Recommendations for the Critical Care Management of Devastating Brain Injury: Prognostication, Psychosocial, and Ethical Management : A Position Statement for Healthcare Professionals from the Neurocritical Care Society.

PubMed

Souter, Michael J; Blissitt, Patricia A; Blosser, Sandralee; Bonomo, Jordan; Greer, David; Jichici, Draga; Mahanes, Dea; Marcolini, Evie G; Miller, Charles; Sangha, Kiranpal; Yeager, Susan

2015-08-01

Devastating brain injuries (DBIs) profoundly damage cerebral function and frequently cause death. DBI survivors admitted to critical care will suffer both intracranial and extracranial effects from their brain injury. The indicators of quality care in DBI are not completely defined, and despite best efforts many patients will not survive, although others may have better outcomes than originally anticipated. Inaccuracies in prognostication can result in premature termination of life support, thereby biasing outcomes research and creating a self-fulfilling cycle where the predicted course is almost invariably dismal. Because of the potential complexities and controversies involved in the management of devastating brain injury, the Neurocritical Care Society organized a panel of expert clinicians from neurocritical care, neuroanesthesia, neurology, neurosurgery, emergency medicine, nursing, and pharmacy to develop an evidence-based guideline with practice recommendations. The panel intends for this guideline to be used by critical care physicians, neurologists, emergency physicians, and other health professionals, with specific emphasis on management during the first 72-h post-injury. Following an extensive literature review, the panel used the GRADE methodology to evaluate the robustness of the data. They made actionable recommendations based on the quality of evidence, as well as on considerations of risk: benefit ratios, cost, and user preference. The panel generated recommendations regarding prognostication, psychosocial issues, and ethical considerations.

Ethical controversies surrounding the management of potential organ donors in the emergency department.

PubMed

Venkat, Arvind; Baker, Eileen F; Schears, Raquel M

2014-08-01

On a daily basis, emergency physicians are confronted by patients with devastating neurological injuries and insults. Some of these patients, despite our best efforts, will not survive. However, from these tragedies, there may be benefit given to others who are awaiting organ transplantation. Steps taken in the emergency department (ED) can be critical to preserving the option of organ donation in patients whose neurologic insult places them on a potential path to declaration of brain death. Much of the literature on this subject has focused on the utilitarian value of clinical interventions in the potential organ donor to optimize the likelihood of effective organ procurement. In this article, we present an actual case that reveals additional ethical perspectives to consider in how emergency physicians manage patients in the ED who can be confidently predicted to progress to death, as attested by neurologic criteria, and become organ donors. The case involves a patient with a devastating, nonsurvivable intracerebral hemorrhage who rapidly progressed to hemodynamic instability. This case reveals how the current organ donor referral and maintenance system raises ethical tensions for emergency physicians and ED personnel. This process imposes limitations on communication with patient surrogate decision-makers while calling for interventions with the primary purpose of benefiting off-site patients awaiting transplantation. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Psychological response to the Oklahoma City bombing.

PubMed

Krug, R S; Nixon, S J; Vincent, R

1996-01-01

The bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Office Building in Oklahoma City was the most devastating terrorist activity that has occurred in America. Prevention of revictimization of persons seriously affected by the bombing was central to the planned response to this tragedy. Coordination and collaboration among local, state, and national agencies promoted effective clinical services provision, research facilitation, and prevention of revictimization. Information gathered from this cooperative effort will contribute to the effort to minimize the potential for such tragedies in the future as well as help to develop prevention and intervention strategies to reduce the effects when the next such disaster occurs.

Zika Virus Infection.

PubMed

Shirley, Debbie-Ann T; Nataro, James P

2017-08-01

In less than 2 years since entry into the Americas, we have witnessed the emergent spread of Zika virus into large subsets of immunologically naïve human populations and then encountered the devastating effects of microcephaly and brain anomalies that can arise from in utero infection with the virus. Diagnostic evaluation and management of affected infants continues to evolve as our understanding of Zika virus rapidly advances. The development of a safe and effective vaccine holds the potential to attenuate the spread of infection and limit the impact of congenital infection. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Natural-product-based chromenes as a novel class of potential termiticides.

PubMed

Meepagala, Kumudini M; Osbrink, Weste; Burandt, Charles; Lax, Alan; Duke, Stephen O

2011-11-01

Among the termite infestations in the United States, the Formosan subterranean termite, Coptotermes formosanus Shiraki (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), is considered to be the most devastating termite pest. This pest most likely invaded North America as a result of the disembarkation of wooden military cargo at the port of New Orleans that arrived from Asia during and after World War II. It has now spread over other states, including Texas, Florida, South Carolina and California. Devastation caused by C. formosanus in North America has been estimated to cost $ US 1 billion a year. Over the past decades, organochlorines and organophosphates, the two prominent classes of termite control agents, have been banned owing to environmental and human health concerns. At the present time, phenylpyrazoles, pyrethroids, chloronicotinyls and pyrroles are being used as termite control agents. Mammalian toxicity and seeping of these compounds into groundwater are some of the drawbacks associated with these treatments. The instruction for the application of these termiticides indicate ground water advisory. Hence, with the increasing spread of termite infestation there is an increased need to discover effective, environmentally friendly and safe termite control agents with minimal mammalian toxicity. Chromene analogs derived from a natural-product-based chromene amide isolated from Amyris texana were tested in a collaborative discovery program for effective, environmentally friendly termite control agents. Several chromene derivatives were synthesized and characterized as a novel class of potential termiticides, followed by bioassays. These compounds exhibited significantly higher mortalities compared with untreated controls in laboratory bioassays. Chromene derivatives have been shown to be a potential novel class of termiticides against Formosan subterranean termites. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.

Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) responses to microcontroller-buzzer communication signals of potential use in vibration traps

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Monitoring of Diaphorina citri Kuwayama populations is an important component of efforts to reduce damage caused by huanglongbing, a devastating disease it vectors in citrus groves. Currently, D. citri is monitored primarily by unbaited sticky traps or visual inspection of trees. A potentially more ...

Climate drivers of bark beetle outbreak dynamics in Norway spruce forests

Treesearch

Lorenzo Marini; Bjorn Okland; Anna Maria Jonsson; Barbara Bentz; Allan Carroll; Beat Forster; Jean-Claude Gregoire; Rainer Hurling; Louis Michel Nageleisen; Sigrid Netherer; Hans Peter Ravn; Aaron Weed; Martin Schroeder

2017-01-01

Bark beetles are among the most devastating biotic agents affecting forests globally and several species are expected to be favored by climate change. Given the potential interactions of insect outbreaks with other biotic and abiotic disturbances, and the potentially strong impact of changing disturbance regimes on forest resources, investigating climatic drivers of...

Sarcopenia: pharmacology of today and tomorrow.

PubMed

Brotto, Marco; Abreu, Eduardo L

2012-12-01

Sarcopenia remains largely undiagnosed and undertreated because of the lack of a universally accepted definition, effective ways to measure it, and identification of the outcomes that should guide treatment efficacy. An ever-growing number of clinicians and researchers along with funding and regulatory agencies have gradually recognized that sarcopenia is a human condition that requires both prevention and treatment. In this article, we review sarcopenia and its common and less known pharmacological treatments, attempt to define sarcopenia in its broader context, and present some new ideas for potential future treatment for this devastating condition.

Sarcopenia: Pharmacology of Today and Tomorrow

PubMed Central

Abreu, Eduardo L.

2012-01-01

Sarcopenia remains largely undiagnosed and undertreated because of the lack of a universally accepted definition, effective ways to measure it, and identification of the outcomes that should guide treatment efficacy. An ever-growing number of clinicians and researchers along with funding and regulatory agencies have gradually recognized that sarcopenia is a human condition that requires both prevention and treatment. In this article, we review sarcopenia and its common and less known pharmacological treatments, attempt to define sarcopenia in its broader context, and present some new ideas for potential future treatment for this devastating condition. PMID:22929991

Epidemiology of a thermonuclear bomb-burst over Nashville, Tennessee: a theoretic study.

PubMed

Quinn, R W

1983-07-01

A thermonuclear bomb explosion over any city in the world would have a devastating effect on the population and environment. For those who survive, with or without injuries, life would become primitive with little or no uncontaminated food or water, and with inadequate housing, fuel, and medical care, resulting in a breakdown of family and interpersonal relationships. This theoretic study of the potential outcome of a thermonuclear bomb-burst over Nashville, Tennessee, discusses epidemiologically the wide range of medical and psychologic effects from the direct trauma of blast and fire, widespread epidemics of otherwise controlled disease, long-term chronic illness, genetic damage, and catastrophic environmental havoc.

Fusarium verticillioides genes conferring xenobiotic detoxification

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Phytochemicals, microbial metabolites, and agrochemicals can individually or collectively impact the diversity and frequency of microbial species occurring in agricultural field environments. Resistance to such chemicals by plant pathogenic fungi is common and potentially devastating to crop yield a...

Biotransformation of corn phytochemicals by Fusarium verticillioides

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Phytochemicals, microbial metabolites, and agrochemicals can individually or collectively impact the diversity and frequency of fungal species occurring in agricultural field environments. Resistance to such chemicals by plant pathogenic fungi is common and potentially devastating to crop quality, ...

Pandemic Threat Posed by Avian Influenza A Viruses

PubMed Central

Horimoto, Taisuke; Kawaoka, Yoshihiro

2001-01-01

Influenza pandemics, defined as global outbreaks of the disease due to viruses with new antigenic subtypes, have exacted high death tolls from human populations. The last two pandemics were caused by hybrid viruses, or reassortants, that harbored a combination of avian and human viral genes. Avian influenza viruses are therefore key contributors to the emergence of human influenza pandemics. In 1997, an H5N1 influenza virus was directly transmitted from birds in live poultry markets in Hong Kong to humans. Eighteen people were infected in this outbreak, six of whom died. This avian virus exhibited high virulence in both avian and mammalian species, causing systemic infection in both chickens and mice. Subsequently, another avian virus with the H9N2 subtype was directly transmitted from birds to humans in Hong Kong. Interestingly, the genes encoding the internal proteins of the H9N2 virus are genetically highly related to those of the H5N1 virus, suggesting a unique property of these gene products. The identification of avian viruses in humans underscores the potential of these and similar strains to produce devastating influenza outbreaks in major population centers. Although highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses had been identified before the 1997 outbreak in Hong Kong, their devastating effects had been confined to poultry. With the Hong Kong outbreak, it became clear that the virulence potential of these viruses extended to humans. PMID:11148006

Lightning injury: a review.

PubMed

Ritenour, Amber E; Morton, Melinda J; McManus, John G; Barillo, David J; Cancio, Leopoldo C

2008-08-01

Lightning is an uncommon but potentially devastating cause of injury in patients presenting to burn centers. These injuries feature unusual symptoms, high mortality, and significant long-term morbidity. This paper will review the epidemiology, physics, clinical presentation, management principles, and prevention of lightning injuries.

Antibody immunoprophylaxis and immunotherapy for influenza virus infection: Utilization of monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies?

PubMed

Berry, Cassandra M

2018-03-04

Control programs for emerging influenza are in urgent need of novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate potentially devastating threats from pathogenic strains with pandemic potential. Current vaccines and antivirals have inherent limitations in efficacy, especially with rapid evolutionary changes of influenza viruses. Antibody-based antiviral protection harnesses the natural power of the immune system. Antibodies present prophylactic and therapeutic intervention options for prevention and control of influenza, especially for at-risk populations. Specific monoclonal antibodies are well defined in purity and initial efficacy but polyclonal antibodies are easier to scale-up and cost-effective with long-term efficacy, using batches with broadly neutralizing properties against influenza variants. This review presents the pros and cons of monoclonal versus polyclonal antibody therapy for influenza.

Major Bleeding after Percutaneous Image-Guided Biopsies: Frequency, Predictors, and Periprocedural Management

PubMed Central

Kennedy, Sean A.; Milovanovic, Lazar; Midia, Mehran

2015-01-01

Major bleeding remains an uncommon yet potentially devastating complication following percutaneous image-guided biopsy. This article reviews two cases of major bleeding after percutaneous biopsy and discusses the frequency, predictors, and periprocedural management of major postprocedural bleeding. PMID:25762845

Method for Predicting Thermal Buckling in Rails

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2018-01-01

A method is proposed herein for predicting the onset of thermal buckling in rails in such a way as to provide a means of avoiding this type of potentially devastating failure. The method consists of the development of a thermomechanical model of rail...

Epidemiology of a thermonuclear bomb-burst over Nashville, Tennessee: a theoretic study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Quinn, R.W.

1983-07-01

A thermonuclear bomb explosion over any city in the world would have a devastating effect on the population and environment. For those who survive, with or without injuries, life would become primitive with little or no uncontaminated food or water, and with inadequate housing, fuel, and medical care, resulting in a breakdown of family and interpersonal relationships. This theoretic study of the potential outcome of a thermonuclear bomb-burst over Nashville, Tennessee, discusses epidemiologically the wide range of medical and psychologic effects from the direct trauma of blast and fire, widespread epidemics of otherwise controlled disease, long-term chronic illness, genetic damage,more » and catastrophic environmental havoc.« less

Prevention of extravasation injuries secondary to doxorubicin.

PubMed

Linder, R M; Upton, J

1985-03-01

Intravenously administered drugs with potentially devastating consequences should be given only by personnel highly knowledgeable regarding the side effects and skilled in intravenous cannulation. A strict protocol should be followed. The earliest signs heralding extravasation should be recognized and infusion discontinued immediately. If extravasation occurs, prompt surgical consultation is necessary. Injection into the volar wrist, dorsum of the hand, and antecubital fossa should always be avoided. Polyethylene catheters are preferable to butterfly needles for administering chemotherapeutic agents. A careful history of the venous problems of patients who require long-term therapy should be maintained in their chart. Ideally, vascular access should avoid these problems.

Multiple sclerosis.

PubMed

Files, Daniel Kane; Jausurawong, Tani; Katrajian, Ruba; Danoff, Robert

2015-06-01

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, debilitating disease that can have devastating effects. Presentation varies widely in symptoms, pace, and progression. In addition to a thorough history and physical examination, diagnostic tools required to diagnose MS and exclude other diagnoses include MRI, evoked potential testing, and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Although the disease is not curable presently, quality of life can be improved by minimizing the frequency and severity of disease burden. Disease modification, symptom management, preservation of function, and treatment of psychosocial issues are paramount to enhance the quality of life for the patient affected with MS. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Prevention of 3 "never events" in the operating room: fires, gossypiboma, and wrong-site surgery.

PubMed

Zahiri, Hamid R; Stromberg, Jeffrey; Skupsky, Hadas; Knepp, Erin K; Folstein, Matthew; Silverman, Ronald; Singh, Devinder

2011-03-01

This study sought to identify and provide preventative recommendations for potentially devastating safety violations in the operating room. A Medline database search from 1950 to current using the terms patient safety and operating room was conducted. All topics identified were reviewed. Three patient safety violations with potential for immediate and devastating outcomes were selected for discussion using evidence-based literature. The search identified 2851 articles, 807 of which were directly related to patient safety in the operating room. Topics addressed by these 807 included infectious complications (26%), fires (11%), communication/teamwork (6%), retained foreign objects (3%), safety checklists (1%), and wrong-site surgery (1%). Fires, gossypiboma, and wrong-site surgery were selected for discussion. Although fire, gossypiboma, and wrong-site surgery should be "never events" in the operating room, they continue to persist as 3 common patient safety violations. This study provides the epidemiology, common etiologies, and evidence-based preventative recommendations for each.

Next Generation Sequencing: A useful tool for detection of sugarcane viruses in quarantine programs

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The international exchange of sugarcane germplasm includes the risk of introducing potentially devastating pathogens that may threaten production. The USDA-APHIS Plant Germplasm Quarantine Program (PGQP) imports and tests sugarcane accessions that are used in research, variety development, and comme...

Climate change and ecosystem disruption: the health impacts of the North American Rocky Mountain pine beetle infestation.

PubMed

Embrey, Sally; Remais, Justin V; Hess, Jeremy

2012-05-01

In the United States and Canada, pine forest ecosystems are being dramatically affected by an unprecedented pine beetle infestation attributed to climate change. Both decreased frequency of extremely cold days and warmer winter temperature averages have led to an enphytotic devastating millions of acres of pine forest. The associated ecosystem disruption has the potential to cause significant health impacts from a range of exposures, including increased runoff and water turbidity, forest fires, and loss of ecosystem services. We review direct and indirect health impacts and possible prevention strategies. The pine beetle infestation highlights the need for public health to adopt an ecological, systems-oriented view to anticipate the full range of potential health impacts from climate change and facilitate effective planned adaptation.

Climate Change and Ecosystem Disruption: The Health Impacts of the North American Rocky Mountain Pine Beetle Infestation

PubMed Central

Remais, Justin V.; Hess, Jeremy

2012-01-01

In the United States and Canada, pine forest ecosystems are being dramatically affected by an unprecedented pine beetle infestation attributed to climate change. Both decreased frequency of extremely cold days and warmer winter temperature averages have led to an enphytotic devastating millions of acres of pine forest. The associated ecosystem disruption has the potential to cause significant health impacts from a range of exposures, including increased runoff and water turbidity, forest fires, and loss of ecosystem services. We review direct and indirect health impacts and possible prevention strategies. The pine beetle infestation highlights the need for public health to adopt an ecological, systems-oriented view to anticipate the full range of potential health impacts from climate change and facilitate effective planned adaptation. PMID:22420788

Climate Change and Health: A Position Paper of the American College of Physicians.

PubMed

Crowley, Ryan A

2016-05-03

Climate change could have a devastating effect on human and environmental health. Potential effects of climate change on human health include higher rates of respiratory and heat-related illness, increased prevalence of vector-borne and waterborne diseases, food and water insecurity, and malnutrition. Persons who are elderly, sick, or poor are especially vulnerable to these potential consequences. Addressing climate change could have substantial benefits to human health. In this position paper, the American College of Physicians (ACP) recommends that physicians and the broader health care community throughout the world engage in environmentally sustainable practices that reduce carbon emissions; support efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change; and educate the public, their colleagues, their community, and lawmakers about the health risks posed by climate change. Tackling climate change is an opportunity to dramatically improve human health and avert dire environmental outcomes, and ACP believes that physicians can play a role in achieving this goal.

Preventing the return of smallpox: molecular modeling studies on thymidylate kinase from Variola virus.

PubMed

Guimarães, Ana Paula; Ramalho, Teodorico Castro; França, Tanos Celmar Costa

2014-01-01

Smallpox was one of the most devastating diseases in the human history and still represents a serious menace today due to its potential use by bioterrorists. Considering this threat and the non-existence of effective chemotherapy, we propose the enzyme thymidylate kinase from Variola virus (VarTMPK) as a potential target to the drug design against smallpox. We first built a homology model for VarTMPK and performed molecular docking studies on it in order to investigate the interactions with inhibitors of Vaccinia virus TMPK (VacTMPK). Subsequently, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of these compounds inside VarTMPK and human TMPK (HssTMPK) were carried out in order to select the most promising and selective compounds as leads for the design of potential VarTMPK inhibitors. Results of the docking and MD simulations corroborated to each other, suggesting selectivity towards VarTMPK and, also, a good correlation with the experimental data.

Research on Screwworms: male-only strains, Cryopreservation and reducing ammonia in mass rearing

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Screwworm myiasis is devastating to warm blooded animals. The eradication of screwworms from mainland North America using the sterile insect technique (SIT) is an unprecedented achievement; re-invasion is prevented by maintenance of a barrier at the Panama – Colombia border. Several potential advant...

Battling Sexual Abuse

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dessoff, Alan

2010-01-01

From costly lawsuits on behalf of victims to negative media coverage, districts can face potentially devastating consequences as a result of sexual abuse of their students by district employees. This article offers a few tips on how to battle sexual abuse particularly in school districts. The author stresses that by adopting strong policies that…

Systematics, Phylogeny and Trichothecene Mycotoxin Potential of Fusarium Head Blight Cereal Pathogens

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Economically devastating outbreaks and epidemics of Fusarium head blight (FHB) or scab of wheat and barley have occurred worldwide over the past two decades. Although the primary etiological agent of FHB was thought to comprise a single panmictic species, Fusarium graminearum, a series of studies we...

PROTOZOAL INFECTIONS OF THE EASTERN OYSTER (CRASSOSTREA VIRGINICA) IN THE UPPER CHESAPEAKE BAY: A POTENTIAL ECOLOGICAL FORECAST

EPA Science Inventory

Perkinsus marinus and Haplosporidium nelsoni cause devasting infections in populations of the eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica, along the US Atlantic coast and Gulf of Mexico. Salinity and temperature are considered major controlling factors in the prevalence and infection i...

Breeding for cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) resistance

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Cotton leaf curl disease (CLCuD) is caused by a whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) transmitted geminivirus. It is a major disease of cotton in Africa and South Asia, and has spread to other countries through ornamental plants. It can potentially devastate U.S. cotton where commercial varieties have no resi...

Fidelity in Public Education Policy: Reclaiming the Deweyan Dream

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Kurth-Schai, Ruthanne

2014-01-01

This article explores the legacy of John Dewey, reconsidered and reconstructed within the challenging context of neo-liberal globalization. A free-market approach to the delivery of public education and other social services has come to dominate public policy, with increasingly well-documented and potentially devastating consequences. As prospects…

Mapping a new black spot resistance locus in rose [abstract

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rose black spot, caused by Diplocarpon rosae, is one of the most devastating foliar diseases of cultivated roses (Rosa hybrida). The pathogen is globally distributed and has the potential to cause large economic losses in the outdoor rose industry. Genetic resistance is the most economical disease m...

Education and Gender Discrimination

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sumi, V. S.

2012-01-01

This paper discusses the status of women education in present education system and some measures to overcome the lags existing. Discrimination against girls and women in the developing world is a devastating reality. It results in millions of individual tragedies, which add up to lost potential for entire countries. Gender bias in education is an…

Managing Serious Teacher Misbehaviour

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Page, Damien

2014-01-01

This article presents findings from a study of five head teachers who were responsible for the management of serious teacher misbehaviour (TMB) in England. In cases that included the downloading of extreme pornography on a school laptop and a sexual relationship with a pupil, the multiple impacts of TMB were potentially devastating to the…

School Security Gap (with Related Video)

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Skurnac, Steve

2012-01-01

Data security breaches in the educational sector can be devastating to institutions and the students and employees they serve. They carry the potential for identity theft, violations of federal and state laws, and loss of trust of students, alumni and employees. The Identity Theft Resource Center says that as of October 2011, education…

Reconstructive Management of Devastating Electrical Injuries to the Face.

PubMed

Janis, Jeffrey E; Khansa, Ibrahim; Lehrman, Craig R; Orgill, Dennis P; Pomahac, Bohdan

2015-10-01

Devastating fourth-degree electrical injuries to the face and head pose significant reconstructive challenges. To date, there have been few peer-reviewed articles in the literature that describe those reconstructive challenges. The authors present the largest case series to date that describes the management of these injuries, including the incorporation of face transplantation. A retrospective case series was conducted of patients with devastating electrical injuries to the face who were managed at two level-1 trauma centers between 2007 and 2011. Data describing patient injuries, initial management, and reconstructive procedures were collected. Five patients with devastating electrical injuries to the face were reviewed. After initial stabilization and treatment of life-threatening injuries, all five underwent burn excision and microsurgical reconstruction using distant flaps. Two of the patients eventually underwent face transplantation. The authors describe differences in management between the two trauma centers, one of which had the availability for composite tissue allotransplantation; the other did not. Also described is how initial attempts at traditional reconstruction affected the eventual face transplantation. The care of patients with complex electrical burns must be conducted in a multidisciplinary fashion. As with all other trauma, the initial priority should be management of the airway, breathing, and circulation. Additional considerations include cardiac arrhythmias and renal impairment attributable to myoglobinuria. Before embarking on aggressive reconstruction attempts, it is advisable to determine early whether the patient is a candidate for face transplantation in order to avoid antigen sensitization, loss of a reconstructive "lifeboat," surgical plane disruption, and sacrifice of potential recipient vessels. Therapeutic, V.

Threats and opportunities of plant pathogenic bacteria.

PubMed

Tarkowski, Petr; Vereecke, Danny

2014-01-01

Plant pathogenic bacteria can have devastating effects on plant productivity and yield. Nevertheless, because these often soil-dwelling bacteria have evolved to interact with eukaryotes, they generally exhibit a strong adaptivity, a versatile metabolism, and ingenious mechanisms tailored to modify the development of their hosts. Consequently, besides being a threat for agricultural practices, phytopathogens may also represent opportunities for plant production or be useful for specific biotechnological applications. Here, we illustrate this idea by reviewing the pathogenic strategies and the (potential) uses of five very different (hemi)biotrophic plant pathogenic bacteria: Agrobacterium tumefaciens, A. rhizogenes, Rhodococcus fascians, scab-inducing Streptomyces spp., and Pseudomonas syringae. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Induction of antimicrobial 3-deoxyflavonoids in pome fruit trees controls fire blight.

PubMed

Halbwirth, Heidrun; Fischer, Thilo C; Roemmelt, Susanne; Spinelli, Francesco; Schlangen, Karin; Peterek, Silke; Sabatini, Emidio; Messina, Christian; Speakman, John-Bryan; Andreotti, Carlo; Rademacher, Wilhelm; Bazzi, Carlo; Costa, Guglielmo; Treutter, Dieter; Forkmann, Gert; Stich, Karl

2003-01-01

Fire blight, a devastating bacterial disease in pome fruits, causes severe economic losses worldwide. Hitherto, an effective control could only be achieved by using antibiotics, but this implies potential risks for human health, livestock and environment. A new approach allows transient inhibition of a step in the flavonoid pathway, thereby inducing the formation of a novel antimicrobial 3-deoxyflavonoid controlling fire blight in apple and pear leaves. This compound is closely related to natural phytoalexins in sorghum. The approach does not only provide a safe method to control fire blight: Resistance against different pathogens is also induced in other crop plants.

What's Missing from the Debate on Seniority? A Policy Brief

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Center for Education Organizing (NJ1), 2011

2011-01-01

As states across the country face unprecedented budget shortfalls, communities as well as policymakers are trying to stave off the potentially devastating impacts of budget cuts on schools and other basic services. Many public school systems are facing significant shortfalls, forcing "reductions in force" or RIFs, of teachers and other school…

Modeling potential movements of the emerald ash borer: the model framework

Treesearch

Louis R. Iverson; Anantha Prasad; Jonathan Bossenbroek; Davis Sydnor; Mark W. Schwartz

2010-01-01

The emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) is threatening to decimate native ashes (Fraxinus spp.) across North America and, so far, has devastated ash populations across sections of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario. We are attempting to develop a computer model that will predict EAB future movement by adapting...

Hurricane Ike versus an Atomic Bomb

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pearson, Earl F.

2013-01-01

The destructive potential of one of nature's most destructive forces, the hurricane, is compared to one of human's most destructive devices, an atomic bomb. Both can create near absolute devastation at "ground zero". However, how do they really compare in terms of destructive energy? This discussion compares the energy, the…

Interaction of plant essential oil terpenoids with the southern cattle tick tyramine receptor: A potential biopesticide target

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The southern cattle tick (Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus) has historically been a devastating pest to the cattle industry worldwide. The use of chemical acaricides has been the mainstay for controlling the southern cattle tick. However, there have been several reports of chemical acaricide resi...

Comparative “omics” of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex highlights differences in genetic potential and metabolite synthesis

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Species of the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFC) cause a wide spectrum of often devastating diseases on diverse agricultural crops, including coffee, fig, mango, maize, rice, and sugarcane. Although species within the FFC are difficult to distinguish by morphology, and their genes often share...

Bioassay conditions for infection of Pinus radiata seedlings with Phytophthora pinifolia zoospores

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Phytophthora pinifolia is known to cause a devastating disease on Monterey pines in Chile. Although this pathogen is not yet present in the U.S., there is reason for concern. The main source of Monterey pine genetic material is found in California and there is potential for other important tree sp...

Strategies in Ebola virus disease (EVD) diagnostics at the point of care.

PubMed

Coarsey, Chad T; Esiobu, Nwadiuto; Narayanan, Ramswamy; Pavlovic, Mirjana; Shafiee, Hadi; Asghar, Waseem

2017-11-01

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a devastating, highly infectious illness with a high mortality rate. The disease is endemic to regions of Central and West Africa, where there is limited laboratory infrastructure and trained staff. The recent 2014 West African EVD outbreak has been unprecedented in case numbers and fatalities, and has proven that such regional outbreaks can become a potential threat to global public health, as it became the source for the subsequent transmission events in Spain and the USA. The urgent need for rapid and affordable means of detecting Ebola is crucial to control the spread of EVD and prevent devastating fatalities. Current diagnostic techniques include molecular diagnostics and other serological and antigen detection assays; which can be time-consuming, laboratory-based, often require trained personnel and specialized equipment. In this review, we discuss the various Ebola detection techniques currently in use, and highlight the potential future directions pertinent to the development and adoption of novel point-of-care diagnostic tools. Finally, a case is made for the need to develop novel microfluidic technologies and versatile rapid detection platforms for early detection of EVD.

Diskitis, Osteomyelitis, Spinal Epidural Abscess, Meningitis, and Endocarditis Following Sacroiliac Joint Injection for the Treatment of Low-Back Pain in a Patient on Therapy for Hepatitis C Virus.

PubMed

Nagpal, Geeta; Flaherty, John P; Benzon, Honorio T

Sacroiliac joint injections are frequently performed procedures in the management of acute and chronic low-back pain, including patients with various immunocompromised states. Infectious complications following these procedures along with other spinal injections are rarely reported, but the true incidence is unknown. The purpose of this report is to highlight the devastating neurologic sequela that can occur, and to discuss potential future management strategies. We present a patient who developed diskitis, osteomyelitis, spinal epidural abscess, meningitis, and endocarditis from Staphylococcus aureus, all of which developed shortly after a sacroiliac joint injection. The patient was on treatment for hepatitis C virus, and the resulting immunocompromised state likely contributed to the outcome. Immunocompromised patients should be identified prior to treatment, and the small possibility of devastating complications should be thoughtfully weighed against the potential benefit of the procedure. Conservative management should be maximized initially, and if a procedure is done, strict asepsis must be maintained. Prophylaxis for S. aureus should be considered for immunocompromised patients undergoing interventional spine procedures.

Three-dimensional simulation of a rock slide impact into water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weaver, R.; Gisler, G.; Gittings, M.; Ranta, D.

2007-12-01

The steep-sided fjords of western Norway have experienced numerous rock slide events that sometimes produced devastating tsunamis. The 1934 slide in the Tafjord region, when some 3 million cubic meters of rock plunged into the water, resulted in waves tens of meters high that destroyed two villages and killed about 40 people. A similarly dangerous situation exists now in Sunnylvsfjord, where a major expanding crack in the fjord wall at Aknes threatens to release from 5 to 40 million cubic meters of rock into the water. Such an event would devastate a large region, including the Geiranger Fjord, a UN World Heritage Site that is extremely popular with tourists. The Norwegian Government's Aknes-Tafjord project is responsible for studying and monitoring the potential slide area and for providing adequate warning to protect lives and property. In order to better understand tsunami generation from such events, we have performed 3-dimensional fully compressible hydrodynamical simulations of the impact of a large number of boulders from a steep slope into a deep body of water. We use the Los Alamos/SAIC adaptive-mesh-refined SAGE code, previously used to model tsunamis from underwater explosions, asteroid impacts, and both subaqueous and subaerial landslide sources. We find the interaction of boulders and water to be extremely turbulent and dissipative. It differs markedly from simulations of large-block impacts in similar geometry. No more than about 15% of the potential energy of the boulders ends up in the water wave. The rest of the energy goes into heating the boulders (and presumably fragmenting them, though that physics is not included) into generating winds, heating air and water, and generating turbulence. In the near field, the waves produced by the impact can be quite high -- tens of meters -- and have the potential to devastate coastlines at substantial distances from the site along a narrow fjord system.

The concept of skin bleaching in Africa and its devastating health implications.

PubMed

de Souza, Melanie Miyanji

2008-01-01

Africa is considered a continent of mystery and intrigue with absurd concepts and beliefs. Cosmetic dermatology is no less intriguing than other issues. While quick judgement may be passed condemning attitudes and misconceptions in this field, we need to analyze factors that contribute to such ideas. Acquiring a lighter skin forms the basis of Skin Care and Cosmetology in dark skinned people. This regrettably has far reaching devastating effects on health and individual finances. This in return has enriched unscrupulous stake holders. Help from the international medical fraternity and the pharmaceutical/cosmetology industry is required to end this evil.

Wildfire Policy in Mediterranean France: How Far is it Efficient and Sustainable?

PubMed

Curt, Thomas; Frejaville, Thibaut

2018-03-01

A new fire policy reinforcing aggressive fire suppression was established in Mediterranean France in response to the devastating wildfires of the 1990s, but to what extent this has changed fire activity yet remains poorly understood. For this purpose, we compared the number and location of ignitions and of burned areas between two 20-year periods (1975-1994 vs. 1995-2014), in parallel to the changes in fuel covering, human activity promoting ignitions, and fire weather. The number of fires decreased almost continuously since 1975, but sharply after 1994, suggesting an effect of better fire prevention due to the new policy. But the major change in fire activity is a considerable reduction in fire size and burned areas after 1994, especially during summer and in the most fire-prone places, in response to massive efforts put into fire suppression. These reductions have occurred while the covering by fuel biomass, the human pressure on ignition, and the fire weather index increased, thus making the study area more hazardous. Our results suggest that a strategy of aggressive fire suppression has great potential for counterbalancing the effects of climate changes and human activities and for controlling fire activity in the short term. However, we discuss whether such a suppression-oriented approach is sustainable in the context of global changes, which cast new fire challenges as demonstrated by the devastative fires of 2003 and 2016. We advocate for a more comprehensive fire policy to come. © 2017 Society for Risk Analysis.

Will vaccination against human papillomavirus prevent eye disease? A review of the evidence.

PubMed

Hughes, D S; Powell, N; Fiander, A N

2008-04-01

The role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in eye disease is controversial. However, a recent case illustrates the possible role of HPV in conjunctival squamous carcinoma and the potentially devastating effects of this disease. The development of two vaccines to prevent infection with HPV types most commonly associated with anogenital cancers has led to debate about the pros and cons of a national immunisation programme to prevent cervical cancer. The introduction of such a vaccination programme may have an additional beneficial effect on the occurrence of some head and neck, including ocular, cancers. This review discusses the nature of papillomaviruses, mechanisms of infection and carcinogenesis, the possible role of HPV in eye disease, and finally the likely impact of the new prophylactic vaccines.

Therapeutic Potential of Thymoquinone in Glioblastoma Treatment: Targeting Major Gliomagenesis Signaling Pathways

PubMed Central

Chowdhury, Fabliha Ahmed; Hossain, Md Kamal; Mostofa, A. G. M.; Akbor, Maruf Mohammad

2018-01-01

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most devastating brain tumors with median survival of one year and presents unique challenges to therapy because of its aggressive behavior. Current treatment strategy involves surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and adjuvant chemotherapy even though optimal management requires a multidisciplinary approach and knowledge of potential complications from both the disease and its treatment. Thymoquinone (TQ), the main bioactive component of Nigella sativa L., has exhibited anticancer effects in numerous preclinical studies. Due to its multitargeting nature, TQ interferes in a wide range of tumorigenic processes and counteract carcinogenesis, malignant growth, invasion, migration, and angiogenesis. TQ can specifically sensitize tumor cells towards conventional cancer treatments and minimize therapy-associated toxic effects in normal cells. Its potential to enter brain via nasal pathway due to volatile nature of TQ adds another advantage in overcoming blood-brain barrier. In this review, we summarized the potential role of TQ in different signaling pathways in GBM that have undergone treatment with standard therapeutic modalities or with TQ. Altogether, we suggest further comprehensive evaluation of TQ in preclinical and clinical level to delineate its implied utility as novel therapeutics to combat the challenges for the treatment of GBM. PMID:29651429

Near-field effects of asteroid impacts in deep water

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gisler, Galen R; Weaver, Robert P; Gittings, Michael L

2009-06-11

Our previous work has shown that ocean impacts of asteroids below 500 m in diameter do not produce devastating long-distance tsunamis. Nevertheless, a significant portion of the ocean lies close enough to land that near-field effects may prove to be the greatest danger from asteroid impacts in the ocean. Crown splashes and central jets that rise up many kilometres into the atmosphere can produce, upon their collapse, highly non-linear breaking waves that could devastate shorelines within a hundred kilometres of the impact site. We present illustrative calculations, in two and three dimensions, of such impacts for a range of asteroidmore » sizes and impact angles. We find that, as for land impacts, the greatest dangers from oceanic impacts are the short-term near-field, and long-term atmospheric effects.« less

Rogue waves: from nonlinear Schrödinger breather solutions to sea-keeping test.

PubMed

Onorato, Miguel; Proment, Davide; Clauss, Günther; Klein, Marco

2013-01-01

Under suitable assumptions, the nonlinear dynamics of surface gravity waves can be modeled by the one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Besides traveling wave solutions like solitons, this model admits also breather solutions that are now considered as prototypes of rogue waves in ocean. We propose a novel technique to study the interaction between waves and ships/structures during extreme ocean conditions using such breather solutions. In particular, we discuss a state of the art sea-keeping test in a 90-meter long wave tank by creating a Peregrine breather solution hitting a scaled chemical tanker and we discuss its potential devastating effects on the ship.

Rogue Waves: From Nonlinear Schrödinger Breather Solutions to Sea-Keeping Test

PubMed Central

Onorato, Miguel; Proment, Davide; Clauss, Günther; Klein, Marco

2013-01-01

Under suitable assumptions, the nonlinear dynamics of surface gravity waves can be modeled by the one-dimensional nonlinear Schrödinger equation. Besides traveling wave solutions like solitons, this model admits also breather solutions that are now considered as prototypes of rogue waves in ocean. We propose a novel technique to study the interaction between waves and ships/structures during extreme ocean conditions using such breather solutions. In particular, we discuss a state of the art sea-keeping test in a 90-meter long wave tank by creating a Peregrine breather solution hitting a scaled chemical tanker and we discuss its potential devastating effects on the ship. PMID:23405086

Climate change, forests, and the forest nursery industry

Treesearch

Richard Joseph Hebda

2008-01-01

The devastating consequences of Hurricane Katrina demonstrate how ill-prepared people are when it comes to extreme weather events and potential changes in climate. The hurricane itself cannot be directly ascribed to climate change, but the likelihood of stronger hurricanes can be. The more energy the atmosphere has as it warms because of increasing concentrations of...

Igniting the Policy Conversation: Bringing a Trauma-Informed Approach to Early Childhood System Building

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Julie; Oser, Cindy; Quigley, Kelsey

2013-01-01

The issue of early childhood trauma is becoming more prominent in early childhood policy discussions, driven by a growing recognition of the potentially devastating impacts of trauma and violence on infants, toddlers, and families. This article provides facts about the impacts of trauma and other adverse early experiences on child health and…

Derivation of chicken induced pluripotent stem cells tolerant to Newcastle disease virus-induced lysis through multiple rounds of infection

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: Newcastle disease (ND), caused by Newcastle disease virus (NDV), is a devastating disease of poultry and wild birds. ND is prevented by rigorous biocontainment and vaccination. One potential approach to prevent spread of the virus is production of birds that show innate resistance to NDV...

Modeling potential movements of the emerald ash borer: the model framework

Treesearch

Louis R. Iverson; Anantha Prasad; Jonathan Bossenbroek; Davis Sydnor; Mark W. Schwartz

2010-01-01

The emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) is threatening to decimate native ashes (Fraxinus spp.) across North America and, so far, has devastated ash populations across sections of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Ontario. We are attempting to develop a computer model that will predict EAB future movement by adapting a model developed...

Elm genetic diversity and hybridization in the presence of Dutch elm disease

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Dutch elm disease (DED) has devastated native North American elm species for more than 75 years. The impact of DED on the genetic diversity of one native elm species, U. rubra or slippery elm, is summarized and its potential impact on the genetic diversity of the other four North American native elm...

Her Majesty the Student: Marketised Higher Education and the Narcissistic (Dis)Satisfactions of the Student-Consumer

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nixon, Elizabeth; Scullion, Richard; Hearn, Robert

2018-01-01

Intensifying marketisation across higher education (HE) in England continues to generate critical commentary on the potentially devastating consequences of market logic for pedagogy. In this paper, we consider the student-consumer prominent in these debates as a contested yet under-analysed entity. In contrast to the dominance of "homo…

Previously unrecorded damage to oak, Quercus spp., in southern California by the goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus coxalis Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Buprestidae)

Treesearch

Tom W. Coleman; Steven Seybold

2008-01-01

A new and potentially devastating pest of oaks, Quercus spp., has been discovered in southern California. The goldspotted oak borer, Agrilus coxalis Waterhouse (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), colonizes the sapwood surface and phloem of the main stem and larger branches of at least three species of...

New Strategies for Managing Risks: A Balancing Act for Boards

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Pelletier, Stephen

2012-01-01

The stately collegiate gothic buildings that define the iconic West Campus at Duke University evoke a strong sense of stability and the status quo. Like all institutions of higher learning, Duke faces many potential challenges to campus equilibrium--some of which could prove devastating to the university. Risk is inherent in academe, yet colleges…

Scenes of Devastation: Chasing Hawaii's Deadly Ohia Fungus | Hawaii Public

Science.gov Websites

Scenes of Devastation: Chasing Hawaii's Deadly Ohia Fungus By Molly Solomon * Mar 25, 2016 TweetShareGoogle+Email Molly Solomon Rapid Ohia Death has devastated native forests on Hawaii Island, especially in Lower Puna subdivisions like Leilani Estates. Credit Molly Solomon One of Hawai'i's oldest and most

The potential of tetrandrine as a protective agent for ischemic stroke.

PubMed

Chen, Yun; Tsai, Ya-Hui; Tseng, Sheng-Hong

2011-09-16

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality, with a high incidence of severe morbidity in survivors. The treatment to minimize tissue injury after stroke is still unsatisfactory and it is mandatory to develop effective treatment strategies for stroke. The pathophysiology of ischemic stroke is complex and involves many processes including energy failure, loss of ion homeostasis, increased intracellular calcium level, platelet aggregation, production of reactive oxygen species, disruption of blood brain barrier, and inflammation and leukocyte infiltration, etc. Tetrandrine, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, has many pharmacologic effects including anti-inflammatory and cytoprotective effects. In addition, tetrandrine has been found to protect the liver, heart, small bowel and brain from ischemia/reperfusion injury. It is a calcium channel blocker, and can inhibit lipid peroxidation, reduce generation of reactive oxygen species, suppress the production of cytokines and inflammatory mediators, inhibit neutrophil recruitment and platelet aggregation, which are all devastating factors during ischemia/reperfusion injury of the brain. Because tetrandrine can counteract these important pathophysiological processes of ischemic stroke, it has the potential to be a protective agent for ischemic stroke.

A novel head-neck cooling device for concussion injury in contact sports

PubMed Central

Wang, Huan; Wang, Bonnie; Jackson, Kevin; Miller, Claire M.; Hasadsri, Linda; Llano, Daniel; Rubin, Rachael; Zimmerman, Jarred; Johnson, Curtis; Sutton, Brad

2015-01-01

Emerging research on the long-term impact of concussions on athletes has allowed public recognition of the potentially devastating effects of these and other mild head injuries. Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a multifaceted disease for which management remains a clinical challenge. Recent pre-clinical and clinical data strongly suggest a destructive synergism between brain temperature elevation and mTBI; conversely, brain hypothermia, with its broader, pleiotropic effects, represents the most potent neuro-protectant in laboratory studies to date. Although well-established in selected clinical conditions, a systemic approach to accomplish regional hypothermia has failed to yield an effective treatment strategy in traumatic brain injury (TBI). Furthermore, although systemic hypothermia remains a potentially valid treatment strategy for moderate to severe TBIs, it is neither practical nor safe for mTBIs. Therefore, selective head-neck cooling may represent an ideal strategy to provide therapeutic benefits to the brain. Optimizing brain temperature management using a National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) spacesuit spinoff head-neck cooling technology before and/or after mTBI in contact sports may represent a sensible, practical, and effective method to potentially enhance recover and minimize post-injury deficits. In this paper, we discuss and summarize the anatomical, physiological, preclinical, and clinical data concerning NASA spinoff head-neck cooling technology as a potential treatment for mTBIs, particularly in the context of contact sports. PMID:28123788

Potential Linkage Between Cerebrovascular Diseases and Metabolic Syndrome.

PubMed

Jabir, Nasimudeen R; Firoz, Chelapram Kandy; Khan, Mohd Shahnawaz; Zaidi, Syed Kashif; Ashraf, Ghulam Md; Shakil, Shazi; Kamal, Mohammad Amjad; Tabrez, Shams

2017-01-01

Cerebrovascular disease (CD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) are two devastating health dilemma that continues to be a potential contributor to disability and mortality in human population all across the world. Scientific data clearly shows several mechanistic similarities between these two co-existing and interlinked conditions. The linkage exacerbates ongoing patho-physiological condition towards more lethal events. In view of the presence of modifiable risk factors in both CD and MetS, their management holds potential therapeutic value. Hence, developing common treatment strategies for these diseases could involve common molecular agents. In this communication, we have summarized some of the common pathological conditions viz. abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and endothelial dysfunction that further deteriorate existing homeostasis in CD and MetS. Based on our article, it is advocated that substantial improvements in novel multi-targeted drug discovery could provide the effective treatment methods in order to avoid the fatal complications related with CD and MetS. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Advances in Understanding of Penile Carcinogenesis: The Search for Actionable Targets

PubMed Central

Chaing, Sharon; Azizi, Mounsif; Kidd, Laura C.; Kim, Patricia; Spiess, Philippe E.

2017-01-01

Penile cancer (PeCa) is a rare malignancy with potentially devastating effects. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common variant with distinct precancerous lesions before development into invasive disease. Involvement of the inguinal lymph nodes is the most important prognostic factor in PeCa, and once disease is present outside the groin, prognosis is poor. Metastatic PeCa is challenging to treat and often requires multidisciplinary approaches in management. Due to its rarity, molecular understanding of the disease continues to be limited with most studies based on small, single center series. Thus far, it appears PeCa has diverse mechanisms of carcinogenesis affecting similar molecular pathways. In this review, we evaluate the current landscape of the molecular carcinogenesis of PeCa and explore ongoing research on potential actionable targets of therapy. The emergence of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and other immunotherapeutic strategies may improve outcomes for PeCa patients. PMID:28813024

The potential of treating Gulf War Illness with curcumin.

PubMed

Leibowitz, Jeffrey A; Ormerod, Brandi K

2018-05-01

A large proportion of Gulf War Veterans suffer from Gulf War Illness (GWI) - a devastating chronic disorder characterized by heterogeneous fatigue, pain and neuropsychological symptoms. In their recent Brain, Behavior and Immunity publication entitled "Curcumin Treatment Leads to Better Cognitive and Mood Function in a Model of Gulf War Illness with Enhanced Neurogenesis, and Alleviation of Inflammation and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in the Hippocampus", Kodali and colleagues (2018) report that the polyphenol curcumin improves cognition and mood in a rat model of GWI, potentially by increasing the expression of antioxidant genes and by reversing the effects of chronic combined acetylcholinesterase inhibitor exposure on neuroinflammation, mitochondrial respiration and hippocampal neurogenesis. This preclinical work is encouraging for our veterans who suffer chronically from GWI as well as for developing strategies to protect our troops during future deployments in similar environments. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Geographical Detector-Based Risk Assessment of the Under-Five Mortality in the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake, China

PubMed Central

Hu, Yi; Wang, Jinfeng; Li, Xiaohong; Ren, Dan; Zhu, Jun

2011-01-01

On 12 May, 2008, a devastating earthquake registering 8.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Sichuan Province, China, taking tens of thousands of lives and destroying the homes of millions of people. Many of the deceased were children, particular children less than five years old who were more vulnerable to such a huge disaster than the adult. In order to obtain information specifically relevant to further researches and future preventive measures, potential risk factors associated with earthquake-related child mortality need to be identified. We used four geographical detectors (risk detector, factor detector, ecological detector, and interaction detector) based on spatial variation analysis of some potential factors to assess their effects on the under-five mortality. It was found that three factors are responsible for child mortality: earthquake intensity, collapsed house, and slope. The study, despite some limitations, has important implications for both researchers and policy makers. PMID:21738660

Geographical detector-based risk assessment of the under-five mortality in the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, China.

