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A plant’s growth and fitness are influenced by species interactions, including those belowground. In primary successional systems, belowground organisms are known to have particularly important control over plant growth. Exotic plant invasions in these and other habitats may in part be explained by altered associations with belowground organisms compared to native plants. We investigated the growth responses of two foundation grasses on Great Lakes sand dunes, the native grass Ammophila breviligulata and the exotic grass Leymus arenarius, to two groups of soil organisms with important roles in dune succession: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant-parasitic nematodes (PPN). We manipulated the presence/absence of two generalist belowground species known to occur in Great Lakes dunes, Rhizophagus intraradices (AMF) and Pratylenchus penetrans (PPN) in a factorial greenhouse experiment and assessed the biomass production and root architectural traits of the plants. There were clear differences in growth and above- and belowground architecture between Ammophila and Leymus, with Leymus plants being bigger, taller, and having longer roots than Ammophila. Inoculation with Rhizophagus increased above- and belowground biomass production by ~32% for both plant species. Inoculation with Pratylenchus decreased aboveground biomass production by ~36% for both plant species. However belowground, the exotic Leymus was significantly more resistant to PPN than the native Ammophila, and gained more benefits from AMF in belowground tri-trophic interactions than Ammophila. Overall, our results indicate that differences in plant architecture coupled with altered belowground interactions with AMF and PPN have the potential to promote exotic plant invasion.

The Bergeron Centre for Engineering Excellence is more than just a new academic building for the engineering school at Toronto’s York University. The facility was designed by engineers to demonstrate the engineering principles the students will learn within its iconic, multifaceted facade.

The Mountain Pine Beetle (MPB, Dendroctonus ponderosae) is a major forest pest at epidemic densities, capable of killing entire stands of mature pine. There are a variety of tactics used by forest managers to control MPB epidemics, but the ecology of the insect and the large scale of MPB infestations make it difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of any management strategy. Using a partial differential equation framework, we develop a mathematical model describing the interactions between beetles, beetle pheromone, and susceptible trees across multiple years. We use our mathematical model to examine the effectiveness of various existing management approaches used to limit the spread of the MPB. In particular, our study focuses on management activities that were used in Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada. Comparing the indirect controls of prescribed burning and clearcutting, we found the success of these methods is critically dependent on the level of MPB attraction to, and productivity in, partially burned trees. Our analysis also indicates that pheromone baiting in combination with tree removal is successful at reducing MPB impact at high beetle densities, but may lead to greater forest impact and greater MPB population growth at low beetle densities. Finally, we found that removal of beetle-attacked trees in the absence of baiting is the most successful strategy if managers are able to locate areas with significant MPB activity.

As the drought in the western United States lowered water levels at Lake Mead, the Southern Nevada Water Authority fought back by constructing the world’s deepest subaqueous tunnel. The 3 mi long concrete-lined tunnel is designed to draw drinking water from an intake structure half buried at the bottom of the lake.

Modern chemical synthesis techniques have allowed for improved incorporation of nano-scale additives into solid propellants. Various methods were implemented to incorporate titania nanoparticles into three representative ammonium perchlorate composite propellants (APCP), and the mechanical properties of each formulation were tested and compared to those of an analogous baseline. Advanced imaging techniques were applied to all particle synthesis methods to characterize particle size and particle network type and size. Uniaxial tensile testing was performed to measure propellant ultimate strength, ductility, and elastic modulus. In general, the addition of nano-titania additives to the propellant decreased propellant strength and modulus, but improved ductility. Propellant formulations containing in-situ titania exhibited an increase in ductility of 11 %, 286 %, and 186 % with a corresponding reduction in strength of 82 %, 52 %, and 17 % over analogous baselines. These trends corresponded to a simultaneous decrease in propellant density, indicating that when implementing nano-sized additives, care must be taken to monitor the effect of the altered manufacturing techniques on propellant physical properties in addition to just monitoring burning rates. Tailoring of propellant manufacturing procedures and the addition of Tepanol bonding agent to an in-situ APCP formulation fully recovered the propellant density and ultimate strength while retaining the enhanced ductility.

