THE U.S. PESTICIDE INDUSTRY: USAGE TRENDS AND MARKET DEVELOPMENT

Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries,

THE U.S. FERTILIZER INDUSTRY: DEMAND TRENDS AND MARKET STRUCTURE

Agribusiness,

Criminal Justice and Suicide Outcomes with Indiana's Risk-Based Gun Seizure Law

This article examines the application and effectiveness of a 2006 Indiana law designed to prevent gun violence by authorizing police officers to separate firearms from persons who present imminent or future risk of injury to self or others, or display a propensity for violent or emotionally unstable conduct. A court hearing is held to determine ongoing risk in these cases; a judge decides whether to return the seized firearms or retain them for up to five years. The study examines the frequency of criminal arrest as well as suicide outcomes for 395 gun-removal actions in Indiana. Fourteen individuals (3.5%) died from suicide, seven (1.8%) using a firearm. The study population's annualized suicide rate was about 31 times higher than that of the general adult population in Indiana, demonstrating that the law is being applied to a population genuinely at high risk. By extrapolating information on the case fatality rate for different methods of suicide, we calculated that one life was saved for every 10 gun-removal actions, similar to results of a previous study in Connecticut. Perspectives from key stakeholders are also presented along with implications for gun policy reform and implementation

Characterization of the developing facial and hypoglossal motor systems in the neonatal Brazilian opossum

Aspects of development of the facial and hypoglossal motor systems were investigated in the neonatal Brazilian opossum, Monodelphis domestica. Monodelphis is a small pouchless marsupial whose young are born after 14 days of gestation in an extremely immature state while neurogenesis is still ongoing;1. The developmental time course for synaptogenesis in the facial motor nucleus (FMN) and the hypoglossal motor nucleus (HMN) was examined using immunohistochemistry against: synaptic vesicle-associated proteins, synaptophysin and synaptotagmin; a synaptic membrane protein, SNAP-25; a growth cone protein, GAP-43; and microtubule-associated proteins, Tau-1 and MAP-2. We found that appearance of synapse-associated proteins is delayed in the FMN as compared to the HMN during the first two weeks of postnatal life;2. To examine the postnatal development of the FMN and HMN we utilized retrograde tract tracing with cholera toxin subunit B (CtB). On the day of birth (1 PN), CtB labeled facial motoneurons were localized near the developing abducens nucleus. From 3 to 5 PN facial motoneurons were observed migrating to the FMN, and by 7 to 10 PN facial motoneurons had completed their migration. In contrast, CtB-labeled hypoglossal motoneurons were localized within the HMN from birth onward. Migrating facial motoneurons displayed a bipolar shape characteristic of migrating neurons, their rate of migration was faster than the rate of brainstem expansion, and they were localized in close proximity of vimentin immunostained radial glial fibers previously shown to guide migrating neurons;3. Utilizing immunohistochemistry against choline acetyltransferase, neurofilament, and synaptotagmin we demonstrated that both facial and hypoglossal motoneuron projections extend to their respective target muscles and appear to innervate them from the day of birth. These results suggest that facial and hypoglossal motoneurons innervate their target muscles at birth, during the period of facial motoneuron migration. Further, the FMN does not have synaptic or classical afferent innervation during this period. We suggest that the activity of facial motoneurons is regulated in a novel or distinct manner compared to hypoglossal motoneurons during this period of brain development

Use of Floodscape Mapping to Assess Changes in Inundation Frequency of the Upper Mississippi River

As an alternative to probability-based maps, DeJager (and others) reconceptualized floodplain mapping using the notion of “floodscapes” (DeJager et al., 2015). A floodscape map is developed using daily stage data and high-resolution topography to create maps that depict the average number of days of inundation (per year or growing season). Floodscape maps reveal intricate and continuous patterns of high-frequency flows that are critically important to floodplain ecological functioning. DeJager found significant correlations between floodscape inundation and riparian vegetation patterns but single floodscape maps only provide snapshots in time. This current research develops and utilizes multiple floodscape maps to quantify changes in flooding over decadal time periods. Using a Mississippi River site near Keithsburg, IL, we developed floodscape maps for Blackhawk Island over three different 30-year time periods (1908-1937, 1939-1968, and 1986-2015). Historic floodplain topography was developed from 1938 1-ft contour-line (0.31m) topographic maps and modern digital terrain were developed from 2011 bare-earth LiDAR data. These maps quantify floodscape changes in the 73 years since the completion of the lock and dam system. When comparing 1938 to 2011, DEM differencing reveals a geomorphic pattern dominated by deposition and aggradation. Despite the increase in terrain elevation, this research finds an overall pattern of more frequent inundation (a more submerged floodscape) and demonstrates that increases in stage frequencies have overwhelmed the increases in floodplain elevation in the 73 years since the construction of the lock and dams. Floodscape-change analysis provides a useful spatial tool for visualizing and conceptualizing flood-inundation changes over time

