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Apple pomace, a waste byproduct of apple processing, is rich in nutrients (e.g. polyphenols and soluble fiber) with the potential to be neuroprotective. The aim of this study was to employ RNA-sequencing (RNASeq) technology to investigate diet-gene interactions in the hypothalamus of rats after feeding a Western diet calorically substituted with apple pomace. Adolescent (age 21–29 days) female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned (n = 8 rats/group) to consume either a purified standard diet, Western (WE) diet, or Western diet calorically substituted with 10% apple pomace (WE/AP) for 8 weeks. RNA-seq was performed (n = 5 rats/group) to determine global differentially expressed genes in the hypothalamus. RNA-seq results comparing rats fed WE to WE/AP revealed 15 differentially expressed genes in the hypothalamus. Caloric substitution of WE diet with 10% apple pomace downregulated (q < 0.06) five genes implicated in brain aging and neurodegenerative disorders: synuclein alpha, phospholipase D family member 5, NADH dehydrogenase Fe-S protein 6, choline O-acetyltransferase, and frizzled class receptor 6. Altered gene expression of these five genes suggests that apple pomace ameliorated synthesis of the neurotransmitter, acetylcholine, in rats fed a WE diet. Apple pomace, a rich source of antioxidant polyphenols and soluble fiber, has been shown to reverse nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Diet-induced NAFLD decreases hepatic de novo synthesis of choline, a precursor to acetylcholine. Based on preclinical evidence, apple pomace has the potential to be a sustainable functional food for maintaining brain function and for reducing the risk of neurodegeneration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease, the two most prevalent liver diseases worldwide, share a common pathology but have largely been considered disparate diseases. Liver diseases are widely underestimated, but their prevalence is increasing worldwide. The Western diet (high-fat, high-sugar) and binge drinking (rapid consumption of alcohol in a short period of time) are two highly prevalent features of standard life in the United States, and both are linked to the development and progression of liver disease. Yet, few studies have been conducted to elucidate their potential interactions. Data shows binge drinking is on the rise in several age groups, and poor dietary trends continue to be prevalent. This review serves to summarize the sparse findings on the hepatic consequences of the combination of binge drinking and consuming a Western diet, while also drawing conclusions on potential future impacts. The data suggest the potential for a looming liver disease epidemic, indicating that more research on its progression as well as its prevention is needed on this critical topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: This study aimed to investigate how efficiently assimilated carbon (C) is incorporated in plant biomass at an intensively managed old permanent grassland, how C is partitioned between shoots and roots and what are the implications for C sequestration. Methods: Using the eddy covariance technique, the atmosphere-biosphere exchange of CO2 was measured for two years at a sandy grassland site in northern Germany. In addition to aboveground net primary production (ANPP), belowground NPP (BNPP) was observed using the ingrowth core method. Results: The grassland showed a high productivity in terms of biomass yield (14.8 Mg dry matter ha−1 yr−1) and net CO2 uptake (−2.82 Mg CO2-C ha−1 yr−1). Photosynthetically assimilated C was converted to biomass with a high carbon use efficiency (CUE) of 71% during the growing season. However, a comparably low fraction of 17% of NPP was allocated to roots (fBNPP). Consequently, the main fraction of NPP was removed during harvest, turning the site into a net source of 0.29 Mg C ha−1 yr−1. Conclusions: Our study showed the flexibility of grass root growth patterns in response to alterations in resource availability. We conclude that highly fertilized grasslands can lose their ability for C sequestration due to low belowground C allocation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consisting of 25 to 30% of protein in carp, water‐soluble sarcoplasmic proteins lost in wash water, have been recovered and freeze‐dried into a protein‐rich powder. Study objectives were to evaluate protein quality and safety of a silver carp sarcoplasm derived protein powder (CSP) compared to commercial protein supplements, casein, and whey. In vivo protein quality assessment of CSP showed a lower (P < 0.05) protein digestibility corrected amino acid score compared to the commercial protein sources. Despite greater (P < 0.05) fecal amino acid excretion in casein‐fed rats, there were no significant differences in liver and muscle amino acid profiles. All low (10% kcal) protein diets supported growth with the normal range. However, whey protein supplementation resulted in greater (P < 0.05) adiposity. CSP, casein, or whey‐fed rats showed no differences in major organ weights, renal damage biomarkers, or bone indices. Collectively, results indicated CSP was safe with protein quality comparable to casein. Practical Application: As much as 40 percent of protein in fish can be lost due to sarcoplasmic protein solubilization in processing wash water. Silver carp sarcoplasm protein powder may have similar commercial potential as a sustainable and nutritious alternative to whey and casein proteins. This project aimed to verify the protein quality and safety of this economical protein source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mob grazing, which uses very high stocking densities for short durations followed by a relatively long rest period, was designed to mimic bison (Bison bison) grazing in western U.S. grassland. This project assessed the suitability of mob grazing for livestock production in the Northeast. Objectives were to compare the effects of