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Abstract Background Genetic diversity is crucial for conservation efforts as well as breeding programs targeted at the development of improved varieties. Taro, a climate-resilient crop, plays a vital role in the nutritional and economic livelihoods of many households in Nigeria, but its yield is very low due to inadequate genetic improvement efforts. A diversity assessment of Nigerian taro is therefore required to create a premise for its improvement in yield, quality and disease tolerance. In this study, the genetic diversity and population structure of 490 taro cultivars comprising two main gene pools: Dasheen (215) and Eddoe (275), collected from farmers and marketers across seven states in Nigeria was assessed using 3047 Diversity Array Technology single nucleotide polymorphism (DArT-SNP) markers. A subset of 114 taro cultivars, comprising 30 Dasheens and 84 Eddoes were further phenotyped using 24 agro-morphological descriptors. Results Both phenotypic and molecular characterization revealed higher genetic diversity among the Eddoes than Dasheens. Estimates of gene flow (Nm = 0.353) revealed intermixing of cultivars among the States of collection, with the highest gene flow occurring between cultivars from Anambra and Ondo states and the lowest between Anambra and Kwara states. Population structure and Ward’s minimum variance hierarchical cluster based on DArT-SNPs identified four groups, one comprising Dasheen and three comprising Eddoe cultivars. Hierarchical clustering based on phenotypic traits delineated three clusters. Variation between gene pools (49%) was higher than within gene pools (32%). Variation among States of collection was high (41%), while variation among individuals within gene pools (18%) and States of collection (19%) was relatively low. Correlation between phenotypic and genotypic diversity assessments was low (r = 0.01), indicating that both approaches were necessary for assessing genetic diversity in taro. However, genotypic assessment provided better information about genetic diversity of the taro cultivars. Conclusion This is the first study that represented germplasm collection across the major taro growing regions of Nigeria. The findings from this study based on agro-morphological characterization and DArT-SNP genotyping are critical for genetic characterization, conservation and breeding of taro in Nigeria, mainly initiating hybridization between the two genepools after careful assessment of ploidy levels of the accessions collected in this study. This will facilitate in developing improved taro varieties with desirable traits, such as higher yield, better disease resistance, and improved nutritional quality.

Introduction: Mental disorder is a behavioral pattern which causes either suffering or poor ability to function in ordinary life. According to WHO health report 2022, 970 million people suffer from mental illness globally. 80% people with mental illness live in low and middle-income countries, which is a matter of concern for India being the most populated country in the world. This study aims to assess the attitude and perception of people towards mental illness and to identify the presence of stigma towards mental illness in the community. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 individuals aged above 18 years from Jeppinamogaru, Boloor, Shiv Nagar and Neermarga of Mangalore. Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire of the CAMI scale rates a total of 40 items on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = strongly agree to 5 = strongly disagree) and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results were expressed as proportions using appropriate tables and graphs. P< 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Out of 320 individuals assessed, 73.1% were females, with 50% aged over 45 years. The lower middle class constituted 35.3%, while only 0.6% belonged to the lower class. Awareness of mental illnesses was low, with only 42 individuals (13%) are knowledgeable. Most relied on behavior to identify mental illness, and 54.1% favored hospital treatment. 31.6% believed mental illness was genetically inherited as it is running through families. Medium stigma was prevalent across all domains of the CAMI scale, with the least stigma observed among the upper class. Conclusions: The study revealed low to medium level of stigma toward mental illness among lower and upper middle-class SEC individuals, alongside insufficient knowledge about mental health issues. Addressing these gaps, necessitates community awareness campaigns, enhanced education in schools, and increased accessibility to community-based mental health services and health camps.

News deserts have gained prominence both in academic literature and policy discussions about local news in recent years. Although there is no agreed definition of the term, it usually refers to the lack of or diminishing availability, access, or use of local news or media in a community. It is seen as a significant phenomenon that highlights inequalities in local news provisions, challenges of local media operations in the digital environment, and issues around the quality of local journalism and the critical information needs of communities. This thematic issue aims to contribute to the field by bringing together different approaches to the topic, considering varied empirical studies and methodological designs, and providing perspectives from countries around the world with different media systems and cultures. The articles in the thematic issue address three broad issues: approaches to studying news deserts, local news production and news deserts, and the impact of news deserts on communities. Overall, the contributions reveal that the presence of a news desert is not a simple question of a locality having or not having a local media outlet. The concept is better understood as processes affecting access and quality of local news involving places, news media outlets and production, communities, and audiences. We end the editorial highlighting areas for further research, including the need for more holistic, conceptual, and comparative work on the topic.

