Low detection of glyphosate in rivers following application in forestry.

BACKGROUND: Glyphosate is the most commonly used herbicide in the world, and is used in agriculture, forestry, and urban settings. In regions with high glyphosate use, such as agricultural, glyphosate and its' major derivative aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) are frequently detected in surface waters. In Canadian forestry glyphosate-based herbicides are used to control vegetation that competes with conifer trees and are applied one to two times during a rotation, leading to infrequent application to the same area. Forestry occurs over a large spatial extent, and the cumulative application in space can lead to a large percentage of the land base receiving an application through time. To assess the frequency and concentration of glyphosate and AMPA in surface waters of a region where forestry is the dominant use sector, we conducted three monitoring programs targeting: (i) immediately after application, (ii) after rainfall, and (iii) cumulative application over a large spatial extent. RESULTS: Across all monitoring programs we collected 296 water samples between August and October from eight river systems over two years and detected glyphosate in one sample at 17 ppb. CONCLUSION: Glyphosate is not likely present in surface waters during baseflow conditions as a result of applications in forestry. Lack of detection is likely because soil capacity to bind glyphosate remains high due to infrequent applications to the same area, and factors that limit sediment transport to surface waters such as buffers. Additional sampling is needed during other stream conditions, ideally spring freshet, to determine peak concentrations. © 2023 National Research Council Canada. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry. Reproduced with the permission of the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development.

Higher Education and Universal Design in Tanzania. A New Model of Inclusion and Sustainable Development.

The need to create a more inclusive society in Tanzania is confronted with a discrepancy between the aims of a regulatory framework, aimed at making Higher Education spaces inclusive, and the question of the right of access to built environments, particularly in universities. The study presents the pilot case of the RUCU's Learning Center for Disabilities to demonstrate that the combination of UDL, architectural accessibility and international cooperation can give impetus to new research and application themes, creating innovative models and good practices to be disseminated for a new shared awareness.

Defining Vasoplegia Following Durable, Continuous Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation.

This study aimed to develop a definition of vasoplegia that reliably predicts clinical outcomes. Vasoplegia was evaluated using data from the electronic health record for each 15-minute interval for 72 hours following cardiopulmonary bypass. Standardized definitions considered clinical features (systemic vascular resistance [SVR], mean arterial pressure [MAP], cardiac index [CI], norepinephrine equivalents [NEE]), threshold strategy (criteria occurring in any versus all measurements in an interval), and duration (criteria occurring over multiple consecutive versus separated intervals). Minor vasoplegia was MAP < 60 mm Hg or SVR < 800 dynes⋅sec⋅cm-5 with CI > 2.2 L/min/m2 and NEE ≥ 0.1 µg/kg/min. Major vasoplegia was MAP < 60 mm Hg or SVR < 700 dynes⋅sec⋅cm-5 with CI > 2.5 L/min/m2 and NEE ≥ 0.2 µg/kg/min. The primary outcome was incidence of vasoplegia for eight definitions developed utilizing combinations of these criteria. Secondary outcomes were associations between vasoplegia definitions and three clinical outcomes: time to extubation, time to intensive care unit discharge, and nonfavorable discharge. Minor vasoplegia detected anytime within a 15-minute period (MINOR_ANY_15) predicted the highest incidence of vasoplegia (61%) and was associated with two of three clinical outcomes: 1 day delay to first extubation (95% CI: 0.2 to 2) and 7 day delay to first intensive care unit discharge (95% CI: 1 to 13). The MINOR_ANY_15 definition should be externally validated as an optimal definition of vasoplegia.

Associations between vitamin D status and atherosclerosis among Inuit in Greenland.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Low levels of vitamin D are suspected to be a risk factor for cardiovascular disease and atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis among Inuit in Greenland, and to evaluate the association with vitamin D status. We hypothesized that low vitamin D status could be associated with higher carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as a marker of atherosclerosis. METHODS: 756 adults from the Inuit Health in Transition (IHIT) study carried out in Greenland in the period 2005-2010 were included. A blood sample donated in 1987 was available for a sub-sample of 102 individuals. Serum 25(OH)D3 from the IHIT study and the 1987 survey was used as a measure of vitamin D status. IMT measurements were conducted by ultrasound scanning. The prevalence of atherosclerosis was estimated, and the association between serum 25(OH)D3 and IMT measurements was examined by linear regression. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis was 20.1% (n = 152). The linear regression analyses indicated a weak positive association between serum 25(OH)D3 level and IMT measurements from the IHIT study, though not statistically significant after adjustment for potential confounders (ß = 0.35% per 10 nmoL/L 25(OH)D3, p = 0.06). Linear regression analyses of the association between serum 25(OH)D3 level in the 1987 survey and IMT measurements also indicated a positive, though not statistically significant, association after adjustment (ß = 0.07% per 10 nmoL/L 25(OH)D3, p = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings did not support the hypothesis of an association between low vitamin D levels and risk of atherosclerosis.

