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27 mins ago


Boethella jatai sp. nov. is described from a savanna area in the southeast of Brazil. The genus is redescribed to include the new species and an identification key for world species is provided.The Rio Doce State Park ("PERD") is the largest Atlantic Forest remnant in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with predominantly semi-deciduous forests. The longhorned beetles of the Cerambycinae subfamily (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) are distributed worldwide, developing on healthy, stressed or recently dead trees. Faunistic surveys are necessary to understand about the Minas Gerais' cerambycid fauna due to a lack of research, especially in the eastern region of the state. A list of species of the subfamily Cerambycinae (Coleoptera Cerambycidae), collected in the PERD during the rainy season (September 2013- February 2014), is presented. The beetles were collected using a light trap and through their emergence from Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (Fabaceae) logs. A total of 663 individuals of 33 species, 30 genera, and 15 tribes of the Cerambycinae subfamily were collected. The species Malacopterus tenellus (Fabricius, 1801) was registered for the first time in Minas Gerais State, while A. colubrina is a new host plant for 14 Cerambycinae species. The geographical distribution, number of host plants and materials examined are presented for each species collected. This is the first list of Cerambycidae species from the Rio Doce State Park.Two species of the upogebiida mud shrimp genus Gebiacantha Ngoc-Ho, 1989, currently represented by 19 described species, are reported from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The first, G. acanthochela (Sakai, 1967), is redescribed in detail based on two female specimens from Amami Islands the second discovered since the original description, enabling better assessment of its diagnostic characters. The second, G. fortispinata n. sp., is described on the basis of a single female holotype from Okinawa Island. It appears closest to G. multispinosa Ngoc-Ho, 1994, known with certainty only from New Caledonia, but the proportionally narrower telson with a more deeply notched posterior margin and the distally unarmed pereopod 3 merus distinguish the new species from G. multispinosa. Three species of Gebiacantha, including G. sagamiensis Komai, 2017, are now known from Japanese waters.The enigmatic snake genus Micrelaps has uncertain phylogenetic affinities. The type species of the genus, Micrelaps muelleri, inhabits the Southern Levant. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/cpi-0610.html Snakes inhabiting the Jordan River Valley just south of the Sea of Galilee have been described as a new species, Micrelaps tchernovi, based on their distinct colour patterns, despite M. muelleri being well known to be variable in colour-pattern traits. Here we use morphological and molecular data to examine the taxonomic status and phylogenetic affinity of Levantine Micrelaps. We show that all scalation, colour, and pattern-related traits are extremely variable across the range of these snakes. Some morphological features show clinal variation related to temperature and precipitation, and snakes with a 'tchernovi' morph are merely at one end of a continuum of morphological variation. Both 'classical muelleri' and 'tchernovi' morphs occur in syntopy in the Jordan Valley and elsewhere in Israel. Against this background of high morphological variation, neutral genetic markers show almost no differentiation between snakes, no genetic structure is evident across populations, and no differences are to be found between the two putative species. We conclude that Levantine Micrelaps belongs to a single, morphologically variable, and genetically uniform species, Micrelaps muelleri, of which M. tchernovi is a junior synonym.Twenty-one new species of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick are described M. acutata sp. nov., M. annulignatha sp. nov., M. artivalva sp. nov., M. basiprocessa sp. nov., M. bicornea sp. nov., M. bidigitata sp. nov., M. circinans sp. nov., M. compacta sp. nov., M. cuneata sp. nov., M. forcipata sp. nov., M. ledongensis sp. nov., M. longihamata sp. nov., M. mecobursoides sp. nov., M. microdonta sp. nov., M. papillisetosa sp. nov., M. parallela sp. nov., M. recticostata sp. nov., M. segregnatha sp. nov., M. sinuicosta sp. nov., M. taiwanensis sp. nov. and M. taeniophylla sp. nov. The male of M. flavilineata Kitajima et Sakamaki, 2019 is described for the first time. Images of both adults and genitalia are provided. All species are divided into two species-groups, and a key to each group as well as a map showing the distribution of each group in China are given.The Neotropical stolidosomatine genus Pseudosympycnus Robinson (Diptera Dolichopodidae) is reviewed and contains 12 species, including six new species that herein are described and illustrated P. araza sp. nov. (Peru, department of Cusco), P. bickeli sp. nov. (Brazilian States of Pará and Roraima), P. latitibia sp. nov. (Brazilian States of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), P. maroaga sp. nov (Brazilian State of Amazonas), P. robinsoni sp. nov. (Brazilian State of Acre), and P. sehnali sp. nov. (Brazilian State of Amazonas). All species are diagnosed, male and female terminalia of the genus are illustrated for the first time, high-resolution images of relevant characters are presented and an identification key to males is provided.Pogonostoma (Pogonostoma) ondravybirali sp. nov. from southwestern Madagascar is described as new to science. The new species is placed to a large P. (Pogonostoma) elegans species-group (sensu Moravec 2007) along with seven other mutually similar species which are recognized within this species-group as a species-complex of P. (P.) alluaudi W. Horn, 1898. An elaborated redescription of the most similar P. (P.) atrorotundatum W. Horn, 1934 is given. A revised key to the P. (P.) elegans species-group is presented in order to supplement the key in the monograph of the genus Pogonostoma Klug, 1835 by Moravec (2007). First description of male characters of P. (Pogonostoma) densisculptum Moravec, 2003 (belonging to P. (P.) gibbosum species-group sensu Moravec 2007) and first description of female characters of P. (Microstenocera) fabiocassolai Moravec, 2003 (of the P. (M.) minimum species-group sensu Moravec 2007) are introduced. Type and other specimens of the presented species are illustrated in colour photographs of their habitus, diagnostic characters and variability (including two diagnostic characters of P.