Introduction WHO has generated standardised clinical and epidemiological research protocols to address key public health questions for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. We present a standardised protocol with the aim to fill a gap in understanding the needs, attitudes and practices related to sexual and reproductive health in the context of COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on pregnancy, pregnancy prevention and abortion.Methods and analysis plan This protocol is a prospective qualitative research, using semi-structured interviews with at least 15 pregnant women at different gestational ages and after delivery, 6 months apart from the first interview. At least 10 partners, 10 non-pregnant women and 5 healthcare professionals will be interviewed once during the course of the research. Higher number of subjects may be needed if a saturation is not achieved with these numbers. Data collection will be performed in a standardised way by skilled trained interviewers using written notes or audio-record of the interview. The data will be explored using the thematic content analysis and the researchers will look for broad patterns, generalisations or theories from these categories.Ethics and dissemination The current protocol was first technically assessed and approved by the WHO scientific committee and then approved by its ethics review committee as a guidance document. It is expected that each country/setting implementing such a generic protocol adapted to their conditions also obtain local ethical approval. Comments for the user’s consideration are provided the document, as the user may need to modify methods slightly because of the local context in which this study will be carried out.

Inspired by the ECREA 2018 theme “Centres and Peripheries” and the conference setting in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland, the panel “Journalism from the peripheries. From the Swiss-Italian media system to other local dimensions” explored how changing dynamics in the contemporary news environment affect local news provision in less-examined – or peripheral – geographic areas. Joining moderator Philip Di Salvo, post-doctoral researcher at Università della Svizzera italiana’s Institute of Media and Journalism, panelists discussed forces shaping how local media at the peripheries of contemporary journalism maximize their distinctive positions to produce and distribute news that effectively represents and serves their communities.

Taro is an ancient nutritional and medicinal crop woven into the fabric of the socio-economic life of those living in the tropics and sub-tropics. However, West Africa (WA), which has been a major producer of the crop for several decades, is experiencing a significant decline in production as a result of taro leaf blight (TLB), a disease caused by Phytophthora colocasiae Raciborski. A lack of research on taro in WA means that available innovative technologies have not been fully utilized to provide solutions to inherent challenges and enhance the status of the crop. Improvement through plant breeding remains the most economically and environmentally sustainable means of increasing the productivity of taro in WA. With this review, we provide insights into the importance of the taro crop in WA, evaluate taro research to date, and suggest how to address research gaps in order to promote taro sustainability in the region.

Public affairs magazines have expanded beyond their print editions to offer online editions with forums for readers to discuss important public issues. For magazines that cater to ideologically specific audiences, online forums could serve as forms of alternative publics for presenting diverse viewpoints and values. The conversations that emerge also hold potential for portraying characteristics of the public sphere. This study used textual analysis to examine online comments associated with 21 articles from six different U.S. public affairs magazines representing various positions on the ideological spectrum. Using Dahlberg’s (2001) six-part assessment of quality public discourse, the analysis showed that moderate magazines serving a broad readership induced a lower-quality discussion. In contrast, liberal and conservative publications, when encouraging diverse and ideologically heterogeneous perspectives, produced quality discourse. These forums showed higher levels of quality characteristics such as exchange and critique of normative positions, reflexivity, sincerity, and constructive dialogue.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) tends to cluster in families, suggesting there may be a genetic component predisposing to disease. However, a recent large-scale genome-wide association study concluded that identified genetic factors, single nucleotide polymorphisms, do not account for overall familiality. Another class of genetic variation is the amplification or deletion of >1 kilobase segments of the genome, also termed copy number variations (CNVs). We performed genome-wide CNV analysis on a cohort of 20 unrelated adults with T1D and a control (Ctrl) cohort of 20 subjects using the Affymetrix SNP Array 6.0 in combination with the Birdsuite copy number calling software. We identified 39 CNVs as enriched or depleted in T1D versus Ctrl. Additionally, we performed CNV analysis in a group of 10 monozygotic twin pairs discordant for T1D. Eleven of these 39 CNVs were also respectively enriched or depleted in the Twin cohort, suggesting that these variants may be involved in the development of islet autoimmunity, as the presently unaffected twin is at high risk for developing islet autoimmunity and T1D in his or her lifetime. These CNVs include a deletion on chromosome 6p21, near an HLA-DQ allele. CNVs were found that were both enriched or depleted in patients with or at high risk for developing T1D. These regions may represent genetic variants contributing to development of islet autoimmunity in T1D.

