Short-term legacy effects of feedlot manure application on soil mesofauna.

Little research exists on short-term legacy effects of feedlot manure application on soil mesofauna. This long-term (since 1998) study was on an irrigated clay loam soil in southern Alberta cropped to barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). We sampled the soil 3-4 yr (2017-2018) into the legacy period following 17 annual manure applications (1998-2014). The selected treatments sampled were stockpiled feedlot manure containing straw bedding applied at 0, 13, 39, and 77 Mg ha-1 (dry wt.). Intact soil cores were taken at three depth intervals (0-3, 3-6, and 6-9 cm) in the fall over 2 yr to determine the densities of Acari (mites) suborders and Collembola (springtails) families. Significant (P ≤ .05) application rate effects occurred on Oribatida and Astigmata after 3 yr (but not after 4 yr) into the legacy phase, whereas Prostigmata were unaffected. Densities of Astigmata after 3 yr were 3.2- to 4.1-fold greater at the 77 Mg ha-1 rate compared with three lower rates. Significant application rate effects occurred on Entomobryidae, Isotomidae, and Onychiuridae after 4 yr (but not after 3 yr), with no treatment effects on Neelidae. Densities of mesofauna were generally greater at higher than at lower rates, except for Entomobryidae in 2018, where the reverse trend occurred. Significant application rate effects were attributed to lower soil bulk density and greater volumetric soil water content and soil organic carbon. Therefore, legacy effects of feedlot manure application generally persisted on soil mesofauna 3-4 yr into the legacy phase but depended on mesofauna type, year, and depth.

Hypomineralized second primary molars: prevalence, defect characteristics and relationship with dental caries in Melbourne preschool children.

BACKGROUND: Dental caries and enamel defects (DDE) are prevalent amongst children. The presence of DDE, especially enamel hypomineralization, may increase caries experience. The reported prevalence of hypomineralized second primary molars (HSPM) is 2.7-21.8%, although the occurrence in Australian children remains unknown. These HSPM represent a potential predictive factor for molar-incisor hypomineralization (MIH). METHODS: In total, 623 children aged 3-5 years from 30 randomly selected kindergartens participated. The HSPM were recorded using an index combining the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry MIH Judgment Criteria and modified DDE Index. Caries was recorded using International Caries Detection and Assessment System criteria. RESULTS: In total, 144 HSPM were observed in 88 of the 623 (14.1%) children, a tooth-level prevalence of 5.8%. The prevalence of dentinal carious lesions was 13.2%, and caries prevalence (d2-6 mft > 0) was 36.4%. Cavitated carious lesions affected 30.7% of HSPM. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between an increase in HSPM lesion extent and increasing number of HSPM per child was statistically significant. A positive association between HSPM severity and extent at tooth level existed (P < 0.05). There was a positive relationship between the extent of HSPM and carious lesion severity (P < 0.05). In this population, children with HSPM did not have overall greater caries experience.

Analysis of p-chloroamphetamine and a side-chain monofluorinated analogue in rat brain.

p-Chloro-alpha-fluoromethylphenylethylamine (fluoro-p-chloroamphetamine) (FpCA) has been shown in acute studies to be a less potent depletor of the neurotransmitter amine 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in brain than is p-chloroamphetamine (pCA). Gas chromatographic assay procedures for FpCA and PCA have been developed in our laboratories and applied to preliminary measurements in brain tissue from rats injected intraperitoneally with pCA or FpCA. Groups of male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with pCA (0.03 mmol/kg) or FpCA (0.05 or 0.1 mmol/kg) and killed 1, 2, or 4 hr later. The brains were analyzed for the halogenated amphetamines by gas chromatography with electron-capture detection (GC-ECD) following derivatization with pentafluorobenzenesulfonyl chloride (for pCA) or trichloroacetic anhydride (for FpCA). At the 0.05-mmol/kg dose, FpCA attained lower brain concentrations at 1, 2, and 4 hr after injection than did pCA at a considerably lower dose (0.03 mmol/kg). Even at the higher dose of FpCA used (0.10 mmol/kg), where concentrations of FpCA were higher than those of pCA initially, concentrations of FpCA had dropped below those of pCA by 4-hr. These preliminary results indicate that FpCA attains lower brain concentrations and is eliminated from the brain more rapidly than is the parent drug, pCA. However, differences in potency between FpCA and pCA on 5-HT depletion cannot be explained fully on the basis of obtained brain levels of the drug as even at time intervals where FpCA levels were higher than or equal to those of pCA, there was less depletion of 5-HT by the former drug.

Alzheimer's disease and related disorders: assessment and intervention.

Increasing numbers of Americans are confronting the prospect of Alzheimer's disease or similar dementing disorders within their families. This useful guide presents an overview of these disorders for social workers, describes effective assessment techniques, and discusses methods of intervention successful in providing support to both patients and those who care for them.