Can Cranberries Contribute to Reduce the Incidence of Urinary Tract Infections? A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis and Trial Sequential Analysis of Clinical Trials

J Urol. 2017 Sep;198(3):614-621. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2017.03.078. Epub 2017 Mar 10. Luís Â1, Domingues F1, Pereira L2. Author information 1 Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Centro de Matemática e Aplicações (LP), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal. 2 Centro de Investigação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal; Centro de Matemática e Aplicações (LP), Universidade da Beira Interior, Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: lpereira@ubi.pt. Abstract PURPOSE: We sought to clarify the association between cranberry intake and the prevention of urinary tract infections. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This systematic review, which complies with the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) statement, was done as a meta-analysis and trial sequential analysis of clinical trials. RESULTS: The findings clearly showed the potential use of cranberries for the clinical condition of urinary tract infection. Cranberry products significantly reduced the incidence of urinary tract infections as indicated by the weighted risk ratio (0.6750, 95% CI 0.5516-0.7965, p <0.0001). The results of subgroup analysis demonstrated that patients at some risk for urinary tract infections were more susceptible to the effects of cranberry ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study could be used by physicians to recommend cranberry ingestion to decrease the incidence of urinary tract infections, particularly in individuals with recurrent urinary tract infections. This would also reduce the administration of antibiotics, which could be beneficial since antibiotics can lead to the worldwide emergence of antibiotic resistant microorganisms. Copyright © 2017 American Urological Association Education and Research, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: disease susceptibility; fruit and vegetable juices; proanthocyanidins; study publication bias; urinary tract infections PMID: 28288837 DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2017.03.078

Northern Michigan University The First In U.S. To Train Undergrads For Marijuana Industry

http://detroit.cbslocal.com/2017/09/21/northern-michigan-university-the-first-in-u-s-to-train-undergrads-for-marijuana-industry/ September 21, 2017 12:10 PM Filed Under: marijuana, northern michigan university MARQUETTE, Mich. (WWJ) – It’s the first college program of its kind in the country — training students for the medical marijuana industry — and it’s happening right here in Michigan. Northern Michigan University in Marquette is the first college to offer an undergraduate major in medicinal plant chemistry, starting this fall. “This area is just exploding. I mean, you see Washington, Colorado, Oregon, California with full legal recreational marijuana. You’ve got over half the states with medicinal legal, and with all of that has come a huge need for these trained analytical chemists,” associate chemistry professor Brandon Canfield told WWJ’s Beth Fisher. “In terms of a four-year regular undergraduate degree, there’s nothing else like this.” Before students get the wrong idea about the program, Canfield said it won’t be all hands on with marijuana. “We’re not going to be actually growing anything on campus. Maybe following the 2018 Michigan election, maybe we’ll revisit that depending on the outcome and what ballots are present on that election. But for now, we’re not going to be growing any cannabis. We’ll be practicing extraction and analysis techniques on other plant systems,” he said. “That process from one plant system to another is not too different. But we will be focusing on cannabis chemistry in our classes. We’ll also be looking at the separation and analysis of the cannabinoids and the various terpenes and things present in cannabis and other compounds present in other plants.” Canfield says the school decided to start the major because of the booming medical marijuana industry. “The need for this is so great. You go to some of these cannabis industry conferences and everyone is talking about how they need labs, they need labs,” he said. “Or the bigger operations are trying to set up their own labs in house and they need trained analysts. And the skill set required to perform these analysis is perfectly matched with an undergraduate level education.” Students who graduate from the program’s bio-analytical track are going to be highly sought after job candidates, Canfield predicts, or they can take the entrepreneurial track if they want to start their own medical marijuana facility. “I predict that the graduates from our program are going to have among the highest immediate job placement of any of our programs,” he said. “People are either going to go out and get jobs or they might go out and start their own business in the industry.” Canfield says they have 12 students are enrolled in the program’s inaugural semester this fall, but that’s expected to change. “A small incoming class this year but we’re expecting two to three times that number come next year,” he said. “Everyone who hears about it seems pretty interested in it, and most people are pretty excited.” To learn more about the school’s medicinal plant chemistry program, visit nmu.edu.

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Humulus lupulus FAMILY NAME: Cannabaceae

http://www.herbmed.org/Sponsored/hopssubcat.html

Elements of kitchen toxicology to exploit the value of traditional (African) recipes: The case of Egusi Okra meal in the diet of HIV+/AIDS subjects

Toxicology Reports Volume 4, 2017, Pages 474-483 open access Toxicology Reports Author links open overlay panelChiaraFrazzoliabFrancescaMazzantibMercy BihAchubcGuy BertrandPouokambdElieFokoubc https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2017.06.008 Get rights and content Under a Creative Commons license Highlights • The Egusi Okra soup is a traditional African meal of high nutritional value and protective against weight loss. • Kitchen toxicology highlights possible mitigation measures for toxicants and antinutritional effects. • Nutritional interventions benefit of the integration of kitchen toxicology practices in everyday life. • Kitchen toxicology helps to preserve recipes from risk factors during meal preparation, from raw ingredients to consumption. Abstract The Egusi Okra soup is a traditional African meal that is considered of high nutritional value and protective against weight loss. We introduce the concept of “kitchen toxicology” to analyse the recipe of the Egusi Okra soup and highlight possible mitigation measures for toxic and/or antinutritional effects in the wide spectrum of health and nutritional needs of HIV+/AIDS subjects. In particular, we focus on toxicants (environmental contaminants, process contaminants, substances leaching from food contact materials) dysregulating the immune status, as well as on interactions between nutrients, contaminants, and/or antinutrients which may lead to secondary/conditioned nutritional deficiencies or imbalances; in their turn, these can modulate the ability to cope with toxicants, and increase nutritional requirements. Recommendations are given for practices preserving the Egusi Okra soup from such risk factors, identifying points of particular attention during meal preparation, from purchase of raw ingredients through to food handling, cooking, storage, and consumption. The Egusi Okra soup is discussed in the context of a diet that is asked to mitigate complications (weight loss, opportunistic infections) and support antiretroviral therapy in African countries with high HIV/AIDS prevalence. The paper discusses how nutritional interventions benefit of the integration of kitchen toxicology practices in everyday life. Toxicological risk assessment is crucial to understand the history and status of the person exposed to or affected by infectious diseases. Graphical abstract Unlabelled figure Download high-res image (190KB)Download full-size image Chemical compounds studied in this article Deoxynivalenol (PubChem CID: 16212213) Hexachlorobenzene (PubChem CID: 8370) Aluminium (PubChem CID: 5359268) Arsenic (PubChem CID: 5359596) Benzo(a)pyrene (PubChem CID: 2336) Perfluoro-octanoic acid (PubChem CID: 9554) Bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (PubChem CID: 8343) Bisphenol A (PubChem CID: 6623) Selenium (PubChem CID: 6326970) Zinc (PubChem CID: 23994) Keywords Traditional diet Malnutrition Food safety Weight loss Immune system Dysmetabolic diseases Clinical toxicology Nutrition security 1 www.noodlesonlus.org. © 2017 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Hélène Joy (Dr. Julia Ogden) joins Yannick Bisson (Detective William Murdoch) at the Vancouver Police Museum Sunday, October 1!