Abstract Background Nutrition and predation have been considered two primary agents of selection important in the evolution of avian life history traits. The relative importance of these natural selective forces in the evolution of avian embryonic developmental period (EDP) remain poorly resolved, perhaps in part because research has tended to focus on a single, high taxonomic-level group of birds: Order Passeriformes. The marine bird families Alcidae (auks) and Spheniscidae (penguins) exhibit marked variation in EDP, as well as behavioural and ecological traits ultimately linked to EDP. Therefore, auks and penguins provide a unique opportunity to assess the natural selective basis of variation in a key life-history trait at a low taxonomic-level. We used phylogenetic comparative methods to investigate the relative importance of behavioural and ecological factors related to nutrition and predation in the evolution of avian EDP. Results Three behavioural and ecological variables related to nutrition and predation risk (i.e., clutch size, activity pattern, and nesting habits) were significant predictors of residual variation in auk and penguin EDP based on models predicting EDP from egg mass. Species with larger clutch sizes, diurnal activity patterns, and open nests had significantly shorter EDPs. Further, EDP was found to be longer among birds which forage in distant offshore waters, relative to those that foraged in near shore waters, in line with our predictions, but not significantly so. Conclusion Current debate has emphasized predation as the primary agent of selection driving avian life history diversification. Our results suggest that both nutrition and predation have been important selective forces in the evolution of auk and penguin EDP, and highlight the importance of considering these questions at lower taxonomic scales. We suggest that further comparative studies on lower taxonomic-level groups will continue to constructively inform the debate on evolutionary determinants of avian EDP, as well as other life history parameters.

Although mean body lengths of females were significantly greater than males in individuals drawn from two Haematobia irritans (L.) sample populations (n = 20 females and n = 20 males from West Virginia; n = 20 females and n = 20 males from Georgia), there were no significant differences in food canal lengths for females versus males at either site. Variable numbers (21-37) of setiform sensillae occurred throughout the length of the food canal, but such sensillae were significantly aggregated in the distal-most canal region of both sexes at both sites. There was no significant difference in mean numbers of food canal setiform sensillae between females and males. Four basiconic (campaniform) sensillae were consistently observed in the food canal of every fly; always aggregated in the distal-most canal region. Setiform sensillae in the cibarium also varied in number (6-13), but were significantly aggregated in the median and proximal cibarial regions. Four (occasionally three) peg-like basiconic sensillae were also observed in the cibarium of sample individuals; always in the distal and distal median regions of both sexes. Sensory sensillae (both setiform and basiconic) in both the food canal and cibarium were similarly aggregated for both sexes at both sites. Aggregation of setiform and basiconic sensillae in the food canal suggests that the distal canal region is most critical for sensory input regarding monitoring blood flow, and stress forces brought to bear on the cuticle as the labrum tip penetrates the host's skin.