mob and rotational grazing on dry matter (DM) mass, nutritive value, and botanical composition across four grazing seasons. Eight, 0.10‐ha paddocks were established in 2014 as a randomized complete block with four replications, and seeded with alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), white clover (Trifolium repens L.), orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.), narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.), and tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort]. Mob‐grazed (MOB) paddocks were grazed by yearling beef cattle twice each year, (70–90–day interval), and rotationally grazed (ROT) paddocks were grazed four to six times each year (when sward height reached 25 cm). Cumulative pre‐grazing forage biomass (PGFM) of ROT was greater than MOB in three of four years. At the final grazing, the PGFM of ROT exceeded MOB by 2,500 kg ha−1. Within year, PGFM of ROT was more consistent, varying by only 1,000–1,400 kg DM ha−1 compared with 1,800–2,800 kg DM ha−1 for MOB. Grazing strategy altered botanical composition; ROT favored grasses while MOB favored alfalfa. Forage fiber content was consistently lower in ROT than MOB paddocks, indicating superior nutritive value. Results suggest rotational grazing is likely suitable for more consistent forage production of greater nutritive value in temperate, cool‐season grass‐legume pastures of the northeastern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple processing results in peel, stem, seeds, and pulp being left as a waste product known as apple pomace. This review comprehensively assessed apple pomace composition for nutritional value and bioactive substances and evaluated potential health benefits and safety. Apple pomace is a rich source of health-benefitting nutrients, including minerals, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and ursolic acid, which suggests it has potential use as a dietary supplement, functional food, and/or food additive. Preclinical studies have found apple pomace and its isolated extracts improved lipid metabolism, antioxidant status, and gastrointestinal function and had a positive effect on metabolic disorders (eg, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, etc.). Safety studies have shown apple pomace to be a safe livestock feed additive and to have pesticide concentrations within safety thresholds established for human consumption. Commercial development of apple pomace for human consumption requires more research focusing on standardized methods of nutrient reporting, mechanistic studies, and human clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To avoid competition with food crops, biofuel feedstocks may need to be produced on economically marginal lands where yields are limited and replacement of existing vegetation will reduce soil C, foregoing some CO2 emission savings. Therefore, our first goal was to determine whether biochar application to marginal lands could improve switchgrass yield while sequestering sufficient soil C to eliminate the negative impact of cultivation. Because it may be difficult to obtain large quantities of biochar, our second goal was to compare small, incremental and large, all-at-once biochar applications. Our third goal was to determine whether biochar had any negative effects on earthworms, mycorrhizal fungi, soil bacteria, soil fungi, and soil enzyme activity. We grew switchgrass at two sites with poorly drained soils and two sites with excessively drained soils. Irrespective of site, biochar significantly increased yield when we rototilled in the entire amount before planting but not when we applied it incrementally between crop rows using a chisel plow. Biochar increased soil C stocks, in some cases increasing it beyond that found in soils of intact marginal land vegetation. Nevertheless, mixing biochar with soil had little or no impact on earthworm activity, mycorrhizal colonization, soil bacterial and fungal communities, and soil enzyme activities. We conclude that biochar may be part of an effective strategy for producing switchgrass on marginal lands, but the choice of application method depends on the relative importance of several considerations including biochar availability, switchgrass yield, C sequestration, soil erosion, and ease of application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apple processing results in peel, stem, seeds, and pulp being left as a waste product known as apple pomace. This review comprehensively assessed apple pomace composition for nutritional value and bioactive substances and evaluated potential health benefits and safety. Apple pomace is a rich source of health-benefitting nutrients, including minerals, dietary fiber, antioxidants, and ursolic acid, which suggests it has potential use as a dietary supplement, functional food, and/or food additive. Preclinical studies have found apple pomace and its isolated extracts improved lipid metabolism, antioxidant status, and gastrointestinal function and had a positive effect on metabolic disorders (eg, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, etc.). Safety studies have shown apple pomace to be a safe livestock feed additive and to have pesticide concentrations within safety thresholds established for human consumption. Commercial development of apple pomace for human consumption requires more research focusing on standardized methods of nutrient reporting, mechanistic studies, and human clinical trials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the implementation of replacement cost accounting as a result of British standard that can not lead to an improvement in accounting, unless followed by more realistic life estimates. The fixed asset value closes on what should be on a replacement cost basis, if replacement cost accounting for fixed assets will be implemented by means of appraisals. The fixed asset values will be closer to replacement cost, if replacement cost accounting is implemented by price indicators applied to historic cost data.

