Synergies for Improving Oil Palm Production and Forest Conservation in Floodplain Landscapes

Lowland tropical forests are increasingly threatened with conversion to oil palm as global demand and high profit drives crop expansion throughout the world’s tropical regions. Yet, landscapes are not homogeneous and regional constraints dictate land suitability for this crop. We conducted a regional study to investigate spatial and economic components of forest conversion to oil palm within a tropical floodplain in the Lower Kinabatangan, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo. The Kinabatangan ecosystem harbours significant biodiversity with globally threatened species but has suffered forest loss and fragmentation. We mapped the oil palm and forested landscapes (using object-based-image analysis, classification and regression tree analysis and on-screen digitising of high-resolution imagery) and undertook economic modelling. Within the study region (520,269 ha), 250,617 ha is cultivated with oil palm with 77% having high Net-Present-Value (NPV) estimates ($413/ha?yr–$637/ha?yr); but 20.5% is under-producing. In fact 6.3% (15,810 ha) of oil palm is commercially redundant (with negative NPV of $-299/ha?yr-$-65/ha?yr) due to palm mortality from flood inundation. These areas would have been important riparian or flooded forest types. Moreover, 30,173 ha of unprotected forest remain and despite its value for connectivity and biodiversity 64% is allocated for future oil palm. However, we estimate that at minimum 54% of these forests are unsuitable for this crop due to inundation events. If conversion to oil palm occurs, we predict a further 16,207 ha will become commercially redundant. This means that over 32,000 ha of forest within the floodplain would have been converted for little or no financial gain yet with significant cost to the ecosystem. Our findings have globally relevant implications for similar floodplain landscapes undergoing forest transformation to agriculture such as oil palm. Understanding landscape level constraints to this crop, and transferring these into policy and practice, may provide conservation and economic opportunities within these seemingly high opportunity cost landscapes

SILAC-based proteomic quantification of chemoattractant-induced cytoskeleton dynamics on a second to minute timescale

Cytoskeletal dynamics during cell behaviours ranging from endocytosis and exocytosis to cell division and movement is controlled by a complex network of signalling pathways, the full details of which are as yet unresolved. Here we show that SILAC-based proteomic methods can be used to characterize the rapid chemoattractant-induced dynamic changes in the actin–myosin cytoskeleton and regulatory elements on a proteome-wide scale with a second to minute timescale resolution. This approach provides novel insights in the ensemble kinetics of key cytoskeletal constituents and association of known and novel identified binding proteins. We validate the proteomic data by detailed microscopy-based analysis of in vivo translocation dynamics for key signalling factors. This rapid large-scale proteomic approach may be applied to other situations where highly dynamic changes in complex cellular compartments are expected to play a key role

