As we head into the new year and the impending Darwin bi-centennial on February 12th, we’re sure to be regaled with story after story of the wondrous things that Darwinian evolution hath wrought. A friend e-mailed the following to me, and with his permission, I reproduce it here below the fold. Perhaps pondering some of these questions might bring some balance to what is otherwise sure to be a lopsided Darwin love-fest for the next couple of months. The original of this can be found at the University of California Santa Barbara Veritas Forum website
1. Evolution by natural selection is more plausible in a theistic world than an atheistic world.
Evolution in a theistic world is possible if God pre-programmed the universe and infused Nature with information (the ultimate fine-tuning argument).
Evolution in an atheistic world is absurd. It’s “random turtles all the way down” – all the way down to the random origin of Nature itself and its ability to naturally select anything. A filter (e.g. natural selection) which was formed by chance and selects random events may best be described as garbage in – garbage out. It doesn’t describe the universe we find ourselves in, hasn’t got a chance of surviving the rigors of scientific and skeptical inquiry, cannot sustain scientific reasoning, and would certainly never have inspired science in the first place. It is simply unfit for rational thought and must naturally be selected against. Constantly evoking a god-of-chance is neither scientific nor rational.
2. Darwin never accounted for the arrival of the fittest. Naturalism’s god-of-chance is always called upon to do the job.
“Directed by all-powerful selection, chance becomes a sort of providence, which, under the cover of atheism, is not named but which is secretly worshipped.”
Grasse, Pierre-Paul (1977), p. 177
Evolution of Living Organisms
Academic Press, New York, N.Y.
Pierre-Paul Grasse is the past President of the French Academie des Sciences and editor of the 35 volume “Traite de Zoologie” published by Masson, Paris.
3. Science rules out the possibility that natural processes might prevent major evolutionary change simply by definition because biological stability and conservation would imply that creation events had taken place since the creation of the universe.
If no data is required to eliminate real possibilities, why do we call this science? It clearly isn’t. Given that the origin of Nature itself constitued a singularity (or natural discontinuity), it is certainly possible that other natural discontinuties exist in the history of life (e.g. the origin of life itself). The goal of science ought to be to most accurately describe how nature functions, even if so doing would discover natural processes that prevented spontaneous generation (abiogenesis) or inhibited major evolutionary change (macrostasis).
4. Creation preceded Evolution anyway.
Evolution points back to a beginning – initially to the origin of the first species and then back to the origin of everything else including space and time. Nature is finite in time and space (whether referring to our universe or a potential multiverse) and obviously required a Law Giver.
“A common sense interpretation of the facts suggests that a superintellect has monkeyed with the physics, as well as with chemistry and biology, and that there are no blind forces worth speaking about in nature. The numbers one calculates from the facts seem to me so overwhelming as to put this conclusion almost beyond question.” – Sir Fred Hoyle
“For the scientist who has lived by faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is about to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries.” – Robert Jastrow, “God and the Astronomers”
5. Edward Blyth described the process of natural selection well before Darwin and Wallace. He concluded that it acted as a force of conservation eliminating deterimental variations from populations.
A Theory of Conservation based upon Blythian selection would better describe how nature actually functions than Darwin’s interpretation of natural selection.
Edward Blyth wrote three articles on variation, describing the process of natural selection as restoring organisms in the wild to their archetype (rather than forming new species). These articles were published in The Magazine of Natural History between 1835 and 1837. There can be no doubt of Darwin’s regard for Edward Blyth: in the first chapter of The Origin of Species he writes “…Mr Blyth, whose opinion, from his large and varied stores of knowledge, I should value more than that of almost any one…”
Loren Eiseley claimed that “the leading tenets of Darwin’s work – the struggle for existence, variation, natural selection and sexual selection – are all fully expressed in Blyth’s paper of 1835”. He also cites a number of rare words, similarities of phrasing, and the use of similar examples, which he regards as evidence of Darwin’s debt to Blyth.
Ernst Mayr objected to this interpretation by stating, “Blyth’s theory was clearly one of elimination rather than selection. His principal concern is the maintenance of the perfection of the type. Blyth’s thinking is decidedly that of a natural theologian…” (Mayr E. 1984, The Growth of Biological Thought.)
“What was the work of Blyth?… Blyth attempts to show how [selection and the struggle for existence] can be used to explain, not the change of species (which he was anxious to discredit) but the stability of species in which he ardently believed.” (Darlington C.D., 1959, Darwin’s Place in History)
But Mayr’s onjection fails because natural selection cannot select anything that doesn’t already exist. All it can do is eliminate the “unfit.” However one wishes to describe the “fit” and “unfit,” natural selection clearly cannot account for the arrival of the fittest and the change in species in which Mayr ardently believed.
6. Darwin admitted that based upon the data published in his Origin of Species, one could come to “directly opposite” conclusions. For example, natural selection can prevent major evolutionary change from occurring on a gradual step-by-step basis by eliminating useless transitional stages thus explaining the lack of transitional sequences leading to all of the major body plans (phyla) in the fossil record.
“I am well aware that there is scarcely a single point discussed in this volume on which facts cannot be adduced, often apparently leading to conclusions directly opposite to those at which I have arrived. A fair result can be obtained only by fully stating and balancing the facts on both sides of each question, and this cannot possibly be done here.”
The Origin of Species
7. Natural selection better describes biology’s “ordinary rules of stability” than major evolutionary change.
“To know the reasons for infrequent change, one must understand the ordinary rules of stability. The Burgess Shale teaches us that, for the history of basic anatomical designs, almost everything happened in the geological moment just before, and almost nothing in more than 500 million years since.”
Gould, S. J. (1988),
A Web of Tales”
Natural History, October, pp. 16-23
8. Darwinian theory predicts a pervasive pattern of natural history that is upside-down from the pattern found in the fossil record.
Darwin’s theory predicts that as species diversity can ultimately be extrapolated to account for the disparity (major differences) among the higher taxa (e.g. phyla). New species should cluster to initially form new genera. As more and more species evolve their morphological differences should accumulate to justify classifying them into new families. As more and more species diversify, new classes and orders should appear filling out morphological space. Ultimately the disparity of the phyla would be produced. Species diversity should precede disparity of the major body plans.
The only problem with this major prediction of Darwin’s theory is that it is exacty backwards: the disparity of the higher taxa preceded species diversity (see Stephen Jay Gould’s discussion in Wonderful Life on the iconography of the cone).
“The fossil record suggests that the major pulse of diversification of phyla occurs before that of classes, classes before that of orders, and orders before families. This is not to say that each higher taxon originated before species (each phylum, class, or order contained at least one species, genus, family, etc. upon appearance), but the higher taxa do not seem to have diverged through an accumulation of lower taxa.”
Erwin, D., Valentine, J., and Sepkoski, J. (1988)
“A Comparative Study of Diversification Events”
Evolution, vol. 41, p. 1183
Described recently as “the most important evolutionary event during the entire history of the Metazoa,” the Cambrian explosion established virtually all the major animal body forms — Bauplane or phyla — that would exist thereafter, including many that were ‘weeded out’ and became extinct. Compared with the 30 or so extant phyla, some people estimate that the Cambrian explosion may have generated as many as 100. The evolutionary innovation of the Precambrian/Cambrian boundary had clearly been extremely broad: “unprecedented and unsurpassed,” as James Valentine of the University of California, Santa Barbara, recently put it.
Lewin then asked the all important question:
“Why, in subsequent periods of great evolutionary activity when countless species, genera, and families arose, have there been no new animal body plans produced, no new phyla?”
Lewin, R. (1988)
Science, vol. 241, 15 July, p. 29
9. Natural history is more compatible with progressive creation than Darwinian evolution.
Given that all of major groups of life appear suddenly in the fossil record and the “ordinary rules of stability” act in such a way as to inhibit major evolutionary change, it is rational to conclude that they were the result of progressive creation – the progression of variations in time on a common pre-existing theme. If the major themes were the result of direct (primary rather than secondary) acts of creation, scientists would be able to discover natural discontinuties beyond the origin of the universe and the irreducible complexity of life. While we would no longer have an adequate materialistic creation story (not that we have one now), we would undoubtedly have a more accurate description of nature and how it actually functions.
10. The ultimate origin of Nature itself cannot be natural. Either Nature or a Natural Law Giver has always existed. Nature has not always existed. What do you conclude?
When scientists tell you that the origin of everything natural must be explained purely in terms of natural processes, we need to remind them that no natural processes existed before Nature came into existence. We hold this truth to be self-evident, don’t we?
Creation preceded evolution.