Putative sensory structures in the food canal, and distal vestibule region entering the canal of Tabanus atratus F., are described. Two pairs of sensilla were observed in the walls of the vestibule-a distal pair of the basiconic type, and a pair of setifiorm sensilla at the base of the vestibule. Vestibular sensilla were constant in type, number, and position. Conversely, setiform sensilla in right and left walls of the food canal varied in number from one fly specimen to another, and lacked evidence of pairing (i.e., sensilla in one wall did not necessarily have a counterpart in the other wall). Food canal sensilla were of setiform design, with the exception of a single basiconic sensilla in each lateral wall of the food canal in every fly. When the food canal was partitioned into four equidistant regions, setiform sensilla were aggregated in the two distal-most regions, with relatively few sensilla observed in the two proximal canal regions. This aggregation was significant, leading to rejection of the null hypothesis that setiform sensilla were evenly distribution throughout the length of the food canal. Basiconic sensilla were always located in the distal-most region of the food canal., (© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Twelve pairs of putative sensory trichites (= sensilla) in the food canal of Chrysops callidus Osten Sacken are described. Eight paired trichites are located in the distal half of the food canal of all flies in the sample population (n = 26 females), but paired trichites 9 through 12 were found in variable numbers in the proximal half of the canal. Trichites were more closely spaced in the distal half of the food canal, and more widely spaced in the proximal half of the canal, indicating that monitoring blood flow is more critical in the distal region of the canal. Moreover, trichites were not precisely paired, with mean position for each right wall trichite 1 through 8 being slightly anterior to its counterpart in the left wall. A short, funnel-shaped vestibule was evident at the labrum terminus, opening distally to the outside and proximally into the food canal (the vestibule/food canal junction). There were two pairs of sensilla (one pair of basicone design, the other setiform) observed at the base of the vestibule just anterior to the junction of the vestibule with the food canal. These vestibular sensilla were constant in type, number and position, in every member of the sample population., (© The Authors 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Both "liberal" and "goal-directed" (GD) therapy use a large amount of perioperative fluid, but they appear to have very different effects on perioperative outcomes. We sought to determine whether one fluid management strategy was superior to the others., Methods: We selected randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the use of GD or restrictive versus liberal fluid therapy (LVR) in major adult surgery from MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed (1951 to April 2011), and Cochrane controlled trials register without language restrictions. Indirect comparison between the GD and LVR strata was performed., Results: A total of 3861 patients from 23 GD RCTs (median sample size = 90, interquartile range [IQR] 57 to 109) and 1160 patients from 12 LVR RCTs (median sample size = 80, IQR36 to 151) were considered. Both liberal and GD therapy used more fluid compared to their respective comparative arm, but their effects on outcomes were very different. Patients in the liberal group of the LVR stratum had a higher risk of pneumonia (risk ratio [RR] 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 4.5), pulmonary edema (RR 3.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 13), and a longer hospital stay than those in the restrictive group (mean difference [MD] 2 days, 95% CI 0.5 to 3.4). Using GD therapy also resulted in a lower risk of pneumonia (RR 0.7, 95% CI 0.6 to 0.9) and renal complications (0.7, 95% CI 0.5 to 0.9), and a shorter length of hospital stay (MD 2 days, 95% CI 1 to 3) compared to not using GD therapy. Liberal fluid therapy was associated with an increased length of hospital stay (4 days, 95% CI 3.4 to 4.4), time to first bowel movement (2 days, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.3), and risk of pneumonia (RR ratio 3, 95% CI 1.8 to 4.8) compared to GD therapy., Conclusion: Perioperative outcomes favored a GD therapy rather than liberal fluid therapy without hemodynamic goals. Whether GD therapy is superior to a restrictive fluid strategy remains uncertain.

Coprological examination was used to determine prevalence of gastrointestinal helminthes in a sample of 231 dogs (117 females and 114 males) during the summer of 2009 at a veterinary clinic in south central West Virginia, USA. Clinical signs (e.g., diarrhea, vomiting, weight gain or loss) were noted in addition to a history of anthelmintic usage. A total of 79 dogs (33.6%) were infected with one or more intestinal nematodes. Most dogs (58) were parasitized with a single species, 19 were parasitized with 2 species, and 2 were parasitized by 3 species. There was no significant difference (i.e., X(2)<3.84; P>0.05) in prevalence of infection between female and male dogs for any of the identified nematode species. The chi-square test for equality of proportions was used to determine prevalence of infection in 3 age categories of dogs (females and males combined): young dogs (≤12 months of age); mature dogs (13-83 months); and old dogs >83 months. Prevalences of infection for Ancylostoma caninum and Toxocara canis were significantly (P<0.005) higher in young dogs, whereas there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in prevalence by age category for Trichuris vulpis. Dogs exhibiting clinical signs were no more likely to harbor intestinal nematodes than dogs that were asymptomatic. Additionally, dogs receiving heartworm treatment were significantly less likely to be parasitized than dogs receiving no heartworm prophylaxis., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Haplobothrium globuliforme maintains its position in the proximal mid-gut epithelium of Amia calva with the aid of tentacles, i.e., proboscides, everted from scolices of a primary strobila and craspedote proglottids of a secondary strobila. Weakly developed scolices of the secondary strobila appear to have little holdfast action, but the distinctly craspedote proglottids of these individuals project into the intestinal mucosa, altering the configuration of gut epithelial cells and pushing the tapeworm deeper into mucosal crypts. The basement membrane underlying the epithelium appears to act as a barrier that prevents tapeworms from penetrating into the deeper tissue layers of the lamina propria, muscularis mucosa, or submucosa. Scolex tegument modification occurs at the point of contact with host basement membrane. A mild background infiltrate of lymphocytes and granulocytes was evident adjacent to the scolex and proglottid tegument. There was no evidence of blood vessel proliferation, edema, mast cell degranulation, eosinophilia, or subsequent collagen formation associated with tapeworm activity.

