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ABSTRACT In 2000, Cleide Costa published a paper presenting the state of knowledge of the Neotropical Coleopte ra, with a focus on the Brazilian fauna. Twenty-four years later, thanks to the development of the Coleoptera section of the Taxonomic Catalog of the Brazilian Fauna (CTFB - Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil) through the collaboration of 100 coleopterists from all over the globe, we can build on Costa’s work and present an updated overview of the state of knowledge of the beetles from Brazil. There are currently 35,699 species in 4,958 genera and 116 families known to occur in the country, including representatives of all extant suborders and superfamilies. Our data show that the Brazilian beetle fauna is the richest on the planet, concentrating 9% of the world species diversity, with some estimates accounting to up to 15% of the global total. The most diverse family in numbers of genera is Cerambycidae (1,056 genera), while in number of species it is Chrysomelidae (6,079 species). Conotrachelus Dejean, 1835 (Curculionidae) is the most species-rich genus, with 570 species. The French entomologist Maurice Pic is the author who has contributed the most to the naming of species recorded from Brazil, with 1,794 valid names in 36 families, whereas the Brazilians Ubirajara R. Martins and Maria Helena M. Galileo are the only ones among the top-ten authors to have named species in the 21st century. Currently, approximately 144 new species of Brazilian beetles are described each year, and this average is projected to increase in the next decade to 180 species per year, or about one new Brazilian beetle every two days.

ABSTRACT The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others.

Abstract Background The Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) paradigm emphasizes the significance of early life factors for the prevention of chronic health conditions, like type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity, which disproportionately affect First Nations communities in Canada. Despite increasing DOHaD research related to maternal health during pregnancy, early childhood growth patterns, and infant feeding practices with many populations, data from First Nations communities in Canada are limited. In partnership with Sandy Lake First Nation, the aims of this project were to characterize birthweights and growth patterns of First Nations infants/children over the first 6 years of life and to study the impact of maternal and infant social and behavioral factors on birthweight and growth trajectories. Methods We recruited 194 families through community announcements and clinic visits. Infant/child length/height and weight were measured at 1 and 2 weeks; 1, 2, 6, 12, and 18 months; and 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 years. Maternal and infant/child questionnaires captured data about health, nutrition, and social support. Weight-for-Age z-score (WAZ), Height-for-Age z-score (HAZ), and BMI-for-Age z-score (BAZ) were calculated using WHO reference standards and trajectories were analyzed using generalized additive models. Generalized estimating equations and logistic regression were used to determine associations between exposures and outcomes. Results WAZ and BAZ were above the WHO mean and increased with age until age 6 years. Generalized estimating equations indicated that WAZ was positively associated with age (0.152; 95% CI 0.014, 0.29), HAZ was positively associated with birthweight (0.155; 95% CI 0.035, 0.275), and BAZ was positively associated with caregiver’s BMI (0.049; 95% CI 0.004, 0.090). There was an increased odds of rapid weight gain (RWG) with exposure to gestational diabetes (OR: 7.47, 95% CI 1.68, 46.22). Almost 70% of parents initiated breastfeeding, and breastfeeding initiation was modestly associated with lower WAZ (-0.18; 95% CI -0.64, 0.28) and BAZ (-0.23; 95% CI -0.79, 0.34). Conclusions This work highlights early life factors that may contribute to T2DM etiology and can be used to support community and Indigenous-led prevention strategies.

Abstract In early type 2 diabetes, the strategy of “induction” with short-term intensive insulin therapy followed by “maintenance” with metformin can stabilize pancreatic beta-cell function in some patients but not others. We thus sought to elucidate determinants of sustained stabilization of beta-cell function. In this secondary analysis of ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02192424, adults with ≤5-years diabetes duration were randomized to 3-weeks induction insulin therapy (glargine/lispro) followed by metformin maintenance either with or without intermittent 2-week courses of insulin every 3-months for 2-years. Sustained stabilization (higher beta-cell function at 2-years than at baseline) was achieved in 55 of 99 participants. Independent predictors of sustained stabilization were the change in beta-cell function during induction and changes in hepatic insulin resistance and alanine aminotransferase during maintenance. Thus, initial reversibility of beta-cell dysfunction during induction and subsequent preservation of hepatic insulin sensitivity during maintenance are associated with sustained stabilization of beta-cell function following short-term insulin and metformin. ClinicalTrials.Gov NCT02192424

