Functional responses of understory plants to natural disturbance-based management in eastern and western Canada.

Natural disturbance-based management (NDBM) is hypothesized to maintain managed forest ecosystem integrity by reducing differences between natural and managed forests. The effectiveness of this approach often entails local comparisons of species composition or diversity for a variety of biota from managed and unmanaged forests. Understory vegetation is regularly the focus of such comparison because of its importance in nutrient cycling, forest regeneration, and for wildlife.

A paREDOX in the control of cholesterol biosynthesis: Does the NADPH sensor and E3 ubiquitin ligase MARCHF6 protect mammalian cells during oxidative stress by controlling sterol biosynthesis?

Sterols and the reductant nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), essential for eukaryotic life, arose because of, and as an adaptation to, rising levels of molecular oxygen (O). Hence, the NADPH and O-intensive process of sterol biosynthesis is inextricably linked to redox status. In mammals, cholesterol biosynthesis is exquisitely regulated post-translationally by multiple E3 ubiquitin ligases, with membrane associated Really Interesting New Gene (RING) CHC finger 6 (MARCHF6) degrading at least six enzymes in the pathway.

How will climate change and forest harvesting influence the habitat quality of two culturally salient species?

Boreal landscapes face increasing disturbances which can affect cultural keystone species, i.e. culturally salient species that shape in a major way the cultural identity of a people.

A tale of 2 gasses, 1 regulator, and cholesterol homeostasis.

There is a burgeoning appreciation for the wide-ranging effects of carbon dioxide on transcriptional regulation and metabolism. Here, Bolshette and colleagues provide the first link between carbon dioxide and the master transcriptional regulator of cholesterol homeostasis.

Using technology to encourage ward-culture change and provide individualised bladder care.

When discussing continence care in an acute hospital setting, it can be viewed as a negative subject that is a thinly veiled jab at overstretched nurses. This article takes a fresh and holistic look at continence care, identifying factors that could be causing poor care and how technology could support a change in care. This article includes suggestions on how the data collected could be used to deliver the person-centred care outcomes that may be lacking in some environments, something that one of the authors (DP) has experienced first hand.

Out of site, out of mind: Changes in feather moss phyllosphere microbiota in mine offsite boreal landscapes.

Plant-microbe interactions play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecological services in boreal forest biomes. Mining for minerals, and especially the emission of heavy metal-enriched dust from mine sites, is a potential threat to biodiversity in offsite landscapes. Understanding the impacts of mining on surrounding phyllosphere microbiota is especially lacking.

Cholesterol synthesis enzyme SC4MOL is fine-tuned by sterols and targeted for degradation by the E3 ligase MARCHF6.

Cholesterol biosynthesis is a highly regulated pathway, with over 20 enzymes controlled at the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. While some enzymes remain stable, increased sterol levels can trigger degradation of several synthesis enzymes via the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Of note, we previously identified four cholesterol synthesis enzymes as substrates for one E3 ubiquitin ligase, membrane-associated RING-CH-type finger 6 (MARCHF6).

Refining sugar's involvement in cholesterol synthesis.

Glucose metabolism and cholesterol synthesis are often regarded in isolation. Increasing evidence not only links these pathways but also suggests glucose catabolism regulates cholesterol synthesis. Uptake of glucose increases cholesterol production.

The Non Catalytic Protein ERG28 has a Functional Role in Cholesterol Synthesis and is Coregulated Transcriptionally.

The enzymatic pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis has been well characterized. However, there remain several potential interacting proteins that may play ancillary roles in the regulation of cholesterol production. Here, we identified ERG28 (chromosome 14 open reading frame 1 [C14orf1]), a homologue of the yeast protein Erg28p, as a player in mammalian cholesterol synthesis.

Dominance of coniferous and broadleaved trees drives bacterial associations with boreal feather mosses.

The composition of ecologically important moss-associated bacterial communities seems to be mainly driven by host species but may also be shaped by environmental conditions related with tree dominance. The moss phyllosphere has been studied in coniferous forests while broadleaf forests remain understudied. To determine if host species or environmental conditions defined by tree dominance drives the bacterial diversity in the moss phyllosphere, we used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to quantify changes in bacterial communities as a function of host species (Pleurozium schreberi and Ptilium crista-castrensis) and forest type (coniferous black spruce versus deciduous broadleaf trembling aspen) in eastern Canada.

Small but visible: Predicting rare bryophyte distribution and richness patterns using remote sensing-based ensembles of small models.

In Canadian boreal forests, bryophytes represent an essential component of biodiversity and play a significant role in ecosystem functioning. Despite their ecological importance and sensitivity to disturbances, bryophytes are overlooked in conservation strategies due to knowledge gaps on their distribution, which is known as the Wallacean shortfall. Rare species deserve priority attention in conservation as they are at a high risk of extinction.

Trends and gaps in the use of citizen science derived data as input for species distribution models: A quantitative review.