We describe an investigation of Ba3MIIMIVWO9 oxides for MII = Ca, Zn, and other divalent metals and MIV = Ti, Zr. In general, a 1:2-ordered 6H (hexagonal, P63/mmc) perovskite structure is stabilized at high temperatures (1300 degrees C) for all of the Ba3MIITiWO9 oxides investigated. An intermediate phase possessing a partially ordered 1:1 double perovskite (3C) structure with the cation distribution, Ba2(Zn2/3Ti1/3)(W2/3Ti1/3)O6, is obtained at 1200 degrees C for Ba3ZnTiWO9. Sr substitution for Ba in the latter stabilizes the cubic 3C structure instead of the 6H structure. A metastable Ba3CaZrWO9 that adopts the 3C (cubic, Fmm) structure has also been synthesized by a low-temperature metathesis route. Besides yielding several new perovskite oxides that may be useful as dielectric ceramics, the present investigation provides new insights into the complex interplay of crystal chemistry (tolerance factor) and chemical bonding (anion polarization and d0-induced distortion of metal-oxygen octahedra) in the stabilization of 6H versus 3C perovskite structures for the Ba3MIIMIVWO9 series.

Two pig (Sus scrofta L.) carcasses were placed in sunlit and shaded plots in September 2003, and again in May 2004. Mean ambient temperatures between sunlit and shaded plots were not significantly different in either September or May, but mean ambient temperatures at sunlit and shaded plots in 2004 were significantly higher than corresponding means for sunlit and shaded plots in 2003. Mean maggot mass temperatures were significantly higher than ambient plot temperatures for all four experimental plots (i.e., sunlit and shaded carcasses in both 2003 and 2004). In addition, maggot mass temperatures on sunlit carcasses were positively, and significantly, correlated with ambient temperatures, whereas there was no significant correlation between maggot mass and ambient temperatures at shaded plots. Carcass decomposition proceeded more rapidly in 2004 in the presence of higher ambient temperatures, and sunlit carcasses decomposed faster than shaded ones in both 2003 and 2004 experiments. Phaenecia coeruleiviridis (Macquart) and Phormia regina (Meigen) third instars dominated collections on all four carcasses, but there was little temporal overlap between these species with third instars of the former dominating collections in the early portion (approximately 40%) of each experimental period (with the exception of the shaded carcass in 2004 where both species were co-dominant), and the latter assuming dominance in the latter portion (approximately 60%). Lower accumulated degree hour values were calculated for instar development on 2004 carcasses subjected to higher ambient temperatures.