Mystery Guest Uncovered! Hélène Joy joins Yannick Bisson in Vancouver! Hélène Joy (Dr. Julia Ogden) joins Yannick Bisson (Detective William Murdoch) at the Vancouver Police Museum Sunday, October 1! Budding constables, snap a selfie with your favourite coroner and detective and brush up on your constabulary knowledge as you explore the historic Vancouver Police Museum. We're releasing a new block of tickets here tomorrow, Thursday, September 28, at 12 noon PT (3:00 p.m. ET)! As a result, the event is now extended an extra hour to 1:oo-4:00 p.m.! Even if the new tickets sell out before you can reserve, there will be a rush line the day of the event, so you could still have a chance to meet Yannick Bisson and Hélène Joy! *Admission to the venue will be on a first come, first serve basis on the day of the event

Fashion Without Limits: Diversity In Motion

On November 1st, 2017, the Cerebral Palsy Association of British Columbia (CPABC) will mark Canada’s 150th anniversary with Fashion Without Limits: Diversity in Motion, a multi-disciplinary showcase of the disability community. Our community celebration of diversity in honour of Canada 150 will feature adapted ballroom dancing, a disability fashion show, and the launch of our new Assistive Equipment Fund to honour our two most active and boundary-pushing members: Jason Cole and Rand Surbey. This free, inclusive community event will take place at the Old Orchard Hall in Port Moody, BC will include refreshments and networking opportunities with community members and organizations. RSVP for AGM community@bccerebralpalsy.com, http://bccerebralpalsy.com/events/fashion-without-limits-diversity-in-motion/?utm_source=Cerebral+Palsy+Association+of+British+Columbia+List&utm_campaign=761b6ecd55-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_04_05&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_25c4e33f68-761b6ecd55-84514541

Food as Medicine: Fig (Ficus carica, Moraceae)

HerbalEGram: Volume 14, Issue 8, August 2017 Editor’s Note: Each month, HerbalEGram highlights a conventional food and briefly explores its history, traditional uses, nutritional profile, and modern medicinal research. We also feature a nutritious recipe for an easy-to-prepare dish with each article to encourage readers to experience the extensive benefits of these whole foods. With this series, we hope our readers will gain a new appreciation for the foods they see at the supermarket and frequently include in their diets. The basic materials for this series were compiled by dietetic interns from Texas State University in San Marcos and the University of Texas at Austin through the American Botanical Council’s (ABC’s) Dietetic Internship Program, led by ABC Education Coordinator Jenny Perez. We would like to acknowledge Perez, ABC Special Projects Director Gayle Engels, and ABC Chief Science Officer Stefan Gafner, PhD, for their contributions to this project. By Hannah Baumana and Jayme Bisbanob a HerbalGram Associate Editor b ABC Dietetics Intern (Texas State, 2016) Overview The fig (Ficus carica, Moraceae) is one of the oldest known cultivated fruit trees (its cultivation precedes the domestication of grains such as wheat [Triticum spp., Poaceae] and barley [Hordeum vulgare, Poaceae]) and has more than 700 known varieties.1 A multi-stemmed, deciduous sub-tropical shrub, the fig is one of more than 1,400 known species in the genus Ficus, which belongs to the mulberry family.2-4 What is commonly known as the fruit of the fig tree is technically a flower that has turned in on itself, a structure called a syconium.5 For the purposes of this article, this syconium will be referred to as the “fruit” of the plant. The fig also has a unique method of pollination, as it is dependent upon a family of wasps called agaonid wasps, also known as fig wasps. Agaonid wasps and the fig coevolved together over millennia and cannot thrive without each other.3 The wasps can lay eggs only within the fruit of the fig, and the fig can be pollinated only by agaonid wasps. The female wasp burrows into the immature fig, spreads pollen, and lays her eggs.6 When the eggs hatch, the males and females mate, collect pollen, and then exit the fig to pollinate other figs. Any wasp material that remains is digested by the maturing fig, and any fig that is not pollinated drops off the tree. The fig tree grows 15-30 feet (4.6-9.1 meters) tall with roughly textured palmate leaves that have three to five lobes each.5,7 The color of the ripe fruit is cultivar-dependent and can range from light green (Adriatic figs) to brown or dark purple (Mission figs), although genetic variation has waned as growers select for desirable traits of well-established fig cultivars.3,7 Fig trees were first found wild in Western Asia 6,500 years ago and were then brought by humans to the eastern Mediterranean area, where fig trees continue to flourish and grow wild.3,5,7 Phytochemicals and Constituents Figs are a good source of soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber content, which makes up about 28% of a fig’s total fiber content, is significant and has been shown to reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, as well as to help maintain blood sugar levels, because it slows the transit time of food in the gut.4,8,9 Four to five dried figs or two fresh figs provide roughly 12 grams of fiber, almost half of the 25-30 grams recommended daily intake for the average adult.2,4 Figs also provide calcium and iron: two micronutrients that are often deficient in specific populations or disease states.4,5,10 The protein in figs contains high levels of the amino acids aspartic acid and glutamine.2,9,11 The predominant bioactive compounds present in figs include phenolic compounds, phytosterols, anthocyanins, and organic acids that contribute to antioxidant activity. Figs also contain coumarins, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory, anti-edema, and cytotoxic activities, and numerous volatile compounds that provide flavor and scent.3 Figs have a high amount of the flavonol quercetin, which has anti-inflammatory properties and can play an important role in preventing cardiovascular disease. Fig cultivars have varied antioxidant profiles correlated to their color: the darker varieties have the highest total polyphenol content while the light green varieties have the lowest total polyphenol content.10 The anthocyanin content of figs can help to maintain healthyblood lipid levels and play an important role in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and certain cancers.11 The latex of the fig fruit has both adverse effects and health benefits. The milky white, sticky substance present in unripe fruit contains alkaloids, tannins, a large amount of phytosterols, and fatty acids.2 However, there is evidence that the latex may cause irritation when used topically, and those who work with figs during the harvest often wear gloves to protect their skin.3 Fifty-nine volatile compounds have been identified in other parts of the plant including monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and norisoprenoids2,3. These compounds are present mainly in the fig leaves, with the exception of monoterpenes, which were found in the fruit peel and pulp. Of the anthocyanidins isolated from fig tree leaves, cyanidin and pelargonidin derivatives were the most predominant.2,3,10,12 Four triterpenoids were identified in the leaf: bauerenol, lupeol acetate, methyl maslinate, and oleanolic acid.2 Recent studies have confirmed that the highest levels of these bioactive compounds are found in the skin of the fig, and therefore support the evidence that most of the nutrients present in the plant are accessible through consumption of the whole fruit. The leaves and the roots of the fig tree contain plant sterols (specifically, modified triterpenes), which have been shown to lower cholesterol levels by blocking the absorption of exogenous cholesterol.2 Historical and Commercial Uses The flesh, pulp, leaves, roots, and latex from the fig tree have been used as part of the traditional medicine practices of India and China.3,4,10,13 Historically, figs have been used to treat numerous ailments, including common digestive issues such as poor appetite, colic, indigestion, constipation, dysentery, inflamed or ulcerated intestines, and intestinal parasites. They also provide antispasmodic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and natural laxative effects.2,3,10,13 Additional uses of the fruit include the improvement of vision, alleviation of asthma, treatment of cardiovascular disorders and certain cancers (e.g., colon and lung), maintenance of blood sugar levels, and relief of sore throats and coughs. The latex of fig was used topically to treat boils and warts.2,3,10,13 In Pakistan, figs were not only traditionally used as food for humans, but also as feed for livestock, while