Time and tide wait for none! Well, who’s not aware of this fact? Even the Earth has never been the same. Dominated by man today, the planet was ruled by some other species in yester decades. And who knows – how long are we as humans gonna make it here!
Species come and go but what are left behind are their trials. The reasons for sudden disappearance of these long gone species are many, namely – catastrophic meteor collisions, ice age and of course there’s inexorable threat of one specifically dangerous predator and highly parasitic specie – Homo sapiens – yes, that would be me and you!
Though we didn’t do all the species in but we certainly had a hand somewhere in their extinction! So, let’s take a look at top 10 extinct species today.
1. The Dodo (Raphus cucullatus)
The poor flightless bird, Dodo was native to the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. Unfortunately the bird was known to mankind for less than 100 years – but that’s what it took us to eradicate the specie!
Though the humans did not directly kill the stubby, round bird but our gradual demolition of their habitat along with their food sources was more than sufficient to hasten their demise. And yes, of course there were dogs, pigs and other predators which humans introduced to the desolate island to ravage and harass the poor Dodos.
A clear & unfortunate reminder of the havoc and wreck we as humans can create! What a tragedy.
2. The Dinosaurs
Ever imagined what life would have been if you had giant dinos as your pet instead of Maltese? Though long gone (even before the existence of humans) huge dinosaurs have still managed to capture the hearts of school kids throughout the world. Well all thanks to cartoons, museums adorning dino skeletons and 3D movies extolling their existence.
Surprisingly, many of the renowned dino species never even crossed each other. Stegosaurus ruled the land way before Triceratops showed up and Tyrannosaurus went extinct million of years ago before Apatosaurus came into being. And they all were gone by the time humans came into existence.
Whatever their nature or diet plan would have been dions have surely captured our hearts like no other extinct animals have!
3. Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius)
How do you manage to go from being one of the most common bird species in North America to nothing more than an unfortunate and poignant addendum in American history? So, you think that’s a tricky one there.
Hmm, not exactly if it tastes good!
Though initially hunted for their crop nuisance activities for years, things turned out far more worse, when passenger pigeon meat suddenly gained rapid popularity amongst the masses. And then again the westward-bound settlers chopped off their habitats at an alarming rate that eventually lead to their extinction.
In no less than 100 years this pigeon specie that once proudly blackened the sky as it flew in flocks suddenly experienced a troubled phase.
Martha, the last one of them is reported to have died in 1914 in a Cincinnati zoo.
4. Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis)
Nearly 3 feet tall, the great auk bird was a large one indeed. But again, the extinction of the giant bird follows a heart-rending tale.
The last one of them was executed in Scotland way back in 1840. Reason – the local villagers thought great auk was a witch? I mean seriously!
While auk was certainly not a witch, this penguin like specie was the last flightless bird in the Northern Hemisphere.
Providentially, great auks were observed in 1844 off the coast of Iceland. They were a nesting pair, but then again few fishermen hunted them for their pricey meat and bait. Not only did they kill them but ensured their extinction by crushing their lone remaining eggs. Thanks, you guys!
5. Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus)
Bearing a close resemblance to a hybrid between a dog and tiger, Tasmanian tiger was a carnivorous marsupial.
Australian native, the Tasmanian tiger was last observed on the mainland over 2,000 years ago. The specie was reportedly hunted down to extension by an indigenous population.
They were heavily hunted down, mostly by the farmers to protect their livestock, which eventually brought them down to minimalist numbers by the early 20th century. By then, efforts to protect the specie were too late.
The last one of them was caught back in 1933, who happened to die three years after in a zoo in Hobart, Australia.
6. Large Rodents (Josephoartigasia mones)
So, you’re scared of rats? Ever wondered what if largest of them (larger than the one you can even imagine) came to life?
Native to South America, the rodent lived some 2 to 4 million years ago and shared a close relation to guinea pig rather than rat. Surprisingly, the fossilized remains of the specie discovered in 1987, revealed that Josephoartigasia monesi was over 10 feet long and weighed around 1,000 pounds.
Glad rats are not that big!
7. The Saber-toothed Tiger (Smilodon)
Smilodon is by far the most renowned specie of saber-toothed cat.
This is the same cat you see in motion pictures that highlight the pre-historic times – remember the cat that gets trapped in La Brea tar pits while on a hunt for mammoths. The specie has been extinct for over 10,000 years now, but its long and sharp edged canines (believed to be used for ripping open its prey) still inspire awe!
Smilodon is said to be about the size of the modern day lion, but hundred times more robust. Since the fierce predator roamed freely on the vast grasslands and forests of South and North America, we can only be happy that we’re not living in the Ice Age
8. Baiji White Dolphin
One of the most recent specie to fall dupe to humans is Baiji White Dolphin.
Observed in the Yangtze River in China, these fresh water dolphins were nearly blind and extremely intelligent. In the year 2006, an extensive expedition search was carried out in Yangtze which lasted for six weeks. The search however was not successful in locating any Baiji – marking an end to the specie which was once an inseparable part of the river.
Baiji had fallen prey to the hunters and fishermen as numerous fishing boats equipped with their entangling gear had started to crowd the river during 1950’s and 60’s.
A report sighing way back in 2007 raised some hope of their survival, but scientists argue that even if few Baiji still exists their numbers are going to be so small so as to make them “functionally extinct” – meaning these lovable aquatic mammals are beyond comeback.
9. The Quagga
The caramel brown quagga was typical zebra specie that went extinct from the planet since the 19th century. However there are many who are still trying hard to resurrect the specie.
A South African Quagga Project has been adopting various breeding patterns amongst plains zebras in their endeavor to mimic the markings of this unique mammal. This project has been operational ever since 1987.
A native of South Africa, quagga was mainly hunted down for its meat and hide purpose. The last one of them breathed its last in 1883 in an Amsterdam zoo.
10. Steller’s Sea Cow
Unlike the land cows which graze upon grass these sea cows consumed kelp in the Bering Sea.
Relative to much smaller and beleaguered manatee, the sea cows were over 25 feet long and weighed as much as 10 tons.
They were found by the German naturalist Georg Steller in 1741, but unfortunately by the time he found them, their population was already threatened. One main reason for their extinction goes to their hunters (belonging to some indigenous population), who hunted them down mainly for food, skin and oil for lamps.
In 1768, in less than 30 years Steller had found them, the Sea cows went missing and finally extinct.


Study: There May Be a Link Between Pomegranate Juice During Pregnancy and Baby’s Brain Development
From the minute you discover you’ve got a baby on the way, you are inundated with information about all the pregnancy superfoods to add to your diet. But one thing that may not have been on the list, but could potentially help your little one in the womb: pomegranate juice. Through ongoing investigations, clinical researchers are exploring whether pomegranate juice intake during pregnancy can help protect baby’s brain development.
When it comes to protecting a baby’s bain, taking early steps to lessen the risk before birth is crucial in preventing brain injury. Some newborns, specifically those with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), or at a heightened risk for this. Specifically, one in ten babies is considered to have IUGR, and a baby with this condition usually measures small for its gestational age. It’s typically due to issues with the placenta, which brings oxygen and nutrients to the growing fetus.
Researchers from Brigham and Women’s Hospital are running tests to determine if pomegranate juice has a protective effect for babies with IUGR. The team analyzed mothers whose babies were diagnosed with IUGR, and presented their findings in a paper available in the Public Library of Science (PLOS). The results seem to suggest that there may be better brain development and brain connectivity in infants whose mothers consumed pomegranate juice daily during pregnancy. A second, larger clinical trial is currently underway to validate these findings.
Pomegranate juice is a particularly rich source of polyphenols, which are chemicals that are part of a class of antioxidants found in many food and beverages, including nuts, berries, red wine and teas. Polyphenols are known to cross the blood-brain barrier, and studies in animal models have demonstrated protective effects against neurodegenerative diseases.
The randomized, controlled, double-blinded study enrolled 78 mothers from Barnes-Jewish Hospital obstetric clinic in St. Louis with IUGR diagnosed at 24 to 43 weeks’ gestation. Women were randomized to receive 8 ounces of pomegranate juice daily, or a taste/calorie matched placebo that was polyphenol free. Women drank the juice daily from the start of the study to their delivery. The team measured several aspects of brain development and injury, including infant brain macrostructure, microstructural organization and functional connectivity. Although they didn’t observe differences in brain macrostructure, they did find regional differences in white matter microstructure and functional connectivity.
To break down some of that medical jargon, what it means is there was no difference in brain growth or baby growth, but they did see an improvement in the cabling network and brain development measured by simultaneous blood flow and visual development of the brain.
This is the first clinical study to evaluate the potential effects of giving pregnant women pomegranate juice to protect the brains of at-risk newborns. The researchers say they need additional research to support the preliminary evidence. A larger study is now underway at the Brigham to dig deeper into the topic.
Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.


Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a serious disease where the immune system destroys the myelin surrounding the nerves. This becomes a problem for individuals since the myelin is critical for communication of the central nervous system, including the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves (Mayo Clinic Staff). While the cause of MS is still unknown, researchers believe that this disease is considered an immune mediated problem ("Who Gets MS? (Epidemiology)"). There is currently no cure for MS, but researchers and doctors try to focus on making the patient more comfortable by managing their symptoms, treating attacks, and reducing any further progression (Mayo Clinic Staff).
Symptoms of MS can vary by location and severity of the disease. Patients have attacks, which can last anywhere from a few days to a few moths. Usually fever, hot baths, sun exposure, and stress can trigger additional attacks and increase the pain the patients endures ("Multiple sclerosis"). Symptoms can occur in the muscles, bowel and bladder, eyes, limbs, and brain. Some other common symptoms of MS include: numbness or weakness in limbs, partial or complete loss of central vision, tingling or pain in body parts, tremors, slurred speech, fatigue, or dizziness (Mayo Clinic Staff).
Patients are usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40, but there has been a recent increase in young children diagnosed with MS ("Who Gets MS? (Epidemiology)"). Women are also twice as likely to be diagnosed with MS over men (Mayo Clinic). Family history and genetics is also a factor for patients who might be diagnosed with MS. If your parents or siblings have MS you have a 5% chance of contracting the disease ("Who Gets MS? (Epidemiology)"). Genetics are not the only factor though. ...
... middle of paper ...
...of observational studies." Journal of the Neurological Sciences 336.1 (2014): 13-23. PubMed. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .
Mayo Clinic Staff. "Multiple sclerosis." Mayo Clinic. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .
Minager, A., and J. S. Alexander. "Blood-brain barrier disruption in multiple sclerosis." Sage Journals 9.6 (2003): 540-49. PubMed. Web. 24 Apr. 2014. .
"Multiple sclerosis." PubMed Health. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 25 Sept. 2013. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .
"Who Gets MS? (Epidemiology)." National Multiple Sclerosis Society. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2014. .


In Human Nature, Crispr’s Origin Story Comes to Life
Human Nature takes a closer look at the scientists who founded the world-altering field of gene editing—and revels in the science.
The US-China Feud Makes It Harder to Fight Coronavirus
Ian Bremmer, founder of the risk consultancy Eurasia Group, says popularism, nationalism, and distrust are feeding the spread of disease.
Two-pronged attack on DNA repair could kill drug-resistant cancers
(Institute of Cancer Research) Launching a two-pronged attack on cancer’s ability to safeguard its DNA could offer an effective new way of treating the disease, a new study reports.
The inactivated human receptor will help to create effective drugs
(Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech)) Scientists from China and Russia found a new way of searching for new drug candidates by inactivating the molecular structure of the human muscarinic receptor and applying screening to find drug…
Survey shows emergency physicians may benefit from training on safely handling firearms
(Society for Academic Emergency Medicine) Emergency physicians may benefit from training on safely handling firearms, according to the findings of a survey to be published in the March 2020 issue of Academic Emergency Medicine (AEM), a journal of the S…
Rural Hondurans embrace cancer screening opportunities
(Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center) Few people in low-income countries have access to cancer screening and their cancer rates are on the rise. To test the feasibility of cancer screening in a low-income country, researchers from Dartmouth’s Norris Cot…
People want more compensation, security for their genomic data
(Cornell University) Genomic data donated by the public is valuable for the companies that collect it. But a recent survey finds that once people are aware of issues surrounding the use and security of genetic information, people are more concerned abo…
Probing the genes that organize early brain development
(University of Southern California) A new study finds how a specific gene can impact neurodevelopment and lead to macrocephaly and autism spectrum disorder in animal and lab models.
Sensing infection, suppressing regeneration
(University of Illinois at Chicago) UIC researchers describe an enzyme that blocks the ability of blood vessel cells to self-heal. By studying mice with sepsis they found that removal of the enzyme allows cells to fully regenerate.
Bumblebees aversion to pumpkin pollen may help plants thrive
(Cornell University) Cornell University researchers have found that squash and pumpkin pollen have physical, nutritional and chemical defense qualities that are harmful to bumblebees. The results of their recent study suggest that deterring bumblebees …


At Turtle Point in Key West at SeaWorld, guests can see endangered and threatened species of sea turtles. These prehistoric-looking reptiles reside in a natural lagoon complete with a beach, sand dunes and indigenous plant life. SeaWorld Orlando has rescued and rehabilitated more than 300 sea turtles, ranging from tiny hatchlings to 4-foot-long leatherbacks.
Duration - 7 minutes 0 seconds
Suitability - Fun for Everyone, Outdoor
Ages - 4 thru 6 yrs, 7 yrs & up, 12 yrs & up, 0 thru 3 yrs, Family
A'Lure The Call of the Ocean Blue Horizons Clyde and Seamore Take Pirate Island Dolphin Cove Dolphin Nursery Jazzy Jellies Journey to Atlantis Kraken Manatee Rescue Manta Net Climb Ocean Commotion One Ocean Pacific Point Preserve Penguin Encounter Pets Ahoy Reflections Sea Carousel Shamu Express Shamu Rocks Shark Encounter Sky Tower Stingray Lagoon Swishy Fishies The Flying Fiddler The Oyster's Secret Turtle Point TurtleTrek Wild Arctic


Agriculture Plant Nursery - Case Study
A plant nursery company had water quality issues from the well water source that there were using for irrigation purposes in their plant growing operations. These water quality issues including total dissolved salts (TDS) around 2500 mg/l, as well as turbidity, mineral hardness and microbiological contaminants. The plants were slow growing.
Genesis Water Technologies consulted with the client on the best solution for this challenge. The system solution included pre-filtration, disinfection, anti-scalant followed by our GWT series reverse osmosis to reduce salts. Our specialized Agro-Z medium was used to enhance plant growth and reduce associated fertilizer nutrient costs.
The system was installed by a local contractor on site with technical and installation assistance provided by Genesis Water Technologies. The system is performing within its operating parameters with TDS levels less than < 200 TDS producing high quality water. The specialized Agro-Z medium is also providing enhanced benefits to the plants health and growth ensuring high quality plant yields.


Harold ‘Poppy’ Jones
Herbalist in Residence
Poppy leads Earth-honoring nature walks both in New York City and on field trips. He is natural forager, herbal medicine maker and intuitive. He gives workshops on medicinal plants and herbs including identification, harvesting, and allowing students to observe the preparation of tinctures, compresses, teas and herbal baths. All of this work is informed by indigenous wisdom on holistic natural healing. At the Center, he maintains an herbal laboratory as part of our Rooftop Garden program, which allows him to instruct and assist students in the study of plants when not in the field. Poppy liaises with Original Caretakers friends and advisers, including those maintaining indigenous communities throughout the Northeast. Poppy joined CEE in 2016.


- This event has passed.
Organic Chemistry Seminar Series: Vinayak Agarwal (Georgia Tech)
March 28, 2022 | 3:45 pm - 4:45 pm
About the Seminar:
Natural products are organic secondary metabolites produced by all forms of life. In their native environment, natural products mediate intra- and interspecies communication. Bioinhibitory activities of natural products make them medicinally attractive– majority of clinically used drugs and pharmaceuticals are or are derived from natural products. The Agarwal laboratory seeks to understand how gene encoded enzymes construct natural product organic structures starting from simple biologically available starting materials. With the underlying motivation to reconstitute natural product biosynthetic pathways in the laboratory, we use a multidisciplinary approach involving metabolomics, (meta)genomics, enzymological assays, and structural biology to query the intricate enzymological chemistry which underlies natural product biosynthesis, and the metabolomic and genomic complexity of multi-organismal ecological niches in which natural products are produced. This seminar will highlight recent progress in three research directions: mass spectrometry-based identification of intermediates to reconstruct cryptic biosynthetic schemes, total in vitro reconstitution of polyketide synthases to reveal gatekeeping selectivity of ketosynthase domains, and the discovery and synthetic biological elaboration of an exceptionally widely distributed biosynthetic gene loci encoding brominated ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptide natural products.


In this microscopic battle, it's survival of the biggest and hungriest...
Move microbe 1-6 = Choose action ability (or click with mouse) Pause Eat the red proteins to grow and earn action abilities. Devour enemies smaller than you to grow and win!
Embed this game
Share this game