Abstract Background Indigenous peoples in Canada experience higher rates of diabetes and worse outcomes than non-Indigenous populations in Canada. Strategies are needed to address underlying health inequities and improve access to quality diabetes care. As part of the national FORGE AHEAD Research Program, this study explores two primary healthcare teams’ quality improvement (QI) process of developing and implementing strategies to improve the quality of diabetes care in First Nations communities in Canada. Methods This study utilized a community-based participatory and qualitative case study methodology. Multiple qualitative data sources were analyzed to understand: (1) how knowledge and information was used to inform the teams’ QI process; (2) how the process was influenced by the context of primary care services within communities; and (3) the factors that supported or hindered their QI process. Results The findings of this study demonstrate how teams drew upon multiple sources of knowledge and information to inform their QI work, the importance of strengthening relationships and building relationships with the community, the influence of organizational support and capacity, and the key factors that facilitated QI efforts. Conclusions This study contributes to the ongoing calls for research in understanding the process and factors affecting the implementation of QI strategies, particularly within Indigenous communities. The knowledge generated may help inform community action and the future development, implementation and scale-up of QI programs in Indigenous communities in Canada and globally.

BackgroundThe treatment landscape for type 2 diabetes (T2D) is continually evolving; therefore, ongoing education of health care professionals (HCPs) is essential. There is growing interest in measuring the impact of educational activities, such as through use of the Moore framework; however, data on the benefits of continuing medical education (CME) in the management of T2D remain limited. ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate HCP satisfaction; measure improvements in knowledge, competence, and performance following short, case-based, multidisciplinary web-based CME activities; and identify the remaining educational gaps. MethodsTwo faculty-led, CME-accredited, web-based educational activities on T2D and obesity, touchIN CONVERSATION and touch MultiDisciplinary Team, were developed and made available on a free-to-access medical education website. Each activity comprised 3 videos lasting 10 to 15 minutes, which addressed learning objectives developed based on a review of published literature and faculty feedback. Participant satisfaction (Moore level 2) was evaluated using a postactivity questionnaire. For both activities, changes in knowledge and competence (Moore levels 3 and 4) were assessed using questionnaires completed by representative HCPs before or after participation in the activities. A second set of HCPs completed a questionnaire before and after engaging in activities that assessed changes in self-reported performance (Moore level 5). ResultsEach activity was viewed by approximately 6000 participants within 6 months. The participants expressed high levels of satisfaction (>80%) with both activities. Statistically significant improvements from baseline in knowledge and competence were reported following participation in touchIN CONVERSATION (mean score, SD before vs after activity: 4.36, 1.40 vs 5.42, 1.37; P

Abstract Introduction Americans with diabetes are clinically vulnerable to worse COVID‐19 outcomes; thus, insight into how to prevent infection is imperative. Using longitudinal, prospective data from the real‐world iNPHORM study, we identify the intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors of confirmed or probable COVID‐19 in people with type 1 or 2 diabetes. Methods The iNPHORM study recruited 1206 Americans (18–90 years) with insulin‐ and/or secretagogue‐treated type 1 or 2 diabetes from a probability‐based internet panel. Online questionnaires (screener, baseline and 12 monthly follow‐ups) assessed COVID‐19 incidence and various plausible intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Multivariable Cox regression was used to model the rate of COVID‐19 (confirmed or probable). Risk factors were selected using a repeated backwards‐selection ‘voting’ procedure. Results A sub‐sample of 817 iNPHORM participants (type 1 diabetes: 16.9%; age: 52.1 [SD: 14.2] years; female: 50.2%) was analysed between May 2020 and March 2021. During this period, 13.7% reported confirmed or probable COVID‐19. Age, body mass index, number of chronic comorbidities, most recent A1C, past severe hypoglycaemia, and employment status were selected in our final model. Body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 versus