the trees were used as fuel, roofing materials, tool handles, and even simply for the shade that mature plants can provide.13 Figs were also used as a source of sugar prior to the efficient cultivation of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum, Poaceae).5 In some European countries, fig syrup enjoys widespread use as a mild laxative; the phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and cellulose present in the fruit may contribute to its laxative effects.14 Modern Research Cardiovascular Health In a rat study, quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (rutin) in fig fruit was identified as being partly responsible for cholesterol-lowering activities.15 Rats that were fed a high-fat diet that was supplemented with fig fruit for eight weeks had greater reductions in total cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and LDL cholesterol levels, with increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels compared to the control groups, one fed a normal diet without supplementation and one fed a high-fat diet without supplementation. These are all indicators that are monitored in the diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. Researchers speculated that rutin increased cholesterol excretion, while the polyphenol content of the plant inhibited the synthesis of cholesterol. Blood Sugar Regulation A study that investigated the antidiabetic potential of fig fruit consumption on blood sugar maintenance found that fig fruit had a significant inhibitory effect on α-amylase activity in diabetic rats. This enzyme hydrolyzes dietary carbohydrates (i.e., breaks the carbohydrates down into its component sugar molecules for easier elimination) in the pancreas.11 The study also found that the flavonoid content of figs had a hypoglycemic effect on rats, improved overall glucose metabolism, and reduced oxidative stress. Quercetin, when administered with glucose, aided in the efficient transport of glucose for proper digestion. Aqueous fig leaf extract also showed a hypoglycemic effect in diabetic rats, possibly due to its ability to increase plasma insulin levels.16 Cytotoxic Properties Fig leaf and fruit extracts, as well as fig latex, at relatively low concentrations, have exhibited in vitro efficacy against several cancer cell lines.16,17 Isolated compounds from fig wood resin have also been identified in experimental studies as potent cytotoxic agents that prevent proliferation of various cancer cell lines.18 Topical Applications Fig has been investigated for topical skincare applications. An open-label clinical trial found that a wart treatment made from fig latex was only marginally less effective than standard cryotherapy for the treatment of skin disturbances, with no adverse events reported in the fig treatment group.17 Additionally, a placebo-controlled clinical trial found that a base cream with fig fruit extract significantly increased skin hydration compared to the placebo cream, which did not contain the extract.19 Researchers concluded that the fig cream could help maintain healthy skin and lessen acne and the appearance of wrinkles. Nutrient Profile20 Macronutrient Profile: (Per 100 grams fresh figs [approx. two medium fruits]) 74 calories 0.8 g protein 19.2 g carbohydrate 0.3 g fat Secondary Metabolites: (Per 100 grams fresh figs [approx. two medium fruits]) Very good source of: Vitamin K: 4.7 mcg (11.8% DV) Dietary Fiber: 2.9 g (11.6% DV) Good source of: Potassium: 232 mg (6.6% DV) Vitamin B6: 0.1 mg (5% DV) Manganese: 0.1 mg (5% DV) Also provides: Magnesium: 17 mg (4.3% DV) Thiamin: 0.06 mg (4% DV) Calcium: 35 mg (3.5% DV) Vitamin C: 2 mg (3.3% DV) Riboflavin: 0.05 mg (2.9% DV) Vitamin A: 142 IU (2.8% DV) Iron: 0.4 mg (2.2% DV) Niacin: 0.4 mg (2% DV) Folate: 6 mcg (1.5% DV) Phosphorus: 14 mg (1.4% DV) DV = Daily Value as established by the US Food and Drug Administration, based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Recipe: Goat Cheese-Stuffed Figs with Pistachios and Balsamic Glaze Adapted from Janette Fuschi21 Ingredients: 1 cup balsamic vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar (optional) 12 ripe, fresh figs, washed, stems removed 4 ounces soft goat cheese 1/4 cup pistachios, unshelled and roasted Directions: Add the balsamic vinegar and sugar to a small saucepan. Heat over medium heat until simmering and stir until sugar dissolves. Maintain a low simmer for about 10-15 minutes until the vinegar thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Cut a deep ‘X’ on the top of each fig without cutting through the bottom of the fruit. Stuff each fig with a small piece of goat cheese. Place the figs upright on a baking sheet. Position an oven rack six inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler. Broil figs for about five minutes, until cheese bubbles. Remove from oven. Sprinkle figs with pistachios and drizzle with balsamic glaze. Serve warm. Photo credit: All images ©2017 Steven Foster References Condit IJ. Fig varieties: a monograph. Hilgardia. 1955;23(11):323-538. http://doi.org/10.3733/hilg.v23n11p323. Barolo MI, Ruiz Mostacero N, López SN. Ficus carica L. (Moraceae): An ancient source of food and health. Food Chem. 2014;164:119-127. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2014.04.112. Mawa S, Husain K, Jantan I. Ficus carica L. (Moraceae): Phytochemistry, traditional uses and biological activities. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. 2013;2013: 974256. doi:10.1155/2013/974256. Slavin J. Figs: past, present, and future. Nutr Today. June 2006;4:180-184. Bateman H, Berton M, Doig F, Driver E, Mapps J, Quintrell S, eds. Edible: An Illustrated Guide to the World’s Food Plants. Washington DC: National Geographic Society; 2008. Jousselin E, Hossaert-McKey M, Herre EA, Kjellberg F. Why do fig wasps actively pollinate monoecious figs? Oecologica. 2003;134:381-387. van Wyk BE. Food Plants of the World: An Illustrated Guide. Portland, OR: Timber Press, Inc.; 2005. Peterson JM, Montgomery S, Haddad E, Kearney L, Tonstad S. Effect of consumption of dried California mission figs on lipid concentrations. Ann Nutr Metab. 2011;58(3):232-238. doi:10.1159/000330112. Solomon A, Golubowicz S, Yablowicz Z, et al. Antioxidant activities and anthocyanin content of fresh fruits of common fig (Ficus carica L.). J Agric Food Chem. 2006;54:7717-7723. Harzallah A, Bhouri AM, Amri Z, Soltana H, Hammami M. Phytochemical content and antioxidant activity of different fruit parts juices of three figs (Ficus carica L.) varieties grown in Tunisia. Ind Crops Prod. 2016;83:255-267. Wojdyło A, Nowicka P, Carbonell-Barrachina ÁA, Hernández F. Phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of different cultivars of Ficus carica L. fruits. J Funct Foods. 2016;25:421-432. doi:10.1016/j.jff.2016.06.015. Wang H, Nair MG, Strasburg GM, et al. Antioxidant and antiinflammatory activities of anthocyanins and their aglycon, cyanidin, from tart cherries. J Nat Prod. 1999;62:294-296. Abbasi AM, Shah MH, Li T, Fu X, Guo X, Liu RH. Ethnomedicinal values, phenolic contents and antioxidant properties of wild culinary vegetables. J Ethnopharmacol. 2015;162:333-345. doi:10.1016/j.jep.2014.12.051. Baek HI, Ha KC, Kim HM, et al. Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ficus carica paste for the management of functional constipation. Asia Pac J Clin Nutr. 2016;25(3):487-496. Belguith-Hadriche O, Ammar S, Contreras MDM, et al. Antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of edible Tunisian Ficus carica L. fruits in high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic rats. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. 2016;71:183-189. doi:10.1007/s11130-016-0541-x. Badgujar S, Patel VV, Bandivdekar AH, Mahajan RT. Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Ficus carica: A review. Pharmaceutical Biology. 2014;52(11):1487-1503. Jing L, Zhang YM, Luo JG, Kong LY. Tirucallane-type triterpenoids from the fruit of Ficus carica and their cytotoxic activity. Chemical and Pharmaceutical Bulletin. 2015;63(3):237-243. Rubnov S, Kashman Y, Rabinowitz R, Schlesinger M, Mechoulam R. Suppressors of cancer cell proliferation from fig (Ficus carica) resin: isolation and structure elucidation. J Nat Prod. July 2001;64(7):993-996. Khan H, Akhtar N, Ali A. Effects of cream containing Ficus carica L. extract on skin parameters: in vivo evaluation. Indian J Pharm Sci. 2014;76(6):550-564. Basic Report: 09089, Figs, raw. United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service website. Available at: https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ndb/foods/show/2201. Accessed July 19, 2017. Fuschi J. Warm figs with goat cheese, pistachios and balsamic glaze. Culinary Ginger website. August 21, 2015. Available at: http://culinaryginger.com/warm-figs-with-goat-cheese-pistachios-and-balsamic-glaze/. Accessed July 19, 2017.

