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Seed morphological characteristics and weight are important evaluation indicators of seed quality, and they are closely related to seed germination rate and crop yield. In order to detect the quality of melon seeds and improve the efficiency of melon production, a melon seed morphological feature extraction and weight detection system was developed. The light source unit with a ring structure consisted of high power LED lamps, providing stable light for the system; The image acquisition unit collected color images of melon seeds; The weighing unit weighed the weight of melon seeds in real time; The control processing unit processed seed images real-time, triggered the image acquisition unit to collect image and control the collection speed of seeds images, controlled weighing unit to work, and saved seeds image, weight and processing results. The system can extract the number, area, perimeter, long diameter, short diameter and weight of melon seeds. After testing of the system, the detection accuracy of melon seeds number was 100%, detection relative errors of seeds weight, seed perimeter, length and width were less than 5%, and the detection relative error of melon seed area was less than 10%. The results show that the developed melon seed morphological feature extraction and weight detection system can meet the actual needs of melon seed production.

Melon cake is a non-fermented, traditionally processed food product obtained from melon seeds, and it is consumed as a snack or added to soup. Melon sauce is obtained during the final step of melon cake processing and it is used with melon cake during soup making. This study focused on evaluating the fate of aflatoxin during traditional melon seed processing into melon cake and sauce as a combined product. Shelled melon seeds were purchased from local markets and traditionally processed into melon cake and sauce. Samples were obtained at each processing step and analysed for aflatoxins by LC-MS/MS. Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), AFB2, AFG1 and total aflatoxin (sum of AFB1, AFB2 and AFG1) levels in the starting raw material (melon seeds: 39.5, 3.5, 1.97 and 44.9 µg/kg) were reduced by 95, 82, 85 and 94%, respectively, in the finished product (boiled melon cake and sauce) ready for direct consumption. The traditional process of making melon cake and sauce reduced aflatoxin levels below the regulated limits and may lower aflatoxin exposure among melon consumers. Key words: Aflatoxin, consumer health, food processing, food safety, melon cake, melon sauce.

A 10-year-old spayed female Bichon Frise presented to the neurology service for back pain and pelvic limb weakness for approximately 2 months duration. Neurologic examination revealed T3-L3 and L4-S3 myelopathies with multifocal spinal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging of the vertebral column revealed multiple mild disc protrusions but no obvious cause for the neurologic deficits. Attempts to collect cerebrospinal fluid from the lumbar spine and cerebellomedullary cistern were unsuccessful. Following anesthesia, the dog was noted to be paraplegic with flaccid pelvic limb muscle tone and absent nociception. Repeat magnetic resonance imaging the following day revealed suspect hemorrhage ventral to the spinal cord cranial to the site of the lumbar spinal tap. Exploratory hemilaminectomy revealed purplish discoloration of the dura. Durotomy was performed and severe myelomalacia of the spinal cord was noted. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of myelomalacia suspected secondary to lumbar spinal tap in a dog.

Освещены результаты исследовательской работы по выявлению степени изменчивости семенной продуктивности дыни под воздействием изменений суммы эффективных температур в условиях предгорной зоны Крыма. Установлено, что при повышении суммы эффективных температур, она увеличивается в зависимости от сорта. Максимальная изменчивость отмечена у группы раннеспелых форм., The results of research work aimed to identify the degree of variability of the melon seed productivity under the influence of changes in the sum of effective temperatures under the conditions of the foothill zone of the Crimea are highlighted. It is established that with an increase in the sum of effective temperatures, it increases depending on the variety. The maximum variability was noted in a group of early maturing forms., №8 (2018)

Objective We report the CSF opening pressure measurements obtained before and after venous sinus stenting in 50 patients with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension. Methods The CSF opening pressure was measured with a spinal tap 3 months before and 3 months after treatment. All data was prospectively collected and included patient demographics, weight (kg), body-mass index (BMI), acetazolamide daily dosage (mg), procedural details, complications, venous sinus pressures (mm Hg), trans-stenotic pressure gradient (mm Hg), transverse sinus symmetry, and type of venous sinus stenosis. Results The average pre-treatment CSF-OP was 37 cm water (range: 25–77) and the average post-treatment CSF-OP pressure was 20.2 cm water (range: 10–36), with an average reduction of 16.8 cm water (p Conclusions In summary, we provided evidence that there is significant decrease in CSF-OP pressure in IIH patients 3 months after VSS, independent of acetazolamide usage or weight loss. Disclosures A. Patsalides: None. C. Oliveira: None. M. Dinkin: None.

Intracranial hypotension from spinal CSF leak is seen most commonly as spinal tap headache. Spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH) refers to the syndrome when it is unprovoked. SIH usually presents with orthostatic headaches and is associated with highly characteristic neuroimaging findings; further study demonstrates an occult spinal CSF leak about two-thirds of the time. It usually responds well to conservative, symptomatic treatments and lumbar epidural blood patches.1

Marcia is a 35-day-old, previously healthy girl who presents to the emergency department (ED) for “feeling warm.” Marcia has been feeding well with a normal amount of wet diapers. There are no other symptoms, including no fussiness, rash, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, vomiting, cough, or respiratory distress. Marcia had been alert and happy at home, but this evening she felt warm to her mother’s touch. Marcia’s birth history was unremarkable; she was born at term via vaginal delivery without complication and after appropriate prenatal care. She enjoys a diet of breast milk and has been growing and developing well. In the ED, Marcia’s vital signs are as follows: rectal temperature is 101.9°F, heart rate is 140 beats per minute, respiratory rate is 45 breaths per minute, blood pressure is 76/51, and pulse oximetry is 99% on room air. She is well appearing with no significant findings on physical examination. A complete blood count, procalcitonin, blood culture, urinalysis, and catheterized urine culture are obtained and sent for analysis. Her laboratory values are notable for a peripheral white blood cell count of 10 000 cells/μL with an absolute neutrophil count of 7000 cells/μL and no band cells. Her procalcitonin is 0.25 ng/mL, and the urinalysis is negative for leukocyte esterase and nitrites with no leukocytes on microscopy. A lumbar puncture is performed, and on the third attempt, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is obtained with results as follows: white blood cell count is 20 cells/μL, red blood cell count is 14 000 cells/μL, protein is 71 mg/dL, and glucose is 60 mg/dL. Because of the CSF pleocytosis, Marcia is admitted to …