Case study of a performance-active changing trans* male singing voice

A professional classical singer of more than 25 years (AZ) in his early 50s requested this voice researcher’s consultation and assistance in early 2014. He was about to start living full time as a trans* man. Despite his intention to be included in the low start/gradual increase testosterone option of the Trans* Male (previously, “FTM”) Singing Voice Program, the request contained a rather unconventional aspect: AZ would continue to sing while his voice was changing. The above request was integral with his singing history. After the introduction of safeguards and his informed consent, AZ was accepted onto the Program. Due to the highly individual circumstances, his participation was recorded as a case study. The study has aimed to replicate the particulars of the slow hormonal changes and continuing singing ability found in certain cisgender male adolescent voices. Despite dealing with an adult trans* male individual, the progress has been comparable. This has been achieved by carefully monitoring AZ’s low start/gradual increase testosterone administration in communication with the medical practitioner. The participant’s vocal health remained safeguarded and promoted by carefully individualized vocal tuition. This article will discuss the collective results of the case study, including the recordings and the data analysis

Intellectual Property and Public Health – A White Paper

On October 26, 2012, the University of Akron School of Law’s Center for Intellectual Property and Technology hosted its Sixth Annual IP Scholars Forum. In attendance were thirteen legal scholars with expertise and an interest in IP and public health who met to discuss problems and potential solutions at the intersection of these fields. This report summarizes this discussion by describing the problems raised, areas of agreement and disagreement between the participants, suggestions and solutions made by participants and the subsequent evaluations of these suggestions and solutions. Led by the moderator, participants at the Forum focused generally on three broad questions. First, are there alternatives to either the patent system or specific patent doctrines that can provide or help provide sufficient incentives for health-related innovation? Second, is health information being used proprietarily and if so, is this type of protection appropriate? Third, does IP conflict with other non-IP values that are important in health and how does or can IP law help resolve these conflicts? This report addresses each of these questions in turn

Pre-hospital management protocols and perceived difficulty in diagnosing acute heart failure

Aim To illustrate the pre-hospital management arsenals and protocols in different EMS units, and to estimate the perceived difficulty of diagnosing suspected acute heart failure (AHF) compared with other common pre-hospital conditions. Methods and results A multinational survey included 104 emergency medical service (EMS) regions from 18 countries. Diagnostic and therapeutic arsenals related to AHF management were reported for each type of EMS unit. The prevalence and contents of management protocols for common medical conditions treated pre-hospitally was collected. The perceived difficulty of diagnosing AHF and other medical conditions by emergency medical dispatchers and EMS personnel was interrogated. Ultrasound devices and point-of-care testing were available in advanced life support and helicopter EMS units in fewer than 25% of EMS regions. AHF protocols were present in 80.8% of regions. Protocols for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, chest pain, and dyspnoea were present in 95.2, 80.8, and 76.0% of EMS regions, respectively. Protocolized diagnostic actions for AHF management included 12-lead electrocardiogram (92.1% of regions), ultrasound examination (16.0%), and point-of-care testings for troponin and BNP (6.0 and 3.5%). Therapeutic actions included supplementary oxygen (93.2%), non-invasive ventilation (80.7%), intravenous furosemide, opiates, nitroglycerine (69.0, 68.6, and 57.0%), and intubation 71.5%. Diagnosing suspected AHF was considered easy to moderate by EMS personnel and moderate to difficult by emergency medical dispatchers (without significant differences between de novo and decompensated heart failure). In both settings, diagnosis of suspected AHF was considered easier than pulmonary embolism and more difficult than ST-elevation myocardial infarction, asthma, and stroke. Conclusions The prevalence of AHF protocols is rather high but the contents seem to vary. Difficulty of diagnosing suspected AHF seems to be moderate compared with other pre-hospital conditions