Riparian Landscape Change: A Spatial Approach for Quantifying Change and Development of a River Network Restoration Model.

Natural river landscapes can be biodiversity hotspots but are one of the most human altered ecosystems with habitats significantly damaged around the world, and a third of fish populations threatened with extinction. While riparian ecosystems have been negatively altered by anthropogenic activities, effective planning and restoration strategies can reverse negative impacts by improving habitat quality. However, restoring rivers requires appropriate data on current riparian health while also considering priorities for different stakeholders. To address this, a Geographic Information System (GIS) was used to create a new and transferable restoration priority model based on a section of the river Linth in Switzerland as a case study. The restoration priority model is founded on connectivity, river condition, national priority species and species hotspots. Landscape change of the riparian zone was analyzed using aerial imagery and landscape metrics. Almost a quarter of rivers within the study area were considered high or very high restoration priority, with many aquatic species set to benefit from restoration. From 1946 to 2019, the riparian landscape became highly fragmented due to significant growth in impervious surfaces and a concomitant loss of agricultural land. The GIS model provides a tool by which environmental agencies can manage natural features over large scales, while also planning priorities and targeting conservation strategies to the areas of greatest need.

Reducing Underage Drinking Through Visible Home Visits by Law Enforcement: An Efficacy Case Study Over 29 Months.

This paper describes the development and impact of an underage drinking reduction program designed and implemented by a South Carolina county sheriff's office with assistance from the county coalition. In December 2017, high school surveys identified family and friends as the alcohol source 82.2% of the time. In Summer 2018, sheriff deputies began visiting with almost all high school seniors, i.e., 1,352 high school senior visits.Deputies reminded parents to not provide alcohol to anyone under 21 years old. School surveys were conducted pre-program (December 2017), during (April 2018 and September 2018) and post-program (April 2020). Comparing the pre-effort results with post surveys found a 22.8% decline in 30-day drinking (p=.01) and a 23.5% decrease in binge drinking (p=.07). As described by Holder et al., the results provide the foundation for replication under controlled research conditions.

Rapidly progressive crescentic diabetic nephropathy: two case reports.

Crescents are not a well recognised feature of diabetic nephropathy. We present two cases of patients presenting with a rapid decline in renal function and subacute onset of nephrotic syndrome. Glomerulonephritis screening was negative, and renal biopsy revealed non-necrotising cellular crescents and typical features of late-stage diabetic nephropathy. We review the literature for diabetic nephropathy with crescents and explore possible underlying mechanisms.

Orthognathic patient perception of 3D facial soft tissue prediction planning.

The primary aim of this study was to explore patients' perceptions regarding the impact of 3D prediction planning (3D PP) of facial soft tissue changes following orthognathic surgery. The study was carried out on 30 patients who were shown photorealistic 3D soft tissue prediction planning before undergoing orthognathic surgery to demonstrate the expected facial changes. Distraction osteogenesis and cleft deformities were excluded from the study before consenting to surgery. Following surgery, the included patients were asked to complete a standard questionnaire to explore their perceptions regarding the impact, accuracy, and value of 3D prediction planning. The majority of the 30 participants perceived 3D PP to be beneficial in reducing their presurgical anxiety, increasing their motivation to undergo surgery, improving the accuracy of their surgical expectations, and enhancing doctor-patient communication. Most of the patients perceived their surgical soft tissue changes to be better than the predictions. Significant positive correlations were detected between satisfaction with the delivered service and the facility of seeing 3D PP (rs = 0.4; p = 0.034). Similarly, 3D PP improved patients' confidence in the surgical decision (rs = 0.4; p = 0.031), as well as increasing their motivation to undergo surgery (rs = 0.5; p = 0.010). 3D PP was found to be effective in improving the quality of orthognathic surgical care.

Up-Regulation of DNA Damage Response Signaling in Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease.

DNA damage and alterations in DNA damage response (DDR) signaling could be one of the molecular mechanisms mediating focal kidney cyst formation in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that markers of DNA damage and DDR signaling are increased in human and experimental ADPKD. In the human ADPKD transcriptome, the number of up-regulated DDR-related genes was increased by 16.6-fold compared with that in normal kidney, and by 2.5-fold in cystic compared with that in minimally cystic tissue (P < 0.0001). In end-stage human ADPKD tissue, γ-H2A histone family member X (H2AX), phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia and radiation-sensitive mutant 3 (Rad3)-related (pATR), and phosphorylated ataxia telangiectasia mutated (pATM) localized to cystic kidney epithelial cells. In vitro, pATR and pATM were also constitutively increased in human ADPKD tubular cells (WT 9-7 and 9-12) compared with control (HK-2). In addition, extrinsic oxidative DNA damage by hydrogen peroxide augmented γ-H2AX and cell survival in human ADPKD cells, and exacerbated cyst growth in the three-dimensional Madin-Darby canine kidney cyst model. In contrast, DDR-related gene expression was only transiently increased on postnatal day 0 in Pkd1RC/RC mice, and not altered at later time points up to 12 months of age. In conclusion, DDR signaling is dysregulated in human ADPKD and during the early phases of murine ADPKD. The constitutive expression of the DDR pathway in ADPKD may promote survival of PKD1-mutated cells and contribute to kidney cyst growth.