Decompressive craniectomy (DC) is still a matter of debate, with a numerous complications as expansion of haemorrhagic contusions, external cerebral herniation, subdural hygromas, post-traumatic hydrocephalus (HC). The often overlooked "syndrome of the trephined" (ST) as a delayed complication of DC also known as sinking skin flap sy initially described in 1939.ST is characterised by the neurological changes associated with alteration of the pressure/volume relationship between intracranial pressure (ICP), volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood, and brain tissue in patients with large bone defects. This review aims at elucidating the mechanisms responsible for the development of ST, and providing useful tips and red-flag signs for healthcare professionals involved with care of post DC patients. Symptoms identified on time could help to develop appropriate treatment strategies for this suddenly deteriorating, but possible reversible condition. Although the treatment strategy is straightforward, calling for a prompt cranioplasty, the correction of HC through CSF diversion devices might require a lengthy optimisation period. Continuous changes in the setting of the shunting systems or spinal tap might lead to dangerous swinging of the midline structures causing further neurological deterioration. Thus, finding the right balance in terms of clinical management often represents a significant challenge.A mai napig intenzív vita övezi a dekompresszív craniectomiát (DC). Ez az eljárás olyan jelentős szövődményeket rejt magában, mint a korábbi állományi vérzések növekedése, az agyállomány herniálódása, subduralis hygroma keletkezése, vagy hydrocephalus internus kialakulása. A DC késői lehetséges szövődményeinek egyike a trephined-szindróma (ST), más néven „sinking bone flap syndrome”, amit már 1939-ben is leírtak. Az ST az intracranialis nyomás térfogatváltozással összefüggő neurológiai tünetek kialakulását foglalja magában, mivel kiterjedt koponyacsont-defektussal rendelkező betegekben megváltozik az intracranialis nyomás (ICP), valamint a liquor, a vér, és az agyszövet térfogatainak aránya. Ezen áttekintés célja a kórkép és a kialakulásához vezető lehetséges patofiziológiai mechanizmusok ismertetése, illetve az alarmírozó tünetek és egyéb olyan információk összegzése, melyek hasznosak lehetnek a dekompresszív craniectomián átesett betegekkel foglalkozó társdiszciplínák számára. Ennél a hirtelen állapotromlást mutató, de többnyire reverzibilis kórképnél az időben felismert tünettan optimalizálhatja a terápiát. Általános kezelési stratégia a mielőbbi cranioplastica, ugyanakkor a gyakran társult agyvízkeringési zavar hosszas korrekciót igényelhet. A söntrendszer nyomásának gyakori változtatása, illetve a lumbálpunkció veszélyes szövődményeket, állapotrosszabbodást eredményezhet a középvonali struktúrák vongálódásán keresztül. A fentiek miatt az ideális kezelés megtalálása sokszor kifejezett klinikai kihívást jelent.

A demographic census and disease assessment was conducted in 2007 and 2015 in three Tennessee populations of the dioecious shrub, Buckleya distichophylla (Santalaceae). Population sizes were relatively stable over time and plant heights and numbers of stems per clump were similar among populations. Seedlings were present in all populations, where they represented 14–19% of individuals. Two populations had an equal male:female sex ratio, but a third population was male-biased. Nonflowering individuals comprised 33–41% of individuals in a population. The majority of plants in all populations had high vigor. Spatial analyses revealed clusters of seedlings in two populations and a cluster of low-vigor plants in one population. Cronartium appalachianum, a rust fungus dependent upon Pinus virginiana and B. distichophylla as primary and alternate hosts, respectively, was present in all populations with prevalences on B. distichophylla of 19–29%, but there was no spatial clustering of disease in populat...

In order to obtain melon (Cucumis melo L.) seed of high physiological quality, the ideal harvesting time needs to be considered, which could be determined by fruit ripening stage. Seed viability of melon, cv. ‘Rock Cantaloup’, was evaluated based on ripening stage. A completely randomized experiment with fruit harvested at ripening stages based on color appearance and presence, or not, of epidermal reticulation, were classified as follows: I, green fruit with nonreticulated epidermis; II, green fruit with reticulated epidermis; III, yellow fruit and reticulated epidermis, and IV, 10 days after yellow fruit and reticulated epidermis. Seed were taken from fruit and evaluated based on moisture percentage, weight of 1000 seed, percentage germination and number of seed that germinated first, seedling formation, seedling growth rate, seedling length, fresh weight, dry weight, and aging speed. Physiological quality of melon seed increased as ripening advanced. Seed obtained from yellow fruit with reticul...

Melon is a fruit/vegetable that has been grown in Japan for at least 2000 years. To obtain a better understanding of melon crop evolution in this island country, we measured the seed size and determined the cytoplasmic genotype of 135 modern melon accessions and 12 populations of ancient melon seed remains from archaeological sites for a 2000-year period in Japan. Based on differences in seed length, populations of melon seed remains at the Shikata site (Okayama Prefecture, Japan) consisted of seed types corresponding to those of modern East and South Asian melon. Although several types of melon seeds were found in and around the Shikata site, only Agrestis-type seeds

To evaluate the relationship between folate, cobalamin (Cbl), and homocysteine (Hcy), and markers of inflammation and oxidative stress within the periphery and central nervous system (CNS) of a healthy human cohort.Thirty-five matched cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma samples were collected from consenting participants who required a spinal tap for the administration of anaesthetic. Plasma concentrations of Hcy and both plasma and CSF levels of folate, Cbl, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD(H)) and markers of inflammation (interleukin-6, IL-6), and oxidative stress (F2-isoprostanes, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) were quantified.In the peripheral circulation, positive associations were observed between plasma folate and Cbl, and plasma TAC (P ≤ 0.01; P ≤ 0.01) and plasma NAD(H) (P ≤ 0.05; P ≤ 0.05) levels, respectively. Plasma folate was inversely associated with plasma Hcy concentrations (P ≤ 0.05); however, no statistically significant relationships were observed between plasma Hcy and plasma markers of inflammation, oxidative stress, or [NAD(H)]. Within the CNS plasma Hcy correlated positively with CSF IL-6 (P ≤ 0.01) and negatively with CSF NAD(H) (P ≤ 0.05) concentrations. An inverse association was observed between CSF folate and CSF levels of IL-6 (P ≤ 0.05). Unexpectedly, a positive association between CSF Cbl and CSF 8-OHdG levels was also found (P ≤ 0.01).These results indicate that folate and Cbl concentrations may influence the levels of oxidative damage, inflammation, and NAD(H), both systemically and within the CNS.