Eleven species of mosquito larvae were collected in 568 collection visits to 209 abandoned tire pile sites in 33 West Virginia counties from April through October of 2003. Ochlerotatus j. japonicus supplanted the native Oc. triseriatus as the most common tire-colonizing species in the state. In general, the exotic Oc. j. japonicus was a better colonizer of tires than Oc. triseriatus in peridomestic, sunlit conditions throughout the state, whereas both species were equally likely to colonize tires in nonperidomestic, shaded settings. Aedes albopictus competed effectively with Oc. triseriatus from mid-summer through October in low elevation western counties but was not well represented in central counties of the state. Aedes albopictus was seldom collected at higher elevations in eastern counties. Culex pipiens, like Ae. albopictus, was more likely to be in collections from the western portion of West Virginia throughout the study period. Frequency of occurrence of Cx. restuans peaked in early season collections and declined as the season progressed, but Anopheles punctipennis and the medically unimportant Cx. territans gradually increased in frequency each month through September. Typically, species in the genus Culex and An. punctipennis were predisposed to peridomestic, sunlit habitats. Larvae of the predatory Toxorhynchites rutilus septentrionalis were found mostly in nonperidomestic, shaded settings. This species initially appeared in mid-summer, and by August and September it was found in as many as 30% of the collection sites in western and eastern counties. Larvae of An. barberi, Oc. atropalpus, and Orthopodomyia signifera were poorly represented in collections.

Larvae of 13 mosquito species were collected from abandoned tire piles at peridomestic and nonperidomestic sites in 3 south-central West Virginia counties from May through September 2002. Ochlerotatus triseriatus was the most frequently collected species from May through August, whereas Aedes albopictus and Ochlerotatus japonicus were more prevalent in September. Prevalence of Oc. triseriatus and Culex restuans declined throughout the study period. Conversely, prevalences of Ae. albopictus, Oc. japonicus, Culex territans, and Toxorhynchites rutilus increased during the same period. Ochlerotatus atropalpus was significantly more likely to be encountered at nonperidomestic sites. None of the other species exhibited a significant predisposition for either peridomestic or nonperidomestic sites.

The Maine Agricultural Safety and Health Program performed a needs assessment to determine the health and safety concerns of Maine's fishing community. Information for the assessment was obtained from clinicians, focus groups of wives of fishers, and government agencies. Reports from the United States Coast Guard showed that during 1993-1994, sixty-five people were injured on commercial fishing vessels and eight people died. Decompression illness was the most frequently reported non-fatal injury (n = 15). Chronic injuries reported by clinicians included back pain, tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, dysbaric osteonecrosis. Clinicians and family members were also concerned about hand and arm infections from the bait and sun exposure. Family health issues and access to care are addressed in the report. Recommendations include, in part, increasing surveillance, reducing barriers to access, increasing clinicians' knowledge about the fishing industry, and fostering collaboration between agencies providing health and safety information to fishers.

Larvae of 12 mosquito species were collected from abandoned tire piles at peridomestic and forested sites in Nicholas County, WV, from March through November of 2001. No larvae were found in March, but the numbers of species increased to 10 by July and remained relatively constant, at 9-11 in any given month, throughout November. Larvae of Ochlerotatus triseriatus (Say), the most commonly encountered species in every month of collection, were significantly more likely to be found in forested tire pile sites. Conversely, Culex restuans Theobald, Anopheles punctipennis (Say), Cx. territans Walker, and Aedes albopictus (Skuse) larvae were significantly more likely to be found in peridomestic tire piles. Larvae of the remaining seven species were either found in equal proportions at peridomestic and woodland sites, or there were too few collections to make statistical inferences. Opportunities for competitive interactions between Ae. albopictus and Oc. triseriatus in Nicholas County would be minimized because the peak occurrence of the two species differ temporally and spatially.

Larvae of Phormia regina (Meigen), Phaenicia sp., and Sarcophaga sp. were identified from raccoon carcasses placed in sunlit and shaded areas at a southwestern West Virginia site in May of 2000. Samples of larvae were taken from each carcass at 3-h intervals over a 153-h experimental period. Phormia regina was clearly the dominant species with large numbers of third instars observed at every 3-h collection period from 81 to 153 h on both carcasses. Mean lengths of third-instar P. regina larvae collected from the sunlit carcass were significantly greater than mean lengths of larvae collected from the shaded carcass. Third-instar Phaenicia sp. also appeared at 81 h on both carcasses, but relatively few (< or = 4) individuals were present in each 3-h collection sample from 81 through 126 h. Larvae of this species were not present in samples from either carcass in those 3-h intervals from 129 to 147 h. Sarcophaga sp. larvae were also collected, but only in samples taken from the sunlit carcass at 81 and 93 h. Ambient temperatures were recorded throughout the experimental period, whereas maggot mass temperatures were not recorded until the appearance of large numbers of second instars at 48 h. From 48 to 69 h, maggot mass temperatures were equivalent to ambient temperatures; but after 69 h, maggot mass temperatures were considerably elevated over ambient temperatures.

