups to halt violence and behave as political parties. BY EDWARD WALKER [...]

Some women who have urinary incontinence also suffer from depression and panic disorder. In a study of 218 women with urinary incontinence, 16% had major depression and 7% had panic disorder. Women with depression rated their symptoms as severe and greater disability and a poorer quality of life.

Q: should the United States shut down its military bases in Saudi Arabia? YES: Saudi rulers are unreliable partners at best and, at worst, actual threats to U.S. security in [...]

Burnout is relatively common in chairpersons of university obstetrics and gynecology departments, according to a survey of 119 chairpersons. Twenty-two percent had some degree of job dissatisfaction. Burnout was most likely in young chairpersons, those who worked almost 70 hours a week, and those who got little support from partners and spouses.

Sugar is an essential source of nutrition for adult mosquitoes to acquire energy. Toxic sugar bait (TSB) provides a promising method for mosquito control by incorporating toxins into artificial sources of sugar (i.e., toxic baits) presented to wild populations. Spinosyns comprise a family of bacterial secondary metabolites with a unique mode of action against the insect nervous system, an appealing environmental safety profile, and potential for incorporation into sugar baits. This research evaluated acute and subacute effects of spinosad (spinosyns A and D) and spinetoram (spinosyns J and L) in sugar meals on survival, fecundity, and fertility of Aedes aegyptiand Aedes albopictus. Acute toxicity of spinosyns doubled from 24 to 48 h of assessment, revealing a relatively slow and cumulative action of the formulated spinosyns. Median lethal concentrations at 48 h were lower for spinetoram than for spinosad, lower for Ae. albopictusthan Ae. aegypti, and lower for males than females. When exposed to subacute LC50concentrations of spinosad and spinetoram for 24 h, survival of males and females of both species was diminished compared with controls, fecundity of females was increased, but fertility as measured by hatch rate of eggs was decreased. The formulations may have increased the nutritive value of the sugar meals thereby boosting fecundity, while toxifying embryos, reducing fertility. The inclusion of subacute effects of spinosyns allows assessment of the broader consequences of TSB for adult mosquito control.

This document is a collection of readers' letters to the editor of N-Photo magazine. One reader expresses gratitude for their experience as an apprentice in a high-speed flash photography workshop. Another reader appreciates the Affinity Photo tutorials in the magazine, as they do not use Photoshop or Lightroom. A third reader inquires about the existence of a search function to find specific articles in the magazine. The editor responds that while the digital platforms allow searching within individual issues, they are working on adding the ability to search the entire library in the N-Photo app. The document also includes information about a contest to win a copy of Affinity Photo and highlights from the magazine's companion website. [Extracted from the article]

BACKGROUND. Clinicians, policy makers, and health care administrators are attempting to improve depression outcomes in the primary care setting. Despite positive evidence about the efficacy of self-help materials and psychoeducational [...]

Eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) is a mosquito-borne viral disease that is an emerging public health concern in the state of Michigan. Although Michigan has one of the highest incidence rates of EEE in the United States, much of the information known about cases in humans, equines, and other animals residing in Michigan is unpublished. This article summarizes such information and explores spatial trends in the historic distribution of EEE in Michigan. Outbreaks in Michigan have occurred over an 80-yr interval, involving only horses in 1942–1943 and 1973–1976, and then episodically from 1980 to 2020, and involving horses, humans, and wild and domestic animals. An estimated 1,036 equine cases (confirmed and suspected) and 36 confirmed human cases have occurred, including 10 in 2019 (6 deaths) and 4 in 2020 (2 deaths). Human cases ranged in age from 1 to 81 yr; 70% were male, and fatality rate of 34.3%. Equine and human cases occurred from July to October, peaked in August, and cluster in space in southwestern and southeastern lower Michigan. Cases occurred in glacial outwash and ice-contact landscapes in glacial interlobate zones. EEE virus (EEEV) was recovered from Culiseta melanura, Coquillettidia perturbans, five species of Aedes, and other mosquito species near horse and human case sites. Virus isolations or presence of neutralizing antibodies in several passerine species of birds suggest broad EEEV–bird associations. White-tailed deer and other wildlife were also affected. Geographic spread to northern areas of the state suggests expansion of this disease system into new and unsuspected foci.