Melon seed is an important oil seed crop that serves numerous food purposes. Shelling of this crop is vital prior to its vast applications. To address the challenges associated with shelling melon, a melon sheller was designed and constructed. Parameters evaluated include shelling efficiency, percentage seed shelled and damaged, throughput and machine capacity. The machine was constructed using locally available materials and consists of a hopper, frame, shelling and cleaning unit, chutes and prime mover. Shelling operation was carried out using melon seeds of three different moisture contents (6.99, 11.90 and 18.32%) and at different shelling speeds of 2,500 and 1,500 rpm, while performance was evaluated. Results obtained showed that shelling speed of 1,500 rpm and moisture content of 18.32% have the best shelling efficiency of 76.30% and least percentage seed damage of 22.60%, compared with shelling speed of 2,500 rpm and seed moisture content of 6.99%, which had a shelling efficiency of 70.0% and percentage seed damage of 68.10%. Shelling speed of the machine and seed moisture content of melon affect the rate, efficiency and percentage seed damage. The machine and throughput capacity of the equipment are 7.95 and 9.56 kg/h, respectively. This design and set of conditions selected were the most preferred because of its rapid operation, lesser seed damage and minimal human energy expenditure. The developed machine do not require skilled labor, and this melon sheller can effectively address the problems associated with the traditional method of shelling melon among the rural dwellers in Nigeria. Practical Applications The constructed sheller is practically applicable to melon seed shelling and subsequent cleaning of its chaff. This will address the prevalent challenge associated with processing of melon seeds, which limit its further use.

High volume in the form of high sound pressure level (SPL) is ingrained in the aesthetics of many forms of popular music, most obviously in rock and its associated sub-genres, but also in many other genres and styles including various forms of dance music, hip hop, reggae and electronic music. The primary site of expression of the notion of loud-as-good is in the performance of music in public spaces or venues (live, recorded or a blend of both). The reproduction of discourses of loud-as-good is woven through popular music culture, from bands in tiny rehearsal studios to the world record for “loudest” band (Deep Purple or The Who, depending on the year of publication of the Guinness Book of Records). Loud-as-good discourse has been satirised in other media: the “mockumentary”, This is Spinal Tap (1984) and Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, both of which are addressed here. This essay identifies five discourses of loudness as they appear in music journalism, and in fiction. These are: loud-as-good, loud-as-bad; loud-as-good for the audience, but bad for the journalist; loud-as-good for the journalist, but bad for the audience; loud-as-irrational.

It is somewhat unexpected to have headaches in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (INPH) for which the treatment is drainage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) using shunt. Moreover, intracranial hypotension syndrome (IHS) can be a challenging diagnosis, as CSF leak may be difficult to confirm as imaging findings can be normal. This report describes a woman with INPH who developed symptoms of IHS after a spinal tap test. There might be cases with IHS, like our case, who do not completely fulfill the current diagnostic criteria in terms of not having any objective evidence of intracranial hypotension but who also could not be explained by other conditions and recovered totally after classical IHS treatment. Current diagnostic criteria for IHS might be revised for those having normal neuroimaging and not accepting lumbar puncture. Nevertheless, when the history, signs, and symptoms strongly suggest IHS even with normal imaging, treatment should be started immediately.

Background The complement system is a functional link between the innate and adaptive immune system and present in all compartments of the body. The composition of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) differs between the ventricular, cisternal and lumbar space. Usually, concentrations of blood-derived CSF proteins increase from ventricular to lumbar fractions. Methods In 20 geriatric patients with suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) [13 women, 7 men, age 80.5 (75/85) years; median (25th/75th percentile)] a lumbar spinal tap of 40 ml was performed, and 10 ml of serum was drawn. CSF, sequentially collected in 8 fractions of 5 ml (1st fraction: lumbar CSF; 8th fraction: cisterna magna-near CSF), was analyzed for complement protein C3, and the activation products C3a and sC5b-9 by enzyme immunoassay. Results The concentrations of the complement factors measured in fractions 1 and 8 of each individual patient were strongly correlated: C3 (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient rS = 0.75, p = 0.0002); C3a (rS = 0.93, p Conclusions The increase of the complement concentrations from cisternal to lumbar CSF and the strong correlation of C3 with QAlb suggest that (1) a substantial portion of complement C3 in CSF originates from blood and (2) the complement system is mildly activated in the CSF of NPH patients.

This chapter focuses on the seminal rock-mockumentary This is Spinal Tap in order to provide a detailed examination of how parodic humour is conveyed through an imitation of documentary style. Underpinning the analysis is a discussion of Spinal Tap’s ‘realness’ as defined by Judith Butler. The straightforward notion that Spinal Tap is a fictional band (as determined by our recognition of their parodic aspects) is complicated by the reflexive critique of the performative nature of real rock musicians. This layering of performative elements is further problematised by Spinal Tap’s continued existence outside of the diegesis of the original film text as an authentic recording and touring act. This has resulted in a subversive challenge to the rock documentary form, with our understanding of the genre coloured by This is Spinal Tap.

Soapwort extract is a traditional additive, produced by extracting soapwort roots [Gypsophila bicolor (Freyn et Sint.) Grossh] in boiling water. It is used for color, volume, and texture improvements of several foods. In this study, the optimum extraction conditions and membrane concentration for soapwort extract were determined to produce enriched soapwort powder as a stable and efficient additive in place of the traditional extract. The optimum extraction conditions were determined by using response surface method as following: root to water 1:10, average particle size 4.5 mm, and temperature at 95 degrees C and extraction time for 3 hr. This extract has been enriched with saponin via reverse osmosis up to 20% concentration of soluble solids. Soapwort powder, includes 4% moisture, produced from the soapwort concentrate by using the spray dryer. Some physicochemical properties of the powder were determined as 46.3 g saponin/100 g (dm), 0.36 water activity, and 7.74 m average particle size distribution. Additionally, bulk density, spray drying recovery yield (dm), and water solubility were determined as 469 kg/m(3), 87%, and 94%, respectively. The diluted soapwort concentrate and reconstituted soapwort powder were tested in production of Turkish delight and halvah in comparison to commercial soapwort extract at the same soluble solid content. Results showed that there were no statistical differences on the color and the appearance scores of all Turkish delight samples. Additionally, halvah samples produced with the reconstituted soapwort powder were the most preferred samples in sensorial analysis and these samples were determined as the best considering the structural values.