Objective: The principal aim of this investigation was to provide quantitative information on the frequency of occurrence for Aedes triseriatus (Say) larvae in West Virginia at 3 broad elevation categories, in different months of the year, and in specific types of larval habitats., Methods: Larvae were collected in 54 West Virginia counties over a 6-year period, and their occurrence was recorded for defined habitat categories., Results: Aedes triseriatus larvae were collected at 206 of the 587 sites examined and in 48 of the 54 West Virginia counties sampled., Conclusion: Aedes triseriatus larvae are distributed equally across all elevation categories from March through October and are predisposed to shaded habitats.

In response to public pressure to allow the medical use of marijuana, the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Washington, DC, funded a study by the Institute of Medicine evaluating the scientific evidence for benefits and risks of using marijuana as a medicine. The report used scientific reviews, public hearings, and reports from other agencies, and was evaluated by knowledgeable advisors and reviewers. It called for heavier investment in research on the biology of cannabinoid systems, careful clinical studies of cannabinoids in clinical syndromes, analysis of cannabinoids' psychological effects on symptoms, and evaluations of the health consequences of heavy marijuana use; recommends against the use of smoked marijuana in medicine and for the development of a medical cannabinoid inhaler; and recommends that compassionate use of marijuana be considered under carefully reviewed protocols. Finally, the report evaluates the abuse potential, tolerance, withdrawal, and gateway risks of medical use of cannabinoid drugs.

Larval stages of an unknown nematode were observed encapsulated in the livers of spring peepers, Pseudacris crucifer crucifer (Weid-Neuweid), collected from a marsh in western West Virginia (USA) during the spring breeding seasons of 1993 and 1994. Prevalence and mean intensity of infection were 37% (30 of 82 animals) and 2.03 parasites per infected host, respectively. Capsules with white or darkly pigmented walls were observed in infected livers; the former containing viable larvae, and the latter enveloping larvae in various stages of degeneration.

Seven species of parasitic arthropods (one sucking louse, one bot, 2 fleas, one tick, and 2 mites) were recovered from 81 white-footed mice, Peromyscus leucopus, live-trapped on the grounds of the McClintic Wildlife Station, Mason County, WV, from March through November 1990. The most commonly collected arthropods were the fleas Orchopeas leucopus (89 specimens) and Epitedia wenmanni (23), and the tick Dermacentor variabilis (38). Sex ratios for both flea species were female biased; 1.8:1.0 for O. leucopus and 1.6:1.0 for E. wenmanni.

Nineteen species of larval mosquitoes were collected from 209 sites in 47 of West Virginia's 55 counties over a 7-month period (April-October) in 1992. Aedes abserratus is recorded from the state for the first time.

In the tau mutant hamster, the period of the circadian rhythm is shortened from about 24 h to about 22 h in heterozygotes and to about 20 h in homozygotes. Understanding the biochemical basis of the period changes in the tau mutant may elucidate the regulation of the vertebrate pacemaker. Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we have found two sets of proteins that differ between the different genotypes. P33tau (about 33 kDa; pI 6.5) was found in all gels from wild type and heterozygous animals, but was absent in gels from all except one of the homozygous mutant animals. P32tau (about 32 kDa; pI 4.8) was a chain of spots, which showed a striking difference in pattern between gels from wild type animals and from mutant animals. P33tau was greatly enriched in soluble cellular fractions, whereas P32tau was found only in insoluble fractions. These differences between P33tau and P32tau were apparent in gels from both SCN and cortical tissue, suggesting that both proteins are distributed throughout the brain. These proteins should be useful as new tools to explore the biochemistry of circadian pacemakers.