The livestock industries are a major contributor to the economy of the northeastern United States. Climate models predict increased average maximum temperatures, days with temperatures exceeding 25 °C, and higher annual precipitation in the Northeast. These environmental changes combined with increased atmospheric CO2 concentration are expected to either increase or decrease forage productivity depending on the crop, and may decrease protein content and forage digestibility. Winter damage to sensitive forage species may also increase. Predicted temperature increases are expected to reduce fertility in dairy cattle and heat stress-induced inflammation may limit energy available for productive functions. Additional loss in milk production due to decreased feed intake is estimated to be up to 1% of the projected annual milk production through 2100. The effects of climate change on the beef industry in the Northeast are expected to be minimal. Broiler production in the region may benefit from warmer winter and summer temperatures, but future housing will require greater insulation and ventilation fan capacity. Providing adequate housing and ventilation to offset climate changes will also be important for the layer industry and will likely increase the price of eggs. Climate change is expected to have an economic impact on the horse industry in the region through additional management of land and forage resources, building of shelters, and heat abatement at equine events. Increased temperatures and more intense storms will increase nutrient losses and gaseous emissions from animal manure. Uncertainties about how host animals, pathogens, and disease vectors will respond to climate change highlight the need for continued animal health monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor winter hardiness is one of the factors limiting the use of the palatable and productive coolseason forage grass perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L) in the northeastern United States. We compared freeze tolerance among seedlings of 13 commercial cultivars of perennial ryegrass in a controlled environment chamber. After a 14-d acclimation period, plants were chilled to -10, -15, or -20°C for 1 h, then gradually warmed. After 36 d, surviving plants were counted then harvested and weighed. Mortality rate varied significantly among cultivars (0-13% at -10°C, 47-100% at -20°C). The temperature at which 50% of plants would die (LT50) ranged from -12.9 to -20.8°C. Hardiness ratings provided by the breeder did not match well with LT50 except for the most hardy cultivars. Extreme minimum temperature predictions were extracted from regional climate forecasts for three 30-yr periods: baseline (1960-1989), short-term future (2015-2044), and long-term future (2070-2099). During the baseline period, only 2 to 33% of the northeastern United States was warm enough for these cultivars to survive during at least 50% of winters. Potential tolerable area may increase to 57 to 88% by 2099. Although other factors such as snow cover and variability of winter temperatures affect winter survival in the field, breeding for freeze tolerance has increased the potential extent of perennial ryegrass. Further improvements and the changing climate may greatly increase the utility of perennial ryegrass as a forage in the northeastern United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their high emission potential, the reporting of CO2 emissions from peatlands requires exact emission factors for different land use categories. Recently used emission factors are mainly based on CO2 flux measurements by chamber techniques or the micrometeorological eddy covariance (EC) method. However, evidence about the reliability and comparability of annual CO2 balances based on these methods is scarce. Therefore, manual chamber measurements of ecosystem respiration (RECO) and net ecosystem exchange (NEE) were conducted for two years (March 2012-April 2014) to model annual balances of two sites on fen soils with different land use intensity in northern Germany: an unutilized and rewetted grassland (UG) and an intensively utilized wet grassland (GW). Simultaneously, EC measurements of NEE were conducted on the sites. Two reasons for occasionally great deviations in NEE between the methods could be observed: (1) the accordance of both methods was most hampered during transition periods such as the beginning of the growing season and the onset of regrowth after a grassland defoliation due to different spatial scales of EC and chamber measurements and (2) RECO and gross primary production (GPP) partitioned from EC NEE measurements were systematically lower than those from the chamber-based model, which could be a result of the EC energy balance gap. Differences were more pronounced for the managed site GW as a result of more frequent regrowth periods. It is concluded that the EC and chamber method can show comparable results for the CO2 exchange of grasslands on fen soils when the limitations of both methods are known and considered for the reporting of emission factors. These limitations are due to energy balance closure and potentially biased footprints for EC and a restricted representativeness especially during early stages of plant development for the chamber method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Schools are increasingly asked to participate in a range of public health programs, but there has been little consideration of the impact of these programs on policy and/or implementation. We investigated intersectoral collaboration between the health and education sectors using a case study of a school-based immunization program (SBIP). Methods The study was undertaken in South Australia. We undertook an ethnographic review examining health and education system functioning at a variety of levels using a mixed methods approach, informed by an interactive and multidirectional knowledge transfer framework. Results Facilitators for intersectoral collaboration included: explicit responsibilities for specific activities; clear communication channels; including the core values of each sector in planning and implementation; and collaborative development of health educational programs. Including consumers as key stakeholders in planning and implementing intersectoral programs is important. While the SBIP itself is currently successful, threats to its sustainability were identified. Conclusions Outcomes included: (i) a clearer understanding of the functioning of the SBIP in SA including wide-ranging and practical recommendations to facilitate the implementation of the program in both sectors, including revisions to enhance the experience for students; (ii) a broader outcome focusing on identification of barriers and facilitators for intersectoral collaboration and suggestions for enhancing such collaborations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to describe the trends and patterns of self-inflicted injuries, available from Canadian administrative data between 1979 and 2014/15, in order to inform and improve suicide prevention efforts. Methods: Suicide