If David Shields and Fredrika Teute have illuminated the theatrical quality of elite social interaction during the Revolutionary and Federalist eras, they have also offered a more than credible job analyzing an actual theatrical performance: the Meschianza, a mixed-media extravanganza performed by British troops and colonial ladies at Philadelphia in 1779. By now, the importance of the theatre and theatricality for the study of early America must be clear to anyone following the field for the last several decades.1 From Kenneth Silverman's attention to theatrical events in his encyclopedic Cultural History of the American Revolution to recent work by Heather Nathans, Odai Johnson, and myself, the history of the early American theatre has become a subject meriting serious academic inquiry.2 Shields and Teute's study of the vexed national and gender identities on display at Lord Howe's legendary farewell bash stands out for its simultaneous analyses of the performance text, the participants, and the audience.They refer to the Meschianza as "the sum of all fetes, a performance that encompassed the entirety of the theater of British civility"-a pageant, a dance, a feast, a fete champetre. Their patient explication of the event places the Meschianza amidst the slovenly wilderness of American history, where it is encapsulated by the complexities of life in a revolutionary society and the history of the Revolution itself. Shields and Teute explicated the complex cultural work performed in Philadelphia in what was, when they presented their research, unique detail. The gentility of the British soldiers dressed in feudal garments, for instance, spoke directly to the British caricature of the Continentals as "an army in which officers were not gentlemen, but merchants with swords-in which soldiering was zealous butchery performed by armed farmers and mechanics." Even more critical to our understanding of the event's importance to the history of the revolution is their assessment of the Meschianza's purpose and its dramaturgy:The richness of metropolitan manners and the potency of the British empire's arts of peace must be shown-to the colonials as an education about all that would be forfeit if independence were achieved-to loyalists as a rite of confirmation in imperial identity-to his army as a warrant for then actions. The theater-Britain's great school of manners and the engine of fashion-would be the primary vehicle of Howe's demonstration.Shields and Teute's themes of upheaval-in manners, gender norms, traditional communal identities, and economic cohesion owing to the uneven distribution of suffering due to the war-seem as inextricably intertwined as the cultural forms on display at the Meschianza.All of these themes add up to a form of male performance anxiety that is equal parts theatrical and sexual. The Yankees attacking Breed's Hill and disturbing General Burgoyne's production of The Blockade of Boston or firing the woods during the Meschianza were self-consciously, one might say theatrically, plain republican commoners who ran into an officer corps "campaigning on behalf of some more atavistic scheme, reno- vating the old ethic of valor, masculine prerogative, and elite familiarity," as Shields and Teute contend. This conflict of masculinities naturally drew sneers from the rebels, as in the case of Anthony Wayne's conflation of masculine weakness, urbanity, and romance relating to the British officer corps and the ladies of Philadelphia (ironic given Wayne's own love of theatre). Meanwhile, despite set and costume designer Major John Andre's best efforts to move the ladies and the slaves of the Mechianza off to a sideboard like so many bour geois nibbles of Turkish delight, Shields and Teute capture the dangerous allure of romance and femininity in revolutionary culture: "In this colonial contest, male power was rendered impotent by sexual desire. Imperial officers were possessed by Anglo-American women, rather than possessing them. …

Virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is a potentially fatal complication of immunosuppression for transplantation. However, it presents with heterogeneous clinical symptoms (fever, disturbed consciousness, and hepatosplenomegaly) and laboratory findings (pancytopenia, elevated hepatic enzyme levels, abnormal coagulation, and hyperferritinemia), impeding diagnosis. Case 1: A 39-year-old female developed fever 4 years after ABO-incompatible living-related renal transplantation. Laboratory findings revealed thrombocytopenia, elevated hepatic enzymes, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA seropositivity, and hyperferritinemia. EBV-associated HPS was confirmed by bone marrow aspiration. Steroid pulse therapy and etoposide were ineffective. Disseminated intravascular coagulation resulted in multiple organ failure, and the patient died 32 days after disease onset. Case 2: A 67-year-old male was admitted with rotavirus enteritis a month after living-unrelated renal transplantation. He developed sudden-onset high fever, disturbance of consciousness, and tachypnea 8 days after admission. Laboratory findings revealed elevated hepatic enzyme levels, hyperkalemia, and hyperferritinemia. Emergency continuous hemodiafiltration ameliorated the fever, and steroid pulse therapy improved abnormal laboratory values. Varicella-zoster virus meningitis was confirmed by spinal tap. Acyclovir improved consciousness, and he was discharged 87 days after admission. Fatal virus-associated HPS may develop in organ transplant patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy. Pathognomonic hyperferritinemia is useful for differential diagnosis.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) is an infection of the central nervous system (CNS) meninges that carries high morbidity and mortality. It is important to recognize, as patients may present with atypical symptoms. We describe the case of a 31-year-old man with a history of diabetes who presented with a sub-acute onset of right-sided facial weakness and right gaze difficulty with diplopia. History revealed low-grade fever, right-sided headache, fatigue and moderate weight loss for the past several weeks. The patient did not report neck stiffness, rigidity, fever, chills or cough. The physical exam revealed sixth nerve palsy with a right Horner’s syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed pachymeningeal enhancement. A spinal tap revealed elevated white blood cells (WBCs), glucose and protein; cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) culture showed Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The patient was diagnosed with TBM and treated with isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and vitamin B6 for 12 months. The timely diagnosis of TBM can be challenging due to a nonspecific clinical presentation. In patients with a sub-acute onset of headache, fever and meningeal signs, TBM should be considered in the differential. If suspected, treatment should be initiated immediately to prevent further neurological impairment and death.

