Electronic Cigarette and Traditional Cigarette Use among Middle and High School Students in Florida, 2011–2014

Recent youth trends in the prevalence of e-cigarette and traditional cigarette use in Florida were examined in a cross-sectional, representative state sample from 2011 to 2014. Traditional cigarette use among youth declined during the study period. Experimentation with and past 30-day use of e-cigarettes among Florida youth tripled over 4 years. Past 30-day e-cigarette use exceeded traditional cigarette use in 2014; 10.8% of high school and 4.0% of middle school students reported recent e-cigarette use, compared with 8.7% of high school and 2.9% of middle school students for traditional cigarettes (P<0.001). By 2014, 20.5% of high school and 8.5% of middle school students reported ever use of e-cigarettes. Among ever e-cigarette users in 2014, 30.3% of high school and 42.2% of middle school students had never smoked traditional cigarettes. Given the concern that significant rates of e-cigarette use by U.S. adolescents may have a negative effect on public health, further review of e-cigarette advertising, marketing, sales, and use among U.S. youth is warranted.     

Effectiveness of Petasites hybridus preparations in the prophylaxis of migraine: A systematic review

The objective of this review was to evaluate the strength of evidence of effectiveness for Petasites hybridus in the prophylaxis of migraine. Several databases and other sources were searched to identify randomised-controlled trials investigating P. hybridus preparations. Two trials totalling 293 patients (60 and 233 patients) were included in this review. Both trials investigated the proprietary Petasites root extract Petadolex^®. The trials were described in narrative way, taking into consideration methodological quality scores. Pooling of data was not carried out due to the heterogeneity of the results. The extract at higher dose (150 mg) showed a greater decreased frequency of migraine attacks and a greater number of responders (improvement >50%) after treatment over 3–4 months than the extract at lower dose (100 mg) and placebo. Moderate evidence of effectiveness is, thus, available for a higher than the recommended dose of the proprietary Petasites root extract Petadolex^® in the prophylaxis of migraine. Further rigorous studies are required to confirm effectiveness and safety in long-term use before treatment with Petasites root extract can be recommended as an alternative option in the treatment schedule for the prophylaxis of migraine.     

Variations in the life-history parameters of Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in response to larval competition for food

Abstract. 1. Larval rearing densities of Hemipyrellia ligurriens (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) in standardized carrion were manipulated in order to investigate changes in life-history parameters in response to larval competition for food.
2. Competition was of the typical scramble type. Survivorship remained high at densities up to 32 larvae g liver^-1 but decreased rapidly as larval density increased further.
3. Emergent adults were undersized with reduced fecundity and longevity. Variations in adult body size apparently reduced the effects of competition on larval mortality.
4. Females of dry weight corresponding to only 10.4% of the potential maximum emerged at the highest rearing densities of 128 larvae g liver-1. However, these females had a nearly four-fold increase in reproductive investment (per unit weight) when compared to the largest individuals.
5. The duration of larval development declined when competition was intense (i.e. at high larval densities).
6. The short adult life of H.ligurriens, combined with the unpredictability of larval habitat availability, may reduce the value of long-range dispersal so that females 'do better' by maintaining reproductive investment despite a concomitant decline in dispersal ability.     

Apoplastic {alpha}-Amylase in Pea is Enhanced by Heat Stress

The apoplastic -amylase (EC 3.2.1.1 [EC] ) in pea (Pisum sativum L.cv. Laxton's Progress No. 9) seedlings was enhanced by a 4-to 6-fold with heat stress. Increased levels of the enzyme persistedfor 48 h at least after the stress and subsequent heat treatmentsenhanced the activity further. These results indicate that thefunction of apoplastic -amylase in vegetative tissues may berelated to plant stress. (Received October 14, 1996; Accepted February 20, 1997)     

Recovery plan for Kootenai River white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus)

The white sturgeon ( Acipenser transmontanus ) of the Kootenai River was listed as endangered on September 6, 1994 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. This transboundary population, residing in Kootenay Lake and Kootenay River in Canada, and the Kootenai River in the US, has been in general decline since the mid-1960's. There has been very little recruitment to this population in the last 20 years.
This population became isolated from other white sturgeon populations of the Columbia River basin during the last ice age of approximately 10,000 years ago. The population adapted to the pre-development conditions of the Kootenai system, with a high spring freshet and extensive side channel and low-lying delta marshlands. Modification of the Kootenai River by human activities, such as industrial developments, floodplain dyking, and dam construction has changed the hydrograph of the Kootenai River, altering sturgeon spawning, incubation and rearing habitats and reducing overall biological productivity.
A Kootenai River white sturgeon draft recovery plan was prepared by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with other agencies in the US and Canada. The plan was peer reviewed and there was a parallel public consultation process, where public commentary was invited from both sides of the international border. The short-term recovery objectives of the recovery plan are to prevent extinction and re-establish successful natural recruitment. The identified long-term objectives are the re-establishment of a self sustaining population and the restoration of productive habitat, in order to downlist to threatened status and subsequently delist this population when recovery is well established. Specific actions needed for recovery include spring flow augmentation during the reproduction period; a conservation aquaculture program to prevent near-term extinction; habitat restoration, and research and monitoring programs to evaluate recovery progress.