Replication of a Controlled Community Prevention Trial: Results From a Local Implementation of Science-Based Intervention to Reduce Impaired Driving.

We tested the generalizability of a science-based community prevention design to reduce DUI crashes. Previous researcher-led studies have confirmed the effects of an intervention design of visible enforcement coupled with heightened public awareness of enforcement to increase driver perception of likely detection for drinking and driving. A community coalition based the project on a prevention intervention model that included two key intermediate variables: levels of visible enforcement and of public awareness of enforcement. We evaluated the project using community-specific monthly time-series measures of DUI crashes and state level trends in DUI crashes, indicators of enforcement, and public attention to enforcement. We devised the evaluation design to determine if an observed trend in DUI crashes declined and to verify if key intermediate variables increased, as stimulated by local efforts. DUI crash analysis documented an upward trend during a pre-trial period from July 2010-December 2011, which matched the upward trend in state DUI crashes. After the local intervention began in January 2012, local DUI crashes began a clear downward trend (average 2013 crashes were 23% lower than in 2012 and a 5-month post-intervention average from 2013 was lower than the equivalent 5-month pre-intervention average). This contrasted with the continued upward state DUI crash trend, with a 2-year increase of 16%. The downward trend in local crashes was associated with an increase in DUI enforcement as well as news stories concerning DUI enforcement that were stimulated by the efforts of the community prevention project. These results confirm the generalizability of two previous community research trials that were conducted with limited or no research resources or leadership. We discuss the importance of controlling for external factors in attributing causation in a local prevention evaluation by confirming both sufficient local prevention efforts and a decline in DUI crashes.

Long-term belowground effects of grassland management: the key role of liming.

The functioning of human-managed grassland ecosystems strongly depends on how common management practices will affect grassland "belowground compartment" including soil biogeochemistry and plant roots. Key questions remain about how animal grazing, liming (e.g., the addition of CaCO3 to soils), and nutrient fertilization might affect, in the long-term, soil nutrient cycling and multiple root traits. Here we focus on a mesotrophic grassland located in Berkshire, UK, where contrasting levels of rabbit grazing, liming, and different inorganic fertilizers have been applied since 1991. We ask how (1) soil nitrogen (N) availability and cycling, (2) total root mass, (3) root mass decomposition, and (4) arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) root colonization might respond to 22 years of very different management. We found that liming strongly affected total root mass, root decomposition, root AMF colonization as well as soil N availability and cycling and that these effects were mainly driven by liming-induced increases in soil pH. Increases in soil pH were associated with significant (1) decreases in root mass, (2) increases in root mass decomposability and in the mineralization of N in decomposing root detritus, and (3) increases in AMF infection. Soil pH was also significantly related to greater N availability (i.e., soil NO3 levels) and to lower δ15 N natural abundance, which suggests more efficient N uptake by plants in limed soils as we found in our study. The application of multiple nutrients (N, P, K, Mg) also reduced total root mass, while N-only fertilization was associated with greater AMF infection. Surprisingly the long-term impact of grazing was generally weak and not significant on most plant and soil parameters. Despite soil pH affecting most belowground variables, changes in soil pH were not associated with any change in soil C and N stocks. Because liming can improve nutrient cycling (and benefits soil pH and grass yields) without negatively affecting soil C sequestration, we suggest that regular liming applications may provide management solutions for increasing the long-term sustainability of permanent grassland.

How hedge woody species diversity and habitat change is a function of land use history and recent management in a European agricultural landscape.

European hedged agricultural landscapes provide a range of ecosystem services and are an important component of cultural and biodiversity heritage. This paper investigates the extent of hedges, their woody species diversity (including the influence of historical versus recent hedge origin) and dynamics of change. The rationale is to contribute to an ecological basis for hedge habitat management. Sample sites were allocated based on a multivariate classification of landscape attributes. All field boundaries present in each site were mapped and surveyed in 1998 and 2007. To assess diversity, a list of all woody species was recorded in one standard 30 m linear plot within each hedge. There was a net decrease in hedge habitat extent, mainly as a result of removal, and changes between hedges and other field boundary types due to the development and loss of shrub growth-form. Agricultural intensification, increased rural building, and variation in hedge management practices were the main drivers of change. Hedges surveyed at baseline, which were lost at resurvey, were more species rich than new hedges gained. Hedges coinciding with historical land unit boundaries of likely Early Medieval origin were found to be more species rich. The most frequent woody species in hedges were native, including a high proportion with Fraxinus excelsior, a species under threat from current and emerging plant pests and pathogens. Introduced species were present in circa 30% of hedges. We conclude that since hedge habitat distribution and woody species diversity is a function of ecology and anthropogenic factors, the management of hedges in enclosed agricultural landscapes requires an integrated approach.