mortality and hospital separation data were retrieved from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) holdings of Statistics Canada's Canadian Vital Statistics: Death Database (CVS:D) (1979 to 2012); Canadian Socio-Economic Information Management System (CANSIM 2011, 2012); the Hospital Morbidity Database (HMDB) (1994/95 to 2010/11); and the Discharge Abstract Database (2011/12 to 2014/15). Mortality and hospitalization counts and rates were reported by sex, 5-year age groups and method. Results: The Canadian suicide rate (males and females combined, all ages, age-sex standardized rate) has decreased from 14.4/100 000 (n = 3355) in 1979 to 10.4/100 000 (n = 3926) in 2012, with an annual percent change (APC) of -1.2% (95% CI: -1.3 to -1.0). However, this trend was not observed in both sexes: female suicide rates stabilized around 1990, while male rates continued declining over time--yet males still accounted for 75.7% of all suicides in 2012. Suffocation (hanging and strangulation) was the primary method of suicide (46.9%) among Canadians of all ages in 2012, followed by poisoning at 23.3%. In the 2014/15 fiscal year, there were 13 438 hospitalizations in Canada (excluding Quebec) associated with self-inflicted injuries--over 3 times the number of suicides. Over time females have displayed consistently higher rates of hospitalization for self-inflicted injury than males, with 63% of the total. Poisoning was reported as the most frequent means of self-inflicted harm in the fiscal year 2014/15, at 86% of all hospitalizations. Conclusion: Suicides and self-inflicted injuries continue to be a serious--but preventable-- public health problem that requires ongoing surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The purpose of this paper is to describe the trends and patterns of self-inflicted injuries, available from Canadian administrative data between 1979 and 2014/15, in order to inform and improve suicide prevention efforts. Methods: Suicide mortality and hospital separation data were retrieved from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) holdings of Statistics Canada's Canadian Vital Statistics: Death Database (CVS:D) (1979 to 2012); Canadian Socio-Economic Information Management System (CANSIM 2011, 2012); the Hospital Morbidity Database (HMDB) (1994/95 to 2010/11); and the Discharge Abstract Database (2011/12 to 2014/15). Mortality and hospitalization counts and rates were reported by sex, 5-year age groups and method. Results: The Canadian suicide rate (males and females combined, all ages, age-sex standardized rate) has decreased from 14.4/100 000 (n = 3355) in 1979 to 10.4/100 000 (n = 3926) in 2012, with an annual percent change (APC) of -1.2% (95% CI: -1.3 to -1.0). However, this trend was not observed in both sexes: female suicide rates stabilized around 1990, while male rates continued declining over time--yet males still accounted for 75.7% of all suicides in 2012. Suffocation (hanging and strangulation) was the primary method of suicide (46.9%) among Canadians of all ages in 2012, followed by poisoning at 23.3%. In the 2014/15 fiscal year, there were 13 438 hospitalizations in Canada (excluding Quebec) associated with self-inflicted injuries--over 3 times the number of suicides. Over time females have displayed consistently higher rates of hospitalization for self-inflicted injury than males, with 63% of the total. Poisoning was reported as the most frequent means of self-inflicted harm in the fiscal year 2014/15, at 86% of all hospitalizations. Conclusion: Suicides and self-inflicted injuries continue to be a serious--but preventable--public health problem that requires ongoing surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecosystem C gain or loss from managed grasslands depends on management practices. However, limited information is available at the field scale on how the type of defoliation, specifically grazing vs. cutting, affects gross primary productivity (GPP) and ecosystem respiration (RE) immediately after defoliation and during the regrowth process. This study takes advantage of daily field-scale micrometeorological measurements of GPP and RE made over a 9-yr period on two pastures that were grazed or cut approximately five times per year to examine the relative effects of grazing and cutting on GPP and RE. The null hypotheses were that the initial reduction in GPP and RE following defoliation and the time required for recovery to predefoliation levels did not differ in response to defoliation method. Overall, RE was greater in cut pastures than in grazed pastures. Regardless of defoliation method, RE did not change during the first week after defoliation, or during the 5 wk following. The initial reduction in GPP2000 (GPP in full sunlight) was greater when pastures were cut (70%) than grazed (46%) and recovery to pre-defoliation levels took 5 wk for cut pastures vs. 3 wk when grazed. This study suggests, all other management practices being similar, that grazed pastures should be stronger annual C sinks than cut pastures. However, cut and grazed pastures are rarely managed in the same way such that the realized balance between GPP and RE will depend on both physiological responses to defoliation and management intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing plant species richness is often associated with an increase in productivity and associated ecosystem services such as soil C sequestration. Here we report on a 9-yr experiment to evaluate the forage production and C sequestration potential of grazed pastures sown to either a two-species cool-season grass-legume mixture or a five-species mixture of grasses, legumes, and a non-legume forb. We hypothesized that forage production and soil C sequestration would be greater in the five-species compared with the two-species mixture. We also evaluated the effects of rainfall and temperature on the difference in forage production between mixtures. When averaged across years, the five-species mixture produced 31% more forage biomass than the two-species mixture, and the difference between mixtures tended to be greater in wet than in dry summers (R2 = 0.42, P = 0.06). There was no relationship between growing season temperature and differences in biomass production. Soil C accumulation to 100 cm depth in the five-species mixture was 1.80 vs. 0.50 Mg ha-1 yr-1 for the two-species mixture (P = 0.15) with significant increases in the five-species mixture occurring at the 10 to 20 cm (P = 0.06) and 20 to 30 cm (P = 0.03) depths. Increased productivity in the five-species mixture persisted throughout the experiment despite changes in species composition that resulted in similar composition between the mixtures by the last 2 yr of the study. Increased soil C possibly had a positive feedback effect on forage production permitting the five-species mixture to out-yield the twospecies mixture even after differences in species composition had largely disappeared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This status report on the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP), an emergency department-based