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Agroecology has recently become an alternative production model that tries to face the negative environmental and socioeconomic consequences of the agricultural model based on excessive agrochemical use and no-tillage practices. It searches for alternatives to pest management so as to increase yields while promoting biodiversity conservation. Our goal was to know the perception and opinion of agroecological farmers of the Pampa region on crop pests, the techniques they use for pest management and their perceptions on biodiversity. A survey was conducted which provided 103 responses. The main pest mentioned was ants. Of farmers surveyed, 64.71% claim that their main pest significantly reduces their yields, 79.42% claim that they monitor their crops for pests, although those with over 25 years of experience tend not to. Farmers have a mostly positive perception of biodiversity, particularly birds even though many identify pigeons and parrots as damaging. These results make it possible to describe the agroecological Pampa farmers and to show some common pest issues that need to be observed to benefit production in the area. The study highlights the importance of biodiversity for these farmers and their willingness to use tools that attract birds that could potentially manage pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypothesis that certain woody species may be prone to local extirpation under chronic elephant utilisation was examined for Colophospermum mopane open woodland, for an area within the foraging range of elephants from permanent water. Elephant density increased from nearly absent in the 1970s to >3 elephants km−2, with 0.62 adult bulls km−2, by 2022. Study components of vegetation impact included a long‐term elephant exclosure, a fence‐line contrast with an adjacent communal area, comparison with an adjacent wildlife reserve carrying a fifth of the elephant density and the use of historical studies of the vegetation. A history of elephant utilisation resulted in woodland becoming hedged through pollarding of tree stems by elephants. Impacted woodland was characterised by a slightly lower tree density, reduced average height of trees, altered shrub composition and lower species richness. The dominant C. mopane and sub‐dominant species had persisted. However, about 14 species were potentially trending towards local extirpation on account of very high levels of adult mortality, but had persisted because of a low level of seedling recruitment. Fleshy fruits were a shared attribute among most extirpation‐trending species, which, together with a reduction in woody species richness that affects browsers, has ramifications for trophic flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Museums and other curatorial bodies face the significant challenge of storing large volumes of material recovered from decades of archaeological excavation, amongst which are very large collections of animal bones. As stores fill up, there is pressure to reconsider curation policies, to the point of refusing further deposition and disposal of existing material. Faced with this situation, York Archaeological Trust looked to develop and implement a strategy to reduce the curated research resource of animal bones, accepting that some excavated assemblages are of low research potential. Applying this strategy to animal bones from the Hungate excavation resulted in a substantial reduction in the volume of material regarded as of significant future research value. The strategy also generated a digital record, including images, that provides the justification for those retention decisions as well as a useful survey that facilitates the location of suitable material for further research. This pilot study shows that it is possible to rationalise what would otherwise be a substantial store of bone assemblages to give a smaller, better-documented and more research-relevant archive of material. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose/objective(s): Following definitive treatment for localized prostate cancer a subset of men will unfortunately develop recurrent disease. Newer PET agents have demonstrated that most early recurrences occur in the abdominopelvic nodal basins. The optimal treatment strategy for this patient population is unknown but likely includes a combination of systemic therapy, surgery and/or radiation therapy. For radiation therapy, the optimal treatment volume, fractionation schedule and dose remain unanswered questions. We report early outcomes for patients treated with involved field SBRT for nodal oligo-recurrent prostate cancer.Materials/methods: Between January 2018 and January 2020, 21 patients with nodal oligo-recurrent prostate cancer treated with involved field SBRT at a single academic institution were eligible for inclusion in this analysis. Detection of recurrence was ascertained by imaging including: Axumin PET/CT (66%) or MRI/CT (34%) following a PSA rise. All patients were treated with five-fraction involved field SBRT to a dose of 27.5-30 Gy. The treatment volume for involved field was defined as the nodal basin containing the gross nodal disease as well as the immediately adjacent nodal basins. Oligo-recurrence was defined as any volume of disease that could be safely treated within an involved field. Acute and late toxicity data was defined as any treatment related toxicity occurring ≤ 90 days and > 90 days following treatment, respectively. Toxicity was graded using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0. PSA response was defined as any decrease in the PSA following treatment. Local recurrence was defined as any new or growing lesion within the treatment field following treatment. Local control was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method.Results: The median pre-salvage PSA was 7.2 ng/ml. The median follow-up for all patients was 25 months (11 - 36 months). The most common acute side effect was grade 1 diarrhea (n = 7, 33%). Acute grade 2 GI toxicity occurred in 14% of patients (n = 3). Two patients had late low grade pelvic pain and 1 patient had late grade 2 lower extremity limb edema. There were no late grade 2+ GI side effects. No grade 3+ side effects occurred at any time following treatment. 