PubMed

Hu, Yi; Wang, Jinfeng; Li, Xiaohong; Ren, Dan; Zhu, Jun

2011-01-01

On 12 May, 2008, a devastating earthquake registering 8.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Sichuan Province, China, taking tens of thousands of lives and destroying the homes of millions of people. Many of the deceased were children, particular children less than five years old who were more vulnerable to such a huge disaster than the adult. In order to obtain information specifically relevant to further researches and future preventive measures, potential risk factors associated with earthquake-related child mortality need to be identified. We used four geographical detectors (risk detector, factor detector, ecological detector, and interaction detector) based on spatial variation analysis of some potential factors to assess their effects on the under-five mortality. It was found that three factors are responsible for child mortality: earthquake intensity, collapsed house, and slope. The study, despite some limitations, has important implications for both researchers and policy makers.

Concussions, Traumatic Brain Injury, and the Innovative Use of Omega-3s.

PubMed

Lewis, Michael D

2016-07-01

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), with its diverse heterogeneity and prolonged secondary pathogenesis, remains a clinical challenge. Clinical studies thus far have failed to identify an effective treatment strategy when a combination of targets controlling aspects of neuroprotection, neuroinflammation, and neuroregeneration is needed. Omega-3 fatty acids (n-3FA) offer the advantage of this approach. Although further clinical trial research is needed, there is a growing body of strong preclinical evidence and clinical experience that suggests that benefits may be possible from aggressively adding substantial amounts of n-3FA to optimize the nutritional foundation of TBI, concussion, and postconcussion syndrome patients. Early and optimal doses of n-3FA, even in a prophylactic setting, have the potential to improve outcomes from this potentially devastating problem. With evidence of unsurpassed safety and tolerability, n-3FA should be considered mainstream, conventional medicine, if conventional medicine can overcome its inherent bias against nutritional, nonpharmacologic therapies.

Implications of bioactive solute transfer from hosts to parasitic plants.

PubMed

Smith, Jason D; Mescher, Mark C; De Moraes, Consuelo M

2013-08-01

Parasitic plants--which make their living by extracting nutrients and other resources from other plants--are important components of many natural ecosystems; and some parasitic species are also devastating agricultural pests. To date, most research on plant parasitism has focused on nutrient transfer from host to parasite and the impacts of parasites on host plants. Far less work has addressed potential effects of the translocation of bioactive non-nutrient solutes-such as phytohormones, secondary metabolites, RNAs, and proteins-on the development and physiology of parasitic plants and on their subsequent interactions with other organisms such as insect herbivores. A growing number of recent studies document the transfer of such molecules from hosts to parasites and suggest that they may have significant impacts on parasite physiology and ecology. We review this literature and discuss potential implications for management and priorities for future research. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Virulent strain of African swine fever virus eclipses its attenuated derivative after challenge.

PubMed

Titov, Ilya; Burmakina, Galina; Morgunov, Yuriy; Morgunov, Sergey; Koltsov, Andrey; Malogolovkin, Alexander; Kolbasov, Denis

2017-10-01

African swine fever (ASF) is one of the most devastating diseases affecting the swine industry worldwide. No effective vaccine is currently available for disease prevention and control. Although live attenuated vaccines (LAV) have demonstrated great potential for immunizing against homologous strains of African swine fever virus (ASFV), adverse reactions from LAV remain a concern. Here, by using a homologous ASFV Congo strain system, we show passage-attenuated Congo LAV to induce an efficient protective immune response against challenge with the virulent parental Congo strain. Notably, only the parental challenge Congo strain was identified in blood and organs of recovered pigs through B602L gene PCR, long-range PCR, nucleotide sequencing and virus isolation. Thus, despite the great protective potential of homologous attenuated ASFV strain, the challenge Congo strain can persist for weeks in recovered pigs and a recrudescence of virulent virus at late time post-challenge may occur.

Epidemiologic methods lessons learned from environmental public health disasters: Chernobyl, the World Trade Center, Bhopal, and Graniteville, South Carolina.

PubMed

Svendsen, Erik R; Runkle, Jennifer R; Dhara, Venkata Ramana; Lin, Shao; Naboka, Marina; Mousseau, Timothy A; Bennett, Charles

2012-08-01

Environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants may have devastating effects. While much is known about their immediate devastation, far less is known about long-term impacts of these disasters. Extensive latent and chronic long-term public health effects may occur. Careful evaluation of contaminant exposures and long-term health outcomes within the constraints imposed by limited financial resources is essential. Here, we review epidemiologic methods lessons learned from conducting long-term evaluations of four environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants at Chernobyl, the World Trade Center, Bhopal, and Graniteville (South Carolina, USA). We found several lessons learned which have direct implications for the on-going disaster recovery work following the Fukushima radiation disaster or for future disasters. These lessons should prove useful in understanding and mitigating latent health effects that may result from the nuclear reactor accident in Japan or future environmental public health disasters.

Lead Exposure in the Special Operations Shooter How to Prevent Cognitive Decline and Permanent Disability.

PubMed

Brandon, Jonathan W; Solarczyk, Justin K; Durrani, Timur S

Lead toxicity is an important environmental disease and its effects on the human body can be devastating. Unique exposures to Special Operations Forces personnel may include use of firing ranges, use of automotive fuels, production of ammunition, and bodily retention of bullets. Toxicity may degrade physical and psychological fitness, and cause long-term negative health outcomes. Specific effects on fine motor movements, reaction times, and global function could negatively affect shooting skills and decision-making. Biologic monitoring and chelation treatment are poor solutions for protecting this population. Through primary prevention, Special Operations Forces personnel can be protected, in any environment, from the devastating effects of lead exposure. This article offers tools to physicians, environmental service officers, and Special Operations Medics for primary prevention of lead poisoning in the conventional and the austere or forward deployed environments. 2018.

Wildfire and the future of water supply.

PubMed

Bladon, Kevin D; Emelko, Monica B; Silins, Uldis; Stone, Micheal

2014-08-19

In many parts of the world, forests provide high quality water for domestic, agricultural, industrial, and ecological needs, with water supplies in those regions inextricably linked to forest health. Wildfires have the potential to have devastating effects on aquatic ecosystems and community drinking water supply through impacts on water quantity and quality. In recent decades, a combination of fuel load accumulation, climate change, extensive droughts, and increased human presence in forests have resulted in increases in area burned and wildfire severity-a trend predicted to continue. Thus, the implications of wildfire for many downstream water uses are increasingly concerning, particularly the provision of safe drinking water, which may require additional treatment infrastructure and increased operations and maintenance costs in communities downstream of impacted landscapes. A better understanding of the effects of wildfire on water is needed to develop effective adaptation and mitigation strategies to protect globally critical water supplies originating in forested environments.

Italy feels the effect of another deadly quake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banks, Michael

2016-12-01

Using radar data from the Copernicus Sentinel-1 satellites, the European Space Agency has released images showing the devastating effect of the 6.5-magnitude earthquake that struck central Italy on 30 October - the largest in the country for over three decades.

Health and Ecological Hazards Caused by Hazardous Substances

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

In some cases, hazardous substances may irritate the skin or eyes, make it difficult to breathe, cause headaches and nausea, result in other types of illness, or far more severe health effects. Toxic effects on the environment can be just as devastating.

Stroke from systemic vascular disorders in Saudi children. The devastating role of hypernatremic dehydration.

PubMed

Salih, Mustafa A; Zahraa, Jihad N; Al-Jarallah, Ahmed A; Alorainy, Ibrahim A; Hassan, Hamdy H

2006-03-01

Systemic vascular disorders, leading to childhood stroke, include volume depletion or systemic hypotension and hypernatremic dehydration. We describe 3 cases of stroke following systemic vascular disorders. These were diagnosed during a prospective and retrospective study on childhood stroke, which included 104 patients. Post-gastroenteritis hypernatremic dehydration is an important, potentially preventable, cause of stroke in Saudi children.

The High-Level Radioactive Waste Policy Dilemma: Prospects for a Realistic Management Policy

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hadjilambrinos, Constantine

2006-01-01

Since the dawn of the atomic age, the United States and every other nation that has chosen to use nuclear power have created hazardous substances that have the capacity to outlast human civilization, and possibly even the human species, and the potential to devastate the environment. The management of these substances that make up what has been…

Influence of host resistance on the genetic structure of the white pine blister rust fungus in the western United States

Treesearch

B. A. Richardson; N. B. Klopfenstein; P. J. Zambino; G. I. McDonald; B. W. Geils; L. M. Carris

2008-01-01

Cronartium ribicola, the causal agent of white pine blister rust, has been devastating to five-needled white pines in North America since its introduction nearly a century ago. However, dynamic and complex interactions occur among C. ribicola, five-needled white pines, and the environment. To examine potential evolutionary...

The contribution of microbial biotechnology to mitigating coral reef degradation.

PubMed

Damjanovic, Katarina; Blackall, Linda L; Webster, Nicole S; van Oppen, Madeleine J H

2017-09-01

The decline of coral reefs due to anthropogenic disturbances is having devastating impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Here we highlight the potential and challenges of microbial manipulation strategies to enhance coral tolerance to stress and contribute to coral reef restoration and protection. © 2017 The Authors. Microbial Biotechnology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd and Society for Applied Microbiology.

USDA-ARS strategies to address the imminent threat of redbay ambrosia beetle and laurel wilt disease to avocados in Florida

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Laurel wilt, a deadly fungal disease of avocado and other trees in the Lauraceae, is vectored by the redbay ambrosia beetle (Xyleborus glabratus). First detected in GA in 2002, the beetle has spread to SC and FL to within 70 miles of commercial avocado areas. Impact is potentially devastating to the...

Strategies in Ebola virus disease (EVD) diagnostics at the point of care

PubMed Central

Coarsey, Chad T.; Esiobu, Nwadiuto; Narayanan, Ramswamy; Pavlovic, Mirjana; Shafiee, Hadi; Asghar, Waseem

2017-01-01

Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a devastating, highly infectious illness with a high mortality rate. The disease is endemic to regions of Central and West Africa, where there is limited laboratory infrastructure and trained staff. The recent 2014 West African EVD outbreak has been unprecedented in case numbers and fatalities, and has proven that such regional outbreaks can become a potential threat to global public health, as it became the source for the subsequent transmission events in Spain and the USA. The urgent need for rapid and affordable means of detecting Ebola is crucial to control the spread of EVD and prevent devastating fatalities. Current diagnostic techniques include molecular diagnostics and other serological and antigen detection assays; which can be time-consuming, laboratory-based, often require trained personnel and specialized equipment. In this review, we discuss the various Ebola detection techniques currently in use, and highlight the potential future directions pertinent to the development and adoption of novel point-of-care diagnostic tools. Finally, a case is made for the need to develop novel microfluidic technologies and versatile rapid detection platforms for early detection of EVD. PMID:28440096

Emerging insights into barriers to effective brain tumor therapeutics.

PubMed

Woodworth, Graeme F; Dunn, Gavin P; Nance, Elizabeth A; Hanes, Justin; Brem, Henry

2014-01-01

There is great promise that ongoing advances in the delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system (CNS) combined with rapidly expanding knowledge of brain tumor patho-biology will provide new, more effective therapies. Brain tumors that form from brain cells, as opposed to those that come from other parts of the body, rarely metastasize outside of the CNS. Instead, the tumor cells invade deep into the brain itself, causing disruption in brain circuits, blood vessel and blood flow changes, and tissue swelling. Patients with the most common and deadly form, glioblastoma (GBM) rarely live more than 2 years even with the most aggressive treatments and often with devastating neurological consequences. Current treatments include maximal safe surgical removal or biopsy followed by radiation and chemotherapy to address the residual tumor mass and invading tumor cells. However, delivering effective and sustained treatments to these invading cells without damaging healthy brain tissue is a major challenge and focus of the emerging fields of nanomedicine and viral and cell-based therapies. New treatment strategies, particularly those directed against the invasive component of this devastating CNS disease, are sorely needed. In this review, we (1) discuss the history and evolution of treatments for GBM, (2) define and explore three critical barriers to improving therapeutic delivery to invasive brain tumors, specifically, the neuro-vascular unit as it relates to the blood brain barrier, the extra-cellular space in regard to the brain penetration barrier, and the tumor genetic heterogeneity and instability in association with the treatment efficacy barrier, and (3) identify promising new therapeutic delivery approaches that have the potential to address these barriers and create sustained, meaningful efficacy against GBM.

Natural Compounds and Neuroprotection: Mechanisms of Action and Novel Delivery Systems.

PubMed

Bagli, Eleni; Goussia, Anna; Moschos, Marilita M; Agnantis, Niki; Kitsos, Georgios

Neurodegeneration characterizes pathologic conditions, ranging from Alzheimer's disease to glaucoma, with devastating social and economic effects. It is a complex process implicating a series of molecular and cellular events, such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, protein misfolding, excitotoxicity and inflammation. Natural compounds, because of their broad spectrum of pharmacological and biological activities, could be possible candidates for the management of such multifactorial morbidities. However, their therapeutic potential against neurodegenerative diseases has been hampered by their poor bioavailability and subsequent insufficient delivery to the brain. This article provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms through which natural compounds exert their neuroprotective effects, as well as the development of novel natural compound-loaded delivery systems that could improve their neuroavailability. Copyright © 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

Therapeutic Use of Prebiotics, Probiotics, and Postbiotics to Prevent Necrotizing Enterocolitis: What is the Current Evidence?

PubMed Central

Patel, Ravi Mangal; Denning, Patricia Wei

2013-01-01

Synopsis Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality and preventative therapies that are both effective and safe are urgently needed. Current evidence from therapeutic trials suggests that probiotics are effective in decreasing NEC in preterm infants and probiotics are currently the most promising therapy on the horizon for this devastating disease. However, concerns regarding safety and optimal dosing have limited the widespread adoption of routine clinical use of probiotics in preterm infants. In addition, prebiotics and postbiotics may be potential alternatives or adjunctive therapies to the administration of live microorganisms, although studies demonstrating their clinical efficacy in preventing NEC are lacking. This review summarizes the current evidence regarding the use of probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics in the preterm infant, including its therapeutic role in preventing NEC. PMID:23415261

Drug delivery, cell-based therapies, and tissue engineering approaches for spinal cord injury.

PubMed

Kabu, Shushi; Gao, Yue; Kwon, Brian K; Labhasetwar, Vinod

2015-12-10

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in devastating neurological and pathological consequences, causing major dysfunction to the motor, sensory, and autonomic systems. The primary traumatic injury to the spinal cord triggers a cascade of acute and chronic degenerative events, leading to further secondary injury. Many therapeutic strategies have been developed to potentially intervene in these progressive neurodegenerative events and minimize secondary damage to the spinal cord. Additionally, significant efforts have been directed toward regenerative therapies that may facilitate neuronal repair and establish connectivity across the injury site. Despite the promise that these approaches have shown in preclinical animal models of SCI, challenges with respect to successful clinical translation still remain. The factors that could have contributed to failure include important biologic and physiologic differences between the preclinical models and the human condition, study designs that do not mirror clinical reality, discrepancies in dosing and the timing of therapeutic interventions, and dose-limiting toxicity. With a better understanding of the pathobiology of events following acute SCI, developing integrated approaches aimed at preventing secondary damage and also facilitating neuroregenerative recovery is possible and hopefully will lead to effective treatments for this devastating injury. The focus of this review is to highlight the progress that has been made in drug therapies and delivery systems, and also cell-based and tissue engineering approaches for SCI. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Elevated venous thromboembolism risk in preeclampsia: molecular mechanisms and clinical impact.

PubMed

Egan, Karl; Kevane, Barry; Ní Áinle, Fionnuala

2015-08-01

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a leading cause of maternal death and morbidity in the developed world. Strategies for prevention of VTE in pregnancy have been the subject of recent guidelines and consensus statements. These guidelines recommend thrombosis prevention in women who have risk factors associated with an elevated VTE risk. Preeclampsia is characterized by maternal hypertension and proteinuria developing after 20 weeks gestation, complicating up to 7% of pregnancies and is associated with a massive annual morbidity and mortality burden. Women with preeclampsia have been shown to be at increased risk of VTE with studies to date suggesting that this risk may be up to 5-fold greater than the risk of pregnancy-associated VTE in the general population. Despite the fact that preeclampsia is so common and potentially devastating, our understanding of its pathogenesis and potential therapeutic strategies remain poor. In addition, the mechanisms underlying the prothrombotic phenotype in preeclampsia are also poorly characterized although a number of potential mechanisms have been postulated. Derangements of platelet and endothelial activation and impairment of endogenous anti-coagulant pathways have been reported and may contribute to the observed VTE risk. Recently, evidence for the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and cell-free DNA in the pathogenesis of VTE has emerged and some evidence exists to suggest that this may be of relevance in preeclampsia. Future studies aimed at understanding the diagnostic and potential therapeutic relevance of this procoagulant state are likely to be of enormous clinical benefit for pregnant women affected with this potentially devastating condition. © 2015 Authors; published by Portland Press Limited.

rTMS in the treatment of drug addiction: an update about human studies.

PubMed

Bellamoli, Elisa; Manganotti, Paolo; Schwartz, Robert P; Rimondo, Claudia; Gomma, Maurizio; Serpelloni, Giovanni

2014-01-01

Drug addiction can be a devastating and chronic relapsing disorder with social, psychological, and physical consequences, and more effective treatment options are needed. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a noninvasive brain stimulation technique that has been assessed in a growing number of studies for its therapeutic potential in treating addiction. This review paper offers an overview on the current state of clinical research in treating drug addiction with rTMS. Because of the limited research in this area, all studies (including case reports) that evaluated the therapeutic use of rTMS in nicotine, alcohol, or illicit drug addiction were included in this review. Papers published prior to December 2012 were found through an NCBI PubMed search. A total of eleven studies were identified that met review criteria. There is nascent evidence that rTMS could be effective in reducing cocaine craving and nicotine and alcohol craving and consumption and might represent a potential therapeutic tool for treating addiction. Further studies are needed to identify the optimal parameters of stimulation for the most effective treatment of drug addiction, to improve our comprehension of the treatment neurophysiological effects, and to conduct rigorous, controlled efficacy studies with adequate power.

Hazard potential of volcanic flank collapses raised by new megatsunami evidence

PubMed Central

Ramalho, Ricardo S.; Winckler, Gisela; Madeira, José; Helffrich, George R.; Hipólito, Ana; Quartau, Rui; Adena, Katherine; Schaefer, Joerg M.

2015-01-01

Large-scale gravitational flank collapses of steep volcanic islands are hypothetically capable of triggering megatsunamis with highly catastrophic effects. Yet, evidence for the generation and impact of collapse-triggered megatsunamis and their high run-ups remains scarce or is highly controversial. Therefore, doubts remain on whether island flank failures truly generate enough volume flux to trigger giant tsunamis, leading to diverging opinions concerning the real hazard potential of such collapses. We show that one of the most prominent oceanic volcanoes on Earth—Fogo, in the Cape Verde Islands—catastrophically collapsed and triggered a megatsunami with devastating effects ~73,000 years ago. Our deductions are based on the recent discovery and cosmogenic 3He dating of tsunamigenic deposits found on nearby Santiago Island, which attest to the impact of this giant tsunami and document wave run-up heights exceeding 270 m. The evidence reported here implies that Fogo’s flank failure involved at least one fast and voluminous event that led to a giant tsunami, in contrast to what has been suggested before. Our observations therefore further demonstrate that flank collapses may indeed catastrophically happen and are capable of triggering tsunamis of enormous height and energy, adding to their hazard potential. PMID:26601287

Breath Alkane as an index of severity for oral submucous fibrosis: A new perspective?

PubMed

Arakeri, Gururaj; Boraks, George; Aljabab, Abdulsalam S; Patil, Shekar Gowda; Merkx, M A W; Brennan, Peter A

2017-01-01

Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) is a devastating disease commonly seen in the Asian subcontinent that results in significant functional morbidity for patients and has a high potential for malignant transformation. Over the last three decades, different diagnostic methods have been described to quantify and grade OSMF severity. Some methods have been used with perceived favorable outcomes although recurrence and malignant transformation remains a problem in many cases, and OSMF presents a major therapeutic challenge. We present a simple, noninvasive and less time-consuming diagnostic method which measures the severity of OSMF, helping to predict its malignant transformation and monitoring the effect of medical therapy on this disease. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Focus group positioning and analysis: a commentary on adjuncts for enhancing the design of health care research.

PubMed

Johnson, B C

1990-01-01

As health care competition increases, and as the penalties for making poor decisions become potentially more devastating, market research continues to play an increasingly important role in the decision-making process for hospitals. Concern over the appropriate use of market research and the costs related to it remains high. As such, efficiency in research design and clarity in research outcome are clearly the goals. This paper examines the focus group process and its adjunctive role in enhancing the overall design of health care market research. Specifically, the function and placement of focus groups within the research plan as well as several methods of creative focus group analysis are considered within the context of an effective research design.

Hand injury with a nail gun: a case report with literature review.

PubMed

Boya, Hakan; Uzun, Belkan

2015-01-01

The nail gun was introduced in the late 1950s to increase the ease of driving nails, studs, bolts, or staples into various hard surfaces. The nail gun is a potentially dangerous device that is still commonly used in the construction industry. Since its introduction, an increasing number of studies have reported injuries associated with nail guns. Nail gun-related injuries-such as to the head, neck, and chest-can be devastating, and in some cases, even fatal. Extremity injuries, notably in the hand, can cause loss of function, missed work, and long-term health effects. This case report describes a nail-gun injury of the hand along with a discussion of the unique features of and treatment strategies for nail gun injuries.

The Effect of War on Children.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldson, Edward

1996-01-01

This paper discusses the effects of modern war on children in the 20th century, focusing on direct and indirect effects of World War II, Vietnam War, war in Afghanistan, conflicts in Africa and in Central America, and Persian Gulf War. The paper notes the devastating effects on children of disruption of education and other public services in…

When wildfire damage threatens humans, Landsat provides answers

USGS Publications Warehouse

Young, Steven

2016-07-12

A wildfire’s devastation of forest and rangeland seldom ends when the last embers die. In the western United States, rain on a scorched mountainside can turn ash into mudslides. Debris flows unleashed by rainstorms can put nearby homes into harm’s way and send people scrambling for safety. The infrared capabilities of Landsat satellite imagery provide vita information about potential dangers after a wildfire.

Orthopedic injuries from the Andover, Kansas, tornado.

PubMed

Rosenfield, A L; McQueen, D A; Lucas, G L

1994-05-01

Devastating tornados struck the state of Kansas on Friday, April 26, 1991. Twenty lives were lost and many people were injured. Property damage was extensive. Overall, the outcome of those admitted to the various hospitals was good, with few orthopedic-related complications. The low complication rate can be attributed to thorough open wound management and suspicion and recognition of other potential orthopedic complications such as compartment syndrome.

Journey During Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Physician’s Experience

PubMed Central

Hoong, Low Chen; Sharma, Vijay K.

2010-01-01

Acute ischemic stroke is a potentially devastating condition. What follows is a true narration of the experience of a doctor-patient during his treatment for acute ischemic stroke and how the experience changed him. Described is the temporal sequence of events, starting from home to infusion of tissue plasminogen activator, which, when coupled with a multimodal therapeutic approach, resulted in an excellent clinical recovery. PMID:20458112

Development of the teneral adult Anoplophora glabripennis (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae): time to initiate and completely bore out of maple wood

Treesearch

V. Sanchez; M.A. Keena

2013-01-01

Anoplophora glabripennis (Motschulsky) is an introduced invasive pest with the potential to devastate hardwood forests in North America. Using artificial pupal chambers, we documented the time required by teneral adults at three temperatures (20, 25, and 30°C), 60-80% RH, and a photoperiod of 16:8 (L:D) h to initiate boring after eclosion...

Seeking approval: Present and future therapies for pemphigus vulgaris

PubMed Central

Mao, Xuming; Payne, Aimee S

2014-01-01

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Despite the potentially fatal prognosis, there are currently no FDA-approved treatments specifically for pemphigus. In 2006, the FDA designated orphan drug status to mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris indicating both federal and commercial interest in developing therapies for this devastating disease. This review focuses on pemphigus therapies that are currently in preclinical or clinical trials, as well as potential novel therapies based on recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease. PMID:18465660

Seeking approval: present and future therapies for pemphigus vulgaris.

PubMed

Mao, Xuming; Payne, Aimee S

2008-05-01

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune blistering disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Despite the potentially fatal prognosis, there are currently no FDA-approved treatments specifically for pemphigus. In 2006, the FDA designated orphan drug status to mycophenolate mofetil for the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris, indicating both federal and commercial interest in developing therapies for this devastating disease. This review focuses on pemphigus therapies that are currently in preclinical or clinical trials, as well as potential novel therapies based on recent advances in the understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease.

Vegetable Oils and Animal Fats

EPA Pesticide Factsheets

non-petroleum oils are also regulated under CFR 112. Like petroleum oils, they can cause devastating physical effects, be toxic, destroy food supplies and habitats, produce rancid odors, foul shorelines and treatment plants, be flammable, and linger.

Pinpointing brainstem mechanisms responsible for autonomic dysfunction in Rett syndrome: therapeutic perspectives for 5-HT1A agonists

PubMed Central

Abdala, Ana P.; Bissonnette, John M.; Newman-Tancredi, Adrian

2014-01-01

Rett syndrome is a neurological disorder caused by loss of function of methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). Reduced function of this ubiquitous transcriptional regulator has a devastating effect on the central nervous system. One of the most severe and life-threatening presentations of this syndrome is brainstem dysfunction, which results in autonomic disturbances such as breathing deficits, typified by episodes of breathing cessation intercalated with episodes of hyperventilation or irregular breathing. Defects in numerous neurotransmitter systems have been observed in Rett syndrome both in animal models and patients. Here we dedicate special attention to serotonin due to its role in promoting regular breathing, increasing vagal tone, regulating mood, alleviating Parkinsonian-like symptoms and potential for therapeutic translation. A promising new symptomatic strategy currently focuses on regulation of serotonergic function using highly selective serotonin type 1A (5-HT1A) “biased agonists.” We address this newly emerging therapy for respiratory brainstem dysfunction and challenges for translation with a holistic perspective of Rett syndrome, considering potential mood and motor effects. PMID:24910619

New therapeutic targets for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

PubMed

Kuzma-Kozakiewicz, Magdalena; Kwiecinski, Hubert

2011-02-01

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is one of the most devastating neurological disorders, affecting approximately half a million people worldwide. Currently there is no cure or prevention for ALS. Although ALS is a rare condition, it places a tremendous socioeconomic burden on patients, family members, caregivers and health systems. The review examines the mechanisms that may contribute to motor neuron degeneration in ALS, among which oxidative damage, glutatamate excitoxicity, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired axonal transport, apoptotic cell death, growth factor deficiency, glial cell pathology and abnormal RNA metabolism are potential targets for ALS treatment. The article provides an overview of clinical trials performed to date in attempts to treat ALS with regard to molecular mechanisms and pathways they act on. It also discusses new trials based on recently developed molecular biology techniques. Despite significant effectiveness of several potential therapeutics observed in preclinical trials, the results were not translatable to patients with ALS. The development of effective treatments of ALS strictly depends on understanding the primary cause of the disease. This goal will only be achieved when we identify the trigger point for motor neuron death in ALS.

A Review on the Effect of Traditional Chinese Medicine Against Anthracycline-Induced Cardiac Toxicity

PubMed Central

Yang, Xinyu; Liu, Nian; Li, Xinye; Yang, Yihan; Wang, Xiaofeng; Li, Linling; Jiang, Le; Gao, Yonghong; Tang, Hebin; Tang, Yong; Xing, Yanwei; Shang, Hongcai

2018-01-01

Anthracyclines are effective agents generally used to treat solid-tumor and hematologic malignancies. The use of anthracyclines for over 40 years has improved cancer survival statistics. Nevertheless, the clinical utility of anthracyclines is limited by its dose-dependent cardiotoxicity that adversely affects 10–30% of patients. Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity may be classified as acute/subacute or chronic/late toxicity and leads to devastating adverse effects resulting in poor quality of life, morbidity, and premature mortality. Traditional Chinese medicine has a history of over 2,000 years, involving both unique theories and substantial experience. Several studies have investigated the potential of natural products to decrease the cardiotoxic effects of chemotherapeutic agents on healthy cells, without negatively affecting their antineoplastic activity. This article discusses the mechanism of anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity, and summarizes traditional Chinese medicine treatment for anthracycline-induced heart failure (HF), cardiac arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, and myocardial ischemia in recent years, in order to provide a reference for the clinical prevention and treatment of cardiac toxicity. PMID:29867456

Colorectal Cancer Screening in Asia.

PubMed

Chiu, Han-Mo; Hsu, Wen-Feng; Chang, Li-Chun; Wu, Ming-Hsiang

2017-08-10

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing in Asia, especially in regions with higher levels of economic development. Several Asian countries have launched population CRC screening programs to combat this devastating disease because previous studies have demonstrated that either fecal occult blood test or lower gastrointestinal endoscopy can effectively reduce CRC mortality. Screening includes engaging the population, testing, administering a confirmation examination, and treating screening-detected neoplasms; thus, monitoring the whole process using measurable indicators over time is of utmost importance. Only when the quality of every step is secured can the effectiveness of CRC screening be maximized. Screening and verification examination rates remain low in Asian countries, and important infrastructure, including cancer or death registry systems, colonoscopy capacity, and reasonable subsidization for screening, is lacking or insufficient. Future research should identify potential local barriers to screening. Good communication and dialog among screening organizers, clinicians, professional societies, and public health workers are indispensible for successful screening programs.

HIV/AIDS vaccines for Africa: scientific opportunities, challenges and strategies

PubMed Central

Chin'ombe, Nyasha; Ruhanya, Vurayai

2015-01-01

More than decades have already elapsed since human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) was identified as the causative agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The HIV has since spread to all parts of the world with devastating effects. In sub-saharan Africa, the HIV/AIDS epidemic has reached unprecedented proportions. Safe, effective and affordable HIV/AIDS vaccines for Africans are therefore urgently needed to contain this public health problem. Although, there are challenges, there are also scientific opportunities and strategies that can be exploited in the development of HIV/AIDS vaccines for Africa. The recent RV144 Phase III trial in Thailand has demonstrated that it is possible to develop a vaccine that can potentially elicit modest protective immunity against HIV infection. The main objective of this review is to outline the key scientific opportunities, challenges and strategies in HIV/AIDS vaccine development in Africa. PMID:26185576

Epidemiologic Methods Lessons Learned from Environmental Public Health Disasters: Chernobyl, the World Trade Center, Bhopal, and Graniteville, South Carolina

PubMed Central

Svendsen, Erik R.; Runkle, Jennifer R.; Dhara, Venkata Ramana; Lin, Shao; Naboka, Marina; Mousseau, Timothy A.; Bennett, Charles

2012-01-01

Background: Environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants may have devastating effects. While much is known about their immediate devastation, far less is known about long-term impacts of these disasters. Extensive latent and chronic long-term public health effects may occur. Careful evaluation of contaminant exposures and long-term health outcomes within the constraints imposed by limited financial resources is essential. Methods: Here, we review epidemiologic methods lessons learned from conducting long-term evaluations of four environmental public health disasters involving hazardous contaminants at Chernobyl, the World Trade Center, Bhopal, and Graniteville (South Carolina, USA). Findings: We found several lessons learned which have direct implications for the on-going disaster recovery work following the Fukushima radiation disaster or for future disasters. Interpretation: These lessons should prove useful in understanding and mitigating latent health effects that may result from the nuclear reactor accident in Japan or future environmental public health disasters. PMID:23066404

Surveillance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds during Outbreaks in Domestic Poultry, Minnesota, 2015.

PubMed

Jennelle, Christopher S; Carstensen, Michelle; Hildebrand, Erik C; Cornicelli, Louis; Wolf, Paul; Grear, Daniel A; Ip, Hon S; Vandalen, Kaci K; Minicucci, Larissa A

2016-07-01

In 2015, a major outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection devastated poultry facilities in Minnesota, USA. To understand the potential role of wild birds, we tested 3,139 waterfowl fecal samples and 104 sick and dead birds during March 9-June 4, 2015. HPAIV was isolated from a Cooper's hawk but not from waterfowl fecal samples.

Potential therapeutic applications of plant toxin-ricin in cancer: challenges and advances.

PubMed

Tyagi, Nikhil; Tyagi, Monika; Pachauri, Manendra; Ghosh, Prahlad C

2015-11-01

Cancer is one of the most common devastating disease affecting millions of people per year worldwide. To fight against cancer, a number of natural plant compounds have been exploited by researchers to discover novel anti-cancer therapeutics with minimum or no side effects and plants have proved their usefulness in anti-cancer therapy in past few years. Ricin, a cytotoxic plant protein isolated from castor bean seeds, is a ribosome-inactivating protein which destroys the cells by inhibiting proteins synthesis. Ricin presents great potential as anti-cancer agent and exerts its anti-cancer activity by inducing apoptosis in cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the current information on anti-cancer properties of plant toxin ricin, its potential applications in cancer therapy, challenges associated with its use as therapeutic agent and the recent advances made to overcome these challenges. Nanotechnology could open the doors for quick development of ricin-based anti-cancer therapeutics. Conceivably, ricin may serve as a chemotherapeutic agent against cancer by utilizing nanocarriers for its targeted delivery to cancer cells.

Topographic stress and catastrophic collapse of volcanic islands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moon, S.; Perron, J. T.; Martel, S. J.

2017-12-01

Flank collapse of volcanic islands can devastate coastal environments and potentially induce tsunamis. Previous studies have suggested that factors such as volcanic eruption events, gravitational spreading, the reduction of material strength due to hydrothermal alteration, steep coastal cliffs, or sea level change may contribute to slope instability and induce catastrophic collapse of volcanic flanks. In this study, we examine the potential influence of three-dimensional topographic stress perturbations on flank collapses of volcanic islands. Using a three-dimensional boundary element model, we calculate subsurface stress fields for the Canary and Hawaiian islands to compare the effects of stratovolcano and shield volcano shapes on topographic stresses. Our model accounts for gravitational stresses from the actual shapes of volcanic islands, ambient stress in the underlying plate, and the influence of pore water pressure. We quantify the potential for slope failure of volcanic flanks using a combined model of three-dimensional topographic stress and slope stability. The results of our analysis show that subsurface stress fields vary substantially depending on the shapes of volcanoes, and can influence the size and spatial distribution of flank failures.

The Role of Brincidofovir in Preparation for a Potential Smallpox Outbreak.

PubMed

Foster, Scott A; Parker, Scott; Lanier, Randall

2017-10-30

Smallpox (variola) virus is considered a Category A bioterrorism agent due to its ability to spread rapidly and the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with infection. Current recommendations recognize the importance of oral antivirals and call for having at least two smallpox antivirals with different mechanisms of action available in the event of a smallpox outbreak. Multiple antivirals are recommended due in large part to the propensity of viruses to become resistant to antiviral therapy, especially monotherapy. Advances in synthetic biology heighten concerns that a bioterror attack with variola would utilize engineered resistance to antivirals and potentially vaccines. Brincidofovir, an oral antiviral in late stage development, has proven effective against orthopoxviruses in vitro and in vivo, has a different mechanism of action from tecovirimat (the only oral smallpox antiviral currently in the US Strategic National Stockpile), and has a resistance profile that reduces concerns in the scenario of a bioterror attack using genetically engineered smallpox. Given the devastating potential of smallpox as a bioweapon, preparation of a multi-pronged defense that accounts for the most obvious bioengineering possibilities is strategically imperative.

COST EFFECTIVE SEAWATER DESALINATION WITH FICP ELEMENT ARRAYS - PHASE II

EPA Science Inventory

Lack of fresh water hinders economic development, devastates human health, leads to environmental degradation and foments political instability. We obtain our water from limited and unevenly distributed surface and underground freshwater sources. Over withdrawal from these ...

Liquefaction Effects from the Bhuj earthquake

NASA Image and Video Library

2001-04-25

This image from NASA Terra satellite shows the Kachchh region in the Gujarat province of western India. On January 26, 2001, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake devastated this area, killing 20,000 people and destroying buildings, dams, and port facilities.

Dewatering Effects from the Gujarat earthquake

NASA Image and Video Library

2003-02-05

On January 26, 2001, when India Republic Day is normally celebrated, a devastating earthquake hit the state of Gujarat. These two false-color images were acquired by NASA Terra spacecraft before and after the event, on January 15 and 31.

3 CFR 8406 - Proclamation 8406 of August 31, 2009. National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month, 2009

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... promote healthy living. Without effective treatment, abuse of alcohol, illicit drugs, or prescription medications can devastate the mind and body. With treatment, substance use disorders can be managed, giving...

Impacts of Extreme Space Weather Events on Power Grid Infrastructure: Physics-Based Modelling of Geomagnetically-Induced Currents (GICs) During Carrington-Class Geomagnetic Storms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Henderson, M. G.; Bent, R.; Chen, Y.; Delzanno, G. L.; Jeffery, C. A.; Jordanova, V. K.; Morley, S.; Rivera, M. K.; Toth, G.; Welling, D. T.; Woodroffe, J. R.; Engel, M.

2017-12-01

Large geomagnetic storms can have devastating effects on power grids. The largest geomagnetic storm ever recorded - called the Carrington Event - occurred in 1859 and produced Geomagnetically Induced Currents (GICs) strong enough to set fires in telegraph offices. It has been estimated that if such a storm occurred today, it would have devastating, long-lasting effects on the North American power transmission infrastructure. Acutely aware of this imminent threat, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) was recently instructed to establish requirements for transmission system performance during geomagnetic disturbance (GMD) events and, although the benchmarks adopted were based on the best available data at the time, they suffer from a severely limited physical understanding of the behavior of GMDs and the resulting GICs for strong events. To rectify these deficiencies, we are developing a first-of-its-kind data-informed modelling capability that will provide transformational understanding of the underlying physical mechanisms responsible for the most harmful intense localized GMDs and their impacts on real power transmission networks. This work is being conducted in two separate modes of operation: (1) using historical, well-observed large storm intervals for which robust data-assimilation can be performed, and (2) extending the modelling into a predictive realm in order to assess impacts of poorly and/or never-before observed Carrington-class events. Results of this work are expected to include a potential replacement for the current NERC benchmarking methodology and the development of mitigation strategies in real power grid networks. We report on progress to date and show some preliminary results of modeling large (but not yet extreme) events.

Racism and Sexism in Child Welfare: Effects on Women of Color as Mothers and Practitioners.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Woldeguiorguis, Isa M.

2003-01-01

Articulates the factors in operation when racism and sexism influence decision making in child protective services (CPS) and the devastating effect they have on clients and practitioners. Details a case study with the recommendation that understanding these interrelated experiences is a prerequisite for inclusive, equitable systems reform. Poses…

Question Number Two: How Many Factors?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goodwyn, Fara

2012-01-01

Exploratory factor analysis involves five key decisions. The second decision, how many factors to retain, is the focus of the current paper. Extracting too many or too few factors often leads to devastating effects on study results. The advantages and disadvantages of the most effective and/or most utilized strategies to determine the number of…

Economic Shocks, Wealth, and Welfare

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frankenberg, Elizabeth; Smith, James P.; Thomas, Duncan

2003-01-01

The immediate effects of the Asian crisis on the well-being of Indonesians are examined using the Indonesia Family Life Survey, an ongoing longitudinal household survey. There is tremendous diversity in the effect of the shock: for some households, it was devastating; for others it brought new opportunities. A wide array of mechanisms was adopted…

Advances in understanding the pathogenesis of CNS acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and potential for therapy.

PubMed

Frishman-Levy, Liron; Izraeli, Shai

2017-01-01

Central nervous system acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (CNS-ALL) is a major clinical problem. CNS-directed 'prophylactic' chemo- or radio - therapy is associated with significant early and long-term toxicity. Moreover, greater than a third of the relapses occur in the CNS. To design specific, more effective and less toxic therapy and for personalized precise adjustment of prophylactic therapy there is a need for better understanding of the biology of this disease. Specifically, the precise neurotropic mechanisms of ALL are currently unclear, as is the pathogenesis of CNS relapse. Here we review and contrast the recent findings with earlier studies of pathogenesis of CNS leukaemia. We also describe the challenges in research of this devastating complication of ALL. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Rebalancing the Addicted Brain: Oxytocin Interference with the Neural Substrates of Addiction.

PubMed

Bowen, Michael T; Neumann, Inga D

2017-12-01

Drugs that act on the brain oxytocin (OXT) system may provide a much-needed treatment breakthrough for substance-use disorders. Targeting the brain OXT system has the potential to treat addiction to all major classes of addictive substance and to intervene across all stages of the addiction cycle. Emerging evidence suggests that OXT is able to interfere with such a wide range of addictive behaviours for such a wide range of addictive substances by rebalancing core neural systems that become dysregulated over the course of addiction. By improving our understanding of these interactions between OXT and the neural substrates of addiction, we will not only improve our understanding of addiction, but also our ability to effectively treat these devastating disorders. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Successful fifth metatarsal bulk autograft reconstruction of thermal necrosis post intramedullary fixation.

PubMed

Veljkovic, Andrea; Le, Vu; Escudero, Mario; Salat, Peter; Wing, Kevin; Penner, Murray; Younger, Alastair

2018-03-21

Reamed intramedullary (IM) screw fixation for proximal fifth metatarsal fractures is technically challenging with potentially devastating complications if basic principles are not followed. A case of an iatrogenic fourth-degree burn after elective reamed IM screw fixation of a proximal fifth metatarsal fracture in a high-level athlete is reported. The case was complicated by postoperative osteomyelitis with third-degree soft-tissue defect. This was successfully treated with staged autologous bone graft reconstruction, tendon reconstruction, and local bi-pedicle flap coverage. The patient returned to competitive-level sports, avoiding the need for fifth ray amputation. Critical points of the IM screw technique and definitive reconstruction are discussed. Bulk autograft reconstruction is a safe and effective alternative to ray amputation in segmental defects of the fifth metatarsal.Level of evidence V.

Pathophysiology and Treatment of Memory Dysfunction after Traumatic Brain Injury

PubMed Central

Paterno, Rosalia; Folweiler, Kaitlin A.; Cohen, Akiva S.

2018-01-01

Memory is fundamental to everyday life, and cognitive impairments resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI) have devastating effects on TBI survivors. A contributing component to memory impairments caused by TBI are alterations in the neural circuits associated with memory function. In this review, we aim to bring together experimental findings that characterize behavioral memory deficits and the underlying pathophysiology of memory-involved circuits after TBI. While there is little doubt that TBI causes memory and cognitive dysfunction, it is difficult to conclude which memory phase i.e., encoding, maintenance or retrieval is specifically altered by TBI. This is most likely due to variation in behavioral protocols and experimental models. Additionally we review a selection of experimental treatments that hold translational potential to mitigate memory dysfunction following injury. PMID:28500417

Military pain management in 21st century war.

PubMed

Buckenmaier, Chester C; Griffith, Scott

2010-07-01

Morphine and other opioid drugs have played a major role in austere environment pain management since the Civil War, particularly in the military. While the pre-eminence and success of such medications is without question, their use is accompanied by significant side effects that are undesirable in the most advanced medical settings, and are potentially devastating in the field environment. Recently, there have been significant improvements in pain care for America's wounded service members, along with a shift in how many care providers view pain management. An increasing number of healthcare providers are seeing pain not merely as a symptom, but as a disease process. In addition to dramatically improving care for wounded service members, the evolution in the military's approach to pain is enhancing care for civilians.

The lesser known challenge of climate change: thermal variance and sex-reversal in vertebrates with temperature-dependent sex determination.

PubMed

Neuwald, Jennifer L; Valenzuela, Nicole

2011-03-23

Climate change is expected to disrupt biological systems. Particularly susceptible are species with temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD), as in many reptiles. While the potentially devastating effect of rising mean temperatures on sex ratios in TSD species is appreciated, the consequences of increased thermal variance predicted to accompany climate change remain obscure. Surprisingly, no study has tested if the effect of thermal variance around high-temperatures (which are particularly relevant given climate change predictions) has the same or opposite effects as around lower temperatures. Here we show that sex ratios of the painted turtle (Chrysemys picta) were reversed as fluctuations increased around low and high unisexual mean-temperatures. Unexpectedly, the developmental and sexual responses around female-producing temperatures were decoupled in a more complex manner than around male-producing values. Our novel observations are not fully explained by existing ecological models of development and sex determination, and provide strong evidence that thermal fluctuations are critical for shaping the biological outcomes of climate change.

‘You never told me I would turn into a gambler’: a first person account of dopamine agonist – induced gambling addiction in a patient with restless legs syndrome

PubMed Central

Jones, Henrietta Bowden; George, Sanju

2011-01-01

Dopaminergic agents are commonly used and effective treatments for restless legs syndrome (RLS), a disabling sensorimotor disorder. Less known are some of the potentially disabling side effects of these treatments, particularly iatrogenic gambling addiction, as is described here. Here the authors present a 62-year-old man, with a 20–year history of RLS, who developed gambling addiction while on dopaminergic treatment. He was not forewarned of this side effect, nor was he ever screened for gambling behaviours prior to or during treatment. Eight months after discontinuation of dopaminergic treatment and after 10 sessions of cognitive–behavioural therapy for gambling addiction, his gambling behaviours have partially resolved. To our knowledge, this is the first ever first person account of this condition. To prevent the devastating consequences of gambling addiction or to minimise its impact by early intervention, the authors call for clinicians involved in treatment of RLS to follow these simple measures: screen patients for gambling behaviours prior to the onset and during dopaminergic treatment; forewarn patients of this potential side effect; and if patients screen positive, refer them to specialist gambling treatment services, in addition to making necessary changes to their medication regime. PMID:22678941

The RON receptor tyrosine kinase in pancreatic cancer pathogenesis and its potential implications for future targeted therapies.

PubMed

Kang, Chang Moo; Babicky, Michele L; Lowy, Andrew M

2014-03-01

Pancreatic cancer remains a devastating disease with a mortality rate that has not changed substantially in decades. Novel therapies are therefore desperately needed. The RON receptor tyrosine kinase has been identified as an important mediator of KRAS oncogene addiction and is overexpressed in the majority of pancreatic cancers. Preclinical studies show that inhibition of RON function decreases pancreatic cancer cell migration, invasion, and survival and can sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy. This article reviews the current state of knowledge regarding RON biology and pancreatic cancer and discusses its potential as a therapeutic target.

Preparedness and catastrophic event management for the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

2010-12-01

The devastating effects of terrorism are distinctly clear and realistic to our generation with the haunting September 11 attacks, the 2005 subway bombings in London, the 2009 attempted Christmas attack, and constant turmoil overseas. Therefore, it is...