Re: Analysis of Helichrysum (Immortelle) Chemistry, Antioxidant Activity, and Chemotaxonomy

Helichrysum (Immortelle; Helichrysum italicum, Asteraceae) Phytochemistry Antioxidant Activity Date: 09-15-2017 HC# 041712-576 Kladar NV, Anačkov GT, Rat MM, et al. Biochemical characterization of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G.Don subsp. italicum (Asteraceae) from Montenegro: phytochemical screening, chemotaxonomy, and antioxidant properties. Chem Biodivers. 2015;12(3):419-431. Traditionally, helichrysum (immortelle; Helichrysum italicum, Asteraceae) has been used for the treatment of scars and cuts, as well as used as a liver stimulant and diuretic. The essential oil of helichrysum has been found to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, fungicidal, and astringent effects. As an emollient and fragrance in the cosmetic and perfume industry, the chemical composition of helichrysum essential oil has been somewhat characterized. The aim of this study was to further characterize the chemical content and antioxidant activity of helichrysum aerial parts, and to assess the chemotaxonomy of the H. italicum taxa. The flowering aerial parts of helichrysum (H. italicum ssp. italicum) were collected in May 2011, near Valdanos, Montenegro. The air-dried aerial parts of the plant were extracted with 45% ethanol and dried. The air-dried flowering upper parts of helichrysum were submitted to hydrodistillation to produce the essential oil. The essential oil was characterized by using chromatography and mass spectrometry techniques. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to compare the main chemical constituents identified in this study with 16 different H. italicum taxa. The dried ethanol extract was dissolved in an aqueous solution for analysis of total phenolics and flavonoids. Both the essential oil and the ethanol extract were assessed for antioxidant activity using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The ethanol extract was also evaluated for inhibition of hydroxyl radical (•OH) generation. The essential oil yield was found to be 0.15 ± 0.02%. A total of 27 compounds were identified, which represented 96.1% of the total oil composition. Most of the compounds were oxygenated monoterpenes (43.9%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (41.2%). [Note: There are discrepancies between the article text and the data in Table 1, which lists these as 43.1% and 42.2%, respectively.] The major compounds found in the oil were neryl acetate (28.2%), neryl propionate (9.1%), γ-curcumene (17.8%), and ar-curcumene (8.3%). [Note: There are discrepancies for three of these compounds among the abstract, article text, and data in Table 1, which lists these as neryl acetate (29.2%), neryl propionate (10.1%), and γ-curcumene (18.8%).] Other compounds found included α-selinene (3.9%), isoitalicene (3.2%), thymol (2.8%), and α-cedrene (2.4%). These concentrations are consistent with previous reports for this plant subspecies. PCA indicated that H. italicum ssp. italicum from Greece, H. italicum ssp. serotinum from the Iberian Peninsula, and plant material collected from the region of former Yugoslavia could all be clearly differentiated from one another based on different dominant chemical components. Helichrysum italicum ssp. italicum and H. italicum ssp. microphyllum were phylogenetically similar and had similar dominant chemical components. These and other taxa consisting of the main chemical components (e.g., neryl acetate) were found to represent four chemotypes. Two of these chemotypes had subchemotypes. CA indicated similar results in terms of the differentiation of H. italicum ssp. italicum from Greece and H. italicum ssp. serotinum from the Iberian Peninsula. The other taxa were classified in a similar way as that found by PCA, but with some differences, especially for the italicum subspecies. The yield of the aqueous ethanol extract was 19.77%. The total phenolics and total flavonoids of this extract were found to be 31.97 ± 1.42 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g of dry extract and 20.68 ± 0.66 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/g of dry extract, respectively. The radical scavenging capacity (RSC) of the ethanol extract and the essential oil was dose dependent. In terms of DPPH RSC, the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was significantly lower (more effective) for the ethanol extract (0.99 µg/ml) compared to the essential oil (1.76 mg/ml) (P value not given). [Note: Table 3 lists the essential oil IC50 as 1.37 mg/ml.] The extract had results that were similar to propyl gallate and quercetin dihydrate. Only the ethanol extract was evaluated for •OH scavenging capacity (IC50 = 26.47 µg/ml), but the RSC was significantly less effective compared to its DPPH RSC (P value not given). The chemical constituents identified from the essential oil of helichrysum aerial parts in this study are consistent with reports assessing the main chemical components of this plant subspecies. Chemotaxonomic analysis suggests that different regions of the world can affect the chemistry of the essential oil. The authors recommend classifying the species further based on these chemical differences. The authors also indicate that helichrysum extracts and essential oils may be effective natural antioxidants for foodstuff and pharmaceuticals. Further studies should be conducted on how differences in chemical composition may affect biological activity, fragrance, and other qualities of the helichrysum extracts and essential oils. —Laura M. Bystrom, PhD

Re: Natural Pomegranate Juice Demonstrates a Beneficial Effect on Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure and hs-CRP, while also Increasing Triglycerides and VLDL Cholesterol

Pomegranate (Punica granatum, Lythraceae) Metabolic Syndrome Cardiovascular Risk Factors Date: 09-15-2017 HC# 051757-576 Moazzen H, Alizadeh M. Effects of pomegranate juice on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with metabolic syndrome: a double-blinded, randomized crossover controlled trial. Plant Foods Hum Nutr. June 2017;72(2):126-133. Metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors (high blood pressure, increased blood levels of sugar and lipids, and excess body fat around the waist) that increase the development of cardiovascular disease. Foods high in polyphenols have high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Pomegranate (Punica granatum, Lythraceae) fruit juice may have cardiovascular benefits in relation to this issue. However, nutritionists are concerned with pomegranate's simultaneous effect on the rise of glycemic factors and sugar-dependent lipids; namely, triglycerides and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C). The purpose of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study was to evaluate the effect of pomegranate juice on cardiometabolic indices and glycemic indices in patients with metabolic syndrome. Patients with metabolic syndrome (n = 32; aged 18-70 years) were recruited via advertisement in Shabestar, Iran. This study took place between December 2012 and January 2013. Included patients had ≥ 3 of 5 components of metabolic syndrome—namely, waist circumference > 88 cm for women and > 102 cm for men, serum triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol < 50 mg/dL for women and < 40 mg/dL for men, systolic blood pressure ≥ 135 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥ 85 mmHg, and fasting plasma glucose concentration > 110 mg/dL. Excluded patients included those who were pregnant or breastfeeding; consumed alcohol; had systemic, inflammatory, hepatic, or kidney diseases; and were allergic to pomegranate juice or the pomegranate placebo. Patients were withdrawn from the data analysis if during the study they had any change of diet, any disease development, or had an increase in low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol where medications were needed. Patients were treated with either 500 mL pure pomegranate juice or placebo for 7 days, and, following a 7-day washout, they received the opposite treatment. Pomegranate juice was prepared by hand by the researchers. The arils were removed from Shiraz pomegranates and were manually squeezed to yield juice; no additives were used. The juice included anthocyanins, 100.46 mg/L; total phenolics, 69 mg/L; total flavonoids, 283.02; and antioxidant capacity (DPPHsc [2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity]), 69%. Food engineers created a placebo formula to resemble the pomegranate juice taste and color. The similarity of the placebo and pomegranate juice was confirmed by 3 expert testers. The placebo was void of any polyphenols. The patients were asked not to change their lifestyle, diet, or physical activity during the study. Food intake and physical activities were recorded in a diary for 3 days to ensure no changes were made during the study. Blood was drawn at baseline and after 7 days of treatment to measure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, blood insulin, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, and VLDL. Blood pressure also was measured. Thirty patients were included in the final analysis; 1 patient was withdrawn due to development of the flu and taking antibiotics, and 1 patient had emotional and psychological problems. There was no change in intake of energy, carbohydrates, protein, or fat. Triglyceride levels and VLDL were significantly higher after pomegranate juice than after the placebo (P = 0.025 and P = 0.016, respectively). Blood hs‑CRP was significantly lower after pomegranate juice compared with baseline (P = 0.028) and placebo (P = 0.018). After pomegranate juice consumption, systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased compared to baseline and placebo (P < 0.001 for all). After placebo, systolic blood pressure significantly decreased compared to baseline (P = 0.007). The authors conclude that 500 mL/day of natural pomegranate juice had a beneficial effect on systolic and diastolic blood pressure and hs-CRP, despite increasing triglyceride and VLDL levels. Other studies report no effect of pomegranate juice on hs-CRP, while one reported a beneficial effect in overweight and obese individuals. The authors hypothesize that the difference between their findings and other reports can be attributed to the high daily dose of pomegranate juice in this study and the variety (Shiraz) of pomegranate used. It is not surprising that the increase in triglycerides was accompanied by an increase in VLDL because VLDL transports triglycerides. A meta-analysis concluded that the significant increase of triglycerides could disappear with long-term use.1 The authors state that, "This study showed that nutritionists, at least in the short-term, were right in being concerned because consuming pomegranate juice, in addition to having beneficial effects on blood pressure and inflammatory indices, has harmful effects on triglyceride and VLDL-C which is due to its high level of fructose." Long-term studies in a larger population are needed to confirm these short-term results. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests. The study was funded by Urmia University of Medical Sciences; Urmia, Iran. —Heather S. Oliff, PhD Reference 1Sahebkar A, Simental-Mendía LE, Giorgini P, Ferri C, Grassi D. Lipid profile changes after pomegranate consumption: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Phytomedicine. 2016;23(11):1103-1112.