Trauma-sensitive yoga: a collective case study of the trauma recovery of women impacted by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is defined as a pattern of abusive and controlling behaviors that an individual perpetuates physically, psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, economically, and/or sexually against his or her intimate partner (World Health Organization, 2013b). More than 1 in 3 women in the United States have experienced IPV at some point in their lifetime (The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey: 2010 Summary Report, 2010). Further, more than a third of women who have been impacted by Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) develop PTSD (DeJonghe, Bogat, Levendosky, & Von Eye, 2008; Van der Kolk et al., 2014). Despite the high incidence of PTSD in women impacted by IPV, there seems to be a gap addressing the needs of this clinical population due to the ambiguity on the efficacy of current treatment interventions for PTSD. Serious limitations such as high drop out rates and nonresponse rates persist in studies of even well-established and heavily researched interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), suggesting that these interventions may not be effective for all trauma survivors (Schottenbauer et al., 2008). In recent years, neuroscientists such as Porges (2001, 2003) have shed new light and understanding on trauma by suggesting that social behavior has a neurobiological basis. It may be that until traumatized individuals increase physiological awareness of their body, conventional trauma treatment approaches that are cognitively oriented may have limited effectiveness (Emerson, 2011; Scaer, 2005). Trauma-sensitive yoga (TSY), a structured body-oriented yoga practice, is one of the novel approaches specifically designed to help trauma survivors recover from trauma. Although research on TSY is in its infancy, several scholars have found evidence for its efficacy as an intervention for significantly reducing participants’ PTSD symptoms (Dick, Niles, Street, DiMartino, & Mitchell, 2014; Mitchell et al., 2014; Van der Kolk et al., 2014). While this is useful information, these researchers have not yet considered how TSY facilitates trauma recovery beyond what is reflected in PTSD scores. However, identifying nuances in individual recovery is central to informing more tailored interventions specific to survivors’ diverse trauma recovery needs (Dutton, 2009). To fill this gap in the extant literature, the purpose of this study was to study adult female IPV survivors’ perceptions of trauma recovery as facilitated by TSY. In particular, the researcher sought to develop an in-depth and unique contextual understanding on five women’s trauma recovery experiences using a collective case study research design. Findings from this study revealed individual and collective themes across cases that support the use of TSY to facilitate trauma recovery in multidimensional ways. Themes from the benefits of TSY on women’s trauma recovery included (a) physiological benefits, (b) emotional benefits, (c) spiritual benefits, (d) cognitive benefits, (e) enhanced perception of self and others, (f) shift in perspective on time, (f) self-care, and (g) application of positive coping strategies. The findings indicate that TSY offers a versatile approach to meeting the diverse needs of women impacted by IPV-related trauma. Contrary to the proposition that TSY is suited for all complex trauma survivors, the findings also suggest that TSY classes may be contraindicated for certain complex trauma survivors

Mental turmoil, suicide risk, illness perception, and temperament, and their impact on quality of life in chronic daily headache

To evaluate the relationship among quality of life, temperament, illness perception, and mental turmoil in patients affected by chronic daily headache with concomitant medication overuse headache. Participants were 116 consecutive adult outpatients admitted to the Department of General Medicine of the Sant’Andrea Hospital in Rome, between January 2007 and December 2007 with a diagnosis of chronic daily headache (illness duration >5 years). Patients were administered the Temperament Evaluation of Memphis, Pisa, Paris and San Diego-autoquestionnaire version (TEMPS-A), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ), the Suicide Score Scale (SSS), and the Quality of Life Index (QL-Index). Twenty-eight percent of the patients evidenced moderate to severe depression, and 35% evidenced severe hopelessness. Analyses also indicated that quality of life, temperament, illness perception, and psychological turmoil are associated. However, a hierarchical multivariate regression analysis with quality of life as dependent variable indicated that only a model with mental turmoil variables may fit data; further, only the MINI suicidal intent resulted associated with quality of life (standardized regression coefficient = −0.55; t = −3.06; P < 0.01). Suicide risk may play a central role in affecting the quality of life of patients with chronic headache. The investigation of the interplay of factors that precipitate suicide risk should include assessment of chronic headache and its effects on wellbeing

Genetic and Proteomic Approaches to Identify Cancer Drug Targets

While target-based small-molecule discovery has taken centre-stage in the pharmaceutical industry, there are many cancer-promoting proteins not easily addressed with a traditional target-based screening approach. In order to address this problem, as well as to identify modulators of biological states in the absence of knowing the protein target of the state switch, alternative phenotypic screening approaches, such as gene expression-based and high-content imaging, have been developed. With this renewed interest in phenotypic screening, however, comes the challenge of identifying the binding protein target(s) of small-molecule hits. Emerging technologies have the potential to improve the process of target identification. In this review, we discuss the application of genomic (gene expression-based), genetic (short hairpin RNA and open reading frame screening), and proteomic approaches to protein target identification

Ginseng and ginkgo biloba effects on cognition as modulated by cardiovascular reactivity: a randomised trial