Just after dawn, Vivej arrives at the hospital with her newborn under her arm to see you. She is 21 years old, two days postpartum, and exhausted after 36 hours of protracted labor. She is worried because she cannot get her firstborn, Esmile, to breastfeed. You learn that she delivered at a birthing clinic near her home and tells you that, even after her water broke, it took more than a day before the birth attendant could deliver her son. Your examination reveals a dire clinical picture: Esmile is lethargic and hypotonic, he has a poor suck reflex, his temperature is 39.8°C, his pulse is 180, and his breathing is labored. You check his white blood count, confirming leukocytosis. A spinal tap shows pleocytosis. You start him on fluids and antibiotics for neonatal sepsis with likely meningitis and quickly turn your attention to Vivej. Her situation is easier to diagnose but no less urgent: she is febrile and tachycardic, her blood pressure is 85/50. You give her fluids and start her on antibiotics. Ultimately, despite your efforts, both mother and child die.What went wrong? This chapter looks narrowly at these situations—the critical points after access and availability (including affordability) are already accomplished, when patients are in health care facilities that are staffed and equipped with appropriate technology. These are the situations in which the inputs are brought together and it is up to the provider to improve the health of the patient. Simply put, this chapter looks at the decisions and actions of the provider when seeing a patient. It is at this critical moment when we expect the doctor or nurse, or whoever is caring for the patient, to provide the best possible care by skillfully combining the available resources and technologies with the best clinical evidence and professional judgment.Esmile and Vivej received poor-quality care at the time of delivery. Several clinical steps were not taken. The prolonged rupture of membranes was not diagnosed in a timely manner. Vivej needed either to have her labor induced or, failing that, to be referred for a cesarean section. Prophylactic antibiotics should have been administered. Just as important, the provider at the birthing center needed support and professional oversight, with guidelines, supervision, or default referral systems in place to provide a path to the best care possible. The multiple failures in this case led to puerperal and neonatal sepsis. At worst, these conditions have a fatality rate greater than one in four; at best, they lead to protracted care, recovery, and clinical expense that could have been avoided. It is possible, however, to imagine providers in a different setting, with the same physical resources, giving better care and avoiding this tragic scenario.In the next section, we answer the questions raised in this scenario and in countless clinics and hospitals around the world. How much variation is there in the quality of care? How do we measure clinical practice? How and where has quality been systematically improved and practice variation reduced? What elements of care variation can be addressed by policy and what are the costs? Most important, what can be done to elevate the care given by providers in developing country settings? Our focus, therefore, is on the steps that can be taken to optimize the quality of care for patients like Esmile in pediatrics, Vivej in obstetrics, and other patients receiving care for the clinical conditions considered throughout the nine volumes of the third edition of Disease Control Priorities (DCP3).

Background: Lumbar puncture is a well-known procedure. The indications for lumbar puncture vary among different medical and surgical disciplines, though obtaining a sample for cerebrospinal fluid analysis is the most common one. A normal coagulation profile is crucial prior to pursing the procedure. Occasionally, an urgent sample is needed to guide an appropriate treatment while the patient's coagulation status is suboptimum. In those specific critical situations, some may accept suboptimal correction owing to the urgency of the case. Case Description: We report a case for a patient with Burkitt lymphoma who presented with mild neuroaxial symptoms. An urgent cerebrospinal fluid sample was required which was taken after correcting his platelets count to 53.4 × 109/L. He developed a massive multi-compartmental thoracolumbar hematoma with acute cauda equine syndrome requiring surgical intervention. Despite aggressive management, he remained permanently paraplegic with functional status that negatively affected his overall outcome. Conclusion: Lumbar puncture is a useful diagnostic and treatment tool. Although serious events are seldom, they can be detrimental. A precaution not to underestimate such events in practicing lumbar, especially in patients with suboptimum coagulation state. Image-guided procedure can be useful and should be considered in appropriately selected patients.

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe the treatment journey of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods This study was conducted in 2 phases. The first consisted of a claims-based analysis of data from patients diagnosed with MS between October 1, 2010, and May 31, 2014. Study patients were aged ≥18 years, had ≥12 months of continuous eligibility before and after the earliest MS diagnosis (index date), ≥1 disease-modifying therapy (DMT) claim postindex, and no claims with a code for DMT or MS during the 12-month preindex period. The second phase consisted of medical record reviews in a subset of patients in the claims study who had ≥1 neurologist visit within 90 days of the index MS diagnosis. Findings A total of 1639 patients were selected for claims-based analysis, and medical record analysis was conducted in a subset of 327 of those patients. The mean age in both samples was 42 years; females constituted about 70% of each group. Medical records showed that within a year of the first neurologist visit, 97.6% patients had a confirmed MS diagnosis; however, in 58.0%, MS type was not specified. MS symptoms were documented in less than half of all patients at the index neurologist visit. Early management consisted of magnetic resonance imaging (98.5% of patients), and the management of flares (annualized relapse rate, 0.3 [0.6] per patient). Use of spinal tap (21.7%), Expanded Disability Status Scale score (4.6%), and timed 25-foot walk score (8.6%) to evaluate disease progression was infrequent. The percentages of patients discontinuing the first DMT over time were high (43.1% among patients with 12–24 months of postindex follow-up, to 65.7% among patients with >36 months of postindex follow-up). Neurologists noted that about 10% of patients had difficulty adhering to an MS medication regimen, and documented several reasons for discontinuation, including adverse drug events and lack of desired effectiveness. Implications In clinical practice, early MS treatment in DMT users is focused on symptom management, irrespective of MS type. Patients may benefit from initiating optimal treatment earlier. First-line therapy was often a transient option.

International audience; Photoplethysmography and Ballistocardiography are two concepts that are used to measure heart rate from human, by using facial videos. Heart rate estimation is essential to determine the physiological and pathological state of a person. This paper presents a critical review of digital camera based heart rate estimating method on facial skin. This review extends the investigation on to the principles and theory behind photoplethysmography and ballistocardiography. The article contains reviews on the significance of the methods and contributions to overcome challenges such as; poor signal strength, illumination variance, and motion variance. The experiments were conducted to validate the state of the art methods on a challenging database that is available publicly. The implemented methods were validated using the database, on 27 subjects for a range of skin tones from pearl white, fair, olive to black. The results were computed using statistical methods such as: mean error, standard deviation, the root mean square error, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis. The results derived from the experiments showed the reliability of the state of the art methods and provided direction to improve for situations involving illumination variance and motion variance. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A 68-year-old man presented with cognitive impairment, urinary incontinence and short step gait. These symptoms, together with brain MRI finding, suggested idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. After a spinal tap test to confirm the diagnosis, he suffered from postdural puncture headache. Despite an equivocal finding on spinal MR myelography (MRM), lumbosacral fat-suppressed T2-weighted image (FST2WI) clearly showed the characteristic ‘Dinosaur tail sign’ indicative of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leakage (figure 1).1 This pathognomonic sign disappeared on symptom improvement (figure 1). …

