Biomass and Burning Characteristics of Sugar Pine Cones

We investigated the physical and burning characteristics of sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana Douglas) cones and their contribution to woody surface fuel loadings. Field sampling was conducted at the Yosemite Forest Dynamics Plot (YFDP), a 25.6 ha mapped study plot in Yosemite National Park, California, USA. We developed a classification system to describe sugar pine cones of different sizes and decay conditions, and examined differences among cone classes in biomass, bulk density, flame length, burning time, consumption, and relative contribution to surface fuel loads. Sugar pine cones comprised 601 kg ha-1 of surface fuels. Mature cones comprised 54% of cone biomass, and aborted juvenile cones accounted for 44%. Cone biomass, diameter, and bulk density differed among cone condition classes, as did burning characteristics (one-way ANOVA, P \u3c 0.001 in all cases). Flame lengths ranged from 5 cm to 94 cm for juvenile cones, and 71 cm to 150 cm for mature cones. Our results showed that the developmental stage at which sugar pine cones become surface fuels determines their potential contribution to surface fire behavior in Sierra Nevada mixed-conifer forests. Sugar pine cones burn with greater flame lengths and flame times than the cones of other North American fire-tolerant pine species studied to date, indicating that cones augment the surface fire regime of sugar pine forests, and likely do so to a greater degree than do cones of other pine species

Plasma antibodies against heat shock protein 70 correlate with the incidence and severity of asthma in a Chinese population

BACKGROUND: The heat shock proteins (Hsps) are induced by stresses such as allergic factors and inflammatory responses in bronchi epithelial cells and therefore may be detectable in patients with asthma. However, the etiologic link between anti-Hsps and asthma (its severity and related inflammatory responses such as interleukin-4 and immunoglobulin E) has not been established. We determined whether antibodies against Hsp60 and Hsp70 were present in patients with asthma and evaluated their associations with risk and severity of asthma. METHODS: We determined the levels of anti-Hsp60 and anti-Hsp70 by immunoblot and their associations with risk and symptom severity of asthma in 95 patients with asthma and 99 matched non-symptomatic controls using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared to the controls, asthma patients were more likely to have detectable anti-Hsp60 (17.2% vs 5.1%) and anti-Hsp70 (33.7% vs 8.1%) (p ≤ 0.001). In particular, the presence of anti-Hsp70 was associated with a greater than 2 fold risk for asthma (adjusted OR = 2.21; 95% CI = 1.35~3.59). Furthermore, both anti-Hsp60 and anti-Hsp70 levels were positively correlated with symptom severity (p < 0.05) as well as interleukin-4 and immunoglobulin E (p < 0.05). Individuals with antibodies against anti-Hsp60 and anti-Hsp70 were more likely to have a family history of asthma (p < 0.001) and higher plasma concentrations of total immunoglobulin E (p = 0.001) and interleukin-4 (p < 0.05) than those without antibodies. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that anti-Hsp60 and especially anti-Hsp70 correlate with the attacks and severity of asthma. The underlying molecular mechanisms linking antibodies to heat shock proteins and asthma remain to be investigated

Bioenergetics Failure and Oxidative Stress in Brain Stem Mediates Cardiovascular Collapse Associated with Fatal Methamphetamine Intoxication

Background: Whereas sudden death, most often associated with cardiovascular collapse, occurs in abusers of the psychostimulant methamphetamine (METH), the underlying mechanism is much less understood. The demonstration that successful resuscitation of an arrested heart depends on maintained functionality of the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), which is responsible for the maintenance of stable blood pressure, suggests that failure of brain stem cardiovascular regulation, rather than the heart, holds the key to cardiovascular collapse. We tested the hypothesis that cessation of brain stem cardiovascular regulation because of a loss of functionality in RVLM mediated by bioenergetics failure and oxidative stress underlies the cardiovascular collapse elicited by lethal doses of METH. Methodology/Principal Findings: Survival rate, cardiovascular responses and biochemical or morphological changes in RVLM induced by intravenous administration of METH in Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated. High doses of METH induced significant mortality within 20 min that paralleled concomitant the collapse of arterial pressure or heart rate and loss of functionality in RVLM. There were concurrent increases in the concentration of METH in serum and ventrolateral medulla, along with tissue anoxia, cessation of microvascular perfusion and necrotic cell death in RVLM. Furthermore, mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme activity or electron transport capacity and ATP production in RVLM were reduced, and mitochondria-derived superoxide anion level was augmented. All those detrimental physiological and biochemica