We investigate the impact of internal control weakness (ICW) on debt selection. We categorise debt structure in two ways: 1) bank debt, bonds, program debt, private placements, convertible debt, and other debts; and 2) secured, senior unsecured, and subordinated debts. We hypothesise that the existence of ICWs reduces accounting information quality and increases firm risk and default risk. Therefore, bank debt is borrowed to provide better monitoring. Additionally, the presence of ICW is also positively associated with the usage of secured debts, which are collateralised by assets. Our findings are consistent with our predictions. Our findings suggest that ICW information provides incremental value to creditors and that changes in debt selection are one economic consequence of companies reporting ICWs.

Background. Although researchers are paying more attention to the treatment of depression in the primary care setting, little is known about the nature of psychotherapeutic interactions that occur between primary [...]

Women who were sexually abused as children often exhibit similar physiological and psychological symptoms. These symptoms include obesity, personality disorders, headaches, asthma and gastrointestinal complaints. Physicians should be aware of how the symptoms might affect a patient's overall health., How common is the problem? It's hard to attach a number to how many women have been sexually abused as children. Imprecision is rife because of different definitions of abuse, [...]

Objective: Two reports have suggested a possible association between a history of sexual trauma and irritable bowel syndrome, but several factors in their study designs limited their generalizability. The authors used a more rigorous methodology to confirm this association. Method: They administered structured psychiatric and sexual trauma interviews to 28 patients with irritable bowel syndrome and 19 patients with inflammatory bowel disease and compared prevalence rates of sexual victimization in the two groups. Results: Compared with patients diagnosed as having inflammatory bowel disease, patients with irritable bowel syndrome had a significantly higher rate of severe lifetime sexual trauma (32% versus 0%), severe childhood sexual abuse (11% versus 0%), and any lifetime sexual victimization (54% versus 5%). The nine patients who had experienced severe lifetime victimization had significantly higher odds ratios for lifetime depression, panic disorder, phobia, somatization disorder, alcohol abuse, functional dyspareunia, and inhibited sexual desire than the 38 patients who had experienced less severe sexual trauma or no trauma. A logistic regression analysis showed that gender, the number of medically unexplained physical symptoms, and self-reported anxiety and hostility accounted for all of the variance in the victimized group. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that sexual victimization may be an important factor in the development of irritable bowel syndrome in some patients. Future studies attempting to categorize subgroups of patients with irritable bowel syndrome should inquire into past histories of sexual victimization.

Objective: The author's goal was to determine if women with chronic pelvic pain are significantly more likely to use dissociation as a coping mechanism than women without pain. Method: The subjects were recruited from women who attended a university women's clinic during a 1-month period. Twenty-two women who reported that they had at any time in their lives experienced pelvic pain nearly every day for a period of at least 6 months were included in the study, along with 21 randomly selected women without a history of chronic pelvic pain. The 43 women were give structured sexual assault interviews and completed psychological self-report measures. Results: The women with chronic pain were significantly more likely to use dissociation as a coping mechanism, to show current psychological distress, to see themselves as medically disabled, to experience vocational and social decrements in function, and to amplify physical symptoms. They were also significantly more likely to have experienced severe childhood sexual abuse. In the total study group, women with a childhood history of sexual abuse had significantly higher scores on measures of psychological distress, somatization, and dissociation and viewed their physical health and functioning as more impaired. Conclusions: The authors discuss a model for the development of somatization, dissociation, and pain, symptoms in victims of early sexual abuse. (Am J Psychiatry 1992; 149:534-537)