Sodium glucose cotransporter SGLT1 as a therapeutic target in diabetes mellitus

PubMed Central

Song, Panai; Onishi, Akira; Koepsell, Hermann; Vallon, Volker

2016-01-01

Introduction Glycemic control is important in diabetes mellitus to minimize the progression of the disease and the risk of potentially devastating complications. Inhibition of the sodium–glucose cotransporter SGLT2 induces glucosuria and has been established as a new anti-hyperglycemic strategy. SGLT1 plays a distinct and complementing role to SGLT2 in glucose homeostasis and, therefore, SGLT1 inhibition may also have therapeutic potential. Areas covered This review focuses on the physiology of SGLT1 in the small intestine and kidney and its pathophysiological role in diabetes. The therapeutic potential of SGLT1 inhibition, alone as well as in combination with SGLT2 inhibition, for anti-hyperglycemic therapy are discussed. Additionally, this review considers the effects on other SGLT1-expressing organs like the heart. Expert opinion SGLT1 inhibition improves glucose homeostasis by reducing dietary glucose absorption in the intestine and by increasing the release of gastrointestinal incretins like glucagon-like peptide-1. SGLT1 inhibition has a small glucosuric effect in the normal kidney and this effect is increased in diabetes and during inhibition of SGLT2, which deliver more glucose to SGLT1 in late proximal tubule. In short-term studies, inhibition of SGLT1 and combined SGLT1/SGLT2 inhibition appeared to be safe. More data is needed on long-term safety and cardiovascular consequences of SGLT1 inhibition. PMID:26998950

Surveillance for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus in Wild Birds during Outbreaks in Domestic Poultry, Minnesota, 2015

PubMed Central

Carstensen, Michelle; Hildebrand, Erik C.; Cornicelli, Louis; Wolf, Paul; Grear, Daniel A.; Ip, Hon S.; Vandalen, Kaci K.; Minicucci, Larissa A.

2016-01-01

In 2015, a major outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection devastated poultry facilities in Minnesota, USA. To understand the potential role of wild birds, we tested 3,139 waterfowl fecal samples and 104 sick and dead birds during March 9–June 4, 2015. HPAIV was isolated from a Cooper’s hawk but not from waterfowl fecal samples. PMID:27064759

Fatty acids rehabilitated long-term neurodegenerative: like symptoms in olfactory bulbectomized rats.

PubMed

Yehuda, Shlomo; Rabinovitz, Sharon

2015-05-01

Our previous study demonstrated that an olfactory bulbectomy in rats induced short-term, multifaceted, devastating Alzheimer's-like effects, which included cognitive impairment, hyperactivity, hyperthermia, and increased levels of homocysteine and pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-17A. In addition, the rats exhibited an increase in the hyperphosphorylation of brain Tau proteins and in the number of neurofibrillary tangles. Here, we examined the long-term effects of the surgery and found that olfactory bulbectomy also rendered the rats to become anemic with brain iron overload. Additionally, a significant reduction in the membrane fluidity index in frontal cortex synaptosomes was found. Treatment with a mixture of n - 3/n - 6 of fatty acids restored the unwanted effect. The beneficial effects of fatty acids are mediated via the effects of fatty acids on the neuronal membrane structure and fluidity. These findings are similar to Alzheimer's symptoms, which suggest this model can be used as an animal model for Alzheimer's disease. We recommend using this model to scan potential new anti-Alzheimer's drugs.

75 FR 5807 - Notice of Lodging of a Modified Consent Decree Under the Clean Water Act

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-02-04

... program was stalled for several years due to the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina. Under the... damaged by the hurricane as well as other hurricane damage in the portions of the collection system served...

Pragmatics: Teaching Speech Acts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tatsuki, Donna H., Ed.; Houck, Noel R., Ed.

2010-01-01

Language teachers have long been aware of the devastating effect of learners' grammatically correct, yet situationally inappropriate spoken or written communication. This volume addresses how to raise learner awareness of pragmatic gaffs through research-based, field-tested activities such as composing e-mail requests, giving advice, making…

Getting Back on Course

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Griswold, John S.

2009-01-01

"Spectacular error" sounds euphemistic compared to "devastating," "catastrophic," or "meltdown"--terms more commonly summoned to describe the credit crisis and ensuing global economic carnage. Whatever they are labeled, gross miscalculations on Wall Street are having a deleterious effect on college campuses across the country, with many…

The Haitian Economy and the HOPE Act

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-16

success in changing political behavior has been questioned, its economic effects were concrete and devastating. Haiti was already experiencing a... conflagration , an outrage that attests to the importance that the Haitian people place on the need for policy responses to address persistent poverty

The Haitian Economy and the HOPE Act

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-03-05

questioned, its economic effects were concrete and devastating. Haiti was already experiencing a decline in output, employment, and income, but the...over increasing the minimum wage produced protests and political conflagration , an outrage that attests to the importance that the Haitian people place

The Haitian Economy and the HOPE Act

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-24

political behavior has been questioned, its economic effects were concrete and devastating. Haiti was already experiencing a decline in output... conflagration , an outrage that attests to the importance that the Haitian people place on the need for policy responses to address persistent poverty

Therapeutic potential of systemic brain rejuvenation strategies for neurodegenerative disease

PubMed Central

Horowitz, Alana M.; Villeda, Saul A.

2017-01-01

Neurodegenerative diseases are a devastating group of conditions that cause progressive loss of neuronal integrity, affecting cognitive and motor functioning in an ever-increasing number of older individuals. Attempts to slow neurodegenerative disease advancement have met with little success in the clinic; however, a new therapeutic approach may stem from classic interventions, such as caloric restriction, exercise, and parabiosis. For decades, researchers have reported that these systemic-level manipulations can promote major functional changes that extend organismal lifespan and healthspan. Only recently, however, have the functional effects of these interventions on the brain begun to be appreciated at a molecular and cellular level. The potential to counteract the effects of aging in the brain, in effect rejuvenating the aged brain, could offer broad therapeutic potential to combat dementia-related neurodegenerative disease in the elderly. In particular, results from heterochronic parabiosis and young plasma administration studies indicate that pro-aging and rejuvenating factors exist in the circulation that can independently promote or reverse age-related phenotypes. The recent demonstration that human umbilical cord blood similarly functions to rejuvenate the aged brain further advances this work to clinical translation. In this review, we focus on these blood-based rejuvenation strategies and their capacity to delay age-related molecular and functional decline in the aging brain. We discuss new findings that extend the beneficial effects of young blood to neurodegenerative disease models. Lastly, we explore the translational potential of blood-based interventions, highlighting current clinical trials aimed at addressing therapeutic applications for the treatment of dementia-related neurodegenerative disease in humans. PMID:28815019

The Hard Work Hypothesis: Is Doing Your Homework Enough to Overcome the Effects of Poverty?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Krashen, Stephen

2005-01-01

It is well-established that the effects of poverty are devastating for children in school. More generally, scholars have documented that low "socio-economic status" (SES), whether measured by family income, parent education, or parent occupation, is usually the most powerful predictor of achievement and test score performance, sometimes swamping…

The efficacy of recombinant turkey herpesvirus vaccines targeting the H5 of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus from the 2014/2015 North American outbreak

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in North American poultry during 2014 and 2015 demonstrated the devastating effects of the disease and highlighted the need for effective emergency vaccine prevention and control strategies targeted at currently circulating strains. This study...

A colorimetric bioassay for high-througput and cost-effectively assessing anti-foot-and-mouth disease virus activity

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Foot-and-Mouth Disease virus (FMDV) is one of the most contagious animal viruses and has a devastating effect on livestock industries if an outbreaks occurs, especially in FMD-free countries. The virus is very sensitive to inhibition by type I interferons. Currently, a reported assay to measure FM...

Characterization of the microbial community structure in Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus-infected citrus plants treated with antibiotics in the field

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Huanglongbing (HLB) is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus worldwide. There are no effective control measures for this newly emerging and century-old disease. Previously, we reported a combination of Penicillin G and Streptomycin were effective in eliminating or suppressing the HLB bacter...

Effect of adult screwworm male size on mating competence

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Screwworms, Cochliomyia hominivorax (Coquerel) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), were devastating pests in parts of North America and Central America before their eradication by means of the sterile insect technique (SIT). Now, a barrier is maintained to prevent re-entry of screwworms from endemic regions t...

Dissociation in Children and Adolescents: A Developmental Perspective.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Putnam, Frank W.

From amnesia to auditory hallucinations, the symptoms of pathological dissociation are among the most devastating effects of childhood maltreatment. Ways in which therapists can provide a comprehensive developmental approach to understanding, diagnosing, and treating this challenging clinical population are presented in this text. After reviewing…

Use of digital PCR to improve early detection of CLas infection

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Huanglongbing is a devastating disease of citrus caused by the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. Huanglongbing has devastated the Florida citrus industry and is threatening citrus in Texas and California. Detection of Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus infections as early as possible is ...

The importance of total kidney volume in evaluating progression of polycystic kidney disease

PubMed Central

Grantham, Jared J.; Torres, Vicente E.

2017-01-01

The rate at which autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) progresses to end-stage renal disease varies widely and is determined by genetic and non-genetic factors. The ability to determine the prognosis of children and young adults with ADPKD is important for the effective life-long management of the disease and to enable the efficacy of emerging therapies to be determined. Total kidney volume (TKV) reflects the sum volume of hundreds of individual cysts with potentially devastating effects on renal function. The sequential measurement of TKV has been advanced as a dynamic biomarker of disease progression, yet doubt remains among nephrologists and regulatory agencies as to its usefulness. Here, we review the mechanisms that lead to an increase in TKV in ADPKD, and examine the evidence supporting the conclusion that TKV provides a metric of disease progression that can be used to assess the efficacy of potential therapeutic regimens in children and adults with ADPKD. Moreover, we propose that TKV can be used to monitor treatment efficacy in patients with normal levels of renal function, before the pathologic processes of ADPKD cause extensive fibrosis and irreversible loss of functioning renal tissue. PMID:27694979

Inferring evolutionary responses of Anolis carolinensis introduced into the Ogasawara archipelago using whole genome sequence data.

PubMed

Tamate, Satoshi; Iwasaki, Watal M; Krysko, Kenneth L; Camposano, Brian J; Mori, Hideaki; Funayama, Ryo; Nakayama, Keiko; Makino, Takashi; Kawata, Masakado

2017-12-21

Invaded species often can rapidly expand and establish in novel environments through adaptive evolution, resulting in devastating effects on native communities. However, it is unclear if genetic variation at whole-genomic levels is actually reduced in the introduced populations and which genetic changes have occurred responding to adaptation to new environments. In the 1960s, Anolis carolinensis was introduced onto one of the Ogasawara Islands, Japan, and subsequently expanded its range rapidly throughout two of the islands. Morphological comparison showed that lower hindlimb length in the introduced populations tended to be longer than those in its native Florida populations. Using re-sequenced whole genomic data, we estimated that the effective population size at the time of introduction was actually small (less than 50). We also inferred putative genomic regions subject to natural selection after this introduction event using SweeD and a method based on Tajima's D, π and F ST . Five candidate genes that were potentially subject to selection were estimated by both methods. The results suggest that there were standing variations that could potentially contribute to adaptation to nonnative environments despite the founder population being small.

Delaying the international spread of pandemic influenza.

PubMed

Cooper, Ben S; Pitman, Richard J; Edmunds, W John; Gay, Nigel J

2006-06-01

The recent emergence of hypervirulent subtypes of avian influenza has underlined the potentially devastating effects of pandemic influenza. Were such a virus to acquire the ability to spread efficiently between humans, control would almost certainly be hampered by limited vaccine supplies unless global spread could be substantially delayed. Moreover, the large increases that have occurred in international air travel might be expected to lead to more rapid global dissemination than in previous pandemics. To evaluate the potential of local control measures and travel restrictions to impede global dissemination, we developed stochastic models of the international spread of influenza based on extensions of coupled epidemic transmission models. These models have been shown to be capable of accurately forecasting local and global spread of epidemic and pandemic influenza. We show that under most scenarios restrictions on air travel are likely to be of surprisingly little value in delaying epidemics, unless almost all travel ceases very soon after epidemics are detected. Interventions to reduce local transmission of influenza are likely to be more effective at reducing the rate of global spread and less vulnerable to implementation delays than air travel restrictions. Nevertheless, under the most plausible scenarios, achievable delays are small compared with the time needed to accumulate substantial vaccine stocks.

Progressive outer retinal necrosis and immunosuppressive therapy in myasthenia gravis.

PubMed

Coisy, Solène; Ebran, Jean-Marc; Milea, Dan

2014-01-01

Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) is a rare but devastating infectious retinitis associated with varicella zoster virus (VZV) and responsible for severe visual loss. A 59-year-old man treated for generalized myasthenia with oral azathioprine and prednisone presented with severe unilateral necrotizing retinitis. Polymerase chain reaction of the aqueous and vitreous humors was diagnostic for VZV PORN. VZV PORN is a severe potential ocular complication of immunosuppression, prompting urgent diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Epidemic pox and malaria in native forest birds

USGS Publications Warehouse

Atkinson, C. T.; Dusek, R. J.; Iko, W. M.

1993-01-01

Studies by Warner in the 1950’s and van Riper in the 1970’s identified disease as a potential limiting factor in the distribution and abundance of Hawaii’s native forest birds. Mosquito-transmitted protozoan and viral infections caused by malarial parasites and pox virus were especially significant. Both organisms were introduced to the islands after the arrival of Europeans and are thought to have affected avian communities the same way that measles devastated native Hawaiian peoples.

Effects of Phenolic Compounds on Growth of Colletotrichum spp. In Vitro.

PubMed

Roy, Sutapa; Nuckles, Etta; Archbold, Douglas D

2018-05-01

Colletotrichum acutatum is responsible for anthracnose fruit rot, one of the most devastating diseases in strawberry. Phenolic compounds have been described as contributors to anthracnose resistance in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa, Duch.). Six isolates of Colletotrichum acutatum and four isolates of three other Colletotrichum species, C. gloeosporioides, C. fragariae, and C. graminicola, associated with disease symptoms were investigated in this study. The potential inhibitory effect of phenolic acids (gallic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, trans-cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, salicylic acid), flavonoids (catechin, quercetin, naringenin), and ellagic acid, which are naturally found in strawberry, were screened against two different spore suspension concentrations of the Colletotrichum isolates at 5, 10, 50 mM in vitro. Among the phenolic acids and flavonoids tested in this study, only trans-cinnamic acid, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid inhibited fungal growth. The inhibitory effects were concentration-dependent but also varied with the spore suspension concentration of the isolates. The results demonstrated that trans-cinnamic acid had the greatest inhibitory effect on all Colletotrichum spp. isolates tested.

Calciphylaxis: a devastating complication of derangements of calcium-phosphorus metabolism--a case report and review of the literature.

PubMed

Carter, Trish; Ratnam, Shobha

2013-01-01

Calciphylaxis is a rare and potentially devastating condition also referred to as uremic gangrene syndrome, calcific uremic arteriolopathy, metastatic calcification, and uremic small-vessel disease that can present in patients with end stage renal disease. This article reports a case of a 38-year-old African-American female on peritoneal dialysis for six years with a known history of non-adherence with diet, medications, and prescribed peritoneal dialysis treatment regimen. At her monthly clinic visit, the patient complained of burning sensation in the fingers of both hands with limited fine motor movement due to edema and severe pain. A presumptive diagnosis of calciphylaxis led to hospital admission with confirmation by X-ray of her hands. The patient was switched to hemodialysis with low calcium dialysate, aggressive reduction in phosphorus, diet counseling, use of cinacalcet, and six weeks of intravenous sodium thiosulfate infusion with hemodialysis treatments. The patient's condition improved with resolution of symptoms. This case was chosen based on the rarity of a calciphylaxis presentation and paucity of knowledge regarding diagnosis and treatment.

Nanomedicine for prion disease treatment: new insights into the role of dendrimers.

PubMed

McCarthy, James M; Appelhans, Dietmar; Tatzelt, Jörg; Rogers, Mark S

2013-01-01

Despite their devastating impact, no effective therapeutic yet exists for prion diseases at the symptomatic stage in humans or animals. Progress is hampered by the difficulty in identifying compounds that affect PrP (Sc) and the necessity of any potential therapeutic to gain access to the CNS. Synthetic polymers known as dendrimers are a particularly promising candidate in this area. Studies with cell culture models of prion disease and prion infected brain homogenate have demonstrated that numerous species of dendrimers eliminate PrP (Sc) in a dose and time dependent fashion and specific glycodendrimers are capable of crossing the CNS. However, despite their potential a number of important questions remained unanswered such as what makes an effective dendrimer and how dendrimers eliminate prions intracellularly. In a number of recent studies we have tackled these questions and revealed for the first time that a specific dendrimer can inhibit the intracellular conversion of PrP (C) to PrP (Sc) and that a high density of surface reactive groups is a necessity for dendrimers in vitro anti-prion activity. Understanding how a therapeutic works is a vital component in maximising its activity and these studies therefore represent a significant development in the race to find effective treatments for prion diseases.

Cultural considerations in the treatment of mental illness among sexually abused children and adolescents: the case of Bali, Indonesia.

PubMed

Lesmana, Cokorda Bagus J; Suryani, Luh Ketut; Tiliopoulos, Niko

2015-01-01

Childhood and adolescence sexual abuse can have long-lasting and devastating effects on personal and interpersonal growth and development. Sexually abused children tend to exhibit higher rates of poor school performance, aggressive behavior, PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), or depressive symptomatology, as well as social and relational deficits (e.g., age-inappropriate sexual behaviors). The trauma following such abuse can further affect neurodevelopment and physiology, aggravating mental or physical problems in adulthood. Early symptom recognition and appropriate interventional applications are important factors in successfully treating or even preventing the development of mental disorders in such cohorts. A central element of effective treatment is the selection of treatment targets. Cultural considerations are rarely or peripherally considered in sexual abuse treatment strategies. Western-trained psychiatrists and clinical psychologists tend to overlook or underestimate such factors in cross-cultural settings, resulting in interventional efforts that may interfere with traditional approaches to healing, and potentially contributing to a transgenerational cycle of trauma. By using Bali (Indonesia) as a focal culture, in this article we discuss the effects of cultural elements and showcase their potential contribution and systematic implementation into a holistic and sensitive interventional model for the treatment of mental illness in childhood and adolescence sexual traumatization. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Metformin treatment after the hypoxia-ischemia attenuates brain injury in newborn rats

PubMed Central

Fang, Mingchu; Jiang, Huai; Ye, Lixia; Cai, Chenchen; Hu, Yingying; Pan, Shulin; Li, Peijun; Xiao, Jian; Lin, Zhenlang

2017-01-01

Neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury is a devastating disease that often leads to death and detrimental neurological deficits. The present study was designed to evaluate the ability of metformin to provide neuroprotection in a model of neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and to study the associated molecular mechanisms behind these protective effects. Here, we found that metformin treatment remarkably attenuated brain infarct volumes and brain edema at 24 h after HI injury, and the neuroprotection of metformin was associated with inhibition of neuronal apoptosis, suppression of the neuroinflammation and amelioration of the blood brain barrier breakdown. Additionally, metformin treatment conferred long-term protective against brain damage at 7 d after HI injury. Our study indicates that metformin treatment protects against neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury and thus has potential as a therapy for this disease. PMID:29088867

Wnt Signaling in Normal and Malignant Hematopoiesis

PubMed Central

Lento, William; Congdon, Kendra; Voermans, Carlijn; Kritzik, Marcie; Reya, Tannishtha

2013-01-01

One of the most remarkable characteristics of stem cells is their ability to perpetuate themselves through self-renewal while concomitantly generating differentiated cells. In the hematopoietic system, stem cells balance these mechanisms to maintain steady-state hematopoiesis for the lifetime of the organism, and to effectively regenerate the system following injury. Defects in the proper control of self-renewal and differentiation can be potentially devastating and contribute to the development of malignancies. In this review, we trace the emerging role of Wnt signaling as a critical regulator of distinct aspects of self-renewal and differentiation, its contribution to the maintenance of homeostasis and regeneration, and how the pathway can be hijacked to promote leukemia development. A better understanding of these processes could pave the way to enhancing recovery after injury and to developing better therapeutic approaches for hematologic malignancies. PMID:23378582

The Other Victims of the Nazis.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Friedman, Ina R.

1995-01-01

Maintains that, 50 years after World War II, few people are aware that Jews were not the only Nazi victims. Describes Nazi persecution against Gypsies, homosexuals, blacks, political dissenters, and other groups. Contends that every new generation of students should learn about the devastating effects of prejudice. (CFR)

Aboriginal Education Program, 2012

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

British Columbia Teachers' Federation, 2012

2012-01-01

Since the beginning of time, Aboriginal people have had a high regard for education. Euro-Canadian contact with Aboriginal peoples has and continues to have devastating effects. The encroachment on their traditional territory has affected the lands and resources forever. Generations of experience within the residential school system have greatly…

Chemical analysis of plants that poison livestock: Successes, challenges, and opportunities

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Poisonous plants have a devastating impact on the livestock industry, as well as human health. In order to fully understand the effects of poisonous plants, multiple scientific disciplines are required. Chemical analysis of plant secondary compounds is key to identifying the responsible toxins, char...

Confronting Poor Performance.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dennis, Bruce L.

Responsible and effective administrative leadership requires confronting those members of the teaching staff who are a negative influence on the institution. Importantly, the absence of expressed appreciation for good work can have a devastating impact on a principal's image if he or she suddenly begins to confront poor performances. Actually, the…

The RON Receptor Tyrosine Kinase in Pancreatic Cancer Pathogenesis and Its Potential Implications for Future Targeted Therapies

PubMed Central

Kang, Chang Moo; Babicky, Michele L.; Lowy, Andrew M.

2014-01-01

Pancreatic cancer remains a devastating disease with a mortality rate that has not changed substantially in decades. Novel therapies are therefore desperately needed. The RON receptor tyrosine kinase has been identified as an important mediator of KRAS oncogene addiction and is over-expressed in the majority of pancreatic cancers. Preclinical studies that inhibition of RON function decrease pancreatic cancer cell migration, invasion and survival and can sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy. This article reviews the current state of knowledge regarding RON biology and pancreatic cancer and discusses its potential as a therapeutic target. PMID:24518495

STEM Progress in Katrina's Wake

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gonzales, Dana

2008-01-01

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005, it caused a devastating impact on the Crescent City's public education system. The devastating storm and its aftermath completely wiped out the educational infrastructure of the New Orleans Public Schools, making one of the country's largest metropolitan school districts virtually disappear. Two…

Parasites in algae mass culture

PubMed Central

Carney, Laura T.; Lane, Todd W.

2014-01-01

Parasites are now known to be ubiquitous across biological systems and can play an important role in modulating algal populations. However, there is a lack of extensive information on their role in artificial ecosystems such as algal production ponds and photobioreactors. Parasites have been implicated in the demise of algal blooms. Because individual mass culture systems often tend to be unialgal and a select few algal species are in wide scale application, there is an increased potential for parasites to have a devastating effect on commercial scale monoculture. As commercial algal production continues to expand with a widening variety of applications, including biofuel, food and pharmaceuticals, the parasites associated with algae will become of greater interest and potential economic impact. A number of important algal parasites have been identified in algal mass culture systems in the last few years and this number is sure to grow as the number of commercial algae ventures increases. Here, we review the research that has identified and characterized parasites infecting mass cultivated algae, the techniques being proposed and or developed to control them, and the potential impact of parasites on the future of the algal biomass industry. PMID:24936200

Cholera in travelers: shifting tides in epidemiology, management, and prevention.

PubMed

Fillion, Katie; Mileno, Maria D

2015-01-01

The distribution of cholera's devastating effects has changed. While cholera is endemic in 50 countries mostly in Asia and Africa, more than half of the cases reported in 2012 were in the Western Hemisphere, predominantly Haiti. Since the current epidemic began in Haiti in 2010, there has been spread to the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and most recently Mexico. Several recent case reports document individuals returning home from affected areas with diarrhea from cholera, in some cases severe. Hopeful news reported the containment of an outbreak through the use of a Vibrio cholera vaccine. There are safe and effective oral cholera vaccines available and recommended in outbreaks and endemic areas, although they are not currently available in the USA or to travelers. This review aims to discuss the latest data to aid our current recommendations for the prevention of cholera in travelers beyond standard personal and food hygiene precautions for the prevention of travelers' diarrhea and to offer insights on the most current data available about cholera vaccine progress and potential use.

Bariatric Surgery and the Neuro-Ophthalmologist.

PubMed

Moss, Heather E

2016-03-01

As the prevalence of obesity increases, so, too, do the prevalences of weight-related diseases and surgical procedures to promote weight loss. It is important for neuro-ophthalmologists to be familiar with these procedures and possible downstream effects on afferent and efferent visual function. Review of ophthalmology, neurology, general surgery, obesity, endocrinology, nutrition, psychiatry, and neurosurgery literature. Bariatric surgery is a safe and effective treatment for weight loss in obese individuals. There is Level IV evidence that it is associated with improvement in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH). Laboratory nutrient deficiencies are common following some types of bariatric procedures. Symptomatic deficiencies are less common but can be devastating. Thiamine deficiency can cause nystagmus and other symptoms in weeks to months after surgery, whereas B12 or copper deficiency can cause optic neuropathy in years to decades following bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery is a potential treatment for IIH. Postoperative vitamin deficiencies may cause nystagmus, optic neuropathy, nyctalopia, and/or ophthalmoparesis weeks to years after surgery.

Efficacy and safety of fidaxomicin compared with oral vancomycin for the treatment of adults with Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea: data from the OPT-80-003 and OPT-80-004 studies.

PubMed

Chen, Luke F; Anderson, Deverick J

2012-06-01

Clostridium difficile is emerging as one of the most important and devastating pathogens affecting hospitalized populations around the world. The incidence of C. difficile infection is increasing and disease severity is worsening. Thus, an effective alternative to metronidazole and oral vancomycin is urgently needed. Two Phase III trials, OPT-80-003 and OPT-80-004, showed that oral fidaxomicin for 10 days was noninferior compared with treatment with oral vancomycin among adult patients with toxin-positive C. difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD). Furthermore, fidaxomicin was associated with a lower rate of recurrence of CDAD within 4 weeks of completion of therapy. The safety and tolerability of fidaxomicin was consistent with earlier studies and established that fidaxomicin is an efficacious and well-tolerated treatment option for CDAD. Despite these potential advantages, the cost-effectiveness of this expensive agent remains poorly understood.

Johnsongrass mosaic virus contributes to maize lethal necrosis in East Africa

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Maize lethal necrosis (MLN), a severe virus disease of maize, has emerged in East Africa in recent years with devastating effects on production and food security where maize is a staple subsistence crop. In extensive surveys of MLN-symptomatic plants in East Africa, sequences of Johnsongrass mosaic ...

Infectious Disinfection: "Exploring Global Water Quality"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahaya, Evans; Tippins, Deborah J.; Mueller, Michael P.; Thomson, Norman

2009-01-01

Learning about the water situation in other regions of the world and the devastating effects of floods on drinking water helps students study science while learning about global water quality. This article provides science activities focused on developing cultural awareness and understanding how local water resources are integrally linked to the…

Effects of elevated [CO2] on the defense response of wheat against Fusarium graminearum infection

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the world’s most devastating wheat diseases, and results in significant yield loss and contamination of grain with harmful mycotoxins called trichothecenes. Despite emerging risks of increased mycotoxin contamination in food and feed associated with climate chang...

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases in mycotoxigenic and related fungi of agricultural significance

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Mycotoxigenic fungi are of worldwide concern, as they contaminate crops and compromise food safety. Many of these fungi are also aggressive plant pathogens with devastating effects on maize, and wheat. The host plants possess a variety of defensive mechanisms against those fungi, including the produ...

Understanding the molecular mechanisms of rice blast resistance using rice mutants

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Induced mutation can be useful for studying resistance gene controlled plant immunity. Resulting knowledge should benefit the development of strategies for crop protection. The Pi-ta gene in rice has been effectively deployed for preventing rice blast disease-the most devastating disease of rice wo...

Dear Mrs. Roosevelt: Cries for Help from Depression Youth.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cohen, Robert

1996-01-01

Personalizes the devastating effect of the Great Depression on young people through excerpts of letters sent to Eleanor Roosevelt. Young people across the country responded to the First Lady's efforts on behalf of the poor and dispossessed. Discusses the many relief and work programs created by the New Deal. (MJP)

Current Agricultural Research Issues on One-Host ticks and Bovine Babesiosis

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Bovine babesiosis is a tick-borne disease caused by the apicomplexan protozoans Babesia bovis and B. bigemina, which can have devastating economic effects on the livestock industry. Estimates indicate the domestic livestock industry realizes annual savings of at least 3 billion dollars at today’s c...

The Disintegration of Teacher Preparation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Baines, Lawrence A.

2010-01-01

The disintegration of teacher certification programs in the united States holds an eerie similarity to the recent meltdown of American financial institutions. Similarly, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, whose purported purpose was to ensure that all students get highly qualified teachers (HQT), has had an unintentionally devastating effect on…

A graft-based chemotherapy method for screening effective molecules and rescuing Huanglongbing (HLB)-affected citrus plants

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Huanglongbing (HLB), the most devastating disease of citrus worldwide, is associated with three species of fastidious and phloem-limited a-Proteobacteria in the genus of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’. We previously reported a regeneration-based chemical screening system using periwinkle cuttings. In ...

Laying the Groundwork

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cooper, Kenneth J.

2010-01-01

Only a few of Haiti's colleges have resumed classes since the earthquake effectively shut down higher education in the impoverished country. Most of the country's 159 colleges are concentrated in the devastated capital of Port-au-Prince. Those that have reopened are housed in temporary quarters. The destruction of Haitian higher education was so…

Utilization of a major brown rust resistance gene in sugarcane breeding

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Brown rust, caused by Puccinia melanocephala has had devastating effects on sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) breeding programs and on commercial production. The discovery of Bru1, a major gene conferring resistance to brown rust represented a substantial breakthrough and markers for the detection of Bru1 ...

Infant Malnutrition: Shame of our Nation

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Low, Merritt Burnham

1975-01-01

Argues that severe infant malnutrition is shockingly widespread in the United States, that the effects of malnutrition in infancy are now recognized to be much more devastating than had hitherto been known, and that the probable relationship between poverty, malnutrition, and mental deficiency is far too strong to overlook. [Available from…

76 FR 63801 - Fire Prevention Week, 2011

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-10-13

... Vol. 76 Thursday, No. 198 October 13, 2011 Part IV The President Proclamation 8732--Fire... 8732 of October 7, 2011 Fire Prevention Week, 2011 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Fires, whether caused by people or nature, can have devastating effects. Hundreds of thousands of...

First report of Xyleborus glabratus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae) and laurel wilt in Louisiana, USA: The disease continues westward on sassafras

Treesearch

Stephen W. Fraedrich; C. Wood Johnson; Roger D. Menard; Thomas C. Harrington; Rabiu Olatinwo; G. Susan Best

2015-01-01

Laurel wilt, caused by Raffaelea lauricola Harrington, Fraedrich & Aghayeva (Ophiostomatales: Ophiostomataceae), has spread rapidly through the coastal plains forests of the southeastern United States (USA) with devastating effects on redbay (Persea borbonia [L.] Spreng.; Laurales: Lauraceae) populations (Fraedrich et...

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome "Chemical Genocide."

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Asetoyer, Charon

In the Northern Plains of the United States, 100% of Indian reservations are affected by alcohol related problems. Approximately 90% of Native American adults are currently alcohol users or abusers or are recovering from alcohol abuse. Alcohol consumption has a devastating effect on the unborn. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is an irreversible birth…

Speech Intelligibility and Marital Communication in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: An Exploratory Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Joubert, Karin; Bornman, Juan; Alant, Erna

2011-01-01

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a rapidly progressive neuromuscular disease, has a devastating impact not only on individuals diagnosed with ALS but also their spouses. Speech intelligibility, often compromised as a result of dysarthria, affects the couple's ability to maintain effective, intimate communication. The purpose of this…

Bigger than a Breadbox; Lighter than a Heavy Heart

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hill, Robert V.

2009-01-01

Inexact measurements can have devastating effects in sciences where precision is of paramount importance. In contrast, morphological sciences rely heavily on description, comparison, and estimation to make meaningful inferences about the structure of humans and other animals. A review of the 1918 edition of "Gray's Anatomy" shows that the tendency…

The Hidden Toll

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miles, Leonora

2008-01-01

Financial abuse is already one of the most prevalent areas of elder abuse. The effects of financial abuse can be as severe as physical abuse and, in this context, the infrequently used term "economic violence" conveys a more vivid sense of the devastating impact. The elder financial abuse project initiated by the National Institute of…

Within-orchard edge effects of the azimuth of the sun on Diaphorina citri adults in mature orchards

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Huanglongbing (HLB) has been considered the most devastating disease of citrus. The bacterium and vector associated with HLB in Florida are ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ and Diaphorina citri (Asian citrus psyllid), respectively. D. citri is positively phototropic, and higher populations have b...

Oil Spill!

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ansberry, Karen Rohrich; Morgan, Emily

2005-01-01

An oil spill occurs somewhere in the world almost every day of the year, and the consequences can be devastating. In this month's column, students explore the effects of oil spills on plants, animals, and the environment and investigate oil spill clean-up methods through a simulated oil spill. The activities described in this article give students…

Endoscopic Bubble Trouble: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Cerebral Gas Embolism During Upper Endoscopy.

PubMed

Cooper, Jeffrey S; Thomas, Jason; Singh, Shailender; Brakke, Tarra

2017-07-01

Gas embolism is a rare but potentially devastating complication of endoscopic procedures. We describe 3 cases of gas embolism which were associated with endoscopic procedures (esophagogastroduodenoscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). We treated these at our hyperbaric medicine center with 3 different outcomes: complete resolution, death, and disability. We review the literature regarding this unusual complication of endoscopy and discuss the need for prompt identification and referral for hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Additional adjunctive therapies are also discussed.

Successful Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis for Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Immediate Postpartum Period: Case Report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Mendez, Jose C.; Masjuan, J.; Garcia, N.

2008-01-15

Stroke in pregnancy and the puerperium is a rare but potentially devastating event. We present the case of a previously healthy woman who underwent a cesarean delivery and experienced a middle cerebral artery thrombosis in the immediate postpartum period that was subsequently lysed with intra-arterial urokinase. The patient made a complete neurologic recovery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of successful intra-arterial thrombolysis for ischemic stroke in the postpartum period.

Antifungal activity of plant extracts against Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer.

PubMed

Surapuram, Venkatasaichaitanya; Setzer, William N; McFeeters, Robert L; McFeeters, Hana

2014-11-01

Despite recent advances in antifungal development, fungi remain a devastating threat to human health and compromise viability of the food supply. Plant based antimicrobials represent a vast untapped source with tremendous potential. Herein we present the antifungal properties of more than 50 plant extracts against two important human and agricultural pathogens, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer. Multiple extracts exhibit promising MIC values of less than 100 μg/mL and are reported for both fungal species.

Progressive Outer Retinal Necrosis and Immunosuppressive Therapy in Myasthenia Gravis

PubMed Central

Coisy, Solène; Ebran, Jean-Marc; Milea, Dan

2014-01-01

Introduction Progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) is a rare but devastating infectious retinitis associated with varicella zoster virus (VZV) and responsible for severe visual loss. Case Report A 59-year-old man treated for generalized myasthenia with oral azathioprine and prednisone presented with severe unilateral necrotizing retinitis. Polymerase chain reaction of the aqueous and vitreous humors was diagnostic for VZV PORN. Conclusion VZV PORN is a severe potential ocular complication of immunosuppression, prompting urgent diagnosis and appropriate treatment. PMID:24926266

Integration of National Guard Medical Capabilities During Domestic Disasters: Developing the Synergies

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-03-20

A major earthquake along the New Madrid fault3 or the urban detonation of a Nuclear weapon would be devastating not only in its injuries and loss...injuries and deaths, and destroy the very infrastructure needed to respond. For example, a major earthquake on the New Madrid fault in the Mississippi... Earthquake Potential of the New Madrid Seismic Zone. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America. 2002;92(6):2080-2089. 27 38. Bonnett CJ, Schock

Back to Basics: Preventing Surgical Fires.

PubMed

Spruce, Lisa

2016-09-01

When fires occur in the OR, they are devastating and potentially fatal to both patients and health care workers. Fires can be prevented by understanding the fire triangle and methods of reducing fire risk, conducting fire risk assessments, and knowing how to respond if a fire occurs. This Back to Basics article addresses the basics of fire prevention and the steps that can be taken to prevent fires from occurring. Copyright © 2016 AORN, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Floods in south-central Oklahoma and north-central Texas, October 1981

USGS Publications Warehouse

Buckner, Harold D.; Kurklin, Joanne K.

1984-01-01

Substantial reductions in peak stages and discharges on the West Fork Trinity River downstream from Eagle Mountain Reservoir were attained as a result of reservoir storage. All floodwater on the Elm Fork Trinity River was contained by reservoir storage thus preventing a potentially devastating flood downstream on the Trinity River. Maximum stages and discharges and/or contents were recorded during and after this major flood at 83 gaging stations, crest-stage stations, reservoir stations, and a miscellaneous site.

Fracture of the penis--report of seven cases.

PubMed

Sharma, M Birkumar; Singh, Th Sudhirchandra; Khumukcham, Sridartha; Chito, Th; Sharma, B Bobby

2011-01-01

Fracture of the penis is an uncommon emergency consisting of rupture of the tunica albuginea of the corpus cavernosum resulting from blunt trauma over an erect penis. Prompt diagnosis and early surgical repair are essential to ensure a successful outcome with minimal complications. Delay may result in devastating physical and psychological disabilities that are potentially avoidable. Here in this article, 7 cases of fracture penis are being reported, who had been managed successfully by surgery in 6 cases and one case treated conservatively as he refused surgery.

Fictions of nuclear disaster

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dowling, D.

This work is critical study of literary interpretations of the nuclear holocaust. The author examines more than 250 stories and novels dealing with the theme of nuclear power and its devastating potential implications. Addressing such topics as the scientist and Armageddon, the role of religion, future evolution and mutation, and the postnuclear society, the author assesses the response of Bradbury, Lessing, Malamud, Shute, Huxley, Vonnegut, Heinlein, and others to the threat of nuclear apocalypse, with in-depth analyses of Alter Miller's A canticle for Leibowitz and Russell Hoban's Riddley Walker.

Lawn mower-related projectile injury.

PubMed

McNamara, William F; Yamout, Sani Z; Escobar, Mauricio A; Glick, Philip L

2009-07-01

Lawn mower injuries are a potentially devastating, yet preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. The sequelae to these injuries can become even worse if the initial presentation goes unsuspected by medical staff, leading to a delay in treatment. The authors report the case of a lawn mower-related penetrating missile injury, where the extent of injury was not appreciated by the patient until signs and symptoms of a soft-tissue infection developed, prompting the patient to seek medical attention the next day.

Classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions.

PubMed

Bogenschutz, Michael P; Johnson, Matthew W

2016-01-04

Addictive disorders are very common and have devastating individual and social consequences. Currently available treatment is moderately effective at best. After many years of neglect, there is renewed interest in potential clinical uses for classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addictions and other behavioral health conditions. In this paper we provide a comprehensive review of both historical and recent clinical research on the use of classic hallucinogens in the treatment of addiction, selectively review other relevant research concerning hallucinogens, and suggest directions for future research. Clinical trial data are very limited except for the use of LSD in the treatment of alcoholism, where a meta-analysis of controlled trials has demonstrated a consistent and clinically significant beneficial effect of high-dose LSD. Recent pilot studies of psilocybin-assisted treatment of nicotine and alcohol dependence had strikingly positive outcomes, but controlled trials will be necessary to evaluate the efficacy of these treatments. Although plausible biological mechanisms have been proposed, currently the strongest evidence is for the role of mystical or other meaningful experiences as mediators of therapeutic effects. Classic hallucinogens have an excellent record of safety in the context of clinical research. Given our limited understanding of the clinically relevant effects of classic hallucinogens, there is a wealth of opportunities for research that could contribute important new knowledge and potentially lead to valuable new treatments for addiction. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Oxygen--a limiting factor for brain recovery.

PubMed

Hadanny, Amir; Efrati, Shai

2015-09-01

Effective brain metabolism is highly dependent on a narrow therapeutic window of oxygen. In major insults to the brain (e.g., intracerebral hemorrhage), a slight decrease in oxygen supply, as occurs in a hypobaric environment at high altitude, has devastating effects on the injured brain tissue. Conversely, increasing brain oxygenation, by the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, can improve brain metabolism and its dependent regenerative processes.

Relations between Child Poverty and New Migrant Child Status, Academic Attainment and Social Participation: Insights Using Social Capital Theory

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Forbes, Joan; Sime, Daniela

2016-01-01

Currently, around one in five children in the United Kingdom and the United States live in poverty. This has a devastating effect on their wellbeing, education and broader socio-political participation, and life chances. In this paper, Scottish policy documentary data are used to discuss the effects of relations amongst categories of children in…

Modeling Storm Surges Using Discontinuous Galerkin Methods

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

devastating impact on coastlines throughout the United States. In order to accurately understand the impacts of storm surges there needs to be an effective ...model. One of the governing systems of equations used to model storm surges’ effects is the Shallow Water Equations (SWE). In this thesis, we solve the...closer to the shoreline. In our simulation, we also learned of the effects spurious waves can have on the results. Due to boundary conditions, a

Teleost fish as a model system to study successful regeneration of the central nervous system.

PubMed

Zupanc, Günther K H; Sîrbulescu, Ruxandra F

2013-01-01

Traumatic brain injury and spinal cord injury are devastating conditions that may result in death or long-term disability. A promising strategy for the development of effective cell replacement therapies involves the study of regeneration-competent organisms. Among this group, teleost fish are distinguished by their excellent potential to regenerate nervous tissue and to regain function after injury to the central nervous system. In this chapter, we summarize our current understanding of the cellular processes that mediate this regenerative potential, and we show that several of these processes are shared with the normal development of the intact central nervous system; we describe how the spontaneous self-repair of the teleostean central nervous system leads to functional recovery, at physiological and behavioral levels; we discuss the possible function of molecular factors associated with the degenerative and regenerative processes after injury; and, finally, we speculate on evolutionary aspects of adult neurogenesis and neuronal regeneration, and on how a better understanding of these aspects could catalyze the development of therapeutic strategies to overcome the regenerative limits of the mammalian CNS.

Neuroprotection and lifespan extension in Ppt1−/− mice by NtBuHA: therapeutic implications for INCL

PubMed Central

Sarkar, Chinmoy; Chandra, Goutam; Peng, Shyiong; Zhang, Zhongjian; Liu, Aiyi; Mukherjee, Anil B.

2013-01-01

Infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (INCL) is a devastating childhood neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease (LSD) that has no effective treatment. It is caused by inactivating mutations in the palmitoyl-protein thioesterase-1 (PPT1) gene. PPT1-deficiency impairs the cleavage of thioester linkage in palmitoylated proteins (constituents of ceroid), preventing degradation by lysosomal hydrolases. Consequently, accumulation of lysosomal ceroid leads to INCL. Thioester linkage is cleaved by nucleophilic attack. Hydroxylamine, a potent nucleophilic cellular metabolite, may have therapeutic potential for INCL but its toxicity precludes clinical application. Here we report that a hydroxylamine-derivative, N-(tert-Butyl) hydroxylamine (NtBuHA), is non-toxic, cleaves thioester linkage in palmitoylated proteins and mediates lysosomal ceroid depletion in cultured cells from INCL patients. Importantly, in Ppt1−/− mice, which mimic INCL, NtBuHA crossed the blood-brain-barrier, depleted lysosomal ceroid, suppressed neuronal apoptosis, slowed neurological deterioration and extended lifespan. Our findings provide the proof of concept that thioesterase-mimetic and antioxidant small molecules like NtBuHA are potential drug-targets for thioesterase deficiency diseases like INCL. PMID:24056696

Development of a Standard Test Scenario to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Portable Fire Extinguishers on Lithium-ion Battery Fires

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Juarez, Alfredo; Harper, Susan A.; Hirsch, David B.; Carriere, Thierry

2013-01-01

Many sources of fuel are present aboard current spacecraft, with one especially hazardous source of stored energy: lithium ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries are a very hazardous form of fuel due to their self-sustaining combustion once ignited, for example, by an external heat source. Batteries can become extremely energetic fire sources due to their high density electrochemical energy content that may, under duress, be violently converted to thermal energy and fire in the form of a thermal runaway. Currently, lithium ion batteries are the preferred types of batteries aboard international spacecraft and therefore are routinely installed, collectively forming a potentially devastating fire threat to a spacecraft and its crew. Currently NASA is developing a fine water mist portable fire extinguisher for future use on international spacecraft. As its development ensues, a need for the standard evaluation of various types of fire extinguishers against this potential threat is required to provide an unbiased means of comparing between fire extinguisher technologies and ranking them based on performance.

Potential phytocompounds for developing breast cancer therapeutics: Nature's healing touch.

PubMed

Iqbal, Javed; Abbasi, Banzeer Ahsan; Batool, Riffat; Mahmood, Tariq; Ali, Barkat; Khalil, Ali Talha; Kanwal, Sobia; Shah, Sayed Afzal; Ahmad, Riaz

2018-05-15

Breast cancer (BC) is a devastating disease in female around the world causing significant health care burden in both developed and developing countries. In many cases BC has shown resistance to chemotherapy, radiation and hormonal therapy. Development of new, cost effective, affordable treatment method is the need of hour. Chemical compounds isolated from plants are often biologically active and is attracting the attention of scientific community. Different in vitro and in vivo studies have shown a potential role in reducing the risk of cancer metastasis. Large number of phytochemicals are considered to regulate several molecular and metabolic processes like cell cycle regulation, apoptosis activation, angiogenesis and metastatic suppression that can hinders cancer progression. An extensive review of literature has been conducted to underline the key phytochemicals and their mechanism of action. This review article has discussed in detail the regulatory roles of phytochemicals, their analogs and nanoformulations and the probability of using phytochemicals in therapeutic management of BC. Finally, current limitations, challenges and future perspectives of these phytochemicals are also critically discussed. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Animal models of post-ischemic forced use rehabilitation: methods, considerations, and limitations

PubMed Central

2013-01-01

Many survivors of stroke experience arm impairments, which can severely impact their quality of life. Forcing use of the impaired arm appears to improve functional recovery in post-stroke hemiplegic patients, however the mechanisms underlying improved recovery remain unclear. Animal models of post-stroke rehabilitation could prove critical to investigating such mechanisms, however modeling forced use in animals has proven challenging. Potential problems associated with reported experimental models include variability between stroke methods, rehabilitation paradigms, and reported outcome measures. Herein, we provide an overview of commonly used stroke models, including advantages and disadvantages of each with respect to studying rehabilitation. We then review various forced use rehabilitation paradigms, and highlight potential difficulties and translational problems. Lastly, we discuss the variety of functional outcome measures described by experimental researchers. To conclude, we outline ongoing challenges faced by researchers, and the importance of translational communication. Many stroke patients rely critically on rehabilitation of post-stroke impairments, and continued effort toward progression of rehabilitative techniques is warranted to ensure best possible treatment of the devastating effects of stroke. PMID:23343500

Disaster averted: Community resilience in the face of a catastrophic flood.

PubMed

O'Neill, H Katherine; McLean, Andrew J; Kalis, Renetta; Shultz, James M

2016-01-01

In the spring of 2009, the Fargo, North Dakota, metropolitan area had 5 days to lay millions of sandbags to avoid devastation from record flooding of the Red River of the North. The community was able to successfully mitigate the flooding and escape potentially catastrophic economic, physical, and mental health consequences. We hypothesized that Fargo flood protection efforts reflected the community resilience factors proposed by Norris, Stevens, Pfefferbaum, et al. (2008): citizen involvement in mitigation efforts, effective organizational linkages, ongoing psychosocial support, and strong civic leadership in the face of rapidly changing circumstances. This community case report utilizes an extensive review of available sources, including news reports, government documents, research articles, and personal communication. Results demonstrate that Fargo's response to the threat of catastrophic flooding was consistent with Norris et al.'s (2008) factors of community resilience. Furthermore, success in 2009 carried over into future flood prevention and response efforts, as well as a structured approach to building psychological resilience. This case study contributes to the literature on community resilience by describing a community's successful efforts to avert a potentially catastrophic disaster.

Disaster averted: Community resilience in the face of a catastrophic flood

PubMed Central

O'Neill, H. Katherine; McLean, Andrew J.; Kalis, Renetta; Shultz, James M.