Experimental data of the static behavior of reinforced concrete beams at room and low temperature.

This article provides data on the static behavior of reinforced concrete at room and low temperature including, strength, ductility, and crack widths of the reinforced concrete. The experimental data on the application of digital image correlation (DIC) or particle image velocimetry (PIV) in measuring crack widths and the accuracy and precision of DIC/PIV method with temperature variations when is used for measuring strains is provided as well.

Modifications in ankle dorsiflexor activation by applying a torque perturbation during walking in persons post-stroke: a case series.

BACKGROUND: Results obtained in a previous study (Gait Posture 34:358-363, 2011) have shown that, in non-disabled participants, a specific increase in ankle dorsiflexor (Tibialis anterior [TA]) activation can be induced by walking with a torque perturbation that plantarflexes the ankle during the swing phase. After perturbation removal, the increased TA activation persisted temporarily and was associated with a more dorsiflexed ankle during swing. The objective of the present case-series study was to verify if these results can be reproduced in persons post-stroke. METHODS: Six participants who sustained a stroke walked on a treadmill before, during and after exposure to a torque perturbation applied at the ankle by a robotized ankle-foot orthosis. Spatiotemporal gait parameters, ankle and knee kinematics, and the electromyographic activity of TA and Soleus were recorded. Mean amplitude of the TA burst located around toe off and peak ankle dorsiflexion angle during swing were compared across the 3 walking periods for each participant. RESULTS: At the end of the walking period with the perturbation, TA mean amplitude was significantly increased in 4 of the 6 participants. Among these 4 participants, modifications in TA activation persisted after perturbation removal in 3 of them, and led to a statistically significant increase in peak dorsiflexion during swing. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This approach may be helpful to evaluate the residual adaptive capacity in the ankle dorsiflexors after a stroke and guide decision-making for the selection of optimal rehabilitation interventions. Future work will investigate the clinical impact of a multiple-session gait training based on this approach in persons presenting a reduced ankle dorsiflexion during the swing phase of walking.

Distal leg muscle function in patients with COPD.

Quadriceps muscle weakness and increased fatigability are well described in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Whether these functional alterations also exist in distal leg muscles in patients with COPD is uncertain. Fifteen patients with COPD and 15 aged-matched healthy controls performed a 12-minute standardized treadmill exercise during which a fixed total expense of 40 Kcal was reached. The strength of i) dorsiflexors, ii) plantar flexors and iii) quadriceps was assessed at rest and after exercise using maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) and potentiated twitch force (Twpot). Resting MVC and Twpot were significantly lower in patients with COPD when compared with controls respectively for i) dorsiflexors (24.9 ± 8.4 vs. 31.2 ± 8.5 Nm, p < 0.05 and 4.3 ± 1.3 vs. 5.7 ± 1.8 Nm, p < 0.05), ii) plantar flexors (49.5 ± 11.8 vs. 62.1 ± 19.6 Nm, p < 0.05 and 10.8 ± 3.5 vs. 13.4 ± 2.7 Nm, p < 0.05), and iii) quadriceps muscles. There was a greater force loss in the distal leg muscles 15 minutes post-exercise in patients with COPD, while the strength of the quadriceps muscle remained stable in both groups. Patients with COPD had weaker dorsiflexor and plantar flexor muscles when compared to age-matched healthy controls. In addition, when exposed to the same absolute walking task, the fatigability of the distal leg muscles was higher in patients with COPD.