88% of patients had a PSA response following treatment. The local control at 1 and 2 years was 100% and 94%, respectively.Conclusion: With the widespread adoption of novel PET agents the group of patients with oligo-recurrent nodal disease is likely to increase significantly. The optimal combination of local and systemic therapy in this patient population is the subject of ongoing clinical investigation. With a favorable toxicity profile, high rates of local control and PSA response, involved field SBRT represents a feasible as well as convenient local therapy treatment option for an elderly patient population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Gas targets are often used at accelerator facilities. A design of high-pressure gas cells that are suitable for hydrogen and helium isotopes at relatively high electron beam currents is presented. In particular, we consider rare gas targets, 3H2 and 3He. In the design, heat transfer and mechanical integrity of the target cell are emphasized. ANSYS 12 was used for the thermo-mechanical studies of the target cell. Since the ultimate goal in this study was to design a gas target for use at the Jefferson Laboratory (JLab), particular attention is given to the typical operating conditions found there. It is demonstrated that an aluminum alloy cell can meet the required design goals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Contents Quantitative reverse transcription PCR ( RT- qPCR) is a powerful molecular technique that enables gene expression studies to be performed on extremely small samples such as oocytes and pre-implantation embryos. However, the high sensitivity of this technique requires that to prevent bias in expression data interpretation, the reference genes used for normalization are fully validated before use. Difficulties in choosing a reference gene are further compounded by the variable RNA content of the maturing oocyte. In the present study, we evaluated eight commonly used reference genes such as ACTB, GAPDH, H2AFZ, HPRT1, PPIA, SDHA, TUBB and YWHAZ and for sheep oocyte RT-q PCR before and after in vitro maturation. We have also compared different c DNA priming strategies using random hexamers or oligo-d T. Ge Norm analysis of the results identified the most reliable genes for normalization to be SDHA, TUBB and PPIA when oocyte c DNA was made with random hexamers, and YWHAZ, TUBB and SDHA when oligo-d T primers were used ( H2 AFZ and HPRT1 were excluded from the ge Norm analysis). Interestingly, the analysis revealed that the least stable genes were ACTB and GAPDH, which are the conventional 'housekeeping' genes used in many studies. We recommend the use of three reference genes to calculate a normalization factor to accurately quantify transcript abundance in sheep oocytes and these vary with the c DNA priming strategy employed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The primary care setting offers the opportunity to reach children and parents to encourage healthy lifestyle behaviours, and improve weight status among children. Objective Test the feasibility of Helping HAND (Healthy Activity and Nutrition Directions), an obesity intervention for 5- to 8-year-old children in primary care clinics. Methods A randomized controlled pilot study of Helping HAND, a 6-month intervention, targeted children with body mass index 85-99%tile and their parents. Intervention group attended monthly sessions and self-selected child behaviours and parenting practices to change. Control group received regular paediatric care and was wait-listed for Helping HAND. Session completion, participant satisfaction, child anthropometrics, dietary intake, physical activity, TV viewing and behaviour-specific parenting practices were measured pre and post intervention. Results Forty parent-child dyads enrolled: 82.5% were Hispanic, 80% had a girl and 65% reported income ≤$30 000/year. There was 20% attrition from Helping HAND (attended <4/6 sessions). Families self-selected 4.35 (SD 1.75) behaviours to target during the 6-month programme and each of the seven behaviours was selected by 45-80% of the families. There were no between group differences in the child's body mass index z-score, dietary intake or physical activity post intervention. Intervention group viewed 14.9 (SE 2.3) h/week of TV post intervention versus control group 23.3 (SE 2.4) h/week ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Helping HAND is feasible, due to low attrition, good programme attendance, and clinically relevant improvements in some child and parenting behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Critical thinking is a graduate attribute that many courses, including engineering courses, claim to produce in students. As a graduate attribute it is seen by academics as a particularly desirable outcome of student learning and is said by researchers to be a defining characteristic of university education. However, how critical thinking is understood and defined varies quite significantly between disciplines. The paper describes a series of in-depth, semi-structured interviews with academics involved in teaching and learning in a number of disciplines, including engineering. The objective of these interviews is to look at how different disciplines define critical thinking and how they teach critical thinking in their courses. The paper also describes how an analysis of student work and module descriptors has led to the development of a model of critical thinking that can be used across disciplines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) provide the Survey of Occupational Illness and Injury (SOII) statistics from 1992 to 2006, which is often used to measure the rate of injuries and illness in industry. The present system of gathering and classifying this data was implemented in 1992 with minor changes in 2002. It is hoped that using these statistics to measure safety progress and determine patterns of injury will guide further improvements in chemical safety. Recognizing such factors as what chemicals most frequently cause injury can help to focus safety efforts regarding that chemical. Factors such as what part of the body is most commonly affected by particular chemicals can lead to improved personnel protection practices. This paper provides a detailed analysis of injuries due to chemicals using OSHA''s SOII data, which offers valuable insight into measures that should be taken to reduce injuries due to chemicals. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

There is a need for chemotherapy regimens active against anthracycline- and taxane-refractory breast cancer. Data from preclinical and pilot studies performed at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) suggested that when irinotecan (IRN) is given with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) efficacy is affected by the sequence of drug administration. Pretreatment with IRN 24 h before 5-FU increased the number of tumor cells in S-phase and the antitumor activity in a preclinical system. These data provided the rationale for the evaluation of IRN and capecitabine, a 5-FU prodrug, sequentially administered in patients with metastatic breast cancer. The main objective of the study was to determine the MTD and identify dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) of capecitabine and IRN. Additionally, the degree of accumulation of cells in S-phase in tumor biopsies obtained at 24 h after the first dose of IRN was measured in consenting patients. Metastatic breast cancer patients who experienced disease progression after at least one (taxane or anthracycline based) chemotherapy regimen and an expected survival of at least 3 months and ECOG performance status 0–2 were eligible. Twelve patients were enrolled and treated. The starting doses were IRN 80 mg/m2 given over 90 min on days 1, 8, 22, 29, and capecitabine 1,500 mg/m2/day given days 2–15 and 23–36. Evaluation for response was performed after the first cycle. Sequential tumor biopsies were performed on five patients. The first three patients treated exhibited modulation in cyclin A index on tumor biopsy as defined by the study, defining the modulatory dose of IRN as 80 mg/m2. Overall, 4/5 biopsies showed modulation. Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLTs) were assessed during the first cycle of therapy. Two DLTs (Grade 3 nausea vomiting and dehydration; grade 3 pneumonia, hypoxia, hypotension) were seen at dose level 2 of capecitabine (2,000 mg/m2/day) and the first cohort was expanded. There were no DLTs for patients treated at DL 1. No grade 3–4 toxicities occurred at DL 1. Seven patients were evaluable for response following one cycle of treatment (partial response 1, stable disease 4, progressive disease 2) Of the five inevaluable patients, two experienced DLT, one received 50% of the planned capecitabine dose, one progressed prior to evaluation, and one withdrew consent. IRN 80 mg/m2 days 1, 8, 22, 29 in combination with capecitabine 1,500 mg/m2/day in divided dose days 2–15 and 23–36 has an acceptable toxicity profile and resulted in modulation of S-phase in 4/5 specimens examined. Further studies of the activity of this combination and modulatory effect of IRN are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:  Dendritic cells are key contributors to initiation and maintenance of T-cell immunity to inhaled allergen. The purpose of this study was to enumerate the changes in peripheral blood myeloid (mDCs) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs), the DCs expressing chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) and chemokine receptor 7 (CCR7), following diluent and allergen inhalation in asthmatic subjects. Methods:  Peripheral blood was obtained from 16 allergic asthmatic subjects before and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 24, and 48 h after inhaled diluent and allergen challenges. Dendritic cells were enumerated using flow cytometry. Results:  Allergen inhalation significantly reduced mDCs at 6 h (21.3 ± 2.0 vs 15.0 ± 1.8/μl blood; P < 0.05) and 24 h (21.5 ± 3.4 vs 16.4 ± 2.4/μl blood; P < 0.05) after challenge. Circulating pDCs were significantly lower than baseline up to 24 h after both allergen and diluent challenges. There was a significant efflux of CCR6+ mDCs from peripheral blood at 6 h and CCR6+ pDCs at 4 h after allergen challenge, when compared with diluent. There was no difference in the number of circulating CCR7+ mDCs or pDCs after diluent or allergen challenges. Conclusions:  Peripheral blood mDCs and CCR6+ mDCs, but not pDCs, are reduced up to 24 h after allergen inhalation. Thus, allergen inhalation causes trafficking of immature CCR6+ DCs from blood into the airway, while that of the trafficking of the mature CCR7+ DCs from the airways into the regional lymph nodes probably occurs through the lymphatic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Throughout history, humans have gathered in groups for social, religious, and industrial purposes. As the conglomeration of people interact, a set of underlying values, beliefs, and principles begins to develop that serve to guide behavior within the group. These “guidelines” are commonly referred to as the group culture. Modern-day organizations, including corporations, have developed their own unique cultures derived from the diversity of the organizational interests and the background of the employees. Safety culture, a sub-set of organizational culture, has been a major focus in recent years. This is especially true in the chemical industry due to the series of preventable, safety-related disasters that occurred in the late seventies and eighties. Some of the most notable disasters, during this time period, occurred at Bhopal, Flixborough, and Seveso. However, current events, like the September 11th terrorist attacks and the disintegration of the Columbia shuttle, have caused an assessment of safety culture in a variety of other organizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

1. Biodiversity conservation of grasslands in the face of transformation and global climate change will depend mainly on rangelands because of insufficient conservation areas in regions suited to agriculture. Transformed vegetation (pastures, crops and plantations) is not expected to conserve much biodiversity. This study examined the impact of land use on the plant diversity and community composition of the southern Drakensberg grasslands in South Africa, which are threatened with complete transformation to pastures, crops and plantations. 2. The main land uses in this high rainfall region are: ranching or dairy production under private tenure using indigenous grassland, pastures ( Eragrostis curvula, kikuyu and ryegrass) and maize; plantation forestry; communal tenure (maize and rangelands); and conservation. 3. Plant diversity and composition were assessed using Whittaker plots. Transformed cover types were depauperate in species and ranged from kikuyu (1·4 species m−2) and ryegrass (2·9), to pine plantation (3·1), E. curvula pasture (3·1), commercial maize (3·2) and communal maize (7·8). With the exception of pine plantations, these communities supported mostly exotic (50 of 70 species) or ruderal indigenous species and made little contribution to plant species conservation. Abandoned communal cropland reverted to an indigenous grassland almost devoid of exotic species within c. 20 years. 4. It was predicted that frequently cultivated sites (maize and ryegrass) would support less diversity than long-lived pastures (kikuyu and E. curvula). This was contradicted by the relatively high species diversity of communal maize fields, which was attributed to a lack of herbicides, and the depauperate communities of kikuyu and of E. curvula pasture, which were attributed, respectively, to a dense growth form and a severe mowing regime. 5. Pine plantations harboured fourfold more indigenous species per plot (27) than other transformed types. Species were mostly shade-tolerant grassland relics that had persisted for 12 years since planting, and some forest colonizers. Indigenous species were unlikely to be maintained because of aggressive invasion by the exotic Rubus cuneifolius and severe disturbance associated with tree harvest and replanting. 6. The richness of indigenous grasslands was expected to differ in response to grazing pressure but they differed only in composition. Grasslands were dominated by grasses, despite the richness of herbaceous species. The dominance of Themeda triandra was reduced under livestock grazing in favour of more grazing-tolerant species. Exotic species were inconspicuous except for the dicotyledon Richardia brasiliensis, a subdominant under communal grazing. 7. Southern Drakensberg grasslands are probably now stocked with livestock six- to 35-fold higher than during pre-settlement times. A grassland protected for c. 50 years supported twofold greater richness (101 species plot−1) than grazed grasslands, suggesting that a 150-year history of increased mammalian grazing had already reduced plant diversity. 