2016-01-01

ABSTRACT In the spring of 2009, the Fargo, North Dakota, metropolitan area had 5 days to lay millions of sandbags to avoid devastation from record flooding of the Red River of the North. The community was able to successfully mitigate the flooding and escape potentially catastrophic economic, physical, and mental health consequences. We hypothesized that Fargo flood protection efforts reflected the community resilience factors proposed by Norris, Stevens, Pfefferbaum, et al. (2008): citizen involvement in mitigation efforts, effective organizational linkages, ongoing psychosocial support, and strong civic leadership in the face of rapidly changing circumstances. This community case report utilizes an extensive review of available sources, including news reports, government documents, research articles, and personal communication. Results demonstrate that Fargo's response to the threat of catastrophic flooding was consistent with Norris et al.'s (2008) factors of community resilience. Furthermore, success in 2009 carried over into future flood prevention and response efforts, as well as a structured approach to building psychological resilience. This case study contributes to the literature on community resilience by describing a community's successful efforts to avert a potentially catastrophic disaster. PMID:28229016

Recent advances in proteomic applications for schistosomiasis research: potential clinical impact.

PubMed

Sotillo, Javier; Doolan, Denise; Loukas, Alex

2017-02-01

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. Recent advances in the field of proteomics and the development of new and highly sensitive mass spectrometers and quantitative techniques have provided new tools for advancing the molecular biology, cell biology, diagnosis and vaccine development for public health threats such as schistosomiasis. Areas covered: In this review we describe the latest advances in research that utilizes proteomics-based tools to address some of the key challenges to developing effective interventions against schistosomiasis. We also provide information about the potential of extracellular vesicles to advance the fight against this devastating disease. Expert commentary: Different proteins are already being tested as vaccines against schistosomiasis with promising results. The re-analysis of the Schistosoma spp. proteomes using new and more sensitive mass spectrometers as well as better separation approaches will help identify more vaccine targets in a rational and informed manner. In addition, the recent development of new proteome microarrays will facilitate characterisation of novel markers of infection as well as new vaccine and diagnostic candidate antigens.

On possibilities of using global monitoring in effective prevention of tailings storage facilities failures.

PubMed

Stefaniak, Katarzyna; Wróżyńska, Magdalena

2018-02-01

Protection of common natural goods is one of the greatest challenges man faces every day. Extracting and processing natural resources such as mineral deposits contributes to the transformation of the natural environment. The number of activities designed to keep balance are undertaken in accordance with the concept of integrated order. One of them is the use of comprehensive systems of tailings storage facility monitoring. Despite the monitoring, system failures still occur. The quantitative aspect of the failures illustrates both the scale of the problem and the quantitative aspect of the consequences of tailings storage facility failures. The paper presents vast possibilities provided by the global monitoring in the effective prevention of these failures. Particular attention is drawn to the potential of using multidirectional monitoring, including technical and environmental monitoring by the example of one of the world's biggest hydrotechnical constructions-Żelazny Most Tailings Storage Facility (TSF), Poland. Analysis of monitoring data allows to take preventive action against construction failures of facility dams, which can have devastating effects on human life and the natural environment.

Adolescents and HIV clinical trials

PubMed Central

MacQueen, Kathleen M.; Karim, Quarraisha Abdool

2007-01-01

One quarter of HIV infections globally occur among young people 15-24 years of age and more than half of all new infections are to people younger than 25 years. Clearly, there is a need to identify and implement effective HIV prevention strategies among at-risk teens. Some of the most effective options for slowing the epidemic are biomedical and several promising methods are in development, including microbicides, vaccines, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PREP) or the daily use of antiretrovirals to prevent the acquisition of HIV. There is widespread reluctance to enroll minors in such biomedical prevention trials due to concerns about vulnerability related to physical maturity, experiential maturity, and diminished autonomy as well as legal and social challenges that vary across and within nations. However, excluding minors from trials misses an important opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness, acceptability, and safety of innovative interventions under the best conditions for identifying and resolving potential problems. The challenges of including minors in HIV prevention trials are highlighted via the example of one rural South African community that has been particularly devastated by the HIV epidemic. PMID:17403499

Practice brief: adolescents and HIV clinical trials: ethics, culture, and context.

PubMed

MacQueen, Kathleen M; Karim, Quarraisha Abdool

2007-01-01

One quarter of HIV infections globally occur among young people 15 to 24 years of age, and more than half of all new infections are in people younger than 25 years. Clearly, there is a need to identify and implement effective HIV prevention strategies among at-risk teens. Some of the most effective options for slowing the epidemic are biomedical, and several promising methods are in development, including microbicides, vaccines, and preexposure prophylaxis (PREP, or the daily use of antiretrovirals to prevent the acquisition of HIV). There is widespread reluctance to enroll minors in such biomedical prevention trials because of concerns about vulnerability related to physical maturity, experiential maturity, and diminished autonomy as well as legal and social challenges that vary across and within nations. However, excluding minors from trials misses an important opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness, acceptability, and safety of innovative interventions under the best conditions for identifying and resolving potential problems. The challenges of including minors in HIV prevention trials are highlighted through the example of one rural South African community that has been particularly devastated by the HIV epidemic.

Maternal Zinc Intakes and Homeostatic Adjustments during Pregnancy and Lactation

PubMed Central

Donangelo, Carmen Marino; King, Janet C.

2012-01-01

Zinc plays critical roles during embryogenesis, fetal growth, and milk secretion, which increase the zinc need for pregnancy and lactation. Increased needs can be met by increasing the dietary zinc intake, along with making homeostatic adjustments in zinc utilization. Potential homeostatic adjustments include changes in circulating zinc, increased zinc absorption, decreased zinc losses, and changes in whole body zinc kinetics. Although severe zinc deficiency during pregnancy has devastating effects, systematic reviews and meta-analysis of the effect of maternal zinc supplementation on pregnancy outcomes have consistently shown a limited benefit. We hypothesize, therefore, that zinc homeostatic adjustments during pregnancy and lactation improve zinc utilization sufficiently to provide the increased zinc needs in these stages and, therefore, mitigate immediate detrimental effects due to a low zinc intake. The specific questions addressed are the following: How is zinc utilization altered during pregnancy and lactation? Are those homeostatic adjustments influenced by maternal zinc status, dietary zinc, or zinc supplementation? These questions are addressed by critically reviewing results from published human studies on zinc homeostasis during pregnancy and lactation carried out in different populations worldwide. PMID:22852063

Up from the Ruins

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Maxwell, Lesli A.

2007-01-01

More than 100 public schools in New Orleans were flooded in the hours after the hurricane struck. The roughly two dozen schools that did not fill up with water suffered wind and rain damage. It was a devastating blow to old, already battered school buildings that were among the most rundown in the country. The devastation created an unprecedented…

The Children's War: Their Reactions to Devastating Events.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Atwood, Joan D.; Donnelly, Joseph W.

2002-01-01

A thorough review of the literature reveals that there is little or no information on children's psychological reactions to devastating events, such as the Oklahoma City bombing, the Gulf War, or the recent destruction of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This article explores children's psychological reactions in light of Piagetian theory.…

Vibrational duetting mimics to trap and disrupt mating of the devastating Asian citrus psyllid insect pest

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) is the primary vector of a bacterium that produces a devastating disease of citrus, huanglongbing. Efficient surveillance of ACP at low population densities is essential for timely pest management programs. ACP males search for mates on tree branches by producing vibra...

Virtual impact: visualizing the potential effects of cosmic impact in human history

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Masse, W Bruce; Janecky, David R; Forte, Maurizio

2009-01-01

Current models indicate that catastrophic impacts by asteroids and comets capable of killing more than one quarter of Earth's human population have occurred on average once every million years; smaller impacts, such the 1908 Tunguska impact that leveled more than 2,000 square km of Siberian forest, occur every 200-300 years. Therefore, cosmic impact likely significantly affected hominine evolution and conceivably played a role in Holocene period human culture history. Regrettably, few archaeologists are trained to appreciate the nature and potential effects of cosmic impact. We have developed a conceptual model for an extensible set of educational and research tools basedmore » on virtual reality collaborative environments to engage archaeologists and the general public on the topic of the role of cosmic impact in human history. Our initial focus is on two documented asteroid impacts in Argentina during the period of 4000 to 1000 B.C. Campo del Cicio resulted in an energy release of around 2-3 megatons (100-150 times the Hiroshima atomic weapon), and left several craters and a strewn field covering 493 km{sup 2} in northeastern Argentina. Rio Cuarto was likely more than 1000 megatons and may have devastated an area greater than 50,000 km{sup 2} in central Argentina. We are focusing on reconstructions of these events and their potential effects on contemporary hunter and gatherers. Our vinual reality tools also introduce interactive variables (e.g., impactor physical properties, climate, vegetation, topography, and social complexity) to allow researchers and students to better investigate and evaluate the factors that significantly influence cosmic impact effects.« less

A model for emergency department end-of-life communications after acute devastating events--part I: decision-making capacity, surrogates, and advance directives.

PubMed

Limehouse, Walter E; Feeser, V Ramana; Bookman, Kelly J; Derse, Arthur

2012-09-01

Making decisions for a patient affected by sudden devastating illness or injury traumatizes a patient's family and loved ones. Even in the absence of an emergency, surrogates making end-of-life treatment decisions may experience negative emotional effects. Helping surrogates with these end-of-life decisions under emergent conditions requires the emergency physician (EP) to be clear, making medical recommendations with sensitivity. This model for emergency department (ED) end-of-life communications after acute devastating events comprises the following steps: 1) determine the patient's decision-making capacity; 2) identify the legal surrogate; 3) elicit patient values as expressed in completed advance directives; 4) determine patient/surrogate understanding of the life-limiting event and expectant treatment goals; 5) convey physician understanding of the event, including prognosis, treatment options, and recommendation; 6) share decisions regarding withdrawing or withholding of resuscitative efforts, using available resources and considering options for organ donation; and 7) revise treatment goals as needed. Emergency physicians should break bad news compassionately, yet sufficiently, so that surrogate and family understand both the gravity of the situation and the lack of long-term benefit of continued life-sustaining interventions. EPs should also help the surrogate and family understand that palliative care addresses comfort needs of the patient including adequate treatment for pain, dyspnea, or anxiety. Part I of this communications model reviews determination of decision-making capacity, surrogacy laws, and advance directives, including legal definitions and application of these steps; Part II (which will appear in a future issue of AEM) covers communication moving from resuscitative to end-of-life and palliative treatment. EPs should recognize acute devastating illness or injuries, when appropriate, as opportunities to initiate end-of-life discussions and to implement shared decisions. © 2012 by the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine.

Human seizures couple across spatial scales through travelling wave dynamics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martinet, L.-E.; Fiddyment, G.; Madsen, J. R.; Eskandar, E. N.; Truccolo, W.; Eden, U. T.; Cash, S. S.; Kramer, M. A.

2017-04-01

Epilepsy--the propensity toward recurrent, unprovoked seizures--is a devastating disease affecting 65 million people worldwide. Understanding and treating this disease remains a challenge, as seizures manifest through mechanisms and features that span spatial and temporal scales. Here we address this challenge through the analysis and modelling of human brain voltage activity recorded simultaneously across microscopic and macroscopic spatial scales. We show that during seizure large-scale neural populations spanning centimetres of cortex coordinate with small neural groups spanning cortical columns, and provide evidence that rapidly propagating waves of activity underlie this increased inter-scale coupling. We develop a corresponding computational model to propose specific mechanisms--namely, the effects of an increased extracellular potassium concentration diffusing in space--that support the observed spatiotemporal dynamics. Understanding the multi-scale, spatiotemporal dynamics of human seizures--and connecting these dynamics to specific biological mechanisms--promises new insights to treat this devastating disease.

RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling: a therapeutic target in pulmonary hypertension.

PubMed

Barman, Scott A; Zhu, Shu; White, Richard E

2009-01-01

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a devastating disease characterized by progressive elevation of pulmonary arterial pressure and vascular resistance due to pulmonary vasoconstriction and vessel remodeling as well as inflammation. Rho-kinases (ROCKs) are one of the best-described effectors of the small G-protein RhoA, and ROCKs are involved in a variety of cellular functions including muscle cell contraction, proliferation and vascular inflammation through inhibition of myosin light chain phosphatase and activation of downstream mediators. A plethora of evidence in animal models suggests that heightened RhoA/ROCK signaling is important in the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension by causing enhanced constriction and remodeling of the pulmonary vasculature. Both animal and clinical studies suggest that ROCK inhibitors are effective for treatment of severe PAH with minimal risk, which supports the premise that ROCKs are important therapeutic targets in pulmonary hypertension and that ROCK inhibitors are a promising new class of drugs for this devastating disease.

Climate change and eHealth: a promising strategy for health sector mitigation and adaptation

PubMed Central

Holmner, Åsa; Rocklöv, Joacim; Ng, Nawi; Nilsson, Maria

2012-01-01

Climate change is one of today's most pressing global issues. Policies to guide mitigation and adaptation are needed to avoid the devastating impacts of climate change. The health sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries, and its climate impact in low-income countries is growing steadily. This paper reviews and discusses the literature regarding health sector mitigation potential, known and hypothetical co-benefits, and the potential of health information technology, such as eHealth, in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The promising role of eHealth as an adaptation strategy to reduce societal vulnerability to climate change, and the link's between mitigation and adaptation, are also discussed. The topic of environmental eHealth has gained little attention to date, despite its potential to contribute to more sustainable and green health care. A growing number of local and global initiatives on ‘green information and communication technology (ICT)’ are now mentioning eHealth as a promising technology with the potential to reduce emission rates from ICT use. However, the embracing of eHealth is slow because of limitations in technological infrastructure, capacity and political will. Further research on potential emissions reductions and co-benefits with green ICT, in terms of health outcomes and economic effectiveness, would be valuable to guide development and implementation of eHealth in health sector mitigation and adaptation policies. PMID:22679398

Climate change and eHealth: a promising strategy for health sector mitigation and adaptation.

PubMed

Holmner, Asa; Rocklöv, Joacim; Ng, Nawi; Nilsson, Maria

2012-01-01

Climate change is one of today's most pressing global issues. Policies to guide mitigation and adaptation are needed to avoid the devastating impacts of climate change. The health sector is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in developed countries, and its climate impact in low-income countries is growing steadily. This paper reviews and discusses the literature regarding health sector mitigation potential, known and hypothetical co-benefits, and the potential of health information technology, such as eHealth, in climate change mitigation and adaptation. The promising role of eHealth as an adaptation strategy to reduce societal vulnerability to climate change, and the link's between mitigation and adaptation, are also discussed. The topic of environmental eHealth has gained little attention to date, despite its potential to contribute to more sustainable and green health care. A growing number of local and global initiatives on 'green information and communication technology (ICT)' are now mentioning eHealth as a promising technology with the potential to reduce emission rates from ICT use. However, the embracing of eHealth is slow because of limitations in technological infrastructure, capacity and political will. Further research on potential emissions reductions and co-benefits with green ICT, in terms of health outcomes and economic effectiveness, would be valuable to guide development and implementation of eHealth in health sector mitigation and adaptation policies.

Digital Social Norm Enforcement: Online Firestorms in Social Media.

PubMed

Rost, Katja; Stahel, Lea; Frey, Bruno S

2016-01-01

Actors of public interest today have to fear the adverse impact that stems from social media platforms. Any controversial behavior may promptly trigger temporal, but potentially devastating storms of emotional and aggressive outrage, so called online firestorms. Popular targets of online firestorms are companies, politicians, celebrities, media, academics and many more. This article introduces social norm theory to understand online aggression in a social-political online setting, challenging the popular assumption that online anonymity is one of the principle factors that promotes aggression. We underpin this social norm view by analyzing a major social media platform concerned with public affairs over a period of three years entailing 532,197 comments on 1,612 online petitions. Results show that in the context of online firestorms, non-anonymous individuals are more aggressive compared to anonymous individuals. This effect is reinforced if selective incentives are present and if aggressors are intrinsically motivated.

Global epidemiology of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism.

PubMed

Taylor, Peter N; Albrecht, Diana; Scholz, Anna; Gutierrez-Buey, Gala; Lazarus, John H; Dayan, Colin M; Okosieme, Onyebuchi E

2018-05-01

Thyroid hormones are essential for growth, neuronal development, reproduction and regulation of energy metabolism. Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are common conditions with potentially devastating health consequences that affect all populations worldwide. Iodine nutrition is a key determinant of thyroid disease risk; however, other factors, such as ageing, smoking status, genetic susceptibility, ethnicity, endocrine disruptors and the advent of novel therapeutics, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, also influence thyroid disease epidemiology. In the developed world, the prevalence of undiagnosed thyroid disease is likely falling owing to widespread thyroid function testing and relatively low thresholds for treatment initiation. However, continued vigilance against iodine deficiency remains essential in developed countries, particularly in Europe. In this report, we review the global incidence and prevalence of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, highlighting geographical differences and the effect of environmental factors, such as iodine supplementation, on these data. We also highlight the pressing need for detailed epidemiological surveys of thyroid dysfunction and iodine status in developing countries.

The search for a promising cell factory system for production of edible vaccine

PubMed Central

Barzegari, Abolfazl; Saeedi, Nazli; Zarredar, Habib; Barar, Jaleh; Omidi, Yadollah

2014-01-01

Despite worldwide vaccination against devastating diseases for decades, millions of children in remote and impoverished regions of the globe die every year from vaccine-preventable infectious diseases. The reasons for incomplete coverage of vaccination programs are based in part on the relatively high costs of conventional vaccinations, including mass production, refrigeration, transportation, and training as well as funding personnel for their administration. Plant-based edible vaccines (PEVs) have been introduced as a revolutionary cost-effective vaccination modality. However, they suffer from major deficiencies that have restricted their application to bench-scale. This article discusses the deficiencies of PEVs and also provides concise overview on the health-promoting, biological and biotechnological features of spirulina (Arthrospira). In short, we envision that spirulina could be considered as a potential alternative biofactory system to the plants toward the production of edible vaccines in high-yield with low-costs that other hosts cannot yet offer. PMID:25424962

ZIP4 silencing improves bone loss in pancreatic cancer

PubMed Central

Yang, Jingxuan; Ding, Hao; LeBrun, Drake; Ding, Kai; Houchen, Courtney W.; Postier, Russell G.; Ambrose, Catherine G.; Li, Zhaoshen; Bi, Xiaohong; Li, Min

2015-01-01

Metabolic bone disorders are associated with several types of human cancers. Pancreatic cancer patients usually suffer from severe nutrition deficiency, muscle wasting, and loss of bone mass. We have previously found that silencing of a zinc transporter ZIP4 prolongs the survival and reduces the severity of the cachexia in vivo. However, the role of ZIP4 in the pancreatic cancer related bone loss remains unknown. In this study we investigated the effect of ZIP4 knockdown on the bone structure, composition and mechanical properties of femurs in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Our data showed that silencing of ZIP4 resulted in increased bone tissue mineral density, decreased bone crystallinity and restoration of bone strength through the RANK/RANKL pathway. The results further support the impact of ZIP4 on the progression of pancreatic cancer, and suggest its potential significance as a therapeutic target for treating patients with such devastating disease and cancer related disorders. PMID:26305676

The unmet need for philanthropic funding of early career cardiovascular investigators.

PubMed

Ahmad, Tariq; Becker, Richard C

2014-05-01

Philanthropic donations have funded scientific investigations of cardiovascular disease for much of human history, and the patrons who enabled them are indirectly responsible for major breakthroughs in the field. Today, however, the lion's share of funding for cardiovascular research in Western countries comes from the government, professional agencies, and industry. Rapid budget cuts at these traditional sources of financial support are having a devastating impact on the cardiovascular research infrastructure by slashing funding for investigators. A particularly unfortunate consequence is the discouraging effect this is having on early career investigators, who are the life-blood of future breakthroughs in the field, leading to the potential loss of an entire generation of researchers. Here, we summarize the challenges faced by emerging cardiovascular investigators, make a case for the unmet need for appropriately targeted philanthropic support for cardiovascular research, and provide a roadmap for solving the funding shortfall for these investigators.

Livestock Drugs and Disease: The Fatal Combination behind Breeding Failure in Endangered Bearded Vultures

PubMed Central

Blanco, Guillermo; Lemus, Jesús A.

2010-01-01

There is increasing concern about the impact of veterinary drugs and livestock pathogens as factors damaging wildlife health, especially of threatened avian scavengers feeding upon medicated livestock carcasses. We conducted a comprehensive study of failed eggs and dead nestlings in bearded vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) to attempt to elucidate the proximate causes of breeding failure behind the recent decline in productivity in the Spanish Pyrenees. We found high concentrations of multiple veterinary drugs, primarily fluoroquinolones, in most failed eggs and nestlings, associated with multiple internal organ damage and livestock pathogens causing disease, especially septicaemia by swine pathogens and infectious bursal disease. The combined impact of drugs and disease as stochastic factors may result in potentially devastating effects exacerbating an already high risk of extinction and should be considered in current conservation programs for bearded vultures and other scavenger species, especially in regards to dangerous veterinary drugs and highly pathogenic poultry viruses. PMID:21152405

Risk profiles of Alzheimer disease.

PubMed

Bilbul, Melanie; Schipper, Hyman M

2011-07-01

Alzheimer disease (AD) is a dementing, neurodegenerative disorder that affects approximately 500,000 Canadians and its prevalence is expected to double over the next 30 years. Although several medications may temporarily augment cognitive abilities in AD, there presently exists no proven method to avoid the inevitable clinical deterioration in this devastating condition. The delineation of risk factors for the development of AD offers hope for the advent of effective prevention or interventions that might retard the onset of symptoms. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of midlife risk factors implicated in the etiopathogenesis of sporadic AD. Although some risk factors are heritable and largely beyond our control, others are determined by lifestyle or environment and are potentially modifiable. In a companion paper, we introduce the concept of an Alzheimer Risk Assessment Clinic for ascertainment and mitigation of these and other putative dementia risk factors in middle-aged adults.

The effect of stereochemistry on the biological activity of natural phytotoxins, fungicides, insecticides and herbicides.

PubMed

Evidente, Antonio; Cimmino, Alessio; Andolfi, Anna

2013-02-01

Phytotoxins are secondary microbial metabolites that play an essential role in the development of disease symptoms induced by fungi on host plants. Although phytotoxins can cause extensive-and in some cases devastating-damage to agricultural crops, they can also represent an important tool to develop natural herbicides when produced by fungi and plants to inhibit the growth and spread of weeds. An alternative strategy to biologically control parasitic plants is based on the use of plant and fungal metabolites, which stimulate seed germination in the absence of the host plant. Nontoxigenic fungi also produce bioactive metabolites with potential fungicide and insecticide activity, and could be applied for crop protection. All these metabolites represent important tools to develop eco-friendly pesticides. This review deals with the relationships between the biological activity of some phytotoxins, seed germination stimulants, fungicides and insecticides, and their stereochemistry. Copyright © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Forty years of vegetation change on the Missouri River floodplain

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, W. Carter; Dixon, Mark D.; Scott, Michael L.; Rabbe, Lisa; Larson, Gary; Volke, Malia; Werner, Brett

2012-01-01

Comparative inventories in 1969 and 1970 and in 2008 of vegetation from 30 forest stands downstream of Garrison Dam on the Missouri River in central North Dakota showed (a) a sharp decline in Cottonwood regeneration; (b) a strong compositional shift toward dominance by green ash; and (c) large increases in invasive understory species, such as smooth brome, reed canary grass, and Canada thistle. These changes, and others discovered during remeasurement, have been caused by a complex of factors, some related to damming (altered hydrologic and sediment regimes, delta formation, and associated wet-dry cycles) and some not (diseases and expansion of invasive plants). Dominance of green ash, however, may be short lived, given the likelihood that the emerald ash borer will arrive in the Dakotas in 5-10 years, with potentially devastating effects. The prospects for recovery of this valuable ecosystem, rich in ecosystem goods and services and in American history, are daunting.

Development of Potential Small Molecule Therapeutics for Treatment of Ebola Virus.

PubMed

Schafer, Adam Michael; Cheng, Han; Lee, Charles; Du, Ruikun; Han, Julianna; Perez, Jasmine; Peet, Norton; Manicassamy, Balaji; Rong, Lijun

2017-10-10

Ebola virus has caused 26 outbreaks in 10 different countries since its identification in 1976, making it one of the deadliest emerging viral pathogens. The most recent outbreak in West Africa from 2014-16 was the deadliest yet and culminated in 11,310 deaths out of 28,616 confirmed cases. Currently there are no FDA-approved therapeutics or vaccines to treat Ebola virus infections. The slow development of effective vaccines combined with the severity of past outbreaks emphasizes the need to accelerate research into understanding the virus lifecycle and the development of therapeutics for post exposure treatment. Here we present a summary of the major findings on the Ebola virus replication cycle and the therapeutic approaches explored to treat this devastating disease. The major focus of this review is on small molecule inhibitors. Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.org.

Disrupting beta-amyloid aggregation for Alzheimer disease treatment.

PubMed

Estrada, L D; Soto, C

2007-01-01

Alzheimer's disease is a devastating degenerative disorder for which there is no cure or effective treatment. Although the etiology of Alzheimer's disease is not fully understood, compelling evidence indicates that deposition of aggregates composed by a misfolded form of the amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) is the central event in the disease pathogenesis. Therefore, an attractive therapeutic strategy is to prevent or reverse Abeta misfolding and aggregation. Diverse strategies have been described to identify inhibitors of this process, including screening of libraries of small molecules chemical compounds, rational design of synthetic peptides, assessment of natural Abeta-binding proteins and stimulation of the immune system by vaccination. In this article we describe these different approaches, their principles and their potential strengths and weaknesses. Overall the available data suggest that the development of drugs to interfere with Abeta misfolding and aggregation is a feasible target that hold great promise for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Digital Social Norm Enforcement: Online Firestorms in Social Media

PubMed Central

Rost, Katja; Stahel, Lea; Frey, Bruno S.

2016-01-01

Actors of public interest today have to fear the adverse impact that stems from social media platforms. Any controversial behavior may promptly trigger temporal, but potentially devastating storms of emotional and aggressive outrage, so called online firestorms. Popular targets of online firestorms are companies, politicians, celebrities, media, academics and many more. This article introduces social norm theory to understand online aggression in a social-political online setting, challenging the popular assumption that online anonymity is one of the principle factors that promotes aggression. We underpin this social norm view by analyzing a major social media platform concerned with public affairs over a period of three years entailing 532,197 comments on 1,612 online petitions. Results show that in the context of online firestorms, non-anonymous individuals are more aggressive compared to anonymous individuals. This effect is reinforced if selective incentives are present and if aggressors are intrinsically motivated. PMID:27315071

An Investigation of Bomb Cyclone Climatology: Reanalysis vs. NCEP's CFS Model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Alvarez, F. M.; Eichler, T.; Gottschalck, J.

2009-12-01

Given the concerns and potential impacts of climate change, the need for climate models to simulate weather phenomena is as important as ever. An example of such phenomena is rapidly intensifying cyclones, also known as "bombs." These intense cyclones have devastating effects on residential and marine commercial interests as well as the transportation industry. In this study, we generate a climatology of rapid cyclogenesis using the National Centers for Environmental Prediction’s (NCEP) Climate Forecast System (CFS) model. Results are compared to NCEP’s global reanalysis data to determine if the CFS model is capable of producing a realistic extreme storm climatology. This represents the first step in quantifying rapidly intensifying cyclones in the CFS model, which will be useful in contributing towards future model improvements, as well as gauging its ability in determining the role of synoptic-scale storms in climate change.

The malpractice crisis in obstetrics and gynecology: is there a solution?

PubMed Central

Barber, H. R.

1991-01-01

The malpractice ripoff began when the no-fault automobile accident law was passed. Many lawyers were in a panic at this time and turned to medical malpractice litigation to make a living. It became the conduit to quick wealth. The patient was the loser, the lawyer the winner, and the physician often devastated by the patient's ingratitude. For a patient-plaintiff to maintain a successful lawsuit for medical negligence against a physician, four elements must be alleged and proved in a court of law: duty, breach of duty, causation, and damages. Each must be proved by a patient to prevail against a physician. Since this is very difficult to do, the lawyers have subtly brought in a new approach called maloccurrence. This is defined as a bad outcome unrelated to the quality of care provided. The lawyers need not prove the four elements to win a malpractice case; many are won on deceit and in violation of the law by introducing the concept of maloccurrence. Not only are tort reforms needed but out of court alternatives must be mandated by law or our health care delivery system will be destroyed. Government interference and the malpractice ripoff has had a devastating effect on the talent attracted to medical school, and the number of applicants is falling rapidly. The medical malpractice crisis could soon be translated into a health delivery service crisis. Concerned citizens must join together with the medical profession and leaders of the legal profession to halt this monstrous injustice. The litigation milieu has not only paralyzed the health care industry but it has had a devastating effect across the board on the way Americans live and do business. It must be solved now for justice delayed is justice denied. PMID:2049569

Fungicides reduce Rhododendron root rot and mortality caused by Phytophthora cinnamomi, but not by P. plurivora

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Rhododendron root rot, caused by several Phytophthora species, can cause devastating losses in nursery-grown plants. Most research on chemical control of root rot has focused on Phytophthora cinnamomi. However, it is unknown whether treatments recommended for P. cinnamomi are also effective for othe...

Lessons from Disasters: Play, Work, and the Creative Arts

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frost, Joe L.

2005-01-01

Hurricane Katrina devastated the American gulf coast, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless and without food, water, shelter, and clothing. Men, women, and children perished, crushed by the effects of violent winds across four states, or drowned in massive ocean waves and in floodwater that swamped New Orleans and made the city…

Effects of interferon-alpha on the immune response to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most devastating and costly diseases to the swine industry world-wide. Overall, the adaptive immune response to PRRS virus (PRRSV) is weak and results in delayed elimination of virus from the host and inferior vaccine protection. PR...

Remembering the Holocaust.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Keller, Michelle

Few events in history have had as far-reaching an effect on people's lives as the Holocaust. To stop the devastating cycle of hatred and prejudice, prevention needs to start in the classroom. Through education, teachers can bring light upon the horrible practices that took place in the past. In this curriculum unit intended for use in grades 6…

Effects of adenoviral delivered interferon-alpha on porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus infection in swine.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Type I interferons, such as interferon alpha (IFN-alpha), contribute to innate antiviral immunity by promoting production of antiviral mediators and also play a role in the adaptive immune response. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is one of the most devastating and costly diseas...

Handling Sexuality Concerns in Women with Gynecological Cancer: Egyptian Nurse's Knowledge and Attitudes

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mansour, Suzan E.; Mohamed, Hanan E.

2015-01-01

Sexuality is an important part of normal human functioning. Gynecological cancer diagnosis and treatment has devastating effect on Sexual issues. Study aim was to investigate Oncology Nurses knowledge and attitudes in Relation to Provision of Sexual Health Care to Women Diagnosed with Gynecological Cancer. The study setting was conducted at…

The Psychological Effects of Apartheid on the Mental Health of Black South African Women Domestics.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mohutsioa-Makhudu, Yvonne Nono K.

1989-01-01

Claims ideology of apartheid creates circumstances for feelings of incompleteness and inferiority among Black domestics in South Africa. Contends that apartheid has been created by the White racist minority to oppress and psychologically devastate the mental health of Black South Africans, particularly Black women domestics. (ABL)

Public Health Nursing for People with AIDS.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dickinson, Dena; And Others

Individuals with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related conditions (ARC) need continual care and support, at a level which can severely tax the health resources of a community. Public health nursing should have a central role in the effective and efficient response to this devastating problem. Since the early stages of the AIDS…

Five Essential Elements of Crisis Intervention for Communities and Schools When Responding to Technological Disasters

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Sulkowski, Michael L.; Lazarus, Philip J.

2013-01-01

Technological disasters result from human error, negligence, or limitations in perceiving and reducing risk. They are a form of manmade disaster that exerts a devastating effect on impacted individuals, communities, and ecosystems. Because of their negative impacts, technological disasters often erode community connectedness, undermine adaptive…

Toward The Identification Of Candidate Genes Involved In Black Pod Disease Resistance In Theobroma cacao L.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Black Pod (Phytophthora sp.) has a devastating effect on the worldwide cacao (Theobroma cacao) yield and incorporating resistance into production fields has been an ongoing effort of breeding programs. Previous meta-QTL analysis of genetic maps created with a variety of molecular markers identified...

Toward the identification of candidate genes involved In black pod disease resistance in Theobroma cacao L.

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Black Pod (Phytophthora sp.) has a devastating effect on the worldwide cacao (Theobroma cacao) yield and incorporating resistance into production fields has been an ongoing effort of breeding programs. Previous meta-QTL analysis of genetic maps created with a variety of molecular markers identified...

Behavioral responses of male Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) to mating communication signals from vibration traps in citrus (Sapindales: Rutaceae) trees

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama, vectors the bacterium causing citrus greening disease, which has devastated citrus production worldwide wherever it has been introduced. To help monitor and target D citri populations in commercial groves, thereby facilitating more effective manag...

Powder Keg on the Upper Missouri: Sources of Blackfeet Hostility, 1730-1810.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Judy, Mark A.

1987-01-01

Evaluates reasons why Blackfeet Indians were bitterly hostile toward white fur traders in the upper Missouri River basin during the early 1800s. Explains causes of internal tribal turmoil including rapid adaptation of horses to tribal culture, devastating effects of disease, and guns disrupting the balance of power among tribes. (JHZ)

Educational Resiliency in Teen Mothers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Watson, Linnea Lynne; Vogel, Linda R.

2017-01-01

While recent research has shown the long-term effects of teen pregnancy are not as devastating as once predicted, more than 40 years after the passage of Title IX legislation mandating equal educational opportunities for pregnant and parenting teens, only 50% of teen parents graduate high school, lagging far behind their non-parenting peers. This…

Use of pelleted sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneata) for natural control of coccidia and gastrointestinal nematodes in weaned goats

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Infection with Eimeria spp. (coccidia) can be devastating in goats, particularly for young, recently-weaned kids, resulting in diarrhea, dehydration, and even death. Feeding dried sericea lespedeza [SL; Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours.) G. Don.] to young goats has been reported to reduce the effects ...

Taming Malaria: A New Health Model for the Indigenous Populations in Brazil.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Martins, Leda Leitao

1999-01-01

In the late 1980s, a gold rush in Roraima state, Brazil, had devastating effects on the health of indigenous populations. Since then, a new health system emerged combining the assets of nongovernmental organizations, government agencies, and Native peoples such as the Macuxi. Community-chosen indigenous health workers and microscope technicians…

Invasive plants, insects, and diseases in the forests of the Anthropocene

Treesearch

Alexander M. Evans

2014-01-01

Invasive species, non-native plants, insects, and diseases can devastate forests. They outcompete native species, replace them in the ecosystem, and even drive keystone forest species to functional extinction. Invasives have negative effects on forest hydrology, carbon storage, and nutrient cycling. The damage caused by invasive species exacerbates the other forest...

Sediment reduction through watershed rehabilitation

Treesearch

Edward L. Noble

1963-01-01

History is replete with stories recounting the failures of man to recognize, control, and conquer the devastating effects of sediments from steep mountainous lands. Learned men have documented the reasons for the tragic downfall of highly developed civilizations in Mesopotamia, Israel, Egypt, and elsewhere. Most agree that it was not conquest of the land by an invader...

Lived Experience of Women Suffering from Vitiligo: A Phenomenological Study

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Borimnejad, Leili; Yekta, Zohreh Parsa; Nasrabadi, Alireza Nikbakht

2006-01-01

Vitiligo is a chronic skin disease, which through change of appearance and body image, exerts a devastating effect on people, especially women. The objective of this study is to explore lived experience of women with Vitiligo by the hermeneutic phenomenology method. The purposive sample consisted of 16 Iranian women. Data analysis followed…

Application of knowledge management and the intelligence continuum for medical emergencies and disaster scenarios.

PubMed

Wickramasinghe, Nilmini; Bali, Rajeev K; Naguib, Raouf N G

2006-01-01

The world has recently witnessed several large scale natural disasters. These include the Asian tsunami which devastated many of the countries around the rim of the Indian Ocean in December 2004, extensive flooding in many parts of Europe in August 2005, hurricane katrina (September 2005), the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in many regions of Asia and Canada in 2003 and the Pakistan earthquake (towards the end of 2005). Such emergency and disaster situations (E&DS) serve to underscore the utter chaos that ensues in the aftermath of such events, the many casualties and lives lost not to mention the devastation and destruction that is left behind. One recurring theme that is apparent in all these situations is that, irrespective of the warnings of imminent threats, countries have not been prepared and ready to exhibit effective and efficient crisis management. This paper examines the application of the tools, techniques and processes of the knowledge economy to develop a prescriptive model that will support superior decision making in E&DS, thereby enabling effective and efficient crisis management.

Deceased organ donation for transplantation: Challenges and opportunities

PubMed Central

Girlanda, Raffaele

2016-01-01

Organ transplantation saves thousands of lives every year but the shortage of donors is a major limiting factor to increase transplantation rates. To allow more patients to be transplanted before they die on the wait-list an increase in the number of donors is necessary. Patients with devastating irreversible brain injury, if medically suitable, are potential deceased donors and strategies are needed to successfully convert them into actual donors. Multiple steps in the process of deceased organ donation can be targeted to increase the number of organs suitable for transplant. In this review, after describing this process, we discuss current challenges and potential strategies to expand the pool of deceased donors. PMID:27683626

Unraveling the structure of the variola topoisomerase IB-DNA complex: a possible new twist on smallpox therapy.

PubMed

Osheroff, Neil

2006-10-01

Smallpox is a serious and highly contagious disease that is caused by the variola virus. It is one of the most severe infectious human diseases known, with mortality rates as high as 30%. A successful worldwide vaccination program led to the eradication of smallpox in 1980. However, the high transmission rate of variola virus, coupled with the deadly nature of smallpox, makes this virus a potentially devastating weapon for bioterrorism. Currently, there is no specific treatment for smallpox. However, a recent article on the structure of a variola topoisomerase IB-DNA complex provides an intriguing starting point for the rational design of drugs with potential activity against smallpox.

Landslides and Earthquake Lakes from the Wenchuan, China Earthquake - Can it Happen in the U.S.?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stenner, H.; Cydzik, K.; Hamilton, D.; Cattarossi, A.; Mathieson, E.

2008-12-01

The May 12, 2008 M7.9 Wenchuan, China earthquake destroyed five million homes and schools, causing over 87,650 deaths. Landslides, a secondary effect of the shaking, caused much of the devastation. Debris flows buried homes, rock falls crushed cars, and landslides dammed rivers. Blocked roads greatly impeded emergency access, delaying response. Our August 2008 field experience in the affected area reminded us that the western United States faces serious risks posed by earthquake-induced landslides. The topography of the western U.S. is less extreme than that near Wenchuan, but earthquakes may still cause devastating landslides, damming rivers and blocking access to affected areas. After the Wenchuan earthquake, lakes rapidly rose behind landslide dams, threatening millions of lives. One landslide above Beichuan City created Tangjiashan Lake, a massive body of water upstream of Mianyang, an area with 5.2 million people, 30,000 of whom were killed in the quake. Potential failure of the landslide dam put thousands more people at risk from catastrophic flooding. In 1959, the M7.4 Hebgen Lake earthquake in Montana caused a large landslide, which killed 19 people and dammed the Madison River. The Army Corps excavated sluices to keep the dam from failing catastrophically. The Hebgen Lake earthquake ultimately caused 28 deaths, mostly from landslides, but the affected region was sparsely populated. Slopes prone to strong earthquake shaking and landslides in California, Washington, and Oregon have much larger populations at risk. Landslide hazards continue after the earthquake due to the effect strong shaking has on hillslopes, particularly when subjected to subsequent rain. These hazards must be taken into account. Once a landslide blocks a river, rapid and thoughtful action is needed. The Chinese government quickly and safely mitigated landslide dams that posed the greatest risk to people downstream. It took expert geotechnical advice, the speed and resources of the army, and some luck. It would pay to learn from their success.

Effects of Enhanced Oxygen Delivery by Perfluorocarbons in Spinal Cord Injury

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-10-01

been established, linking post- traumatic ischemia to axonal dysfunction.8 Decreased oxygen level in severe traumatic injuries appears to be implicated...rodent weight drop traumatic spinal cord injury model; ( 2 ) determine if enhanced oxygen delivery in spinal cord injury spares cellular elements, white...shown that ischemia /hypoxia play crucial role in the devastating effects of the secondary injury following SCI which translates into worse neurological

Using Information from Rendezvous Missions For Best-Case Appraisals of Impact Damage to Planet Earth Caused By Natural Objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnold, J. O.; Chodas, P. W.; Ulamec, S.; Mathias, D. L.; Burkhard, C. D.

2017-01-01

The Asteroid Threat Assessment Project (ATAP), a part of NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) has the responsibility to appraise the range of surface damage by potential asteroid impacts on land or water. If a threat is realized, the project will provide appraisals to officials empowered to make decisions on potential mitigation actions. This paper describes a scenario for assessment of surface damage when characterization of an asteroid had been accomplished by a rendezvous mission that would be conducted by the international planetary defense community. It is shown that the combination of data from ground and in-situ measurements on an asteroid provides knowledge that can be used to pin-point its impact location and predict the level of devastation it would cause. The hypothetical asteroid 2017 PDC with a size of 160 to 290 m in diameter to be discussed at the PDC 2017 meeting is used as an example. In order of importance for appraising potential damage, information required is: (1) where will the surface impact occur? (2) What is the mass, shape and size of the asteroid and what is its entry state (speed and entry angle) at the 100 km atmospheric pierce point? And (3) is the asteroid a monolith or a rubble pile? If it is a rubble pile, what is its sub and interior structure? Item (1) is of first order importance to determine levels of devastation (loss of life and infrastructure damage) because it varies strongly on the impact location. Items (2) and (3) are used as input for ATAPs simulations to define the level of surface hazards: winds, overpressure, thermal exposure; all created by the deposition of energy during the objects atmospheric flight, andor cratering. Topics presented in this paper include: (i) The devastation predicted by 2017 PDCs impact based on initial observations using ATAPs risk assessment capability, (ii) How information corresponding to items (1) to (3) could be obtained from a rendezvous mission, and (iii) How information from a rendezvous mission could be used, along with that from ground observations and data from the literature, could provide input for an new risk analysis capability that is emerging from ATAPs research. It is concluded that this approach would result in appraisal with the least uncertainty possible (herein called the best-case) using simulation capabilities that are currently available or will be in the future.

Using Information from Rendezvous Missions For Best-Case Appraisals of Impact Damage to Planet Earth Caused By Natural Objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnold, James O.; Chodas, Paul W.; Ulamec, Stephan; Mathias, Donovan L.; Burkhard, Craig D.

2017-01-01

The Asteroid Threat Assessment Project (ATAP), a part of NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) has the responsibility to appraise the range of surface damage by potential asteroid impacts on land or water. If a threat is realized, the project will provide appraisals to officials empowered to make decisions on potential mitigation actions. This paper describes a scenario for assessment of surface damage when characterization of an asteroid had been accomplished by a rendezvous mission that would be conducted by the international planetary defense community. It is shown that the combination of data from ground and in-situ measurements on an asteroid provides knowledge that can be used to pin-point its impact location and predict the level of devastation it would cause. The hypothetical asteroid 2017 PDC with a size of 160 to 290 m in diameter to be discussed at the PDC 2017 meeting is used as an example. In order of importance for appraising potential damage, information required is: (1) where will the surface impact occur? (2) What is the mass, shape and size of the asteroid and what is its entry state (speed and entry angle) at the 100 km atmospheric pierce point? And (3) is the asteroid a monolith or a rubble pile? If it is a rubble pile, what is its sub and interior structure? Item (1) is of first order importance to determine levels of devastation (loss of life and infrastructure damage) because it varies strongly on the impact location. Items (2) and (3) are used as input for ATAPs simulations to define the level of surface hazards: winds, overpressure, thermal exposure; all created by the deposition of energy during the objects atmospheric flight, and/or cratering. Topics presented in this paper include: (i) The devastation predicted by 2017 PDCs impact based on initial observations using ATAPs risk assessment capability, (ii) How information corresponding to items (1) to (3) could be obtained from a rendezvous mission, and (iii) How information from a rendezvous mission could be used, along with that from ground observations and data from the literature, could provide input for an new risk analysis capability that is emerging from ATAPs research. It is concluded that this approach would result in appraisal with the least uncertainty possible (herein called the best-case) using simulation capabilities that are currently available or will be in the future.

Using Information from Rendezvous Missions for Best-Case Appraisals of Impact Damage to Planet Earth Caused by Natural Objects

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Arnold, James O.; Chodas, Paul W.; Ulamec, Stephan; Mathias, Donovan L.; Burkhard, Craig D.

2017-01-01

The Asteroid Threat Assessment Project (ATAP), a part of NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office (PDCO) has the responsibility to appraise the range of surface damage by potential asteroid impacts on land or water. If a threat is realized, the project will provide appraisals to officials empowered to make decisions about potential mitigation actions. This paper describes a scenario for assessment of surface damage when characterization of an asteroid had been accomplished by a rendezvous mission that would be conducted by the international planetary defense community. It is shown that the combination of data from ground and in-situ measurements on an asteroid provides knowledge that can be used to pin-point its impact location and predict the level of devastation it would cause. The hypothetical asteroid 2017 PDC with a size range of 160 to 290 m in diameter to be discussed at the PDC 2017 is used as an example. In order of importance for appraising potential damage, information required is: (1) where will the surface impact occur? (2) what is the mass, shape and size of the asteroid and what is its entry state (speed and entry angle) at the 100 km atmospheric pierce point? And (3) is the asteroid a monolith or a rubble pile? If it is a rubble pile, what is its structure and heterogeneity from the surface and throughout its interior? Item (1) is of first order importance to determine levels of devastation (loss of life and infrastructure damage) because it varies strongly on the impact location. Items (2) and (3) are used as inputs for ATAPs simulations to define the level of surface hazards: winds, overpressure, thermal exposure; all created by the deposition of energy during the objects atmospheric flight, andor cratering. Topics presented in this paper include: (i) the devastation predicted by 2017 PDCs impact on land based on initial observations using ATAPs risk assessment capability, (ii) how information corresponding to items (1) to (3) could be obtained from a rendezvous mission, and (iii) how information from a rendezvous mission could be used, along with that from ground observations and data from the literature to provide input for a new risk analysis capability that is emerging from ATAPs research. It is concluded that this approach would result in the creation of an appraisal of the threat from 2017 PDC with the least uncertainty possible, herein called the best-case.

Comparison of the Wii Balance Board and the BESS tool measuring postural stability in collegiate athletes.

PubMed

Guzman, Jill; Aktan, Nadine

2016-02-01

Concussions are a major health concern for athletes given the potential for these injuries in a wide range of sport activities. The leading concern for clinicians is that athletes are at risk for devastating consequences if they are not evaluated properly and cleared too early to return to play or competition. The evaluation of postural stability has been identified as an important aspect to the comprehensive management of such injuries. Clinicians are in need of a portable tool they can use in various settings to aid in decision making and health care delivery for concussed athletes. The Nintendo Wii Balance Board (Nintendo of America Inc., Redmond, Washington) is a portable, cost-effective tool that has the potential to aid in the evaluation of postural stability in concussed individuals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Wii Balance Board as an objective, user-friendly, cost effective, valid alternative tool for the measurement of postural stability in college athletes. This study questioned whether the Wii Balance Board, when compared to the Balance Error Scoring System (BESS), is an objective tool that can be used as an acceptable measurement of postural stability in college athletes. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Delaying the International Spread of Pandemic Influenza

PubMed Central

Cooper, Ben S; Pitman, Richard J; Edmunds, W. John; Gay, Nigel J

2006-01-01

Background The recent emergence of hypervirulent subtypes of avian influenza has underlined the potentially devastating effects of pandemic influenza. Were such a virus to acquire the ability to spread efficiently between humans, control would almost certainly be hampered by limited vaccine supplies unless global spread could be substantially delayed. Moreover, the large increases that have occurred in international air travel might be expected to lead to more rapid global dissemination than in previous pandemics. Methods and Findings To evaluate the potential of local control measures and travel restrictions to impede global dissemination, we developed stochastic models of the international spread of influenza based on extensions of coupled epidemic transmission models. These models have been shown to be capable of accurately forecasting local and global spread of epidemic and pandemic influenza. We show that under most scenarios restrictions on air travel are likely to be of surprisingly little value in delaying epidemics, unless almost all travel ceases very soon after epidemics are detected. Conclusions Interventions to reduce local transmission of influenza are likely to be more effective at reducing the rate of global spread and less vulnerable to implementation delays than air travel restrictions. Nevertheless, under the most plausible scenarios, achievable delays are small compared with the time needed to accumulate substantial vaccine stocks. PMID:16640458

Anti-fibrotic effects of pirfenidone and rapamycin in primary IPF fibroblasts and human alveolar epithelial cells.