1 hr ago


The glutamatergic modulator ketamine rapidly reduces depressive symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD) and bipolar disorder. While its underlying mechanism of antidepressant action is not fully understood, modulating glutamatergically-mediated connectivity appears to be a critical component moderating antidepressant response. This double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study analyzed data from 19 drug-free individuals with TRD and 15 healthy volunteers who received a single intravenous infusion of ketamine hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg) as well as an intravenous infusion of saline placebo. Magnetoencephalographic recordings were collected prior to the first infusion and 6-9 h after both drug and placebo infusions. During scanning, participants completed an attentional dot probe task that included emotional faces. Antidepressant response was measured across time points using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) was used treases in gain control of spiny stellate cells in the early visual cortex. These findings provide additional support for the GABA and NMDA inhibition and disinhibition hypotheses of depression and support the role of AMPA throughput in ketamine's antidepressant effects. Clinical Trial Registration https//clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00088699?term=NCT00088699&draw=2&rank=1, identifier NCT00088699.In this study, a literature survey was conducted of research into the development and use of wearable devices and sensors in patients with depression. We collected 18 studies that had investigated wearable devices for assessment, monitoring, or prediction of depression. In this report, we examine the sensors of the various types of wearable devices (e.g., actigraphy units, wristbands, fitness trackers, and smartwatches) and parameters measured through sensors in people with depression. In addition, we discuss future trends, referring to research in other areas employing wearable devices, and suggest the challenges of using wearable devices in the field of depression. Real-time objective monitoring of symptoms and novel approaches for diagnosis and treatment using wearable devices will lead to changes in management of patients with depression. During the process, it is necessary to overcome several issues, including limited types of collected data, reliability, user adherence, and privacy concerns.Background Social networking sites (SNSs) play an important role in many aspects of life nowadays, and it seems to be crucial to explore their impact on human well-being and functioning. The main aim of the study was to examine the mediating role of Facebook intrusion between positive capital and general distress. Positive capital was considered as comprising self-esteem, ego-resiliency, and self-control, while general distress was seen as having three dimensions depression, anxiety, and stress. Methods The sample consisted of N = 4,495 participants (M = 22.96 years, SD = 5.46) from 14 countries Australia, Cyprus, Greece, Hong Kong, Lithuania, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. We used the following methods the Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire (FIQ), the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Brief Self-Control Scale (SCS), The Ego Resiliency Revised Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results We found that Facebook intrusion was a mediator between self-esteem and general distress and between self-control and general distress. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mpp-iodide.html Limitations The present study was based on a cross-sectional study, and the measures used were self-report measures. The majority of the participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Conclusions The present findings contribute to a better understanding on how the social media have impact on individual mental health. Implications for future studies are discussed.Rationale Regular cannabis users have been shown to differ from non-using controls in learning performance. It is unclear if these differences are specific to distinct domains of learning (verbal, visuospatial), exacerbate with extent of cannabis exposure and dissipate with sustained abstinence. Objective This study examines different domains of learning (verbal, visuospatial) in current and abstaining cannabis users, and the role of chronicity of use. Methods In a cross-sectional design, we examined 127 psychiatrically healthy participants (65 female) with mean aged of 34 years. Of these, 69 individuals were current regular cannabis users (mean 15 years use), 12 were former cannabis users abstinent for ~2.5 yrs (after a mean of 16 years use), and 46 were non-cannabis using controls. Groups were compared on verbal learning performance assessed via the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II) and for visuospatial learning measured with the Brown Location Test (BLT). We explored the association between CVLT/BLT performance and cannabis use levels in current and former users. Results Current cannabis use compared to non-use was associated with worse performance on select aspects of verbal learning (Long Delay Cued Recall) and of visuospatial learning (Retroactive Interference and LD Rotated Recall). Prolonged abstinence was associated with altered verbal learning but intact visuospatial learning. There were non-significant correlations between distinct cannabis use measures, age and learning in both current and former users. Conclusions Our findings suggest cannabis use status (current use, former use) affects different domains of learning (verbal and visuospatial) in a distinct fashion. These findings might be accounted for in the design of cognitive interventions aimed to support abstinence in cannabis users.Some studies suggest that methylphenidate (MPH) might be an effective treatment for antisocial and aggressive behavior in adolescence. However, little is known about the mechanism of action of MPH in adolescents with this kind of psychopathology. MPH is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and thus it is likely to affect dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic pathways. This is the first study to investigate the effect of MPH on resting-state connectivity of three mesolimbic seed regions with the rest of the brain in clinical referred male adolescents with a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD). Thirty-six male DBD adolescents and 31 male healthy controls (HCs) were included. DBD subjects were randomly allocated to a single dose of MPH (DBD-MPH, n = 20) or placebo (DBD-PCB, n = 16). Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), amygdala, and ventral tegmental area (VTA) with the rest of the brain was compared between groups. The NAcc seed showed increased connectivity in DBD-PCB compared to HC with the occipital cortex, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), precuneus, and inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and increased connectivity in DBD-PCB compared to DBD-MPH with occipital cortex, IPL, and medial frontal gyrus.