“NATURE IN THE ANTHROPOCENE: RESTORATION AND REWILDING”

Reading Retreat in Environmental Philosophy: Umbria, Italy READING RETREAT IN UMBRIA, ITALY Monte Castello di Vibio. June 3 – 14, 2018. Announcing ten days of reading and discussion on “Nature in the Anthropocene” in Umbria, Italy. This retreat will take place in the medieval Italian hill town of Monte Castello di Vibio using facilities made available by the International Center for the Arts. A small group of scholars will gather to spend mornings reading and discussing important contemporary papers with optional evening sessions workshopping papers-in-progress by the group’s members. Afternoons are free. The idea is to provide a relaxing and unique environment for some focused work on important emerging areas in environmental thought. Monte Castello provides a serene and picturesque setting for our work. Its proximity to Todi, Florence, and Perugia provides opportunities for side-trips during (or after) the workshop. The small group is designed to provide a supportive and high quality intellectual environment for exploring new areas of environmental philosophy and for peer evaluation of each other’s work and ideas. Reading materials will be decided upon by participants prior to arrival in Italy. There will be three field trips during our stay. One will involve a morning spent with truffle hunting dogs in the Monte Castello area. A second will be to Assisi and the forests that cloak Monte Subasio. The third will be to the Monti Sibillini National Park to discuss some Italian efforts at re-wilding. The weekend in the middle of the retreat will be open to use as you wish. The fee of 1650 EUR will include food, wine, and lodging in Monte Castello for 11 nights (Sunday to Wednesday) as well as transportation for the field trips. Meals out during the field trips as well as travel expenses to and from the Center for the Arts in Monte Castello di Vibio are the responsibility of participants. The lodging is in the 14th century ex-convent in which the Center for the Arts is located. The rooms are simple with shared bathrooms. (Rooms with private bathrooms at the local hotel are available for an additional fee). (The workshop is contingent upon interest and sufficient (10) applicants. Feel free to share with other potentially interested parties). Please email christopher.preston@umontana.edu by October 22nd to indicate initial interest.

Push for Gender Equality in Tech? Some Men Say It’s Gone Too Far After revelations of harassment and bias in Silicon Valley, a backlash is growing against the women in tech movement

By NELLIE BOWLESSEPT. 23, 2017 SAN FRANCISCO — Their complaints flow on Reddit forums, on video game message boards, on private Facebook pages and across Twitter. They argue for everything from male separatism to an end to gender diversity efforts. Silicon Valley has for years accommodated a fringe element of men who say women are ruining the tech world. Now, as the nation’s technology capital — long identified as one of the more hostile work environments for women — reels from a series of high-profile sexual harassment and discrimination scandals, these conversations are gaining broader traction. One of those who said there had been a change is James Altizer, an engineer at the chip maker Nvidia. Mr. Altizer, 52, said he had realized a few years ago that feminists in Silicon Valley had formed a cabal whose goal was to subjugate men. At the time, he said, he was one of the few with that view. Now Mr. Altizer said he was less alone. “There’s quite a few people going through that in Silicon Valley right now,” he said. “It’s exploding. It’s mostly young men, younger than me.” Mr. Altizer said that a gathering he hosts in person and online to discuss men’s issues had grown by a few dozen members this year to more than 200, that the private Facebook pages he frequents on men’s rights were gaining new members and that a radical subculture calling for total male separatism was emerging. “It’s a witch hunt,” he said in a phone interview, contending men are being fired by “dangerous” human resources departments. “I’m sitting in a soundproof booth right now because I’m afraid someone will hear me. When you’re discussing gender issues, it’s almost religious, the response. It’s almost zealotry.” Google’s main campus in Mountain View, Calif. “What Google did was wake up sectors of society that weren’t into these issues before,” said Paul Elam, who runs a men’s rights group. Credit Christie Hemm Klok for The New York Times Mr. Altizer is part of a backlash against the women in technology movement. While many in the tech industry had previously dismissed the fringe men’s rights arguments, some investors, executives and engineers are now listening. Though studies and surveys show there is no denying the travails women face in the male-dominated industry, some said that the line for what counted as harassment had become too easy to cross and that the push for gender parity was too extreme a goal. Few were willing to talk openly about their thinking, for fear of standing out in largely progressive Silicon Valley. Even so, “witch hunt” is the new whispered meme. Some in tech have started identifying as “contrarians,” to indicate subtly that they do not follow the “diversity dogma.” And self-described men’s rights activists in Silicon Valley said their numbers at meetings were rising. Others are playing down the women-in-tech issue. Onstage at a recent event, the venture capitalist Vinod Khosla said harassment in Silicon Valley was “rarer than in most other businesses.” Many men now feel like “there’s a gun to the head” to be better about gender issues, said Rebecca Lynn, a venture capitalist at Canvas Ventures, and while “there’s a high awareness right now, which is positive, at the same time there’s a fear.” The backlash follows increasingly vulgar harassment revelations in Silicon Valley. Several female engineers and entrepreneurs this year named the men they accused of harassing them, and suddenly tech’s boys’ club seemed anything but impervious. Travis Kalanick, Uber’s co-founder, resigned as chief executive after the ride-hailing service was embroiled in harassment accusations. Dave McClure, head of the incubator 500 Startups, called himself “a creep” and stepped down. This month, the chief executive of Social Finance, Mike Cagney, also quit amid a harassment scandal. In the aftermath, many stood up for gender equality in tech. Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn’s founder, asked investors to sign a “decency pledge.” Many companies reiterated that they needed to improve work force diversity. Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn, has asked investors to sign a “decency pledge.” Credit Jason Henry for The New York Times “In just the last 48 hours, I’ve spoken to a female tech executive who was grabbed by a male C.E.O. at a large event and another female executive who was asked to interview at a venture fund because they ‘feel like they need to hire a woman,’” said Dick Costolo, the former chief of Twitter, who now runs the fitness start-up Chorus. “We should worry about whether the women-in-tech movement has gone too far sometime after a couple of these aren’t regularly happening anymore.” But those who privately thought things had gone too far were given a voice by James Damore, 28, a soft-spoken Google engineer. Mr. Damore, frustrated after another diversity training, wrote a memo that he posted to an internal Google message board. In it, he argued that maybe women were not equally represented in tech because they were biologically less capable of engineering. Google fired him last month. After months of apologizing by Silicon Valley for bad behavior, here was a young man whom some in tech’s leadership could potentially get behind. Paul Graham, who founded an influential start-up incubator, Y Combinator, posted two articles about how the science behind Mr. Damore’s memo was accurate. Another start-up investor, John Durant, wrote that “Charles Darwin himself would be fired from Google for his views on the sexes.” And the investor Peter Thiel’s business partner, Eric Weinstein, tweeted, “Dear @Google, Stop teaching my girl that her path to financial freedom lies not in coding but in complaining to HR.” Follow Eric Weinstein ✔ @EricRWeinstein Dear @Google, Stop teaching my girl that her path to financial freedom lies not in coding but in complaining to HR. Thx in advance, A dad 9:12 PM - Aug 7, 2017 9:12 PM - Aug 7, 2017 1,782 1,782 Replies 13,112 13,112 Retweets 37,181 37,181 likes Mr. Durant declined to comment. Mr. Graham said in an email that there needed to be more distinction between fact and policy, and Mr. Weinstein said there was “a sea of brilliant women” and that more needed to be done to “figure out how to more fully empower them.” The push for gender equality “created divides that I didn’t anticipate,” said Joelle Emerson, next to the screen at a meeting in San Francisco. Her company, Paradigm, designs diversity strategies. Credit Jason Henry for The New York Times Now men’s rights advocates in Silicon Valley have galvanized. “What Google did was wake up sectors of society that weren’t into these issues before,” said Paul Elam, who runs A Voice for Men, a men’s rights group. He said his organization had seen more interest from people in Silicon Valley. Silicon Valley has always been a men’s space, others said. Warren Farrell, who lives in Marin, Calif., and whose 1993 book, “The Myth of Male Power,” birthed the modern men’s rights movement, said, “The less safe the environment is for men, the more they will seek little pods of safety like the tech world.” This turn in the gender conversation is good news for Mr. Damore. “The emperor is naked,” he said in an interview. “Since someone said it, now it’s become sort of acceptable.” He added, “The whole idea that diversity improves workplace output, it’s not scientifically decided that that’s true.” Mr. Damore filed a labor complaint against Google in August and said more than 20 people had reached out about joining together for a class-action suit about systemic discrimination against men. He is represented by Harmeet Dhillon, a local firebrand lawyer. “It’s become fashionable in Silicon Valley for people like James, a white man, to be put into a category of less desirable for promotion and advancement,” Ms. Dhillon said. “Some companies have hiring goals like ‘We’ll give you a bonus if you’re a hiring manager and you hire 70 percent women to this organization.’ That’s illegal.” Google declined to comment. Two men who worked at Yahoo sued the company for gender discrimination last year. Their lawyer, Jon Parsons, said the female leadership — Yahoo’s chief executive was Marissa Mayer, before Verizon bought the company — had gone too far in trying to hire and promote women. He tied the suit into today’s women-in-tech movement. “When you’re on a mission from God to set the world straight, it’s easy to go too far,” Mr. Parsons said. “There was no control over women hiring women.” He said that his clients, Greg Anderson and Scott Ard, had faced gender discrimination in Yahoo’s media teams and that other teams like cars were headed by women, which to Mr. Parsons was a sign of problems. “No eyebrows are going to rise if a woman heads up fashion,” Mr. Parsons said. “But we’re talking about women staffing positions — things like autos — where it cannot be explained other than manipulation.” Those leading Silicon Valley’s gender equality push said they were astonished that just as the movement was having an impact, it opened up an even more radical men’s rights perspective. “It’s exhausting,” said Joelle Emerson, who runs Paradigm, a company that designs diversity strategies. “It’s created divides that I didn’t anticipate.” Photo “The whole idea that diversity improves workplace output, it’s not scientifically decided that that’s true,” Mr. Damore said. Credit Jason Henry for The New York Times One radical fringe that is growing is Mgtow, which stands for Men Going Their Own Way and pronounced MIG-tow. Mgtow aims for total male separatism, including forgoing children, avoiding marriage and limiting involvement with women. Its message boards are brimming with activity from Silicon Valley, Mr. Altizer said. Cassie Jaye, who lives in Marin and made a documentary about the men’s rights movement called “The Red Pill,” said that the tech world and the men’s rights community had “snowballed” together and that the rise in the number of people in Mgtow is new. On the Mgtow message boards, members discuss work (“Ever work for a woman? Roll up your sleeves and share your horror story”), technology (“The stuff girlfriends and wives can’t stand — computers, games, consoles”) and dating (mostly best practices to avoid commitment). “I think there are a lot of guys living this lifestyle without naming it, and then they find Mgtow,” said Ms. Jaye, who calls herself a former feminist. Mr. Altizer leads Bay Area Fathers’ Rights, a monthly support group for men to talk about the issues they uniquely face. He became interested in the community after a divorce and said his eyes were opened to how few rights men have. As for the numbers of women in tech, the effort for parity is absurd, he said. “I’ve been on the hiring side for years,” Mr. Altizer said, adding that he is not currently hiring people. “It would be nice to have women, but you cannot find applicants.” Follow Nellie Bowles on Twitter: @NellieBowles A version of this article appears in print on September 24, 2017, on Page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: As Inequality Roils Tech World, A Group Wants More Say: Men.