A matched patient-sibling study on the usage of paracetamol and the subsequent development of allergy and asthma

10.1111/j.1399-3038.2006.00484.xPediatric Allergy and Immunology182128-13

Collect the Bones, Avoid the Cones: a game-based app for public engagement

Game-based applications (apps) and serious games enable educationalists to teach complex life sciences topics. Gamification principles (i.e. challenges, problem solving, critical thinking) improve learners’ motivation and can also help science communicators discuss important scientific subjects and their real-world context in an effective, enjoyable manner. The aim of this study was to design, develop and evaluate a science communication game-based app, entitled Collect the Bones, Avoid the Cones, on human skull anatomy for use in public engagement activities with younger audiences. Specifically, the app contextualised three-dimensional (3D) skull anatomy within a narrative about cycling and helmet safety. The app was tested at the Glasgow Science Centre, with ethical approval from the Glasgow School of Art, to assess its potential pedagogical value, in terms of pre- and post-app knowledge and confidence, and general user evaluation. In total, 50 participants were recruited (mean age 15.6 ± 1.647, range 7–64) with 62% of participants aged 7–12. Usability and educational value were rated highly with 70% of participants agreeing they could use the app without any external instructions and 90% agreeing they understand the anatomy of the skull better after app use. The enjoyability of the game was also positively perceived with 94% of participants agreeing they enjoyed the game. Although there was no statistical significance in pre- and post-app knowledge scores, there was a statistically significant increase in players’ confidence relating to skull anatomy (pre-app: 3.00 ± 1.265, post-app: 4.00 ± 1.00, Z = −5.111, p &lt; 0.001). These results provide promising insight into the potential of game-based apps for public engagement in anatomical sciences. Future research on how the app influences attitudes towards helmet use in different demographic groups would be valuable in identifying its full pedagogical potential

Early abnormal fibrinolysis and mortality in patients with thermal injury: a prospective cohort study

Abnormal fibrinolysis early after injury has been associated with increased mortality in trauma patients, but no studies have addressed patients with burn injury. This prospective cohort study aimed to characterize fibrinolytic phenotypes in burn patients and to see if they were associated with mortality. Patients presenting to a regional burn centre within 4 h of thermal injury were included. Blood was collected for sequential viscoelastic measurements using thromboelastography (RapidTEG™) over 12 h. The percentage decrease in clot strength 30 min after the time of maximal clot strength (LY30) was used to categorize patients into hypofibrinolytic/fibrinolytic shutdown (SD), physiological (PHYS) and hyperfibrinolytic (HF) phenotypes. Injury characteristics, demographics and outcomes were compared. Of 115 included patients, just over two thirds were male. Overall median age was 40 (i.q.r. 28-57) years and median total body surface area (TBSA) burn was 13 (i.q.r. 6-30) per cent. Some 42 (36.5 per cent) patients had severe burns affecting over 20 per cent TBSA. Overall mortality was 18.3 per cent. At admission 60.0 per cent were PHYS, 30.4 per cent were SD and 9.6 per cent HF. HF was associated with increased risk of mortality on admission (odds ratio 12.61 (95 per cent c.i. 1.12 to 142.57); P = 0.041) but not later during the admission when its incidence also decreased. Admission SD was not associated with mortality, but incidence increased and by 4 h and beyond, SD was associated with increased mortality, compared with PHYS (odds ratio 8.27 (95 per cent c.i. 1.16 to 58.95); P = 0.034). Early abnormal fibrinolytic function is associated with mortality in burn patients