It is estimated that between 13 and 52 percent of all new patients attending gastroenterology clinics have irritable bowel syndrome. Previous studies have associated irritable bowel syndrome with a high incidence of coexisting mental disorders. However, the methodologies used in these studies have been flawed by the lack of structured psychiatric interviewing, control groups, or the use of inappropriate controls, which make the results inconclusive. This study was performed to investigate the association between irritable bowel syndrome and psychiatric illness using an improved methodology. The experimental group consisted of 28 patients diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome; a control group of 19 individuals diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease was also assessed. All patients were evaluated using the NIMH Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) Version III-A in the abridged form, along with other diagnostic measurements. Criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, third edition, revised, were also used to investigate symptoms for a wide variety of psychiatric disorders such as anxiety, depression, and phobia. Patient interviews were also conducted and the interviewers were unaware of the gastrointestinal complaints of the patient. The results revealed that when compared with the patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the patients with irritable bowel syndrome had significantly more diagnoses of major depression, along with a number of disorders, including somatization, panic, generalized anxiety, and phobic disorders. Patients with irritable bowel syndrome had a 93 percent lifetime prevalence of a mental disorder and a 61 percent prevalence of depression. These patients had more physical symptoms that could not be medically explained and were generally more sensitive to psychological stress than the individuals with inflammatory bowel disease. It is concluded, based on these results, that evaluation of patients with irritable bowel syndrome should probably include a formal psychiatric evaluation, and administration of psychiatric treatment, if necessary. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has been defined as a condition involving three complaints, comprising abdominal pain that is relieved by defecating, disturbed defecation, and bloating. Although the disorder represents between 15 and 52 percent of new referrals to gastroenterologists, its diagnostic validity remains questionable. The syndrome is very often accompanied by such psychiatric symptoms as mood, anxiety, and somatization disorders. A review of studies concerning the coexistence of gastrointestinal and psychiatric symptoms was performed. Analysis of the results supports the hypothesis that IBS is a somatic (bodily) expression of psychiatric illness, rather than the competing hypothesis, namely that the accompanying psychiatric illnesses are a consequence of prolonged physical discomfort. In a study of 13 patients with IBS and 10 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 85 percent of the IBS patients had a history of anxiety, compared with only 20 percent of the controls. The authors speculate that the bowel motility disorders associated with IBS may be the consequence of abnormalities of interaction between the so-called 'third-division' of the autonomic nervous system, the enteric nervous system. The link between the psychiatric disorder and IBS may be the locus ceruleus (in the brain), because of its nervous connections to the gut. Psychiatrists involved in the treatment of IBS are advised to pay close attention to family history, and should focus their efforts on alleviation of symptoms rather than cure. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

As America's population continues to age and individuals live longer, it is likely that more people will require assistance with managing their daily activities, including financial affairs and medical care. [...]

Objective: The authors' goal was to determine whether improved outcomes from enhanced acute-phase (3-month) treatment for depression in primary care persisted. Method: They conducted a 19-month follow-up assessment of 156 patients with major depression in the Collaborative Care intervention trials, which had found greater improvements in treatment adherence and depressive symptoms at 4 and 7 months for patients given enhanced acute-phase treatment than for patients given routine treatment in a primary care setting. Sixty-three of the 116 patients who completed the follow-up assessment had received enhanced treatment, and 53 had received routine treatment in primary care. The Inventory for Depressive Symptomatology and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist were used to measure depressive symptoms. Automated pharmacy data and self-reports were used to assess adherence to and adequacy of pharmacotherapy. Results: At 19 months, the patients who had received enhanced acute-phase treatment did not differ from those who had received routine primary care treatment in clinical outcomes or quality of pharmacotherapy. Conclusions: Even though enhanced acute-phase treatment of depression in primary care resulted in better treatment adherence and better clinical outcomes at 4 and 7 months, these improvements failed to persist over the following year. Continued enhancement of depression treatment may be needed to ensure better long-term results.

Aim The aim of this survey was to determine compliance towards dental radiography selection criteria for paediatric patients undergoing new patient examinations in specialised tertiary care centres in the United Kingdom.

The maxillary sinus is the largest of the paranasal sinuses, with its structure and contents commonly visualised on dental radiographs. Dental practitioners are required to evaluate the entire radiograph, and it is likely there is limited exposure to maxillary sinus pathoses and radiological interpretation in the undergraduate curriculum and routine continuing professional development courses. This review covers radiological features of common benign and malignant sinus disease. Identification of normal anatomical features, common variations and pathoses can facilitate holistic patient management and potentially early detection of neoplastic disease.