The Canadian Cervical Cancer Screening Trial was a randomized controlled trial comparing the performance of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and Papanicolaou cytology to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grades 2 or worse (CIN2+) among women aged 30–69 years attending routine cervical cancer screening in Montreal and St. John's, Canada (n = 10,154). We examined screening and prognostic values of enrollment cytologic and HPV testing results. Extended follow-up data were available for St. John's participants (n = 5,754; 501,682.6 person-months). HPV testing detected more CIN2+ than cytology during protocol-defined (82.9 vs. 44.4%) and extended (54.2 vs. 19.3%) follow-up periods, respectively. Three-year risks ranged from 0.87% (95% CI: 0.37–2.05) for HPV-/Pap- women to 35.77% (95% CI: 25.88–48.04) for HPV+/Pap+ women. Genotype-specific risks ranged from 0.90% (95% CI: 0.40–2.01) to 43.84% (95% CI: 32.42–57.24) among HPV− and HPV16+ women, respectively, exceeding those associated with Pap+ or HPV+ results taken individually or jointly. Ten-year risks ranged from 1.15% (95% CI: 0.60–2.19) for HPV−/Pap− women to 26.05% (95% CI: 15.34–42.13) for HPV+/Pap+ women and genotype-specific risks ranged from 1.13% (95% CI: 0.59–2.14) to 32.78% (95% CI: 21.15–48.51) among women testing HPV− and HPV16+, respectively. Abnormal cytology stratified risks most meaningfully for HPV+ women. Primary HPV testing every 3 years provided a similar or greater level of reassurance against disease risks as currently recommended screening strategies. HPV-based cervical screening may allow for greater disease detection than cytology-based screening and permit safe extensions of screening intervals; genotype-specific testing could provide further improvement in the positive predictive value of such screening.

A family of tricarbonyl Re(I) complexes of the formulation fac-[Re(CO)3(NHC)L] has been synthesized and characterized, both spectroscopically and structurally. The NHC ligand represents a bidentate N-heterocyclic carbene species where the central imidazole ring is substituted at the N3 atom by a butyl, a phenyl, or a mesityl group and substituted at the N1 atom by a pyridyl, a pyrimidyl, or a quinoxyl group. On the other hand, the ancillary L ligand alternates between chloro and bromo. For the majority of the complexes, the photophysical properties suggest emission from the lowest triplet metal-to-ligand charge transfer states, which are found partially mixed with triplet ligand-to-ligand charge transfer character. The nature and relative energy of the emitting states appear to be mainly influenced by the identity of the substituent on the N3 atom of the imidazole ring; thus, the pyridyl complexes have blue-shifted emission in comparison to the more electron deficient pyrimidyl complexes. The quinoxyl complexes show an unexpected blue-shifted emission, possibly occurring from ligand-centered excited states. No significant variations were found upon changing the substituent on the imidazole N3 atom and/or the ancillary ligand. The photochemical properties of the complexes have also been investigated, with only the complexes bound to the pyridyl-substituted NHC ligands showing photoinduced CO dissociation upon excitation at 370 nm, as demonstrated by the change in the IR and NMR spectra as well as a red shift in the emission profile after photolysis. Temperature-dependent photochemical experiments show that CO dissociation occurs at temperatures as low as 233 K, suggesting that the Re-C bond cleaves from excited states of metal-to-ligand charge transfer nature rather than thermally activated ligand field excited states. A photochemical mechanism that takes into account the reactivity of the complexes bound to the pyridyl-NHC ligand as well as the stability of those bound to the pyrimidyl- and quinoxyl-NHC ligands is proposed.

Nashville's Ascend Amphitheater is more than just a new outdoor venue for the downtown of the metropolis dubbed Music City. Constructed on the site of a former waste-burning plant on the river, the...

Myths about fertility are commonplace in society. Few studies have investigated educational approaches to bridge gaps in knowledge among consumers. We evaluated the effectiveness of an animated, 15-minute whiteboard video to effect change in knowledge about infertility.We recruited medical students in their first or second year of training for participation. The students completed the study before their formal lectures on infertility issues. Participants completed questionnaires assessing infertility knowledge immediately before and one week after watching the educational video. Before and after scores (maximum = 50 points) were compared using paired t tests.The study cohort included 101 medical students; 69% (70/101) were female and 31% (31/101) were male. Overall, students increased their score by 4.0/50 (95% CI 3.2 to 4.8, P 0.001) from 36.5/50 to 40.5/50. Female students improved slightly more in their responses than did male students (mean improvement 4.7/50 vs. 2.5/50).A whiteboard video presentation on infertility resulted in short-term improvement in medical students' knowledge of basic reproductive biology, infertility risk factors, treatments, and common myths associated with infertility.