William ‘Bill’ Brevoort - 1942 - 2017

HerbalGram The Journal of the American Botanical Council Issue: 115 Page: 1 by Mark Blumenthal HerbalGram. 2017; American Botanical Council Iconic and widely respected Chinese medicinal herb pioneer Bill Brevoort died at his home in Kona, Hawaii, on July 28, 2017, at the age of 75. He had been recently diagnosed with metastatic melanoma. Bill was a truly remarkable man — intelligent, intrepid, focused, and highly spiritual. An inveterate concocter of Chinese tonic formulations, he was still making customized botanical extracts until a month before his death. William Harry Brevoort was born in Van Nuys, California, on March 24, 1942. He attended the University of Connecticut and then Columbia University, where he earned a master’s of fine arts degree in painting and sculpture in 1967. He and his wife, Peggy, then moved to Oregon, where he was a lecturer in the fine arts department at the University of Oregon from 1967 to 1969. During this time, Brevoort became intensely interested in Chinese culture, and studied Chinese Buddhism and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). He was a long-time disciple of Venerable Master Hsuan Hua of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah, California. In 1971, Bill and Peggy founded East Earth Herb, which is considered to be the first company in the United States to educate the natural food community about the healing and vitality-empowering properties of traditional Chinese herbs. The East Earth Herb booth was a popular location at many natural food trade shows and alternative medicine conferences in the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, where Brevoort would often listen to a person’s pulse, look at their tongue, and perk them up with one of his special blends of Chinese herbal tonic elixirs, teas, and other creatively blended formulations. East Earth Herb’s “Dragon Eggs” line of Chinese herbs was most likely the first American-made line of Chinese herbal formulas. The Brevoorts are also largely credited with creating the initial interest in the Pacific herb kava (Piper methysticum, Piperaceae) with their popular after-conference kava parties in the 1990s. A practicing Buddhist most of his adult life, Brevoort was an intensely spiritual person, with a wide range of interests to try to satisfy his strong intellect. Among his many hobbies, he was a dedicated organic gardener and an avid amateur astronomer. He took over the small observatory on the Kona coast that had belonged to the late author Terence McKenna, and spent countless hours peering into the magnified depths of space. He was equally comfortable in frequent deep meditation as he was contemplating the exploration of outer space. I knew Bill for 43 years. He was a truly amazing, brilliant, spiritual, one-of-a kind person. He and Peggy are pioneers of the US herb movement, particularly with respect to Chinese herbs. They imported and distributed Chinese herbal patent medicines in the early 1970s and later distributed their own Chinese herbal dietary supplements. They were one of my first suppliers when I owned Sweethardt Herbs (1974-1986), my former herb wholesaling company in Austin, Texas. When I first started ordering from them, they lived in Reedsport, Oregon, and I had to call them on a ship-to-shore radiophone line to order Chinese Ginseng Bee Secretion (which Bill probably received by “submarine” from Vancouver; the US Food and Drug Administration was not letting such products into the United States in those days, except for sale in ethnic Chinese stores in San Francisco and a few other cities.) In addition to introducing me to many Chinese herbs and kava, Bill was also the first to introduce me to the fabled Chinese pu-erh tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae). Numerous long-time friends and colleagues provided the following thoughts and reminiscences about Bill: Lynda LeMole, an herb industry activist previously with Traditional Medicinals tea company (email, July 31, 2017): BuddhaBrother, TonicMaster, StarGazer, VeggieGardener, WisdomGiver. How many of us sought his healing help at trade shows: “I’m taking your pulse. Stick out your tongue. Drink this tonic.” Josef Brinckmann, noted medicinal plant sustainability authority, who was, at one time, an employee of East Earth Herb and now, for many years, at Traditional Medicinals (email, July 29, 2017): One of my teachers, I learned so much from Bill in the three years that I worked and traveled with him (1995-1997) — not only about the traditional uses of almost everything in nature codified in the Chinese systems of medicine (of animal, botanical, fungal, metal, and mineral origin), but also about the past, present, and future of Buddhist practice. I was very fortunate to walk, for a time, with this truly remarkable man. Drake Sadler, co-founder of Traditional Medicinals (email, July 29, 2017): Like Josef, I, too, was fortunate to walk for a time with Wild Bill. On an AHPA [American Herbal Products Association] visit to the capitol many years ago, midway through a boring meeting with the usual government reps, Bill and I concluded [that] our lovely (and much more diplomatic) wives were better suited to the task, and [that] our time could be better spent exploring the US National Arboretum. The gardens were impressive, and Bill was most interested in the collection of Asian shrubs and trees. His breadth of knowledge was as expansive as the miles of park pathways and hundreds of landscaped acres. Morris Shriftman, natural products industry marketing consultant (email, July 29, 2017): I worked my way to his booth several times at each show. His knowledge of Chinese herbs and oriental tonics was a revelation to me. And I remember my delight in using his products. There was one in particular: I think it was called Dragon’s Brew; it was deep and dark and mysterious. It tasted of ginseng and ginger, and who knows what else? And I had a ride. Rick Levine, syndicated astrologer and poet (email, July 31, 2017): Bill Brevoort was a rare human being: pioneering in his work, conscious in his behavior, honest in his interactions, dedicated in his spiritual practice, unyielding in his search for truth, and loyal to his family and friends. Kathi Keville, author and herbalist (email, July 31, 2017): Bill was an expert connoisseur and collector of fine Chinese tea. A visit always meant having afternoon tea — an experience in itself. He also loved good music, photography, astronomy, and spent much of his time at his own small telescope observatory in Hawaii that offered an amazing view of the sky. Terry Wittenberg, avid bicyclist and former Whole Foods Market veteran (email, July 29, 2017): My favorite memory of Bill and Black Belt [a type of Chinese tonic herbal “fruit leather”]: In the summer of 1989, [some friends and I] took a three-week vacation for some bike racing. From home (Texas), we first drove to upstate New York for a 24-hour race and afterwards stayed in the area for almost a week. Next race was in St. Louis for the 540-mile Race Across Missouri. On our way to St. Louis, we stopped overnight in Indianapolis. When we were unpacking at the motel, I left our small trailer open and our box of supplements and herbs (including my supply of Black Belt) was stolen. I called Bill and he mailed more Black Belt to the hotel in St. Louis in time for the race. Bill saved the day. Frank Lampe, vice president of community & industry relations at the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) (email, August 3, 2017): “Hold out your tongue.” I’ll never forget those words as I was directed by colleagues to visit the East Earth Herb booth at Natural Products Expo West in 1989. The man with the constantly active, piercing blues eyes and flowing, graying beard behind the counter could easily have played a starring role in The Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter adventures. It was Bill Brevoort, getting ready to dispense a thick herbal concoction from a number of large plastic bottles that he said would balance my energies. That encounter started a new chapter in my own life: the beginning of a long, intellectual and engaging relationship with an herbal and TCM legend, and yet another irrefutable case for the healing power of plants. In addition to being the best formulator I’ve ever met, which resulted in products that got your attention while they worked their magic, Bill’s areas of interest were wide; he could be confrontational as he challenged your thinking on any number of issues, those probing eyes peering out from underneath a deeply furrowed brow, but it was always in the spirit of pursuing intellectual growth, a deeper understanding of the chosen topic and the bigger picture—and usually with an accompanying impish grin and clear merriment in those eyes. Always inquisitive, always questioning, always seeking, always engaged. And, finally, natural products industry leader Loren Israelsen, president of the UNPA, wrote that he, like many others, accepted the sad news of Bill’s passing “with a deep sense of loss but knowing Bill had prepared for the day of passing like few can” (email, July 31, 2017). Israelsen also wrote in an August 3, 2017 communication to UNPA members: Bill Brevoort was unlike anyone I have known. He was a scholar of TCM, a master formulator — a wizard, actually — whose drops and tinctures carry true healing power. He lived as a monk, sitting in meditation for many hours a day, with his mind in states of consciousness that few have experienced. He tended his garden, listened to classical music, talked politics, cooking ideas and recipes and refused to wear shoes — shirt optional. He lived just north of Kona, Hawaii, with a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean with whale spouts often in sight. The last time Bill and I were together, he gave me a bottle of his special cordyceps extract — a treasure then and more so now. His death came unexpectedly, and I have still not come to terms with this news. But I am sure he is filled with wonder and gratitude to be reunited with his masters and teachers. The long meditation sessions are, no doubt, already in progress. Peggy, his dear wife and materfamilias to many, will keep his memory alive as will all those who continue to hold the teachings and generosity of Bill as a living record of his remarkable life. Bill Brevoort is survived by his wife Peggy, his daughter Gretchen, son Joshua, and grandson Jacob Dickey. His extensive herbal library of Chinese medicinal classic texts and related literature, along with his unique collection of Chinese teas, herbs, and extracts are being donated to the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas in Ukiah. A service for placing his ashes will be held at the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas later this year. —Mark Blumenthal