Abstract In semiarid regions, the growth and survival of cottonwoods (riparian Populus species) depend on river water supplementing the limited precipitation. Indicators of growth and productivity are needed to assess how altered streamflow regimes on regulated rivers impact cottonwood trees and the riparian forest ecosystems they support. We used satellite imagery from the Landsat program to make historical (1984–2020) assessments of ecosystem productivity in a riparian cottonwood forest along a regulated prairie river in southern Alberta, Canada, with an environmental flow regime that increased the minimum flows implemented in 1993. A version of the near‐infrared reflectance of vegetation scaled with incoming sunlight (NIRvP) was calculated from Landsat images to provide a proxy for primary production. Near‐infrared reflectance of vegetation scaled with incoming sunlight was correlated strongly with gross primary production measurements from eddy covariance and basal area increment measurements from tree ring analyses, supporting its use as a practical proxy. The lowest NIRvP values occurred in drought years with low flows and dry weather during the growing season, while the highest values occurred in wet years with high flows, including floods. Across all years, NIRvP was positively correlated with streamflow and a weather‐driven soil moisture index. This indicated that ecosystem productivity was limited by water supply, which is sourced from river water and local precipitation. Subsequently, cottonwood forests in this region would be vulnerable to drought from declines in streamflow, due to climatic variations or human water withdrawals, and reductions in shallow soil moisture from limited local precipitation. This satellite proxy should be broadly applicable and can provide a diagnostic indicator for assessing riparian forest health and responses to varying weather, changing climate, and streamflow regulation.

BackgroundHypoglycemia prognostic models contingent on prospective, self-reported survey data offer a powerful avenue for determining real-world event susceptibility and interventional targets. ObjectiveThis protocol describes the design and implementation of the 1-year iNPHORM (Investigating Novel Predictions of Hypoglycemia Occurrence Using Real-world Models) study, which aims to measure real-world self-reported severe and nonsevere hypoglycemia incidence (daytime and nocturnal) in American adults with type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus prescribed insulin and/or secretagogues, and develop and internally validate prognostic models for severe, nonsevere daytime, and nonsevere nocturnal hypoglycemia. As a secondary objective, iNPHORM aims to quantify the effects of different antihyperglycemics on hypoglycemia rates. MethodsiNPHORM is a prospective, 12-wave internet-based panel survey that was conducted across the United States. Americans (aged 18-90 years) with self-reported type 1 or 2 diabetes mellitus prescribed insulin and/or secretagogues were conveniently sampled via the web from a pre-existing, closed, probability-based internet panel (sample frame). A sample size of 521 baseline responders was calculated for this study. Prospective data on hypoglycemia and potential prognostic factors were self-assessed across 14 closed, fully automated questionnaires (screening, baseline, and 12 monthly follow-ups) that were piloted using semistructured interviews (n=3) before fielding; no face-to-face contact was required as part of the data collection. Participant responses will be analyzed using multivariable count regression and machine learning techniques to develop and internally validate prognostic models for 1-year severe and 30-day nonsevere daytime and nocturnal hypoglycemia. The causal effects of different antihyperglycemics on hypoglycemia rates will also be investigated. ResultsRecruitment and data collection occurred between February 2020 and March 2021 (ethics approval was obtained on December 17, 2019). A total of 1694 participants completed the baseline questionnaire, of whom 1206 (71.19%) were followed up for 12 months. Most follow-up waves (10,470/14,472, 72.35%) were completed, translating to a participation rate of 179% relative to our target sample size. Over 70.98% (856/1206) completed wave 12. Analyses of sample characteristics, quality metrics, and hypoglycemia incidence and prognostication are currently underway with published results anticipated by fall 2022. ConclusionsiNPHORM is the first hypoglycemia prognostic study in the United States to leverage prospective, longitudinal self-reports. The results will contribute to improved real-world hypoglycemia risk estimation and potentially safer, more effective clinical diabetes management. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04219514; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04219514 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/33726

Abstract The 15th UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (COP15) will be held in Kunming, China in October 2021. Historically, CBDs and other multilateral treaties have either alluded to or entirely overlooked the subterranean biome. A multilateral effort to robustly examine, monitor, and incorporate the subterranean biome into future conservation targets will enable the CBD to further improve the ecological effectiveness of protected areas by including groundwater resources, subterranean ecosystem services, and the profoundly endemic subsurface biodiversity. To this end, we proffer a conservation roadmap that embodies five conceptual areas: (1) science gaps and data management needs; (2) anthropogenic stressors; (3) socioeconomic analysis and conflict resolution; (4) environmental education; and (5) national policies and multilateral agreements.