injury and poisoning surveillance system, describes the result of migrating from a centralized data entry and coding process to a decentralized process, the web-based eCHIRPP system, in 2011. This secure system is improving the CHIRPP's overall flexibility and timeliness, which are key attributes of an effective surveillance system. The integrated eCHIRPP platform enables near real-time data entry and access, has user-friendly data management and analysis tools, and allows for easier communication and connectivity across the CHIRPP network through an online collaboration centre. Current pilot testing of automated data monitoring and trend analysis tools--designed to monitor and flag incoming data according to predefined criteria (for example, a new consumer product)--is revealing eCHIRPP's potential for providing early warnings of new hazards, issues and trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This status report on the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP), an emergency department-based injury and poisoning surveillance system, describes the result of migrating from a centralized data entry and coding process to a decentralized process, the web-based eCHIRPP system, in 2011. This secure system is improving the CHIRPP's overall flexibility and timeliness, which are key attributes of an effective surveillance system. The integrated eCHIRPP platform enables near real-time data entry and access, has user-friendly data management and analysis tools, and allows for easier communication and connectivity across the CHIRPP network through an online collaboration centre. Current pilot testing of automated data monitoring and trend analysis tools--designed to monitor and flag incoming data according to predefined criteria (for example, a new consumer product)--is revealing eCHIRPP's potential for providing early warnings of new hazards, issues and trends. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is rare for studies to approach psychosocial outcomes of childhood cancer in a holistic and explanatory way. Doing so would enable a greater understanding of why and in what way a young person's life may be affected by cancer. This qualitative study aimed to explore the views of childhood cancer survivors ( CCS) regarding how they perceive their illness to have influenced them and their subsequent lives. Twelve CCS with a median age of 23 years old took part in either a focus group or a telephone interview. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. The main themes were altered life perspectives, perceptions of self and lasting effects on relationships. Through these themes, the survivors gave insight into how their experience had influenced their views and how this had impacted on different areas of their lives. Although positive aspects were discussed, enduring issues were reported by some. Findings suggest that despite high levels of achievement, some survivors may still benefit from further information and support especially in relation to relationships and fertility. This study will inform the development of a questionnaire aiming to collect important information on the many factors which may influence long-term psychosocial outcomes in CCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dodecafluoropentane emulsion (DDFPe) nanodroplets are exceptional oxygen transporters and can protect ischemic brain in stroke models 24 h without reperfusion. Current stroke therapy usually fails to reach patients because of delays following stroke onset. We tested using DDFPe to extend the time window for tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Longer treatment windows will allow more patients more complete stroke recovery. We test DDFPe to safely extend the time window for tPA thrombolysis to 9 h after stroke. With IACUC approval, randomized New Zealand white rabbits (3.4-4.7 kg, n = 30) received angiography and 4-mm blood clot in the internal carotid artery for flow-directed middle cerebral artery occlusion. Seven failed and were discarded. Groups were IV tPA ( n = 11), DDFPe + tPA ( n = 7), and no therapy controls ( n = 5). DDFPe (0.3 ml/kg, 2 % emulsion) IV dosing began at 1 h and continued at 90 min intervals for 6 doses in one test group; the other received saline injections. Both got standard IV tPA (0.9 mg/kg) therapy starting 9 h post stroke. At 24 h, neurological assessment scores (NAS, 0-18) were determined. Following brain removal percent stroke volume (%SV) was measured. Outcomes were compared with Kruskal-Wallis analysis. For NAS, DDFPe + tPA was improved overall, p = 0.0015, and vs. tPA alone, p = 0.0052. For %SV, DDFPe + tPA was improved overall, p = 0.0003 and vs. tPA alone, p = 0.0018. NAS controls and tPA alone were not different but %SV was, p = 0.0078. With delayed reperfusion, DDFPe + tPA was more effective than tPA alone in preserving functioning brain after stroke. DDFPe significantly extends the time window for tPA therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of climate change, insufficient soil moisture may increasingly limit crop productivity in certain regions of the world. This may be particularly consequential for biofuel crops, many of which will likely be grown in drought-prone soils to avoid competition with food crops. Biochar is the byproduct of a biofuel production method called pyrolysis. If pyrolysis becomes more common as some scientists predict, biochar will become more widely available. We asked, therefore, whether the addition of biochar to soils could significantly increase the availability of water to a crop. Biochar made from switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum L.) shoots was added at the rate of 1% of dry weight to four soils of varying texture, and available water contents were calculated as the difference between field capacity and permanent wilting point water contents. Biochar addition significantly increased the available water contents of the soils by both increasing the amount of water held at field capacity and allowing plants to draw the soil to a lower water content before wilting. Among the four soils tested, biochar amendment resulted in an additional 0.8-2.7 d of transpiration, which could increase productivity in drought-prone regions or reduce the frequency of irrigation. Biochar amendment of soils may thus be a viable means of mitigating some of the predicted decrease in water availability accompanying climate change that could limit the future productivity of biofuel crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) remains a significant hurdle in overcoming the morbidity and mortality associated with haemopoietic stem cell transplantation in children. Better understanding of its pathobiology is facilitating the development of biomarkers for the severity of acute GvHD and treatment response, and has led to the introduction of a more prognostically relevant grading system for chronic GvHD. These enable stratification of appropriate prophylactic and treatment strategies according to the risk profiles of individual patients. Steroid-refractory acute GvHD has a poor prognosis, but early