A Battle to Save the World’s Favorite Treat: Chocolate

By MYLES KARPSEPT. 25, 2017 Photo At the International Cacao Collection in Turrialba, Costa Rica, José Antonio Alfaro examined pods — which hold the seeds that make chocolate — treated to resist a devastating fungus. Only a few cacao varieties are widely cultivated, making them susceptible to outbreaks. Credit Mónica Quesada Cordero for The New York Times TURRIALBA, Costa Rica — The trees of the International Cacao Collection grow here in an astonishing diversity of forms, bearing skinny cacao pods with scorpion-stinger protrusions, spherical green pods that could be mistaken for tomatillos, oblong pods with bumpy skin resembling that of the horned lizard — all in colors ranging from deep purple to bright yellow. Within each of these pods are seeds that yield something beloved by billions: chocolate. But despite this diversity, few cacao varieties are widely cultivated, and that’s a problem: Like many other crops, cacao is under constant threat from diseases and environmental challenges exacerbated by our tendency to grow only a few varieties with similar or identical genetic traits and defects. “Most varieties produced worldwide belong to a narrow set of clones selected in the forties,” said Wilbert Phillips-Mora, who oversees this collection of 1,235 types of cacao trees and heads the Cacao Genetic Improvement Program at C.A.T.I.E. (an acronym in Spanish for the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Center). A narrow gene pool means that most commonly cultivated varieties of cacao are susceptible to the same diseases, and these blights can spread quickly. Continue reading the main story Related Coverage TRILOBITES How the Amazon’s Cashews and Cacao Point to Cultivation by the Ancients MARCH 3, 2017 Rare Cacao Beans Discovered in Peru JAN. 11, 2011 In Venezuela, Plantations of Cacao Stir Bitterness JULY 28, 2009 Cacao production brought relative prosperity to the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica until the late 1970s, when farmers began to notice that pods on their trees were developing a fuzzy white fungal coating and eventually mummifying. Photo Cacao pods infected with frosty pod rot. A single infected pod can release as many as 7 billion spores. Credit Mónica Quesada Cordero for The New York Times The fungus — Moniliophthora roreri, also called monilia or frosty pod rot — soon spread around the country, and by 1983 Costa Rican exports of dry cacao beans had declined by 96 percent. The industry here has never recovered. The calypso singer Walter Ferguson even wrote about it. “Monilia, you’ve come to stay,” he sang, “and all you bring is hungry belly/You say you no going away, ‘til you bring me down to poverty.” Folk songs about fungi may be rare, but the devastation to the region’s primary industry was profound. And though the Costa Rican outbreak is history, the fungus continues to spread. “For me, the cacao industry is in permanent risk, because intentionally or unintentionally this disease could be spread in just one flight,” said Dr. Phillips-Mora. Increasing travel and commerce in the developing world have provided new pathways for infection. He believes the most recent confirmed outbreak — in Jamaica in September 2016 — may have been the result of marijuana traffickers moving covertly between Costa Rica and Jamaica, unwittingly grabbing infected cacao pods as snacks for the boat ride home. That outbreak was the first confirmed outside of Latin America, and it has demonstrated the fungus’ ability to survive more distant travel than previously known. Other cacao-producing regions, such as West Africa — the source of virtually all the cacao that ends up in mass-produced products like Hershey’s Kisses and M&M’s — may face similar outbreaks. Even without frosty pod rot, cacao is a problematic crop. Other diseases — witches’ broom, black pod, cacao swollen-shoot virus — also afflict the tree. Climate change promises to further exacerbate problems with tropical plant pathogens. Continue reading the main story Recent Comments sjs 1 hour ago Please, please, please save chocolate! Alison 2 hours ago This is chocolate we're talking about. Start a crowdfunding for Dr. Phillips-Mora's cause and he'll never ever have to worry again about how... TheraP 2 hours ago I love the last photo, of all the types of cacao beans. Mónica Quesada Cordero is to be congratulated! It’s like a beautiful still life... See All Comments Write a comment Photo The Cacao Genetic Improvement Program at C.A.T.I.E. cultivates 1,235 types of cacao trees. Credit Mónica Quesada Cordero for The New York Times These difficulties make cacao ever less appealing to producers; yields and profits are low, and the average cacao farmer is aging. The next generation seems to be abandoning the family business. Yet demand for chocolate is rising, especially as gargantuan markets like China and India indulge a taste for what used to be a treat primarily for American and European consumers. A chocolate shortage may be on the horizon. That is where Dr. Phillips-Mora’s project comes in. The genetic diversity of cacao, on full display in the International Cacao Collection at C.A.T.I.E., may avert a chocolate crisis. A Hybrid Solution In the early 1980s, Dr. Phillips-Mora worked to identify the most naturally tolerant and productive cacao trees, then painstakingly hybridized the candidates to create novel varieties. Breeding hybrid cacao clones is a lengthy process, and experts worldwide have largely failed in this endeavor. But in 2006, Dr. Phillips-Mora released his first batch of hybrid cacao varieties. Photo Mr. Alfaro examined a cacao variety that demonstrated resistance to frosty pod rot. Credit Mónica Quesada Cordero for The New York Times Photo Wilbert Phillips-Mora, right, head of the Cacao Genetic Improvement Program at C.A.T.I.E. The industry is “in permanent risk,” he said. Credit Mónica Quesada Cordero for The New York Times In terms of disease resistance and yield, the differences were astonishing. Dr. Phillips-Mora’s six hybrids produce on average about three times more cacao than standard varieties; under ideal conditions, the most prolific hybrids can produce six times more cacao. After an 11-year trial, a hybrid called C.A.T.I.E.-R6 experienced a 5 percent frosty pod rot infection rate, compared to 75 percent infection for a control variety. “Our goal is not just to produce cacao,” Dr. Phillips-Mora said. “It’s also to give the basic living conditions to the farmers. Most cacao farmers are very poor, because the system is based on material that doesn’t have good yielding capacity.” Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Science Times We’ll bring you stories that capture the wonders of the human body, nature and the cosmos. You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. See Sample Privacy Policy Opt out or contact us anytime Trees that buck this trend could make the family business look more enticing to the next generation of cacao growers. The C.A.T.I.E. hybrids are now growing in all Central American countries, as well as in Mexico and Brazil. Agricultural yield and disease resistance may benefit farmers, but a cacao crop is worthless if it produces bland or foul-tasting chocolate. Chocolate is the epitome of gastronomic hedonism. But unlike nearly every other modern effort to increase crop yields, Dr. Phillips-Mora’s breeding program incorporates fine flavor as a prerequisite. Cacao varieties that don’t impress expert palates are discarded, no matter how well they grow. Photo A cacao flower being manually pollinated. Credit Mónica Quesada Cordero for The New York Times The result of this protocol is that unlike many other crops favored for agronomics — the Red Delicious apple, the Cavendish banana — C.A.T.I.E.’s cacao actually tastes good. Chocolate makers are beginning to roast and package Dr. Phillips-Mora’s varieties. Dandelion Chocolate, based in San Francisco, recently released a bar made from a mix of all six C.A.T.I.E. hybrids. “I think honestly it’s going to be one of our most popular bars,” said Greg D’Alesandre, who heads cacao sourcing at Dandelion. “It has this nice balance of chocolaty and caramel notes, but it keeps it very accessible.” Dr. Phillips-Mora’s hybrid cacao varieties do not offer a perfect solution to all the crop’s challenges. They cannot all self-pollinate, and some of the beans are small; they haven’t been properly tested in Africa or Asia, and they are not yet resistant to all the pathogens that afflict cacao globally. Field trials are nearing completion on a new batch of clones bred to address some of these issues. Moreover, the current roster of C.A.T.I.E. clones were bred in response to known cacao production threats; the future will present new demands. Pathogens evolve. Unstable political situations in the developing world can affect agriculture. Climate change will alter landscapes in unpredictable ways. The solution is not to replace all cacao with the six available C.A.T.I.E. varieties, but to be able to continue to diversify the cacao materials growing worldwide. Like the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, the International Cacao Collection is a contingency against future disasters of unknown character. Whatever fungal mutation may arise, wherever drought may strike, however chocolate tastes may change — there will likely be cacao genes somewhere in the collection that can form the basis of new hybrids to meet future challenges. Photo Seed pods from different varieties of cacao. The C.A.T.I.E.’s goal is not to replace all cacao with six resistant hybrids, but to be able to diversify the varieties grown worldwide. Credit Mónica Quesada Cordero for The New York Times Still, Dr. Phillips-Mora worries about the future. Though he works with deep-pocketed companies like Mars, Nestlé and Hershey, the funds he receives are generally earmarked for specific research projects rather than for the maintenance of the collection and program for the future. He estimates that he receives less than 5 percent of the funds necessary for proper upkeep of the collection each year. So although Dr. Phillips-Mora retired three years ago, he plans to keep working until the solvency of the collection is ensured. “I will be very happy when I leave this institution to know that the collection will be protected financially,” he said. “It’s a treasure for everybody, for all the cocoa lovers.” Correction: September 25, 2017 A picture caption in an earlier version of this article misstated the country of origin for a cacao variety. The variety was from French Guiana, not Guyana. A version of this article appears in print on September 26, 2017, on Page D1 of the New York edition with the headline: A Battle To Save Chocolate. 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ATLANTIC-CAMTRAPS: a dataset of medium and large terrestrial mammal communities in the Atlantic Forest of South America.