Contributors: marco mendoza, Maria B. Goncalves, Jonathan Corcoran
... Differential gene expression analysis (RNA-sequencing) assessed in the SC from L5-SNL rats and non-injured rats, treated with vehicle or C286. Raw counts per gene (Raw counts.zip file) were normalized (quantile normalization; Normaliez counts.zip), then used for a differential gene expression analysis relative to the sample non-injured + vehicle (Diff_expression_DESeq2.zip). In addition, we have included herein a supplementary Table containing Gene Ontology (GO) terms per gene co-expression paths issued from the differential expression analysis. Notice that GO terms are described by their confidence of enrichment, expressend on "-10*log10(p-value).
Contributors: Willem Roux, Imtiaz Gandikota, Guilian Yi
... These are the computer models used for structural topology optimization from the paper "A spatial kernel approach for topology optimization" by Roux, Yi, and Gandikota.
Contributors: Hashem Ezzati
... These are some codes and data constructed in Matlab software.
Top results from Data Repository sources. Show only results like these.
Contributors: Jeremy Diem
... These data were generated for an analysis of trends in satellite-based seasonal rainfall in western Uganda from 1983-2017. Western Uganda was divided into five rainfall regions. Analyses of the data show the following: (1) wet days in most seasons have a disproportionately high frequency of westerly back-trajectories extending over the Congo Basin; (2) rainy seasons, especially the first rains, have gotten longer and wetter throughout western Uganda; (3) rainfall also has increased for climatological seasons, with the exception being December-February; and (4) increases in middle-troposphere specific humidity and vertical ascent over time provide support for the wetting trends derived from the satellite-derived rainfall data.
Dataset for the metamodeling of naturally ventilated Brazilian low-cost houses to assess thermal performance
Contributors: Ana Paula Favretto, Camila Grassi, Michele Marta Rossi, Jeffrey Thomas, Yifan Yang, Joseph DeCarolis, Soolyeon Cho, David Hill, Ranji Ranjithan, Karin Chvatal
... Research objective: This study aimed to develop metamodels to assess the thermal discomfort in naturally ventilated Brazilian low-cost houses during early design as a decision-making support framework, and for educational purposes. Method overview: The method encompassed a large number of simulations of the software EnergyPlus [EP] 8.1 using the Monte Carlo method. These simulations were used to develop a set of regression-based mathematical relationships between the inputs and the outputs. The Monte Carlo method was selected to help sample the many independent input variables, each with its own range of values, and form equally likely random combinations of input conditions for the energy simulation. The EnergyPlus outputs were post processed to assess the thermal comfort by means of the degree hours of discomfort by heat and by cold. Files description: The following data items were made available. (a) Parameter_Domains: Curitiba_parameterdomains.csv; Manaus_parameterdomains.csv and Sao_Paulo_parametersdomains.csv: CSV files created for each location. They contain a list of the 24 key parameters and random combinations of their values to create the input data for the 10,000 simulations. (b) Performance_Metrics: Curitiba_performancemetrics.csv; Manaus_performancemetrics.csv and Sao_Paulo_performancemetrics.csv: CSV files created for each location. They contain output values (outdoor and indoor discomfort by heat and by cold) for 10,000 simulations. (c) Sandbox: Sandbox.xlsx: Excel file for the application of the metamodels. It enables a quick and easy assessment of discomfort by heat and by cold for specific combinations of parameters, for each location. (d) Python_Codes: Python_Codes.zip: Compressed file consisting of the codes used to 1) run the simulations randomly combining values for each selected parameter within their specified ranges, and 2) to calculate the hours of discomfort by heat and by cold for each of the parameters’ combinations (10,000 simulations for each studied climate). (e) IDFs_Base: Curitiba_idfbase.idf; Manaus_idfbase.idf; Sao_Paulo_idfbase.idf : Input Data File (IDF) created for each location. They contain the description of all input data considered in an annual building performance simulation.
Contributors: Jonathan Long
... Raw metabolomic data from acetonitrile/methanol-extracted livers transduced with the indicated AAV. LC-MS data were collected on an Agilent 6545 QTOF instrument in negative ionization mode.
Contributors: Tianjin Xie
... Purple rapeseed leaves dataset contains training set and test set, both of which included RGB images which were cropped using UAV orthoimage and the corresponding labels, with the size of 256 × 256 pixels. The codes for the U-Net model used in this experiment was also assigned to the folder.
From global-to-local? Uncovering the temporal dynamics of the composite face illusion using distributional analyses
Contributors: Daniel Fitousi
... The data are the result of an experiment with composite faces. This is a standard composite face task in which a study and test composite faces are presented one after the other. The participant's task is to indicate whether the top half of the test and study faces are 'same' or 'different'. Both RTs and accuracy are measured.
Contributors: Bo Zhang, Feng Guo, Guoqing Wang, Xiaobing Zhang, Liang Zhao, Yangming Wu
Data for: The Surface Distributions of the Production of the Major Volatile Species, H2O, CO2, CO and O2, from the Nucleus of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko throughout the Rosetta Mission as Measured by the ROSINA Double Focusing Mass Spectrometer
Contributors: Michael Combi, Nicolas Fougere, Valeriy Tenishev, Yinsi Shou, Kenneth Hansen, Zhenguang Huang, David Marshall, Dominique Bockelee-Morvan, Martin Rubin, Kathrin Altwegg
... The file MIRO_Columns.txt contains the column densities and their uncertainties corresponding to the results published previously in the paper by Marshall, D.W., Hartogh, P. Rezac, L. von Allmen, P., Biver, N., Bockelée-Morvan, D., Crovisier, J., Encrenaz, P. Bulkis, S. Hofstadter, M. Ip, W.-H., Jarchow, C. Lee, S., Lellouch, E. 2017. Spatially resolved evolution of the local H2O production rates of coet 67P/Churyumov,Gerasimenko, from the MIRO instrument of Rosetta. Astronomy & Astrophysics 603, A87. The format containes space delimited columns corresponding to Date, UT time, Heliocentric Distance (AU), column density (cm^-2), column density error (cm^-2).


The one and the many: effects of the cell adhesion molecule pathway on neuropsychological function in psychosis
Nicodemus, K. K.
MetadataShow full item record
This item's downloads: 0 (view details)
Cited 11 times in Scopus (view citations)
Hargreaves, A. Anney, R.; O'Dushlaine, C.; Nicodemus, K. K.; Gill, M.; Corvin, A.; Morris, D.; Donohoe, Gary; , ; , (2013). The one and the many: effects of the cell adhesion molecule pathway on neuropsychological function in psychosis. Psychological Medicine 44 (10), 2177-2187
Background. Genetic studies of single gene variants have been criticized as providing a simplistic characterization of the genetic basis of illness risk that ignores the effects of other variants within the same biological pathways. Of candidate biological pathways for schizophrenia (SZ), the cell adhesion molecule (CAM) pathway has repeatedly been linked to both psychosis and neurocognitive dysfunction. Here we tested, using risk allele scores derived from the Schizophrenia Psychiatric Genome-Wide Association Study Consortium (PGC-SCZ), whether alleles within the CAM pathway were correlated with poorer neuropsychological function in patients. Method. In total, 424 patients with psychosis were assessed in areas of cognitive ability typically found to be impaired in SZ: intelligence quotient, memory, working memory and attentional control. CAM pathway genes were identified using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database. Alleles within these genes identified as significantly associated with SZ risk in the PGC-SCZ were then used to calculate a CAM pathway-based polygenic risk allele score for each patient and these scores were tested for association with cognitive ability. Results. Increased CAM pathway polygenic risk scores were significantly associated with poorer performance on measures of memory and attention, explaining 1-3% of variation on these measures. Notably, the most strongly associated single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the CAM pathway (rs9272105 within HLA-DQA1) explained a similar amount of variance in attentional control, but not memory, as the polygenic risk analysis. Conclusions. These data support a role for the CAM pathway in cognitive function, both at the level of individual SNPs and the wider pathway. In so doing these data highlight the value of pathway-based polygenic risk score studies as well as single gene studies for understanding SZ-associated deficits in cognition.


This article was originally published in Wisconsin Agriculturist
Why is it that dairy farms in my area are averaging under the Wisconsin average of 24,884 pounds of milk per cow? This question got me asking questions to some farmers and agri-service providers. One piece of the puzzle that emerged is that we may need to be paying closer attention to transition cows in our smaller herds. Care of the transition cow is not a new concept, but management strategies for the smaller farm may be overlooked when recommendations are shared.
Research shows that in the management of transition cows, dry matter intakes (DMI) are the key to a successful lactation. Appropriate DMI immediately prior to calving is critical as intake is naturally decreased due to fetal growth and hormone changes in late pregnancy. The goal is to prevent DMI from dropping, as long as possible, since the energy is critical for the health and production of the cow. Working with a nutritionist to define the energy in the diet is essential in this period as increased energy density could negatively affect DMI and/or digestion processes, but adequate energy is necessary to prevent the disruption of metabolic processes. The key lies in keeping the rumen filled with the correct diet that helps transition the rumen microbes to the diet the cow will be eating in lactation.
For smaller herds that might not have the facilities/space to make a transition group in the barn, you might have to get creative in making sure that cows in the transition period get the appropriate diet. For a tie-stall barn, this might mean grouping the handful of transition cows that you have at any given time next to each other to help with feeding the correct diet. You may need to prevent these cows from stealing the “normal” lactation diet being fed to the cow next to them by placing a board in the manger area as a divider between the two different diets. Alternatively, if there doesn’t seem to be space in the barn for the transition cows, pasture or dry-lot space with a shelter may provide another management strategy to get the correct diet to these cows.
Research also shows that environmental stressors, including social stress, can affect cow access to bunk space and feed, which can lower DMI. For herds that have a penning system, and pen space to dedicate to transition cows, there are a couple of grouping strategies to keep in mind with transition cows. One strategy is to group cows within a set anticipated calving date together with no new animals entering the pen until all cows have calved (all-in, all-out). An alternative strategy is to move cows in pairs if you must make changes in pens as it takes about four days for the social order to be stabilized after grouping changes are made.
References available upon request