11 hrs ago


COLOMBIA IS A white powder paradise for a growing number of western tourists who visit the South American country solely to snort cocaine. Dealers loiter on dimly lit nightclub strips in cities such as Bogota, hawking their wares to Australians and other westerners hungry for blow.
Colombian drug trafficking is a global affair with money flowing into the region from all over the world. It has allowed the criminal groups to develop sophisticated smuggling operations, including a submarine recently discovered by police that is believed to be capable of transporting large amounts of cocaine to the United States.
Cocaine consumption in the United States has flattened after hitting a record high in the late 1990s, but in other parts of the world it continues to grow. As a result, cocaine production is booming in the Andean triumvirate of Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.
The government of President Juan Manuel Santos has made a number of important changes to its policies, but the war on drugs is far from over. https://diigo.com/0y9fuq , the largest rebel group, has agreed to a peace deal with the government and plans to disarm over the next few years, but many fear that other criminal gangs will quickly step into the void, leading to a Balkanization of cocaine production in Colombia and a spike in violence.
In fact, cocaine has never been more prevalent than it is today. https://postheaven.net/firespleen8/get-cocaine-australia-and-canada has shifted, and demand for the illegal drug is growing in Asia and Europe. Colombia is now producing more than 60 percent of the world’s cocaine.
As a result, the country’s right wing paramilitary groups have seized control of many fields and labs, as well as smuggling routes, and have been able to reap huge profits that they are using to fund their on-going civil war against left wing guerrillas. In addition to drug trafficking, these groups are responsible for a range of crimes, including human smuggling, piracy, the illegal logging of non-renewables and arms, and even smuggling of flora and fauna.
As the conflict continues, the country faces a host of other social problems, such as poverty and mass migration, with millions of Venezuelans streaming into Colombia to escape the political and economic crisis. Criminals are profiting from these flows by smuggling people into the country, many of them children and teenagers, who are being used as slaves for low wages. This is causing severe strain on local society and creating fertile ground for corrupt officials, who are turning a blind eye to the situation or taking bribes from the criminal networks. It’s an ugly picture that shows how the drug war is destroying both Colombia and its allies. To regain the support of its allies, the Colombian government must convince them that it can manage a legalization process without spiralling into a new war on drugs. It will take time and careful planning to make that happen. In the meantime, gangs will continue to reap massive profits from the illegal cocaine trade.

p Whether or not the two would deal with criminal charges more than their actions in Vancouver will hinge on the laws of the internationa...