Blood pressure and endothelial function in healthy, pregnant women after acute and daily consumption of flavanol-rich chocolate: a pilot, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Several randomized clinical trials (RCTs) indicate that flavanol-rich chocolate has beneficial effects on flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and blood pressure (BP). However, no RCTs have evaluated these outcomes in pregnant women. The objective of this 2-group, parallel, double-blind RCT was to examine the effects of flavanol-rich chocolate on FMD and BP in pregnant women with normal BP. METHODS: Forty-four healthy, pregnant women were randomized to the high-flavanol (n = 23) or low-flavanol (n = 21) chocolate consumption for 12 weeks. At randomization (0, 60, 120 and 180 min after a single 40-g dose of chocolate), 6 and 12 weeks after daily 20-g chocolate intake, we evaluated plasma concentrations of flavanols and theobromine, as well as the FMD and BP. RESULTS: Plasma epicatechin was significantly increased (p < 0.001) 180 min after the consumption of 40-g high-flavanol chocolate compared to low-flavanol chocolate. Theobromine concentrations were significantly higher 180 min and 12 weeks after the intake of experimental chocolate or low-flavanol chocolate (p < 0.001). FMD was not different between the 2 groups at all pre-defined time periods. No other significant within-group or between-group changes were observed. CONCLUSION: These results confirm the feasibility of a large-scale RCT comparing daily consumption of flavanol-rich chocolate to an equivalent placebo during pregnancy and demonstrate higher plasma epicatechin and theobromine concentration in the intervention group after acute ingestion TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01659060.

Cardiovascular risk factors and subclinical atherosclerosis among Nunavik Inuit.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate subclinical atherosclerosis in Nunavik Inuit and its correlation to traditional cardiovascular disease risk factor. METHOD: The intima-media thickness (IMT) of 12 segments of the carotid arteries (IMT(12_seg)) free of plaque were assessed in randomly selected 40 years old and older Inuit from. Clinical assessment was performed which included fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, systemic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking, circulating blood lipids and oral glucose tolerance test. In addition, documented presence of ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia were determined from medical files. RESULTS: The average age of the 287 participants was 51.2 ± 0.6 years (56.8% women). Mean IMT(12_seg) was 0.80 ± 0.17 mm (range: 0.55-1.47 mm). Compared with disease free Inuit, individuals with history of stroke showed greater carotid internal IMT (0.68 ± 0.01 mm vs. 0.96 ± 0.15 mm respectively; p<0.005) but no difference was observed for IHD. Hypertensive and dyslipidemic Inuit had higher IMT(12_seg) compared to risk factor free individuals but no difference was observed in diabetics. None of the clinical assessments were associated with IMT(12_seg). In a multivariate backward elimination model, only age, gender, and medically documented history of hypertension were found to be predictors of IMT(12_seg) (adjusted r-square of 0.54; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Compared with disease free Nunavik Inuit, subclinical signs of atherosclerosis determined by IMT was higher in individual diagnosed with stroke. Independent predictors of IMT(12_seg) in our group were age, gender and history of hypertension. No other traditional risk factors imparted IMT.

Plasma adipokine and hormone changes in mountaineers on ascent to 5300 meters.

OBJECTIVE: The current study evaluated multiple metabolic and inflammatory hormone responses in recreational climbers (7 men and 3 women, age 26-49 years) over 9 days. In particular, acylation-stimulating protein (ASP), which influences fat storage in adipose tissue, has not been measured at high altitude. METHODS: Serial measurements were taken at sea level (SL), or 353 m, on day 0, 4000 m on day 3, 4750 m on day 6, and 5300 m on day 9 of the expedition. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) decreased upon ascent to 5300 m from SL (SL 23.2 ± 1.5 kg/m(2); 4000 m 23.2 ± 1.4 kg/m(2); 4750 m 22.9 ± 1.3 kg/m(2); 5300 m 22.3 ± 1.2 kg/m(2); P<.001). Similarly, plasma non-esterified fatty acids and triglycerides increased, while HDL cholesterol decreased (P<.05 to <.001) from SL to 5300 m. Acylation-stimulating protein (SL 42.2 ± 40.2 nm; 4000 m 117.0 ± 69.6 nm; 4750 m 107.9 ± 44.5 nm; 5300 m 82.2 ± 20.2 nm; P=.019) and adiponectin (SL 10.4 ± 6.5 ng/mL, 4000 m 13.9 ± 8.5 ng/mL, 4750 m 18.3 ± 8.3 ng/mL, 5300 m 14.7 ± 8.0 ng/mL; P=.015) increased, as did insulin and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels (up to 71% and 168%, respectively; P<.05) with no change in leptin, complement C3 (C3), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) or cortisol levels throughout the mountain ascent from SL to 5300 m. CONCLUSION: Acylation-stimulating protein and adiponectin are increased during a 9-day period of high altitude (SL to 5300 m) exposure despite weight loss in healthy mountaineers.