Sarban Singh, The Star | May 25, 2021
Malaysians are aghast over the culling of some 20 dusky langurs in Port Dickson and are demanding answers from the authorities.
Animal lovers and wildlife experts have decried the decision allegedly taken by officers from the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) to cull them, arguing that other methods should have been employed to deal with the primates which were not known to be aggressive.
Some 20 dusky langurs, believed to be from the same family, were apparently shot dead near a residential area last Wednesday.
In a joint statement, the Malaysian Primatological Society and Langur Project Penang said such drastic action was unnecessary as aggression by dusky langurs, protected under the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010, was extremely rare.
They said that dusky langurs were an extremely shy and gentle primate, and under normal circumstances, preferred the sanctuary of the forest rather than seeking to be near human settlements, unlike macaques.
All parties, they added, must develop a culture of respect for wildlife in urban spaces.
Along with other native Malaysian wildlife, they said dusky langurs were an important part of our natural heritage, and were widely promoted in ecotourism and wildlife watching activities.
Lawyers for Animal Rights asked how could an endangered species be shot en masse.
Animal rights activist and lawyer Rajesh Nagarajan said Perhilitan and the police must investigate the incident under the Animal Welfare Act 2015.
“We demand that Perhilitan investigate and prosecute every single officer who is complicit in this barbaric murder of poor defenceless creatures, ” he said.
International photojournalist author and publisher David S.T. Loh also described the incident as shocking.
“Langurs are such gentle herbivores. They are shy, timid and generally will run away when humans approach them.
“With all my travelling within Malaysia, I have yet to see one aggressive langur. It is shocking that Perhilitan shot dead a family of an endangered species, ” he said, adding that he found it difficult to believe that these harmless primates would attack people.
Save a Stray Malaysia founder Jacqueline Tsang said the department might have acted hastily in this instance.
“Their action is tantamount to being trigger-happy. There surely is an alternative to culling, ” she said when contacted.
Gibbon Conservation Society president Mariani Ramili said the culling of primates did not solve problems, and that Perhilitan should collaborate with experts from non-governmental wildlife organisations to revise and enforce wildlife management policies.
“Unfortunately, this is not the first human-wildlife conflict is handled with culling. We have already lost our Sumatran rhino, and are struggling to conserve our Malayan Tiger, so how can we kill our other wildlife species?” she asked.
Malaysian Nature Society president Prof Ahmad Ismail said although Perhilitan might have been acting on a public complaint, it should have looked at other options rather than killing animals listed as endangered.
Attempts to get a response from Perhilitan director-general Datuk Abdul Kadir Abu Hisham were unsuccessful, although queries were sent last Friday.