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27 mins ago


Boethella jatai sp. nov. is described from a savanna area in the southeast of Brazil. The genus is redescribed to include the new species and an identification key for world species is provided.The Rio Doce State Park ("PERD") is the largest Atlantic Forest remnant in Minas Gerais State, Brazil, with predominantly semi-deciduous forests. The longhorned beetles of the Cerambycinae subfamily (Coleoptera Cerambycidae) are distributed worldwide, developing on healthy, stressed or recently dead trees. Faunistic surveys are necessary to understand about the Minas Gerais' cerambycid fauna due to a lack of research, especially in the eastern region of the state. A list of species of the subfamily Cerambycinae (Coleoptera Cerambycidae), collected in the PERD during the rainy season (September 2013- February 2014), is presented. The beetles were collected using a light trap and through their emergence from Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan (Fabaceae) logs. A total of 663 individuals of 33 species, 30 genera, and 15 tribes of the Cerambycinae subfamily were collected. The species Malacopterus tenellus (Fabricius, 1801) was registered for the first time in Minas Gerais State, while A. colubrina is a new host plant for 14 Cerambycinae species. The geographical distribution, number of host plants and materials examined are presented for each species collected. This is the first list of Cerambycidae species from the Rio Doce State Park.Two species of the upogebiida mud shrimp genus Gebiacantha Ngoc-Ho, 1989, currently represented by 19 described species, are reported from the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The first, G. acanthochela (Sakai, 1967), is redescribed in detail based on two female specimens from Amami Islands the second discovered since the original description, enabling better assessment of its diagnostic characters. The second, G. fortispinata n. sp., is described on the basis of a single female holotype from Okinawa Island. It appears closest to G. multispinosa Ngoc-Ho, 1994, known with certainty only from New Caledonia, but the proportionally narrower telson with a more deeply notched posterior margin and the distally unarmed pereopod 3 merus distinguish the new species from G. multispinosa. Three species of Gebiacantha, including G. sagamiensis Komai, 2017, are now known from Japanese waters.The enigmatic snake genus Micrelaps has uncertain phylogenetic affinities. The type species of the genus, Micrelaps muelleri, inhabits the Southern Levant. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/cpi-0610.html Snakes inhabiting the Jordan River Valley just south of the Sea of Galilee have been described as a new species, Micrelaps tchernovi, based on their distinct colour patterns, despite M. muelleri being well known to be variable in colour-pattern traits. Here we use morphological and molecular data to examine the taxonomic status and phylogenetic affinity of Levantine Micrelaps. We show that all scalation, colour, and pattern-related traits are extremely variable across the range of these snakes. Some morphological features show clinal variation related to temperature and precipitation, and snakes with a 'tchernovi' morph are merely at one end of a continuum of morphological variation. Both 'classical muelleri' and 'tchernovi' morphs occur in syntopy in the Jordan Valley and elsewhere in Israel. Against this background of high morphological variation, neutral genetic markers show almost no differentiation between snakes, no genetic structure is evident across populations, and no differences are to be found between the two putative species. We conclude that Levantine Micrelaps belongs to a single, morphologically variable, and genetically uniform species, Micrelaps muelleri, of which M. tchernovi is a junior synonym.Twenty-one new species of the genus Meleonoma Meyrick are described M. acutata sp. nov., M. annulignatha sp. nov., M. artivalva sp. nov., M. basiprocessa sp. nov., M. bicornea sp. nov., M. bidigitata sp. nov., M. circinans sp. nov., M. compacta sp. nov., M. cuneata sp. nov., M. forcipata sp. nov., M. ledongensis sp. nov., M. longihamata sp. nov., M. mecobursoides sp. nov., M. microdonta sp. nov., M. papillisetosa sp. nov., M. parallela sp. nov., M. recticostata sp. nov., M. segregnatha sp. nov., M. sinuicosta sp. nov., M. taiwanensis sp. nov. and M. taeniophylla sp. nov. The male of M. flavilineata Kitajima et Sakamaki, 2019 is described for the first time. Images of both adults and genitalia are provided. All species are divided into two species-groups, and a key to each group as well as a map showing the distribution of each group in China are given.The Neotropical stolidosomatine genus Pseudosympycnus Robinson (Diptera Dolichopodidae) is reviewed and contains 12 species, including six new species that herein are described and illustrated P. araza sp. nov. (Peru, department of Cusco), P. bickeli sp. nov. (Brazilian States of Pará and Roraima), P. latitibia sp. nov. (Brazilian States of Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo), P. maroaga sp. nov (Brazilian State of Amazonas), P. robinsoni sp. nov. (Brazilian State of Acre), and P. sehnali sp. nov. (Brazilian State of Amazonas). All species are diagnosed, male and female terminalia of the genus are illustrated for the first time, high-resolution images of relevant characters are presented and an identification key to males is provided.Pogonostoma (Pogonostoma) ondravybirali sp. nov. from southwestern Madagascar is described as new to science. The new species is placed to a large P. (Pogonostoma) elegans species-group (sensu Moravec 2007) along with seven other mutually similar species which are recognized within this species-group as a species-complex of P. (P.) alluaudi W. Horn, 1898. An elaborated redescription of the most similar P. (P.) atrorotundatum W. Horn, 1934 is given. A revised key to the P. (P.) elegans species-group is presented in order to supplement the key in the monograph of the genus Pogonostoma Klug, 1835 by Moravec (2007). First description of male characters of P. (Pogonostoma) densisculptum Moravec, 2003 (belonging to P. (P.) gibbosum species-group sensu Moravec 2007) and first description of female characters of P. (Microstenocera) fabiocassolai Moravec, 2003 (of the P. (M.) minimum species-group sensu Moravec 2007) are introduced. Type and other specimens of the presented species are illustrated in colour photographs of their habitus, diagnostic characters and variability (including two diagnostic characters of P.