As NASA outlines its plans for sending astronauts to Mars over the coming decades, civil engineers—both within the space agency itself and as outside consultants—are providing critical support. The...

Little is known about the extent and nature of low-income parents’ interactions with other parents and staff at childcare centres, despite the potential for these interactions to provide emotional, informational, and instrumental support. This study interviewed 51 parents at three childcare centres in low-income neighbourhoods in New York City. Twenty-six per cent of parents reported talking with other parents at drop-off and pick-up, and another 35% reported meeting with parents outside the centre in addition to talking with them at the centre. Parents’ extent of interaction was related to how long they spent at drop-off and pick-up, their participation in centre activities, and their sociability in general. All parents reported interacting with teachers and administrators, and described them more often than other parents as good sources of information and advice. We discuss the implications for parents and centre-based childcare providers.

Using my experience at a stage of the 2014 Giro d’Italia, I argue that de (virtue) is the soul of cycling and that ancient Chinese philosophy’s insight into the conditions that promote de may help the sport. I compare the relationship between sages and virtuous practitioners, to the ancient Greek relationship between heroes and athletes, both of which depend on the performance of de. I also criticize modern cycling for its focus on technology, stark commercialism, and emphasis on the individual, prescribing as antidotes the connection between de and wuwei, the rejection of acquisitiveness and the emphasis on collectivity.

CHS Field, the new home of the St. Paul Saints, the city’s independent professional baseball team, was constructed on a former brownfield site heavily contaminated from years of industrial use. But a collaborative effort by engineers, architects, city officials, and other stakeholders has transformed the site into a public amenity designed for multiple uses that is also considered one of the most sustainable ballparks in the nation.

Objective To provide guidelines for health care providers on the use of contraceptive methods to prevent pregnancy and on the promotion of healthy sexuality. Outcomes Overall efficacy of cited contraceptive methods, assessing reduction in pregnancy rate, safety, ease of use, and side effects; the effect of cited contraceptive methods on sexual health and general well-being; and the relative cost and availability of cited contraceptive methods in Canada. Evidence Published literature was retrieved through searches of Medline and The Cochrane Database from January 1994 to January 2015 using appropriate controlled vocabulary (e.g., contraception, sexuality, sexual health) and key words (e.g., contraception, family planning, hormonal contraception, emergency contraception). Results were restricted to systematic reviews, randomized control trials/controlled clinical trials, and observational studies published in English from January 1994 to January 2015. Searches were updated on a regular basis in incorporated in the guideline to June 2015. Grey (unpublished) literature was identified through searching the websites of health technology assessment and health technology-related agencies, clinical practice guideline collections, clinical trial registries, and national and international medical specialty societies. Values The quality of the evidence in this document was rated using the criteria described in the Report of the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care (Table 1). Chapter 8: Progestin-Only Contraception Summary Statements 15.Progestin implants have failure rates as low as permanent contraception. (II-2) 16.The use of a progestin implant immediately postpartum and post-abortion is an effective way of decreasing repeat pregnancy in adolescents and repeat abortions. (II-2) 17.The most common side effect of progestin-only contraceptive methods is menstrual cycle disturbances. (II-2) Amenorrhea is very common with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate and progestin implant use. (II-2) 18.The use of progestins given at contraceptive doses does not appear to increase the risk of venous thromboembolism, myocardial infarction, or stroke. (II-2) 19.The efficacy of progestin implants or depot medroxyprogesterone acetate is not decreased in overweight and obese women. (II-2) 20.Early weight gain with depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use is predictive of continued weight gain. (II-2) 21.Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use is associated with a delay in resumption of ovulation. (II-2) 22.The use of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) is associated with a decrease in bone mineral density. This decrease is most rapid in the first 2 years of use and appears to be largely reversible once DMPA is discontinued. (I) There is no strong evidence that the use of DMPA causes osteoporosis (II-2) or increases the risk of fracture. (II-2) 23.The use of progestin-only preparations has not been shown to decrease breast milk production. (I) The small amounts of steroid hormones secreted in breast milk do not have an adverse effect on infant growth and development. (II-2) 24.Depot medroxyprogesterone acetate use is associated with a decreased risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer. (II-2) Recommendations 12.Progestin-only methods of contraception should be considered in women with medical conditions where estrogen is contraindicated or less appropriate, such as women who are recently postpartum, breastfeeding, or in smokers over age 35. (III-A) 13.There should be no restriction on the use of depot medroxy-progesterone acetate (DMPA), including duration of use, among women of reproductive age who are otherwise eligible to use the method. The overall risks and benefits of continuing DMPA use should be discussed with DMPA users at regular intervals throughout the course of treatment. (III-A) 14.Counselling regarding menstrual cycle disturbances should be done prior to initiating a progestin-only method of contraception. (I-A) 15.Health care providers should inform patients of the potential effects of depot medroxyprogesterone acetate on bone mineral density and counsel them on "bone health," including calcium and vitamin D supplementation, smoking cessation, weight-bearing exercise, and decreased alcohol and caffeine consumption. (III-A) 16.If prolonged and/or frequent bleeding occurs in users of progestin-only contraceptives, pregnancy, sexually transmitted infection, and genital pathology should be ruled out. (III-B) 17.Ectopic pregnancy should be ruled out if a pregnancy occurs in a woman using a progestin-only method of contraception. (III-A)