Women and men differ in their chromosomal makeup, protein gene products, genomic imprinting, gene expression, signaling pathways, and hormonal environment. All of these necessitate caution in extrapolating information derived from biomarkers from one sex to the other. Women are particularly vulnerable at the two extremes of life. Young women and adolescents are at risk from STIs, pregnancy and unsafe abortion, while older women often have few resources and are disadvantaged with respect to men, and also are at risk of dementia and abuse, and generally poor health.
Women have traditionally been disadvantaged in terms of economic and social status and power, which in turn reduces their access to the necessities of life including health care. Despite recent improvements in western nations, women remain disadvantaged with respect to men. The gender gap in health is even more acute in developing countries where women are relatively more disadvantaged. In addition to gender inequity, there remain specific disease processes uniquely associated with being a woman which create specific challenges in both prevention and health care.
By contrast, ovarian cancer, the leading cause of reproductive organ cancer deaths, and the fifth commonest cause of cancer deaths in women in the United States, lacks an effective screening programme, and is predominantly a disease of women in industrialised countries. Because it is largely asymptomatic in its earliest stages, more than 50% of women have stage III or higher cancer (spread beyond the ovaries) by the time they are diagnosed, with a consequent poor prognosis.
Our review found that protein-energy supplementation was largely targeted to pregnant and lactating women (19, 86–88, 90, 91); however, there were some studies that evaluated the delivery of protein-energy supplementation to households (92, 93) and adolescents (46). The only studies we found that evaluated the impact of protein-energy supplementation in older, healthy women were hospital-based studies in high-income countries (96). Delivery platforms varied depending on the target audience. The majority of studies targeted pregnant women through antenatal care or through antenatal care–associated community-based programs. National programs targeting low-income families had broader reach, although they targeted households and not women specifically (92). Additional research is needed for how women might best be reached (94). For programs that provided provisions for women to take home, there was also limited information about how much was shared with other members of the household. School-based programs targeting adolescents could be an important venue to target interventions to adolescents in the future. However, children and adolescents not in school would be missed. Despite limited evidence of impacts of energy and protein supplementation on the health of women, supplementation might be an important complement to other interventions (e.g., nutrition education and counseling) to ensure that women have the resources needed to implement other interventions successfully. Indeed, many large-scale programs for protein-energy supplementation are often complemented with nutrition education and counseling (33).
Women and men have approximately equal risk of dying from cancer, which accounts for about a quarter of all deaths, and is the second leading cause of death. However the relative incidence of different cancers varies between women and men. In the United States the three commonest types of cancer of women in 2012 were lung, breast and colorectal cancers. In addition other important cancers in women, in order of importance, are ovarian, uterine (including endometrial and cervical cancers (Gronowski and Schindler, Table III). Similar figures were reported in 2016. While cancer death rates rose rapidly during the twentieth century, the increase was less and later in women due to differences in smoking rates. More recently cancer death rates have started to decline as the use of tobacco becomes less common. Between 1991 and 2012, the death rate in women declined by 19% (less than in men). In the early twentieth century death from uterine (uterine body and cervix) cancers was the leading cause of cancer death in women, who had a higher cancer mortality than men. From the 1930s onwards, uterine cancer deaths declined, primarily due to lower death rates from cervical cancer following the availability of the Papanicolaou (Pap) screening test. This resulted in an overall reduction of cancer deaths in women between the 1940s and 1970s, when rising rates of lung cancer led to an overall increase. By the 1950s the decline in uterine cancer left breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death till it was overtaken by lung cancer in the 1980s. All three cancers (lung, breast, uterus) are now declining in cancer death rates (Siegel et al. Figure 8), but more women die from lung cancer every year than from breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers combined. Overall about 20% of people found to have lung cancer are never smokers, yet amongst nonsmoking women the risk of developing lung cancer is three times greater than amongst men who never smoked.
A workout partner not only keeps you accountable, she also may help you clock more time at the gym and torch more fat. A British survey of 1,000 women found that those who exercise with others tend to train six minutes longer and burn an extra 41 calories per session compared to solo fitness fanatics. [Tweet this fact!] Women with Bikram buddies and CrossFit comrades said they push themselves harder and are more motivated than when they hit the gym alone.
Important sexual health issues for women include Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and female genital cutting (FGC). STIs are a global health priority because they have serious consequences for women and infants. Mother-to-child transmission of STIs can lead to stillbirths, neonatal death, low-birth-weight and prematurity, sepsis, pneumonia, neonatal conjunctivitis, and congenital deformities. Syphilis in pregnancy results in over 300,000 fetal and neonatal deaths per year, and 215,000 infants with an increased risk of death from prematurity, low-birth-weight or congenital disease.
The delivery of nutrition education reached women across all life stages and through many platforms. Many nutrition education studies that targeted pregnant and lactating mothers reported on women's outcomes, but the primary focus of many of these studies was child health outcomes (13, 14, 19, 21, 24, 28); few studies focused on dietary outcomes and behaviors of pregnant and lactating women themselves (17, 20, 23). There were some studies evaluating the impact of nutrition education on the practices and outcomes of school-age children and adolescent girls (15, 18, 27, 29, 34), as well as older women (16, 22, 25, 30). Many of the nutrition education interventions were clinic-based (17–20, 23, 24). However, nutrition education was also delivered through community-based programs, including home visits (16, 21), community centers (15, 16, 20, 21), worksites (25), and schools (25, 27, 30, 34).
Low-fat diets also can help you lose weight.16 But the amount of weight lost is usually small. You can lose weight and lower your risk for heart disease and stroke if you follow an overall healthy pattern of eating that includes more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans that are high in fiber, nuts, low-fat dairy and fish, in addition to staying away from trans fat and saturated fat.
Microcredit institution NC HH food security, NC individual food security, NC food expenditures, NC food consumption, ↑ social status, ↑ self-confidence ↑ health knowledge, NC health status, NC HH food security, NC individual food security, ↑/NC food expenditures, NC food consumption, NC school enrollment, ↑/NC empowerment, ↑ self-confidence, ↑/NC decision-making, ↑ social status, ↑/NC health care utilization ↑ health knowledge, NC health status, ↑/NC food expenditures, NC school enrollment, ↑/NC empowerment, ↑/NC decision-making power, ↑ self-confidence, ↑/NC health care utilization NC health status, ↑/NC food expenditures, ↑/NC empowerment, ↑/NC decision-making power, ↑ self-confidence, NC health care utilization
A related issue is the inclusion of pregnant women in clinical studies. Since other illnesses can exist concurrently with pregnancy, information is needed on the response to and efficacy of interventions during pregnancy, but ethical issues relative to the fetus, make this more complex. This gender bias is partly offset by the iniation of large scale epidemiology studies of women, such as the Nurses' Health Study (1976), Women's Health Initiative and Black Women's Health Study.
It doesn't matter how many pushups you can do in a minute if you're not doing a single one correctly. “There is no point in performing any exercise without proper form,” says Stokes, who recommends thinking in terms of progression: Perfect your technique, then later add weight and/or speed. This is especially important if your workout calls for performing “as many reps as possible” during a set amount of time. Choose quality over quantity, and you can stay injury-free.
The prevalence of Alzheimer's Disease in the United States is estimated at 5.1 million, and of these two thirds are women. Furthermore, women are far more likely to be the primary caregivers of adult family members with depression, so that they bear both the risks and burdens of this disease. The lifetime risk for a woman of developing Alzeimer's is twice that of men. Part of this difference may be due to life expectancy, but changing hormonal status over their lifetime may also play a par as may differences in gene expression. Deaths due to dementia are higher in women than men (4.5% of deaths vs. 2.0%).
Women's empowerment relates to women's ability to make life choices (158). Higher levels of empowerment were associated with increased income, household decision-making, control over resources, and utilization of health resources (5, 158–160). For nutrition outcomes, empowerment was associated with increased income allocated to food expenditures and improved household food security (160, 161). It was also associated with increased dietary diversity, but had no impact on women's BMI (5, 161, 162). For example, mothers’ participation in empowerment activities through Helen Keller International's Enhanced Homestead Food Production (EHFP) program in Burkina Faso was associated with increased fruit intake (difference-in-differences = 15.8 percentage points, P = 0.02) and nearly statistically significant increases in meat intake and dietary diversity (163). Participation was also associated with decreased prevalence of underweight (difference-in-differences = −8.7 percentage points, P < 0.01) but not overall mean BMI (163). In addition, the EHFP program in Bangladesh and Nepal was associated with decreasing trends in maternal anemia (anemia prevalence decreased by a magnitude of 12%, P = 0.075 in Bangladesh, and 26%, P = 0.009 in Nepal) (160). However, this was not consistent with findings from Cambodia (160).
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. For commercial re-use, please contact firstname.lastname@example.org
As women, many of us are prone to neglecting our own dietary needs. You may feel you’re too busy to eat right, used to putting the needs of your family first, or trying to adhere to an extreme diet that leaves you short on vital nutrients and feeling cranky, hungry, and low on energy. Women’s specific needs are often neglected by dietary research, too. Studies tend to rely on male subjects whose hormone levels are more stable and predictable, thus sometimes making the results irrelevant or even misleading to women’s needs. All this can add up to serious shortfalls in your daily nutrition.
Delivery platforms for women across the life course. This Venn diagram represents the delivery platforms for different interventions by target population. The overlapping regions indicate delivery platforms that are shared by the target groups: adolescent girls, women of reproductive age, pregnant and lactating women, mothers of young children, and older women.
We cater to every fitness need — and you’ll find everything from cardio equipment and strength training — to small group training classes like Tribe and youth fitness programs. Burn calories with high intensity group exercise, cycling or circuit training workouts, or enjoy the low impact mindfulness of our many yoga classes, hot yoga and Pilates. Amenities also include private locker room facilities with dry saunas and onsite childcare.
Community centers NC HH or individual food security, NC food expenditures, NC food consumption, ↑ social status, ↑ self-confidence ↑ health and knowledge, ↓ anemia, ↑/NC HH food security, NC individual food security, NC food expenditures, ↑/NC food consumption, ↑/NC dietary diversity, ↑ MN-rich foods (Fe, vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium), ↑/NC intake of protein, ↑ ASF intake, ↑/NC BMI, ↑ weight gain, ↑ social status, ↑ self-confidence, ↑/NC decision-making ↑ health and nutrition knowledge, ↓/NC anemia, ↑/NC HH food security, ↑/NC food expenditures, ↑/NC HH food consumption, ↑/NC dietary diversity, ↑ nutrient-rich foods (Fe, vitamin A), NC intake of protein, ↑/NC intake of vegetables and ASF, ↑/NC BMI, ↓ underweight, ↑ weight gain, NC diarrheal morbidity, ↑ self-confidence, ↑/NC decision-making, ↑ control HH resources ↑ health knowledge, ↑/NC HH food security, ↑/NC HH food consumption, ↑ dietary diversity, ↑ self-confidence, ↑/NC decision-making
Complementing income-generating interventions with interventions that more directly target women's nutrition has potential to have greater impacts on women's nutritional status (171). Integrated interventions were associated with improvements in health knowledge and behaviors, as well as increased intake of nutrient-rich foods (5, 164, 169, 170, 172). In Bangladesh and Cambodia, the aforementioned EHFP program was associated with increased income, decision-making power in the household, food expenditure (including on oils, salts, spices, fish, rice, and meat), and consumption of fruits and vegetables from home gardens (160, 173). There was also limited, but mixed, evidence of income-generating interventions and behavior change communication causing improvements in maternal anemia and BMI (164, 168, 170).
Recent research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed that ART babies are two to four times more likely to have certain kinds of birth defects. These may include heart and digestive system problems, and cleft (divided into two pieces) lips or palate. Researchers don't know why this happens. The birth defects may not be due to the technology. Other factors, like the age of the parents, may be involved. More research is needed. The risk is relatively low, but parents should consider this when making the decision to use ART.
As the science of nutrition continually evolves, researchers recognize that nutrients needed to maintain a healthy lifestyle must be tailored to the individual for maximum effectiveness. Recognizing that people are not all alike and that one size does not fit all when it comes to planning and achieving a healthful diet, the Institute of Medicine's dietary guidelines, titled "Dietary Reference Intakes for Macronutrients," stress the importance of balancing diet with exercise and recommends total calories based on an individual's height, weight and gender for each of four different levels of physical activity.
Hysterosalpingography (HIS-tur-oh-sal-ping-GOGH-ru-fee): This is an x-ray of the uterus and fallopian tubes. Doctors inject a special dye into the uterus through the vagina. This dye shows up in the x-ray. Doctors can then watch to see if the dye moves freely through the uterus and fallopian tubes. This can help them find physical blocks that may be causing infertility. Blocks in the system can keep the egg from moving from the fallopian tube to the uterus. A block could also keep the sperm from reaching the egg.
In order to complete your transaction, we will share the name, billing and shipping address and other order information associated with your purchase with the publisher or magazine vendor. Your name and address will also be shared with a circulation-auditing organization. We may share your e-mail with the publisher, but you can control how it will be used in Subscription Manager. We will not share your credit card information. Offers on this page are introductory. See Details.
The new guidelines encourage eating more nutrient-dense food and beverages. Many of us consume too many calories from solid fats, added sugar and refined grains. The guidelines promote a diet that emphasizes vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products, seafood, lean meat and poultry, eggs, beans and peas, and nuts and seeds.
It has affected more than 200 million women and girls who are alive today. The practice is concentrated in some 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. FGC affects many religious faiths, nationalities, and socioeconomic classes and is highly controversial. The main arguments advanced to justify FGC are hygiene, fertility, the preservation of chastity, an important rite of passage, marriageability and enhanced sexual pleasure of male partners. The amount of tissue removed varies considerably, leading the WHO and other bodies to classify FGC into four types. These range from the partial or total removal of the clitoris with or without the prepuce (clitoridectomy) in Type I, to the additional removal of the labia minora, with or without excision of the labia majora (Type II) to narrowing of the vaginal orifice (introitus) with the creation of a covering seal by suturing the remaining labial tissue over the urethra and introitus, with or without excision of the clitoris (infibulation). In this type a small opening is created to allow urine and menstrual blood to be discharged. Type 4 involves all other procedures, usually relatively minor alterations such as piercing.
Everyone seems to have food allergies these days, but in fact, such allergies are rare. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, while one in three adults think they have a food allergy or modify their family's diet, only about four percent do. A food allergy is an abnormal immune-system response to certain foods (most commonly, fish, shellfish, peanuts, other nuts and eggs). Symptoms can include hives, rashes, nasal congestion, nausea, diarrhea and gas. However, symptoms of food intolerance—such as intestinal distress—may mimic those of a food allergy. You may want to talk to an allergist about diagnosis and treatment. Whether you have food allergies or intolerance, you will need to develop a diet that fits your needs and avoids foods that trigger a reaction.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) food pyramid system (www.mypyramid.gov) provides a good start by recommending that the bulk of your diet come from the grain group—this includes bread, cereal, rice and pasta— the vegetable group; and the fruit group. Select smaller amounts of foods from the milk group and the meat and beans group. Eat few—if any—foods that are high in fat and sugars and low in nutrients. The amount of food you should consume depends on your sex, age and level of activity.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money, follow a very strict diet, or eat only specific types of food to eat healthy. Healthy eating is not about skipping meals or certain nutrients. Healthy eating is not limited to certain types of food, like organic, gluten-free, or enriched food. It is not limited to certain patterns of eating, such as high protein.
Nutrition education Health clinics ↑ knowledge, NC Hgb, ↑ intake of fruits and vegetables, ↓/NC intake of fats, sweets, and sugar-sweetened beverages ↑ knowledge, NC Hgb, ↑ intake of fruits and vegetables, ↓/NC intake of fats, sweets, and sugar-sweetened beverages ↑ knowledge, NC urinary iodine, ↑ intake of nutrient-rich foods, ↑ intake of protein, ↑ weight gain, ↑/NC weight loss postpartum (obese women) with diet and exercise
Grains, vegetables and fruits are essential to getting the vitamins, minerals, complex carbohydrates (starch and dietary fiber) and other nutrients you need to sustain good health. Some of these nutrients may even reduce your risk of certain kinds of cancer. But experts say we rarely eat enough of these foods. To make matters worse, we also eat too much of unhealthy types of food, including fat (and cholesterol), sugar and salt.
If you usually head to the gym after work, take heed: Mental exhaustion can make you feel physically exhausted, even when you have plenty of energy, reports a Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise study. When people played a brain-draining computer game before exercising, they reported a subsequent workout as being harder, yet their muscles showed the same activity as they did doing the same workout after an easy mental game. So if you think you can’t eke out those last 10 minutes on the rowing machine, remember: You can! [Tweet this motivation!]
Adopting a plant-based diet could help tip the scales in your favor. A five-year study of 71,751 adults published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that vegetarians tend to be slimmer than meat-eaters even though both groups eat about the same number of calories daily. Researchers say it may be because carnivores consume more fatty acids and fewer weight-loss promoting nutrients, like fiber, than herbivores do. Go green to find out if it works for you.