1 hr ago


The glutamatergic modulator ketamine rapidly reduces depressive symptoms in individuals with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder (TRD) and bipolar disorder. While its underlying mechanism of antidepressant action is not fully understood, modulating glutamatergically-mediated connectivity appears to be a critical component moderating antidepressant response. This double-blind, crossover, placebo-controlled study analyzed data from 19 drug-free individuals with TRD and 15 healthy volunteers who received a single intravenous infusion of ketamine hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg) as well as an intravenous infusion of saline placebo. Magnetoencephalographic recordings were collected prior to the first infusion and 6-9 h after both drug and placebo infusions. During scanning, participants completed an attentional dot probe task that included emotional faces. Antidepressant response was measured across time points using the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). Dynamic causal modeling (DCM) was used treases in gain control of spiny stellate cells in the early visual cortex. These findings provide additional support for the GABA and NMDA inhibition and disinhibition hypotheses of depression and support the role of AMPA throughput in ketamine's antidepressant effects. Clinical Trial Registration https//clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00088699?term=NCT00088699&draw=2&rank=1, identifier NCT00088699.In this study, a literature survey was conducted of research into the development and use of wearable devices and sensors in patients with depression. We collected 18 studies that had investigated wearable devices for assessment, monitoring, or prediction of depression. In this report, we examine the sensors of the various types of wearable devices (e.g., actigraphy units, wristbands, fitness trackers, and smartwatches) and parameters measured through sensors in people with depression. In addition, we discuss future trends, referring to research in other areas employing wearable devices, and suggest the challenges of using wearable devices in the field of depression. Real-time objective monitoring of symptoms and novel approaches for diagnosis and treatment using wearable devices will lead to changes in management of patients with depression. During the process, it is necessary to overcome several issues, including limited types of collected data, reliability, user adherence, and privacy concerns.Background Social networking sites (SNSs) play an important role in many aspects of life nowadays, and it seems to be crucial to explore their impact on human well-being and functioning. The main aim of the study was to examine the mediating role of Facebook intrusion between positive capital and general distress. Positive capital was considered as comprising self-esteem, ego-resiliency, and self-control, while general distress was seen as having three dimensions depression, anxiety, and stress. Methods The sample consisted of N = 4,495 participants (M = 22.96 years, SD = 5.46) from 14 countries Australia, Cyprus, Greece, Hong Kong, Lithuania, New Zealand, Peru, Poland, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and United States. We used the following methods the Facebook Intrusion Questionnaire (FIQ), the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Brief Self-Control Scale (SCS), The Ego Resiliency Revised Scale and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Results We found that Facebook intrusion was a mediator between self-esteem and general distress and between self-control and general distress. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/mpp-iodide.html Limitations The present study was based on a cross-sectional study, and the measures used were self-report measures. The majority of the participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Conclusions The present findings contribute to a better understanding on how the social media have impact on individual mental health. Implications for future studies are discussed.Rationale Regular cannabis users have been shown to differ from non-using controls in learning performance. It is unclear if these differences are specific to distinct domains of learning (verbal, visuospatial), exacerbate with extent of cannabis exposure and dissipate with sustained abstinence. Objective This study examines different domains of learning (verbal, visuospatial) in current and abstaining cannabis users, and the role of chronicity of use. Methods In a cross-sectional design, we examined 127 psychiatrically healthy participants (65 female) with mean aged of 34 years. Of these, 69 individuals were current regular cannabis users (mean 15 years use), 12 were former cannabis users abstinent for ~2.5 yrs (after a mean of 16 years use), and 46 were non-cannabis using controls. Groups were compared on verbal learning performance assessed via the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT-II) and for visuospatial learning measured with the Brown Location Test (BLT). We explored the association between CVLT/BLT performance and cannabis use levels in current and former users. Results Current cannabis use compared to non-use was associated with worse performance on select aspects of verbal learning (Long Delay Cued Recall) and of visuospatial learning (Retroactive Interference and LD Rotated Recall). Prolonged abstinence was associated with altered verbal learning but intact visuospatial learning. There were non-significant correlations between distinct cannabis use measures, age and learning in both current and former users. Conclusions Our findings suggest cannabis use status (current use, former use) affects different domains of learning (verbal and visuospatial) in a distinct fashion. These findings might be accounted for in the design of cognitive interventions aimed to support abstinence in cannabis users.Some studies suggest that methylphenidate (MPH) might be an effective treatment for antisocial and aggressive behavior in adolescence. However, little is known about the mechanism of action of MPH in adolescents with this kind of psychopathology. MPH is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor and thus it is likely to affect dopaminergic mesocorticolimbic pathways. This is the first study to investigate the effect of MPH on resting-state connectivity of three mesolimbic seed regions with the rest of the brain in clinical referred male adolescents with a disruptive behavior disorder (DBD). Thirty-six male DBD adolescents and 31 male healthy controls (HCs) were included. DBD subjects were randomly allocated to a single dose of MPH (DBD-MPH, n = 20) or placebo (DBD-PCB, n = 16). Seed-based resting-state functional connectivity of the nucleus accumbens (NAcc), amygdala, and ventral tegmental area (VTA) with the rest of the brain was compared between groups. The NAcc seed showed increased connectivity in DBD-PCB compared to HC with the occipital cortex, posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), precuneus, and inferior parietal lobule (IPL) and increased connectivity in DBD-PCB compared to DBD-MPH with occipital cortex, IPL, and medial frontal gyrus.

