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Smoke is an important factor involved in fire and post-fire germination cues. The role of smoke in stimulating germination was first highlighted in South Africa in a study on Audouinia capitata, a threatened fynbos species. Further studies on South African fynbos, Californian chaparral and Australian species have illustrated the widespread ability of smoke to promote germination of many species from fire-prone areas. However, smoke-stimulated germination is not limited to species from fire-prone habitats, and a variety of species from fire-free habitats also respond positively. Smoke and aqueous smoke extracts can potentially be used for a variety of applications related to seed technology. These include uses in horticulture, agriculture, ecological management and rehabilitation of disturbed areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argues that the dramatic change in Soviet Third World policy after 1985 was not a byproduct of the end of the Cold War, but a precondition for it. Examines recent Soviet policy in Cuba, Afghanistan, Angola and in the Gulf crisis. Assertion that conservative opposition can have little effect on the new policy; Impossibility of a return to the old role in the Third World; New thinking about the Third World; More.

Background/Aims: The treatment of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) has been mainly symptomatic. Small randomized or open-label case control studies of neurotransmitters have been inconclusive. We tried galantamine in the 2 most common varieties of FTD. Method: Thirty-six behavioral variety FTD and primary progressive aphasia (PPA) patients were treated in an open-label period of 18 weeks and a randomized, placebo-controlled phase for 8 weeks with galantamine. The primary efficacy measures were the Frontal Behavioral Inventory, the Aphasia Quotient of the Western Aphasia Battery, the Clinical Global Impression of Severity and the Clinical Global Impression of Improvement. Results: No significant differences in behavior or language were found for the total group. A treatment effect (p = 0.009), in a subgroup of subjects with PPA in the global severity score, in favor of galantamine was detected in the placebo-controlled withdrawal phase but was not considered significant after correction for multiple comparisons. The language scores for the treated PPA group also remained stable compared to the placebo group, which showed deterioration. Conclusion: Galantamine is not effective in the behavioral variety of FTD, but a trend of efficacy is shown in the aphasic subgroup, which may be clinically significant. Galantamine appeared safe in FTD/PPA. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The newly identified smoke-compound butenolide (3-methyl-2 H-furo[2,3- c]pyran-2-one) can improve seedling vigour. This study highlights the effects of smoke-water and butenolide on shoot and root elongation of a local rice variety. Smoke-water (1 : 500) and butenolide (10−8 m) treatments significantly increased shoot length. A low concentration of butenolide (10−10 m) promoted maximum root length and seedling weight, which were significantly different from the control. Butenolide-treated (10−8 m) seedlings had a significantly greater number of lateral roots than untreated seedlings. The vigour index of smoke-water (1 : 500) and butenolide-treated (10−8 m) rice seeds was significantly higher than that of untreated seeds. These findings suggest the possible use of butenolide for promoting vigorous seedlings in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly active, heat stable, long lasting compound, 3-methyl-2H-furo[2,3-c]pyran-2-one (1), that stimulates seed germination was isolated from plant-derived smoke water using bioactivity-guided fractionation. The identification of this natural molecule, the major germination cue from smoke, should now rapidly lead to a more comprehensive understanding of the role of smoke as a promoter of seed germination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eleven macroalgae were collected from the KwaZuluNatal coast and nineteen species from the cooler Western Cape coast in March and April 2000. Ethanolic and aqueous extracts were made and tested for biological activity in the Cox-1 anti-inflammatory assay, in a nematode mortality bioassay for anthelminthic activity, an IC50 anticancer assay and a MIC antimicrobial assay. The ethanolic extracts were very active in the COX-1 anti-inflammatory assay for almost all of the species tested. The aqueous extracts were not active. NO anthelminthic mortality was detected in extracts from any of the species tested, Many of the extracts had cytotoxic activity against three cancer cell lines tested, with those from representative species of the Chlorophyta and Rhodophyta being the most effective. The extracts had much lower cytotoxic activity when tested on normal mouse fibroblasta (NIH3T3). Extracts from only a few species had antimicrobial activity with those of the Chlorophyta tested being the most effective against both the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Given the renewed interest in the role of sex differences in schizophrenia, we undertook a post hoc analysis to determine whether sex differences in treatment response were present among outpatients with schizophrenia who received risperidone in an 8-week, open-label, Phase IV clinical study.Method: We evaluated 330 adult patients (232 men, 98 women) with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of schizophrenia for safety and 292 (206 men, 86 women) for efficacy. Antipsychotic and antiparkinsonian medications were discontinued at study entry. Treatment with risperidone was initiated at a dosage of 2 mg daily, increased to the target dosage of 6 mg daily by day 3, and maintained at 6 mg daily until day 14. The dosage was then maintained at 6 mg daily, increased or decreased by 2 mg daily each week, based on the patient's response. Risperidone treatment was given for 8 weeks; the permitted dosage range was 4 mg to 10 mg daily.Results: Both male and female participants responded well to risperidone treatment; by the final assessment day, they had experienced decreases from baseline in their total Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores of 41.0% and 36.5%, respectively. Most male (77%) and female (78%) participants were considered to be PANSS responders: risperidone was effective against both the positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia. Both sexes showed improvements over baseline in the incidence and severity of parkinsonism, dystonia, and dyskinesia. No significant (P > 0.05) sex differences in treatment response were observed for any of the efficacy outcomes or in the incidence and severity of extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS).Conclusions: In this population of outpatients with chronic schizophrenia, both men and women responded well to flexible doses of risperidone. No significant sex differences were evident either in treatment response or in neurological side effects. The absence of sex differences in response to risperidone treatment may obviate the need