PubMed

Molina-Molina, M; Machahua-Huamani, C; Vicens-Zygmunt, V; Llatjós, R; Escobar, I; Sala-Llinas, E; Luburich-Hernaiz, P; Dorca, J; Montes-Worboys, A

2018-04-27

Pirfenidone, a pleiotropic anti-fibrotic treatment, has been shown to slow down disease progression of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), a fatal and devastating lung disease. Rapamycin, an inhibitor of fibroblast proliferation could be a potential anti-fibrotic drug to improve the effects of pirfenidone. Primary lung fibroblasts from IPF patients and human alveolar epithelial cells (A549) were treated in vitro with pirfenidone and rapamycin in the presence or absence of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β). Extracellular matrix protein and gene expression of markers involved in lung fibrosis (tenascin-c, fibronectin, collagen I [COL1A1], collagen III [COL3A1] and α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA]) were analyzed. A cell migration assay in pirfenidone, rapamycin and TGF-β-containing media was performed. Gene and protein expression of tenascin-c and fibronectin of fibrotic fibroblasts were reduced by pirfenidone or rapamycin treatment. Pirfenidone-rapamycin treatment did not revert the epithelial to mesenchymal transition pathway activated by TGF-β. However, the drug combination significantly abrogated fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. The inhibitory effect of pirfenidone on fibroblast migration in the scratch-wound assay was potentiated by rapamycin combination. These findings indicate that the combination of pirfenidone and rapamycin widen the inhibition range of fibrogenic markers and prevents fibroblast migration. These results would open a new line of research for an anti-fibrotic combination therapeutic approach.

Pleiotropic effects of statins: new therapeutic targets in drug design.

PubMed

Bedi, Onkar; Dhawan, Veena; Sharma, P L; Kumar, Puneet

2016-07-01

The HMG Co-enzyme inhibitors and new lipid-modifying agents expand their new therapeutic target options in the field of medical profession. Statins have been described as the most effective class of drugs to reduce serum cholesterol levels. Since the discovery of the first statin nearly 30 years ago, these drugs have become the main therapeutic approach to lower cholesterol levels. The present scientific research demonstrates numerous non-lipid modifiable effects of statins termed as pleiotropic effects of statins, which could be beneficial for the treatment of various devastating disorders. The most important positive effects of statins are anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, anti-diabetes, and antithrombotic, improving endothelial dysfunction and attenuating vascular remodeling besides many others which are discussed under the scope of this review. In particular, inhibition of Rho and its downstream target, Rho-associated coiled-coil-containing protein kinase (ROCK), and their agonistic action on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) can be viewed as the principle mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic effects of statins. With gradually increasing knowledge of new therapeutic targets of statins, their use has also been advocated in chronic inflammatory disorders for example rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In the scope of review, we highlight statins and their pleiotropic effects with reference to their harmful and beneficial effects as a novel approach for their use in the treatment of devastating disorders. Graphical abstract Pleiotropic effect of statins.

California's Vulnerability to Volcanic Hazards: What's at Risk?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mangan, M.; Wood, N. J.; Dinitz, L.

2015-12-01

California is a leader in comprehensive planning for devastating earthquakes, landslides, floods, and tsunamis. Far less attention, however, has focused on the potentially devastating impact of volcanic eruptions, despite the fact that they occur in the State about as frequently as the largest earthquakes on the San Andreas Fault Zone. At least 10 eruptions have occurred in the past 1,000 years—most recently in northern California (Lassen Peak 1914 to 1917)—and future volcanic eruptions are inevitable. The likelihood of renewed volcanism in California is about one in a few hundred to one in a few thousand annually. Eight young volcanoes, ranked as Moderate to Very High Threat [1] are dispersed throughout the State. Partially molten rock (magma) resides beneath at least seven of these—Medicine Lake Volcano, Mount Shasta, Lassen Volcanic Center, Clear Lake Volcanic Field, Long Valley Volcanic Region, Coso Volcanic Field, and Salton Buttes— causing earthquakes, toxic gas emissions, hydrothermal activity, and (or) ground deformation. Understanding the hazards and identifying what is at risk are the first steps in building community resilience to volcanic disasters. This study, prepared in collaboration with the State of California Governor's Office of Emergency Management and the California Geological Survey, provides a broad perspective on the State's exposure to volcano hazards by integrating mapped volcano hazard zones with geospatial data on at-risk populations, infrastructure, and resources. The study reveals that ~ 16 million acres fall within California's volcano hazard zones, along with ~ 190 thousand permanent and 22 million transitory populations. Additionally, far-field disruption to key water delivery systems, agriculture, utilities, and air traffic is likely. Further site- and sector-specific analyses will lead to improved hazard mitigation efforts and more effective disaster response and recovery. [1] "Volcanic Threat and Monitoring Capabilities in the United States," http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1164/

Evidence for Anti-Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) Activity of Propolis.

PubMed

Ghosh, Soumya; McArthur, Robyn; Guo, Zhi Chao; McKerchar, Rory; Donkor, Kingsley; Xu, Jianping; Cheeptham, Naowarat

2017-12-21

White-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats, caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans ( Pd ), is a cutaneous infection that has devastated North American bat populations since 2007. At present, there is no effective method for controlling this disease. Here, we evaluated the effect of propolis against Pd in vitro. Using Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) medium, approximately 1.7 × 10⁷ conidia spores of the Pd strain M3906-2/mL were spread on each plate and grown to form a consistent lawn. A Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay was employed using different concentrations of propolis (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%), in plates incubated at 8 °C and 15 °C. At 8 °C and 15 °C, as the concentration of propolis increased, there was an increasing zone of inhibition (ZOI), reaching the highest degree at 10% and 25% concentrations, respectively. A germule suppression assay showed a similar effect on Pd conidia germination. A MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of propolis revealed multiple constituents with a potential anti- Pd activity, including cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, and dihydrochalcones, which could be further tested for their individual effects. Our study suggests that propolis or its individual constituents might be suitable products against Pd .

Responding to Hard Times in the "Big Easy": Meeting the Vocational Needs of Low-Income African American New Orleans Residents

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lyons, Heather Z.

2011-01-01

The already limited vocational prospects of low-income African Americans in New Orleans were further devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill added to the devastation, highlighting the continued vulnerability of New Orleanians seeking employment. As a result, opportunities persist for vocational practitioners…

Strategic Communication in Pursuit of National Interests

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-03-22

the tsunami-induced loss of electricity triggered a hydrogen explosion at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, further compounding the disaster .38...assistance and disaster relief. Operation Tomodachi conducted in Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in spring of 2011 provided an...humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Operation Tomodachi conducted in Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami in spring of 2011 provided

Talking about Twisters: Relations between Mothers' and Children's Contributions to Conversations about a Devastating Tornado

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Bauer, Patricia J.; Burch, Melissa M.; Van Abbema, Dana L.; Ackil, Jennifer K.

2007-01-01

Mother-child dyads who experienced a devastating tornado talked about the storm and about two affectively more positive or neutral events at each of two time points: 4 months and 10 months after the storm. The conversations were analyzed to determine whether mothers and/or children's contributions differed as a function of event type and whether…

[Cooperation and support activities of infection control after the Great East Japan Earthquake].

PubMed

Hatta, Masumitsu; Kaku, Mitsuo

2013-12-01

On 11 March 2011, an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale occurred off the northeast coast of Honshu Island, Japan, produced a devastating tsunami that destroyed many towns and villages near the coast in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. Miyagi Prefecture was the area most severely devastated by the tsunami, with extensive loss of life and property; hundreds of thousands of people lost their houses and were forced to move to evacuation areas. In the days and weeks following devastating natural disasters, the threat of infectious disease outbreak is high. We initiated cooperation and support activities in terms of infection control at evacuation centers in the aftermath of the disaster. For example, we assessed sanitary and infectious risk factors in evacuation centers, in collaboration with Miyagi Prefectural Government and public health centers in the devastated area, to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases among evacuees. We also supported the control of two outbreaks of influenza A, which occurred in different centers in Miyagi Prefecture in the early period after the disaster. Both outbreaks subsided without any complicated or fatal cases of influenza as a result of the prompt implementation of a systemic approach with a bundle of control measures.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kovoor-Misra, S.

Technical organizations are not only vulnerable to crises, but have the potential to create catastrophic crises. This has been devastatingly illustrated by recent crises, such as the gas leak in Bhopal, India, the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and the Challenger explosion. Thus, crises preparation for these organizations. This paper describes a Multidimensional Approach to crisis preparation for technical organizations. As part of this approach, come critical factors for crisis preparation are also described. The Multidimensional Approach is derived from the literature and a study of the crisis preparation of nine technical organizations. 28 refs., 3 figs., 4 tab.

Ocular alkali burn associated with automobile air-bag activation.

PubMed Central

White, J E; McClafferty, K; Orton, R B; Tokarewicz, A C; Nowak, E S

1995-01-01

Alkali burns of the eye can result in permanent visual impairment and are therefore potentially devastating. Immedicate diagnosis and treatment are essential to a good prognosis. The authors report the case of a 52-year-old woman who suffered alkali keratitis as the result of the activation of an automobile air bag. This type of injury will be seen more frequently as more cars are equipped with air bags and should be suspected in drivers and passengers involved in accidents in which air bags have been activated. PMID:7553495

The Defense Science Board 1997 Summer Study Task Force on DoD Responses to Transnational Threats; Volume 1 - Final Report.

DTIC Science & Technology

1997-10-01

loss of human life - both theirs and ours - their initiatives present a formidable challenge to long-term national security. Even a small nation with...the chemical release killed a dozen people, well over 5,000 were injured and the release had the potential for far more devastating loss of life. In...individuals or groups to produce major damage and loss of life exists today. Events that we have already witnessed could well have resulted in far graver

Linking abnormal mitosis to the acquisition of DNA damage

PubMed Central

Pellman, David

2012-01-01

Cellular defects that impair the fidelity of mitosis promote chromosome missegregation and aneuploidy. Increasing evidence reveals that errors in mitosis can also promote the direct and indirect acquisition of DNA damage and chromosome breaks. Consequently, deregulated cell division can devastate the integrity of the normal genome and unleash a variety of oncogenic stimuli that may promote transformation. Recent work has shed light on the mechanisms that link abnormal mitosis with the development of DNA damage, how cells respond to such affronts, and the potential impact on tumorigenesis. PMID:23229895

Prevention of Infection in Orthopedic Prosthetic Surgery.

PubMed

Chirca, Ioana; Marculescu, Camelia

2017-06-01

Total joint arthroplasty is a generally safe orthopedic procedure; however, infection is a potentially devastating complication. Multiple risk factors have been identified for development of prosthetic joint infections. Identification of patients at risk and preoperative correction of known risk factors, such as smoking, diabetes mellitus, anemia, malnutrition, and decolonization of Staphylococcus carriers, represent well-established actions to decrease the infection risk. Careful operative technique, proper draping and skin preparation, and appropriate selection and dosing of antimicrobials for perioperative prophylaxis are also very important in prevention of infection. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Compartment syndrome as a complication of a stab wound to the thigh: a case report and review of the literature

PubMed Central

Gillooly, John J; Hacker, Andrew; Patel, Vipul

2007-01-01

Acute compartment syndrome of the thigh is a rare but potentially devastating condition, in which the pressure within the osseofascial compartment rises above the capillary perfusion gradient, leading to cellular anoxia, muscle ischaemia and death. Early diagnosis and treatment is essential to prevent long term disability. It is most often associated with crush injuries and femoral fracture. We present a previously unreported case of thigh compartment syndrome following a stab injury, treated by emergent fasciotomy. PMID:17954836

Monitoring ash (Fraxinus spp.) decline and emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) symptoms in infested areas

Treesearch

Kathleen S. Knight; Britton P. Flash; Rachel H. Kappler; Joel A. Throckmorton; Bernadette Grafton; Charles E. Flower

2014-01-01

Emerald ash borer (A. planipennis) (EAB) has had a devastating effect on ash (Fraxinus) species since its introduction to North America and has resulted in altered ecological processes across the area of infestation. Monitoring is an important tool for understanding and managing the impact of this threat, and the use of common...

Early Exposure to Toxic Substances Damages Brain Architecture. Working Paper #4

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

National Scientific Council on the Developing Child, 2006

2006-01-01

New science shows that exposure to toxins prenatally or early in life can have a devastating and lifelong effect on the developing architecture of the brain. Exposures to many chemicals have much more severe consequences for embryos, fetuses, and young children, whose brains are still developing, than for adults. Substances that can have a truly…

Characterization and purification of proteins suitable for the production of antibodies against ‘Ca. Liberibacter asiaticus’

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The citrus disease huanglongbing (HLB), which is caused by ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’ (CaLas), is one of the most devastating pathogens of citrus, and with no effective method of control, poses a serious threat to citrus production throughout the world. In a previous study we described the...

The Two Faces of p53 in Embryonic Stem Cells | Center for Cancer Research

Cancer.gov

Mutations in the genome of a cell can have dire effects. This type of damage can be even more devastating if it occurs in stem cells, since any changes will be passed on to all subsequent generations. Consequently, there are many checkpoints to alert cellular machinery of changes in the DNA.

Disaster nursing in the Oklahoma City bombing.

PubMed

Atkinson, R; Keylon, K; Odor, P S; Walker, G; Hunt, L

1995-10-01

The Oklahoma City Federal Building disaster quickly changed a routine day of eye surgical procedures into a chaotic trauma center for the victims with not only eye injuries, but multiple deep lacerations and other injuries. The devastating and disruptive effect of the bombing was stressful for the nursing staff who became disaster survivors of the emotional trauma involved.

Induction of humoral immune response to multiple recombinant rhipicephalus appendiculatus antigens and their effect on tick feeding success and pathogen transmission

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Background: Rhipicephalus appendiculatus is the primary vector of Theileria parva, the etiologic agent of East Coast fever (ECF), a devastating disease of cattle in sub-Saharan Africa. We hypothesized that a vaccine targeting tick proteins that are involved in attachment and feeding might affect fee...

Gambling Awareness for Youth: An Analysis of the "Don't Gamble Away Our Future[TM]" Program

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taylor, Lisa M.; Hillyard, Pamela

2009-01-01

Gambling has become increasingly popular among minors and is easily accessible to them. This is alarming since research has indicated that minors are more susceptible to gambling pathology than adults. Additionally, gambling has devastating effects on minors that gamble as well as their families and communities. The Illinois Institute for…

Cultural Considerations in the Treatment of Mental Illness among Sexually Abused Children and Adolescents: The Case of Bali, Indonesia

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lesmana, Cokorda Bagus J.; Suryani, Luh Ketut; Tiliopoulos, Niko

2015-01-01

Childhood and adolescence sexual abuse can have long-lasting and devastating effects on personal and interpersonal growth and development. Sexually abused children tend to exhibit higher rates of poor school performance, aggressive behavior, PTSD (posttraumatic stress disorder), or depressive symptomatology, as well as social and relational…

Effects of Phytophthora ramorum on volatile organic compound emissions of Rhododendron using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Phytophthora ramorum is an invasive and devastating plant pathogen that causes sudden oak death in coastal forests in the western United States and ramorum blight in nursery ornamentals and native plants in various landscapes. As a broad host-range quarantine pest that can be asymptomatic in some ho...

Early 20th Century Education in the United States: The Role of the Brothers of Holy Cross

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Armstrong, Philip C.

2007-01-01

The French Revolution bears an ironic responsibility for generating works of charity. To counteract the devastating social effects of that late 18th century uprising, numerous religious communities were founded in France, among them the Congregation of Holy Cross. The Congregation of Holy Cross, the founding religious community behind the…

Going Away to School: An Evaluation of SEED DC

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Unterman, Rebecca; Bloom, Dan; Byndloss, D. Crystal; Terwelp, Emily

2016-01-01

The prospect of a well-paying job for a worker without a college education has significantly dimmed in the past three decades, in the wake of sweeping changes in the U.S. economy and labor market. The effects of these changes are particularly devastating for young people from disadvantaged urban communities. In response to this issue, the SEED…

Why Biosecurity Matters: Students' Knowledge of Biosecurity and Implications for Future Engagement with Biosecurity Initiatives

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ram, Rajesh; France, Bev; Birdsall, Sally

2016-01-01

Background: Research on biosecurity is important as New Zealand's agricultural export-driven economy is susceptible to biosecurity threats. Because New Zealand is reliant on the primary industries to drive its economy, bovine diseases such as foot and mouth could have a devastating effect on the economy. Purpose: Making sure that the general…

3 CFR 8679 - Proclamation 8679 of May 20, 2011. National Hurricane Preparedness Week, 2011

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-01-01

... hurricane season. Hurricanes are powerful storms that can create severe flooding, dangerous storm surges, high winds, and tornadoes. The effects of these storms can be devastating to entire communities and can... storms, and we must not let our guard down as we prepare for this year’s hurricane season. With tens of...

Economic Inequality and Economic Crisis: A Challenge for Social Workers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Goldberg, Gertrude Schaffner

2012-01-01

To social workers, extreme economic inequality is primarily a violation of social justice, but this article shows how growing economic inequality since the mid-1970s was not only unjust, but also dysfunctional to the U.S. economy and linked to the recent economic crisis with its devastating effects, particularly on the social work clientele. The…

Overcoming Social Disconnection and Its Consequences for Transition into Adulthood: Case Studies of Adults Who Exited Foster Care

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Taglianetti, Victor J.

2013-01-01

Devastating life experiences continually plague many foster care youth throughout their entire lives on social, emotional, educational, psychological, and physical levels. Oftentimes, the cumulative effect of these events results in large numbers of individuals dropping out of school and becoming increasingly disconnected from people and many…

Pre-Layoff Intervention: A Response to Unemployment. Second Edition.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stone, Judson; And Others

Based on a program provided by a consortium of mental health centers in the Detroit, Michigan, area, this manual is intended to assist in the development and delivery of programs that allay or prevent the devastating human impact of plant shutdowns and large-scale layoffs. The guide focuses on delivery of programs that promote more effective use…

Educational Freedom for a Democratic Society: A Critique of National Standards, Goals, and Curriculum.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Miller, Ron, Ed.

This book of essay provides an analysis of how Goals 2000 and other standards-setting initiatives will affect local school districts and private schools. The essayists reflect diverse perspectives on the issue and argue that mandated standards will have devastating effects on children's learning and on the quality of democratic community life.…

The use of high-resolution infrared thermography (HRIT) for the study of ice nucleation and ice propagation in plants

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Freezing events that occur when plants are actively growing can be a lethal event particularly if the plant has no freezing tolerance. Such frost events often have devastating effects on agricultural production and can also play an important role in shaping community structure in natural population...

Association analysis of bacterial leaf spot resistance and SNP markers derived from expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Bacterial leaf spot of lettuce, caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians, is a devastating disease of lettuce worldwide. Since there are no chemicals available for effective control of the disease, host-plant resistance is highly desirable to protect lettuce production. A total of 179 lettuce ge...

Methods of Knowledge Exchange and Learning Focused on Local Authorities' Experiences of Flood Science Communication

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stokes, Alison; Roberts, Carolyn; Crowley, Kate; McEwen, Lindsey

2015-01-01

Devastating floods in 2007 across western England resulted in legislative changes which have placed increased responsibility on local government for managing and mitigating local flood risk. For these changes to be effective, professional stakeholders need to understand fundamental concepts in flood science of which they may have no prior…

How Manipulatives Affect the Mathematics Achievement of Students in Nigerian Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Aburime, F. Ehi.

2007-01-01

Mathematics is a very important subject in Nigeria. Yet, for more than twenty years, mathematics education in Nigeria has been in a sorry state. Mathematics achievement has been very low and frustrating. So far, every effort made to save Nigerian education from the devastating effect of persistent poor mathematics achievement has failed. An…

Seeing the bigger picture: multi-partner spruce restoration in the central and southern Appalachian mountains

Treesearch

Jack Tribble; Thomas Minney; Catherine Johnson; Ken. Sturm

2010-01-01

Habitat-based ecosystem partnerships are necessary for implementing strategic forest restoration plans. Overwhelming environmental threats such as climate change and invasive pests and pathogens could have traumatic and devastating effects to our native forests. Additionally, past land-use history has left existing forests isolated, fragmented and in some cases...

"Knowing the Ledge": Participatory Action Research as Legal Studies for Urban High School Youth

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Stovall, David; Delgado, Natalia

2009-01-01

Zero-tolerance discipline policies, harsh sentencing laws, and the gentrification of communities of color have devastating effects for the lives of young people. Coupled with the fact that urban schools can devalue their views, values, and understandings of the world, this article examines an effort to challenge deficit theories that permeate…

History of veterinary medicine in Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe). Part III. Rippling effects of the 1896 rinderpest outbreak.

PubMed

Busayi, Rodgers Mlambo

2006-01-01

This paper looks at the rippling effects of the first and last 1896 rinderpest outbreak that occurred in Zimbabwe. Following the devastating effects of this outbreak, the Department of Veterinary Services remains on full alert. We conclude that since there has been no outbreak of this pandemic, it is logical to assert that the veterinary services of this country are doing a sterling job, given that there are countries in Africa today where the disease is smoldering.

Analyzing the Effectiveness of Logistics Networks During the Immediate Response Phase of Three Different Natural Disasters

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-12-01

Conference. Washington: IEEE. Mankiw , N. (2007). Essentials of economics . Mason: Thomson South-Western. Margesson, R., & Taft-Morales, M. (2010). Haiti...last decade affected the global demographic, social, and economic environment in a way that had not happened before. The size of many disasters...homeless. The demographic, social, and economic impact varied from domestic to international in scope as well. The effects were devastating, especially

An ALS-Associated Mutant SOD1 Rapidly Suppresses KCNT1 (Slack) Na+-Activated K+ Channels in Aplysia Neurons.

PubMed

Zhang, Yalan; Ni, Weiming; Horwich, Arthur L; Kaczmarek, Leonard K

2017-02-22

Mutations that alter levels of Slack (KCNT1) Na + -activated K + current produce devastating effects on neuronal development and neuronal function. We now find that Slack currents are rapidly suppressed by oligomers of mutant human Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), which are associated with motor neuron toxicity in an inherited form of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We recorded from bag cell neurons of Aplysia californica , a model system to study neuronal excitability. We found that injection of fluorescent wild-type SOD1 (wt SOD1YFP) or monomeric mutant G85R SOD1YFP had no effect on net ionic currents measured under voltage clamp. In contrast, outward potassium currents were significantly reduced by microinjection of mutant G85R SOD1YFP that had been preincubated at 37°C or of cross-linked dimers of G85R SOD1YFP. Reduction of potassium current was also seen with multimeric G85R SOD1YFP of ∼300 kDa or >300 kDa that had been cross-linked. In current clamp recordings, microinjection of cross-linked 300 kDa increased excitability by depolarizing the resting membrane potential, and decreasing the latency of action potentials triggered by depolarization. The effect of cross-linked 300 kDa on potassium current was reduced by removing Na + from the bath solution, or by knocking down levels of Slack using siRNA. It was also prevented by pharmacological inhibition of ASK1 (apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1) or of c-Jun N-terminal kinase, but not by an inhibitor of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. These results suggest that soluble mutant SOD1 oligomers rapidly trigger a kinase pathway that regulates the activity of Na + -activated K + channels in neurons. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Slack Na + -activated K + channels (KCNT1, K Na 1.1) regulate neuronal excitability but are also linked to cytoplasmic signaling pathways that control neuronal protein translation. Mutations that alter the amplitude of these currents have devastating effects on neuronal development and function. We find that injection of oligomers of mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) into the cytoplasm of invertebrate neurons rapidly suppresses these Na + -activated K + currents and that this effect is mediated by a MAP kinase cascade, including ASK1 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase. Because amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal adult-onset neurodegenerative disease produced by mutations in SOD1 that cause the enzyme to form toxic oligomers, our findings suggest that suppression of Slack channels may be an early step in the progression of the disease. Copyright © 2017 the authors 0270-6474/17/372258-08$15.00/0.

Genome-wide identification of pathogenicity factors of the free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri.

PubMed

Zysset-Burri, Denise C; Müller, Norbert; Beuret, Christian; Heller, Manfred; Schürch, Nadia; Gottstein, Bruno; Wittwer, Matthias

2014-06-19

The free-living amoeba Naegleria fowleri is the causative agent of the rapidly progressing and typically fatal primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) in humans. Despite the devastating nature of this disease, which results in > 97% mortality, knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms of the amoeba is incomplete. This work presents a comparative proteomic approach based on an experimental model in which the pathogenic potential of N. fowleri trophozoites is influenced by the compositions of different media. As a scaffold for proteomic analysis, we sequenced the genome and transcriptome of N. fowleri. Since the sequence similarity of the recently published genome of Naegleria gruberi was far lower than the close taxonomic relationship of these species would suggest, a de novo sequencing approach was chosen. After excluding cell regulatory mechanisms originating from different media compositions, we identified 22 proteins with a potential role in the pathogenesis of PAM. Functional annotation of these proteins revealed, that the membrane is the major location where the amoeba exerts its pathogenic potential, possibly involving actin-dependent processes such as intracellular trafficking via vesicles. This study describes for the first time the 30 Mb-genome and the transcriptome sequence of N. fowleri and provides the basis for the further definition of effective intervention strategies against the rare but highly fatal form of amoebic meningoencephalitis.

Respiratory tract deposition efficiencies: evaluation of effects from smoke released in the Cerro Grande forest fire.

PubMed

Schöllnberger, H; Aden, J; Scott, B R

2002-01-01

Forest-fire smoke inhaled by humans can cause various health effects. This smoke contains toxic chemicals and naturally occurring radionuclides. In northern New Mexico, a large wildfire occurred in May 2000. Known as the Cerro Grande Fire, it devastated the town of Los Alamos and damaged Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). Residents were concerned about the possible dissemination of radionuclides from LANL via smoke from the fire. To evaluate potential health effects of inhaling radionuclides contained in the smoke from the Cerro Grande Fire, it was first necessary to evaluate how much smoke would deposit in the human respiratory tract. The purpose of this study was to evaluate respiratory-tract deposition efficiencies of airborne forest-fire smoke for persons of different ages exposed while inside their homes. Potential non-radiological health effects of a forest fire are reviewed. The deposition efficiencies presented can be used to evaluate in-home smoke deposition in the respiratory tract and expected radionuclide intake related to forest fires. The impact of smoke exposure on firemen fighting a forest fire is quantitatively discussed and compared. They primarily inhaled forest-fire smoke while outdoors where the smoke concentration was much higher than inside. Radionuclides released at the LANL site via the Cerro Grande Fire were restricted to naturally occurring radionuclides from burning trees and vegetation. Radiation doses from inhaled airborne radionuclides to individuals inside and outside the Los Alamos area were likely very small.

New insights into the biological effects of anthrax toxins: linking cellular to organismal responses

PubMed Central

Guichard, Annabel; Nizet, Victor; Bier, Ethan

2013-01-01

The anthrax toxins lethal toxin (LT) and edema toxin (ET), are essential virulence factors produced by B. anthracis. These toxins act during two distinct phases of anthrax infection. During the first, prodromal phase, which is often asymptomatic, anthrax toxins act on cells of the immune system to help the pathogen establish infection. Then, during the rapidly progressing (or fulminant) stage of the disease bacteria disseminate via a hematological route to various target tissues and organs, which are typically highly vascularized. As bacteria proliferate in the bloodstream LT and ET begin to accumulate rapidly reaching a critical threshold level that will cause death even when the bacterial proliferation is curtailed by antibiotics. During this final phase of infection the toxins cause an increase in vascular permeability and a decrease in function of target organs including the heart, spleen, kidney, adrenal gland, and brain. In this review, we examine the various biological effects of anthrax toxins, focusing on the fulminant stage of the disease and on mechanisms by which the two toxins may collaborate to cause cardiovascular collapse. We discuss normal mechanisms involved in maintaining vascular integrity and based on recent studies indicating that LT and ET cooperatively inhibit membrane trafficking to cell-cell junctions we explore several potential mechanisms by which the toxins may achieve their lethal effects. We also summarize the effects of other potential virulence factors secreted by B. anthracis and consider the role of toxic factors in the evolutionarily recent emergence of this devastating disease. PMID:21930233

Economic Dimensions of Civil Conflicts

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

international system after the Cold War , due to changes in the nature of war , and globalization. First , before the Cold War , insurgent movements were dependent...socialist and post-secession transitions.121 First , the civil war and NATO’s air bombardment devastated the country and an already crippled economic...Uncertainty The devastation of war , a volatile security environment and political uncertainty were the first major obstacles for post-conflict economic

Intervention on toll-like receptors in pancreatic cancer.

PubMed

Vaz, Juan; Andersson, Roland

2014-05-21

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a devastating disease with pronounced morbidity and a high mortality rate. Currently available treatments lack convincing cost-efficiency determinations and are in most cases not associated with relevant success rate. Experimental stimulation of the immune system in murine PDA models has revealed some promising results. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pillars of the immune system that have been linked to several forms of malignancy, including lung, breast and colon cancer. In humans, TLRs are expressed in the pancreatic cancer tissue and in several cancer cell lines, whereas they are not expressed in the normal pancreas. In the present review, we explore the current knowledge concerning the role of different TLRs associated to PDA. Even if almost all known TLRs are expressed in the pancreatic cancer microenvironment, there are only five TLRs suggested as possible therapeutic targets. Most data points at TLR2 and TLR9 as effective tumor markers and agonists could potentially be used as e.g. future adjuvant therapies. The elucidation of the role of TLR3 in PDA is only in its initial phase. The inhibition/blockage of TLR4-related pathways has shown some promising effects, but there are still many steps left before TLR4 inhibitors can be considered as possible therapeutic agents. Finally, TLR7 antagonists seem to be potential candidates for therapy. Independent of their potential in immunotherapies, all existing data indicate that TLRs are strongly involved in the pathophysiology and development of PDA.

Evaluation of methamphetamine-associated socioeconomic status and addictive behaviors, and their impact on oral health.

PubMed

Rommel, Niklas; Rohleder, Nils H; Wagenpfeil, Stefan; Haertel-Petri, Roland; Kesting, Marco R

2015-11-01

Chronic methamphetamine abuse can lead to multiple health hazards. In particular, the substance is associated with devastating effects on oral health including symptoms such as rampant caries, gingiva inflammation, and xerostomia, whereby the term "Meth Mouth" occurs in the current literature. However, "Meth Mouth" pathology is primarily described on the basis of individual cases or has been evaluated without consideration of the mass of potential influencing factors. Therefore, we have conducted a systematic study to investigate the effects of accompanying factors and circumstances on oral health in cases of chronic methamphetamine abuse. In cooperation with two centers for addiction medicine, we assessed the data of 100 chronic methamphetamine users and 100 matched-pair controls between March 2012 and November 2013. We investigated their socioeconomic status, details of methamphetamine consumption behavior, collateral consumption of sugar beverages, nicotine alcohol, and other addictive substances including cannabis, opioids, other stimulants, and hallucinogens, and dental care. We found considerably greater unstable social circumstances, a high collateral consumption of substances with pathogenic potential for the stomatognathic system, and significantly poorer dental care in the methamphetamine-user group. Various factors have to be considered with regard to methamphetamine use and its influence on oral health. These factors can trigger potential damage by the drug methamphetamine possibly leading to the symptoms of "Meth Mouth", and should be considered in prevention and therapy strategies. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Smallpox: a review of clinical disease and vaccination.

PubMed

Lofquist, Jennifer M; Weimert, Nicole A; Hayney, Mary S

2003-04-15

The clinical course of smallpox infection and the current and future roles of vaccination and strategies for controlling smallpox outbreaks are reviewed. Close personal contact is required for transmission of variola, the DNA virus that causes smallpox. Following an incubation period, infected persons have prodromal symptoms that include high fever, back pain, malaise, and prostration. The eruptive stage is characterized by maculopapular rash that progresses to papules, then vesicles, and then pustules and scab lesions. The mortality rate for smallpox is approximately 30%. Patients having a fever and rash may be confused with having chickenpox. The most effective method for preventing smallpox epidemic progression is vaccination. Until recently, only 15 million doses of smallpox vaccine--manufactured 20 years ago--were available in the United States. The vaccine is a live vaccinia virus preparation administered by scarification with a bifurcated needle. The immune response is protective against orthopoxviruses, including variola. Vaccination is associated with moderate to severe complications, such as generalized vaccinia, eczema vaccinatum, progressive vaccinia, and postvaccinial encephalitis. Efforts for vaccine production are now focused on a live cell-culture-derived vaccinia virus vaccine. Although smallpox was eradicated in 1980, it remains a potential agent for bioterrorism. As a category A biological weapon, its potential to devastate populations causes concern among those in the public health community who have been actively developing plants to deal with smallpox and other potential agents of biological warfare. The only proven effective strategy against smallpox is vaccination.

Lily Cultivars Have Allelopathic Potential in Controlling Orobanche aegyptiaca Persoon.

PubMed

Chai, Min; Zhu, Xiaopei; Cui, Hongxia; Jiang, Chuangdao; Zhang, Jinzheng; Shi, Lei

2015-01-01

As a devastating holoparasitic weed, Orobanche aegyptiaca Persoon. (Egyptian broomrape) causes serious damage to agricultural production and threatens economic development, which has raised widespread concern. The present study was conducted to determine whether lilies have the potential to be used as 'trap crops' for controlling O. aegyptiaca Persoon. In the experiments, the ability of three popular lily cultivars (Lilium Oriental hybrids 'Sorbonne', Lilium LA (Longiflorum hybrids x Asiatic hybrids) hybrids 'Ceb Dazzle', and Lilium Longiflorum hybrids (L. formosanum x L. longiflorum) 'L. formolongo') to induce O. aegyptiaca Persoon. seed germination was assessed. Parts of the three lily cultivars, including the rhizosphere soil and underground and above-ground organs, all induced "suicidal germination" of parasitic O. aegyptiaca Persoon. seed at four growth stages. Specifically, Sorbonne and Ceb Dazzle behaved with similar allelopathy, and the bulb, scale leaf and aerial stem exhibited stronger allelopathic effects on O. aegyptiaca Pers. germination compared to other organs. Aqueous L. formolongo leaf extracts may contain more stable, effective stimulants given that they induced the highest germination rate at 76.7% even though the extracts were serially diluted. We speculate that these organs may be advantageous in further isolating and purifying economical active substances that can be substitutes for GR24. These results indicate that lilies have the potential to be used as a trap crops or can be processed into green herbicide formulations that can be applied in agriculture production to rapidly deplete the seed bank of O. aegyptiaca Persoon. parasitic weeds in soil.

By improving regional cortical blood flow, attenuating mitochondrial dysfunction and sequential apoptosis galangin acts as a potential neuroprotective agent after acute ischemic stroke.

PubMed

Li, Shaojing; Wu, Chuanhong; Zhu, Li; Gao, Jian; Fang, Jing; Li, Defeng; Fu, Meihong; Liang, Rixin; Wang, Lan; Cheng, Ming; Yang, Hongjun

2012-11-09

Ischemic stroke is a devastating disease with a complex pathophysiology. Galangin is a natural flavonoid isolated from the rhizome of Alpina officinarum Hance, which has been widely used as an antioxidant agent. However, its effects against ischemic stroke have not been reported and its related neuroprotective mechanism has not really been explored. In this study, neurological behavior, cerebral infarct volumes and the improvement of the regional cortical blood flow (rCBF) were used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of galangin in rats impaired by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced focal cerebral ischemia. Furthermore, the determination of mitochondrial function and Western blot of apoptosis-related proteins were performed to interpret the neuroprotective mechanism of galangin. The results showed that galangin alleviated the neurologic impairments, reduced cerebral infarct at 24 h after MCAO and exerted a protective effect on the mitochondria with decreased production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS). These effects were consistent with improvements in the membrane potential level (Dym), membrane fluidity, and degree of mitochondrial swelling in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, galangin significantly improved the reduced rCBF after MCAO. Western blot analysis revealed that galangin also inhibited apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner concomitant with the up-regulation of Bcl-2 expression, down-regulation of Bax expression and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, a reduction in cytochrome c release from the mitochondria to the cytosol, the reduced expression of activated caspase-3 and the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). All these data in this study demonstrated that galangin might have therapeutic potential for ischemic stroke and play its protective role through the improvement in rCBF, mitochondrial protection and inhibiting caspase-dependent mitochondrial cell death pathway for the first time.

Seismic reflection characteristics of naturally-induced subsidence affecting transportation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Miller, R.D.; Xia, J.; Steeples, D.W.

2009-01-01

High-resolution seismic reflections have been used effectively to investigate sinkholes formed from the dissolution of a bedded salt unit found throughout most of Central Kansas. Surface subsidence can have devastating effects on transportation structures. Roads, rails, bridges, and pipelines can even be dramatically affected by minor ground instability. Areas susceptible to surface subsidence can put public safety at risk. Subsurface expressions significantly larger than surface depressions are consistently observed on seismic images recorded over sinkholes in Kansas. Until subsidence reaches the ground surface, failure appears to be controlled by compressional forces evidenced by faults with reverse orientation. Once a surface depression forms or dissolution of the salt slows or stops, subsidence structures are consistent with a tensional stress environment with prevalent normal faults. Detecting areas of rapid subsidence potential, prior to surface failure, is the ultimate goal of any geotechnical survey where the ground surface is susceptible to settling. Seismic reflection images have helped correlate active subsidence to dormant paleofeatures, project horizontal growth of active sinkholes based on subsurface structures, and appraise the risk of catastrophic failure. ?? China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) and Springer-Verlag GmbH 2009.

Endothelial dysfunction and amyloid-β-induced neurovascular alterations

PubMed Central

Koizumi, Kenzo; Wang, Gang; Park, Laibaik

2015-01-01

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and cerebrovascular diseases share common vascular risk factors that have disastrous effects on cerebrovascular regulation. Endothelial cells, lining inner walls of cerebral blood vessels, form a dynamic interface between the blood and the brain and are critical for the maintenance of neurovascular homeostasis. Accordingly, injury in endothelial cells is regarded as one of the earliest symptoms of impaired vasoregulatory mechanisms. Extracellular buildup of amyloid-β (Aβ) is a central pathogenic factor in AD. Aβ exerts potent detrimental effects on cerebral blood vessels and impairs endothelial structure and function. Recent evidence implicates vascular oxidative stress and activation of the nonselective cationic channel transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM)-2 on endothelial cells in the mechanisms of Aβ-induced neurovascular dysfunction. Thus, Aβ triggers opening of TRPM2 channels in endothelial cells leading to intracellular Ca2+ overload and vasomotor dysfunction. The cerebrovascular dysfunction may contribute to AD pathogenesis by reducing the cerebral blood supply, leading to increased susceptibility to vascular insufficiency, and by promoting Aβ accumulation. The recent realization that vascular factors contribute to AD pathobiology suggests new targets for the prevention and treatment of this devastating disease. PMID:26328781

Newly emergent and future threats of alien species to Pacific birds and ecosystems

USGS Publications Warehouse

Loope, Lloyd L.; Howarth, Francis G.; Kraus, Frederick; Pratt, Thane K.

2001-01-01

Although the devastating effects of established alien species to Pacific birds and ecosystems are generally well recognized by the avian conservation community, we raise the under appreciated issue of effects of incipient and future invasions. Although special attention to Pacific bird species “on the brink” is to a certain extent appropriate and necessary, a comparable focus on stopping new invasions appears desperately needed. All indications suggest that introductions will escalate with the trend toward ever increasing commerce and unrestricted trade unless stronger preventative measures are implemented very soon. The threat to Pacific island avifaunas from the brown tree snake (Bniga irregularis) is well-known, but as many as several hundred of the world’s snake species, some of which are repeatedly smuggled illegally as pets, might have similar impacts on native birds if transported to Pacific islands. We touch upon a sampling of obviously severe potential future threats, with the hope of raising awareness and resolve to fix the current woefully inadequate system for prevention of and rapid response to new invasions.

Nasal septal abscess in association with pediatric acute rhinosinusitis.

PubMed

Tien, Duc A; Krakovitz, Paul; Anne, Samantha

2016-12-01

Nasal septal abscess (NSA) in the pediatric population is rare and can result in devastating complications. Objective of this study is to review a case series of pediatric patients presenting with NSA in association with acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) for possible risk factors and predisposing conditions. This is a retrospective review of pediatric patients that presented to a tertiary care hospital with nasal septal abscess associated with ARS. Patient demographics, presence of ARS, sinuses involved, and other potential risk factors were recorded. In addition, a literature review was conducted to evaluate other reported cases of NSA in association with ARS. Cases of NSA associated with trauma or other causes were excluded from analysis. Five patients with NSA were treated by the pediatric otolaryngology department of a tertiary care center from 2003 to 2014. Three of these cases were associated with ARS. Of these cases, the average age at diagnosis was 9.7 years. Two were male and one was female. In these cases, the bilateral frontal, maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were involved. Sphenoid involvement occurred in two patients. One case was associated with ipsilateral middle turbinate concha bullosa. The cartilaginous septum was compromised in all three cases. All patients were treated with incision and drainage. This is the largest case series of NSA described in the pediatric population. NSA is exceedingly rare but may be associated with ARS. While the etiology of NSA is not always clear, identifying and treating nasal septal abscesses early is imperative to reduce potentially devastating complications. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Hyperacusis and misophonia: the lesser-known siblings of tinnitus.

PubMed

Schwartz, Paula; Leyendecker, Jason; Conlon, Megan

2011-11-01

Hyperacusis (decreased sound tolerance) and misophonia (fear of sound) are two conditions about which little is known. Consequently, physicians often struggle when they encounter patients who are affected by them. This article attempts to educate the medical community about hyperacusis and misophonia, both of which can have devastating effects on the lives of patients, and ways to manage them.

DNA markers linked to the R2 rust resistance gene in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) facilitate anticipatory breeding for this disease variant

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Pre-emptive breeding for host disease resistance is an effective strategy for combating and managing devastating incursions of plant pathogens. Comprehensive, long term studies have revealed that virulence to the R2 sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) rust resistance gene in the line, MC29, does not ex...

Location-Based Critical Infrastructure Interdependency (LBCII)

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-04-01

Effective disaster management reduces devastation and cost . This section describes the processes of disaster management, including the elements of CEM...it has reasonable probability, based on the tectonic geology and the history of the region. The case highlights the usability of network- centric...of earthquake risk assessment in Cartago, Costa Rica . International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC): Enschede

Some like it hot: the influence and implications of climate change on coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) and coffee production in East Africa

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The negative effects of climate change are already evident for many of the 25 million coffee farmers across the tropics and the 90 billion dollar coffee industry. The coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei), the most devastating pest of coffee worldwide, has already benefited from the temperature r...

Progressive outer retinal necrosis: a missed diagnosis and a blind, young woman.

PubMed

Parekh, Parth; Oldfield, Edward C; Marik, Paul E

2013-04-22

We present a 33-year-old woman with a history significant for HIV/AIDS (CD4 count of 17) and diabetes mellitus who was diagnosed as having progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) after presenting with peripheral vision loss. This case provided a diagnostic challenge and demonstrates the devastating effects of a misdiagnosis as it pertains to PORN.

Multi-Family Psychoeducational Support Group Therapy for Families with a Member Afflicted with Irreversible Brain Syndrome (Alzheimer's Disease): Report of a Pilot Study.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Paley, Evelyn S.; And Others

Alzheimers Disease (AD), an incurable disability which afflicts older adults, can have devastating emotional consequences for the victim and the family. In an attempt to determine the effectiveness of multifamily psychoeducational support, group therapy (MFPSGT), 22 persons (13 families) from the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders…

Genotyping-by-sequencing uncovers the introgression alien segments associated with Sclerotinia basal stalk rot resistance from wild species—I. Helianthus argophyllus and H. petiolaris

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Basal stalk rot (BSR), caused by Sclerotinia Sclerotiorum, is a devastating disease in sunflower worldwide. The progress of breeding for Sclerotinia BSR resistance has been hampered due to the lack of effective sources of resistance for cultivated sunflower. Our objective was to transfer BSR resista...

School District Officials' and City Stakeholders' Perceptions Regarding School Violence and Ways to Prevent School Violence

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patterson, Rita Mabon; Maldonado, Nancy; Howe, Mary

2014-01-01

Violence is a problem that affects the family structure, schools, and communities. Although some violence takes place behind closed doors, the effects are devastating to society and the community. The overwhelming results are seen with the increase of visits to abuse shelters and emergency rooms. Domestic violence in households tends to continue…

Mapping of Yr62 and a small effect QTL for high-temperature adult-plant resistance to stripe rust in spring wheat PI 192252

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is a devastating disease of wheat worldwide. Spring wheat germplasm PI 192252 showed a high level of high-temperature adult-plant (HTAP) resistance to stripe rust in germplasm evaluation over eight years in the State of Washington. ...

The Impact of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Louisiana School Nurses

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Broussard, Lisa; Myers, Rachel; Meaux, Julie

2008-01-01

In the fall of 2005, the coast of Louisiana was devastated by two hurricanes, Katrina and Rita. Not only did these natural disasters have detrimental effects for those directly in their path, the storms had an impact on the lives of everyone in Louisiana. The professional practice of many Louisiana school nurses was affected by several factors,…

Emergency Response Communications Program.

DTIC Science & Technology

1979-06-01

Plant accident in Pennsylvania. Tornadoes devastated Wichita Falls, leaving only one telephone channel available to the outside world for...expedited relief work and was maintained until conventional communications were re- stored. The Three Mile Island Nuclear Plant accident is familiar to...Response Commnunications System to be truly effective , the user should not know whether his message is carried by normal commnunications channels or by the

Race to the Top Leaves Children and Future Citizens behind: The Devastating Effects of Centralization, Standardization, and High Stakes Accountability

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Onosko, Joe

2011-01-01

President Barack Obama's Race to the Top (RTT) is a profoundly flawed educational reform plan that increases standardization, centralization, and test-based accountability in our nation's schools. Following a brief summary of the interest groups supporting the plan, who is currently participating in this race, why so many states voluntarily…

Development of an aggressive bark beetle on novel hosts: Implications for outbreaks in an invaded range

Treesearch

Derek W. Rosenberger; Robert C. Venette; Brian H. Aukema; Jörg Müller

2018-01-01

Some subcortical insects have devastating effects on native tree communities in new ranges, despite benign interactions with their historical hosts. Examples of how insects, aggressive in their native habitat might respond in novel host environs are less common. One aggressive tree-killing insect undergoing a dramatic range shift is the mountain pine beetle (...

Preventing Substance Abuse in American Indian and Alaska Native Youth: Promising Strategies for Healthier Communities

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hawkins, Elizabeth H.; Cummins, Lillian H.; Marlatt, G. Alan

2004-01-01

Substance abuse has had profoundly devastating effects on the health and well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives. A wide variety of intervention methods has been used to prevent or stem the development of alcohol and drug problems in Indian youth, but there is little empirical research evaluating these efforts. This article is an…

Progressive outer retinal necrosis: a missed diagnosis and a blind, young woman

PubMed Central

Parekh, Parth; Oldfield, Edward C; Marik, Paul E

2013-01-01

We present a 33-year-old woman with a history significant for HIV/AIDS (CD4 count of 17) and diabetes mellitus who was diagnosed as having progressive outer retinal necrosis (PORN) after presenting with peripheral vision loss. This case provided a diagnostic challenge and demonstrates the devastating effects of a misdiagnosis as it pertains to PORN. PMID:23608868

Effect of foot-and-mouth disease virus infection on the frequency, phenotype and function of circulating dendritic cells in cattle

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is a highly contagious virus that causes one of the most devastating diseases in cloven-hoofed animals. Disease symptoms in FMDV-infected animals appear within 2 to 3 days of exposure. Dendritic cells (DC) play an essential role in protective immune responses agai...