11 hrs ago


COLOMBIA IS A white powder paradise for a growing number of western tourists who visit the South American country solely to snort cocaine. Dealers loiter on dimly lit nightclub strips in cities such as Bogota, hawking their wares to Australians and other westerners hungry for blow.
Colombian drug trafficking is a global affair with money flowing into the region from all over the world. It has allowed the criminal groups to develop sophisticated smuggling operations, including a submarine recently discovered by police that is believed to be capable of transporting large amounts of cocaine to the United States.
Cocaine consumption in the United States has flattened after hitting a record high in the late 1990s, but in other parts of the world it continues to grow. As a result, cocaine production is booming in the Andean triumvirate of Colombia, Peru and Bolivia.
The government of President Juan Manuel Santos has made a number of important changes to its policies, but the war on drugs is far from over. https://diigo.com/0y9fuq , the largest rebel group, has agreed to a peace deal with the government and plans to disarm over the next few years, but many fear that other criminal gangs will quickly step into the void, leading to a Balkanization of cocaine production in Colombia and a spike in violence.
In fact, cocaine has never been more prevalent than it is today. https://postheaven.net/firespleen8/get-cocaine-australia-and-canada has shifted, and demand for the illegal drug is growing in Asia and Europe. Colombia is now producing more than 60 percent of the world’s cocaine.
As a result, the country’s right wing paramilitary groups have seized control of many fields and labs, as well as smuggling routes, and have been able to reap huge profits that they are using to fund their on-going civil war against left wing guerrillas. In addition to drug trafficking, these groups are responsible for a range of crimes, including human smuggling, piracy, the illegal logging of non-renewables and arms, and even smuggling of flora and fauna.
As the conflict continues, the country faces a host of other social problems, such as poverty and mass migration, with millions of Venezuelans streaming into Colombia to escape the political and economic crisis. Criminals are profiting from these flows by smuggling people into the country, many of them children and teenagers, who are being used as slaves for low wages. This is causing severe strain on local society and creating fertile ground for corrupt officials, who are turning a blind eye to the situation or taking bribes from the criminal networks. It’s an ugly picture that shows how the drug war is destroying both Colombia and its allies. To regain the support of its allies, the Colombian government must convince them that it can manage a legalization process without spiralling into a new war on drugs. It will take time and careful planning to make that happen. In the meantime, gangs will continue to reap massive profits from the illegal cocaine trade.

p Whether or not the two would deal with criminal charges more than their actions in Vancouver will hinge on the laws of the internationa...

postheaven.net

14 hrs ago


Chlorophyceae was the dominant group in winter month. The CCA results showed that six environmental factors, orthophosphates (PO43-), total phosphates (TP), Secchi disc depth (SD), total nitrogen (TN), temperature (T), and nitrite (NO2-) had significant influences on the changes in phytoplankton. GLM showed that PO43-, TP, TN, SD, and T were the significant predictors of phytoplankton abundance. Phytoplankton composition is largely dominated by the species Microcystis aeruginosa which formed a bloom with excessive abundance (up to 89.76 billion cell l-1 in spring). We recommend banning the fishing and their consumption during the period of Microcystis bloom and installing a system of biomonitoring of the levels of toxins in the water.
The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the evidence on the types of interventions that have been utilized by Indigenous Peoples living with cancer, and report on their relevance to Indigenous communities and how they align with holistic wellness.

A systematic review with narrative synthesis was conducted.