Main objective To determine how and to what extent COVID-19 has affected real-world, self-reported glycaemic management in Americans with type 1 or type 2 diabetes taking insulin and/or secretagogues, with or without infection.Design A cross-sectional substudy using data from the Investigating Novel Predictions of Hypoglycemia Occurrence using Real-world Models panel survey.Setting USA.Participants Americans 18–90 years old with type 1 or 2 diabetes taking insulin and/or secretagogues were conveniently sampled from a probability-based internet panel.Primary outcome measure A structured, COVID-19-specific questionnaire was administered to assess the impact of the pandemic (irrespective of infection) on socioeconomic, behavioural/clinical and psychosocial aspects of glycaemic management.Results Data from 667 respondents (type 1 diabetes: 18%; type 2 diabetes: 82%) were analysed. Almost 25% reported A1c values ≥8.1%. Rates of severe and non-severe hypoglycaemia were 0.68 (95% CI 0.5 to 0.96) and 2.75 (95% CI 2.4 to 3.1) events per person-month, respectively. Ten respondents reported a confirmed or probable COVID-19 diagnosis. Because of the pandemic, 24% of respondents experienced difficulties affording housing; 28% struggled to maintain sufficient food to avoid hypoglycaemia; and 19% and 17% reported challenges accessing diabetes therapies and testing strips, respectively. Over one-quarter reported issues retrieving antihyperglycaemics from the pharmacy and over one-third reported challenges consulting with diabetes providers. The pandemic contributed to therapeutic non-adherence (14%), drug rationing (17%) and reduced monitoring (16%). Many struggled to keep track, and in control, of hypoglycaemia (12%–15%) and lacked social support to help manage their risk (19%). Nearly half reported decreased physical activity. Few statistically significant differences were observed by diabetes type.Conclusions COVID-19 was found to cause substantial self-reported deficiencies in glycaemic management. Study results signal the need for decisive action to restabilise routine diabetes care in the USA.Trial registration number NCT04219514.

Oil pipelines are vulnerable at river crossings since floods can expose and rupture pipes, releasing oil that floats and coats floodplain vegetation. This study investigated the consequences of oil coatings on leaves of cottonwoods (riparian poplars), the predominant trees in floodplain woodlands around the Northern Hemisphere. The study compared conventional crude oil (CO) versus diluted bitumen (dilbit, DB), heavy oil originating from the Alberta oil sands; with petroleum jelly (PJ) as a reference. The treatments increased leaf surface temperatures (Tleaf) in narrowleaf and plains cottonwoods (Populus angustifolia, P. deltoides) and balsam poplars (P. balsamifera) (Control = 21.8°C, PJ = 23.7°C; CO = 26.2°C; DB = 28.1°C; Tair = 25°C). The leaf warming followed stomatal occlusion from the foliar coating, which would reduce transpiration and evaporative cooling, combined with increased solar warming with the darker oils. Tleaf varied across the three cottonwood species, with cooler, narrow, narrowleaf cottonwood leaves; intermediate plains cottonwood leaves; and warmer, darker, balsam poplar leaves (average Tleaf: narrowleaf = 23.8°C, plains = 24.3°C, and balsam = 26.7°C), with similar warming in each species following the different treatments. Across species and treatments, Tleaf was tightly correlated with foliar condition, which assessed turgor versus wilting of leaf blades and petioles, along with leaf necrosis and senescence (r2 = 0.980, narrowleaf; 0.998, plains; 0.852, balsam). This tight association indicates validity of both Tleaf and foliar condition as diagnostic measures. Crude oil and dilbit had similar foliar impacts, and for both, leaf abscission occurred within 2 to 3 weeks. Consequently, following an oil spill, remediation should commence quickly but extending vegetation removal beyond a few weeks would have limited benefit since the contaminated leaves would have abscised.