reports of the use of new immunosuppressive drugs and especially cellular treatments with extracorporeal photopheresis and mesenchymal stem cells suggest improved short-term outcomes and offer the promise of increased longer-term survival rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies in the northeastern United States have shown that the improved cultivars of narrowleaf plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) do not have sufficient winter hardiness to persist under wintertime conditions typical of that region. However, an experimental line, PG700, developed from productive plants collected from the southern, mid-Atlantic, and midwestern United States had significantly greater survival after freezing than the commercially available cultivars. A field study was initiated in 2006 to select for additional freezing tolerance in PG700. Superior materials collected after twoyears of selection pressure were evaluated in growth chambers for survival after exposure to -11 and -14°C or after exposure to drought that was severe enough to kill all visible leaves. The cultivar Tonic was included as a freezingsusceptible control. Survival of spaced plants of PG700 in the field was high, with mortality rates of 9% following the first winter after transplanting, 26% of the remaining plants after the following summer, and 11% after the second winter. Even with the low selection pressure, progeny of plants selected after the first winter had more than twice the survival rate of the original population when exposed to -14°C. No Tonic plants survived at -14°C. PG700 did not have greater drought resistance than Tonic, nor was its drought resistance improved by the selection process. Increased freezing tolerance will increase the suitability of plantain as a component of perennial pasture mixtures in temperate regions of the United States. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dodecafluoropentane emulsion (DDFPe) in 250 nm nanodroplets seems to swell modestly to accept and carry large amounts of oxygen in the body at >29 °C. Small particle size allows oxygen delivery even into hypoxic tissue unreachable by erythrocytes. Using permanent cerebral embolic occlusion in rabbits, we assessed DDFPe dose response as a neuroprotectant at 7 and 24 h post-embolization without lysis of arterial obstructions and investigated blood pharmacokinetics. New Zealand White rabbits ( N = 56) received cerebral angiography and embolic spheres (diameter = 700-900 μm) occluded middle and/or anterior cerebral arteries. Intravenous DDFPe dosing (2 % w/ v emulsion) began at 60 min and repeated every 90 min until sacrifice at 7 or 24 h post-embolization. Seven-hour groups: (1) control (embolized without treatment, N = 6), and DDFPe treatment: (2) 0.1 ml/kg ( N = 7), (3) 0.3 ml/kg ( N = 9), (4) 0.6 ml/kg ( N = 8). Twenty-four-hour groups: (5) control ( N = 16), and DDFPe treatment: (6) 0.1 ml/kg ( N = 10). Infarcts as percent of total brain volume were determined using vital stains on brain sections. Other alert normal rabbits ( N = 8) received IV doses followed by rapid arterial blood sampling and GC-MS analysis. Percent infarct volume means significantly decreased for all DDFPe-treated groups compared with controls, p = <0.004 to <0.03. Blood DDFP (gas) half-life was 1.45 ± 0.17 min with R = 0.958. Mean blood clearance was 78.5 ± 24.9 ml/min/kg (mean ± SE). Intravenous DDFPe decreases ischemic stroke infarct volumes. Blood half-life values are very short. The much longer therapeutic effect, >90 min, suggests multiple compartments. Lowest effective dose and maximum effective therapy duration are not yet defined. Rapid development is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Understanding the regulation of net ecosystem exchange and soil C sequestration within pasture systems requires knowledge of its component fluxes, including photosynthetic uptake and respiratory loss. However, little information is available on the partitioning of soil respiration (RS) between its heterotrophic respiration (RH) and rhizosphere respiration (RR) components for perennial cool-season pasture species. The purpose of this study was to use stable C isotopes to examine the effects of regrowth after defoliation on the components of soil respiration for grassland plots planted as an orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)-white clover (Trifolium repens L.) mixture but dominated by orchardgrass (90 to 100% of harvested biomass). Respiration components were quantified during the first 3 wk following defoliation at the beginning of July in 2010 and 2011. In 2010, RS, RH, and RR were all lowest 1 d after cutting (DAC). Both RS and RH significantly increased by 8 DAC but no further increase occurred over the next 2 wk. In contrast, RR continued to increase throughout the regrowth period. In 2011, RS did not differ among harvests and averaged across dates was less than in 2010. During the 2011 regrowth period RH increased slightly whereas RR did not change significantly. The rhizosphere contribution (RC) to RS averaged 0.49, increasing from 0.35 to 0.56 during regrowth in 2010 but decreasing from 0.62 to 0.43 in 2011. Differences among years in respiration responses during regrowth were possibly due to a combination of factors including resource limitations, soil moisture stress, and differences in soil temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: A Delphi study was undertaken to develop a framework guidance that would rationalise and standardise the care of children with febrile neutropenia (FNP) across the UK. Methods: A mailed Delphi survey was undertaken with health professionals working in children's cancer units. The survey employed two rounds of feedback on 22 practice statements drawn from a systematic review of clinical evidence. Consensus was assumed for any statement where 80+ % of respondents indicated that they 'agreed' or 'strongly agreed'. Results: Consensus was reached on 21 of the 22 practice statements in round 1 that were categorised into six areas: definition of fever and neutropenia, initial management and choice of antibiotic, defining low-risk patients, strategy in low-risk patients and alternative approaches. Consensus could not be reached on whether patients needed to be afebrile to be suitable for discharge and the required length of outpatient antibiotic treatment. Conclusions: A Delphi survey allowed the successful development of a national framework for identification and management of children with FNP. The use of an existing well-functioning professional network was key in this project's success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the renewable portfolio standards (RPSs) which are designed to encourage alternative renewable energy choices. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the goal of the RPS is to stimulate market and technology development so that renewable energy will be economically competitive with conventional forms of electric power. It discusses the studies by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) which found a huge cost increases in renewables.