The search yielded 7995 unique records; 27 studies evaluating 20 interventions were included. The majority of studies were conducted in USA, with five in Australia and one in Peru. Study designs were cross-sectional (n=13); qualitative (n=5); mixed methods (n=4); experimental (n=3); and quasi-experimental (n=2). Relevance to participating Indigenous communities was rated moderate to low. Interventions were diverse in aims, ingredients, and outcomes. Aims involved (1) supporting the healthcare journey, (2) increasing knowledge, (3) providing psychosocial support, and (4) promoting dialogue about cancer. The main ingredients of the interventions were community meetings, patient navigationtive, and honoring the diverse conceptualizations of health and wellness among Indigenous Peoples around the world.
The goals of this study were to assess the ability of salivary non-coding RNA (ncRNA) levels to predict post-concussion symptoms lasting ≥ 21days, and to examine the ability of ncRNAs to identify recovery compared to cognition and balance.

RNA sequencing was performed on 505 saliva samples obtained longitudinally from 112 individuals (8-24-years-old) with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Initial samples were obtained ≤ 14days post-injury, and follow-up samples were obtained ≥ 21days post-injury. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/agk2.html Computerized balance and cognitive test performance were assessed at initial and follow-up time-points. Machine learning was used to define (1) a model employing initial ncRNA levels to predict persistent post-concussion symptoms (PPCS) ≥ 21days post-injury; and (2) a model employing follow-up ncRNA levels to identify symptom recovery. Performance of the models was compared against a validated clinical prediction rule, and balance/cognitive test performance, respectively.

An algorithm using age and 16 ncRNAs predicted PPCS with greater accuracy than the validated clinical tool and demonstrated additive combined utility (area under the curve (AUC) 0.86; 95% CI 0.84-0.88). Initial balance and cognitive test performance did not differ between PPCS and non-PPCS groups (p > 0.05). Follow-up balance and cognitive test performance identified symptom recovery with similar accuracy to a model using 11 ncRNAs and age. A combined model (ncRNAs, balance, cognition) most accurately identified recovery (AUC 0.86; 95% CI 0.83-0.89).

ncRNA biomarkers show promise for tracking recovery from mTBI, and for predicting who will have prolonged symptoms. They could provide accurate expectations for recovery, stratify need for intervention, and guide safe return-to-activities.
ncRNA biomarkers show promise for tracking recovery from mTBI, and for predicting who will have prolonged symptoms. They could provide accurate expectations for recovery, stratify need for intervention, and guide safe return-to-activities.Cognitive impairment is a common and debilitating symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). There is limited evidence that disease-modifying therapies are effective in treating cognitive dysfunction. Cognitive rehabilitation is a promising approach to treat cognitive dysfunction in MS, gaining empirical support over the last 10 years. The current review will provide a brief overview of cognitive rehabilitation in MS. Overall, there is evidence that cognitive rehabilitation programs (either restorative or compensatory) are efficacious in treating MS-related cognitive dysfunction. Clinicians should consider this low-cost, low-risk, yet effective treatment approach for their patients.The quantitation and qualification of amino acids are most commonly used in clinical and epidemiological studies, and provide an excellent way of monitoring compounds in human fluids which have not been monitored previously, to prevent some diseases. Because of this, it is not surprising that scientific interest in evaluating these compounds has resurfaced in recent years and has precipitated the development of a multitude of new analytical techniques. This review considers recent developments in HPLC analytics on the basis of publications from the last few years. It helps to update and systematize knowledge in this area. Particular attention is paid to the progress of analytical methods, pointing out the advantages and drawbacks of the various techniques used for the preparation, separation and determination of amino acids. Depending on the type of sample, the preparation conditions for HPLC analysis change. For this reason, the review has focused on three types of samples, namely urine, blood and cerebrospinal fluid. Despite time-consuming sample preparation before HPLC analysis, an additional derivatization technique should be used, depending on the detection technique used. There are proposals for columns that are specially modified for amino acid separation without derivatization, but the limit of detection of the substance is less beneficial. In view of the fact that amino acid analyses have been performed for years and new solutions may generate increased costs, it may turn out that older proposals are much more advantageous.