8. Synthesis and applications. Land acquisition is costly, thus conservation of plant diversity in the southern Drakensberg requires a policy that inhibits transformation of rangelands. This can be achieved by enhancing their economic viability without changing the vegetation composition. Their inherent value must be recognized, such as for water production. The viability of commercial ranches can be improved by increasing their size. Conservation efforts need to be focused on plant taxa that only occur on unprotected rangelands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advocacy has become an accepted and integral attribute of nursing practice. Despite this adoption of advocacy, confusion remains about the precise nature of the concept and how it should be enacted in practice. The aim of this study was to investigate general nurses' perceptions of being patient advocates in Ireland and how they enact this role. These perceptions were compared with existing theory and research on advocacy in order to contribute to the knowledge base on the subject. An inductive, qualitative approach was used for this study. Three focus group interviews with a total of 20 practising nurses were conducted with a sample representing different grades in a general hospital setting. Data analysis was carried out using elements of Strauss and Corbins' approach to concept development. The findings indicate that the principal role of the nurse advocate is to act as an intermediary between the patient and the health care environment. The results highlight that advocacy did, however, result in nurses becoming involved in conflict and confrontation with others and that it could be detrimental to nurses both professionally and personally. It was also clear that when enacting advocacy, nurses distinguished between 'clinical advocacy' (acting directly for patients in the clinical environment) and organizational advocacy (acting on an organizational level for one or more patients). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Bunchgrasses are clonal plants whose dominance of moist grasslands worldwide is maintained largely through tiller recruitment. Tiller recruitment in clonal plants is a subset of the problem of lateral bud outgrowth in higher plants. This paper proposes that three currently competing hypotheses of lateral bud outgrowth – apical dominance; the nutrition hypothesis; and photosensitivity to the red : far-red light ratio – all operate in a manner dependent on environment and plant form. 2. The evidence for each hypothesis is reviewed, following which an integrated model is provided that links the three hypotheses into a cohesive strategy. Consequently we assess tiller recruitment by bunchgrasses in terms of the constraints of their functional growth form and their environment. Of the mineral nutrients, only nitrogen is considered because it is the only nutrient whose relationship with tiller recruitment is well established. 3. The integrated model maintains the accepted paradigm that actual bud release is hormonally controlled by the auxin : cytokinin ratio, although local nutrient concentrations may also be inhibitory. Importantly, each hormone is controlled by local signals in the shoots and roots, respectively, facilitating appropriate responses to environmental conditions. Auxin production and export from the shoots is moderated by phytochrome responses to red : far-red light ratios. Cytokinin production is mediated by root N concentration which, in turn, is a function of N absorption from the soil and seasonal reallocation of tissue N. 4. The growth form of bunchgrasses and the environment in which they are found emphasize that N has a strong mediatory role over tiller production which allows the grass plant to respond appropriately to shifts in this limiting resource. This suggests that control of lateral bud outgrowth may have an evolutionary basis in resource competition for N. Functional Ecology (2004) 18, 489–496 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alepidea amatymbica is a heavily traded medicinal plant species in KwaZulu-Natal facing the threat of local extirpation because harvesting of rhizomes usually results in plant death. Its population status in the southern Drakensberg was compared among conservation, communal and private (variable harvesting pressure) grasslands. Alepidea amatymbica was restricted to rocky slopes of southerly aspect. It was abundant in Coleford Nature Reserve and in adjacent protected private properties but was absent from the immediately adjacent Ndwana communal area, and had nearly been eliminated on other accessible private properties. Harvesting does not appear to be sustainable, but recommendations for sustainable harvesting are thwarted by a lack of basic natural history knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY Loss of deoxyribonuclease I (Dnase1) function is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in humans and mice; however, no coding mutations in Dnase1 are found in polygenic murine models. Instead, both MRL-lpr strains and NZB/W F1 hybrids are homozygous for T89I missense in the macrophage-DNASE, desoxyribonuclease I-like 3 (Dnase1l3). By in vitro expression studies, this substitution decreases this enzyme's nuclease activity against free DNA by only approximately twofold; however, the mutation has a greater effect on the capacity of media conditioned with Dnase1l3 to confer a barrier to liposomal gene transfection to HeLa cells. The 89I substitution decreases the Dnase1l3 barrier function in vitro by eightfold (P < 0·01). In splenocytes and BM-derived macrophages of SLE mice, while cellular Dnase1l3 levels are induced relative to C57BL/6 (control) mice, levels of FD-nuclease activity are similar. Finally, media conditioned by MRL and NZB/W F1 macrophages, relative to control, contains a weak interferon-gamma (IFN-γ ) inducible Dnase1l3-associated barrier to transfection. This barrier function is hypothesized to reflect the inability of SLE mice to degrade membrane-enveloped DNA-associated antigens, such as apoptotic bodies, which are predicted to stimulate the characteristic autoimmunity of SLE. Our results for these two generally independent models strongly suggest that Dnase1l3 deficiency increases the susceptibility of these mice to polygenic SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary1.Seasonal rivers in semi-arid African savannas support riparian woodland and hydromorphic grassland, key habitats for wildlife or livestock. We investigated the effect of numerous, small, agricultural dams built on low-order streams within the Kolope–Setonki subcatchment of the Limpopo river. We examined how reducing or changing the pattern of water flow in the main rivers will affect the riparian or hydromorphic vegetation. 2.Existing hydrological models demonstrate a mean annual water flow of 7·6 × 106 m3 , ranging from zero to 215 × 106 m3 . The catchment area affected by agricultural dams increased from 2% to 50% between 1955 and 1987. Dams are believed to have curtailed the flow during years of low flow. 3.The water requirement of four key species was assessed from their elevation above and distance from the river such that Faidherbia albida > Schotia brachypetala ~ Xanthocercis zambesiaca > Combretum imberbe . This order did not accord with the relative degree of mortality and canopy dieback. Twenty-nine per cent of F. albida trees were dead and the remainder had lost an average of 31% of canopy volume; S. brachypetala and X. zambesiaca exhibited negligible dieback and no mortality; whereas 10% of C. imberbe were dead and the remainder had lost an average of 8% of canopy volume. 