Medically unexplained symptoms in patients with PNES: Do they explain poor employment outcome in patients with good seizure outcomes?

BACKGROUND: Many patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) have other medically unexplained symptoms (MUS). In order to assess their long-term contribution to ill-health and unemployment, we recorded MUS, employment, healthcare utilization, and seizure outcomes in a cohort of patients with PNES. METHODS: We had complete computerized healthcare records and employment information in 120 patients with PNES, 5-10years postdiagnosis. We analyzed these data to assess the contribution of MUS to ill-health and to determine whether MUS could explain differences among seizure, employment, and healthcare utilization outcomes in PNES. RESULTS: At 5-10years, 41/120 patients (34.2%) were attending primary or secondary care for seizures, 42/120 patients (35.0%) had MUS other than PNES, and 36/120 patients (30.0%) were employed. Unemployment was predicted by age at presentation (OR: 0.90 (0.86-0.94), p<0.001), presenting to primary or secondary care with seizures (OR: 0.16 (0.05-0.52), p=0.003), and contact with psychiatric services at 5-10years (OR: 0.16 (0.05-0.58), p=0.005). No outcome measures were predicted by additional MUS, though MUS themselves were predicted by psychiatric contact (OR: 2.27 (1.01-5.01), p=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that MUS do not contribute independently to unemployment in the population with PNES, whereas psychiatric morbidity appears to do so. Nonetheless, MUS and psychiatric morbidity persist in the long term in a substantial minority of patients with PNES. We found no evidence that seizures in patients whose PNES have resolved are replaced with other MUS.

Tenofovir-associated Fanconi syndrome in patients with chronic hepatitis B monoinfection.

Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is increasingly used in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infection. Although associated with renal toxicity in HIV-infected patients, renal dysfunction has been reported rarely in the monoinfected CHB population. To date, TDF-associated Fanconi syndrome has not been reported. Here, we present two cases of TDF-associated Fanconi syndrome with rapid resolution after its cessation. We then discuss risk factors for TDF nephrotoxicity and its implications for screening for renal disease in those patients with CHB monoinfection on TDF, and the use of TDF in at-risk populations.

Tumor necrosis factor α induces a model of preeclampsia in pregnant baboons (Papio hamadryas).

Preeclampsia is a common disease of pregnancy characterised by maternal hypertension and proteinuria. Abnormal placentation in early pregnancy and abnormal cytokine and anti-angiogenic factor expression are thought to contribute to the clinical syndrome of endothelial dysfunction evident in the second half of gestation. The mechanisms underlying both the placental pathology and its translation to the maternal clinical syndrome are not fully understood. A model of preeclampsia manifest by clinically evident endothelial dysfunction (increased blood pressure and proteinuria) was induced by administration of low-dose TNF-α for 2weeks at mid-gestation in pregnant baboons (Papio hamadryas). Blood pressure was monitored continuously and remotely by intra-arterial radiotelemetry. Following TNF-α infusion, there was an increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and development of proteinuria in pregnant treated animals, but not in pregnant saline controls nor in non-pregnant TNF-α treated animals. The treated pregnant animals also developed elevated plasma soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) and increased placental mRNA expression of sFLT-1 and soluble endoglin (sEng). These results clearly demonstrate that the cytokine TNF-α can induce the clinical and biochemical features of human preeclampsia. The results identify a link between cytokines, placental dysfunction and endothelial dysfunction resulting in a loss of maternal blood pressure control.

Do patients whose psychogenic non-epileptic seizures resolve, 'replace' them with other medically unexplained symptoms? Medically unexplained symptoms arising after a diagnosis of psychogenic non-epileptic seizures.

BACKGROUND: In clinical practice, it is sometimes observed that patients in whom psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) cease, develop another medically unexplained symptom (MUS). METHODS: In order to determine how many patients develop new MUS post diagnosis and whether patients whose attacks cease are more likely to do so, new MUS were recorded 6-12 months after the diagnosis of PNES in 187 consecutive patients. RESULTS: Compared with baseline, the overall proportion of patients with MUS increased slightly, from 70.1% to 76.5%, with 44/187 patients (23.5%) developing new MUS. There were no significant differences between attack free and non-attack free patients. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that predictors of new MUS diverged between attack free and non-attack free patients. Among patients continuing to have attacks, those with previous health related psychological trauma were 18.00 times more likely to develop new MUS (p<0.0005). In patients who became attack free, patients drawing disability benefits were 5.04 times more likely to have new MUS (p = 0.011). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that almost 25% of patients develop new MUS following a diagnosis of PNES, although most of those have MUS pre-diagnosis. Patients with a history of health related psychological trauma whose attacks continue after diagnosis are at particularly high risk of developing new MUS. The data do not support the hypothesis that PNES that resolve are likely to be 'replaced' by other MUS.