The association between enterovirus D68 and acute flaccid myelitis was first described in the United States in 2014. Since then, sporadic cases have been reported in Canada and Europe. This study describes a series of cases of acute flaccid myelitis at Hospital de Pediatría "Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan," in Buenos Aires, Argentina, during 2016.Descriptive, retrospective study. All patients with acute flaccid myelitis and lesions in the spinal cord involving the gray matter, as observed in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, hospitalized from 04/01/2016 to 07/01/2016, were included in the study. Samples of nasopharyngeal secretions, fecal swabs and cerebrospinal fluid were collected and processed to look for the causative agent.Ten patients were included. The median age was 4 years old (range from 3 months to 5 years old). Eight patients had a self-limiting febrile condition before the onset of neurological symptoms. Neurological findings were flaccid weakness in, at least, one limb, cervical paralysis (n= 2) and facial paralysis (n= 2). All patients had longitudinal lesions in the spinal cord, with gray matter involvement, mainly in the anterior horn. In all cases, a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) was performed. Pleocytosis was observed in 7 patients. In four children, enterovirus D68 was identified in nasopharyngeal secretions, and in one, it was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid. Neurological deficit persisted in all patients at the time of discharge.The first outbreak of acute flaccid myelitis associated to enterovirus D68 is reported in Argentina. Active epidemiological surveillance will help to determine the true incidence, epidemiology and etiology of this disease.La asociación entre enterovirus D68 y cuadros de mielitis aguda fláccida ha sido descrita en Estados Unidos, en 2014. Desde ese año, se han reportado casos esporádicamente en Canadá y Europa. Se describe, en este estudio, una serie de casos con mielitis aguda fláccida en el Hospital de Pediatría “Prof. Dr. Juan P. Garrahan” en Buenos Aires, Argentina, en 2016.Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo. Se incluyeron todos los pacientes internados desde el 1/04/2016 al 1/07/2016 con mielitis fláccida aguda con lesiones en la médula espinal que comprometieran la sustancia gris en la resonancia magnética nuclear. Se procesaron, para la búsqueda etiológica, muestras de secreciones nasofaríngeas, hisopados de materia fecal y líquido cefalorraquídeo.Se incluyeron 10 pacientes. La mediana de edad fue 4 años (rango de 3 meses a 5 años). Ocho pacientes tuvieron una enfermedad febril autolimitada antes del inicio de los síntomas neurológicos. Los hallazgos neurológicos fueron debilidad fláccida de, al menos, un miembro, cervicoplejia (n= 2) y parálisis facial (n= 2). Todos los pacientes presentaron lesiones longitudinales en la médula espinal, con compromiso de sustancia gris, predominantemente, en el asta anterior. En todos los casos, se realizó una punción lumbar. En 7 pacientes, se observó pleocitosis. En cuatro niños, se identificó enterovirus D68 en secreciones nasofaríngeas y, en uno, se identificó el enterovirusD68 en el líquido cefalorraquídeo. Todos los pacientes persistieron con déficits neurológicos al momento del alta.Se reporta el primer brote de mielitis aguda fláccida asociada a enterovirusD68 en Argentina. La vigilancia epidemiológica activa permitirá conocer la verdadera incidencia, epidemiología y etiología de esta enfermedad.

Nasal dorsum augmentation is commonly performed using autologous cartilage grafts, also in the Turkish Delight technique. The aim of this study was to describe a modification of the Turkish Delight technique for dorsal augmentation consisting of small hydroxyapatite-calcium carbonate granules (0.5-1 mm) that were wrapped in layers of oxidized cellulose and glued with 1-2-cm(3) fibrin sealant and to compare its utility with that of other techniques. Clinically stable and satisfactory results were achieved in the four cases examined. Cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) imaging revealed that there was no degradation of the graft up to 2 years after surgery. The use of a modified Turkish Delight method using hydroxyapatite granules promises to be a valuable option for the correction of nasal dorsum deficiency.

A 56-year old Chinese female was referred to an academic medical center with atypical, treatment-resistant depression that continued for approximately 3 years after her sister's death. Comprehensive evaluation including neurocognitive testing, EEG, spinal tap, HIV testing and brain MRI revealed behavioral variant of fronto-temporal dementia (bvFTD) with significant frontal and temporal lobe atrophy.This patient's unusual clinical presentation emphasizes the overlap between depression and bvFTD, and underlines the importance of prompt, accurate diagnosis to minimize often-ineffective pharmacological interventions and caregiver burnout.

INTRODUCTION Fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty is an effective procedure for correcting abdominal contour abnormalities in both the vertical and horizontal orientation. Tension on the approximated tissue edges and reduced microvascular perfusion is mainly responsible for wound dehiscence and delayed wound healing in the T-point area and seroma formation. To reduce these complications, we developed a modification of the fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty technique forming upper abdominal skin flaps with deepithelialized mediocaudal edges. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 76 consecutive patients underwent fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty over a 2-year period. Of these, 38 (50%) underwent standard fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty and 38 (50%) had modified fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty. RESULTS Full-thickness skin defects as major complications and nonoperative treated seroma formations were significantly reduced in modified fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty patients. CONCLUSIONS Modified fleur-de-lis abdominoplasty reduces the rate of full-thickness skin defects at T-junction and the development of seroma formation.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, degenerative, invariably fatal brain disorder. CJD usually appears in later life and runs a rapid course. Typically, the onset of symptoms occurs about age 60 and about 90% of individuals die within one year. We report a case of 67-year-old male presented with progressive aphasia, confusion, dysphagia and inability to carry out activities of daily life (ADLs) over a period of three to four weeks. The patient had past medical history of chronic atrial fibrillation and hypertension. Prior to admission, the patient was treated for ischemic stroke of left basal ganglia but continued to have worsening encephalopathy. The spinal tap revealed a 14-3-3 protein level of thirteen times the upper limit of normal; electroencephalogram (EEG) showed a diffuse slowing of the background and periodic sharp waves with greater involvement of the left hemisphere. Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at the time of admission showed extensive signal abnormality in the basal ganglia bilaterally and in the cerebral cortex bilaterally, particularly over the left cerebral hemisphere. The persistence of the MRI findings over several weeks was concerning for spongiform encephalopathy. The probable diagnosis of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease was made based on these imaging findings taken together with the patient’s clinical signs and symptoms of a rapidly progressive encephalopathy. The patient was able to have some quality time with his family as the diagnosis was made earlier than perhaps otherwise and expired peacefully after comfort care measures were chosen. Serial MRI may serve as a clue to the early diagnosis of CJD and potentially provide a better quality of life for the patients.

In patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), the spinal tap test (STT) is commonly used to predict ventriculoperitoneal shunt responsiveness. Clinical improvement following STT usually is measured by testing gait function. In our study, we investigated the impact of cognitive impairment on gait improvement after STT.22 patients with the clinical and radiological diagnosis of iNPH underwent gait analyses (mobile measuring system Medilogic) before and 2-4h after STT in self-paced gait velocity over 7m. Prior to STT, cognition was evaluated by the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). MMSE24/30 points was used to define the subgroup of patients with cognitive impairment (iNPH-CI). Spatio-temporal parameters of gait before STT vs. after STT were analyzed with ANOVA with repeated measures.1. Baseline gait parameters did not differ between the two groups: patients with iNPH and normal cognition (n=11) and patients with iNPH-CI (n=11). 2. Following STT, there was significant improvement of gait parameters in patients without cognitive impairment, while patients with iNPH-CI did not benefit from STT.Subjects with iNPH have a higher probability of lack of gait improvement 2-4h following STT, if cognitive impairment is present. Further studies are needed to elucidate the associations of cognitive impairment and quantitative gait parameters measured early and at later time points after STT.

A very rare complication following a lumbar puncture is creation of an iatrogenic multi space, leading to spinal hemorrhage in either the epidural, subdural or subarachnoid spaces. We report a case of iatrogenic multi spacing following a failed lumbar puncture to obtain a CT Myelogram. This case is important as multiple attempts of lumbar puncture, whether to obtain a spinal tap or CT Myelogram, could lead to complications such as the ones our patient faced. Improper lumbar puncture could lead to spinal hemorrhage. A proper procedure is very important because these hemorrhages can lead to a multitude of complications for the patient later on in life.

Introduction: Cucumeropsis mannii (melon seed) is grown as a source of oil and can be dried and ground for use as soup condiment in Nigeria. It has been said to contain antioxidants. The crop holds significant nutritional value rich in essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals. The seed is an excellent vegetable protein and is ideal for battling nutritional debilitations. Aims: In this study, the in vitro antioxidant activities of the ethanolic extract of melon seeds were analyzed. Materials and Methods: The C. mannii (melon) seeds were dried, and the sample was ground with a corona manual grinder into a fine powder and was stored in an airtight container. Sample extraction was performed by soaking 20 g of the ground sample in 100 ml of 70% ethanol and placed in a shaker (HY-4A multipurpose oscillator) for 1 h. Analysis for percentage of free radical scavenging activity (RSA), reducing power activity, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity, and antioxidant enzyme activity was done using standard methods. Statistical Analysis: The results were presented as mean ± standard deviation, and analysis was carried out using the Student's t-test at 95% confidence level considered at P = 0.05. Results: The result obtained showed that melon seed had an EC50 free RSA of 2382.69 mg/ml, reducing power activity of 16,660 mg/ml, while lipid peroxidation showed EC50 of 473.832 mg/ml. The catalase (0.12985 ± 0.00 U/mg), superoxide dismutase (0.0032095 ± 0.00U/mg), and H2O2 scavenging activity showed high activities. Conclusions: C. mannii (melon seed) contains active antioxidants that prove that it is of essential nutritional value.

Purpose Epithelial implantation cysts are rare complications of traumatic injury or incisional surgery resulting from transfer of surface epithelial cells from the cornea, conjunctiva, or periocular skin into the anterior chamber. They can either appear as solid, pearl white, or clear in the case of serous cysts. This study describes the clinical presentation, histopathological features, and surgical outcomes of a pearl cyst. Case report A 19-year-old male subject first presented with corneal injury from a stone. After primary wound management, an eyelash was removed from the anterior chamber. The corneal wound was not sutured. Two months later, the patient was rehospitalized with a white mass in the anterior chamber. The mass was excised. Postoperative visual acuity was normal. Histological examination revealed an implantation cyst on the surface of the iris extensively covered with epithelial cells four to five layers thick in most areas. The patient has been followed up for 6 months without complications. Conclusions The proliferation of traumatically implanted epithelial cells into the anterior chamber may lead to the development of a pearl cyst. The positive outcome in this case was consistent with the surgical treatment of choice evolving in the literature.

Quercus-Pinus forests of the eastern USA cover millions of hectares and span a variety of ecoregions. Understanding the influence of natural disturbance on developmental and successional pathways is important for managers that wish to sustain Pinus spp. in these mixtures. Quantifying developmental and successional patterns in this forest type can help assess the need to actively manage natural processes and inform silvicultural prescriptions to achieve management goals. Little research has been conducted on natural, gap-scale disturbance processes in Quercus stands with strong components of Pinus taeda, Pinus virginiana, and Pinus echinata. We examined 60 canopy gaps in a Quercus-Pinus forest on the southern Cumberland Plateau in Alabama to document gap formation, closure, and other characteristics and to analyze the influence of localized disturbance on development and succession. The majority of gapmaker trees (56%) were Pinus individuals and 44% were hardwoods. Most gaps (58%) closed by height growth of subcanopy trees. The majority of these gap filler taxa were hardwoods: Quercus (39%), Carya (14%), Nyssa sylvatica (12%), and other hardwoods (15%), with Pinus representing 14%. The number of Pinus gapmakers and the number of gaps projected to fill by subcanopy recruitment of hardwoods indicated the forest was in the latter stages of a composition shift from Pinus to a much stronger Quercus component. Significant positive relationships existed between gap size and sapling diversity (r 2 = 0.15, P = 0.002), tree diversity (r 2 = 0.21, P = 0.0002), and total stem diversity (r 2 = 0.29, P < 0.0001) indicating a positive relationship may exist between gap size and diversity on xeric ridge tops where shade-tolerant species are less competitive. We speculated the ridge top positions contributed to the relatively high gap formation rates noted in this study. Pinus composition was found to be patchy, indicating a gap-based approach may be used to manage for Pinus recruitment in hardwood dominated systems. 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Vertical abdominoplasty is a safe and effective procedure to correct abdominal contour abnormalities in individuals with excessive soft tissue in both the vertical and transverse orientation. The literature, although limited, supports the effectiveness of this procedure in addressing this clinical scenario. Further, the complication rates are comparable to a standard transverse abdominoplasty.