4.Tree size and water availability influenced mortality and canopy dieback of F. albida and C. imberbe . Mortality of F. albida affected trees of all except the smallest size, although dead trees were on average larger than living trees. Dead trees of C. imberbe were at a greater elevation above or distance from the river. The likelihood of F. albida experiencing dieback was greater at higher elevations above the river and for larger trees, whereas that of C. imberbe was greater at greater distances from and higher elevations above the river if a tree was large. 5.Woody cover on hydromorphic grasslands, mainly of Acacia tortilis , increased from 8% to 37% between 1955 and 1987. Most of the increase occurred between 1965 and 1977, coincident with the extended 1960s drought and the above-average rainfall of the 1970s in a system that had been exposed to sustained, severe grazing by livestock. 6.The cumulative impact of many small farm dams on downstream rivers is apparently to reduce flow during critical dry years to levels causing dieback of F. albida and C. imberbe and desiccation of hydromorphic grassland. The water requirements of this vegetation need to be determined for policy makers to address the conflicting water needs of agriculture and indigenous vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary 1 The influence of botanical composition on annual phytomass production of a semi-arid grassland in response to precipitation was tested with a 19-year experiment. Three compositional states reflecting good, medium and poor rangeland condition, whose basal cover increased from poor through to good, were created in 1978. 2 Multiple regression models were developed for assessing whether phytomass was influenced by precipitation, composition, phytomass of the previous year, basal cover, abundance of individual species, or diversity. Composition and precipitation accounted for 66% of the variation in phytomass, but a separate model of basal cover by precipitation was equally successful. The linear effect of rainfall on phytomass was enhanced as composition improved from poor (0.076 g m-2 mm-1 ) through medium (0.197 g m-2 mm-1 ) to good (0.277 g m-2 mm-1 ). Phytomass increased for low precipitation if it had been high the preceding year. Phytomass was more variable over time with deteriorating condition. 3 Species’ complementarity ensured greater and more stable production. Setaria sphacelata , Eragrostis chloromelas and Digitaria eriantha increased phytomass on the good or medium condition grasslands during drier years, whereas Themeda triandra had this effect during wetter years. 4 Precipitation-use efficiency (PUE) was influenced mostly by composition and a linear and quadratic effect of precipitation (63% of variance). Optimum PUE of 0.308, 0.203 and 0.096 g m-2 mm-1 for the good, medium and poor condition grasslands, respectively, occurred at intermediate amounts (±680 mm) of precipitation. PUE was increased if phytomass had been high the previous year. 5 Species’ complementarity of PUE in response to precipitation was evident for all compositional states. Ten, mostly uncommon, species and their interaction with precipitation explained an extra... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThe pattern of utilization of Colophospermum mopane by elephant was investigated in a semi-arid savanna, the Venetia-Limpopo Nature Reserve, South Africa, using an animal-based approach. C. mopane is a staple food item in the diet of elephant, with most individual trees being utilized lightly (< 10% of biomass removed). Utilization of branch, foliage and main stems accounted for most of the utilization of trees < 4 m high whilst utilization of bark accounted for the majority of utilization of trees > 4 m high. The most preferred height of utilization of branches was < 1 m above ground level, reflecting the short stature of C. mopane in the study area. Elephant selected C. mopane trees < 2 m in height that had been previously utilized by them; specifically trees where the terminal part of the main stem had been previously broken and had been coppiced (hedging). The preferred size range of branches utilized by elephant was 0.946–1.718 cm in diameter; hedged C. mopane trees in the 1–2 m category had, on average, significantly more branches within this size range than non-hedged trees. This hedging of C. mopane appears to have increased the availability of a preferred food item. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been suggested that climatic variation has the effect on the dynamics of arid and semi-arid grazing systems of reducing animal numbers below the level at which they have much impact on vegetation or soils, and that spatial heterogeneity in resource availability serves to buffer herbivores against climatic variation. Modelling was used to test these hypotheses and to examine the interacting effects of temporal and spatial variability in plant production on animal population dynamics and defoliation intensity. The model distinguishes areas of the range that are accessible during wet and dry seasons, and examines the effect of seasonal restrictions in foraging area. It was established that the animal population is in long-term equilibrium with dry-season resources, on which it depends for survival; that dry season resource areas and outlying areas thus operate in a source-sink manner; and that the ratio of these areas determines the strength of consumer-resource coupling outside the dry-season range. A high ratio of dry season to wet season resources may support a sufficiently large animal population to impose non-trivial defoliation impacts on the outlying range. Increasing degrees of variability in primary production on areas used by animals for surviving the dry season increased the annual variation in animal abundance and reduced the mean. By comparison with a stable environment, for which the model predicts virtually stable animal numbers and constant, low defoliation intensity, variation in annual rainfall causes wide fluctuations in animal numbers and defoliation intensity. Under climatic variation, animal numbers can build up enough to impose much higher defoliation intensities than under a constant regime. Periodic intense defoliation is a consequence of climatic variability which is likely to make these environments more, not less, prone to ecological change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryIntroduction Patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus have a high prevalence of coeliac disease, symptoms of which are often mild, atypical, or absent. Untreated coeliac disease is associated with an increased risk of malignancy, particularly of lymphoma. We describe four patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus and coeliac disease who developed lymphoma. Case reports Two patients were male and two female. In three patients, coeliac disease and lymphoma were diagnosed simultaneously. Enteropathy-associated