Chinese sacbrood virus infection in Asian honey bees (Apis cerana cerana) and host immune responses to the virus infection

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Chinese Sacbrood virus (CSBV) is a common honey bee virus that infects both the European honey bee (A. mellifera) and the Asian honey bee (A. cerana). However, CSBV has much more devastating effects on Asian honey bees than on European honey bees, posing a serious threat to the agricultural and nat...

Teaching Conflict Management Skills in Schools: Prerequisite for Peace and Achievement of Millennium Development Goals in Kenya

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Dawo, Jane Irene A.; Wagah, Mical Ongachi

2011-01-01

The Kenyan society is experiencing a lot of conflicts, some with devastating effects such as deaths, starvation, disease and destruction. These normally arise out of difference between people. Secondary schools being part of the society have not been left out of this challenge as evidenced by mass media reports on strikes, demonstrations and…

Sorry, We Didn't Mean to Break Your Culture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lightfoot, R. C.

Cultures meet and apparently insignificant traits or objects disrupt one of the cultures. This process repeatedly occurred in history with devastating consequences for the affected groups. Personal health, sanity, societies and cultures suffered from the effects of the new intrusions. Insights from sociological theory shed light on the effects and suggest remedies for at least some of the dysfunctions. Strategies for understanding and handling unforeseen changes must be prepared for future contact with other intelligences.

The Soviet Quest for Regional Security Studies of Foreign Policy Decision-Making in the USSR.

DTIC Science & Technology

1986-09-01

where the totalitarian penetration was not in effect. These islands of separateness are the family , the churches, the universities and the military. In...support to the changes. The social revolution also had a devastating effect on the Polish United Workers Party which was partly desintegrated during the...and scientific relations, and relations betveen families living inside and outside Latvia. 3 1 *’ All this material indicates that there really were

Effect of Economic Assets on Sexual Risk-Taking Intentions Among Orphaned Adolescents in Uganda

PubMed Central

Han, Chang-Keun; Neilands, Torsten B.; Ismayilova, Leyla; Sperber, Elizabeth

2010-01-01

Objectives. We examined the effect of economic assets on sexual risk-taking intentions among school-going AIDS-orphaned adolescents in rural Uganda. Methods. AIDS-orphaned adolescents from 15 comparable schools were randomly assigned to control (n = 133) or treatment (n = 127) conditions. Treatment participants received child savings accounts, workshops, and mentorship. This economic intervention was in addition to the traditional care and support services for school-going orphaned adolescents (counseling and school supplies) provided to both treatment and control groups. Adolescents in the treatment condition were compared with adolescents in the control condition at baseline and at 10 months after the intervention. Results. After control for sociodemographic factors, child-caregiver/parental communication, and peer pressure, adolescents in the economic intervention group reported a significant reduction in sexual risk-taking intentions compared with adolescents in the control condition. Conclusions. The findings indicate that in Uganda, a country devastated by poverty and disease (including HIV/AIDS), having access to economic assets plays an important role in influencing adolescents' sexual risk-taking intentions. These findings have implications for the care and support of orphaned adolescents, especially in poor African countries devastated by poverty and sexually transmitted diseases. PMID:20075323

JPRS Report, West Europe

DTIC Science & Technology

1987-06-05

Economy Through 1989 (Jan Magnus Fahlstrom; DAGENS NYHETER, 9 Apr 87) 98 SOCIAL SWEDEN Lapps Weigh Emigration Following Chernobyl Devastation...after Chernobyl the Soviet state is a bogeyman for the rest of the world—in human terms, economically and in the area of envir- onmental technology...election year." 11798 , CS0: 3650/102 99 „«„■P»T SWEDEN SOCIAL LAPPS WEIGH EMIGRATION FOLLOWING CHERNOBYL DEVASTATION Stockholm DAGENS NYHETER

Aloesin as a medical food ingredient for systemic oxidative stress of diabetes

PubMed Central

Yimam, Mesfin; Brownell, Lidia; Jia, Qi

2015-01-01

Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires a long term management where oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in disease progression and intensifying secondary complications. In spite of all the research on diabetes and recent advances in diabetes treatments, the reality is that there is no cure for diabetes and its devastating complications. While currently available anti-diabetic therapies are effective in reducing blood glucose level, they are not without associated side effects when they are used for a long term applications. As a result, physicians and patients are inclining more towards to a safer therapy with less serious side effects in the form of medicinal foods and botanical alternatives that are suitable for chronic usage. Aloesin, an Aloe chromone, has previously been formulated with an aloe polysaccharide to give a composition called Loesyn, where it showed significant impact in reducing glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, fructosamine and plasma insulin level in humans. Radical scavenging activities of chromones and polysaccharides from Aloe have also been reported. Here we rationalize the relevance of use of Aloesin alone or in a standardized blend with Aloe polysaccharides, as a potential medical food to manage systemic oxidative stress and/or high blood glucose of diabetes. PMID:26265996

Sterilization Effects of Adult-targeted Baits Containing Insect Growth Regulators on Delia antiqua

PubMed Central

Zhou, Fangyuan; Zhu, Guodong; Zhao, Haipeng; Wang, Zheng; Xue, Ming; Li, Xianxian; Xu, Huaqiang; Ma, Xiaodan; Liu, Yanyan

2016-01-01

The onion maggot, Delia antiqua, is a devastating pest of liliaceous crops and current control measures fail to avert pesticide residues, threats to agroecosystem, and costly expenditures. Insect growth regulators (IGRs) are used as trypetid pest chemosterilants for their suppression on adult fertility and fecundity, but their effects on onion flies are unknown. Here, three IGRs (lufenuron, cyromazine, pyriproxyfen) were incorporated into baits to evaluate their effects on onion fly survival, fecundity, fertility, susceptibility of adults in different ages and offspring development. Lufenuron and cyromazine did not affect survival of new-emerged adults, but lufenuron inhibited adult fertility without affecting fecundity, and cyromazine reduced fertility and fecundity. Differently, pyriproxyfen enhanced fecundity within 10 days after treatment, while it reduced adult survival without affecting fertility. The fertility of younger adults was affected by lufenuron and cyromazine whereas the fecundity was affected with cyromazine and pyriproxyfen. For offspring of onion flies treated with lufenuron or cyromazine, most of larvae died within 5 days after hatch, but surviving larvae pupated and emerged normally. Pyriproxyfen did not affect offspring larval survival or pupation but affected pupal emergence. Thus, lufenuron and cyromazine could be potential chemosterilants for onion flies. PMID:27619006

Desensitizing Mitochondrial Permeability Transition by ERK-Cyclophilin D Axis Contributes to the Neuroprotective Effect of Gallic Acid against Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury

PubMed Central

Sun, Jing; Ren, Da-Dui; Wan, Jin-Yi; Chen, Chen; Chen, Dong; Yang, Huan; Feng, Chun-Lai; Gao, Jing

2017-01-01

Ischemic stroke is a devastating disease with complex pathophysiology. Much evidence confirms that opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (MPTP) is related with mitochondrial dysfunction to apoptosis in ischemic stroke, thus elucidating its signaling mechanism and screening novel MPTP inhibitor is therefore of paramount importance. Our earlier studies identified that gallic acid (GA), a naturally occurring plant phenol, endows with effect on inhibition of mitochondrial dysfunction, which has significant neuroprotective effect in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, its molecular mechanisms regulating mitochondrial dysfunction remain elusive. Here, we uncover a role of GA in protecting mitochondria via MPTP inhibition. In addition to inhibit CypD binding to adenine nucleotide translocator, GA potentiates extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) phosphorylation, leading to a decrease in cyclophilin D (CypD) expression, resulting in a desensitization to induction of MPTP, thus inhibiting caspase activation and ultimately giving rise to cellular survival. Our study firstly identifies ERK-CypD axis is one of the cornerstones of the cell death pathways following ischemic stroke, and confirms GA is a novel inhibitor of MPTP, which inhibits apoptosis depending on regulating the ERK-CypD axis. PMID:28428752

The therapeutic potential of G-protein coupled receptors in Huntington's disease.

PubMed

Dowie, Megan J; Scotter, Emma L; Molinari, Emanuela; Glass, Michelle

2010-11-01

Huntington's disease is a late-onset autosomal dominant inherited neurodegenerative disease characterised by increased symptom severity over time and ultimately premature death. An expanded CAG repeat sequence in the huntingtin gene leads to a polyglutamine expansion in the expressed protein, resulting in complex dysfunctions including cellular excitotoxicity and transcriptional dysregulation. Symptoms include cognitive deficits, psychiatric changes and a movement disorder often referred to as Huntington's chorea, which involves characteristic involuntary dance-like writhing movements. Neuropathologically Huntington's disease is characterised by neuronal dysfunction and death in the striatum and cortex with an overall decrease in cerebral volume (Ho et al., 2001). Neuronal dysfunction begins prior to symptom presentation, and cells of particular vulnerability include the striatal medium spiny neurons. Huntington's is a devastating disease for patients and their families and there is currently no cure, or even an effective therapy for disease symptoms. G-protein coupled receptors are the most abundant receptor type in the central nervous system and are linked to complex downstream pathways, manipulation of which may have therapeutic application in many neurological diseases. This review will highlight the potential of G-protein coupled receptor drug targets as emerging therapies for Huntington's disease. Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Diet and pancreatic cancer: many questions with few certainties.

PubMed

Cappellani, A; Cavallaro, A; Di Vita, M; Zanghi, A; Piccolo, G; Lo Menzo, E; Cavallaro, V; Malaguarnera, M; Giaquinta, A; Veroux, M; Cimino, L; Berretta, M

2012-02-01

BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES: Pancreatic cancer ranks fourth for cancer mortality for men and women in the United States. This is a particularly devastating cancer since the case-fatality proportion approaches 90% within 12 months following diagnosis. Therefore, understanding the etiology and identifying the risk factors are essential for the primary prevention of this deadly disease. Of the few potentially modifiable risk factors that have been identified, cigarette smoking, history of diabetes mellitus, and obesity seem to be among the most consistent, but the effect of dietary factors is still unclear. The aim of our study is to review of the literature examining the potential role of carbohydrates, fatty acids, meat, fruit and vegetables, alcohol. Although large prospective cohort studies with questionnaire based analyses will continue to have much to offer in defining predisposing factors for difficult diseases, such as pancreatic cancer, unfortunately dietary questionnaires do not reflect the bioavailability of the nutrients from various foods, the level of absorption from the digestive tract, or individual differences in metabolism. Greater use of participant-derived biological samples, banked plasma, germline DNA, and tumour tissue samples may help to the understanding of pancreatic cancer pathogenesis.

Stem Cell Therapy: A Promising Therapeutic Method for Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

PubMed

Gao, Liansheng; Xu, Weilin; Li, Tao; Chen, Jingyin; Shao, Anwen; Yan, Feng; Chen, Gao

2018-01-01

Spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is one type of the most devastating cerebrovascular diseases worldwide, which causes high morbidity and mortality. However, efficient treatment is still lacking. Stem cell therapy has shown good neuroprotective and neurorestorative effect in ICH and is a promising treatment. In this study, our aim was to review the therapeutic effects, strategies, related mechanisms and safety issues of various types of stem cell for ICH treatment. Numerous studies had demonstrated the therapeutic effects of diverse stem cell types in ICH. The potential mechanisms include tissue repair and replacement, neurotrophy, promotion of neurogenesis and angiogenesis, anti-apoptosis, immunoregulation and anti-inflammation and so forth. The microenvironment of the central nervous system (CNS) can also influence the effects of stem cell therapy. The detailed therapeutic strategies for ICH treatment such as cell type, the number of cells, time window, and the routes of medication delivery, varied greatly among different studies and had not been determined. Moreover, the safety issues of stem cell therapy for ICH should not be ignored. Stem cell therapy showed good therapeutic effect in ICH, making it a promising treatment. However, safety should be carefully evaluated, and more clinical trials are required before stem cell therapy can be extensively applied to clinical use.

Hedgehog-responsive candidate cell of origin for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma

PubMed Central

Monje, Michelle; Mitra, Siddhartha S.; Freret, Morgan E.; Raveh, Tal B.; Kim, James; Masek, Marilyn; Attema, Joanne L.; Haddix, Terri; Edwards, Michael S. B.; Fisher, Paul G.; Weissman, Irving L.; Rowitch, David H.; Vogel, Hannes; Wong, Albert J.; Beachy, Philip A.

2011-01-01

Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are highly aggressive tumors of childhood that are almost universally fatal. Our understanding of this devastating cancer is limited by a dearth of available tissue for study and by the lack of a faithful animal model. Intriguingly, DIPGs are restricted to the ventral pons and occur during a narrow window of middle childhood, suggesting dysregulation of a postnatal neurodevelopmental process. Here, we report the identification of a previously undescribed population of immunophenotypic neural precursor cells in the human and murine brainstem whose temporal and spatial distributions correlate closely with the incidence of DIPG and highlight a candidate cell of origin. Using early postmortem DIPG tumor tissue, we have established in vitro and xenograft models and find that the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway implicated in many developmental and oncogenic processes is active in DIPG tumor cells. Modulation of Hh pathway activity has functional consequences for DIPG self-renewal capacity in neurosphere culture. The Hh pathway also appears to be active in normal ventral pontine precursor-like cells of the mouse, and unregulated pathway activity results in hypertrophy of the ventral pons. Together, these findings provide a foundation for understanding the cellular and molecular origins of DIPG, and suggest that the Hh pathway represents a potential therapeutic target in this devastating pediatric tumor. PMID:21368213

Shock Wave Treatment Protects From Neuronal Degeneration via a Toll-Like Receptor 3 Dependent Mechanism: Implications of a First-Ever Causal Treatment for Ischemic Spinal Cord Injury.

PubMed

Lobenwein, Daniela; Tepeköylü, Can; Kozaryn, Radoslaw; Pechriggl, Elisabeth J; Bitsche, Mario; Graber, Michael; Fritsch, Helga; Semsroth, Severin; Stefanova, Nadia; Paulus, Patrick; Czerny, Martin; Grimm, Michael; Holfeld, Johannes

2015-10-27

Paraplegia following spinal cord ischemia represents a devastating complication of both aortic surgery and endovascular aortic repair. Shock wave treatment was shown to induce angiogenesis and regeneration in ischemic tissue by modulation of early inflammatory response via Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 signaling. In preclinical and clinical studies, shock wave treatment had a favorable effect on ischemic myocardium. We hypothesized that shock wave treatment also may have a beneficial effect on spinal cord ischemia. A spinal cord ischemia model in mice and spinal slice cultures ex vivo were performed. Treatment groups received immediate shock wave therapy, which resulted in decreased neuronal degeneration and improved motor function. In spinal slice cultures, the activation of TLR3 could be observed. Shock wave effects were abolished in spinal slice cultures from TLR3(-/-) mice, whereas the effect was still present in TLR4(-/-) mice. TLR4 protein was found to be downregulated parallel to TLR3 signaling. Shock wave-treated animals showed significantly better functional outcome and survival. The protective effect on neurons could be reproduced in human spinal slices. Shock wave treatment protects from neuronal degeneration via TLR3 signaling and subsequent TLR4 downregulation. Consequently, it represents a promising treatment option for the devastating complication of spinal cord ischemia after aortic repair. © 2015 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley Blackwell.

Flaviviruses, an expanding threat in public health: focus on Dengue, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis virus

PubMed Central

Daep, Carlo Amorin; Muñoz-Jordán, Jorge L.; Eugenin, Eliseo Alberto

2014-01-01

The flaviviruses Dengue, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis represent three major mosquito-borne viruses worldwide. These pathogens impact the lives of millions of individuals and potentially could affect non-endemic areas already colonized by mosquito vectors. Unintentional transport of infected vectors (Aedes and Culex sp), traveling within endemic areas, rapid adaptation of the insects into new geographic locations, climate change, and lack of medical surveillance have greatly contributed to the increase in flaviviral infections worldwide. The mechanisms by which flaviviruses alter the immune and the central nervous system have only recently been examined despite the alarming number of infections, related deaths, and increasing global distribution. In this review, we will discuss the expansion of the geographic areas affected by flaviviruses, the potential threats to previously unaffected countries, the mechanisms of pathogenesis, and the potential therapeutic interventions to limit the devastating consequences of these viruses. PMID:25287260

Flaviviruses, an expanding threat in public health: focus on dengue, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis virus.

PubMed

Daep, Carlo Amorin; Muñoz-Jordán, Jorge L; Eugenin, Eliseo Alberto

2014-12-01

The flaviviruses dengue, West Nile, and Japanese encephalitis represent three major mosquito-borne viruses worldwide. These pathogens impact the lives of millions of individuals and potentially could affect non-endemic areas already colonized by mosquito vectors. Unintentional transport of infected vectors (Aedes and Culex spp.), traveling within endemic areas, rapid adaptation of the insects into new geographic locations, climate change, and lack of medical surveillance have greatly contributed to the increase in flaviviral infections worldwide. The mechanisms by which flaviviruses alter the immune and the central nervous system have only recently been examined despite the alarming number of infections, related deaths, and increasing global distribution. In this review, we will discuss the expansion of the geographic areas affected by flaviviruses, the potential threats to previously unaffected countries, the mechanisms of pathogenesis, and the potential therapeutic interventions to limit the devastating consequences of these viruses.

Chemical Analysis of Plants that Poison Livestock: Successes, Challenges, and Opportunities.

PubMed

Welch, Kevin D; Lee, Stephen T; Cook, Daniel; Gardner, Dale R; Pfister, James A

2018-04-04

Poisonous plants have a devastating impact on the livestock industry as well as human health. To fully understand the effects of poisonous plants, multiple scientific disciplines are required. Chemical analysis of plant secondary compounds is key to identifying the responsible toxins, characterizing their metabolism, and understanding their effects on animals and humans. In this review, we highlight some of the successes in studying poisonous plants and mitigating their toxic effects. We also highlight some of the remaining challenges and opportunities with regards to the chemical analysis of poisonous plants.

Genetically Engineered Virulent Phage Banks in the Detection and Control of Emergent Pathogenic Bacteria

PubMed Central

Blois, Hélène; Iris, François

2010-01-01

Natural outbreaks of multidrug-resistant microorganisms can cause widespread devastation, and several can be used or engineered as agents of bioterrorism. From a biosecurity standpoint, the capacity to detect and then efficiently control, within hours, the spread and the potential pathological effects of an emergent outbreak, for which there may be no effective antibiotics or vaccines, become key challenges that must be met. We turned to phage engineering as a potentially highly flexible and effective means to both detect and eradicate threats originating from emergent (uncharacterized) bacterial strains. To this end, we developed technologies allowing us to (1) concurrently modify multiple regions within the coding sequence of a gene while conserving intact the remainder of the gene, (2) reversibly interrupt the lytic cycle of an obligate virulent phage (T4) within its host, (3) carry out efficient insertion, by homologous recombination, of any number of engineered genes into the deactivated genomes of a T4 wild-type phage population, and (4) reactivate the lytic cycle, leading to the production of engineered infective virulent recombinant progeny. This allows the production of very large, genetically engineered lytic phage banks containing, in an E. coli host, a very wide spectrum of variants for any chosen phage-associated function, including phage host-range. Screening of such a bank should allow the rapid isolation of recombinant T4 particles capable of detecting (ie, diagnosing), infecting, and destroying hosts belonging to gram-negative bacterial species far removed from the original E. coli host. PMID:20569057

Professionally exempt nurses & the fee basis of payment.

PubMed

Bernard, Lucian J

2003-09-01

Within the home health industry, per-visit pay has long been used by agencies to compensate nurses. This "fee-based" system of compensation has been subject to scrutiny by the Department of Labor (DOL), which claims that this is not an appropriate method to compensate professional nurses who would qualify as "exempt" employees under the Fair Labor Standards Act. Recent court decisions have disagreed with the DOL's position on the issue, but home health agencies need to be careful about employee compensation statutes at both the federal and state level so as not to open themselves up to potentially devastating penalties.

[Clinical consensus statement on the care of the child with a tracheostomy].

PubMed

Urrestarazu, Paula; Varón, Juan; Rodríguez, Aldana; Ton, Valeria; Vila, Fernando; Cipriani, Silvina; Moncada, Karina; Antonioli, Cintia P; Timoni, María A; Altina, Martha E; Nociti, Yamila B; Silva, Mariana L; Del Valle Rodríguez, Liliana; Rivas, Esteban; Boailchuk, Ivanna; Nieto, Mary E; Botto, Hugo A

2016-02-01

The care of the child with a tracheostomy deserves special attention because of the potential devastating airway compromise and because of the need of competent care by caregivers and professionals. The recommendations on tracheostomy care published are few and approaches are inconsistent among different institutions. This clinical consensus statement aims to improve care for children with tracheostomies. A literature search was conducted, reviewed and revised by this group of experts, who concurred with these statements, based on the best evidence available and taking into account the local context. Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.

[Left ventricular projectile migration after an accidental close-range gunshot wound].

PubMed

Driessen, A; Tjardes, T; Eikermann, C; Trojan, S; Fröhlich, M; Grimaldi, G; Kosse, N

2016-07-01

We report the case of a 24-year-old female after sustaining a shotgun wound in the left upper extremity and chest. Initial emergency diagnostics revealed numerous shotgun pellets scattered throughout the left-side soft tissue, chest and upper lung lobe with one pellet having migrated into the left ventricle of the heart.Due to the devastating injury pattern, gunshot wounds are interdisciplinarily challenging and should include extended initial diagnostics, such as contrast agent CT. The potential toxicity of elevated lead blood levels have to be taken into further account.

Next-generation sequencing in schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders.

PubMed

Schreiber, Matthew; Dorschner, Michael; Tsuang, Debby

2013-10-01

Schizophrenia is a debilitating lifelong illness that lacks a cure and poses a worldwide public health burden. The disease is characterized by a heterogeneous clinical and genetic presentation that complicates research efforts to identify causative genetic variations. This review examines the potential of current findings in schizophrenia and in other related neuropsychiatric disorders for application in next-generation technologies, particularly whole-exome sequencing (WES) and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). These approaches may lead to the discovery of underlying genetic factors for schizophrenia and may thereby identify and target novel therapeutic targets for this devastating disorder. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Riding the storm--landslide danger in the San Francisco Bay Area

USGS Publications Warehouse

Adams, Karen

2007-01-01

Movie Synopsis: --A catastrophic 1982 rainstorm triggered 18,000 landslides in the Bay Area, claiming 25 lives and causing $66 million in property damage. --The combination of steep slopes, weak rocks, and intense winter storms make Bay Area uplands an ideal setting for landslides. --Landslides include both swift, potentially deadly debris flows and slower, but destructive deepseated slides. --Learn what USGS scientists have discovered about landslide dynamics and which slopes are most susceptible to sliding. --Hear the devastating stories of Bay Area residents affected by landslides and learn to recognize the danger signs.

Ecological and socioeconomic effects of China's policies for ecosystem services.

PubMed

Liu, Jianguo; Li, Shuxin; Ouyang, Zhiyun; Tam, Christine; Chen, Xiaodong

2008-07-15

To address devastating environmental crises and to improve human well-being, China has been implementing a number of national policies on payments for ecosystem services. Two of them, the Natural Forest Conservation Program (NFCP) and the Grain to Green Program (GTGP), are among the biggest programs in the world because of their ambitious goals, massive scales, huge payments, and potentially enormous impacts. The NFCP conserves natural forests through logging bans and afforestation with incentives to forest enterprises, whereas the GTGP converts cropland on steep slopes to forest and grassland by providing farmers with grain and cash subsidies. Overall ecological effects are beneficial, and socioeconomic effects are mostly positive. Whereas there are time lags in ecological effects, socioeconomic effects are more immediate. Both the NFCP and the GTGP also have global implications because they increase vegetative cover, enhance carbon sequestration, and reduce dust to other countries by controlling soil erosion. The future impacts of these programs may be even bigger. Extended payments for the GTGP have recently been approved by the central government for up to 8 years. The NFCP is likely to follow suit and receive renewed payments. To make these programs more effective, we recommend systematic planning, diversified funding, effective compensation, integrated research, and comprehensive monitoring. Effective implementation of these programs can also provide important experiences and lessons for other ecosystem service payment programs in China and many other parts of the world.

Lasting effects of repeated rTMS application in focal hand dystonia.

PubMed

Borich, Michael; Arora, Sanjeev; Kimberley, Teresa Jacobson

2009-01-01

Focal hand dystonia (FHD) is a rare but potentially devastating disorder involving involuntary muscle spasms and abnormal posturing that impairs functional hand use. Increased cortical excitability and lack of inhibitory mechanisms have been associated with these symptoms. This study investigated the short- and long-term effects of repeated administrations of repetitive-transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on cortical excitability and handwriting performance. Six subjects with FHD and nine healthy controls were studied. All subjects with FHD received rTMS (1Hz) to the premotor cortex (PMC) for five consecutive days; of those, three subjects received five days of sham rTMS completed ten days prior to real treatment. Healthy subjects received one real rTMS session. Cortical silent period (CSP) and measures of handwriting performance were compared before and after treatment and at ten-day post-treatment follow-up. At baseline, significant differences in CSP and pen pressure were observed between subjects with FHD and healthy controls. Differences in CSP and pen velocity between subjects in real and sham rTMS groups were observed across treatment sessions and maintained at follow-up. After five days of rTMS to PMC, reduced cortical excitability and improved handwriting performance were observed and maintained at least ten days following treatment in subjects with FHD. These preliminary results support further investigation of the therapeutic potential of rTMS in FHD.

Optimal diabetes care--can we afford it?: evidence-based diabetes care could be highly cost effective.

PubMed

Chowdhury, T A; Bennett-Richards, P

2013-11-01

Management of diabetes is expensive and set to get costlier. Managing the condition and it's devastating complications imposing a huge societal and economic toll on healthcare systems worldwide. While many interventions to reduce complications are available, a number of interventions do not have a strong basis in evidence, and lack cost effectiveness. In a time of economic austerity, and unprecedented pressure to reduce costs of health care in the UK, are there ways improving care, without driving up cost?

The Antiaircraft Journal. Volume 93, Number 6, November-December 1950

DTIC Science & Technology

1950-12-01

some reference to "in ground de - tating effects of both the "air and automatic artillery." fense roles command rests with so-and-so." In Korea no one...Battalion, were contacted with their units in air de - fense roles in critical areas. 111eir main difficulty was in displacing forward at the rate...is a most effective means of de - stroying emplaced or masked weapons. However, emplace- ments hidden from the air prove devastating to advancing

Challenges of Vaccine Development for Zika Virus.

PubMed

Blackman, Marcia A; Kim, In-Jeong; Lin, Jr-Shiuan; Thomas, Stephen J

2018-03-01

The emergence of outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) in Brazil in 2015 was associated with devastating effects on fetal development and prompted a world health emergency and multiple efforts to generate an effective vaccine against infection. There are now more than 40 vaccine candidates in preclinical development and six in clinical trials. Despite similarities with other flaviviruses to which successful vaccines have been developed, such as yellow fever virus and Japanese Encephalitis virus, there are unique challenges to the development and clinical trials of a vaccine for ZIKV.

Remote Sensing Techniques for Rapid Assessment of Forest Damage Caused by Catastrophic Climatic Events, NA-TP-01-01

Treesearch

William Ciesla; William Frament; Margaret Miller-Weeks

2001-01-01

Catastrophic climatic events such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and ice storms can cause billions of dollars in damage to infrastructure and personal property, loss of lives, and damage to natural resources. Forests are especially susceptible to these events. The following is a list of recent climatic events in North America that have had devastating effects on forest...

The Brachypodium-Puccinia graminis system: Solving a puzzle to uncover the underlying mechanisms of non-host resistance and plant immunity

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Brachypodium distachyon is regarded as non-host to the causal agent of stem rust in wheat and barley, P. graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), and a near-host to the pathogens of forage grasses, P. graminis f. sp. lolii (Pgl) and P. graminis f. sp. phlei-pratensis (Pgp). Given the devastating effect of ste...

New relationships among the sudden oak death pathogen, bark and ambrosia beetles, and fungi colonizing coast live oaks

Treesearch

Nadir Erbilgin; Brice A. McPherson; Pierluigi Bonello; David L. Wood; Andrew J. Nelson

2008-01-01

Sudden oak death (SOD) has had devastating effects on several oak species in many California coastal forests. Phytophthora ramorum has been identified as the primary causal agent of sudden oak death. While the pathogen may be capable of killing mature trees, it is likely that in nature opportunistic organisms play significant roles in the decline and...

Forest fire weather in eastern Oregon and central Washington in 1960.

Treesearch

Owen P. Cramer; Howard E. Graham

1961-01-01

In 1960, the first analysis of fire season weather was made for forests east of the Cascade Range. Highlights were: The 1960 season was among the most severe since 1939 in eastern Oregon, was more severe than normal in central Washington, and will long be remembered for the rainless lightning storm that hit northeast Oregon with devastating effect the evening of July...

Significance of the breast to the individual and society.

PubMed

Spencer, K W

1996-01-01

The breast is the most important external identification of femininity, and the loss of a breast can have devastating psychological effects on a woman. A woman who has lost a breast through cancer may feel self-conscious, insecure, inferior to other women, or undesirable to men. These body image concerns are key reasons why a woman will be motivated to pursue breast reconstruction.

Factors Influencing the Nutritional Health and Food Choices of African American HIV-Positive Marginally Housed and Homeless Female Substance Abusers

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mahadevan, Meena; Fisher, Celia B.

2010-01-01

The toll of HIV/AIDS and drug abuse on economically disadvantaged women of color in the United States is a public health problem of epidemic proportions. Malnutrition, believed to be pervasive in this population, exacerbates the devastating health effects of addiction and HIV. This study documented dietary deficiencies in this population and…

Economic Competition, Sustainability, and Survival Endurance: The Extinction of the Dodo, the Easter Island Case, and the Tragedy of the Commons Effect

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Moreira, Pedro

2012-01-01

A fast developing industry worldwide, tourism demands a monumental extent of resources, and at times devastates and condemns the very own environments that are fundamental to the economic survival of organizations and the sustainability of travel destinations. The purpose of the study is to link three established scientific themes on survival and…

Surviving Katrina and Keeping Our Eyes on the Prize: The Strength of Legacy and Tradition in New Orleans's HBCU Teacher Preparation Programs

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Akbar, Renee; Sims, Michele Jean

2008-01-01

Given the physical, social, cultural, and financial devastation of New Orleans, all aspects of life after Katrina irrevocably changed, as did the institutions that once served the legendary Crescent City. Yet scant reports provide an ethnographic-like view that documents the effects of Katrina on historically Black colleges and universities…

Individual Participation in Collective Action in the Context of a Caribbean Island State: Testing the Effects of Multiple Dimensions of Social Capital

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Jicha, Karl A.; Thompson, Gretchen H.; Fulkerson, Gregory M.; May, Jonathan E.

2011-01-01

This article presents the findings of a case study examining the relationship between social capital and individual participation in collective action on a Caribbean island recovering from devastation inflicted by Hurricanes Ivan and Emily. Using data drawn from 114 residential surveys on the island of Carriacou, Grenada, over the summer of 2006,…

Cholera in Zimbabwe: Developing an Educational Response to a Health Crisis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mandikonza, Caleb; Musindo, Beatrice; Taylor, Jim

2011-01-01

In February 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe had claimed 3,300 lives and infected 66,000 people--greater than the toll of that disease in the whole of Africa in most years. How is it possible that a disease such as cholera can have such a devastating effect in modern times? How should one…

Atraumatic Spinal Cord Injury in the Novice Surfer: A Comprehensive Review and Update

PubMed Central

Flick, David; Cheng, Moses

2017-01-01

Novice surfers are at risk for a rare but potentially devastating form of atraumatic myelopathy. There are 16 published studies on this condition, including 66 cases. The most common suggested mechanism of injury is static hyperextension. However, active mechanisms, in contrast to static, have also been proposed and may be contributory. First time surfers, defined as those who have never been on a surfboard prior to the day of injury, are at particular risk. These individuals make up 89.5%–100% of the reported novice surfers found in the various reports. Multiple neurologic deficits occur and often include paraparesis, paraplegia, urinary retention, and hyperesthesia. While these deficits resolve in some cases, there are reports of multiple instances of permanent injury. Increased awareness of this condition is arguably the most effective preventative measure, as it may lead to avoidance of the predisposing postures. It may also lead to earlier diagnosis in the acute setting, which will become relevant as treatment modalities continue to be refined. PMID:28210528

Seismic characteristics of Sumatra and its relevance to Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Jichun; Pan, Tso-Chien

In this paper we first use the great Mexico City earthquake of 1985 to demonstrate that great earthquakes not only cause devastating losses locally, but can also be dangerous to buildings on soft soils several hundred kilometers away. The building responses to some recent earthquakes suggest that in South East Asia, similar scenarios cannot be totally ruled out. Secondly, the cause and the characteristics of teh earthquakes in the Sumatra area are reviewed. Thirdly we present the results of a preliminary investigation into the risk of very large earthquakes in Sumatra. The result indicates that the recurrence interval of an earthquake with a moment magnitude ( Mw) of 8.5 or larger is about 340 years, which is equivalent to a 14% probability of exceedance within 50 years. The results imply that the risk of a very large earthquake is high in Sumatra, and that its potential effects on the distant metropolitan areas in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore should be investigated in further research.

Outcomes after hand and upper extremity transplantation.

PubMed

Shores, Jaimie T; Malek, Veronika; Lee, W P Andrew; Brandacher, Gerald

2017-05-01

Hand and upper extremity transplantation (HUET) has emerged as the most frequently performed reconstructive procedure in the burgeoning field of vascularized composite allotransplantation (VCA). VCA refers to a form of transplant with multiple tissue types that represents a viable treatment option for devastating injuries where conventional reconstruction would be unable to restore form and function. As hand transplantation becomes increasingly more common, discussions on advantages and disadvantages of the procedure seem to intensify. Despite encouraging functional outcomes, current immunosuppressive regimens with their deleterious side-effect profile remain a major concern for a life-changing but not life-saving type of transplant. In addition, a growing number of recipients with progressively longer follow-up prompt the need to investigate potential long-term sequelae, such as chronic rejection. This review will discuss the current state of HUET, summarizing outcome data on graft survival, motor and sensory function, as well as immunosuppressive treatment. The implications of these findings for VCA in terms of achievements and challenges ahead will then be discussed.

An Exploratory Study of Intensive Neurofeedback Training for Schizophrenia.

PubMed

Nan, Wenya; Wan, Feng; Chang, Lanshin; Pun, Sio Hang; Vai, Mang I; Rosa, Agostinho

2017-01-01

Schizophrenia is a chronic and devastating brain disorder with ongoing cognitive, behavioral, and emotional deteriorated functions. Neurofeedback training, which enables the individuals to regulate their brain activity using a real-time feedback loop, is increasingly investigated as a potential alternative intervention for schizophrenia. This study aimed to explore the effect of short but intensive neurofeedback training for schizophrenic patients with difficulty for long-time training. A middle-aged woman with chronic schizophrenia completed the intensive training of alpha/beta2 (20-30 Hz) in four consecutive days with a total training duration of 13.5 hours. The results showed that her alpha/beta2 increased over sessions, and her behavior performance including short-term memory, mood, and speech pattern was improved at the end of neurofeedback training. Importantly, a 22-month follow-up found a dramatic improvement in both positive and negative symptoms. These positive outcomes suggest that such intensive neurofeedback training may provide new insight into the treatment of schizophrenia and thus deserves further study to fully examine its scope.

Tamoxifen accelerates the repair of demyelinated lesions in the central nervous system

PubMed Central

Gonzalez, Ginez A.; Hofer, Matthias P.; Syed, Yasir A.; Amaral, Ana I.; Rundle, Jon; Rahman, Saifur; Zhao, Chao; Kotter, Mark R. N.

2016-01-01

Enhancing central nervous system (CNS) myelin regeneration is recognized as an important strategy to ameliorate the devastating consequences of demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Previous findings have indicated that myelin proteins, which accumulate following demyelination, inhibit remyelination by blocking the differentiation of rat oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) via modulation of PKCα. We therefore screened drugs for their potential to overcome this differentiation block. From our screening, tamoxifen emerges as a potent inducer of OPC differentiation in vitro. We show that the effects of tamoxifen rely on modulation of the estrogen receptors ERα, ERβ, and GPR30. Furthermore, we demonstrate that administration of tamoxifen to demyelinated rats in vivo accelerates remyelination. Tamoxifen is a well-established drug and is thus a promising candidate for a drug to regenerate myelin, as it will not require extensive safety testing. In addition, Tamoxifen plays an important role in biomedical research as an activator of inducible genetic models. Our results highlight the importance of appropriate controls when using such models. PMID:27554391

Forty years of vegetation change on the Missouri River Floodplain

USGS Publications Warehouse

Johnson, W.C.; Dixon, M.D.; Scott, M.L.; Rabbe, L.; Larson, G.; Volke, M.; Werner, B.

2012-01-01

Comparative inventories in 1969 and 1970 and in 2008 of vegetation from 30 forest stands downstream of Garrison Dam on the Missouri River in central North Dakota showed (a) a sharp decline in Cottonwood regeneration; (b) a strong compositional shift toward dominance by green ash; and (c) large increases in invasive understory species, such as smooth brome, reed canary grass, and Canada thistle. These changes, and others discovered during remeasurement, have been caused by a complex of factors, some related to damming (altered hydrologic and sediment regimes, delta formation, and associated wetdry cycles) and some not (diseases and expansion of invasive plants). Dominance of green ash, however, may be short lived, given the likelihood that the emerald ash borer will arrive in the Dakotas in 510 years, with potentially devastating effects. The prospects for recovery of this valuable ecosystem, rich in ecosystem goods and services and in American history, are daunting. ?? 2012 by American Institute of Biological Sciences. All rights reserved.

Chemical ecology of the emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis.

PubMed

Crook, Damon J; Mastro, Victor C

2010-01-01

The emerald ash borer (EAB), Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) is a serious invasive pest that has caused devastating mortality of ash trees (Fraxinus sp., Oleaceae) since it was first identified in North America in 2002. Shortly after its discovery, surveys were conducted, based on the visual inspection of trees. The shortcomings of visual surveys have led to a critical research need to find an efficient survey method for detecting A. planipennis infestations. Here, we present a review of research that has led to the development of effective trapping methods for A. planipennis. Studies on the insect's biology and behavior have led to the identification of several potential attractants as well as the design of a visually attractive trap. The ongoing challenge in developing an optimally efficient trapping methodology for A. planipennis will involve finding the best combination of variables, such as trap shape, trap color (or other visual properties), trap placement, lure components, as well as the ratios and release rates of those components.

Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Moving Towards a More Central Role of Genetics#

PubMed Central

Cemin, Roberto; Janardhanan, Rajesh; Donazzan, Luca; Daves, Massimo

2013-01-01

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PCM) is a relatively rare disease with potentially devasting consequences requiring prompt identification and correct treatment. Overall prognosis is good in majority of the cases, although some patients may progress to irreversible heart failure. Early diagnosis is important and effective treatment reduces mortality rates and increases the chance of complete recovery of ventricular systolic function. The aetiology and pathogenesis seems to be multifactorial and poorly understood, with the available literature rather conflicting. In recent years, there has been increased interest in the role played by genetic predisposition in the development of PCM. It probably develops as a result of a complex interaction of pregnancy-associated factors and genetic factors and recently there have been many observations pointing out the central role played by a genetic predisposition. The direct and indirect observations on genetic susceptibility may offer new insights into the pathogenesis of PCM. However, larger studies are needed before advising routine genetic testing in these patients. PMID:23909634

Serum CEACAM1 Elevation Correlates with Melanoma Progression and Failure to Respond to Adoptive Cell Transfer Immunotherapy

PubMed Central

Ortenberg, R.; Sapoznik, S.; Zippel, D.; Shapira-Frommer, R.; Itzhaki, O.; Kubi, A.; Zikich, D.; Besser, M. J.; Schachter, J.; Markel, G.

2015-01-01

Malignant melanoma is a devastating disease whose incidences are continuously rising. The recently approved antimelanoma therapies carry new hope for metastatic patients for the first time in decades. However, the clinical management of melanoma is severely hampered by the absence of effective screening tools. The expression of the CEACAM1 adhesion molecule on melanoma cells is a strong predictor of poor prognosis. Interestingly, a melanoma-secreted form of CEACAM1 (sCEACAM1) has recently emerged as a potential tumor biomarker. Here we add novel evidences supporting the prognostic role of serum CEACAM1 by using a mice xenograft model of human melanoma and showing a correlation between serum CEACAM1 and tumor burden. Moreover, we demonstrate that serum CEACAM1 is elevated over time in progressive melanoma patients who fail to respond to immunotherapy as opposed to responders and stable disease patients, thus proving a correlation between sCEACAM1, response to treatment, and clinical deterioration. PMID:26688824

Mitigating oil spills in the water column

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Barry, Edward; Libera, Joseph A.; Mane, Anil U.

The scale and scope of uncontrolled oil spills can be devastating. Diverse marine environments and fragile ecologies are some of the most susceptible to the many ill effects, while the economic costs can be crippling. A notoriously difficult challenge with no known technological solution is the successful removal of oil dispersed in the water column. Here, we address this problem through cheap and reusable oil sorbents based on the chemical modification of polymer foams. Interfacial chemistry was optimized and subsequently tested in a simulated marine environment at the National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility, Ohmsett. Wemore » find favorable performance for surface oil mitigation and, for the first time, demonstrate the advanced sorbent's efficiency and efficacy at pilot scale in extraction of crude oil and refined petroleum products dispersed in the water column. As a result, this is a potentially disruptive technology, opening a new field of environmental science focused on sub-surface pollutant sequestration.« less

Mitigating oil spills in the water column

DOE PAGES

Barry, Edward; Libera, Joseph A.; Mane, Anil U.; ...

2017-10-05

The scale and scope of uncontrolled oil spills can be devastating. Diverse marine environments and fragile ecologies are some of the most susceptible to the many ill effects, while the economic costs can be crippling. A notoriously difficult challenge with no known technological solution is the successful removal of oil dispersed in the water column. Here, we address this problem through cheap and reusable oil sorbents based on the chemical modification of polymer foams. Interfacial chemistry was optimized and subsequently tested in a simulated marine environment at the National Oil Spill Response Research & Renewable Energy Test Facility, Ohmsett. Wemore » find favorable performance for surface oil mitigation and, for the first time, demonstrate the advanced sorbent's efficiency and efficacy at pilot scale in extraction of crude oil and refined petroleum products dispersed in the water column. As a result, this is a potentially disruptive technology, opening a new field of environmental science focused on sub-surface pollutant sequestration.« less

Theories and measures of elder abuse.

PubMed

Abolfathi Momtaz, Yadollah; Hamid, Tengku Aizan; Ibrahim, Rahimah

2013-09-01

Elder abuse is a pervasive phenomenon around the world with devastating effects on the victims. Although it is not a new phenomenon, interest in examining elder abuse is relatively new. This paper aims to provide an overview of the aetiological theories and measures of elder abuse. The paper briefly reviews theories to explain causes of elder abuse and then discusses the most commonly used measures of elder abuse. Based on the reviewed theories, it can be concluded that elder abuse is a multifactorial problem that may affect elderly people from different backgrounds and involve a wide variety of potential perpetrators, including caregivers, adult children, and partners. The review of existing measurement instruments notes that many different screening and assessment instruments have been developed to identify elders who are at risk for or are victims of abuse. However, there is a real need for more measurements of elder abuse, as the current instruments are limited in scope. © 2013 The Authors. Psychogeriatrics © 2013 Japanese Psychogeriatric Society.

Wernicke-Korsakoff-syndrome: under-recognized and under-treated.

PubMed

Isenberg-Grzeda, Elie; Kutner, Haley E; Nicolson, Stephen E

2012-01-01

Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is a well described syndrome of neurological and cognitive problems that comprises both Wernicke's encephalopathy (WE) and Korsakoff syndrome (KS). WE is an acute neuropsychiatric disorder caused by thiamine deficiency. KS is a chronic consequence of thiamine deficiency with prominent impairment in memory formation. The authors review the literature on the pathophysiology, presentation, and treatment of WKS, focusing on the acute identification and treatment of WE. Most cases of WE are missed by clinicians, likely because patients do not present with the classic signs associated with the condition. Attaining high serum levels of thiamine during treatment may be important to restore cognitive function as quickly as possible, though the exact dosing and route needed for effective treatment is unknown. Data indicates that the administration of intravenous (IV) thiamine has little risk. In order to prevent this potentially devastating disease, physicians should have a high index of suspicion for WKS and dose thiamine accordingly. Copyright © 2012 The Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Progranulin: at the interface of neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases.

PubMed

Nguyen, Andrew D; Nguyen, Thi A; Martens, Lauren Herl; Mitic, Laura L; Farese, Robert V

2013-12-01

Progranulin is a widely expressed, cysteine-rich, secreted glycoprotein originally discovered for its growth factor-like properties. Its subsequent identification as a causative gene for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a devastating early-onset neurodegenerative disease, has catalyzed a surge of new discoveries about progranulin function in the brain. More recently, progranulin was recognized as an adipokine involved in diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance, revealing its metabolic function. We review here progranulin biology in both neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. In particular, we highlight the growth factor-like, trophic, and anti-inflammatory properties of progranulin as potential unifying themes in these seemingly divergent conditions. We also discuss potential therapeutic options for raising progranulin levels to treat progranulin-deficient FTD, as well as the possible consequences of such treatment. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Progranulin: At the interface of neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases

PubMed Central

Nguyen, Andrew D.; Nguyen, Thi A.; Martens, Lauren Herl; Mitic, Laura L.; Farese, Robert V.

2013-01-01

Progranulin is a widely expressed, cysteine-rich, secreted glycoprotein originally discovered for its growth factor–like properties. Its subsequent identification as a causative gene for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a devastating early-onset neurodegenerative disease, has catalyzed a surge of new discoveries about progranulin’s function in the brain. More recently, progranulin was recognized as an adipokine involved in diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance, revealing its metabolic function. Here, we review progranulin biology in both neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases. In particular, we highlight progranulin’s growth factor–like, trophic, and anti-inflammatory properties as potential unifying themes in these seemingly divergent conditions. We also discuss potential therapeutic options for raising progranulin levels to treat progranulin-deficient FTD, as well as the possible consequences of such treatment. PMID:24035620

Hazard Potential of Volcanic Flank Collapses Raised by New Megatsunami Evidence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramalho, R. S.; Winckler, G.; Madeira, J.; Helffrich, G. R.; Hipólito, A.; Quartau, R.; Adena, K.; Schaefer, J. M.

2015-12-01

Large-scale gravitational flank collapses of steep volcanic islands are hypothetically capable of triggering megatsunamis with highly catastrophic effects. Yet evidence for the existence and impact of collapsed-triggered megatsunamis and their run-up heights remains scarce and/or is highly contentious. Therefore a considerable debate still exists over the potential magnitude of collapse-triggered tsunamis and their inherent hazard. In particular, doubts still remain whether or not large-scale flank failures typically generate enough volume flux to result in megatsunamis, or alternatively operate by slow-moving or multiple smaller episodic failures with much lower tsunamigenic potential. Here we show that one of the tallest and most active oceanic volcanoes on Earth - Fogo, in the Cape Verde Islands - collapsed catastrophically and triggered a megatsunami with devastating near-field effects ~73,000 years ago. Our deductions are based on the recent discovery and cosmogenic 3He dating of tsunamigenic deposits - comprising fields of stranded megaclasts, chaotic conglomerates, and sand sheets - found on the adjacent Santiago Island, which attest to the impact of this megatsunami and document wave run-up heights exceeding 270 m. The evidence reported here implies that Fogo's flank failure involved at least one sudden and voluminous event that resulted in a megatsunami, in contrast to what has been suggested before. Our work thus provides another line of evidence that large-scale flank failures at steep volcanic islands may indeed happen catastrophically and are capable of triggering tsunamis of enormous height and energy. This new line of evidence therefore reinforces the hazard potential of volcanic island collapses and stands as a warning that such hazard should not be underestimated, particularly in areas where volcanic island edifices are close to other islands or to highly populated continental margins.