In the gypsy moth, the release of sperm bundles from the testis into the vas deferens is rhythmic and is controlled by a circadian pacemaker located in the reproductive system. However, in males kept since pupation in constant darkness (DD) and temperature, the release of sperm was arrhythmic. The release of sperm became rhythmic when males were transferred from a light-dark cycle (LD 16:8) to DD 6-7 days after pupation. To further investigate the development of the circadian system during the pupal stage, we exposed DD pupae to a single 8-hr pulse of light or 8-hr pulse of a 4 degrees C temperature increase on different days after pupation. The pattern of sperm release was determined 5-6 days after the pulse. Males that were exposed to light or temperature pulses 5 days after pupation subsequently showed nonrhythmic sperm release. However, about half of the pupae that received the pulse on day 6 and most of the pupae that received it on day 7 subsequently showed synchronized sperm release. These results suggested that the clock underlying rhythmic release of sperm becomes operational at approximately 6 days after pupation--that is, 2 days prior to initiation of rhythmic sperm release from the testis.

Although light provides the primary signal for the entrainment of circadian pacemakers, a number of endogenous substances and pharmacological agents are also capable of resetting circadian pacemakers. Very little is known about the combined effects of photic and nonphotic agents on clock functions. We conducted a "double-pulse" experiment, in which two discrete stimuli are presented at different times within a single circadian cycle, to determine the combined effects of a 1-hr light pulse and injections of a benzodiazepine, triazolam, on the circadian rhythm of activity in the golden hamster. Our results suggest that, first, when given together as done in these experiments, the effects of triazolam and light are partially but not completely additive. Triazolam-induced phase advances appeared to make the effects of subsequent 1-hr light pulses more negative; phase delays were increased, and phase advances were decreased. Second, it appears that triazolam and light may alter the circadian pacemaker in very different ways, beyond the obvious difference in the shape of their phase response curves. The phase-shifting mechanics of the circadian system of the golden hamster appear to involve a longer response time to triazolam than to light pulses. Alternative possibilities to account for this difference are discussed.

Norrie disease is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by congenital blindness and, in many cases, mental retardation. Some Norrie disease cases have been shown to be associated with a submicroscopic deletion in chromosomal region Xp11.3. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was collected from four male patients with an X-chromosomal deletion associated with Norrie disease. CSF proteins were resolved using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and then analyzed by computer using the Elsie V program. Our analysis revealed a protein that appears to be altered in patients with Norrie disease deletion.

1. The red-sided garter snake hibernates for about six months each year in Manitoba, Canada, where winter temperatures are often as low as -40 degrees C. Mammalian hibernators typically undergo profound changes in preparation for hibernation, but little is known about corresponding changes in reptiles. 2. We tested the importance of seasonal changes in the ability of red-sided garter snakes to hibernate successfully by exposing them to winter conditions at different times of year. 3. Animals that began hibernation in the fall were more likely to survive hibernation than animals that began hibernation in either early or late summer, despite the fact that the animals were kept on seasonally constant conditions prior to hibernation. 4. We suggest that these changes are derived from endogenous components of the yearly hibernation cycle of red-sided garter snakes but that only part of the cycle proceeds endogenously, i.e. it is not a completely endogenous circannual cycle.

Male dormice were castrated at 2 phases of their infradian body weight cycles. No consistent changes were found in cycle period, amplitude, or absolute weights of the dormice following castration. Unlike other mammals, body weights of dormice appear unaffected by castration. Although both body weight and reproductive condition vary on an infradian basis, the changes in body weight appear to be programmed independently from changes in gonadal function.

Mating in red-sided garter snakes is characterized by the formation of mating balls. Up to 100 males simultaneously court single females. The social dynamics of the formation of these mating balls was examined to determine whether the mating balls are formed simply because of a common attraction to the female or whether males are stimulated by the mating balls themselves. A sexually attractive female garter snake appears to be even more attractive to a male when she is being courted by other males than when she is alone. Male garter snakes courted females more actively when other males were also courting the female than when they were alone with her. There is a positive correlation between the number of additional males present and the amount of courtship activity shown by the test male toward the stimulus female. The extent to which the courtship activity of the test males was stimulated by the presence of additional courting males was not influenced by how actively the additional males courted.

Single injections of the benzodiazepine, triazolam, induce phase shifts and cause a lengthening of the circadian activity rhythm in the golden hamster. The effect of triazolam on period depends on the phase of injection, but is not dependent on the direction of the phase shifts. Triazolam injections caused increases in period that were associated with phase advances as well as phase delays in the activity rhythm. This relationship between triazolam-induced phase shifts and changes in period is different from the relationship between light-induced phase shifts and period changes.