Resume Objectif Fournir des lignes directrices aux fournisseurs de soins quant a l'utilisation de modes de contraception pour la prevention de la grossesse et quant a la promotion d'une sexualite saine. Issues Orientation des praticiens canadiens en ce qui concerne l'efficacite globale, le mecanisme d'action, les indications, les contre-indications, les avantages n'etant pas lies a la contraception, les effets indesirables, les risques et le protocole de mise en œuvre des modes de contraception abordes; planification familiale dans le contexte de la sante sexuelle et du bien-etre general; methodes de counseling en matiere de contraception; et accessibilite et disponibilite des modes de contraception abordes au Canada. Resultats La litterature publiee a ete recuperee par l'intermediaire de recherches menees dans MEDLINE et The Cochrane Library entre janvier 1994 et janvier 2015 au moyen d'un vocabulaire controle (p. ex. contraception , sexuality , sexual health ) et de mots cles (p. ex. contraception , family planning , hormonal contraception , emergency contraception ) appropries. Les resultats ont ete restreints aux analyses systematiques, aux etudes observationnelles et aux essais comparatifs randomises / essais cliniques comparatifs publies en anglais entre janvier 1994 et janvier 2015. Les recherches ont ete mises a jour de facon reguliere et integrees a la directive clinique jusqu'en juin 2015. La litterature grise (non publiee) a ete identifiee par l'intermediaire de recherches menees dans les sites Web d'organismes s'interessant a l'evaluation des technologies dans le domaine de la sante et d'organismes connexes, dans des collections de directives cliniques, dans des registres d'essais cliniques et aupres de societes de specialite medicale nationales et internationales. Valeurs La qualite des resultats a ete evaluee au moyen des criteres decrits dans le rapport du Groupe d'etude canadien sur les soins de sante preventifs (Tableau 1). Chapitre 8 : Contraception a progestatif seul Declarations sommaires 15.Les implants de progestatif comptent des taux d'echec aussi faibles que ceux de la contraception permanente. (II-2) 16.L'insertion d'un implant immediatement a la suite d'un accouchement ou d'un avortement constitue une facon efficace d'abaisser les taux de nouvelle grossesse chez les adolescentes et de nouvel avortement. (II-2) 17.Les perturbations du cycle menstruel constituent l'effet indesirable le plus courant des modes de contraception a progestatif seul. (II-2) L'amenorrhee est tres courante dans le cadre de l'utilisation d'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard et d'implants de progestatif. (II-2) 18.L'utilisation de progestatifs administres selon des doses contraceptives ne semble pas accroitre le risque de thromboembolie veineuse, d'infarctus du myocarde ou d'accident vasculaire cerebral. (II-2) 19.L'efficacite des implants de progestatif (ou de l'acetate de medroxyprogesterone) n'est pas amoindrie chez les femmes obeses ou presentant une surcharge ponderale. (II-2) 20.La constatation d'un gain ponderal precoce dans le cadre de l'utilisation d'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard permet de predire la poursuite du gain ponderal. (II-2) 21.L'utilisation d'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard est associee a un delai quant a la reprise de l'ovulation. (II-2) 22.L'utilisation d'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard est associee a une baisse de la densite minerale osseuse. Cette baisse atteint sa rapidite maximale au cours des deux premieres annees d'utilisation et semble etre largement reversible a la suite de l'abandon du traitement a l'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard. (I) Nous ne disposons pas de donnees probantes solides indiquant que l'utilisation d'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard cause l'osteoporose (II-2) ou qu'elle entraine une hausse du risque de fracture. (II-2) 23.Il n'a pas ete demontre que l'utilisation de preparations a progestatif seul entraine une baisse de la production de lait maternel. (I) Les petites quantites d'hormones steroidiennes secretees dans le lait maternel n'exercent pas un effet indesirable sur la croissance et le developpement du nouveau-ne. (II-2) 24.L'utilisation d'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard est associee a une baisse des risques de cancer de l'endometre et de cancer de l'ovaire. (II-2) Recommandations 12.Le recours a des modes de contraception a progestatif seul devrait etre envisage chez les femmes qui presentent des troubles medicaux dans le cadre desquels la prise d'œstrogenes est contre-indiquee ou moins souhaitable, comme dans le cas des femmes qui ont recemment connu un accouchement, qui allaitent ou qui fument et qui sont âgees de plus de 35 ans. (III-A) 13.Aucune restriction ne devrait etre imposee quant a l'utilisation d'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard (y compris en ce qui a trait a la duree d'utilisation) chez les femmes en âge de procreer qui sont autrement admissibles a l'utilisation de ce mode de contraception. Les risques et les avantages globaux de la poursuite de l'utilisation d'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard devraient faire l'objet de discussions avec les utilisatrices a intervalles reguliers tout au long du traitement. (III-A) 14.Des services de counseling traitant des perturbations du cycle menstruel devraient etre offerts avant la mise en œuvre d'un mode de contraception a progestatif seul. (I-A) 15.Les fournisseurs de soins devraient aviser leurs patientes des effets potentiels de l'acetate de medroxyprogesterone-retard sur la densite minerale osseuse et leur offrir des conseils en matiere de « sante osseuse » (y compris en ce qui concerne la supplementation en calcium et en vitamine D, l'abandon du tabagisme, la pratique d'exercices de port de poids et l'attenuation de la consommation d'alcool et de cafeine). (III-A) 16.En presence de saignements prolonges et/ou frequents chez des utilisatrices de contraceptifs a progestatif seul, la presence d'une grossesse, d'une infection transmissible sexuellement ou d'une pathologie genitale devrait etre ecartee. (III-B) 17.La possibilite d'une grossesse ectopique doit etre ecartee lorsqu'une grossesse en vient a se manifester chez une femme qui utilise un mode de contraception a progestatif seul. (III-A)