Introduction: Due to space constraints, bunk beds are a common sleeping arrangement in many homes. The height and design of the structure can present a fall and strangulation hazard, especially for young children. The primary purpose of this study was to describe bunk bed-related injuries reported to the Canadian Hospitals Injury Reporting and Prevention Program (CHIRPP), 1990-2009. Methods: CHIRPP is an injury and poisoning surveillance system operating in 11 pediatric and 4 general emergency departments across Canada. Records were extracted using CHIRPP product codes and narratives. Results: Over the 20-year surveillance period, 6002 individuals presented to Canadian emergency departments for an injury associated with a bunk bed. Overall, the frequency of bunk bed-related injuries in CHIRPP has remained relatively stable with an average annual percent change of -- 1.2% (-1.8% to -0.5%). Over 90% of upper bunk-related injuries were due to falls and children 3-5 years of age were most frequently injured (471.2/100 000 CHIRPP cases). Conclusion: Children with bunk bed-related injuries continue to present to Canadian emergency departments, many with significant injuries. Injury prevention efforts should focus on children under 6 years of age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica) is a highly invasive species that has become a serious problem in riparian zones and along road and railroad right-of-ways in North America and Europe. Once established, it forms solid colonies choking out other herbaceous vegetation, displacing native species, negatively affecting wildlife, and altering hydrological processes. We evaluated the ability of 6 native species mixtures to prevent recolonization by Japanese knotweed at a site receiving either 1 or 2 yr of glyphosate applications and mowing to suppress existing Japanese knotweed stands. One year of spraying and mowing was not sufficient to adequately suppress Japanese knotweed. By 37 months after sowing, only the multi-species riparian buffer mixture (RBM) had plantcover >20%, whereas cover for all other mixtures was <10%. Japanese knotweed had successfully reinvaded all plots with percent cover ranging from 72-96%. Two years of spraying and mowing reduced Japanese knotweed percent cover to an average of 12% (range 7-18%) during the first 2 yr after sowing and to 28-43% by 37 months. Only 2 species mixtures adequately established when sown following 2 yr of Japanese knotweed suppression, the RBM and a mixture of Virginia wildrye (Elymus virginicus) and prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata). Percent cover for both mixtures was >80% at 25 months after sowing and ⩾50% after 37 months. Two years of Japanese knotweed suppression was necessary before native species mixtures could successfully compete against invasive recolonization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ramsar-listed Coorong lagoon lies at the terminus of the Murray-Darling River system in South Australia. Diatom and foraminifera relationships with water quality were characterised in order to develop diatom- and foraminifera-based models with the potential to infer water column salinity. Seventy-four samples were collected during 2007, a year of continuing drought in the catchment, and of no discharges at the Murray Mouth. The sample sites had a salinity gradient of 1.8-190 g l total dissolved solids. The diatom data set comprised 215 taxa, while there were only eight taxa in the foraminiferal data set. Canonical correspondence analysis of diatom species-environment relationships showed that salinity explained the largest proportion of diatom variance. Hence, a diatom-based salinity transfer function with reasonable predictive power (measured vs. diatom-inferred salinity r = 0.82; Root Mean Squared Error of Prediction = 16 g l) was developed. Application of the transfer function to fossil diatom assemblages from The Coorong suggested that pre-European salinity values were generally >50 g l and that salinity declined following settlement. These results, however, contradict the recent history of The Coorong where there have been substantial lagoon-wide salinity increases. The pre-impact diatom flora has no analogue in the modern data set, highlighting the degree of departure from past conditions. CCA of the foraminiferal data set identified salinity and total nitrogen as the variables with the greatest explanatory power. However, accurate predictive models could not be developed using either variable due to low foraminiferal abundance and species richness. These factors may have been a consequence of diminished foraminiferal recruitment rates over successive years, an artefact of reduced marine water input to The Coorong. Future attempts to generate predictive models from this region would benefit from the inclusion of data from distant locations, since suitable analogue sites do not exist in close proximity. The study has generated useful insights to the apparently broad salinity tolerances for several cosmopolitan diatom and foraminifera species, and has identified a number of diatom and foraminifera taxa that may prove useful in the qualitative interpretation of down-core trends in The Coorong and the lower Murray River region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the regulation of ecosystem CO2 flux from forage production systems requires knowledge of component fluxes, including photosynthetic uptake and respiratory loss. Experimental separation of soil respiration into heterotrophic and rhizosphere respiration has been difficult, complicating efforts to quantify management and environmental effects on grazing land C sequestration. This study takes advantage of differences in the natural abundance of 13C between C3 and C4 plant species to separate microbial respiration of C4-derived soil organic matter from root respiration by C3 forage species. Respiratory flux and C isotope data were collected in May, July, and September 2008 and 2009 from plots containing either orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) or white clover (Trifolium repens L.). The site had been a big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi Vitman) field for about 30 yr before grass and clover establishment. Thus, the soil organic C had a strong C4 signature. At each sampling period, respiration measurements were made at the midpoint of the regrowth cycle, 2 wk following mowing. Rhizosphere respiration accounted for about 50% of soil respiration in July and September but only 40% in May. Rhizosphere respiration under orchardgrass averaged 50% of total soil respiration compared with 43% under white clover. Accurate quantification of the components of ecosystem respiration will aid in the development of realistic models to simulate ecosystem C flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information related to demand uncertainty faced by energy industries. It mentions that the load diversity of energy consumption is affected by the extreme weather events such as cold or hot weather in which the weather events contribute to high-cost supply alternatives due to the load and price correlation. It states four possible cash flows from the supply risk uncertainty such as positive cash flow from less than planned and the negative cash flow from less than planned.

