Genetic diversity and population structure of a rare flowering tree endemic to Appalachia, Stewartia ovata.

Stewartia ovata (cav.) Weatherby, commonly known as mountain stewartia, is an understory tree native to the southeastern United States (U.S.). This relatively rare species occurs in isolated populations in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi. As a species, S. ovata has largely been overlooked, and limited information is available regarding its ecology, which presents obstacles to conservation efforts. Stewartia ovata has vibrant, large white flowers that bloom in summer with a variety of filament colors, suggesting potential horticultural traits prized by ornamental industry. However, S. ovata is relatively slow growing and, due to long seed dormancy, propagation is challenging with limited success rates. This has created a need to assess the present genetic diversity in S. ovata populations to inform potential conservation and restoration of the species. Here, we employ a genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) approach to characterize the spatial distribution and genetic diversity of S. ovata in the southern Appalachia region of the eastern United States. A total of 4475 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified across 147 individuals from 11 collection sites. Our results indicate low genetic diversity (He = 0.216), the presence of population structure (K = 2), limited differentiation (F ST = 0.039), and high gene flow (Nm = 6.16) between our subpopulations. Principal component analysis corroborated the findings of STRUCTURE, confirming the presence of two distinct S. ovata subpopulations. One subpopulation mainly contains genotypes from the Cumberland Plateau, Tennessee, while the other consists of genotypes present in the Great Smoky Mountain ranges in Tennessee, North Carolina, and portions of Nantahala, Chattahoochee-Oconee national forests in Georgia, highlighting that elevation likely plays a major role in its distribution. Our results further suggested low inbreeding coefficient (F IS = 0.070), which is expected with an outcrossing tree species. This research further provides necessary insight into extant subpopulations and has generated valuable resources needed for conservation efforts of S. ovata.

Tripal EUtils: a Tripal module to increase exchange and reuse of genome assembly metadata.

Data and metadata interoperability between data storage systems is a critical component of the FAIR data principles. Programmatic and consistent means of reconciling metadata models between databases promote data exchange and thus increases its access to the scientific community. This process requires (i) metadata mapping between the models and (ii) software to perform the mapping. Here, we describe our efforts to map metadata associated with genome assemblies between the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) data resources and the Chado biological database schema. We present mappings for multiple NCBI data structures and introduce a Tripal software module, Tripal EUtils, to pull metadata from NCBI into a Tripal/Chado database. We discuss potential mapping challenges and solutions and provide suggestions for future development to further increase interoperability between these platforms. Database URL: https://github.com/NAL-i5K/tripal_eutils.

Health service utilization and victimization among incarcerated female substance users.

Women represent the fastest growing population of prison inmates, which has increased dramatically in the past decade. Generally, women use more health services than men but with limited access to health care, incarcerated women tend to experience multiple problems, including problems with drugs, alcohol, and victimization. The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study was to identify specific factors related to health, mental health, drug use, and violence among incarcerated female substance users. Perspectives from 34 females who participated in focus groups in prison are discussed. Key findings indicate that drug use, victimization, and living in a rural area were barriers to accessing health services. In addition, implications for interventions targeting women are presented.

Substance use health services research.

This report provides an introduction to substance use health services research based upon the conceptual model of Andersen and Aday and demonstrates how the subsequent papers provide important insights into issues raised in this conceptual model. These issues include access and barriers to health care, needs for care, health care utilization, outcomes of care, and costs of care. We show how these issues are also expanded beyond more traditional definitions. We conclude by indicating some broad areas for further research.

History of head injury among substance users: preliminary findings.

Traumatic brain injury is associated with a variety of problems in cognitive functioning that may be related to substance use and that may influence recovery. This pilot study of 591 inmates in medium and minimum-security prisons examined self-reports of head injury, mental health problems, and health service utilization in three groups: no head injury, one head injury, and two or more head injuries. The group with multiple head injuries reported significantly more emergency room visits, more hospital admission, and number of hospital stays when compared with those with no head injury. This preliminary analysis reflects a need for additional research on brain injury among substance misusers.

The association of testosterone with nicotine use in young adult females.

This pilot laboratory study examined the relationship of testosterone levels, carbon monoxide (CO) levels, current and adolescent nicotine use, and histories of pubertal onset in 30 young adult female smokers. These females had completed questionnaires regarding nicotine use in the 7th through 10th grades, and again at age 21 as part of a cohort study of drug use. In addition, history of pubertal onset was obtained at age 21, as were testosterone and CO levels. Testosterone levels were positively correlated with cigarette use in the last 30 days (P< or =.01), CO levels (P< or =.05), cigarette use reported in the 7th and 10th grades (P< or =.05), and negatively correlated with age of pubertal onset (P< or =.001). The relationship of testosterone to nicotine will be discussed.

Stress injury to the bone among women athletes.

Women's participation and recognition in sports have grown dramatically in the last 30 years, and this trend is expected to continue. In the last decade exciting research has centered on the unique medical and musculoskeletal aspects of the female athlete. Scientists have elucidated significant findings in the area of bone health, amenorrhea, disordered eating, osteoporosis, and stress fractures. Stress fractures are a common problem in female athletes and they appear to occur more commonly in the sacrum, pelvis, and femoral neck. Certain risk factors place women at a greater risk for stress injury to the bone, such as amenorrhea, low calcium intake, disordered eating, bone geometry, and leg length discrepancy. The best treatment for a stress fracture is prevention. Moreover, any woman with a stress fracture must be evaluated for the female athlete triad. Most stress fractures can be treated with relative rest and correction of the underlying factors that contributed to the injury. Certain stress fractures occur in areas of relative hypovascularity and are at risk for nonunion or avascular necrosis. In these cases surgery should be considered.