Background There is some evidence to suggest that ginseng and Ginkgo biloba can improve cognitive performance, however, very little is known about the mechanisms associated with such improvement. Here, we tested whether cardiovascular reactivity to a task is associated with cognitive improvement. Methodology/Principal findings Using a double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover design, participants (N = 24) received two doses of Panax Ginseng (500, 1000 mg) or Ginkgo Biloba (120, 240 mg) (N = 24), and underwent a series of cognitive tests while systolic, diastolic, and heart rate readings were taken. Ginkgo Biloba improved aspects of executive functioning (Stroop and Berg tasks) in females but not in males. Ginseng had no effect on cognition. Ginkgo biloba in females reversed the initial (i.e. placebo) increase in cardiovascular reactivity (systolic and diastolic readings increased compared to baseline) to cognitive tasks. This effect (reversal) was most notable after those tasks (Stroop and Iowa) that elicited the greatest cardiovascular reactivity during placebo. In males, although ginkgo also decreased cardiovascular readings, it did so from an initial (placebo) blunted response (i.e. decrease or no change from baseline) to cognitive tasks. Ginseng, on the contrary, increased cardiovascular readings compared to placebo. Conclusions/Significance These results suggest that cardiovascular reactivity may be a mechanism by which ginkgo but not ginseng, in females is associated with certain forms of cognitive improvement

Linking research and practice to address domestic and sexual violence: Lessons learned from a statewide conference with researchers and practitioners

Purpose - There is a growing emphasis on the need to integrate research and practice in the fields of domestic and sexual violence. However, additional research is needed to identify strategies for key stakeholders to use to bridge research and practice in these areas. The paper aims to discuss these issues.Design/methodology/approach - The current study analyzed qualitative data collected during a statewide conference for researchers and practitioners whose work addresses domestic and/or sexual violence.Findings - The findings provide information about building effective researcher-practitioner collaborations, developing methodologically sound studies that address practice-relevant research questions, and identifying steps that funders, state coalitions, researchers, and practitioners can take to advance the integration of research and practice.Research limitations/implications - Additional research is needed to evaluate specific approaches to better integrating research and practice related to domestic and sexual violence.Practical implications - Researcher-practitioner collaborations offer numerous benefits to advancing research and practice related to domestic and sexual violence. Additional guidance and tangible support is needed to foster these collaborations.Originality/value - This study used data collected during an innovative conference that brought together researchers and practitioners. The data have implications for furthering the integration of research and practice related to domestic and sexual violence

High Brain Ammonia Tolerance and Down-Regulation of Na+:K+:2Cl- Cotransporter 1b mRNA and Protein Expression in the Brain of the Swamp Eel, Monopterus albus, Exposed to Environmental Ammonia or Terrestrial Conditions

10.1371/journal.pone.0069512PLoS ONE89-POLN

Early bare-metal stent thrombosis presenting with cardiogenic shock: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Although stents have improved the safety and efficacy of percutaneous coronary interventions, coronary stent thrombosis remains a serious complication.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We present the case of a 64-year-old Caucasian man from Greece, with symptoms and electrocardiographic findings suggestive of acute inferior myocardial infarction, who complained of chest pain and rapidly developed cardiogenic shock 48 hours after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The most common cause of early bare-metal stent thrombosis is stent malapposition. Intravascular ultrasound is the preferred method to recognize predictors of coronary events that are not detected by angiography.</p

Synergistic interaction and biochar improvement over co-torrefaction of intermediate waste epoxy resins and fir

This study investigated the synergistic effect of co-torrefaction with intermediate waste epoxy resins and fir in a batch-type reactor towards biochar improvement. The synergistic effect ratio was used to judge the interaction between the two materials assisted by statistical tools. The main interaction between the feedstocks was the catalytic reaction and blocking effect. Sodium presented in the intermediate waste had a pronounced catalytic effect on the liquid products during torrefaction. It successfully enhanced the volatile matter emissions and exhibited an antagonistic effect on the solid yield. Different from the catalytic reaction that occurred during short retention time, the blocking effect was more noticeable with a longer duration, showing a synergistic effect on the solid yield. Alternatively, a significantly antagonistic effect was exerted on oxygen content, while the carbon content displayed a converse trend. This gave rise to a major antagonistic effect on the O/C ratio which was closer to coal for pure materials torrefaction. The other spotlight in this study was to reuse the tar as a heating value additive. After coating it onto the biochar, the higher heating value could be increased by up to 5.4%. Although tar is considered as an unwanted byproduct of torrefaction treatment, the presented data show its high potential to be recycled into useful calorific value enhancer. It also fulfills the scope of waste-to-energy in this study