Abstract Background There is a significant deficiency of national health information for Indigenous peoples in Canada. This manuscript describes the Community Profile Survey (CPS), a community-based, national-level survey designed to identify and describe existing healthcare delivery, funding models, and diabetes specific infrastructure and programs in Indigenous communities. Methods The CPS was developed collaboratively through FORGE AHEAD and the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch of Health Canada. Regional and federal engagement and partnerships were built with Indigenous organizations to establish regionally-tailored distribution of the 8-page CPS to 440 First Nations communities. Results were collected (one survey per community) and reported in strata by region, with descriptive analyses performed on all variables. Results were shared with participating communities and regional/federal partners through tailored reports. Results A total of 84 communities completed the survey (19% response rate). The majority of communities had a health centre/office to provide service to their patients with diabetes, with limited on-reserve hospitals for ambulatory or case-sensitive conditions. Few healthcare specialists were located on-site, with patients frequently travelling off-site (> 40 km) for diabetes-related complications. The majority of healthcare professionals on-site were Health Directors, Community Health Nurses, and Home Care Nurses. Many communities had a diabetes registry but few reported a diabetes surveillance system. Regional variation in healthcare services, diabetes programs, and funding models were noted, with most communities engaging in some type of innovative strategy to improve care for patients with diabetes. Conclusions The CPS is the first community-based, national-level survey of its kind in Canada. Although the response rate was low, the CPS was distributed and successfully administered across a broad range of First Nations communities, and future considerations would benefit from a governance structure and leadership that strengthens community engagement, and a longitudinal research approach to increase the representativeness of the data. This type of information is important for communities and regions to inform decision making (maintain successes, and identify areas for improvement), strengthen health service delivery and infrastructure, increase accessibility to healthcare personnel, and allocate funding and/or resources to build capacity and foster a proactive chronic disease prevention and management approach for Indigenous communities across Canada. Trial registration Current ClinicalTrial.gov protocol ID NCT02234973. Registered: September 9, 2014.

Our aim was to examine longitudinal associations of triacylglyceride fatty acid (TGFA) composition with insulin sensitivity (IS) and β-cell function. Adults at risk for T2D (n = 477) had glucose and insulin measured from a glucose challenge at three time points over 6 years. The outcome variables Matsuda insulin sensitivity index, homeostatic model of assessment 2–percent sensitivity (HOMA2-%S), Insulinogenic Index over HOMA-IR (IGI/IR), and Insulin Secretion-Sensitivity Index-2 were computed from the glucose challenge. Gas chromatography quantified TGFA composition from the baseline. We used adjusted generalized estimating equation (GEE) models and partial least squares (PLS) regression for the analysis. In adjusted GEE models, four TGFAs (14:0, 16:0, 14:1n-7, and 16:1n-7 as mol%) had strong negative associations with IS, whereas others (e.g., 18:1n-7, 18:1n-9, 20:2n-6, and 20:5n-3) had strong positive associations. Few associations were seen for β-cell function, except for 16:0, 18:1n-7, and 20:2n-6. PLS analysis indicated four TGFAs (14:0, 16:0, 14:1n-7, and 16:1n-7) that clustered together and strongly related with lower IS. These four TGFAs also correlated highly (r > 0.4) with clinically measured triacylglyceride. We found that higher proportions of a cluster of four TGFAs strongly related with lower IS as well as hypertriglyceridemia, suggesting that only a few FAs within the TGFA composition may primarily explain lipids' role in glucose dysregulation.

In many instances, one or more components of a pharmaceutical or cosmetic formulation is an oil. The aims of this study were two-fold. First, to examine the potential of preferential uptake of one oily vehicle component over another into a model barrier membrane (silicone) from blended vehicles (comprising two from the common excipients isohexadecane (IHD), hexadecane (HD), isopropyl myristate (IPM), oleic acid (OA) and liquid paraffin). Second, to study the effect of membrane-vehicle interactions on the diffusion of model permeants (caffeine (CF), methyl paraben (MP) and butyl paraben (BP)) from blended vehicles. Selective sorption and partition of some oils (especially IHD and IPM) at the expense of other oils (such as OA) was demonstrated to take place. For example, the membrane composition of IHD was enriched compared to a donor solution of IHD-OA: 41%, 63% and 82% IHD, compared to donor solution composition of 25%, 50% and 75% IHD, respectively. Pre-soaking the membrane in IHD, HD or LP, rather than phosphate buffer, enhanced the flux of MP through the membrane by 2.6, 1.7 and 1.3 times, respectively. The preferential sorption of individual oil components from mixtures altered the barrier properties of silicone membrane, and enhanced the permeation of CF, MP and BP, which are typically co-formulated in topical products.