Levee Safety: Army Corps and FEMA Have Made Little Progress in Carrying Out Required Activities

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-07-01

risk of flooding. Their failure can contribute to loss of lives or property, as shown by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. It is...loss of lives or property. The impact of levee failures was brought to national attention in 2005, when waves from Hurricane Katrina resulted in...communities with levees may not be carried out. Since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Congress has enacted legislation, including the Water

Is bisphosphonate therapy for benign bone disease associated with impaired dental healing? A case-controlled study

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background Bisphosphonates are common first line medications used for the management of benign bone disease. One of the most devastating complications associated with bisphosphonate use is osteonecrosis of the jaws which may be related to duration of exposure and hence cumulative dose, dental interventions, medical co-morbidities or in some circumstances with no identifiable aggravating factor. While jaw osteonecrosis is a devastating outcome which is currently difficult to manage, various forms of delayed dental healing may be a less dramatic and, therefore, poorly-recognised complications of bisphosphonate use for the treatment of osteoporosis. It is hypothesised that long-term (more than 1 year's duration) bisphosphonate use for the treatment of post-menopausal osteoporosis or other benign bone disease is associated with impaired dental healing. Methods/Design A case-control study has been chosen to test the hypothesis as the outcome event rate is likely to be very low. A total of 54 cases will be recruited into the study following review of all dental files from oral and maxillofacial surgeons and special needs dentists in Victoria where potential cases of delayed dental healing will be identified. Potential cases will be presented to an independent case adjudication panel to determine if they are definitive delayed dental healing cases. Two hundred and fifteen controls (1:4 cases:controls), matched for age and visit window period, will be selected from those who have attended local community based referring dental practices. The primary outcome will be the incidence of delayed dental healing that occurs either spontaneously or following dental treatment such as extractions, implant placement, or denture use. Discussion This study is the largest case-controlled study assessing the link between bisphosphonate use and delayed dental healing in Australia. It will provide invaluable data on the potential link between bisphosphonate use and osteonecrosis of the jaws. PMID:21477374

Arrhenius temperature dependence of in vitro tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis.

PubMed

Shaw, George J; Dhamija, Ashima; Bavani, Nazli; Wagner, Kenneth R; Holland, Christy K

2007-06-07

Stroke is a devastating disease and a leading cause of death and disability. Currently, the only FDA approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke is the intravenous administration of the thrombolytic medication, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). However, this treatment has many contraindications and can have dangerous side effects such as intra-cerebral hemorrhage. These treatment limitations have led to much interest in potential adjunctive therapies, such as therapeutic hypothermia (T

Arrhenius temperature dependence of in vitro tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shaw, George J.; Dhamija, Ashima; Bavani, Nazli; Wagner, Kenneth R.; Holland, Christy K.

2007-06-01

Stroke is a devastating disease and a leading cause of death and disability. Currently, the only FDA approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke is the intravenous administration of the thrombolytic medication, recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). However, this treatment has many contraindications and can have dangerous side effects such as intra-cerebral hemorrhage. These treatment limitations have led to much interest in potential adjunctive therapies, such as therapeutic hypothermia (T <= 35 °C) and ultrasound enhanced thrombolysis. Such interest may lead to combining these therapies with tPA to treat stroke, however little is known about the effects of temperature on the thrombolytic efficacy of tPA. In this work, we measure the temperature dependence of the fractional clot mass loss Δm(T) resulting from tPA exposure in an in vitro human clot model. We find that the temperature dependence is well described by an Arrhenius temperature dependence with an effective activation energy Eeff of 42.0 ± 0.9 kJ mole-1. Eeff approximates the activation energy of the plasminogen-to-plasmin reaction of 48.9 kJ mole-1. A model to explain this temperature dependence is proposed. These results will be useful in predicting the effects of temperature in future lytic therapies.

Evidence for Anti-Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd) Activity of Propolis

PubMed Central

Ghosh, Soumya; McArthur, Robyn; Guo, Zhi Chao; McKerchar, Rory; Donkor, Kingsley

2017-01-01

White-nose syndrome (WNS) in bats, caused by Pseudogymnoascus destructans (Pd), is a cutaneous infection that has devastated North American bat populations since 2007. At present, there is no effective method for controlling this disease. Here, we evaluated the effect of propolis against Pd in vitro. Using Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) medium, approximately 1.7 × 107 conidia spores of the Pd strain M3906-2/mL were spread on each plate and grown to form a consistent lawn. A Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion assay was employed using different concentrations of propolis (1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%), in plates incubated at 8 °C and 15 °C. At 8 °C and 15 °C, as the concentration of propolis increased, there was an increasing zone of inhibition (ZOI), reaching the highest degree at 10% and 25% concentrations, respectively. A germule suppression assay showed a similar effect on Pd conidia germination. A MALDI-TOF-MS analysis of propolis revealed multiple constituents with a potential anti-Pd activity, including cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, and dihydrochalcones, which could be further tested for their individual effects. Our study suggests that propolis or its individual constituents might be suitable products against Pd. PMID:29267199

Dual targeting of mitochondrial function and mTOR pathway as a therapeutic strategy for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma

PubMed Central

Tsoli, Maria; Liu, Jie; Franshaw, Laura; Shen, Han; Cheng, Cecilia; Jung, MoonSun; Joshi, Swapna; Ehteda, Anahid; Khan, Aaminah; Montero-Carcabosso, Angel; Dilda, Pierre J.; Hogg, Philip; Ziegler, David S.

2018-01-01

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPG) are the most devastating of all pediatric brain tumors. They mostly affect young children and, as there are no effective treatments, almost all patients with DIPG will die of their tumor within 12 months of diagnosis. A key feature of this devastating tumor is its intrinsic resistance to all clinically available therapies. It has been shown that glioma development is associated with metabolic reprogramming, redox state disruption and resistance to apoptotic pathways. The mitochondrion is an attractive target as a key organelle that facilitates these critical processes. PENAO is a novel anti-cancer compound that targets mitochondrial function by inhibiting adenine nucleotide translocase (ANT). Here we found that DIPG neurosphere cultures express high levels of ANT2 protein and are sensitive to the mitochondrial inhibitor PENAO through oxidative stress, while its apoptotic effects were found to be further enhanced upon co-treatment with mTOR inhibitor temsirolimus. This combination therapy was found to act through inhibition of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, HSP90 and activation of AMPK. In vivo experiments employing an orthotopic model of DIPG showed a marginal anti-tumour effect likely due to poor penetration of the inhibitors into the brain. Further testing of this anti-DIPG strategy with compounds that penetrate the BBB is warranted. PMID:29484131

Treating sarcopenia in clinical practice: where are we now?

PubMed

De Spiegeleer, Anton; Petrovic, Mirko; Boeckxstaens, Pauline; Van Den Noortgate, Nele

2016-08-01

Sarcopenia - or the loss of muscle mass, strength and function with ageing - represents an important health issue of the twenty-first century because of its devastating effects in addition to an increased prevalence of aged people. The devastating health effects of sarcopenia are multiple: an increased falls risk, a decreased physical ability and quality of life and an independent increase of all-cause mortality. Although the ultimate remedy for sarcopenia yet has to be found, some interventions have proven their merit and might be of practical use in clinical practice, especially for geriatricians, who deal most with sarcopenia. This review intends to summarize the current therapeutic interventions, their proposed mechanism of action as well as their clinical value. The results of our review highlight the importance of exercise (50% resistance training, 50% endurance training), nutrition (25-30 g proteins with essential amino acids every meal and long-chain ω-3 fatty acids) and limitation of alcohol and smoking. In addition, studies also suggest a place for vitamin D (aim serum levels >30 ng/L), testosterone (aim serum levels >300 ng/dL) and creatine (15-20 g/d for five days, thereafter 3-5 g/d). In conclusion, although more studies are needed to elucidate the exact effectiveness and safety of many sarcopenia interventions, the current evidence already provides clinically useful information, which might benefit the patient with (pre-)sarcopenia.

A two-dose heterologous prime-boost vaccine regimen eliciting sustained immune responses to Ebola Zaire could support a preventive strategy for future outbreaks

PubMed Central

Shukarev, Georgi; Callendret, Benoit; Luhn, Kerstin; Douoguih, Macaya

2017-01-01

ABSTRACT The consequences of the 2013–16 Ebola Zaire virus disease epidemic in West Africa were grave. The economies, healthcare systems and communities of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia were devastated by over 18 months of active Ebola virus transmission, followed by sporadic resurgences potentially related to sexual transmission by survivors with viral persistence in body fluids following recovery. The need to develop and implement strategies to prevent and mitigate future outbreaks is now beyond dispute. The potential for unpredictable outbreaks of indeterminate duration, and control challenges posed by the possibility of sporadic re-emergence, mean that implementation of an effective vaccination program for outbreak containment necessitates a vaccine providing durable immunity. Heterologous prime-boost vaccine regimens deliver the same or similar antigens through different vaccine types, the first to prime and the second to boost the immune system. Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo is an investigational Ebola Zaire vaccine regimen that uses this heterologous prime-boost approach. Preliminary Phase 1 data suggest that Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo confers durable immunity for at least 240 d and is well-tolerated with a good safety profile. This regimen may therefore be suitable for prophylactic use in a regional or targeted population vaccination strategy, and could potentially aid prevention and control of future Ebola outbreaks. PMID:27925844

Proteomics and bioinformatics strategies to design countermeasures against infectious threat agents.

PubMed

Khan, Akbar S; Mujer, Cesar V; Alefantis, Timothy G; Connolly, Joseph P; Mayr, Ulrike Beate; Walcher, Petra; Lubitz, Werner; Delvecchio, Vito G

2006-01-01

The potential devastation resulting from an intentional outbreak caused by biological warfare agents such as Brucella abortus and Bacillus anthracis underscores the need for next generation vaccines. Proteomics, genomics, and systems biology approaches coupled with the bacterial ghost (BG) vaccine delivery strategy offer an ideal approach for developing safer, cost-effective, and efficacious vaccines for human use in a relatively rapid time frame. Critical to any subunit vaccine development strategy is the identification of a pathogen's proteins with the greatest potential of eliciting a protective immune response. These proteins are collectively referred to as the pathogen's immunome. Proteomics provides high-resolution identification of these immunogenic proteins using standard proteomic technologies, Western blots probed with antisera from infected patients, and the pathogen's sequenced and annotated genome. Selected immunoreactive proteins can be then cloned and expressed in nonpathogenic Gram-negative bacteria. Subsequently, a temperature shift or chemical induction process is initiated to induce expression of the PhiX174 E-lysis gene, whose protein product forms an E tunnel between the inner and outer membrane of the bacteria, expelling all intracellular contents. The BG vaccine system is a proven strategy developed for many different pathogens and tested in a complete array of animal models. The BG vaccine system also has great potential for producing multiagent vaccines for protection to multiple species in a single formulation.

A two-dose heterologous prime-boost vaccine regimen eliciting sustained immune responses to Ebola Zaire could support a preventive strategy for future outbreaks.

PubMed

Shukarev, Georgi; Callendret, Benoit; Luhn, Kerstin; Douoguih, Macaya

2017-02-01

The consequences of the 2013-16 Ebola Zaire virus disease epidemic in West Africa were grave. The economies, healthcare systems and communities of Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia were devastated by over 18 months of active Ebola virus transmission, followed by sporadic resurgences potentially related to sexual transmission by survivors with viral persistence in body fluids following recovery. The need to develop and implement strategies to prevent and mitigate future outbreaks is now beyond dispute. The potential for unpredictable outbreaks of indeterminate duration, and control challenges posed by the possibility of sporadic re-emergence, mean that implementation of an effective vaccination program for outbreak containment necessitates a vaccine providing durable immunity. Heterologous prime-boost vaccine regimens deliver the same or similar antigens through different vaccine types, the first to prime and the second to boost the immune system. Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo is an investigational Ebola Zaire vaccine regimen that uses this heterologous prime-boost approach. Preliminary Phase 1 data suggest that Ad26.ZEBOV/MVA-BN-Filo confers durable immunity for at least 240 d and is well-tolerated with a good safety profile. This regimen may therefore be suitable for prophylactic use in a regional or targeted population vaccination strategy, and could potentially aid prevention and control of future Ebola outbreaks.

Lily Cultivars Have Allelopathic Potential in Controlling Orobanche aegyptiaca Persoon

PubMed Central

Cui, Hongxia; Jiang, Chuangdao; Zhang, Jinzheng; Shi, Lei

2015-01-01

As a devastating holoparasitic weed, Orobanche aegyptiaca Persoon. (Egyptian broomrape) causes serious damage to agricultural production and threatens economic development, which has raised widespread concern. The present study was conducted to determine whether lilies have the potential to be used as ‘trap crops’ for controlling O. aegyptiaca Persoon. In the experiments, the ability of three popular lily cultivars (Lilium Oriental hybrids ‘Sorbonne’, Lilium LA (Longiflorum hybrids x Asiatic hybrids) hybrids ‘Ceb Dazzle’, and Lilium Longiflorum hybrids (L. formosanum x L. longiflorum) ‘L. formolongo’) to induce O. aegyptiaca Persoon. seed germination was assessed. Parts of the three lily cultivars, including the rhizosphere soil and underground and above-ground organs, all induced “suicidal germination” of parasitic O. aegyptiaca Persoon. seed at four growth stages. Specifically, Sorbonne and Ceb Dazzle behaved with similar allelopathy, and the bulb, scale leaf and aerial stem exhibited stronger allelopathic effects on O. aegyptiaca Pers. germination compared to other organs. Aqueous L. formolongo leaf extracts may contain more stable, effective stimulants given that they induced the highest germination rate at 76.7% even though the extracts were serially diluted. We speculate that these organs may be advantageous in further isolating and purifying economical active substances that can be substitutes for GR24. These results indicate that lilies have the potential to be used as a trap crops or can be processed into green herbicide formulations that can be applied in agriculture production to rapidly deplete the seed bank of O. aegyptiaca Persoon. parasitic weeds in soil. PMID:26565398

Ten years of a multidisciplinary diabetic foot team approach in Sao Paulo, Brazil

PubMed Central

Batista, Fábio; Augusto Magalhães, Antonio; Gamba, Mônica; Nery, Caio; Cardoso, Cristina

2010-01-01

Diabetes mellitus can cause devastating foot problems including loss of protective sensation with subsequent ulcerations and amputations. The natural history and pathophysiology of diabetic foot ulcers is best understood and managed by a multiprofessional team approach. The main factors for prevention and treatment of these devastating diabetic foot conditions are shown, with special attention to education of the patient. This approach decreases the morbidity of the disease, besides its economical and social feasibility. PMID:22396805

Texas Should Require Homeland Security Standards for High-Speed Rail

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-12-01

conditions. Japanese trains, engineered with earthquakes in mind, all came to a safe stop during the 2011 Fukushima disaster without loss of life or...building—that devastated parts of Japan through immediate effect as well as caused the consequential breach of the Fukushima nuclear reactor.119...119 Ichiro Fujisaki, “Japan’s Recovery Six Months after the Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Crisis,” Brookings Institution, last modified September

Therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: renewed optimism from genetic approaches.

PubMed

Fairclough, Rebecca J; Wood, Matthew J; Davies, Kay E

2013-06-01

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating progressive disease for which there is currently no effective treatment except palliative therapy. There are several promising genetic approaches, including viral delivery of the missing dystrophin gene, read-through of translation stop codons, exon skipping to restore the reading frame and increased expression of the compensatory utrophin gene. The lessons learned from these approaches will be applicable to many other disorders.

Amazigh-State Relations in Morocco and Algeria

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-06-01

key element in breaking the psychic bondage of the French language: Arabization, which is an integral part of the preoccupations of this nation and...not violent can still have devastating effects on population groups—whether concrete or psychic . These included exclusion from the political process...Ibid., 124. 74 beginning to view themselves as “poor and Berber.” This new rural awareness coupled with the long-standing anger of unemployed

Analysis of U.S. Military Helicopter Operations in Support of Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief

DTIC Science & Technology

2011-12-01

effectiveness and speed) of current and future operations and programs; • serves as a bridge between disaster preparedness and response, between...mission due to the massive devastation that destroyed roads, bridges , and docks (Elleman, 2007). 4. Logistics Productivity of Aircraft LTG Phillip...may be needed. This assistance can include helicopter transportation, road and bridge repair, or delivery of temporary water supplies. The

An unusual case of suicide attempt using intravenous injection of kerosene.

PubMed

Jayaprasad, Sushmitha; Metikurke, Vijayashankar

2013-01-01

Kerosene is refined oil belonging to the hydrocarbon group of compounds, available for domestic use in developing countries. Poisoning is due to inhalation, ingestion. Kerosene. We report a rare case of attempted suicide by means of intravenous injection of kerosene. It has a devastating effect and it is important to initiate active and immediate surgical intervention. Psychotherapy should also be an integral part of the management.

Environmental Adult Education for Mitigating the Impacts of Climate Change on Crop Production and Fish Farming in Rivers State of Nigeria

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Eheazu, Caroline L.; Ezeala, Joy I.

2017-01-01

The threats of climate change to human society and natural ecosystems have become a devastating environmental problem for crop production and fish farming in Nigeria. This is partly because farmers and fisher folk are known to adopt age-old methods that do not counter current global warming and climate change effects. The purpose of this study was…

The Angel in the Academy: The Creative Writer as Helpmeet on the Distaff Side of English Studies.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Elliott, Gayle

Women who wish to assume full voice in their writing have no choice but to raise questions regarding their status and the status of creative writing within the academy. Tillie Olsen and Elaine Showalter have documented the bias in texts taught at the university in which women have little place, if at all. The effects are devastating: if the voices…

Beyond symptomatic relief for chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy: Targeting the source.

PubMed

Ma, Jiacheng; Kavelaars, Annemieke; Dougherty, Patrick M; Heijnen, Cobi J

2018-06-01

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a serious adverse side effect of many chemotherapeutic agents, affecting >60% of patients with cancer. Moreover, CIPN persists long into survivorship in approximately 20% to 30% of these patients. To the authors' knowledge, no drugs have been approved to date by the US Food and Drug Administration to effectively manage chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. The majority of the drugs tested for the management of CIPN aim at symptom relief, including pain and paresthesia, yet are not very efficacious. The authors propose that there is a need to acquire a more thorough understanding of the etiology of CIPN so that effective, mechanism-based, disease-modifying interventions can be developed. It is important to note that such interventions should not interfere with the antitumor effects of chemotherapy. Mitochondria are rod-shaped cellular organelles that represent the powerhouses of the cell, in that they convert oxygen and nutrients into the cellular energy "currency" adenosine triphosphate. In addition, mitochondria regulate cell death. Neuronal mitochondrial dysfunction and the associated nitro-oxidative stress represent crucial final common pathways of CIPN. Herein, the authors discuss the potential to prevent or reverse CIPN by protecting mitochondria and/or inhibiting nitro-oxidative stress with novel potential drugs, including the mitochondrial protectant pifithrin-μ, histone deacetylase 6 inhibitors, metformin, antioxidants, peroxynitrite decomposition catalysts, and anti-inflammatory mediators including interleukin 10. This review hopefully will contribute toward bridging the gap between preclinical research and the development of realistic novel therapeutic strategies to prevent or reverse the devastating neurotoxic effects of chemotherapy on the (peripheral) nervous system. Cancer 2018;124:2289-98. © 2018 American Cancer Society. © 2018 American Cancer Society.

[Contribution of the rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases to the patient management in the Great East Japan earthquake].

PubMed

Hatta, Masumitsu; Kaku, Mitsuo

2012-01-01

On 11 March 2011, an earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale off the northeast coast of Honshu Island, Japan, produced a devastating tsunami that destroyed many towns and villages near the coast in Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima prefectures. Miyagi Prefecture was the area most severely devastated by the tsunami, with extensive loss of life and property; hundreds of thousands of people lost their houses and were forced to move to evacuation areas. In the days and weeks following devastating natural disasters, the threat of infectious disease outbreak is high. Rapid diagnostic tests can be performed at or near the site of patient care and the tests were very useful in this disaster, because they enabled us to manage patients appropriately in the settings where medical resources were limited. Here we report actual cases where the rapid diagnostic tests for infectious diseases were useful in the patient management.

Addressing concerns of pregnant and lactating women after the 2005 hurricanes: the OTIS response.

PubMed

Quinn, Dorothy; Lavigne, Sharon Voyer; Chambers, Christina; Wolfe, Lori; Chipman, Hope; Cragan, Janet D; Rasmussen, Sonja A

2008-01-01

Natural disasters are devastating for anyone affected, but pregnant and breastfeeding women often have specific concerns about the effects of certain exposures (such as infections, chemicals, medications, and stress) on their fetus or breastfed child. For this reason, the Organization of Teratology Information Specialists (OTIS) and the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partnered to provide information for women and healthcare professionals about the effects of exposures on pregnancy and breastfeeding after the hurricanes of 2005. This service expanded on OTIS's existing telephone counseling and fact sheets. Through this project, fact sheets were created to address specific potential concerns regarding exposures after the hurricanes. The OTIS national toll-free telephone number also was modified to accommodate questions regarding hurricane-related exposures, and several strategies were used to publicize this number as a resource for obtaining hurricane-related exposure information related to pregnancy and breastfeeding. This article describes OTIS's response after the 2005 hurricanes, the challenges encountered in implementing the response, and lessons learned that might be useful to improve the response to the unique needs of this special population after any disaster or public health emergency.

Mouse Models of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Drug Discovery.

PubMed

Baribault, Helene

2016-01-01

Type 2 diabetes is a fast-growing epidemic in industrialized countries, associated with obesity, lack of physical exercise, aging, family history, and ethnic background. Diagnostic criteria are elevated fasting or postprandial blood glucose levels, a consequence of insulin resistance. Early intervention can help patients to revert the progression of the disease together with lifestyle changes or monotherapy. Systemic glucose toxicity can have devastating effects leading to pancreatic beta cell failure, blindness, nephropathy, and neuropathy, progressing to limb ulceration or even amputation. Existing treatments have numerous side effects and demonstrate variability in individual patient responsiveness. However, several emerging areas of discovery research are showing promises with the development of novel classes of antidiabetic drugs.The mouse has proven to be a reliable model for discovering and validating new treatments for type 2 diabetes mellitus. We review here commonly used methods to measure endpoints relevant to glucose metabolism which show good translatability to the diagnostic of type 2 diabetes in humans: baseline fasting glucose and insulin, glucose tolerance test, insulin sensitivity index, and body type composition. Improvements on these clinical values are essential for the progression of a novel potential therapeutic molecule through a preclinical and clinical pipeline.

Cyclic phosphatidic acid treatment suppress cuprizone-induced demyelination and motor dysfunction in mice.

PubMed

Yamamoto, Shinji; Gotoh, Mari; Kawamura, Yuuki; Yamashina, Kota; Yagishita, Sosuke; Awaji, Takeo; Tanaka, Motomu; Maruyama, Kei; Murakami-Murofushi, Kimiko; Yoshikawa, Keisuke

2014-10-15

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system leading to progressive cognitive and motor dysfunction, which is characterized by neuroinflammation, demyelination, astrogliosis, loss of oligodendrocytes, and axonal pathologies. Cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA) is a naturally occurring phospholipid mediator with a unique cyclic phosphate ring structure at the sn-2 and sn-3 positions of the glycerol backbone. cPA elicits a neurotrophin-like action and protects hippocampal neurons from ischemia-induced delayed neuronal death. In this study, we investigated the effects of cPA on cuprizone-induced demyelination, which is a model of multiple sclerosis. Mice were fed a diet containing 0.2% cuprizone for 5 weeks, which induces severe demyelination, astrocyte and microglial activation, and motor dysfunction. Simultaneous administration of cPA effectively attenuated cuprizone-induced demyelination, glial activation, and motor dysfunction. These data indicate that cPA may be a useful treatment to reduce the extent of demyelination and the severity of motor dysfunction in multiple sclerosis. cPA is a potential lead compound in the development of drugs for the treatment of this devastating disease. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

PF4/heparin-antibody complex induces monocyte tissue factor expression and release of tissue factor positive microparticles by activation of FcγRI

PubMed Central

Glover, Sam L.; Jonas, William; McEachron, Troy; Pawlinski, Rafal; Arepally, Gowthami M.; Key, Nigel S.; Mackman, Nigel

2012-01-01

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is a potentially devastating form of drug-induced thrombocytopenia that occurs in patients receiving heparin for prevention or treatment of thrombosis. Patients with HIT develop autoantibodies to the platelet factor 4 (PF4)/heparin complex, which is termed the HIT Ab complex. Despite a decrease in the platelet count, the most feared complication of HIT is thrombosis. The mechanism of thrombosis in HIT remains poorly understood. We investigated the effects of the HIT Ab complex on tissue factor (TF) expression and release of TF-positive microparticles in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and monocytes. To model these effects ex vivo, we used a murine mAb specific for the PF4/heparin complex (KKO), as well as plasma from patients with HIT. We found that the HIT Ab complex induced TF expression in monocytes and the release of TF-positive microparticles. Further, we found that induction of TF is mediated via engagement of the FcγRI receptor and activation of the MEK1-ERK1/2 signaling pathway. Our data suggest that monocyte TF may contribute to the development of thrombosis in patients with HIT. PMID:22394597

Do immunotherapy and beta cell replacement play a synergistic role in the treatment of type 1 diabetes?

PubMed

Li, Dong-Sheng; Warnock, Garth L; Tu, Han-Jun; Ao, Ziliang; He, Zehua; Lu, Hong; Dai, Long-Jun

2009-10-07

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is the result of the autoimmune response against pancreatic insulin-producing ss-cells. Its ultimate consequence is beta-cell insufficiency-mediated dysregulation of blood glucose control. In terms of T1D treatment, immunotherapy addresses the cause of T1D, mainly through re-setting the balance between autoimmunity and regulatory mechanisms. Regulatory T cells play an important role in this immune intervention. An alternative T1D treatment is beta-cell replacement, which can reverse the consequence of the disease by replacing destroyed beta-cells in the diabetic pancreas. The applicable insulin-producing cells can be directly obtained from islet transplantation or generated from other cell sources such as autologous adult stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells. In this review, we summarize the recent research progress and analyze the possible advantages and disadvantages of these two therapeutic options especially focusing on the potential synergistic effect on T1D treatment. Exploring the optimal combination of immunotherapy and beta-cell replacement will pave the way to the most effective cure for this devastating disease.

The Shadow of the Past: studying the impact of typhoon Yolanda on human behavior

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kampenhuber, Lukas; Landmann, Andreas; Hayo, Bernd; Vollan, Björn

2017-04-01

The Philippines is one of the most exposed countries towards natural disasters in the world. Because of its location on the typhoon belt of the Pacific, the Philippines are exposed to an average of nineteen typhoons or tropical storms per year. One of the most devastating typhoons (Yolanda/Haiyan) occurred in 2013, with an approximate death toll of 6340 people. Following up on a study from 2012, we observe solidarity transfers in a lab-in-the-field experiment one year before and three years after typhoon Yolanda occurred. Based on this unique experimental panel-dataset we can define key elements that influence solidarity, such as fairness and effectiveness of disaster relief and potential corruption of governmental and non-governmental agencies. Furthermore we observe risk and time preferences across affected and non-affected regions and seek to get a better understanding of the effects of natural disasters on human behavior. Understanding the consequences of natural disasters on human behavior might be crucial to develop strategies to conquer the challenges that come with the increasing exposure to environmental risk. Furthermore, our study has important consequences for studies that seek to investigate the stability of economic preferences.

Global Transport Networks and Infectious Disease Spread

PubMed Central

Tatem, A.J.; Rogers, D.J.; Hay, S.I.

2011-01-01

Air, sea and land transport networks continue to expand in reach, speed of travel and volume of passengers and goods carried. Pathogens and their vectors can now move further, faster and in greater numbers than ever before. Three important consequences of global transport network expansion are infectious disease pandemics, vector invasion events and vector-borne pathogen importation. This review briefly examines some of the important historical examples of these disease and vector movements, such as the global influenza pandemics, the devastating Anopheles gambiae invasion of Brazil and the recent increases in imported Plasmodium falciparum malaria cases. We then outline potential approaches for future studies of disease movement, focussing on vector invasion and vector-borne disease importation. Such approaches allow us to explore the potential implications of international air travel, shipping routes and other methods of transport on global pathogen and vector traffic. PMID:16647974

Epigenetic dysregulation in cognitive disorders.

PubMed

Gräff, Johannes; Mansuy, Isabelle M

2009-07-01

Epigenetic mechanisms are not only essential for biological functions requiring stable molecular changes such as the establishment of cell identity and tissue formation, they also constitute dynamic intracellular processes for translating environmental stimuli into modifications in gene expression. Over the past decade it has become increasingly clear that both aspects of epigenetic mechanisms play a pivotal role in complex brain functions. Evidence from patients with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Rett syndrome indicated that epigenetic mechanisms and chromatin remodeling need to be tightly controlled for proper cognitive functions, and their dysregulation can have devastating consequences. However, because they are dynamic, epigenetic mechanisms are also potentially reversible and may provide powerful means for pharmacological intervention. This review outlines major cognitive disorders known to be associated with epigenetic dysregulation, and discusses the potential of 'epigenetic medicine' as a promising cure.

Devastating decline of forest elephants in central Africa.

PubMed

Maisels, Fiona; Strindberg, Samantha; Blake, Stephen; Wittemyer, George; Hart, John; Williamson, Elizabeth A; Aba'a, Rostand; Abitsi, Gaspard; Ambahe, Ruffin D; Amsini, Fidèl; Bakabana, Parfait C; Hicks, Thurston Cleveland; Bayogo, Rosine E; Bechem, Martha; Beyers, Rene L; Bezangoye, Anicet N; Boundja, Patrick; Bout, Nicolas; Akou, Marc Ella; Bene, Lambert Bene; Fosso, Bernard; Greengrass, Elizabeth; Grossmann, Falk; Ikamba-Nkulu, Clement; Ilambu, Omari; Inogwabini, Bila-Isia; Iyenguet, Fortune; Kiminou, Franck; Kokangoye, Max; Kujirakwinja, Deo; Latour, Stephanie; Liengola, Innocent; Mackaya, Quevain; Madidi, Jacob; Madzoke, Bola; Makoumbou, Calixte; Malanda, Guy-Aimé; Malonga, Richard; Mbani, Olivier; Mbendzo, Valentin A; Ambassa, Edgar; Ekinde, Albert; Mihindou, Yves; Morgan, Bethan J; Motsaba, Prosper; Moukala, Gabin; Mounguengui, Anselme; Mowawa, Brice S; Ndzai, Christian; Nixon, Stuart; Nkumu, Pele; Nzolani, Fabian; Pintea, Lilian; Plumptre, Andrew; Rainey, Hugo; de Semboli, Bruno Bokoto; Serckx, Adeline; Stokes, Emma; Turkalo, Andrea; Vanleeuwe, Hilde; Vosper, Ashley; Warren, Ymke

2013-01-01

African forest elephants- taxonomically and functionally unique-are being poached at accelerating rates, but we lack range-wide information on the repercussions. Analysis of the largest survey dataset ever assembled for forest elephants (80 foot-surveys; covering 13,000 km; 91,600 person-days of fieldwork) revealed that population size declined by ca. 62% between 2002-2011, and the taxon lost 30% of its geographical range. The population is now less than 10% of its potential size, occupying less than 25% of its potential range. High human population density, hunting intensity, absence of law enforcement, poor governance, and proximity to expanding infrastructure are the strongest predictors of decline. To save the remaining African forest elephants, illegal poaching for ivory and encroachment into core elephant habitat must be stopped. In addition, the international demand for ivory, which fuels illegal trade, must be dramatically reduced.

Predictive modeling and in vivo assessment of cerebral blood flow in the management of complex cerebral aneurysms.

PubMed

Walcott, Brian P; Reinshagen, Clemens; Stapleton, Christopher J; Choudhri, Omar; Rayz, Vitaliy; Saloner, David; Lawton, Michael T

2016-06-01

Cerebral aneurysms are weakened blood vessel dilatations that can result in spontaneous, devastating hemorrhage events. Aneurysm treatment aims to reduce hemorrhage events, and strategies for complex aneurysms often require surgical bypass or endovascular stenting for blood flow diversion. Interventions that divert blood flow from their normal circulation patterns have the potential to result in unintentional ischemia. Recent developments in computational modeling and in vivo assessment of hemodynamics for cerebral aneurysm treatment have entered into clinical practice. Herein, we review how these techniques are currently utilized to improve risk stratification and treatment planning. © The Author(s) 2016.

Leo Szilard Lectureship Award: Fissile Materials: A Global Threat

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rajaraman, Ramamurti

2014-03-01

The world has built up a huge glut of Fissile Materials, posing a potentially devastating threat. While specialists in the field have been aware of this danger for a long time, it was only after President Obama organized the Nuclear Security Summit in 2010 that the attention of the world's political leadership was drawn to it. We will present here an introductory overview of Fissile materials - their definition, significance and their production facilities and stocks in different parts of the world. We will also mention some of the efforts being made to verifiably cap and reduce their stocks as well as the technical and political complications involved in the process.

Neonatal Cushing Syndrome: A Rare but Potentially Devastating Disease.

PubMed

Tatsi, Christina; Stratakis, Constantine A

2018-03-01

Neonatal Cushing syndrome (CS) is most commonly caused by exogenous administration of glucocorticoids and rarely by endogenous hypercortisolemia. CS owing to adrenal lesions is the most common cause of endogenous CS in neonates and infants, and adrenocortical tumors (ACTs) represent most cases. Many ACTs develop in the context of a TP53 gene mutation, which causes Li-Fraumeni syndrome. More rarely, neonatal CS presents as part of other syndromes such as McCune-Albright syndrome or Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome. Management usually includes resection of the primary tumor with or without additional medical treatment, but manifestations may persist after resolution of hypercortisolemia. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Regenerating new heart with stem cells

PubMed Central

Anversa, Piero; Kajstura, Jan; Rota, Marcello; Leri, Annarosa

2013-01-01

This article discusses current understanding of myocardial biology, emphasizing the regeneration potential of the adult human heart and the mechanisms involved. In the last decade, a novel conceptual view has emerged. The heart is no longer considered a postmitotic organ, but is viewed as a self-renewing organ characterized by a resident stem cell compartment responsible for tissue homeostasis and cardiac repair following injury. Additionally, HSCs possess the ability to transdifferentiate and acquire the cardiomyocyte, vascular endothelial, and smooth muscle cell lineages. Both cardiac and hematopoietic stem cells may be used therapeutically in an attempt to reverse the devastating consequences of chronic heart failure of ischemic and nonischemic origin. PMID:23281411

Ferritin for the Clinician

PubMed Central

Knovich, Mary Ann; Storey, Jonathan A.; Coffman, Lan G.; Torti, Suzy V.

2009-01-01

Ferritin, a major iron storage protein, is essential to iron homeostasis and is involved in a wide range of physiologic and pathologic processes. In clinical medicine, ferritin is predominantly utilized as a serum marker of total body iron stores. In cases of iron deficiency and overload, serum ferritin serves a critical role in both diagnosis and management. Elevated serum and tissue ferritin are linked to coronary artery disease, malignancy, and poor outcomes following stem cell transplantation. Ferritin is directly implicated in less common but potentially devastating human diseases including sideroblastic anemias, neurodegenerative disorders, and hemophagocytic syndrome. Additionally, recent research describes novel functions of ferritin independent of iron storage. PMID:18835072

Cytokines in the central nervous system: regulatory roles in neuronal function, cell death and repair.

PubMed

Sei, Y; Vitković, L; Yokoyama, M M

1995-01-01

Recent evidence suggests that neurons and glia can synthesize and secrete cytokines, which play critical roles in maintaining homeostasis in the central nervous system (CNS) by mediating the interaction between cells via autocrine or paracrine mechanisms. Circulating cytokines and soluble receptors also regulate neuronal function via endocrine mechanisms. Disturbance of the cytokine-mediated interaction between cells may lead to neuronal dysfunction and/or cell death and contribute to the pathogenesis of the CNS diseases (e.g., ischemia, Alzheimer's disease and HIV encephalopathy). Defining the molecular pathways of cytokine dysregulation and neurotoxicity may help to elucidate potential therapeutic interventions for many devastating CNS diseases.

The public health impact of tsunami disasters.

PubMed

Keim, Mark E

2011-01-01

Tsunamis have the potential to cause an enormous impact on the health of millions of people. During the last half of the twentieth century, more people were killed by tsunamis than by earthquakes. Most recently, a major emergency response operation has been underway in northeast Japan following a devastating tsunami triggered by the biggest earthquake on record in Japan. This natural disaster has been described as the most expensive in world history. There are few resources in the public health literature that describe the characteristics and epidemiology of tsunami-related disasters, as a whole. This article reviews the phenomenology and impact of tsunamis as a significant public health hazard.

Virulence determinants of pandemic influenza viruses

PubMed Central

Tscherne, Donna M.; García-Sastre, Adolfo

2011-01-01

Influenza A viruses cause recurrent, seasonal epidemics and occasional global pandemics with devastating levels of morbidity and mortality. The ability of influenza A viruses to adapt to various hosts and undergo reassortment events ensures constant generation of new strains with unpredictable degrees of pathogenicity, transmissibility, and pandemic potential. Currently, the combination of factors that drives the emergence of pandemic influenza is unclear, making it impossible to foresee the details of a future outbreak. Identification and characterization of influenza A virus virulence determinants may provide insight into genotypic signatures of pathogenicity as well as a more thorough understanding of the factors that give rise to pandemics. PMID:21206092

Ocular manifestations of drug and alcohol abuse

PubMed Central

Peragallo, Jason; Biousse, Valérie; Newman, Nancy J.

2015-01-01

Purpose of review To review commonly encountered adverse ocular effects of illicit drug use. Recent findings Drug and alcohol abuse can produce a variety of ocular and neuro-ophthalmic side effects. Novel, so-called “designer,” drugs of abuse can lead to unusual ocular disorders. Legal substances, when used in manners for which they have not been prescribed, can also have devastating ophthalmic consequences. Summary In this review we will systematically evaluate each part of the visual pathways and discuss how individual drugs may affect them. PMID:24100364

Multi-generational effects of rice harboring Bph15 on brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens.

PubMed

Li, Jie; Shang, Keke; Liu, Jia; Jiang, Tingru; Hu, Dingbang; Hua, Hongxia

2014-02-01

The brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, is one of the most devastating rice pests in Asia. Resistant cultivars are an effective way of managing BPH. Bph15 is a BPH resistance gene and has been introgressed into rice variety Minghui 63 (MH63). The multi-generational effects of rice line MH63::15 (harboring Bph15) on BPH were investigated and compared with its parental line MH63. U-test analysis indicated that, over seven generations, the developmental duration of BPH nymphs was significantly prolonged by MH63::15. The results of a two-way analysis indicated that, over seven generations, MH63::15 had significant negative effects on the hatchability, emergence rate, copulation rate, weight of adults and fecundity of BPH, but no significant effects on the survival rate of nymphs or female ratio of BPH. In addition, the development of ovary was significantly retarded by MH63::15, and the expression of oogenesis genes were either down-regulated (three genes) or up-regulated (one genes) by MH63::15 compared with MH63. After being reared continuously on MH63::15 for seven generations, most of the life parameters of BPH were negatively affected by MH63::15, especially fecundity and ovary development. These results indicate that MH63::15 rice has potential for use in the control of BPH. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.

Acute intraoperative heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and thrombosis during coronary artery bypass grafting: Two case reports providing evidence for the role of preoperative LMWH in triggering sensitization.

PubMed

Khoury, M; Pitsis, A; Poumpouridou-Kioura, H; Soufla, G; Kanthou, C; Matoula, N; Angelidis, A; Melissari, E

2016-10-01

Systemic anticoagulation is necessary during cardiac surgery. To date, the only well established anticoagulation protocol involves the use of heparin. However, heparin can cause heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) a potentially life threatening immune-mediated thromboembolic syndrome. Until now, devastating consequences of HIT syndrome in patients undergoing heart surgery have been described, but only postoperatively. Here we report the development of HIT syndrome during cardiac revascularization by intra-operative heparin administration in two patients previously exposed to LMWH. We report on two patients who developed rapid and profound intravascular coagulation with severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count decreased from ≥250×10 9 /L to 50×10 9 /L) due to HIT development caused by heparin administration during coronary artery bypass graft surgery. In addition we report that fondaparinux, given intra-operatively in association with antithrombin, may be a suitable alternative anticoagulant for successfully preventing the devastating consequences of intra-operative HIT development. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the development of acute intra-operative HIT, secondary to high-dose UFH administered for coronary revascularization, in which the unexpected presence of platelet-activating anti-PF4/heparin antibodies at surgery was explained by preoperative administration of a one-week course of LMWH but without any preoperative evidence for HIT. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

A perspective on targeting non-structural proteins to combat neglected tropical diseases: Dengue, West Nile and Chikungunya viruses.

PubMed

Bhakat, Soumendranath; Karubiu, Wilson; Jayaprakash, Venkatesan; Soliman, Mahmoud E S

2014-11-24

Neglected tropical diseases are major causes of fatality in poverty stricken regions across Africa, Asia and some part of America. The combined potential health risk associated with arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses); Dengue virus (DENV), West Nile Virus (WNV) and Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) is immense. These arboviruses are either emerging or re-emerging in many regions with recent documented outbreaks in the United States. Despite several recent evidences of emergence, currently there are no approved drugs or vaccines available to counter these diseases. Non-structural proteins encoded by these RNA viruses are essential for their replication and maturation and thus may offer ideal targets for developing antiviral drugs. In recent years, several protease inhibitors have been sourced from plant extract, synthesis, computer aided drug design and high throughput screening as well as through drug reposition based approaches to target the non-structural proteins. The protease inhibitors have shown different levels of inhibition and may thus provide template to develop selective and potent drugs against these devastating arboviruses. This review seeks to shed light on the design and development of antiviral drugs against DENV, WNV and CHIKV to date. To the best of our knowledge, this review provides the first comprehensive update on the development of protease inhibitors targeting non-structural proteins of three most devastating arboviruses, DENV, WNV and CHIKV. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

SVCT-2 determines the sensitivity to ascorbate-induced cell death in cholangiocarcinoma cell lines and patient derived xenografts.

PubMed

Wang, Changzheng; Lv, Hongwei; Yang, Wen; Li, Ting; Fang, Tian; Lv, Guishuai; Han, Qin; Dong, Liwei; Jiang, Tianyi; Jiang, Beige; Yang, Guangshun; Wang, Hongyang

2017-07-10

Cholangiocarcinoma (CC) is a devastating malignancy with late diagnosis and poor response to conventional chemotherapy. Recent studies have revealed anti-cancer effect of vitamin C (l-ascorbic acid, ascorbate) in several types of cancer. However, the effect of l-ascorbic acid (AA) in CC remains elusive. Herein, we demonstrated that AA induced cytotoxicity in CC cells by generating intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and subsequently DNA damage, ATP depletion, mTOR pathway inhibition. Moreover, AA worked synergistically with chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin to impair CC cells growth both in vitro and in vivo. Intriguingly, sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT-2) expression was inversely correlated with IC50 values of AA. Knockdown of SVCT-2 dramatically alleviated DNA damage, ATP depletion, and inhibition of mTOR pathway induced by AA. Furthermore, SVCT-2 knockdown endowed CC cells with the resistance to AA treatment. Finally, the inhibitory effects of AA were further confirmed in patient-derived CC xenograft models. Thus, our results unravel therapeutic potential of AA alone or in combination with cisplatin for CC. SVCT2 expression level may serve as a positive outcome predictor for AA treatment in CC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stability of a Cosmetic Multiple Emulsion Loaded with Green Tea Extract

PubMed Central

Mahmood, Tariq; Akhtar, Naveed

2013-01-01

Multiple emulsions are excellent and exciting potential systems for the delivery of useful cosmetic agents. The work describes stability of a multiple emulsion for cosmetic purpose, loaded with extract of Camellia sinensis L. (Theaceae) in concentration of 5%. The formulation constitutes of cetyl dimethicone copolyol and polyoxyethylene (20) cetyl ether as emulsifiers and was characterised and monitored for various physicochemical aspects. Centrifugation has no devastating effect on physical destabilization/phase separation observed for 30 days. Mean globule sizes of multiple droplets were found in the range of 10.29 ± 4.4 μm to 12.77 ± 5.1 μm and of inner droplets were in the range of 0.8 ± 0.4 μm to 1.6 ± 0.8 μm. All samples exhibited shear thinning behavior with increase in shear stress. The results of the present study indicate that multiple emulsions can be used as carrier of 5% Camellia sinensis L. extract to enhance desired effects. The developed physically and chemically stable system is an effective system for targeting skin layers; however, long-term stability at elevated temperatures may be needed with suitable modifications, if required. PMID:24058284

Effect of LED Blue Light on Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum Strains.

PubMed

Lafuente, María T; Alférez, Fernando

2015-11-01

Studies on the antimicrobial properties of light have considerably increased due in part to the development of resistance to actual control methods. This study investigates the potential of light-emitting diodes (LED) blue light for controlling Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum. These fungi are the most devastating postharvest pathogens of citrus fruit and cause important losses due to contaminations and the development of resistant strains against fungicides. The effect of different periods and quantum fluxes, delaying light application on the growth and morphology of P. digitatum strains resistant and sensitive to fungicides, and P. italicum cultured at 20°C was examined. Results showed that blue light controls the growth of all strains and that its efficacy increases with the quantum flux. Spore germination was always avoided by exposing the cultures to high quantum flux (700 μmol m(-2) s(-1) ) for 18 h. Continuous light had an important impact on the fungus morphology and a fungicidal effect when applied at a lower quantum flux (120 μmol m(-2) s(-1) ) to a growing fungus. Sensitivity to light increased with mycelium age. Results show that blue light may be a tool for P. digitatum and P. italicum infection prevention during handling of citrus fruits. © 2015 The American Society of Photobiology.

Thermal Shock Induces Host Proteostasis Disruption and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in the Model Symbiotic Cnidarian Aiptasia.

PubMed

Oakley, Clinton A; Durand, Elysanne; Wilkinson, Shaun P; Peng, Lifeng; Weis, Virginia M; Grossman, Arthur R; Davy, Simon K

2017-06-02

Coral bleaching has devastating effects on coral survival and reef ecosystem function, but many of the fundamental cellular effects of thermal stress on cnidarian physiology are unclear. We used label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to compare the effects of rapidly (33.5 °C, 24 h) and gradually (30 and 33.5 °C, 12 days) elevated temperatures on the proteome of the model symbiotic anemone Aiptasia. We identified 2133 proteins in Aiptasia, 136 of which were differentially abundant between treatments. Thermal shock, but not acclimation, resulted in significant abundance changes in 104 proteins, including those involved in protein folding and synthesis, redox homeostasis, and central metabolism. Nineteen abundant structural proteins showed particularly reduced abundance, demonstrating proteostasis disruption and potential protein synthesis inhibition. Heat shock induced antioxidant mechanisms and proteins involved in stabilizing nascent proteins, preventing protein aggregation and degrading damaged proteins, which is indicative of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Host proteostasis disruption occurred before either bleaching or symbiont photoinhibition was detected, suggesting host-derived reactive oxygen species production as the proximate cause of thermal damage. The pronounced abundance changes in endoplasmic reticulum proteins associated with proteostasis and protein turnover indicate that these processes are essential in the cellular response of symbiotic cnidarians to severe thermal stress.