This article presents a collection of letters to the editor. Several letters commented on the November 27, 2006 issue regarding Pope Benedict XVI and Islam. Other letters concerned an article on U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to Vietnam and a piece on Muslim/Christian conflict, both from the Nov. 27 issue as well.

The world's steel companies joined forces in early 1994 to commission Porsche Engineering Services to use the vehicle weight reduction concept by using steel. Thus, in Jul. 1994, 32 companies from 15 participating countries introduced the Ultra Light Steel Auto Body (ULSAB) project. The program aimed to create a conceptual lightweight car structure design that has achieved weight reduction in comparison with a Future Reference Vehicle. The program also states that the product must satisfy all functional and structural performance targets on safety and durability.

To build peace, we need trust and confidence between the Israelis and Palestinians. Without these key ingredients, leaders will not be able to reach a peace agreement that is acceptable [...]

Objective: The authors evaluated the incremental cost-effectiveness of stepped collaborative care for patients with persistent depressive symptoms after usual primary care management. Method: Primary care patients initiating antidepressant treatment completed a standardized telephone assessment 6-8 weeks after the initial prescription. Those with persistent major depression or significant subthreshold depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to continued usual care or collaborative care. The collaborative care included systematic patient education, an initial visit with a consulting psychiatrist, 2-4 months of shared care by the psychiatrist and primary care physician, and monitoring of follow-up visits and adherence to medication regimen. Clinical outcomes were assessed through blinded telephone assessments at 1, 3, and 6 months. Health services utilization and costs were assessed through health plan claims and accounting data. Results: Patients receiving collaborative care experienced a mean of 16.7 additional depression-free days over 6 months. The mean incremental cost of depression treatment in this program was $357. The additional cost was attributable to greater expenditures for antidepressant prescriptions and outpatient visits. No offsetting decrease in use of other health services was observed. The incremental cost-effectiveness was $21.44 per depression-free day. Conclusions: A stepped collaborative care program for depressed primary care patients led to substantial increases in treatment effectiveness and moderate increases in costs. These findings are consistent with those of other randomized trials. Improving outcomes of depression treatment in primary care requires investment of additional resources, but the return on this investment is comparable to that of many other widely accepted medical interventions. (Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158:1638-1644)

Objective: Lack of adherence to diabetic self-management regimens is associated with a high risk of diabetes complications. Previous research has shown that the quality of the patient-provider relationship is associated with adherence to diabetes treatment. This study attempts to improve understanding of both patient and provider factors involved in lack of adherence to treatment in diabetic patients by using the conceptual model of attachment theory. Method: Instruments that assessed attachment, treatment adherence, depression, diabetes severity, patient-provider communication, and demographic data were administered to 367 patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes in a health maintenance organization primary care setting. Glucose control, medical comorbidity, and adherence to medications and clinic appointments were determined from automated data. Analyses of covariance were used to determine if attachment style and quality of patient-provider communication were associated with adherence to treatment. Results: Patients who exhibited dismissing attachment had significantly worse glucose control than patients with preoccupied or secure attachment. An interaction between attachment and communication quality was significantly associated with glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb [A.sub.1c]) levels. Among the patients with a dismissing attachment style, there was a significant difference in glycosylated hemoglobin levels between those who rated their patient-provider communication as poor (mean= 8.50%, SD=1.55%) and those who rated this communication as good (mean= 7.49%, SD=1.33%). Among all patients who were taking oral hypoglycemics, adherence to medications and glucose monitoring was significantly worse in patients who exhibited dismissing attachment and rated their patient-provider communication as poor. Conclusions: Dismissing attachment in the setting of poor patient-provider communication is associated with poorer treatment adherence in patients with diabetes. (Am J Psychiatry 2001; 158:29-35)

* OBJECTIVE Our goal was to compare the prevalence of mental illness and its impact on functional status in an indigent uninsured primary care population with a general primary care [...]