Immunotherapy is an important and established treatment option for patients with advanced melanoma. Initial anti-PD1 trials arbitrarily defined a two-year treatment duration, but a shorter treatment duration may be appropriate. In this study, we retrospectively assessed 70 patients who stopped anti-PD1 therapy in the absence of progressive disease (PD) to determine clinical outcomes. In our cohort, the median time on treatment was 11.8 months. Complete response was attained at time of anti-PD1 discontinuation in 61 (87%). After a median follow up of 34.2 months (range: 2&ndash, 70.8) post discontinuation, 81% remained disease free. Using ddPCR, we determine the utility of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) to predict progressive disease after cessation (n = 38). There was a significant association between presence of ctDNA at cessation and disease progression (p = 0.012, Fisher&rsquo, s exact test) and this conferred a negative and positive predictive value of 0.82 (95% CI: 0.645&ndash, 0.930) and 0.80 (95% CI 0.284&ndash, 0.995), respectively. Additionally, dichotomised treatment-free survival in patients with or without ctDNA at cessation was significantly longer in the latter group (p &lt, 0.001, HR: 0.008, 95% CI: 0.001&ndash, 0.079). Overall, our study confirms that durable disease control can be achieved with cessation of therapy in the absence of disease progression and undetectable ctDNA at cessation was associated with longer treatment-free survival.

Globally, nations are grappling with massive social and economic disruptions and the disparities exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The world is in the middle of a wicked problem—one so complex that it is difficult to find a solution. The “Story Model” was developed as a transdisciplinary curriculum model and a collaborative problem-solving model for K to 16. The model can address wicked problems in ways that traditional problem-solving procedures cannot because it allows for messiness, multilayered complexity, and a big picture perspective. With a deeper understanding of the interdependent and interconnected patterns occurring both locally and globally, educators and students alike can contribute actively to shaping a new story that reflects their values, beliefs, and actions.

This cohort study examines rates of vaping and smoking among youths aged 16 to 19 years in the United States, Canada, and England from 2017 to 2019.

