Insights to the superoxide dismutase genes and its roles in Hevea brasiliensis under abiotic stress.

The superoxide dismutase (SOD) protein significantly influences the development and growth of plants and their reaction to abiotic stresses. However, little is known about the characteristics of rubber tree SOD genes and their expression changes under abiotic stresses. The present study recognized 11 SOD genes in the rubber tree genome, including 7 Cu/ZnSODs, 2 MnSODs, and 2 FeSODs. Except for HbFSD1, SODs were scattered on five chromosomes. The phylogenetic analysis of SOD proteins in rubber trees and a few other plants demonstrated that the SOD proteins contained three major subgroups. Moreover, the genes belonging to the same clade contained similar gene structures, which confirmed their classification further. The extension of the SOD gene family in the rubber tree was mainly induced by the segmental duplication events. The cis-acting components analysis showed that HbSODs were utilized in many biological procedures. The transcriptomics data indicated that the phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II might control the cold response genes through the CBF pathway and activate the SOD system to respond to cold stress. The qRT-PCR results showed that the expression of HbCSD1 was significantly downregulated under drought and salt stresses, which might dominate the adaption capability to different stresses. Additionally, salt promoted the expression levels of HbMSD1 and HbMSD2, exhibiting their indispensable role in the salinity reaction. The study results will provide a theoretical basis for deep research on HbSODs in rubber trees. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-022-03328-7.

Long-term Healthcare Utilization by Medicaid Enrolled Children with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate healthcare utilization in Medicaid enrolled children with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) in the first 2 years of life. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, longitudinal cohort study evaluating Medicaid enrolled children born in New York (1999-2011) and Texas (1999-2010) was performed. Healthcare utilization, including inpatient days, emergency department and outpatient visits, and filled prescriptions in children after birth hospitalization was assessed. A tapered propensity-matching methodology was used, matching each child with NAS with 5 children without NAS, first on demographics, then on both demographics and clinical covariates (clinical diagnoses and congenital anomalies at birth). Poisson and negative binomial regression were used to calculate healthcare utilization ratios (HUR). RESULTS: In the first 2 years of life, children with NAS (n = 3799) had increased healthcare utilization with more inpatient days and emergency department visits than demographically similar children without NAS. This increased utilization however did not persist after matching on clinical covariates and performing multiple comparisons adjustment (inpatient days [HUR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.88-1.16; P = .89], total emergency department visits [HUR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.01-1.11; P = .02]). Children with NAS conversely had 9% fewer outpatient office visits (HUR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87-0.95; P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: A diagnosis of NAS does not appear to be an independent predictor of increased healthcare utilization in the first 2 years of life. These results differ from some other published studies, but may suggest that the increased healthcare utilization observed in children with NAS is due to higher incidences of perinatal complications and congenital anomalies in children with prenatal drug exposures.

Helicopter crashes related to oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

INTRODUCTION: The hazards inherent in flight operations in the Gulf of Mexico prompted investigation of the number and circumstances of crashes related to oil and gas operations in the region. METHODS: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) database was queried for helicopter crashes during 1983 through 2009 related to Gulf of Mexico oil or gas production. The crashes were identified based on word searches confirmed by a narrative statement indicating that the flight was related to oil or gas operations. RESULTS: During 1983-2009, the NTSB recorded a total of 178 helicopter crashes related to oil and gas operations in the Gulf of Mexico, with an average of 6.6 crashes per year (5.6 annually during 1983-1999 vs. 8.2 during 2000-2009). The crashes resulted in a total of 139 fatalities, including 41 pilots. Mechanical failure was the most common precipitating factor, accounting for 68 crashes (38%). Bad weather led to 29 crashes (16%), in which 40% of the 139 deaths occurred. Pilot error was cited by the NTSB in 83 crashes (47%). After crashes or emergency landings on water, 15 helicopters sank when flotation devices were not activated automatically or by pilots. DISCUSSION: Mechanical failure, non-activation of flotation, and pilot error are major problems to be addressed if crashes and deaths in this lethal environment are to be reduced.

Alcohol in fatal crashes involving Mexican and Canadian drivers in the USA.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of alcohol involvement and impairment in fatal crashes in the USA involving Mexican and Canadian drivers. METHODS: Drivers in fatal crashes in the USA were identified during 1998 to 2008 from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System, and the prevalence of alcohol involvement and impairment (defined as blood alcohol concentrations ≥0.01 g/dl and ≥0.08 g/dl, respectively) was compared among drivers licensed in Mexico (n=687), Canada (n=598), and the USA (n=561908). RESULTS: The prevalence of alcohol involvement was 27% for US drivers, 27% for Mexican drivers, and 11% for Canadian drivers. Alcohol impairment was found in 23% of US drivers, 23% of Mexican drivers, and 8% of Canadian drivers. With adjustment for driver demographic characteristics and survival status and for crash circumstances, the prevalence of alcohol involvement was significantly lower for Canadian drivers (adjusted prevalence ratio (PR) 0.63, 95% CI 0.49 to 0.80) than for US drivers, and was similar between Mexican and US drivers (adjusted PR 0.91, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.02). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol involvement in fatal motor vehicle crashes in the USA is similarly prevalent in US and Mexican drivers, but is substantially less common in Canadian drivers.