Species-Specific Responses to Human Trampling Indicate Alpine Plant Size Is More Sensitive than Reproduction to Disturbance.

Human disturbance, such as trampling, is an integral component of global change, yet we lack a comprehensive understanding of its effects on alpine ecosystems. Many alpine systems are seeing a rapid increase in recreation and in understudied regions, such as the Coast Mountains of British Columbia, yet disturbance impacts on alpine plants remain unclear. We surveyed disturbed (trail-side) and undisturbed (off-trail) transects along elevational gradients of popular hiking trails in the T'ak't'ak'múy'in tl'a In'inyáxa7n region (Garibaldi Provincial Park), Canada, focusing on dominant shrubs (, ) and graminoids ( spp).

Integrating demographic niches and black spruce range expansion at subarctic treelines.

When investigating relationships between species' niches and distributions, niches can be divided demographically, resulting in unique niches for different life stages. This approach can identify changing substrate requirements throughout a species' life cycle. Using non-metric multidimensional scaling, we quantified microsite conditions associated with successful recruitment in the tundra landscape and successful seed production amongst adult trees of black spruce (Picea mariana) at subarctic treeline in Yukon, Canada to assess how life stage-specific requirements may impact the distribution of this widespread boreal tree species.

Email Reminders Increase the Frequency That Pet Owners Update Their Microchip Information.

Stray animals with incorrect microchip details are less likely to be reclaimed, and unclaimed strays are at increased risk of euthanasia. A retrospective cohort study was performed using 394,747 cats and 904,909 dogs registered with Australia's largest microchip database to describe animal characteristics, determine whether annual email reminders increased the frequency that owners updated their information, and to compare frequencies of microchip information updates according to pet and owner characteristics. More than twice as many dogs (70%) than cats (30%) were registered on the database; the most numerous pure-breeds were Ragdoll cats and Staffordshire Bull Terrier dogs, and the number of registered animals per capita varied by Australian state or territory.

Dietary Vitamin A and Visceral Adiposity: A Modulating Role of the Retinol-Binding Protein 4 Gene.

Background/aims: Visceral fat (VF) compared with subcutaneous fat (SF) is more closely associated with cardiometabolic disease. Dietary vitamin A (retinol) may reduce adiposity through its effects on adipogenesis differentially in VF and SF, and this effect may be modulated by retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4). We investigated whether intake of vitamin A is associated with either VF or SF, and whether this association is moderated by the RBP4 genotype (rs10882272, C/T) previously associated with circulating retinol levels.

Routine clinical measures of adiposity as predictors of visceral fat in adolescence: a population-based magnetic resonance imaging study.

Objective: Visceral fat (VF) increases cardiometabolic risk more than fat stored subcutaneously. Here, we investigated how well routine clinical measures of adiposity, namely body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (waist), predict VF and subcutaneous fat (SF) in a large population-based sample of adolescents. As body-fat distribution differs between males and females, we performed these analyses separately in each sex.

Risk of third-trimester amniocentesis: a case-control study.

Risks of third-trimester amniocentesis are considered minimal; however, only case series have been reported. We performed a case-control study in which women undergoing third-trimester amniocentesis were matched with controls undergoing antenatal testing for similar indications to determine adverse outcomes associated with the procedure. Cases undergoing amniocentesis at > 32 weeks for fetal lung maturity assessment followed by antepartum testing with nonstress test and amniotic fluid index determination were matched with controls undergoing only antepartum testing based on gestational age at testing and maternal age.

Role of lamellar body count for the prediction of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome in non-diabetic pregnant women.

Objective: Lamellar body count is a new and fast technique to establish the presence of fetal lung maturity. We have assessed the predictive ability of lamellar body count for neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) in a non-diabetic population.

Study Design: We accessed a cohort of amniocenteses in non-diabetic women from 1998 to 2002 (n=102).

The role of activity-dependent neuroprotective protein in a mouse model of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Objective: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the most common nongenetic cause of mental retardation. Peptides NAPVSIPQ (NAP) and SALLRSIPA (SAL), related to activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP), prevent alcohol-induced damage in a mouse model of FAS. Our objective was to characterize ADNP in this model to relate this protein to the mechanisms of damage and peptide neuroprotection.

Differential expression of c-fos in a mouse model of fetal alcohol syndrome.

Objective: Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) results in stillbirth, fetal growth restriction, and mental retardation with injury attributed to oxidative stress. Our objective was to identify signal transduction pathways expressed in a model of FAS and to quantify expression of c-fos, a gene in the stress signal pathway.

Study Design: Timed, pregnant C57Bl6/J mice were injected on E8 with saline solution or alcohol.

Total versus subtotal hysterectomy: a survey of gynecologists.

Objective: To estimate the attitudes and practice of gynecologists in the Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia area regarding total versus subtotal abdominal hysterectomy.

Methods: A questionnaire with 18 questions on physicians' attitudes and practice regarding total versus subtotal hysterectomy was mailed to 1647 gynecologists in Washington, Maryland, and Virginia.

Results: The corrected response rate was 51.

Lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio and lamellar body count. What values predict the presence of phosphatidylglycerol?

Objective: To assess which values of the lecithin/sphingomyelin (L/S) ratio and lamellar body count (LBC) optimally correspond to the presence of phosphatidylglycerol (PG).

Study Design: A database of clear amniotic fluid specimens obtained by amniocentesis was accessed. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed for both L/S ratio and LBC to identify the optimal thresholds for predicting the presence of PG.

Differential expression of embryonic and maternal activity-dependent neuroprotective protein during mouse development.

Objective: Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP) potently enhances the survival of neurons and is regulated by vasoactive intestinal peptide, which also mediates postimplantation mouse embryonic growth. The objective of this study was to characterize ADNP in mouse embryonic tissues throughout development.

Study Design: Developmental tissues (embryo, decidua, placenta) from timed pregnant C57B16/J mice were harvested on days 6 though 18.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide mRNA and immunoreactivity are decreased in fetal alcohol syndrome model.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) regulates growth in the early post-implantation embryo. Previous work has demonstrated that peptide agonists (SALLRSIPA and NAPVSIPQ) from downstream mediators that are regulated by VIP were able to prevent the alcohol-induced fetal death, growth restriction and microcephaly associated with fetal alcohol syndrome. Here we evaluated the role of VIP in this mouse model of fetal alcohol syndrome, to determine if fetal or maternal levels of VIP are altered.