T cell lymphoma occurred in two patients, Hodgkin’s disease in one, and B cell lymphoma in one. Response to treatment was in general poor, and three patients died soon after the diagnosis of lymphoma was made. Conclusion As the relative risk of lymphoma is reduced by a gluten-free diet, a high index of suspicion for coeliac disease should exist in all Type 1 diabetic patients with unexplained constitutional or gastro- intestinal symptoms. Keywords coeliac disease, lymphoma, Type 1 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Samples of cooked ham and bacon were dipped in water or 2, 4 or 6% gelatin solutions. Samples were then packed in oxygen permeable or vacuum packaging film and stored at -18 °C for seven months. Lipid oxidation (TBARS) and colour stability (Hunter a* values) were assessed monthly. The gelatin coating exerted beneficial effects on oxidative and colour stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Size-structured matrix models were constructed for the perennial grasses of two African savannas (Aristida bipartite, Bothriochloa insculpta, Digitaria eriantha, Heteropogon contortus, Setaria incrassata and Themeda triandra) separately for each of four 1-yeard transitions under light or heavy grazing. The asymptotic population growth rate varied between years in relation to rainfall trends, but there were few marked differences between grazing treatments. Aristida had the highest asymptotic growth rate (&lambda1 = 1.624) over a single transition period, while the heavily grazed population of Heteropogon had the lowest (&lambda1 = 0.552). Most species declined in the final dry year. The stable stage distribution was generally a reversed ‘J’. The geometric mean of the four transition periods indicated that most populations were relatively stable (&lambda1 is similar or equal to 1), although the populations of Aristida (mean &lambda1 = 1.135) and Digitaria (mean &lambda1 = 1.154 and 1.176) increased while that of Setaria (mean &lambda1 = 0.911 and 0.937) and Heteropogon ( heavily grazed, &lambda1 = 0.914) decreased. The survival of the smallest size-class was important for declining populations or populations whose largest size-classes were collapsing, while the fraction either remaining in a size-class or increasing was important for stable or growing populations. Reproductive output varied widely, but has a minor effect on population growth. The population growth rates of most species were positively correlated, indicating that an extrinsic force, presumably rainfall, had the greatest effect on population growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species composition, population structure and the seed banks of the perennial grasses Aristida bipartita, Bothriochloa insculpta, Heteropogon contortus, Themeda triandra and Urochloa mosambicensis, were described for nine sites in mesic savanna grasslands (seed banks for five) on a similar soil type ranging in grazing history, from sustained heavy grazing (>20 years) to light grazing. The influence of two seasons of grazing on the seed production and the seed bank of Themeda, Setaria incrassata, Heteropogon, Aristida. Bothriochloa and Digitaria eriantha, was estimated at two other sites. Compositional variation reflected grazing history. Lightly grazed sites were characterized by the longer-lived, palatable perennials Themeda, Bothriochloa. Heteropogon and Digitaria, and heavily grazed sites by the shorter-lived perennials Urochloa, Sporobolus nitens, Chloris virgata, the unpalatable Aristida, and some forb species. Grass tuft size declined with increasing grazing pressure. Sustained heavy grazing reduced or eliminated Themeda. Bothriochloa and Heteropogon from the seed bank, but increased the abundance of Aristida and Urochloa spp. Rainfall influenced the seasonal pattern of seed production, which decreased with intra-seasonal drought. The number of seeds produced m−² of tuft basal area varied from 21000 for Setaria to 1,9 million for Aristida. Annual seed production m −² of ground with light grazing was <400 for Themeda. for Heteropogon, 13004000 for Setaria, >10000 for Aristida, and 300 for Bothriochloa. Seed viability varied from zero for Digitaria to 68% for Setaria, and varied within a season for Themeda (24–49%) and Setaria (26–68%). The seeds of all species tested possessed a period of innate dormancy of < 1 year. Seven to ten grass and six to seven forb species were found in the seed banks at two sites. Perennial grasses constituted 85–95% of the seed bank. with >90% of all seeds occurring in the top 2 cm of soil. Seed density differed markedly between sites and grazing treatments. A simple model of the seed bank dynamics of the perennial grasses showed that because their seeds germinate readily and have a limited survival when in secondary, dormancy, the seed bank size is determined primarily by the abundance of the species in the vegetation. Thus, the seed banks of Themeda and Heteropogon, which produce small numbers of seeds, can easily be eliminated by sustained grazing. This was also indicated by the distribution of these two species along the gradient of grazing history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reviews of research on child and adolescent psychopathology have highlighted the consistently high rates of co-occurring dimensions of psychopathology, particularly between internalizing and externalizing disorders, and have suggested that further research examining the causes of co-occurring syndromes is needed. The authors examined this question in a national sample of 720 same-sex adolescent siblings between 10 and 18 years of age consisting of monozygotic and dizygotic twins, full siblings, half siblings, and unrelated siblings. Composite measures of adolescent and parent reports and observational measures of depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior were subjected to behavioral genetic models that examine the genetic and environmental influences on individual differences in each dimension as well as in the co-occurrence between dimensions. Results indicated that approximately half of the variability in depressive symptoms and antisocial behavior is attributed to genetic factors; shared and nonshared environmental influences were also significant. The co-occurrence of depressive and antisocial symptoms was explained by genetic and shared and nonshared environmental influences. Specifically, approximately 45% of the observed covariation between depressive and antisocial symptoms could be explained by a common genetic liability. Results are interpreted in light of contribution of genetic studies to debates on child and adolescent psychopathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractA prototype configuration of an Elios 3 indoor inspection drone, made by Flyability, comprising a lightweight light detection and ranging (LiDAR) system and a wide-range, electronic dosimeter was developed and tested to quickly measure radiation levels and collect three-dimensional (3D) spatial data from within a very high radiation nuclear waste storage facility at the U.S. Department of Energy−operated Idaho National Laboratory (INL) site.The compact drone configuration was used for