The Muc-1 oncoprotein is a tumor-associated mucin often overexpressed in pancreatic cancer. We report that knockout of Muc-1 reduced the degree of pancreatic inflammation that resulted from infection with Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) in a mouse model. CVB3-infected Muc-1-deficient (Muc-1KO) mice had significantly reduced infiltration of macrophages into the murine pancreas. We found that Muc-1 signaling through NF-κB increased expression of ICAM-1, a pro-inflammatory mediator that recruits macrophages. Further investigation revealed that bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDM) from the Muc-1KO mice exhibited defective migration properties, in part due to low expression of the C-C motif chemokine receptor (CCR2) and the integrin Very Late Antigen 4 (VLA-4). The results presented here provide novel insight into the role of Muc-1 in regulating the inflammatory response and the cellular microenvironment in pancreatitis.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate young Canadians&rsquo, exposure to caffeinated energy drink marketing and educational messages that warn about the potential health risks of energy drinks. An online survey was conducted in 2015 with youth and young adults aged 12&ndash, 24 years recruited from a national online panel (n = 2023). Respondents were asked about their exposure to energy drink marketing and educational messages that warn about the potential health risks of energy drinks. Regression models were fitted to examine correlates of exposure to marketing and to educational messages. Over 80% of respondents reported ever seeing energy drink marketing through at least one channel, most commonly television (58.8%), posters or signs in a convenience or grocery store (48.5%), and online ads (45.7%). The mean number of marketing channels selected was 3.4 (SD = 2.9) out of ten. Respondents aged 18&ndash, 19 (vs. 12&ndash, 14 and 15&ndash, 17) and 20&ndash, 24 (vs. 12&ndash, 17) reported significantly more channels of exposure to marketing. Overall, 32% of respondents reporting ever seeing an educational message about energy drinks. The most frequently reported sources of exposure were at school (16.2%), online (15.0%), and on television (12.6%). Respondents aged 18&ndash, 14, 15&ndash, 17 and 20&ndash, 24) and 20&ndash, 24 (vs. 15&ndash, 17) were significantly more likely to report having seen an educational message. Exposure to energy drink marketing was common among youth and young adults and was significantly more prevalent than exposure to educational messages that warn about the potential health risks of energy drinks. A comprehensive policy approach, including enforcing responsible marketing and increasing education surrounding the risks of consuming energy drinks, may be an effective approach in promoting lower-risk consumption of CEDs.

Agrobacterium vitis, the cause of crown gall disease on grapevine, survives internally in vines and can be spread in cuttings for propagation. The possibility of generating pathogen-free vines through tissue culture makes it essential to understand the distribution of the pathogen in grapevines. A highly sensitive magnetic capture hybridization procedure along with real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to measure the distribution of tumorigenic A. vitis in dormant canes and green shoots of grapevines. Tumorigenic A. vitis was distributed from the basal to apical nodal and internodal tissues of canes as well as in nonlignified green shoots. In experiments conducted in 2013, A. vitis was detected in up to 17% of shoot tips and 52% of meristems of greenhouse-grown plants initiated from known A. vitis-contaminated cuttings. A lower frequency of detection was observed from surface-disinfected shoot tips (7%) as compared with nondisinfected tips (37%), suggesting epiphytic survival on green tissues. In 2014, vines propagated from cuttings collected from crown gall-infected vines from a different vineyard yielded lower incidences of A. vitis from shoot tips, and the bacterium was not detected in meristems. Tumorigenic A. vitis was also detected in cuttings of wild grapevines (Vitis riparia) that were collected both adjacent to and far removed from commercial vineyards.