Citizen science (CS) currently refers to the participation of non-scientist volunteers in any discipline of conventional scientific research. Over the last two decades, nature-based CS has flourished due to innovative technology, novel devices, and widespread digital platforms used to collect and classify species occurrence data. For scientists, CS offers a low-cost approach of collecting species occurrence information at large spatial scales that otherwise would be prohibitively expensive.

Soil data for mapping paludification in black spruce forests of eastern Canada.

Soil data and soil mapping are indispensable tools in sustainable forest management. In northern boreal ecosystems, paludification is defined as the accumulation of partially decomposed organic matter over saturated mineral soils, a process that reduces tree regeneration and forest growth. Given this negative effect on forest productivity, spatial prediction of paludification in black spruce stands is important in forest management.

Resting cranial and upper cervical muscle activity is increased in patients with migraine.

Objective: To compare comprehensive measures of scalp-recorded muscle activity in migraineurs and controls.

Method: We used whole-of-head high-density scalp electrical recordings, independent component analysis (ICA) and spectral slope of the derived components, to define muscle (electromyogram-containing) components. After projecting muscle components back to scalp, we quantified scalp spectral power in the frequency range, 52-98 Hz, reflecting muscle activation.

On the diversity and richness of understory bryophytes at Nectandra Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica.

Background: A survey of the understory bryophytes in the Nectandra Cloud Forest Preserve yielded 1083 specimens distributed among 55 families, represented by 74 genera of mosses, 75 genera of liverworts and 3 of hornworts. We studied and analyzed the bryophytic distribution on six types of substrates: 1) corticolous, 2) epiphyllous, 3) saxicolous, 4) terricolous, 5) aquatic and 6) lignicolous. The richness and composition of bryophyte genera are compared to those of other previous bryophyte surveys from 4 other sites with different oceanic exposures, climatic and geographic conditions in Costa Rica.

Self-Management and Transition Readiness Assessment: Concurrent, Predictive and Discriminant Validation of the STARx Questionnaire.

Introduction: The STARx Questionnaire was designed with patient and provider input, to measure self-management and transition skills in adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic health conditions. With proven reliability and an empirically-based factor structure, the self-report STARx Questionnaire requires further validation to demonstrate its clinical and research utility. In this study we examine the concurrent, predictive, and discriminant validity of the STARx Questionnaire.

Self-Management and Health Care Use in an Adolescent and Young Adult Medicaid Population With Differing Chronic Illnesses.

Introduction: Few studies of adults question the validity of the claim that self-management reduces the use of health care services and, as a result, health care costs. The aim of our study was to determine the relationship between self-management and health care use in a population of adolescent and young adult recipients of North Carolina Medicaid with chronic health conditions, who received care in either the pediatric or adult clinic. Our secondary objective was to characterize the patterns of health care use among this same population.

The relationship of health care transition readiness to disease-related characteristics, psychosocial factors, and health care outcomes: preliminary findings in adolescents with chronic kidney disease.

Purpose: The current study utilized the Disability-Stress-Coping Model to conceptualize how disease-related risk factors (disease severity, age of diagnosis, and disease burden) and psychosocial resilience factors (coping efficacy, family cohesion, and quality of life) influence health care transition (HCT) readiness when controlling for age and disease severity [1]. Additionally, the impact of low HCT readiness on emergency room visits and medication adherence was examined.

Methods: The sample was comprised of 41 adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who ranged in age from 13 to 18 years (Mean=15.

Socioecologic factors as predictors of readiness for self-management and transition, medication adherence, and health care utilization among adolescents and young adults with chronic kidney disease.

Introduction: The objective of our study was to determine the socioecologic factors that predict readiness for self-management and transition from pediatric to adult health care services, adherence to taking medications, and health care utilization among adolescents and young adults with chronic kidney disease.

Methods: We enrolled 52 adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 21 (96.5% participation).

Stochastic processes dominate during boreal bryophyte community assembly.

Why are plant species found in certain locations and not in others? The study of community assembly rules has attempted to answer this question, and many studies articulate the historic dichotomy of deterministic (predictable niches) vs. stochastic (random or semi-random processes). The study of successional sequences to determine whether they converge, as would be expected by deterministic theory, or diverge, as stochastic theory would suggest, has been one method used to investigate this question.

Harnessing innovative technologies to advance children's mental health: behavioral parent training as an example.

Disruptive behaviors of childhood are among the most common reasons for referral of children to mental health professionals. Behavioral parent training (BPT) is the most efficacious intervention for these problem behaviors, yet BPT is substantially underutilized beyond university research and clinic settings. With the aim of addressing this research-to-practice gap, this article highlights the considerable, but largely unrealized, potential for technology to overcome the two most pressing challenges hindering the diffusion of BPT: (1).

Health care transition for adolescents with CKD-the journey from pediatric to adult care.

The design of Health Care Transition (HCT) services for adolescents and emerging adults with CKD or end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) needs to take into account patient cognition/developmental stage, family factors, and health resources within the hospital setting and community. Patient and family education is fundamental and teaching and learning tools must be literacy-accessible. Adolescents and emerging adults with CKD/ESDK have complex medical and dietary regimes, and therapeutic adherence is important for optimizing their health, quality of life, and longevity.