A Neurophysiological Perspective on a Preventive Treatment against Schizophrenia Using Transcranial Electric Stimulation of the Corticothalamic Pathway

PubMed Central

Pinault, Didier

2017-01-01

Schizophrenia patients are waiting for a treatment free of detrimental effects. Psychotic disorders are devastating mental illnesses associated with dysfunctional brain networks. Ongoing brain network gamma frequency (30–80 Hz) oscillations, naturally implicated in integrative function, are excessively amplified during hallucinations, in at-risk mental states for psychosis and first-episode psychosis. So, gamma oscillations represent a bioelectrical marker for cerebral network disorders with prognostic and therapeutic potential. They accompany sensorimotor and cognitive deficits already present in prodromal schizophrenia. Abnormally amplified gamma oscillations are reproduced in the corticothalamic systems of healthy humans and rodents after a single systemic administration, at a psychotomimetic dose, of the glutamate N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine. These translational ketamine models of prodromal schizophrenia are thus promising to work out a preventive noninvasive treatment against first-episode psychosis and chronic schizophrenia. In the present essay, transcranial electric stimulation (TES) is considered an appropriate preventive therapeutic modality because it can influence cognitive performance and neural oscillations. Here, I highlight clinical and experimental findings showing that, together, the corticothalamic pathway, the thalamus, and the glutamatergic synaptic transmission form an etiopathophysiological backbone for schizophrenia and represent a potential therapeutic target for preventive TES of dysfunctional brain networks in at-risk mental state patients against psychotic disorders. PMID:28350371

A Neurophysiological Perspective on a Preventive Treatment against Schizophrenia Using Transcranial Electric Stimulation of the Corticothalamic Pathway.

PubMed

Pinault, Didier

2017-03-28

Schizophrenia patients are waiting for a treatment free of detrimental effects. Psychotic disorders are devastating mental illnesses associated with dysfunctional brain networks. Ongoing brain network gamma frequency (30-80 Hz) oscillations, naturally implicated in integrative function, are excessively amplified during hallucinations, in at-risk mental states for psychosis and first-episode psychosis. So, gamma oscillations represent a bioelectrical marker for cerebral network disorders with prognostic and therapeutic potential. They accompany sensorimotor and cognitive deficits already present in prodromal schizophrenia. Abnormally amplified gamma oscillations are reproduced in the corticothalamic systems of healthy humans and rodents after a single systemic administration, at a psychotomimetic dose, of the glutamate N - methyl -d-aspartate receptor antagonist ketamine. These translational ketamine models of prodromal schizophrenia are thus promising to work out a preventive noninvasive treatment against first-episode psychosis and chronic schizophrenia. In the present essay, transcranial electric stimulation (TES) is considered an appropriate preventive therapeutic modality because it can influence cognitive performance and neural oscillations. Here, I highlight clinical and experimental findings showing that, together, the corticothalamic pathway, the thalamus, and the glutamatergic synaptic transmission form an etiopathophysiological backbone for schizophrenia and represent a potential therapeutic target for preventive TES of dysfunctional brain networks in at-risk mental state patients against psychotic disorders.

Advancing Partnerships Towards an Integrated Approach to Oil Spill Response

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Green, D. S.; Stough, T.; Gallegos, S. C.; Leifer, I.; Murray, J. J.; Streett, D.

2015-12-01

Oil spills can cause enormous ecological and economic devastation, necessitating application of the best science and technology available, and remote sensing is playing a growing critical role in the detection and monitoring of oil spills, as well as facilitating validation of remote sensing oil spill products. The FOSTERRS (Federal Oil Science Team for Emergency Response Remote Sensing) interagency working group seeks to ensure that during an oil spill, remote sensing assets (satellite/aircraft/instruments) and analysis techniques are quickly, effectively, appropriately, and seamlessly available to oil spills responders. Yet significant challenges remain for addressing oils spanning a vast range of chemical properties that may be spilled from the Tropics to the Arctic, with algorithms and scientific understanding needing advances to keep up with technology. Thus, FOSTERRS promotes enabling scientific discovery to ensure robust utilization of available technology as well as identifying technologies moving up the TRL (Technology Readiness Level). A recent FOSTERRS facilitated support activity involved deployment of the AVIRIS NG (Airborne Visual Infrared Imaging Spectrometer- Next Generation) during the Santa Barbara Oil Spill to validate the potential of airborne hyperspectral imaging to real-time map beach tar coverage including surface validation data. Many developing airborne technologies have potential to transition to space-based platforms providing global readiness.

A tissue engineering approach for prenatal closure of myelomeningocele: comparison of gelatin sponge and microsphere scaffolds and bioactive protein coatings.

PubMed

Watanabe, Miho; Li, Hiaying; Roybal, Jessica; Santore, Matthew; Radu, Antonetta; Jo, Jun-Ichiro; Kaneko, Michio; Tabata, Yasuhiko; Flake, Alan

2011-04-01

Myelomeningocele (MMC) is a common and devastating malformation. As an alternative to fetal surgical repair, tissue engineering has the potential to provide a less invasive approach for tissue coverage applicable at an earlier stage of gestation. We have previously evaluated the use of gelatin hydrogel composites composed of gelatin sponges and sheets as a platform for tissue coverage of the MMC defect in the retinoic acid induced fetal rat model of MMC. In the current study, we compare our previous composite with gelatin microspheres as a scaffold for tissue ingrowth and cellular adhesion within the amniotic fluid environment. We also examine the relative efficacy of various bioactive protein coatings on the adhesion of amniotic fluid cells to the construct within the amniotic cavity. We conclude from this study that gelatin microspheres are as effective as gelatin sponges as a scaffold for cellular ingrowth and amniotic fluid cell adhesion and that collagen type I and fibronectin coatings enhance amniotic fluid cell adhesion to the gelatin-based scaffolds. These findings support the potential for the development of a tissue-engineered injectable scaffold that could be applied by ultrasound-guided injection, much earlier and less invasively than sponge or sheet-based composites.

Making evolutionary history count: biodiversity planning for coral reef fishes and the conservation of evolutionary processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

von der Heyden, Sophie

2017-03-01

Anthropogenic activities are having devastating impacts on marine systems with numerous knock-on effects on trophic functioning, species interactions and an accelerated loss of biodiversity. Establishing conservation areas can not only protect biodiversity, but also confer resilience against changes to coral reefs and their inhabitants. Planning for protection and conservation in marine systems is complex, but usually focuses on maintaining levels of biodiversity and protecting special and unique landscape features while avoiding negative impacts to socio-economic benefits. Conversely, the integration of evolutionary processes that have shaped extant species assemblages is rarely taken into account. However, it is as important to protect processes as it is to protect patterns for maintaining the evolutionary trajectories of populations and species. This review focuses on different approaches for integrating genetic analyses, such as phylogenetic diversity, phylogeography and the delineation of management units, temporal and spatial monitoring of genetic diversity and quantification of adaptive variation for protecting evolutionary resilience, into marine spatial planning, specifically for coral reef fishes. Many of these concepts are not yet readily applied to coral reef fish studies, but this synthesis highlights their potential and the importance of including historical processes into systematic biodiversity planning for conserving not only extant, but also future, biodiversity and its evolutionary potential.

Photodynamic diagnosis and related optical techniques for the management of malignant glioma

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sroka, R.; Stepp, H.; Beyer, W.; Markwardt, N.; Rühm, A.

2017-04-01

Malignant gliomas are a devastating brain tumor disease with very poor prognosis. Stereotactic biopsy sampling is routinely used in larger neurosurgical centers to confirm the diagnosis of a suspected brain tumor. This procedure is associated with risk of blood vessel rupture as well as false-negative results. Recent investigations suggest a potential of light-based techniques to improve both therapy and diagnosis of GBM. Optical guidance can be utilized to improve the biopsy sampling procedure in terms of safety, reliability, and efficacy. Recording of optical signals (transmission, remission, fluorescence) can be potentially integrated into a biopsy needle for providing optical detection of tumor tissue and blood vessel recognition during the biopsy sampling. Optical signals can also be used for monitoring purposes during photodynamic therapy. Here, fluorescence signals recorded before the treatment indicate the presence and accumulation level of photosensitizer, while photobleaching of the photosensitizer fluorescence during the treatment can be used as a measure of the effectiveness of the therapy. Finally, transmitted light can reveal problematic tissue-optical conditions as well as changes of the optical properties of the treated tissue, which may be relevant with regard to treatment prognosis and strategy. Different optical concepts for interstitial PDT monitoring and optical tissue property assessment are presented.

Invasive mutualisms between a plant pathogen and insect vectors in the Middle East and Brazil

PubMed Central

Queiroz, Renan Batista; Silva, Fábio Nascimento; Al-Mahmmoli, Issa Hashil; Al-Sadi, Abdullah Mohammed; Carvalho, Claudine Márcia; Elliot, Simon L.

2016-01-01

Complex multi-trophic interactions in vectorborne diseases limit our understanding and ability to predict outbreaks. Arthropod-vectored pathogens are especially problematic, with the potential for novel interspecific interactions during invasions. Variations and novelties in plant–arthropod–pathogen triumvirates present significant threats to global food security. We examined aspects of a phytoplasma pathogen of citrus across two continents. ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma aurantifolia’ causes Witches' Broom Disease of Lime (WBDL) and has devastated citrus production in the Middle East. A variant of this phytoplasma currently displays asymptomatic or ‘silent’ infections in Brazil. We first studied vector capacity and fitness impacts of the pathogen on its vectors. The potential for co-occurring weed species to act as pathogen reservoirs was analysed and key transmission periods in the year were also studied. We demonstrate that two invasive hemipteran insects—Diaphorina citri and Hishimonus phycitis—can vector the phytoplasma. Feeding on phytoplasma-infected hosts greatly increased reproduction of its invasive vector D. citri both in Oman and Brazil; suggesting that increased fitness of invasive insect vectors thereby further increases the pathogen's capacity to spread. Based on our findings, this is a robust system for studying the effects of invasions on vectorborne diseases and highlights concerns about its spread to warmer, drier regions of Brazil. PMID:28083099

Beer and bread to brains and beyond: can yeast cells teach us about neurodegenerative disease?

PubMed

Gitler, Aaron D

2008-01-01

For millennia, humans have harnessed the astonishing power of yeast, producing such culinary masterpieces as bread, beer and wine. Therefore, in this new millennium, is it very farfetched to ask if we can also use yeast to unlock some of the modern day mysteries of human disease? Remarkably, these seemingly simple cells possess most of the same basic cellular machinery as the neurons in the brain. We and others have been using the baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as a model system to study the mechanisms of devastating neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's, Huntington's, Alzheimer's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. While very different in their pathophysiology, they are collectively referred to as protein-misfolding disorders because of the presence of misfolded and aggregated forms of various proteins in the brains of affected individuals. Using yeast genetics and the latest high-throughput screening technologies, we have identified some of the potential causes underpinning these disorders and discovered conserved genes that have proven effective in preventing neuron loss in animal models. Thus, these genes represent new potential drug targets. In this review, I highlight recent work investigating mechanisms of cellular toxicity in a yeast Parkinson's disease model and discuss how similar approaches are being applied to additional neurodegenerative diseases.

Sport and Sex-Specific Reporting Trends in the Epidemiology of Concussions Sustained by High School Athletes.

PubMed

Schallmo, Michael S; Weiner, Joseph A; Hsu, Wellington K

2017-08-02

Approximately 300,000 U.S. adolescents sustain concussions annually while participating in organized athletics. This study aimed to track sex and sport-specific trends among high school sports-related concussions over time, to identify whether a particular sport predisposes athletes to a higher risk, and to assess whether traumatic brain injury law enactments have been successful in improving recognition. Injury data for academic years 2005 to 2014 were collected from annual reports generated by High School RIO (Reporting Information Online). The relative proportions of total estimated concussions to total estimated injuries were compared using an injury proportion ratio. The concussion rate was defined as the number of concussions per 10,000 athlete exposures (1 athlete participating in 1 practice or competition), with rates compared using a rate ratio. To evaluate the impact of legislation on sports-related concussions in this population, trends in concussion rates and proportions were analyzed before enactment (academic years 2005-2009) and after enactment (academic years 2010-2014). Between 2005-2006 and 2014-2015, a significant increase (p < 0.0001) in the overall number of concussions for all sports combined, the overall concussion rate (rate ratio, 2.30 [95% confidence interval, 2.04 to 2.59]), and the overall proportion of concussions (injury proportion ratio, 2.68 [95% confidence interval, 2.66 to 2.70]) was seen. Based on the injury proportion ratio, during the 2014-2015 academic year, concussions were more common in girls' soccer than in any other sport (p < 0.0001). Because of potentially devastating consequences, concussion prevention and recognition measures continue to be emphasized in high school contact sports. The data in our study suggest that significant increases in the overall rate and proportion of reported concussions during the past decade could have been affected by traumatic brain injury legislation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show that girls' soccer players may have an even greater risk of sustaining a concussion than all other sports. Sports-related concussions in adolescent athletes can have devastating consequences, and we now know that female athletes, especially girls' soccer players, may be at an even greater risk for sustaining this injury than all other athletes. Knowledge of the trends identified by this study may help lead to policy and prevention measures that can accommodate each sport effectively and potentially halt these trends.

The Johns Hopkins RTR Consortium: A Collaborative Approach to Advance Translational Science and Standardize Clinical Monitoring of Restorative Transplantation

DTIC Science & Technology

2015-10-01

that belatacept is highly effective as a biologic agent in maintaining allograft survival without the need for conventional high dose calcineurin... tissue , these injuries are not only mutilating, but frequently result in permanent disfigurement and morbidity. For many devastating combat and...II; n=3) TASK 4. Determine impact of peritransplant belatacept treatment to allow for allograft survival with low-dose (sub-therapeutic) CNI

Mitigating Effects of Missing Data for SAR Coherent Images

DOE PAGES

Musgrove, Cameron H.; West, James C.

2017-01-01

Missing samples within synthetic aperture radar data result in image distortions. For coherent data products, such as coherent change detection and interferometric processing, the image distortion can be devastating to these second order products, resulting in missed detections and inaccurate height maps. Earlier approaches to repair the coherent data products focus upon reconstructing the missing data samples. This study demonstrates that reconstruction is not necessary to restore the quality of the coherent data products.

Technological Lessons from the Fukushima Dai-Ichi Accident

DTIC Science & Technology

2016-06-01

for human consumption . Fish from the area are now being assessed using a non-destructive testing regimen developed by Tohoku University. Monitoring...radioactivity limits for human consumption , even though much of the rice was grown in con- taminated soil. Fish were contaminated both by the initial event...a devastating earth- quake and tsunami. One of the many secondary effects of these disas- ters was a loss of control of the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear

The congenital Zika virus infection: still a puzzle.

PubMed

Salomão, José Francisco M

2018-01-01

As a new disease, some features of the congenital Zika virus infection are not yet fully understood. The current Brazilian outbreak brought up an unexpected increase in the number of microcephaly cases as this strain is essentially neurotropic and associated with devastating effects on the developing central nervous system. This focus session aims to discuss the several issues related to the epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical features, and treatment of the congenital Zika virus infection.

Nursing Academic Administrators' Lived Experiences With Incivility and Bullying From Faculty: Consequences and Outcomes Demanding Action.

PubMed

LaSala, Kathleen B; Wilson, Vicki; Sprunk, Elizabeth

2016-01-01

There are an increasing number of nursing academic administrators who identify themselves as victims of faculty incivility. This study examined experiences that academic administrators encountered with faculty incivility using a phenomenological research design. Three major themes emerged: faculty inappropriate behaviors, consequences of faculty behaviors on administrator targets, and administrators call for action. Findings revealed that incivility had devastating effects on administrators personally and professionally.

Assessment of Potential Sublethal Effects of Various Insecticides on Key Biological Traits of The Tobacco Whitefly, Bemisia tabaci

PubMed Central

He, Yuxian; Zhao, Jianwei; Zheng, Yu; Weng, Qiyong; Biondi, Antonio; Desneux, Nicolas; Wu, Kongming

2013-01-01

The tobacco whitefly Bemisia tabaci is one of the most devastating pests worldwide. Current management of B. tabaci relies upon the frequent applications of insecticides. In addition to direct mortality by typical acute toxicity (lethal effect), insecticides may also impair various key biological traits of the exposed insects through physiological and behavioral sublethal effects. Identifying and characterizing such effects could be crucial for understanding the global effects of insecticides on the pest and therefore for optimizing its management in the crops. We assessed the effects of sublethal and low-lethal concentrations of four widely used insecticides on the fecundity, honeydew excretion and feeding behavior of B. tabaci adults. The probing activity of the whiteflies feeding on treated cotton seedlings was recorded by an Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG). The results showed that imidacloprid and bifenthrin caused a reduction in phloem feeding even at sublethal concentrations. In addition, the honeydew excretions and fecundity levels of adults feeding on leaf discs treated with these concentrations were significantly lower than the untreated ones. While, sublethal concentrations of chlorpyrifos and carbosulfan did not affect feeding behavior, honeydew excretion and fecundity of the whitefly. We demonstrated an antifeedant effect of the imidacloprid and bifenthrin on B. tabaci, whereas behavioral changes in adults feeding on leaves treated with chlorpyrifos and carbosulfan were more likely caused by the direct effects of the insecticides on the insects' nervous system itself. Our results show that aside from the lethal effect, the sublethal concentration of imidacloprid and bifenthrin impairs the phloem feeding, i.e. the most important feeding trait in a plant protection perspective. Indeed, this antifeedant property would give these insecticides potential to control insect pests indirectly. Therefore, the behavioral effects of sublethal concentrations of imidacloprid and bifenthrin may play an important role in the control of whitefly pests by increasing the toxicity persistence in treated crops. PMID:23494876

The impact of large terrestrial carnivores on Pleistocene ecosystems

PubMed Central

Van Valkenburgh, Blaire; Ripple, William J.; Meloro, Carlo; Roth, V. Louise

2016-01-01

Large mammalian terrestrial herbivores, such as elephants, have dramatic effects on the ecosystems they inhabit and at high population densities their environmental impacts can be devastating. Pleistocene terrestrial ecosystems included a much greater diversity of megaherbivores (e.g., mammoths, mastodons, giant ground sloths) and thus a greater potential for widespread habitat degradation if population sizes were not limited. Nevertheless, based on modern observations, it is generally believed that populations of megaherbivores (>800 kg) are largely immune to the effects of predation and this perception has been extended into the Pleistocene. However, as shown here, the species richness of big carnivores was greater in the Pleistocene and many of them were significantly larger than their modern counterparts. Fossil evidence suggests that interspecific competition among carnivores was relatively intense and reveals that some individuals specialized in consuming megaherbivores. To estimate the potential impact of Pleistocene large carnivores, we use both historic and modern data on predator–prey body mass relationships to predict size ranges of their typical and maximum prey when hunting as individuals and in groups. These prey size ranges are then compared with estimates of juvenile and subadult proboscidean body sizes derived from extant elephant growth data. Young proboscideans at their most vulnerable age fall within the predicted prey size ranges of many of the Pleistocene carnivores. Predation on juveniles can have a greater impact on megaherbivores because of their long interbirth intervals, and consequently, we argue that Pleistocene carnivores had the capacity to, and likely did, limit megaherbivore population sizes. PMID:26504224

Tumor-propagating cells and Yap/Taz activity contribute to lung tumor progression and metastasis

PubMed Central

Lau, Allison N; Curtis, Stephen J; Fillmore, Christine M; Rowbotham, Samuel P; Mohseni, Morvarid; Wagner, Darcy E; Beede, Alexander M; Montoro, Daniel T; Sinkevicius, Kerstin W; Walton, Zandra E; Barrios, Juliana; Weiss, Daniel J; Camargo, Fernando D; Wong, Kwok-Kin; Kim, Carla F

2014-01-01

Metastasis is the leading cause of morbidity for lung cancer patients. Here we demonstrate that murine tumor propagating cells (TPCs) with the markers Sca1 and CD24 are enriched for metastatic potential in orthotopic transplantation assays. CD24 knockdown decreased the metastatic potential of lung cancer cell lines resembling TPCs. In lung cancer patient data sets, metastatic spread and patient survival could be stratified with a murine lung TPC gene signature. The TPC signature was enriched for genes in the Hippo signaling pathway. Knockdown of the Hippo mediators Yap1 or Taz decreased in vitro cellular migration and transplantation of metastatic disease. Furthermore, constitutively active Yap was sufficient to drive lung tumor progression in vivo. These results demonstrate functional roles for two different pathways, CD24-dependent and Yap/Taz-dependent pathways, in lung tumor propagation and metastasis. This study demonstrates the utility of TPCs for identifying molecules contributing to metastatic lung cancer, potentially enabling the therapeutic targeting of this devastating disease. PMID:24497554

Effect of fire residues (ash and char) on microbial activity, respiration and methanogenesis in three subtropical wetland soils

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Medvedeff, C.; Hogue, B.; Inglett, P.

2011-12-01

Prescribed fire is a common restoration and maintenance technique in the southern United States. Prescribed burns coupled with frequent natural fires in South Florida can have devastating effects on ecosystem function. To determine the effect fire residues have on carbon biogeochemical cycling litter material was obtained from two restored and one native marl wetland in Everglades National Park and manipulated in a laboratory setting to produce ash and vegetation derived char. Based on vegetation biomass removal pre and post fire (insitu) appropriate aliquots of each fire residue was added to experimental microcosms as a soil amendment. Soil enzymes (β-glucosidase, cellobiohydrolase, phosphatase, bis-phosphate and leucine amino peptidase), aerobic and anaerobic respiration (CO2) potentials, extractable C and methanogenesis were measured over a 25 day period. Regardless of site C enzymes responded to both amendments within 5 days of addition. Similarly amended soil contained more extractable carbon in the reference and one of the restored sites. In the restored sites ash and char inhibited methanogenesis, had no effect on anaerobic CO2 potentials, but stimulated aerobic respiration after ten days. In contrast, within the first ten days phosphatase enzyme activity was lower in the ash treatment when compared to the control treatment and stimulation of aerobic respiration was observed in both treatment soils. After ten days ash stimulated methanogenic processing while suppressing anaerobic CO2 production suggesting methanogens in this ecosystem may be dependant on usable carbon substrates derived from aerobic microbial processing. This study illustrates the variable response of C parameters to complete and incomplete combusted materials produced from both prescribed and natural fires with particular importance to fire adapted ecosystems.

Avian influenza: a review.

PubMed

Thomas, Jennifer K; Noppenberger, Jennifer

2007-01-15

A review of the avian influenza A/H5N1 virus, including human cases, viral transmission, clinical features, vaccines and antivirals, surveillance plans, infection control, and emergency response plans, is presented. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers the avian influenza A/H5N1 virus a public health risk with pandemic potential. The next human influenza pandemic, if caused by the avian influenza A/H5N1 virus, is estimated to have a potential mortality rate of more than a hundred million. Outbreaks in poultry have been associated with human transmission. WHO has documented 258 confirmed human infections with a mortality rate greater than 50%. Bird-to-human transmission of the avian influenza virus is likely by the oral-fecal route. The most effective defense against an influenza pandemic would be a directed vaccine to elicit a specific immune response toward the strain or strains of the influenza virus. However, until there is an influenza pandemic, there is no evidence that vaccines or antivirals used in the treatment or prevention of such an outbreak would decrease morbidity or mortality. Surveillance of the bird and human populations for the highly pathogenic H5N1 is being conducted. Infection-control measures and an emergency response plan are discussed. Avian influenza virus A/H5N1 is a public health threat that has the potential to cause serious illness and death in humans. Understanding its pathology, transmission, clinical features, and pharmacologic treatments and preparing for the prevention and management of its outbreak will help avoid its potentially devastating consequences.

The Glutamatergic Aspects of Schizophrenia Molecular Pathophysiology: Role of the Postsynaptic Density, and Implications for Treatment

PubMed Central

Iasevoli, Felice; Tomasetti, Carmine; Buonaguro, Elisabetta F.; de Bartolomeis, Andrea

2014-01-01

Schizophrenia is one of the most debilitating psychiatric diseases with a lifetime prevalence of approximately 1%. Although the specific molecular underpinnings of schizophrenia are still unknown, evidence has long linked its pathophysiology to postsynaptic abnormalities. The postsynaptic density (PSD) is among the molecular structures suggested to be potentially involved in schizophrenia. More specifically, the PSD is an electron-dense thickening of glutamatergic synapses, including ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors, cytoskeletal and scaffolding proteins, and adhesion and signaling molecules. Being implicated in the postsynaptic signaling of multiple neurotransmitter systems, mostly dopamine and glutamate, the PSD constitutes an ideal candidate for studying dopamine-glutamate disturbances in schizophrenia. Recent evidence suggests that some PSD proteins, such as PSD-95, Shank, and Homer are implicated in severe behavioral disorders, including schizophrenia. These findings, further corroborated by genetic and animal studies of schizophrenia, offer new insights for the development of pharmacological strategies able to overcome the limitations in terms of efficacy and side effects of current schizophrenia treatment. Indeed, PSD proteins are now being considered as potential molecular targets against this devastating illness. The current paper reviews the most recent hypotheses on the molecular mechanisms underlying schizophrenia pathophysiology. First, we review glutamatergic dysfunctions in schizophrenia and we provide an update on postsynaptic molecules involvement in schizophrenia pathophysiology by addressing both human and animal studies. Finally, the possibility that PSD proteins may represent potential targets for new molecular interventions in psychosis will be discussed. PMID:24851087

Climate change and animal diseases: making the case for adaptation.

PubMed

Cáceres, Sigfrido Burgos

2012-12-01

The exponential expansion of the human population has led to overexploitation of resources and overproduction of items that have caused a series of potentially devastating effects, including ocean acidification, ozone depletion, biodiversity loss, the spread of invasive flora and fauna and climatic changes - along with the emergence of new diseases in animals and humans. Climate change occurs as a result of imbalances between incoming and outgoing radiation in the atmosphere. This process generates heat. As concentrations of atmospheric gases reach record levels, global temperatures are expected to increase significantly. The hydrologic cycle will be altered, since warmer air can retain more moisture than cooler air. This means that some geographic areas will have more rainfall, whereas others have more drought and severe weather. The potential consequences of significant and permanent climatic changes are altered patterns of diseases in animal and human populations, including the emergence of new disease syndromes and changes in the prevalence of existing diseases. A wider geographic distribution of known vectors and the recruitment of new strains to the vector pool could result in infections spreading to more and potentially new species of hosts. If these predictions turn out to be accurate, there will be a need for policymakers to consider alternatives, such as adaptation. This review explores the linkages between climate change and animal diseases, and examines interrelated issues that arise from altered biological dynamics. Its aim is to consider various risks and vulnerabilities and to make the case for policies favoring adaptation.

Mobile phones as a new memory aid: a preliminary investigation using case studies.

PubMed

Wade, T K; Troy, J C

2001-04-01

Memory impairment is one of the most common concerns following a brain injury of any severity. The use of effective external memory aids can help minimize the devastating effects such memory impairment can have on an individual's everyday life. Reviewed in this report are case studies of five individuals suffering significant everyday memory problems that were given a new memory aid that utilizes standard mobile phones. Measurements included diary-format observations and qualitative feedback. The results of the study show promising outcomes for all of the cases, and have led to recent adaptations to allow for wider and more effective use of this memory aid.

Extravasation of chemotherapy.

PubMed

Langer, Seppo W

2010-07-01

Extravasation of chemotherapy is a feared complication of anticancer therapy. The accidental leakage of cytostatic agents into the perivascular tissues may have devastating short-term and long-term consequences for patients. In recent years, the increased focus on chemotherapy extravasation has led to the development of international guidelines that have proven useful tools in daily clinical practice. Moreover, the tissue destruction in one of the most dreaded types of extravasation (ie, anthracycline extravasation) now can effectively be prevented with a specific antidote, dexrazoxane.

Nutritionally enhanced rice to combat malnutrition disorders of the poor.

PubMed

Potrykus, Ingo

2003-06-01

Major deficiency disorders, including vitamin A deficiency, are especially common in countries in which rice is the staple food. In response to the devastating effects of vitamin A deficiency, which may include blindness and, even death, "Golden Rice" has been developed to deliver this nutrient to those populations who need it most. The case of Golden Rice is used to demonstrate the challenges of radical GMO opposition, consumer acceptance, and regulation of biotechnology-derived foods.

Enhancing neural activity to drive respiratory plasticity following cervical spinal cord injury

PubMed Central

Hormigo, Kristiina M.; Zholudeva, Lyandysha V.; Spruance, Victoria M.; Marchenko, Vitaliy; Cote, Marie-Pascale; Vinit, Stephane; Giszter, Simon; Bezdudnaya, Tatiana; Lane, Michael A.

2016-01-01

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) results in permanent life-altering sensorimotor deficits, among which impaired breathing is one of the most devastating and life-threatening. While clinical and experimental research has revealed that some spontaneous respiratory improvement (functional plasticity) can occur post-SCI, the extent of the recovery is limited and significant deficits persist. Thus, increasing effort is being made to develop therapies that harness and enhance this neuroplastic potential to optimize long-term recovery of breathing in injured individuals. One strategy with demonstrated therapeutic potential is the use of treatments that increase neural and muscular activity (e.g. locomotor training, neural and muscular stimulation) and promote plasticity. With a focus on respiratory function post-SCI, this review will discuss advances in the use of neural interfacing strategies and activity-based treatments, and highlights some recent results from our own research. PMID:27582085

Towards a 'siliconeural computer': technological successes and challenges.

PubMed

Hughes, Mark A; Shipston, Mike J; Murray, Alan F

2015-07-28

Electronic signals govern the function of both nervous systems and computers, albeit in different ways. As such, hybridizing both systems to create an iono-electric brain-computer interface is a realistic goal; and one that promises exciting advances in both heterotic computing and neuroprosthetics capable of circumventing devastating neuropathology. 'Neural networks' were, in the 1980s, viewed naively as a potential panacea for all computational problems that did not fit well with conventional computing. The field bifurcated during the 1990s into a highly successful and much more realistic machine learning community and an equally pragmatic, biologically oriented 'neuromorphic computing' community. Algorithms found in nature that use the non-synchronous, spiking nature of neuronal signals have been found to be (i) implementable efficiently in silicon and (ii) computationally useful. As a result, interest has grown in techniques that could create mixed 'siliconeural' computers. Here, we discuss potential approaches and focus on one particular platform using parylene-patterned silicon dioxide.

Devastating Decline of Forest Elephants in Central Africa

PubMed Central

Blake, Stephen; Wittemyer, George; Hart, John; Williamson, Elizabeth A.; Aba’a, Rostand; Abitsi, Gaspard; Ambahe, Ruffin D.; Amsini, Fidèl; Bakabana, Parfait C.; Hicks, Thurston Cleveland; Bayogo, Rosine E.; Bechem, Martha; Beyers, Rene L.; Bezangoye, Anicet N.; Boundja, Patrick; Bout, Nicolas; Akou, Marc Ella; Bene, Lambert Bene; Fosso, Bernard; Greengrass, Elizabeth; Grossmann, Falk; Ikamba-Nkulu, Clement; Ilambu, Omari; Inogwabini, Bila-Isia; Iyenguet, Fortune; Kiminou, Franck; Kokangoye, Max; Kujirakwinja, Deo; Latour, Stephanie; Liengola, Innocent; Mackaya, Quevain; Madidi, Jacob; Madzoke, Bola; Makoumbou, Calixte; Malanda, Guy-Aimé; Malonga, Richard; Mbani, Olivier; Mbendzo, Valentin A.; Ambassa, Edgar; Ekinde, Albert; Mihindou, Yves; Morgan, Bethan J.; Motsaba, Prosper; Moukala, Gabin; Mounguengui, Anselme; Mowawa, Brice S.; Ndzai, Christian; Nixon, Stuart; Nkumu, Pele; Nzolani, Fabian; Pintea, Lilian; Plumptre, Andrew; Rainey, Hugo; de Semboli, Bruno Bokoto; Serckx, Adeline; Stokes, Emma; Turkalo, Andrea; Vanleeuwe, Hilde; Vosper, Ashley; Warren, Ymke

2013-01-01

African forest elephants– taxonomically and functionally unique–are being poached at accelerating rates, but we lack range-wide information on the repercussions. Analysis of the largest survey dataset ever assembled for forest elephants (80 foot-surveys; covering 13,000 km; 91,600 person-days of fieldwork) revealed that population size declined by ca. 62% between 2002–2011, and the taxon lost 30% of its geographical range. The population is now less than 10% of its potential size, occupying less than 25% of its potential range. High human population density, hunting intensity, absence of law enforcement, poor governance, and proximity to expanding infrastructure are the strongest predictors of decline. To save the remaining African forest elephants, illegal poaching for ivory and encroachment into core elephant habitat must be stopped. In addition, the international demand for ivory, which fuels illegal trade, must be dramatically reduced. PMID:23469289

Cyberbullying in Children and Youth: Implications for Health and Clinical Practice

PubMed Central

Faris, Robert; Mishna, Faye

2016-01-01

We review the recent literature on cyberbullying and its effects on victimised youth, identifying key points. We conclude that cyberbullying, while following many of the underlying dynamics of more traditional forms of bullying, features some unique qualities that can both magnify the damage caused and make it more difficult to detect. These features include the pervasive, never-ending nature of cyberbullying and the ability to quickly reach large audiences. The potential for anonymity and the related distance afforded by screens and devices compared to in-person interaction allow the cruelty of cyberbullying to go unchecked. Despite the perceived anonymity of cyberbullying, cyberbullying can be perpetrated by friends, who often have intimate knowledge about the victimised youth that can be devastating when made public. Given the difficulty schools face in preventing or even detecting cyberbullying, health care providers are an important ally, due to their knowledge of the youth, the sense of trust they bring to youth, and their independence from the school setting. We conclude by calling for routine screening of bullying by health care providers who deal with paediatric populations. PMID:28562091

Cyberbullying in Children and Youth: Implications for Health and Clinical Practice.

PubMed

Vaillancourt, Tracy; Faris, Robert; Mishna, Faye

2017-06-01

We review the recent literature on cyberbullying and its effects on victimised youth, identifying key points. We conclude that cyberbullying, while following many of the underlying dynamics of more traditional forms of bullying, features some unique qualities that can both magnify the damage caused and make it more difficult to detect. These features include the pervasive, never-ending nature of cyberbullying and the ability to quickly reach large audiences. The potential for anonymity and the related distance afforded by screens and devices compared to in-person interaction allow the cruelty of cyberbullying to go unchecked. Despite the perceived anonymity of cyberbullying, cyberbullying can be perpetrated by friends, who often have intimate knowledge about the victimised youth that can be devastating when made public. Given the difficulty schools face in preventing or even detecting cyberbullying, health care providers are an important ally, due to their knowledge of the youth, the sense of trust they bring to youth, and their independence from the school setting. We conclude by calling for routine screening of bullying by health care providers who deal with paediatric populations.

Prognosis for a sick planet.

PubMed

Maslin, Mark

2008-12-01

Global warming is the most important science issue of the 21st century, challenging the very structure of our global society. The study of past climate has shown that the current global climate system is extremely sensitive to human-induced climate change. The burning of fossil fuels since the beginning of the industrial revolution has already caused changes with clear evidence for a 0.75 degrees C rise in global temperatures and 22 cm rise in sea level during the 20th century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change synthesis report (2007) predicts that global temperatures by 2100 could rise by between 1.1 degrees C and 6.4 degrees C. Sea level could rise by between 28 cm and 79 cm, more if the melting of the polar ice caps accelerates. In addition, weather patterns will become less predictable and the occurrence of extreme climate events, such as storms, floods, heat waves and droughts, will increase. The potential effects of global warming on human society are devastating. We do, however, already have many of the technological solutions to cure our sick planet.

Emerging diseases and implications for global trade.

PubMed

Thiermann, A

2004-08-01

Emerging diseases could have a devastating impact on international trade unless there is a change in the traditional approach to disease control and new holistic prevention and control strategies are adopted. The impact that emerging diseases will have on international trade will depend on several factors, such as the nature of the pathogen, the degree of co-ordination and integration between Veterinary Services and Public Health authorities, the ability to rapidly detect and respond to a disease appearance, and the existing trade relationship between countries. Strategies to control emerging diseases will be more effective if competent authorities and veterinary infrastructures in particular, integrate their public and animal health objectives into a single strategy. The co-ordinating role of international standard setting organisations such as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) will be crucial. This paper discusses the events contributing to the appearance and spread of new emerging diseases and examines the changing roles of Veterinary Services and international organisations. Reference is also made to measures that can be taken towards minimising potential trade disruptions caused by the appearance of an emerging disease.

Placental Barrier and Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Role of Prolactin and Dopamine on the Developing Fetal Brain.

PubMed

Yarlagadda, Atmaram; Acharya, Ganesh; Kasaraneni, Jayaprada; Hampe, Christiane S; Clayton, Anita H

2015-01-01

Dopamine and prolactin exhibit opposite effects on lactation. However, a possible role for increased prolactin/dopamine ratio in postpartum mood and thought disorders and as a prognostic indicator of the mother's future mental health has not been well investigated. Postpartum depression is a serious condition with potentially devastating outcomes for both the mother and the infant. Early detection and treatment of this condition can have impressive results. Treatment options include antidepressant medications for mood disorders and use of antipsychotics and electroconvulsive therapy to address postpartum psychosis. Although there are obvious benefits of such treatments on the welfare of the mother and her child, broader implications of these treatments on lactation and child growth and development are not known. This review article explores a possible link between in-utero exposure to a high maternal prolactin/dopamine ratio and subsequent development of autism spectrum disorders. We hypothesize that a comprehensive, biologically oriented approach to the use of psychotropics in the regulation of neurotransmission during pre- and postpartum periods may result in better outcomes in this population.

Pig empire under infectious threat: risk of African swine fever introduction into the People's Republic of China.

PubMed

Vergne, Timothée; Chen-Fu, Cao; Li, Shuo; Cappelle, Julien; Edwards, John; Martin, Vincent; Pfeiffer, Dirk Udo; Fusheng, Guo; Roger, Francois Louis

2017-07-29

Pig production and pork consumption are very important to the People's Republic of China for both economic and cultural reasons. The incursion and spread of a disease such as African swine fever (ASF), which emerged in Eastern Europe in 2007, could have devastating socioeconomic consequences for both the Chinese and the global pig industry. The Chinese government consequently attributes a very high priority to ASF and is actively seeking to improve its preparedness. This paper discusses different drivers and pathways of potential emergence of ASF in China in light of the country's specificities, including international movements of people, pigs and pig products, swill feeding practices and wild boar populations. It suggests that effective ASF risk management in China will require a comprehensive and integrated approach linking science and policy and will need to involve all relevant stakeholders to develop realistic policies. © British Veterinary Association (unless otherwise stated in the text of the article) 2017. All rights reserved. No commercial use is permitted unless otherwise expressly granted.

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Targeting Oxidative Stress as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy?

PubMed Central

De Silva, T. Michael; Miller, Alyson A.

2016-01-01

Cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is a major contributor to stroke, and a leading cause of cognitive impairment and dementia. Despite the devastating effects of cerebral SVD, the pathogenesis of cerebral SVD is still not completely understood. Moreover, there are no specific pharmacological strategies for its prevention or treatment. Cerebral SVD is characterized by marked functional and structural abnormalities of the cerebral microcirculation. The clinical manifestations of these pathological changes include lacunar infarcts, white matter hyperintensities, and cerebral microbleeds. The main purpose of this review is to discuss evidence implicating oxidative stress in the arteriopathy of both non-amyloid and amyloid (cerebral amyloid angiopathy) forms of cerebral SVD and its most important risk factors (hypertension and aging), as well as its contribution to cerebral SVD-related brain injury and cognitive impairment. We also highlight current evidence of the involvement of the NADPH oxidases in the development of oxidative stress, enzymes that are a major source of reactive oxygen species in the cerebral vasculature. Lastly, we discuss potential pharmacological strategies for oxidative stress in cerebral SVD, including some of the historical and emerging NADPH oxidase inhibitors. PMID:27014073

Worldwide Emerging Environmental Issues Affecting the U.S. Military. June 2010 Report

DTIC Science & Technology

2010-06-01

Increasing Advocacy for BPA Restrictions…………………………….……………8 6.9 Toxic Substances Control Act Up for Revision…………………………..………….8 6.10 Climate Change ...arrangements against EMPs in the light of this forecast. Source: NASA warns solar flares from ’huge space storm’ will cause devastation http...www.telegraph.co.uk/science/space/7819201/Nasa-warns-solar-flares-from-huge-space-sto rm-will- cause -devastation.html Item 2. OSCE is Enhancing Environmental

Examining the causes of a devastating debris flow

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Balcerak, Ernie

2014-08-01

Storm-triggered landslides cause loss of life, property damage, and landscape alterations. For instance, the remnants of Hurricane Camille in 1969 caused 109 deaths in central Virginia, after 600 millimeters of rain fell in mountainous terrain in 6 hours. More recently, on 8 August 2010, a rainstorm-induced landslide devastated the Chinese county of Zhouqu, causing more than 1000 deaths. A new modeling study by Ren examines the multiple factors, natural and human caused, that came together to produce this event. Three things contribute to storm-triggered landslides: geological condition, surface loading and vegetation roots, and extreme precipitation.

Don't forget about the Christchurch earthquake: Lessons learned from this disaster

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hamburger, Michael W.; Mooney, Walter D.

2011-01-01

In the aftermath of the devastating magnitude-9.0 earthquake and tsunami that struck the Tohoku region of Japan on March 11, attention quickly turned away from a much smaller, but also highly destructive earthquake that struck the city of Christchurch, New Zealand, just a few weeks earlier, on Feb. 22. Both events are stark reminders of human vulnerability to natural disasters and provide a harsh reality check: Even technologically advanced countries with modern building codes are not immune from earthquake disasters. The Christchurch earthquake carried an additional message: Urban devastation can be triggered even by moderate-sized earthquakes.

The 2003 Bam (Iran) earthquake: Rupture of a blind strike-slip fault

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Talebian, M.; Fielding, E. J.; Funning, G. J.; Ghorashi, M.; Jackson, J.; Nazari, H.; Parsons, B.; Priestley, K.; Rosen, P. A.; Walker, R.;

Periocular necrotizing fasciitis causing blindness.

PubMed

Shield, David R; Servat, Javier; Paul, Sean; Turbin, Roger E; Moreau, Annie; de la Garza, Adam; El Rassi, Edward; Silbert, Jonathan; Lesser, Robert; Levin, Flora

2013-09-01

Periocular necrotizing fasciitis is a rare but potentially devastating disease, accompanied by high rates of morbidity and mortality. We report 5 cases of periocular necrotizing fasciitis resulting in severe vision loss, 3 of which required exenteration to contain the disease and only 1 of which recovered vision. Three cases were caused by group A streptococcus; 1, by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; and 1, by Streptococcus anginosus constellatus. Providers should maintain a high clinical suspicion for necrotizing fasciitis and distinguish it from more common forms of cellulitis. As seen in these 5 cases, periocular necrotizing fasciitis may cause severe visual loss more often than previously recognized. To our knowledge, this is also the first report of Streptococcus anginosus constellatus causing necrotizing fasciitis.

A universal vaccine for serogroup B meningococcus.

PubMed

Giuliani, Marzia M; Adu-Bobie, Jeannette; Comanducci, Maurizio; Aricò, Beatrice; Savino, Silvana; Santini, Laura; Brunelli, Brunella; Bambini, Stefania; Biolchi, Alessia; Capecchi, Barbara; Cartocci, Elena; Ciucchi, Laura; Di Marcello, Federica; Ferlicca, Francesca; Galli, Barbara; Luzzi, Enrico; Masignani, Vega; Serruto, Davide; Veggi, Daniele; Contorni, Mario; Morandi, Maurizio; Bartalesi, Alessandro; Cinotti, Vanda; Mannucci, Donatella; Titta, Francesca; Ovidi, Elisa; Welsch, Jo Anne; Granoff, Dan; Rappuoli, Rino; Pizza, Mariagrazia

2006-07-18

Meningitis and sepsis caused by serogroup B meningococcus are two severe diseases that still cause significant mortality. To date there is no universal vaccine that prevents these diseases. In this work, five antigens discovered by reverse vaccinology were expressed in a form suitable for large-scale manufacturing and formulated with adjuvants suitable for human use. The vaccine adjuvanted by aluminum hydroxide induced bactericidal antibodies in mice against 78% of a panel of 85 meningococcal strains representative of the global population diversity. The strain coverage could be increased to 90% and above by the addition of CpG oligonucleotides or by using MF59 as adjuvant. The vaccine has the potential to conquer one of the most devastating diseases of childhood.

The Role of Histone Deacetylases in Neurodegenerative Diseases and Small-Molecule Inhibitors as a Potential Therapeutic Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bürli, Roland W.; Thomas, Elizabeth; Beaumont, Vahri

Neurodegenerative disorders are devastating for patients and their social environment. Their etiology is poorly understood and complex. As a result, there is clearly an urgent need for therapeutic agents that slow down disease progress and alleviate symptoms. In this respect, interference with expression and function of multiple gene products at the epigenetic level has offered much promise, and histone deacetylases play a crucial role in these processes. This review presents an overview of the biological pathways in which these enzymes are involved and illustrates the complex network of proteins that governs their activity. An overview of small molecules that interfere with histone deacetylase function is provided.

Yellow fever: a reemerging threat.

PubMed

Gardner, Christina L; Ryman, Kate D

2010-03-01

Yellow fever (YF) is a viral disease, endemic to tropical regions of Africa and the Americas, which principally affects humans and nonhuman primates and is transmitted via the bite of infected mosquitoes. Yellow fever virus (YFV) can cause devastating epidemics of potentially fatal, hemorrhagic disease. Despite mass vaccination campaigns to prevent and control these outbreaks, the risk of major YF epidemics, especially in densely populated, poor urban settings, both in Africa and South America, has greatly increased. Consequently, YF is considered an emerging, or reemerging disease of considerable importance. This article comprehensively reviews the history, microbiology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of YFV, as well as the vaccines produced to combat YF. 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

The past, present, and future of Leishmania genomics and transcriptomics

PubMed Central

Cantacessi, Cinzia; Dantas-Torres, Filipe; Nolan, Matthew J.; Otranto, Domenico

2015-01-01

It has been nearly 10 years since the completion of the first entire genome sequence of a Leishmania parasite. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses have advanced our understanding of the biology of Leishmania, and shed new light on the complex interactions occurring within the parasite–host–vector triangle. Here, we review these advances and examine potential avenues for translation of these discoveries into treatment and control programs. In addition, we argue for a strong need to explore how disease in dogs relates to that in humans, and how an improved understanding in line with the ‘One Health’ concept may open new avenues for the control of these devastating diseases. PMID:25638444

Role of the human papilloma virus in the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and malignancy.

PubMed

Jastreboff, A M; Cymet, T

2002-04-01

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a public health problem as a sexually transmitted disease and as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of various cancers. The clinical manifestations, epidemiology, and virology that are critical to understanding the process of cervical dysplasia and neoplasia are reviewed. A discussion of the cervical transformation zone and the classification of cervical dysplasia and neoplasia leads into the importance of the Papanicolaou smear in prevention of potentially devastating sequelae of this virus. The role of the immune system in the progression of the disease and how it relates to vaccines, as well as treatment and prevention of HPV, are reviewed.

Role of the human papilloma virus in the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and malignancy

PubMed Central

Jastreboff, A; Cymet, T

2002-01-01

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is a public health problem as a sexually transmitted disease and as a critical factor in the pathogenesis of various cancers. The clinical manifestations, epidemiology, and virology that are critical to understanding the process of cervical dysplasia and neoplasia are reviewed. A discussion of the cervical transformation zone and the classification of cervical dysplasia and neoplasia leads into the importance of the Papanicolaou smear in prevention of potentially devastating sequelae of this virus. The role of the immune system in the progression of the disease and how it relates to vaccines, as well as treatment and prevention of HPV, are reviewed. PMID:11930025