Facts About Sugar Maple Trees
Sugar maples grow in much of the Northern hemisphere. These trees have distinctive flower and bark characteristics, grow better in certain soil conditions and are subject to several types of hazards. People use sugar maple trees for producing many...
Acer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of eastern
Canada, from Nova Scotia west through Quebec and ...
Sugar Maple (hard maple, rock maple). Sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is the
most abundant of the seven maple species found in New York State, and is ...
The electric reds, golds and oranges of sugar maple's (Acer saccharum) dying
foliage fuel New England's fiery autumnal displays, months before countless ...
Information about the Sugar Maple. ... The sugar maple (hard maple, rock maple)
is one of our largest and finest forest trees, growing to a feet with a ... Fun Facts:.
The tree Guide at arborday.org offers information on size, height, growth rate, sun
and soil preference, and more on Sugar Maple and many other commonly ...
Jun 2, 2014 ... INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT MAPLE TREES. Sugar, Black, and Red maples
are the trees that are important for maple syrup production.
Maple tree is plant that belongs to the family Aceraceae. ... Maple tree Facts ...
Maple syrup is rich in sugar, but it also contains vitamins and minerals in traces.
Counties in blue contain tree ... Sugar maple, also known as hard maple or rock
maple, is a medium to large tree, from 70 to 90 feet tall. ... Interesting Facts.
Sugar Maple Acer saccharum. In spring, the numerous yellow flowers give this
tree a distinctive appearance. The tree grows well in fertile, moist, and ...


Approximately 1.5 million calves are reared each year in NZ – 1 million dairy heifers and 500,000 bull calves. The dairy heifers are future herd replacements and how they are reared will affect how they grow and what weight they enter the herd. This website provides independent advice to New Zealand calf rearers. Information on this site has been put together by staff at On-Farm Research who have been involved with calf rearing research at the Poukawa Research Farm since 1996.
Information (On-Farm Research Fact Sheets) can be accessed from drop-down menus on each page and via the library.The library also has a wide range of information, media articles, video links and links to other useful websites.
Every effort is being made to ensure the information available on the site is accurate and un-biased. We do not sell or endorse products.


Wild Ginger, Asarum canadense, is a common spice of the woods that can be made into candy. It was used medicinally as a cough medicine, febrifuge, anti-convulsive, abortifacient, pain-reliever, antiemetic, ear ache medicine and a perfume.
Wild Ginger Sources:
Audubon Guides Box Set – Birds, Tree, Wildflowers & Mammals. Computer Software.Green Mountain Digital. Version: 2.3. Web. Jul 10, 2014.
Brill, Steve. Wild Edibles Plus. Computer Software. WinterRoot LLC. Version 1.5. 2012. Web. Feb. 15, 2014.
Felter, Harvey Wickes, M.D., and John Uri Lloyd, Phr. M., Ph. D. King’s American Dispensatory, Vol. 1. Cincinnati: The Ohio Valley Company, 1905. pg. 287
Foster, Steven and James A. Duke. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America. 2nd. ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000. Print. pg. 155-156
Hamel, Paul B. and Mary U. Chiltoskey. Cherokee Plants and Their Uses- A 400 Year History. North Carolina: Herald Publishing. 1975. Print. pg. 36
Herrick, James William. Iroquois Medical Botany. Ph.D. Thesis, New York: State University of New York, Albany 1977. Print. pg. 93, 49, 52, 55-56, 67, 115-116
Moerman Daniel E., Native American Ethnobotany, Portland: Timber Press. 1998. Print. pg. 105-106
Newcomb, Lawrence. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1977. Print. pg. 116-117
Peterson, Lee Allen. The Peterson Field Guide Series; A Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants; Eastern and Central North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977. Print. pg. 96-97, 160-161
United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Services. Web.
This will always be one of my favorite plants to find (because I can identify it by the color) and cook with too!
terry b says
I love your web site. I especially like the native peoples uses for wild edibles. I have finally found a very annoying grass like weed in my yard. your site was the only one to identify it. behold, I have another edible in my lawn, I’m excited to harvest all the wild plants in my yard. thanks for all the information, pictures I can actually see to identify and the helpful blogs. honestly, I never knew there were so many ways to build a poncho lean too! wow! I’ll be watching your site. thanks again
Lol, thanks for the compliment I’m glad you like the site.
Andrew Lawrence says
Anyone concerned about the known carcinogen content?


Sera from Guillain-Barré patients enhance leakage in blood-nerve barrier model
Autor(es): Kanda Takashi,Yamawaki Masanaga,Mizusawa Hidehiro
Resumo: In Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), the destruction or malfunction of blood-nerve barrier (BNB) has been considered to be the beginning of the disease process. It is unclear whether sera from patients with GBS can open the BNB, and which component of patient sera is most important in the dysregulation of the BNB. The authors evaluated the effect of sera from patients with GBS on permeability of an in vitro BNB model using bovine endoneurial microvascular endothelial cells (PnMEC) cultured on the luminal side of a collagen-coated culture insert (pore size: 0.4 micro m). PnMEC monolayers challenged by GBS sera showed significantly lower transendothelial electrical resistance and higher clearance of [carboxyl-(14)C]-inulin with or without complement. Sera with anti-GM1 antibody showed greater loosening of the barrier than others. This effect decreased significantly after incubation with pure GM1 antigen, suggesting the importance of anti-GM1 antibody in BNB dysregulation. Serial analyses of [carboxyl-(14)C]-inulin clearance in four patients disclosed a favorable effect of plasmapheresis in restoring BNB function in some cases. The authors found an unfavorable effect of sera from patients with GBS on BNB function, supporting involvement of humoral factors causing BNB derangement in the acute stage. Serial evaluation of permeability change using the authors' in vitro system might be useful for the clinical assessment of BNB derangement in individual patients.
Imprenta: Neurology, v. 60, n. 2, p. 301-306, 2003
Identificador do objeto digital: 10.1212/01.WNL.0000041494.70178.17
Descritores: Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Biosynthesis ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Cell ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Pathogenesis ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Proteins ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Antibodies ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Immunology ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Public health
Data de publicação: 2003


A bacterium that degrades and assimilates poly(ethylene terephthalate)Shosuke Yoshida, Kazumi Hiraga, Toshihiko Takehana, Ikuo Taniguchi, Hironao Yamaji, Yasuhito Maeda, Kiyotsuna Toyohara, Kenji Miyamoto, Yoshiharu Kimura, Kohei Oda
Some bacteria think plastic is fantastic
Bacteria isolated from outside a bottle-recycling facility can break down and metabolize plastic. The proliferation of plastics in consumer products, from bottles to clothing, has resulted in the release of countless tons of plastics into the environment. Yoshida et al. show how the biodegradation of plastics by specialized bacteria could be a viable bioremediation strategy (see the Perspective by Bornscheuer). The new species, Ideonella sakaiensis , breaks down the plastic by using two enzymes to hydrolyze PET and a primary reaction intermediate, eventually yielding basic building blocks for growth.
, this issue p.