Background: Sub-optimal vitamin D status is common worldwide and the condition may be associated with increased risk for various chronic diseases. In particular, low vitamin D status is highly prevalent in indigenous communities in Canada, although limited data are available on the determinants of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations in this population. The relationship between traditional food consumption and vitamin D status has not been well documented. Objective: To investigate the determinants of serum 25(OH)D status in a First Nations community in Ontario, Canada, with a focus on the role of traditional food consumption and activities. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted within the Sandy Lake Health and Diabetes Project (2003–2005). A total of 445 participants (>12 years of age) were assessed for serum 25(OH)D status, anthropometric and lifestyle variables, including traditional and non-traditional dietary practices and activities. Diet patterns were identified using factor analysis, and multivariate linear regression analysis was used to analyse the determinants of 25(OH)D concentrations. Results: Mean serum 25(OH)D concentrations were 22.1 nmol/L (16.9, 29.9 nmol/L) in men and 20.5 nmol/L (16.0, 27.3 nmol/L) in women. Multivariate determinants of higher serum 25(OH)D included higher consumption of traditional and healthier market foods, higher wild fish consumption, male gender, spring/summer season of blood collection and more frequent physical activity. Significant negative determinants included hours of TV/day, higher BMI and higher consumption of unhealthy market foods. Conclusions: Traditional food consumption contributed independently to higher 25(OH)D concentrations in a First Nations community with a high prevalence of sub-optimal vitamin D status.

There has been considerable recent interest in employing computer models to investigate the relationship between the structure of a molecule and its dermal penetration. Molecular permeation across the epidermis has previously been demonstrated to be determined by a number of physicochemical properties, for example, the lipophilicity, molecular weight and hydrogen bonding ability of the permeant. However little attention has been paid to modeling the combined effects of permeant properties in tandem with the properties of vehicles used to deliver those permeants or to whether data obtained using synthetic membranes can be correlated with those obtained using human epidermis. This work uses Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to demonstrate that, for studies of the diffusion of three model permeants (caffeine, methyl paraben and butyl paraben) through synthetic membranes, it is the properties of the oily vehicle in which they are applied that dominated the rates of permeation and flux. Simple robust and predictive descriptor-based quantitative structure–permeability relationship (QSPR) models have been developed to support these findings by utilizing physicochemical descriptors of the oily vehicles to quantify the differences in flux and permeation of the model compounds. Interestingly, PCA showed that, for the flux of co-applied model permeants through human epidermis, the permeation of the model permeants was better described by a balance between the physicochemical properties of the vehicle and the permeant rather than being dominated solely by the vehicle properties as in the case of synthetic model membranes. The important influence of permeant solubility in the vehicle along with the solvent uptake on overall permeant diffusion into the membrane was substantiated. These results confirm that care must be taken in interpreting permeation data when synthetic membranes are employed as surrogates for human epidermis; they also demonstrate the importance of considering not only the permeant properties but also those of both vehicle and membrane when arriving at any conclusions relating to permeation data.

Heterosis, or hybrid vigor, has contributed substantially to genetic improvements in crops and trees and its physiological basis involves multiple processes. Four associations with the phytohormone gibberellin (GA) indicate its involvement in the regulation of heterosis for shoot growth in maize, sorghum, wheat, rice, tomato and poplar. (1) Inbreds somewhat resemble GA-deficient dwarfs and are often highly responsive to exogenous GA3. (2) Levels of endogenous GAs, including the bioeffector GA1, its precursors GA19 and GA20, and/or its metabolite GA8, are higher in some fast-growing hybrids than parental genotypes. (3) Oxidative metabolism of applied [3H]GAs is more rapid in vigorous hybrids than inbreds, and (4) heterotic hybrids have displayed increased expression of GA biosynthetic genes including GA 20-oxidase and GA 3-oxidase. We further investigated Brassica rapa, an oilseed rape, by comparing two inbreds (AO533 and AO539) and their F1 hybrid. Seedling emergence was faster in the hybrid and potence ratios indicated dominance for increased leaf number, area and mass, and stem mass. Overdominance (heterosis) was displayed for root mass, leading to slight heterosis for total plant mass. Stem contents of GA19,20,1 were similar across the Brassica genotypes and increased prior to bolting; elongation was correlated with endogenous GA but heterosis for shoot growth was modest. The collective studies support a physiological role for GAs in the regulation of heterosis for shoot growth in crops and trees, and the Brassica study encourages further investigation of heterosis for root growth.