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01), had more BMI (p less then 0.01), reached menarche (p less then 0.05) earlier than non-menarcheal girls' mothers. Menarcheal girls had less number of siblings (p less then 0.01) and lower order of birth (p less then 0.05) than non-menarcheal girls. After controlling the effect of other factors, multiple logistic regression model demonstrated that obese girls were more likely to attain menarche than under- [AOR = 0.279, CI 95% 0.075-0.986; p less then 0.05] and normal [AOR = 0.248, CI 95% 0.082-0.755; p less then 0.05] weight girls. Urban school girls had more chance to get menarche than rural school girls at same age (AOR = 0.012, 95% CI 0.003-0.047; p less then 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Therefore, modern lifestyle changes may have the important factors for early age at menarche of the studied girls in Bangladesh.Growing evidence suggests pollution and other environmental factors have a role in the development of tuberculosis (TB), however, such studies have never been conducted in Peru. Considering the association between air pollution and specific geographic areas, our objective was to determine the spatial distribution and clustering of TB incident cases in Lima and their co-occurrence with clusters of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and poverty. We found co-occurrences of clusters of elevated concentrations of air pollutants such as PM2.5, high poverty indexes, and high TB incidence in Lima. These findings suggest an interplay of socio-economic and environmental in driving TB incidence.Interprofessional (IP) practice and education are important when seeking to respond to the growing demand for primary and preventive care services. Multiple professions with synergistic expertise are needed to effectively provide health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education and to help patients with multiple comorbidities, chronic health conditions, and care coordination. A recent study by Schor et al. titled, "Multidisciplinary work promotes preventive medicine and health education in primary care a cross-sectional survey," compares the implementation of preventive services in three primary care models. Higher rates of health services, patient education, and health outcomes were documented in two different models of care involving persons in multiple professions when compared with independent solo physicians' practices. In this commentary, we focus on the value of IP team-based care, continuing professional development, and the impact of the team on practice performance and health outcomes. Key components of effective IP teams include using consistent terminology to describe the team composition and function, team structures with purposeful selection of professions to address gaps in care, leadership support, and IP continuing professional development and education.OBJECTIVES Circulating tumour cells (CTCs) from liquid biopsies provide an exceptional opportunity to obtain real-time tumour information and are under current investigation in several cancers, including cutaneous melanoma, but face significant drawbacks in terms of non-standardised methodology, low viable cell numbers and accuracy of CTC identification. In this pilot study, we report that chemosensitivity assays using liquid biopsy-derived metastatic melanoma (MM) CTCs, from 7 patients with stage IIIC, BRAF wild-type metastatic melanomas, localized exclusively to the pelvic region, un-eligible for immunotherapy and treated with melphalan hypoxic pelvic perfusion (HPP), is both feasible and useful in predicting response to therapy. Viable MM CTCs (> 5 cells/ml for all 7 blood samples), enriched by transient culture, were characterised in flow cytometry-based Annexin V-PE assays for chemosensitivity to several drugs. RESULTS Using melphalan as a standard, chemosensitivity cut-off values of > 60% cell death, were predictive of patient RECIST 1.1 response to melphalan HPP therapy, associated with calculated 100% sensitivity, 66.67% specificity, 33.33% positive predictive, 100% negative predictive, and 71.43% accuracy values. We propose that the methodology in this study is both feasible and has potential value in predicting response to therapy, setting the stage for a larger study. Trial registration Clinical Trials.gov Identifier NCT01920516; date of trial registration August 6, 2013.BACKGROUND Bamboo rats are widely farmed in southern China for meat, but their potential in transmitting pathogens to humans and other farm animals remains unclear. METHODS To understand the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. in these animals, 709 fecal samples were collected in this study from Chinese bamboo rats (Rhizomys sinensis) on nine farms in Jiangxi, Guangxi and Hainan provinces, China. They were analyzed for Cryptosporidium spp. using PCR and sequence analyses of the small subunit rRNA gene. Cryptosporidium parvum, C. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/cpypp.html parvum-like and C. ubiquitum-like genotypes identified were subtyped by sequence analysis of the 60 kDa glycoprotein (gp60) gene. RESULTS Altogether, Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in 209 (29.5%) samples. The detection rate in samples from animals under two months of age (70.0%,105/150) was significantly higher than in samples from animals above 2 months (18.6%, 104/559; χ2 = 150.27, df = 1, P  less then  0.0001). Four Cryptosporidium species/genotypes were identified C. parvum (s, attentions should be paid to the potential role of these new farm animals in the transmission of zoonotic pathogens.BACKGROUND RNA interference (RNAi) is an important tool to determine the role of genes. RNAi has been widely used to downregulate target molecules, resulting in the reduction of mRNA for protein expression. Matrix metalloprotease 12A (MMP-12) is known to have important roles during embryonic development, organ morphogenesis and pathological processes in animals. However, MMP-12 from Haemonchus contortus has not been characterized. METHODS Haemonchus contortus MMP-12 gene was cloned and recombinant protein of MMP-12 (rHc-MMP-12) was expressed. Binding activities of rHc-MMP-12 to goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assessed by immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and the immuno-regulatory effects of rHc-MMP-12 on cell proliferation and nitric oxide production were observed by co-incubation of rHc-MMP-12 with goat PBMCs. Furthermore, a soaking method was used to knockdown the expression of Hc-MMP12 gene using three siRNA, targeting different regions of the gene and infectivity of effective siRNA on the development of H.