Turkish delight is a sugar-based jellylike confection that has been produced for hundreds of years. In this study, four different modified atmospheres were created in order to extend the shelf life of Turkish delight. Microbiological analyses and sensory evaluations were conducted at the beginning of storage and at 7-day intervals thereafter. Microbiological analyses showed that the numbers of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria within samples stored in a modified atmosphere of 30% CO2 plus 70% N2 were lower than in the other modified atmospheres. According to sensory evaluations, the samples kept in a modified atmosphere of 50% CO2 plus 50% N2 were unacceptable after the 21st day of storage, whereas those kept in modified atmospheres of both 25% CO2 plus 75% N2 and 30% CO2 plus 70% N2 were found to be acceptable even after 30 days of storage.

Microsatellite markers were used to identify 58 major commercial melon cultivars, and to assess hybrid seed purit y of a melon breeding line known as ‘10H08’. A set of 412 microsatellite primer pairs were utilized for fingerprinting of the melon cultivars. Twenty-nine markers showed hyper-variability and could discriminate all cultivars on the basis of marker genotypes, representing the genetic variation within varietal groups. Cluster analysis based on Jaccard’s distance coefficients using the UPGMA algorithm categorized 2 major groups, which were in accordance to morphological traits. The DNA bulks of female and male parents of breeding line ‘10H08’ were tested with 29 primer pairs based on microsatellites to investigate purity testing of F 1 hybrid seeds, and 5 primer pairs exhibited polymorphism. One microsatellite primer pair (CMGAN12) produced unambi guous polymorphic bands among the parents. Among 192 seeds tested with CMGAN12, progeny possibly generated by self-pollination of the female parent were clearly distinguished from the hybrid progeny. These markers will be useful for fingerprinting melon cultivars and can help private seed companies to improve melon seed purity.Additional key words

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is characterised by gait disturbance, urinary incontinence and dementia. Even though dementia is a cardinal symptom of NPH, there is few data available concerning cognitive functioning. The aim of this observational case-control study was to evaluate the use of neuropsychological (NPSY) tests prior and after spinal tap test, which might be helpful for diagnosis, treatment and as a prognostic factor for shunt surgery. 15 patients with NPH and 18 controls were examined with eleven different tests covering all neuropsychological domains on two consecutive days. The second examination in NPH patients was 1 day after a spinal tap of 30-50 ml cerebrospinal fluid. A significant difference between NPH and controls in the change between baseline and 1 day after spinal tap was only observed in MMSE. In the domains of visuo-constructive function and attention, controls performed slightly better at day one compared to baseline, which could be interpreted as a learning effect, but after adjusting for multiple testing none of the P values were significant. In contrast to other reports, the MMSE seems to provide a sensitive evaluation of the response to spinal tap in NPH patients and might therefore be included into the routine work up of NPH patients. All other NPSY tests showed less prominent changes within 1 day after spinal tap.

The first two decades of the twentieth century are considered a golden age for sport, but these years were also a time when female daredevils, lady swashbucklers and athletic heroines were surprisingly common. Although they are virtually forgotten today, muscular women stars were a worldwide phenomenon. The first of these female daredevils was Pearl White who put her athletic abilities on display in weekly serials where she continually rescued herself from improbable scrapes by using her own strength and wits. Other intrepid females in Europe soon showed off their own brand of cliffhanging: Frenchwomen Musidora and Josette Andriot, the Danish daredevil Emilie Sannom and the ‘mastodontic’ Italian Astrea all demonstrated their muscular and thespian skills in popular cinematic entertainments during the silent era. These mighty ladies helped to expand the vocabulary of what it meant to be strong and sporty and feminine at the same time. Unfortunately, this enjoyment of female strength and independence all cam...

Plant-microbe community dynamics influence the natural succession of plant species where pioneer vegetation facilitates the establishment of a distantly related, later successional plant species. This has been observed in the case of restoration of the American chestnut (Castanea dentata) on abandoned mine land where Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) facilitated the establishment of chestnut seedlings. This was apparently due to the natural mycorrhizal networks of pine, which aided the survival and growth of chestnut seedlings. In this study, we assessed the survival and propensity of introduced mycorrhizal fungi on Virginia pine to colonize pure American and backcrossed American chestnut. Seedlings were planted in Perry State Forest located in southeastern Ohio. This area was mined for coal in the 1950s and had very little reclamation done aside from experimental tree plantings. The selected site, with little topsoil or organic matter, was characterized by high concentrations of Al, high soil temperatures, and a pH of 3.6. Virginia pine seedlings were inoculated using ectomycorrhizal (ECM) cultures of Amanita rubescens, Laccaria laccata, and Pisolithus tinctorius via liquid media. After three months, roots were tested for the presence of mycorrhizae. They were then transplanted and grown for two years in the greenhouse. After verifying mycorrhizal colonization, 600 pines were out planted in May of 2005. Chestnut seedlings (100 one-year-old seedlings) inoculated with P. tinctorius by the Ohio state tree nursery had been planted by other researchers at the same time. After eight growing seasons, pines and chestnuts were measured and sampled for ECM colonization. Growth measurements showed that pines and hybrid chestnuts had significantly more aboveground biomass compared to pure American chestnut (P = 0.01). Eleven fungal species were detected using DNA sequencing. With the exception of Amanita, the inoculum that were out planted with both chestnut and Virginia pine were replaced after 8 field seasons by fungi native to the site. More fungal species were sampled from the Virginia pines than from chestnut roots, which contributed to the significant differences in ECM fungal community composition between the two species (P = 0.005).

The aim of this study was to assess the potential of oriental melon ( Cucumis melo L. var. makuwa Makino) seeds for the management of hyperglycemia linked to type 2 diabetes. The inhibitory effects of the hexane extracts of roasted melon seed on α-glucosidase and α-amylase were examined under different roasting temperatures, and compared with those of the unroasted seeds. The highest hypoglycemic activity was exerted by the seed roasted at 250 °C for 90 min with an inhibition value of 87.7% and 52.3% against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively. The α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effects were strongly correlated with the levels of triacylglyceride esterified with linoleic acid (trilinolein). These results suggest that oriental melon seed extracts contain TAG and unsaturated fatty acids, which are potent inhibitors of α-glucosidase and α-amylase Hence it is clear that oriental melon seeds, which at present are considered as agricultural waste, may usefully be extracted and added to foods.