inspecting and collecting data from areas difficult or hazardous to access using conventional methods. Validation testing of the prototype drone configuration was performed, including maneuverability, radiation tolerance, dosimeter integration, and elevated ambient temperature testing. The drone configuration was shown to operate successfully in an ionizing radiation field as high as 100 Gy/h (10 000 rad/h), with an accumulated radiation dose of 40 Gy (4000 rad) and ambient air temperatures of 54°C (130°F).On November 16, 2022, the LiDAR and dosimeter-equipped prototype drone was used to successfully collect 3D spatial data and radiation measurements from within a very high radiation nuclear waste storage facility at the INL site, where it encountered radiation levels up to 7 Gy/h (700 rad/h). The mission, which included three flights of the prototype drone configuration, represents the first-ever drone flight within a very high radiation nuclear waste storage facility. On the third flight into the storage facility, the drone was unable to produce adequate lift necessary to fly back out of the facility.The lessons learned suggest the loss of adequate lift was due to the added weight of the dosimeter payload and the increasing temperature of the air inside the facility due to radioactive decay. Although the prototype drone was not retrievable, the drone’s wireless transmission system successfully transmitted the radiation measurements to engineers outside of the facility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acquired estrogen receptor alpha (ER/ ESR1) mutations commonly cause endocrine resistance in ER+ metastatic breast cancer (mBC). Lasofoxifene, a novel selective ER modulator, stabilizes an antagonist conformation of wild-type and ESR1 -mutated ER-ligand binding domains, and has antitumor activity in ESR1 -mutated xenografts. In this open-label, randomized, phase II, multicenter, ELAINE 1 study (NCT03781063), we randomized women with ESR1 -mutated, ER+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2−) mBC that had progressed on an aromatase inhibitor (AI) plus a cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) to oral lasofoxifene 5 mg daily or IM fulvestrant 500 mg (days 1, 15, and 29, and then every 4 weeks) until disease progression/toxicity. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS); secondary endpoints were safety/tolerability. A total of 103 patients received lasofoxifene (n = 52) or fulvestrant (n = 51). The most current efficacy analysis showed that lasofoxifene did not significantly prolong median PFS compared with fulvestrant: 24.2 weeks (∼5.6 months) versus 16.2 weeks (∼3.7 months; P = 0.138); hazard ratio 0.699 (95% confidence interval 0.434-1.125). However, PFS and other clinical endpoints numerically favored lasofoxifene: clinical benefit rate (36.5% versus 21.6%; P = 0.117), objective response rate [13.2% (including a complete response in one lasofoxifene-treated patient) versus 2.9%; P = 0.124], and 6-month (53.4% versus 37.9%) and 12-month (30.7% versus 14.1%) PFS rates. Most common treatment-emergent adverse events with lasofoxifene were nausea, fatigue, arthralgia, and hot flushes. One death occurred in the fulvestrant arm. Circulating tumor DNA ESR1 mutant allele fraction (MAF) decreased from baseline to week 8 in 82.9% of evaluable lasofoxifene-treated versus 61.5% of fulvestrant-treated patients. Lasofoxifene demonstrated encouraging antitumor activity versus fulvestrant and was well tolerated in patients with ESR1 -mutated, endocrine-resistant mBC following progression on AI plus CDK4/6i. Consistent with target engagement, lasofoxifene reduced ESR1 MAF, and to a greater extent than fulvestrant. Lasofoxifene may be a promising targeted treatment for patients with ESR1 -mutated mBC and warrants further investigation. • Lasofoxifene showed antitumor activity in patients with ESR1 -mutated mBC that progressed on an AI plus a CDK4/6i. • Lasofoxifene numerically improved PFS (5.6 versus 3.7 months) and clinical benefit rate (37% versus 22%) versus fulvestrant. • Lasofoxifene was well-tolerated with no unexpected safety signals. • Lasofoxifene reduced ESR1 MAF, including Y537S MAF, in more patients than fulvestrant, exhibiting target engagement. • Lasofoxifene may be a promising endocrine therapy backbone for ESR1 -mutated mBC in a post-CDK4/6i setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Total laryngectomy and end tracheal stoma formation are often required to treat advanced laryngeal cancer. Resources on the internet are commonly accessed by patients as a source of healthcare information. YouTube™, the most popular video-hosting website, is one such resource. The aims of this study were to assess the thematic content of the most viewed YouTube™ videos concerning laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer and to evaluate user response to these videos. Method: A search of YouTube™ was performed and data were extracted from videos with > 100 views. Upload source, number of views, likes, dislikes and comments were collected and the content of comments was analysed. User response was compared between upload sources using Kruskal–Wallis testing. Inductive thematic analysis of video content was performed to identify overarching themes and subthemes. Results: A total of 96 videos were identified, 16 uploaded by patients, 24 by individual healthcare professionals and 56 by professional healthcare institutions. There were 1214,503 views and no significant differences in the number of views, likes or dislikes between upload sources. Three overarching themes and 17 subthemes were identified. Comments were most frequently characterised as offering praise. Conclusion: YouTube™ has been shown to be a popular platform for sharing information about laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer. There is a lack of data concerning the quality of this information, however, and future work should focus on assessing this. Trusted institutions could make use of this medium to disseminate high-quality information to their patients, and to the wider public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple inexpensive peak detector circuit is described that permits the calculation of peak-to-peak heights during Auger analyzed depth profiles of solid surfaces. This circuit is interfaced with and controlled by a microcomputer where data can be stored and subsequently analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for alignment of a vector magnetometer to a rigidly attached prism is presented. This enables optical comparison of the magnetometer axes to physical surfaces in the apparatus, and thus an absolute determination of the magnetic field direction in space. This is in contrast with more common techniques, which focus on precise determination of the relative angles between magnetometer axes, and so are more suited to measuring differences in the direction of magnetic fields. Here we demonstrate precision better than 500 µrad on a fluxgate magnetometer, which also gives the coil orthogonality errors to a similar precision. The relative sensitivity of the three axes is also determined, with a precision of about 5 x 