Risky sex behavior and substance use among young adults.

Many young adults, despite widespread prevention and education efforts that target this age group, engage in behaviors that place them at risk of HIV infection. These behaviors include frequent experimentation with alcohol and other drugs before sex, sexual activity with different partners, and inconsistent safe-sex practices. The combination of these risky behaviors causes increased concern about the spread of HIV among this age group. The study discussed in this article examined the relationship between substance use during adolescence and HIV risk behavior among young adults ages 19 to 21 with and without a college education. Results indicated that increased use of alcohol and marijuana at younger ages is related to riskier sexual activity and increased use of alcohol and marijuana as young adults. Recommendations for interventions are made.

PIP: A mailed survey was conducted to assess the risky sexual behavior and substance abuse among an initial sample of 2071 young adults in Lexington, Kentucky, during the 1987-88 school year. The survey included specific items about peer relations, family attachment, self-esteem, sensation seeking, friends' drug use, impulsivity, physical health, health and mental health utilization, dieting, delinquency, violence, and risky sexual behavior. A total of 952 (400 males and 552 females) respondents were included in the final analysis. The findings indicate that earlier initiation of sexual activity is related to early involvement with drugs. Furthermore, male participants who used alcohol or marijuana at a younger age engaged in riskier sexual behavior than female participants. Female participants were more likely to use condoms regardless of their early substance use patterns; and those who had never experienced sex or who initiated sex later (ages 19 or 20) were less likely to report lifetime or current drug use. This study indicated that there is a relationship between the early occurrence of substance use and riskier sexual behavior. Recognizing the use of alcohol or marijuana during adolescence may raise practitioners' awareness, helping them identify HIV risk behavior among young adults more accurately.

Protein and energy relationships in the diet of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).

First-year alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) averaging 377-857 g body weight were fed diets containing various levels of protein, fat and carbohydrate. In experiment 1, nine diets arranged in a centrally rotatable composite design contained 0-36% extruded corn and 4-20% total fat. Response surface analysis predicted maximum responses in performance criteria at 6.3-18.8% corn and 15.8-27.4% fat. Corn inclusion at up to 27-36% of diet resulted in equal or improved performance compared to carbohydrate-free diets of equal fat content. Energy digestibility averaged 84.3%. Protein digestibility averaged 86.7%. Maximum responses in performance criteria were predicted at 42.5-48.7% digestible protein and 4367-4421 kcal/kg digestible energy. In two additional experiments, alligators were either fasted or fed for various numbers of days/week. Carbohydrate-supplementation of high protein diets led to equal or significantly improved performances. Performance was maximized by feeding the alligators 5-6 d/w. Regression of body weight changes against energy and protein intake yielded estimates of daily maintenance requirements of 5.7-8.4 kcal and 0.49-0.89 g protein/kg live body weight. Dietary fat and carbohydrate in the forms and amounts fed to young alligators were well-utilized. Optimal digestible energy:crude protein ratios (8.2-10.9:1 kcal/g protein) were similar to those of other aquatic ectotherms of equal size.

Essential fatty acid nutrition of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis).

The essential fatty acid (EFA) nutrition of young American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) was examined by feeding a variety of fats/oils with potential EFA activity. Over a 12-wk period, alligators fed diets containing 2.5 or 5.0% chicken liver oil grew longer and heavier and converted feed to body mass more efficiently than alligators fed other fat/oil combinations that lacked or contained only trace amounts of arachidonic acid [20:4(n-6)]. Alligators fed an EFA-deficient diet (containing only coconut fat as the dietary fat) were the slowest-growing animals and converted feed to body mass least efficiently. However, over a 41-wk feeding period, alligators fed this diet showed no obvious external signs of deficiency other than being reduced in size and unthrifty. Fatty acid composition of heart, liver, muscle, skin and adipose tissue lipids was influenced markedly by dietary fat composition. Tissues varied significantly in response to dietary fat composition. Heart lipids contained the lowest levels of short- and medium-chain fatty acids and the highest levels of arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid levels were less influenced by diet than were levels of other 20- and 22-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids. Radiotracer studies indicated that linoleic acid was converted to arachidonic acid in the liver. Nevertheless, tissue arachidonic acid levels also appeared to be maintained by concentration from dietary sources and selective conservation. It appears that a dietary source of arachidonic acid may be required for a maximum rate of growth.

Protein nutrition in the alligator.

1. Fourteen different protein-containing diets were fed to small alligators. Their rates of digestion and their nutritional values were determined by following changes in free amino acids in the plasma. 2. Fish, chicken and nutria were digested rapidly and all their component essential amino acids disappeared quickly and at the same rate. When given in the dry, fat-free form the amino acids were released and assimilated about 50% faster than when fat was included. 3. None of the isolated proteins tested (casein, gelatin, edestin, gliadin, corn gluten and soy) proved nutritionally adequate and all but gelatin digested slowly and incompletely. 4. One diet compounded of salts, vitamins and mixed commercial animal products was tested. It showed promise but it was lacking in methionine and isoleucine. 5. It was concluded that dry, powdered, preparations from whole animals could prove a satisfactory, stable diet for alligator husbandry. 6. Prolonged force-feeding of an animal diet increased the percent of nitrogen excreted as NH3 over that excreted in urates.

Acute hypertension after abrupt withdrawal of antipsychotic medication.

An 18-year-old patient with catatonic schizophrenia developed hypertension when administration of antipsychotic medication was discontinued. Elevated blood pressure was sustained for three days until it was discovered that intramuscular administration of benztropine mesylate immediately reduced it to normal. The fact that the hypertension was not noted earlier while the patient was receiving the antipsychotic drugs suggests that it was a withdrawal phenomenon.