A growing need for sampling environmental spaces in high detail is driving the rapid development of non-destructive three-dimensional (3D) sensing technologies. LiDAR sensors, capable of precise 3D measurement at various scales from indoor to landscape, still lack affordable and portable products for broad-scale and multi-temporal monitoring. This study aims to configure a compact and low-cost 3D fusion scanning system (FSS) with a multi-segment Leddar (light emitting diode detection and ranging, LeddarTech), a monocular camera, and rotational robotics to recover hemispherical, colored point clouds. This includes an entire framework of calibration and fusion algorithms utilizing Leddar depth measurements and image parallax information. The FSS was applied to scan a cottonwood (Populus spp.) stand repeatedly during autumnal leaf drop. Results show that the calibration error based on bundle adjustment is between 1 and 3 pixels. The FSS scans exhibit a similar canopy volume profile to the benchmarking terrestrial laser scans, with an r2 between 0.5 and 0.7 in varying stages of leaf cover. The 3D point distribution information from FSS also provides a valuable correction factor for the leaf area index (LAI) estimation. The consistency of corrected LAI measurement demonstrates the practical value of deploying FSS for canopy foliage monitoring.

Some tannins sorb to soil and reduce soluble-N. However, we know little about how they interact with organic amendments in soil. Soil (0–5 cm) from plots, which were amended annually with various carbon substances, was treated with water (control) or solutions containing tannins or related phenolic subunits. Treatments included a proanthocyanidin, catechin, tannic acid, β-1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-D-glucose (PGG), gallic acid, and methyl gallate. We applied solutions of each of these materials to soil and measured soluble-C and -N in supernatants after application and following extraction with hot water (16 h, 80 °C). Sorption was low for non-tannin phenolics, methyl gallate, gallic acid, and catechin, and unaffected by amendment. Sorption of tannins, proanthocyanidin, tannic acid, and PGG, was higher and greater in plots amended with biosolids or manure. Extraction of soluble-N was not affected by amendment or by catechin, proanthocyanidin, or methyl gallate, but was reduced with PGG, tannic acid and gallic acid. Soil cation exchange capacity increased following treatment with PGG but decreased with gallic acid, irrespective of amendment. Tannins entering soil may thus influence soil organic matter dynamics and nutrient cycling but their impact may be influenced by the composition of soil organic matter.

Apolipoprotein (apo) C-I is a constituent of chylomicrons, very low density lipoprotein, and high density lipoprotein. The role of apo C-I in human metabolism is incompletely defined. We took advantage of a naturally occurring amino acid polymorphism that is present in aboriginal North Americans, namely apo C-I T45S. We assessed the hypothesis that metabolic traits, including obesity-related and lipoprotein-related traits, would differ between carriers and noncarriers of apo C-I T45S. A genotyping assay was developed for APOC1 T45S and genotypes were determined in a sample of 410 Canadian Oji-Cree subjects. The allele frequency of the apo C-I S45 allele was ∼8% in this sample. We observed the apo C-I S45 allele was significantly associated with 1) lower percent body fat (P < 0.05), 2) lower waist circumference (P = 0.058), 3) lower serum leptin levels (P < 0.05), and 4) lower plasma apo C-I levels (P < 0.0001), using a newly developed ELISA-based method. Taken together, these results suggest that at the whole human phenotype level, apo C-I is associated with the complex metabolic trait of obesity as well as with serum leptin levels.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) has been reported to be associated with proteinuria in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Plasma cystatin C is more accurate than creatinine for identifying stage 3 kidney disease in T2DM. We tested the hypothesis that PON1 and cystatin C would be associated in T2DM subjects from an Aboriginal Canadian community, who are at high risk for the development of nephropathy. PON1 A(-162)G and PON2 Ala148Gly genotypes, cystatin C, HbA1c, high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC), waist circumference (waist), and duration of diabetes were included in the regression analysis with loge (ln) of PON1 mass as the dependent variable. A regression model including PON2 Ala148Gly genotype, HDLC, and ln cystatin C explained 25.8% of the variance in PON1 mass. Conversely, waist, age, ln HbA1c, ln duration of diabetes, and ln PON1 mass, but not PON2 genotype, explained 38% of the variance in cystatin C. Subjects with cystatin C estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2. The lower mass of PON1, an anti-inflammatory HDL-associated enzyme, in T2DM with cystatin C-eGFR