10-4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both animal and human studies have shown that maternal stress or anxiety during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of disturbance in offspring neurodevelopment and behaviour. In animal models, increased foetal exposure to glucocorticoids has been found to be one mechanism for such foetal programming. Little is understood of the mediating mechanisms in humans, and one aim of our research programme is to investigate this further. This review presents a synopsis of some of our recent results. We aimed to test the hypothesis that maternal anxiety was associated with raised maternal cortisol, and that this in turn was related to increased foetal exposure to cortisol. We studied this by recruiting women at amniocentesis, obtained their Spielberger State Anxiety scores, and assessed maternal plasma cortisol and amniotic fluid cortisol. We also examined maternal plasma and amniotic fluid testosterone levels. Awaiting amniocentesis was in general anxiogenic, but with a wide range of anxiety scores. Maternal anxiety was significantly associated with plasma cortisol before 17 weeks, albeit of modest magnitude (r = 0.0.23), and not after 17 weeks of gestation. This is probably due to the known attenuation of the maternal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis with increasing gestation. We found a strong correlation between maternal plasma and amniotic fluid cortisol levels, which increased with gestation and became robust after 18 weeks. This correlation increased with maternal anxiety, suggesting a possible effect of maternal mood on placental function. There was a positive correlation between cortisol and testosterone in amniotic fluid, in both male and female foetuses independent of maternal anxiety, plasma testosterone, gestational age, and time of collection. Foetal stress may be associated with increased foetal exposure to testosterone. However, maternal anxiety did not predict amniotic fluid cortisol or testosterone level. Thus, the role of these hormones in mediating the effect of maternal mood on foetal development in humans remains to be demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

South Africa is in the process of setting up a national environmental observatory system (SAEON) to monitor and gain a predictive understanding of the effects of climate change and land use on biodiversity, carbon and nutrient fluxes, soils and sediments, primary and secondary productivity, hydrology and disturbance regimes. It is intended that the data should be archived, analysed and translated into information accessible to decision-makers. We present a case that illustrates the infrastructural needs and challenges for long-term research and then discuss optimal designs and collaborations required to detect change in many variables, land-use types and geographical areas of South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuts contain bioactive constituents that elicit cardio-protective effects including phytosterols, tocopherols and squalene. The objective of the present study was to determine the total oil content, peroxide value, fatty acid composition and levels of tocopherols, squalene and phytosterols in oil extracted from freshly ground brazil, pecan, pine, pistachio and cashew nuts. The total oil content of the nuts ranged from 40.4 to 60.8% (w/w) while the peroxide values ranged from 0.14 to 0.22 mEq O2/kg oil. The most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid was oleic acid (C18:1), while linoleic acid (C18:2) was the most prevalent polyunsaturated fatty acid. The levels of total tocopherols ranged from 60.8 to 291.0 mg/g. Squalene ranged from 39.5 mg/g oil in the pine nut to 1377.8 mg/g oil in the brazil nut. β-Sitosterol was the most prevalent phytosterol, ranging in concentration from 1325.4 to 4685.9 mg/g oil. In conclusion, the present data indicate that nuts are a good dietary source of unsaturated fatty acids, tocopherols, squalene and phytosterols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare a four-layer bandage system with a two-layer system in the management of chronic venous leg ulceration, a prospective randomized open parallel groups trial was undertaken. In total, 112 patients newly presenting to leg ulcer services with chronic leg ulceration, screened to exclude the presence of arterial disease (ankle brachial pressure index <0.8) and causes of ulceration other than venous disease, were entered into the trial. Patients were randomized to receive either four-layer (Profore) or two-layer (Surepress) high-compression elastic bandage systems. In all, 109 out of 112 patients had at least one follow-up. After 24 weeks, 50 out of 57 (88%) patients randomized to the four-layer bandage system with follow-up had ulcer closure (full epithelialization) compared with 40 out of 52 (77%) on the two-layer bandage, hazard ratio = 1.18 (95% confidence interval 0.69-2.02), p = 0.55. After 12 weeks, 40 out of 57 (70%) patients randomized to the four-layer bandage system with follow-up had ulcer closure compared with 30 out of 52 (58%) on the two-layer bandage, odds ratio = 4.23 (95% confidence interval 1.29-13.86), p = 0.02. Withdrawal rates were significantly greater on the two-layer bandage (30 out of 54; 56%) compared with the four-layer bandage system (8 out of 58; 14%), p < 0.001, and the number of patients with at least one device-related adverse incident was significantly greater on the two-layer bandaging system (15 out of 54; 28%) compared with four-layer bandaging (5 out of 54; 9%), p = 0.01. The higher mean cost of treatment in the two-layer bandaging system arm over 24 weeks ($1374 [ pound 916] vs. $1314 [ pound 876]) was explained by the increased mean number of bandage changes (1.5 vs. 1.1 per week) with the two-layer system. In conclusion, the four-layer bandage offers advantages over the two-layer bandage in terms of reduced withdrawal from treatment, fewer adverse incidents, and lower treatment cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degree to which individual differences in child-parent attachment were mediated by genetic, shared environmental, and nonshared environmental influences was investigated. One hundred and ten preschool-aged twin pairs (N = 220) were assessed in the Strange Situation and coded using conventional four-way classifications and a continuous measure of attachment security. The degree of sibling similarity in attachment was substantial, with an overall concordance rate of 67% at the secure/insecure level. The degree of concordance was equally high in monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs, 70% and 64%, respectively, suggesting little genetic influence but a moderate degree of discordance. Twin similarity on the continuous measure of attachment security was r(57) = .48 and r(53) = .38 for monozygotic and dizygotic twin pairs, respectively, also consistent with a modest role for genetic influence but a significant effect for shared and nonshared environment. The implications for genetic influences on the environment and for understanding nonshared and shared environmental influences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]