How late can you plant wheat?
The rains have slowed wheat planting in a lot of areas, but we still have the potential for a good crop! Planting within the first 10 days after the recommended fly-free is normally our goal, but we can plant wheat up to one month after the fly-free date and still maintain optimal yields.
When should I plant winter wheat?
Winter wheat is planted in the fall and harvested in the summer. It needs a good root system and the beginnings of shoots before cold weather sets in. Spring wheat is planted in early spring, as soon as possible, and harvested in late summer.
Can you plant winter wheat in August?
Winter wheat planted during the summer months will not head out until undergoing vernalization during the winter months. Field peas planted with the winter wheat will not regrow after fall cutting but greatly enhance quality of the forage harvested the first year.
Can winter wheat be planted in January?
Planting dates from October 1 through January 1 provided yields of 50%-100% of full yields. Wheat planted on all dates through March 1 headed and produced grain yields each year.
How late is too late for winter wheat?
Winter wheat can be seeded up until about February 15 in southeast Nebraska and about March 15 in northwest Nebraska and still give the seed time to vernalize. Four to six weeks of freezing temperatures at night are required for vernalization. Some varieties have shorter vernalization requirements.
Can I plant wheat in May?
Increased growth during the early season typically results in higher yields. For example, a study in North Dakota showed that spring wheat planted on May 1st had six fewer days of growth from emergence to 6-leaf stage when compared to wheat planted on April 15th. … However, this can vary greatly from season to season.
What can you plant after winter wheat?
Cover crop choices following winter wheat
- Crimson Clover – Rapid growing winter annual good for short windows. …
- Field/Winter Pea – Cool season annual, very rapid growth, good for short windows. …
- Red Clover – Short-lived perennial, with very good heat and drought tolerance.
How late can you plant winter wheat in Wisconsin?
The Wisconsin winter wheat final planting date varies by county, ranging from September 30th to October 10th. If the wheat is seeded after the county’s final plant date (late planting period) the crop insurance guarantee is reduced by 1% per day for the first 10 days.
Can you sow winter wheat in spring?
Although it’s not a common practice, winter wheat can be planted in the spring as a weed-suppressing companion crop or early forage. You sacrifice fall nutrient scavenging, however. Reasons for spring planting include winter kill or spotty overwintering, or when you just didn’t have time to fall-seed it.
Can you plant winter wheat in November?
A late-planted wheat crop has less time to put on fall tillers, which are proven to be more productive than spring tillers. … To compensate for this, scientists agree that farmers should increase the seeding rate on wheat fields planted in late October and November.
Will winter wheat reseed itself?
Or it will eventually seed itself out, although in my experience with food plots, birds and turkeys will have eaten about 99.367% of the seed before it ever hits the ground.
What happens if you plant winter wheat too early?
By planting wheat early, you provide a longer window for infection in the fall as well as a longer time for the disease to develop before winter. Both of these factors increase the incidence and severity of the disease. Also, the risk of multiple infections by more than one virus is greater.


The Rare Birds of Southern Africa by P.A. Clancey
Publisher: Winchester Press, 1985
Hard cover, 512 pages
Second Hand, Good condition. Torn Jacket cover
The Rare Birds of Southern Africa by P A Clancey is the showcase for 94 of the rarest (and most vulnerable) birds to be found in southern Africa. It includes 74 colour illustrations and distribution maps of the birds mentioned.


Dynamics of Multi-strain Age-structured Model for Malaria Transmission
MetadataShow full item record
The thesis is based on the use of mathematical modeling and analysis to gain insightinto the transmission dynamics of malaria in a community. A new deterministic model for assessing the role of age-structure on the disease dynamics is designed. The model undergoes backward bifurcation, a dynamic phenomenon characterized by the co-existence of a stable disease-free and an endemic equilibrium of the model when the associated reproduction number is less than unity. It is shown that adding age-structure to the basic model for malaria transmission does not alter its essential qualitative dynamics. The study is extended to incorporate the use of anti-malaria drugs. Numerical simulations of the extended model suggest that for the case when treatment does not cause drug resistance (and the reproduction number of each of the two strains exceed unity), the model undergoes competitive exclusion. The impact of various effectiveness levels of the treatment strategy is assessed.


Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a severe disease characterized by a progressive
increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, initially due to abnormal pulmonary vasoconstriction in
response to endothelial and smooth muscle cells injury. The discovery of new chemical entities having a
protective effect on pulmonary artery cells could be meaningful for the treatment of PH.
Methods: We evaluated the protective effect of DL0805 derivatives (DL0805-1 and DL0805-2) on
pulmonary artery vascular cells, including human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAECs) and
human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs). DL0805 derivatives are novel ROCKs
(Rho-associated coiled-coil forming protein serine/threonine kinases) inhibitors. Treatment of HPAECs
with DL0805-2 (10 μM) cultured under a hypoxic environment could significantly reduce the proliferation
of cells. Meanwhile, the compounds inhibited the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in
HPAECs at every dose tested.
Results: A Western Blot experiment showed that the protective effect of DL0805 derivatives might
result from the down-regulation of RhoA (Ras homolog gene family, member A) expression and the
inhibition of ROCKs activity. In addition, the compounds inhibited the proliferation of HPASMCs induced
by fetal bovine serum (FBS) or platelet derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB), and suppressed
the F-actin remodeling induced by endothelin.
Conclusion: The preliminary results from an immunofluorescence assay showed that DL0805 derivatives
inhibited the activity of ROCKs in HPASMCs. The above mentioned results indicated that
DL0805 derivatives have a protective effect on pulmonary artery cells, and the underlying mechanisms
might be the result of inhibition of RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway.


A chemical used in the production of toilet paper and ‘forever chemicals’ have been found in the bodies of orcas in B.C. , including the endangered southern resident killer whales. Scientists analyzed tissue samples from six southern resident killer whales and six Bigg’s whales stranded along the coast of B.C. from 2006 to 2018, according to a recent study. They discovered that chemical pollutants are prevalent in killer whales, with a chemical often found in toilet paper one of the most prevalent in the samples studied, accounting for 46 per cent of the total pollutants identified.


2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-P-Dioxin-Induced Weight Loss: A Proposed Mechanism
TCDD caused a dose-related decrease in body weight, food intake, motor activity and total and resting oxygen consumption in rats. In animals treated with 15 μg/kg, the depression in food intake and oxygen consumption lasted 2 weeks. Thereafter, the rats consummed the appropriate amounts of food and oxygen for their reduced weights. However, in rats treated with 50 μg/kg, food intake was insufficient to maintain weight. The results suggest that TCDD causes weight loss by a decrease in energy intake (as opposed to an increase in energy expenditure). The decrease in intake of energy could be due to mal-absorption of nutrients from the gastrointestinal tract and/or reduced food intake. Of these, reduction in food consumption is considered to be the main factor involved. This is because weight in pair-fed control rats stabilizes at a level only slightly higher than in TCDD- treated animals. To determine if TCDD is altering a regulatory system for body weight (as opposed to a system controlling food intake), rats had their body weights reduced by food restriction prior to TCDD (25 μg/kg). Immediately after TCDD they were given food ad lib and they exhibited hyperphagia and weight gain. Thus, the ability to feed is not directly inhibited by TCDD. We propose that TCDD lowers a regulated level or “set-point” for body weight and that the change in food intake reflects the rat’s effort to reach the new weight level.
KeywordsFood Intake Reduce Food Intake Total Oxygen Consumption TCDD Treatment Rest Oxygen Consumption
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.


|The process of protein isolation and purification to conduct important procedures in a lab can be very difficult to perform. Usually, specialized chromatography resins are made by attaching a pure protein to the surface of the resin. This protein is then used as bait to bind to the protein that needs to be purified. These conventional processes generally require purification of the protein both before and after labeling, are non-selective either in amino acid site or side-chain chemistry for the protein, and can decrease the ability of the protein to bind and activate its target proteins. There is a critical need for a process to make affinity chromatography resins that can be used to purify proteins with minimal complications.
Researchers at Purdue University have found a novel method of making affinity chromatography resins for protein purification that is much simpler. By looking at the activity of calcium/calmodulin proteins, researchers found that specific proteins can be tagged with an azide tag and attached to an alkyne substrate immediately from the cell lysate mixture. The advantages of this process are that it simplifies the method by allowing conjugation in a direct manner and purifies a larger quantity of proteins. This would be useful in numerous research laboratories and experimental procedures given its efficiency.
-Protein specific tagging
-Direct manner of conjugation
-Purification of larger amount of proteins
Kulkarni, Chethana, et al. Bioorthogonal Chemoenzymatic Functionalization of Calmodulin for Bioconjugation Applications. Bioconjugate Chemistry. 2015, 26 (10), pp 2153–2160.
Feb 16, 2016
Feb 16, 2015
Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization
1801 Newman Road
West Lafayette, IN 47906
Phone: (765) 588-3475
Fax: (765) 463-3486


Genomics jobs in United States
Broaden your search
Refine your search
Field of specialization
Found 4 Direct Employer jobs
We seek to recruit a highly motivated postdoctoral fellow to the Sczepanski Laboratory at Texas A&M University in the Department of Chemistry.
Tenure Track Faculty Position: Center for Cancer Research and Therapeutic Development at Clark Atlanta University
The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine offers postdoctoral and senior research awards
Fellowships in Anticancer Drug Discovery and Regenerative Biology at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at the University of Illinois.


There’s an estimated number of 1.7 million new cancer cases that are diagnosed each year in the United States alone, with more than 600,000 proving to be fatal. And while many people are now leading healthier and more active lifestyles, basic healthy living protocols such as getting exercise, consuming less fatty foods, avoiding excessive alcohol drinking or quitting smoking are not enough to prevent getting the big C. Cancer, in its many forms, can sneak up on you without you noticing, until they’re spread out over your body. Here are 10 signs and symptoms of cancer that you should not be ignoring:
It’s not unusual for you to experience bloating, especially after eating a heavy meal. It’s also normal to go through bloating while you are on your menstrual cycle. But if you’ve been experiencing bloating for several days and it still hasn’t abated, it’s high time to get yourself out of the house and into the hospital for a thorough check up. While it could be some other issue, bloating is a symptom of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer causes tumors to grow in the abdomen, and when tumors increase in size, they can cause your belly to get distended.