PURPOSE: Several recent studies have found associations between childhood maltreatment and adverse adult health outcomes. However, methodologic problems with accurate case determination, appropriate sample selection, and predominant focus on sexual abuse have limited the generalizability of these findings. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We administered a survey to 1,225 women who were randomly selected from the membership of a large, staff model health maintenance organization in Seattle, Washington. We compared women with and without histories of childhood maltreatment experiences with respect to differences in physical health status, functional disability, numbers and types of self-reported health risk behaviors, common physical symptoms, and physician-coded ICD-9 diagnoses. RESULTS: A history of childhood maltreatment was significantly associated with several adverse physical health outcomes. Maltreatment status was associated with perceived poorer overall health (ES = 0.31), greater physical (ES = 0.23) and emotional (ES = 0.37) functional disability, increased numbers of distressing physical symptoms (ES = 0.52), and a greater number of health risk behaviors (ES = 0.34). Women with multiple types of maltreatment showed the greatest health decrements for both self-reported symptoms (r = 0.31) and physician coded diagnoses (r = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Women with childhood maltreatment have a wide range of adverse physical health outcomes. Am J Med. 1999;107:332-339. [C] 1999 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.

Environmental justice and social movements scholarship demonstrates how not-in-my-backyard activism by more privileged communities leaves the disadvantaged with “locally unwanted land uses.” Yet it overlooks instances of local support for risky industries. Our ethnographic case shows how a rural, white, mixed-income Pennsylvania community adopted a please-in-my-backyard stance toward shale gas extraction (fracking). Residents invited development on their land and supported it through quiet mobilization. While landowners prioritized benefits over risks, economics cannot fully explain their enthusiasm. Consistent with public opinion research, partisan identities and community obligations undergirded industry support even when personal benefits were limited. Devotion to self-reliance and property rights led residents to defend landowners’ freedom to lease their land. Cynicism toward government precluded endorsing environmental regulation, and the perception of antifracking activists as “liberal” outsiders linked support for fracking with community solidarity. This case illustrates why communities may champion risky industries and complicates theories of nonmobilization.

Last week I needed to see a doctor. As is often the case he was running behind, and as I sat waiting on the exam table I had a chance [...]

More wastepaper is likely to be recovered in Europe than can its papermakers. But could oversupply lead to prices spiraling Wastepaper has established itself as an important source of fiber [...]

To the Editor: Lower urinary tract infection (UTI) is a significant problem among 20% of the female population in the United States. It is estimated that as many as 2% [...]

Recent molecular phylogenetic analysis of Lagenidiumstrains recovered from subcutaneous lesions in cats, dogs, and a human with lagenidiosis resolved into four clades; one of them was Lagenidium giganteum, but three others were novel.

'The MythBuster Guide to Gonzo Engineering' was wonderful. Yes, the explosions on their show are cool, but I love learning about the science behind the myths. It really outlines the [...]

Carbon monoxide (CO) has been recognized as a poison for centuries, and remains one of the most common causes of both accidental and deliberate poisoning worldwide. Despite this, there are widespread misconceptions with regards to the mechanisms, diagnosis and outcomes of CO induced poisoning such as the idea that CO poisoning is rare; that carboxyhaemoglobin levels above 20% and loss of consciousness are required before nervous system damage ensues; and that the binding of CO to haemoglobin is the only mechanism of toxicity. Prevention and diagnosis of CO poisoning is hampered by the lack of awareness of CO as a cause of illness, among both the general public and healthcare professionals. To complicate matters further there is no standardized definition of CO poisoning. Carboxyhaemoglobin levels are often used as a marker of CO poisoning, yet plasma levels rapidly reduce upon removal of the source and are therefore an unreliable biomarker of exposure and tissue damage. Adverse neuropsychiatric outcomes after CO poisoning are difficult to define, especially as they fluctuate, mimic other non-specific complaints, and are not present in all survivors. This paper challenges a number of misconceptions about CO poisoning which can result in misdiagnosis, and consequently in mismanagement. We illustrate how recent developments in the understanding of CO toxicology explain the particular susceptibility of the central nervous system to the effects of CO exposure.