Salvage logging after a natural disturbance is controversial because it may disrupt forest succession and reduce the value of wildlife habitat, but few studies have examined consequences on predator-prey systems. For herbivores that consume early-seral vegetation, salvage logging may simultaneously improve food abundance and reduce protective cover, imposing trade-offs that influence their habitat selection and that of their predators. We examined habitat use by snowshoe hares (Lepus americanus)—a keystone prey species in the boreal forest—and their primary predators, Canada lynx (Lynx canadensis) and coyotes (Canis latrans), in response to salvage logging following a bark beetle outbreak in Yukon, Canada. We monitored hare, lynx, and coyote presence in beetle-affected forests and salvage-logged stands of different tree retention levels and ages (up to 25 years post-logging) using wildlife cameras, and modelled species occupancy as a function of forest structure at local and landscape scales. Snowshoe hares occupied stands with dense canopies and avoided salvage-logged stands regardless of retention class or age, selecting habitat with the most cover from aerial and terrestrial predators. Lynx and coyote generally used the same habitat as hares, selecting unsalvaged stands with high snowshoe hare occupancy. Habitat use by coyote and hare was more strongly linked than that of lynx and hare, perhaps because coyotes are versatile predators that can adjust their hunting tactics in dense habitat. Our study demonstrates that salvage-logged stands have lower value than beetle-affected forest for snowshoe hares and their predators in the short-term—regardless of retention levels—which may have localized impacts on boreal forest food webs. Higher tree retention, long harvest intervals, and small cut areas interspersed with large unlogged forest patches are recommended to mitigate negative impacts of salvage logging on these species. Keywords: Salvage logging, Boreal forest, Snowshoe hare, Canada lynx, Coyote, Occupancy modelling

Many factors are considered when a woman estimates her personal risk of breast cancer. Common to most decisions are four separate influences that have convinced the public and many health-care providers that breast cancer is the greatest concern for menopausal women and that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) is generally responsible. Historically there have been well-documented situations in which big pharma and doctors have not put patient interests first. Conflicting reports about the safety of MHT and the media imperative to always increase readership by presenting a compelling scary story have created an underlying distrust of science, doctors, and MHT. Numerical and statistical illiteracy in the general population creates a situation where lotteries succeed despite astronomical odds and the risks of medical interventions are exaggerated by their description using relative, rather than absolute, risks. Finally, mammographic overdiagnosis contributing to improved breast cancer survival has contributed to the 'popularity paradox' (more screening - more enthusiasm) especially among survivors and advocacy groups. As a result, worry about breast cancer has overshadowed concern about cardiovascular diseases as the major cause of death and disability in the later years. The ongoing challenge for clinicians dealing with menopausal women is to bridge the gap in risk perception with evidence-based common-sense advice.

A loss of balance between G protein activation and deactivation has been implicated in the initiation of melanomas, and non-canonical Wnt signaling via the Wnt5A/Frizzled (FZD) pathway has been shown to be critical for the switch to an invasive phenotype. Daple [CCDC88C], a cytosolic guanine nucleotide exchange modulator (GEM) which enhances non-canonical Wnt5A/FZD signaling via activation of trimeric G protein, Gαi, has been shown to serve opposing roles–as an inducer of EMT and invasiveness and a potent tumor suppressor–via two isoforms, V1 (full-length) and V2 (short spliced isoform), respectively. Here we report that the relative abundance of these isoforms in the peripheral circulation, presumably largely from circulating tumor cells (CTCs), is a prognostic marker of cutaneous melanomas. Expression of V1 is increased in both the early and late clinical stages (p p = 0.002, respectively); V2 is decreased exclusively in the late clinical stage (p = 0.003). The two isoforms have opposing prognostic effects: high expression of V2 increases relapse-free survival (RFS; p = 0.014), whereas high expression of V1 tends to decrease RFS (p = 0.051). Furthermore, these effects are additive, in that melanoma patients with a low V2-high V1 signature carry the highest risk of metastatic disease. We conclude that detection of Daple transcripts in the peripheral blood (i.e., liquid biopsies) of patients with melanoma may serve as a prognostic marker and an effective strategy for non-invasive long-term follow-up of patients with melanoma.

Ex vivo CRISPR gene editing in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells has opened potential treatment modalities for numerous diseases. The current process uses electroporation, sometimes followed by virus transduction. While this complex manipulation has resulted in high levels of gene editing at some genetic loci, cellular toxicity was observed. We have developed a CRISPR nanoformulation based on colloidal gold nanoparticles with a unique loading design capable of cellular entry without the need for electroporation or viruses. This highly monodispersed nanoformulation avoids lysosomal entrapment and localizes to the nucleus in primary human blood progenitors without toxicity. Nanoformulation-mediated gene editing is efficient and sustained with different CRISPR nucleases at multiple loci of therapeutic interest. The engraftment kinetics of nanoformulation-treated primary cells in humanized mice are better relative to those of non-treated cells, with no differences in differentiation. Here we demonstrate non-toxic delivery of the entire CRISPR payload into primary human blood progenitors. Gold nanoparticles that passively deliver CRISPR machinery to blood repopulating cells have been developed and are shown to be capable of precise editing of multiple genetic loci of therapeutic interest without cytotoxicity or reduced fitness.