for a sex-based differential dosing in schizophrenia management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Michael addition reactions of carbohydrate-derived nitroalkenes with ethyl thioglycolate and 2-mercaptobenzyl alcohol were studied. Reactions were conducted under mild, solvent-free conditions with DABCO as a catalyst, affording the corresponding adducts in good yields. Furthermore, compounds resulting from the addition with 2-mercaptobenzyl alcohol were used as starting materials for the synthesis of chiral 3-nitro-2H-thiochromenes. For some of the compounds synthesized herein, the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities against a panel of human solid tumor cell lines were assayed and compared with those of carbohydrate-nitroalkene substrates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Successful management of a complex disease, such as cystic fibrosis (CF), requires support from family and friends; however, few studies have examined social support in adolescents with CF. Methods Twenty-four adolescents were interviewed about the support they receive from family and friends. Interviews were transcribed, coded and analysed to determine the types, frequency and perceived supportiveness of specific behaviours. Results Both family and friends provided treatment-related support to adolescents with CF. Family provided more tangible support and friends provided more relational support. Adolescents also reported that the manner, timing and context of support behaviours influenced their perceptions of the behaviours' supportiveness. A subset of adolescents (17%) chose not to disclose their diagnosis to their friends. Conclusions The provision of support appears to be distinct from adolescent's perception of support and there may be some behaviours, such as treatment reminders, that are important to disease management but viewed as less supportive by adolescents. Facilitating increased social support holds the promise of improving disease management during adolescents, but more work is need to understand which aspects of support are related to management outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: We explored the association between traumatic events and mental health among girls and women trafficked for sexual exploitation. METHODS: We used subscales of the Brief Symptom Inventory and Harvard Trauma Questionnaire to interview 204 trafficked girls and women in 7 posttrafficking service settings. Multivariate logistic regression models based on interview data were fitted for depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) separately and adjusted for pretrafficking abuse to determine impact of trafficking-related trauma exposures. RESULTS: Injuries and sexual violence during trafficking were associated with higher levels of PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Sexual violence was associated with higher levels of PTSD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3, 25.4). More time in trafficking was associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.1, 4.5). More time since trafficking was associated with lower levels of depression and anxiety but not of PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings inform the emerging field of mental health care for trafficked persons by highlighting the importance of assessing severity and duration of trafficking-related abuses and need for adequate recovery time. Therapies for anxiety, PTSD, and mood disorders in low-resource settings should be evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decay waves have been observed in the megahertz range in the helium plasma generated by the variable specific impulse magnetoplasma rocket magnetoplasma thruster. They are measured using one of the tips of a triple probe connected to a 50 Ω input of a spectrum analyzer via a dc block (a small capacitor). The maximum amplitude of all waves is in the center of the plasma and does not appear correlated to the radial electron density or temperature profiles. The waves seem to be generated close to the helicon antenna that was 91 cm “upstream” from the measuring Langmuir probe. A possible explanation is parametric decay of the large amplitude helicon wave that also generates the plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To investigate calorie intake, behavioral eating styles, and parent perception of eating behavior of school-age children with cystic fibrosis (CF) compared with healthy peers. DESIGN: A two-group comparison study. SETTING: A clinical sample of 28 school-age children with CF and a community sample of 28 healthy peers matched for age (6 to 12 years) and socioeconomic status. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The children with CF consumed more calories per day (2175 cal/d) than the control children (1875 cal/d) and achieved a significantly higher recommended daily allowance (RDA) of energy (128% of the RDA) than the control children (91.61% of the RDA). Fifty-four percent of the CF sample were achieving the CF dietary recommendations of 120% of the RDA. Despite this energy intake, the CF sample was significantly below the control sample on weight (24.56 vs 31.23 kg), height (125.48 vs 133.06 cm), and z score for weight (-0.811 vs 0.528) and height (-0.797 vs 0.371). On measures of behavioral eating style, the CF sample had significantly longer meals (23.90 min) than the control sample (17.34 min) and had a significantly slower pace of eating (43.27% 10-second intervals with bites) than the control sample (51.29% 10-second intervals with bites) but did not differ significantly on the number of calories consumed during dinner. On a measure of parent report of mealtime behaviors, parents of the children with CF rated mealtime behavior problems of 'dawdles' and 'refuses food' as more intense (mean, 3. 46) than did the parents of control children (mean, 2.67). For the CF sample, a significant correlation was found between the parent intensity ratings of problem behavior in general and meal duration (r = .48), and a significant negative correlation was found between the parent intensity ratings of problem mealtime behaviors and the percentage of intervals with bites (pace of meal) (r = -.533). CONCLUSIONS: Although the school-age children with CF were consuming more calories per day than their healthy peers, and more than 50% of the children in the CF sample were at or above the CF dietary recommendations, the children in the CF sample were significantly below the control children on measures of weight and height. The behavioral data suggest that increased caloric intake is not without cost, because the CF sample spent an additional 7 minutes per day at dinner and ate their meals at a slower pace than their healthy peers. These data were associated with higher intensity ratings of mealtime behaviors by parents of children with CF. These findings point to the need for individualized assessment of energy needs for school-age children with CF and comprehensive programs that teach parents behavioral strategies to motivate their children to meet these higher energy requirements in an adaptive manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]