Satellite-based normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data have been extensively used for estimating gross primary productivity (GPP) and yield of grazing lands throughout the world. However, the usefulness of satellite-based images for monitoring rotationally-grazed pastures in the northeastern United States might be limited because paddock size is often smaller than the resolution limits of the satellite image. This research compared NDVI data from satellites with data obtained using a ground-based system capable of fine-scale (submeter) NDVI measurements. Gross primary productivity was measured by eddy covariance on two pastures in central Pennsylvania from 2003 to 2008. Weekly 250-m resolution satellite NDVI estimates were also obtained for each pasture from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor. Ground-based NDVI data were periodically collected in 2006, 2007, and 2008 from one of the two pastures. Multiple-regression and regression-tree estimates of GPP, based primarily on MODIS 7-d NDVI and on-site measurements ofphotosynthetically active radiation (PAR), were generally able to predict growing-season GPP to within an average of 3% ofmeasured values. The exception was drought years when estimated and measured GPP differed from each other by 11 to 13%. Ground-based measurements improved the ability of vegetation indices to capture short-term grazing management effects on GPP. However, the eMODIS product appeared to be adequate for regional GPP estimates where total growing-season GPP across a wide area would be ofgreater interest than short-term management-induced changes in GPP at individual sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haemopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a life-saving but intensive procedure associated with potentially severe adverse late effects. We aimed to determine morbidity and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a sample of survivors aged 8-18 years at least 1 year post HSCT for paediatric acute leukaemia, compared with a non-transplanted group of survivors matched for age, gender, initial disease and time since treatment. Families (N = 54; HSCT n= 29) recruited from four UK centres completed measures of child behaviour and school attendance, HRQOL and finances. Mothers completed measures of their own well-being. Clinical outcome data were extracted from medical records. Children in the HSCT group had significantly more late effects and had received more tests for vision, bone, dental and skin health, and thyroid, lung, and gonadal function than the non-transplanted group. HRQOL scores for the HSCT group were significantly lower in all domains compared with the non-transplanted group and population norms, but were not significantly related to clinical indices. Mothers in the HSCT group had significantly poorer mental well-being than population norms. Significant morbidity and compromised HRQOL was found in survivors of HSCT. The burden of caring for a child after HSCT has a continuing toll on mothers' well-being.The importance of counselling families about possible long-term consequences is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the Order 745, issued by the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to allow demand resources to compete equally with traditional fossil supply. The order is an important ruling for the demand-side management community as it identifies demand response as an alternative to traditional fossil fuel generation and also emphasizes the advantage of competitive price determination for lower energy costs.

The article offers information on the benefits of the development of thermal storage, a distributed energy technology. It presents a report by the Sandia National Laboratories which asserts that thermal storage system establishes a positive impact on the cost of supplying utility through energy shifting and centralized control of grid-connected end-uses. By load shifting, it points that thermal storage offers a fall for excess off-peak wind generation and minimizes peak demand.

Background: Measurement of what happens in mental health services is needed to describe services, identify variation in care provision and understand service outcomes. However, there is no consensus about appropriate methods or measures for content of care. Previous research has primarily used a single information source and prioritised staff over patient perspectives on content of care. This study aims to enhance understanding of how to measure content of care by developing and evaluating four instruments, each using a different measurement method. Methods: Development is described by four instruments-CaSPAR, CaRICE, CCCQ-S and CCCQ-P-which use researcher observation, staff-report and patient-report to measure the intensity and nature of care at services. Inter-rater reliability of CaRICE and CCCQ-S was investigated. Concordance between staff and patient perspectives was explored through assessing inter-rater agreement of CCCQ-S and CCCQ-P questionnaires. The convergence of data from the measures collected in an inpatient multi-site study was investigated. Results: CaRICE demonstrated good inter-rater reliability (κ = 0.71). CCCQ-S inter-rater reliability was poor. Concordance between staff and patient reports was low: there was a trend for patients to report less care received than staff reported had been provided. Results from CaSPAR, CaRICE and CCCQ-P exhibited divergence, indicating possible differences in patient, staff and researcher perspectives. Discussion: Information about content of care should be sought as close as possible to the point of delivery. There may be differing, valid perspectives about care provided by services. Further development of methods to measure content of care is required. Meanwhile, a multi-methods approach should be adopted, which allows inclusion of different perspectives (specifically including the patient's perspective) and triangulation of results from different measurement methods. CaSPAR, CaRICE and CCCQ-P can provide multi-perspective content of care measurement in inpatient services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's view on the better method for measuring demand-response (DR) value in the U.S. He notes that the role of DR and direct lad control (DLC) programs is recognized as underused resource capable of offering benefits to electricity grid to the society. He examines the direct comparison with fossil-fuel generation and the programs that are valued using supply-side methods. He uses financial engineering method in valuing the extrinsic and insurance value of DR programs.

Skinner R, Conlon L, Gibbons D, McDonald C. Cannabis use and non-clinical dimensions of psychosis in university students presenting to primary care. To explore the relationship between cannabis use and self-reported dimensions of psychosis in a population of university students presenting for any reason to primary care. One thousand and forty-nine students attending the Student Health Unit, National University of Ireland, Galway, completed self-report questionnaires on alcohol and substance misuse, non-clinical dimensions of psychosis [Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE)], anxiety and depression [Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)]. Association of cannabis use with psychiatric symptoms was explored whilst controlling for confounds. More frequent cannabis use was independently associated with greater intensity of positive, negative and depressive psychotic symptoms. The earlier the age of onset of cannabis use, the more positive psychotic symptoms were reported. These findings support the hypotheses that cannabis use increases the risk of developing psychotic symptoms and that this risk is further increased in those individuals who use cannabis more heavily and commence it at a younger age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]