Ecology. 2017 Aug 31. doi: 10.1002/ecy.1998. [Epub ahead of print] Lima F1,2, Beca G1, de Lara Muylaert R1, Jenkins CN2, Perilli MLL3, de Oliveira Paschoal AM4, Massara RL4, Paglia AP4, Chiarello AG5, Graipel ME6, Cherem JJ7, Regolin AL1, Oliveira Santos LGR8, Brocardo CR1,9, Paviolo A10,11, Di Bitetti MS10,11,12, Scoss LM13, Rocha FL14, Fusco-Costa R15,16, Rosa CAD17, da Silva MX18, Hufnagel L4, Santos PM4, Duarte GT4, Guimarães LN4, Bailey LL19, Guimarães Rodrigues FH4, Cunha HM20, Moreli Fantacini F21, Batista GO22, Bogoni JA23, Tortato MA24, Luiz MR25, Peroni N6, de Castilho PV26, Maccarini TB27, Picinatto Filho V28, De Angelo C10,11, Cruz P10,11, Quiroga V10,11, Iezzi ME10,11, Varela D10,11, Cavalcanti SMC3, Martensen AC29, Maggiorini EV30, Keesen FF31, Valle Nunes A24, Lessa GM32, Cordeiro-Estrela P33, Beltrão MG33,34, de Albuquerque ACF33,34, Ingberman B15, Cassano CR35, Junior LC2, Ribeiro MC1, Galetti M1. Author information 1 Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Instituto de Biociências, Departamento de Ecologia, CP 199, Rio Claro, SP, 13506-900, Brasil. 2 IPÊ - Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas, CP 47, Nazaré Paulista, SP, 12960-000, Brasil. 3 Instituto para Conservação dos Carnívoros Neotropicais (Pró-Carnívoros), Avenida Horácio Neto, 1030, Atibaia, SP, Brasil. 4 Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Departamento de Biologia Geral, Avenida Antônio Carlos, nº 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG, 31270-901, Brasil. 5 Universidade de São Paulo, Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Avenida Bandeirantes, nº 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-901, Brasil. 6 Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Ecologia e Zoologia, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brasil. 7 Caipora Cooperativa para a Conservação da Natureza, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-400, Brasil. 8 Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Instituto de Biologia, Departamento de Ecologia, Av. Costa e Silva s/ nº, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brasil. 9 Instituto Neotropical: Pesquisa e Conservação, Curitiba, PR, Brasil. 10 Instituto de Biología Subtropical (IBS), Universidad Nacional de Misiones (CONICET). 11 Asociación Civil Centro de Investigaciones del Bosque Atlántico (CeIBA), Bertoni 85, 3370, Puerto Iguazú, Misiones, Argentina. 12 Facultad de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Nacional de Misiones, Bertoni 124, 3380, Eldorado, Argentina. 13 Tropical Ecology Assessment and Monitoring Network, Terrestrial Vertebrate, Site Rio Doce, Bicho do Mato Instituto de Pesquisa, Avenida Cônsul Antônio Cadar, 600, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30360-082, Brasil. 14 Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e, Monitoramento Ambiental, Campus IV, Rio Tinto, PB, 58297-000, Brasil. 15 Instituto de Pesquisas Cananéia (IPeC), Rua Tristão Lobo, nº 199, Cananéia, SP, 11990-000, Brasil. 16 Universidade Federal do Paraná, Programa de Pós-Doutorado em Ecologia e Conservação, CP 19031, Curitiba, , PR, 81531-990, Brasil. 17 Instituto Alto Montana da Serra Fina, BR 354, Km 768, Bairro Engenho de Serra, Itamonte, MG, 37466-000, Brasil. 18 Projeto Carnívoros do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, Br 469, Km 22.5, Foz do Iguaçu, PR, 85851-970, Brasil. 19 Colorado State University, Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, 1474 Campus Delivery, 109 Wagar, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA. 20 Sete Soluções e Tecnologia Ambiental, Rua Pernambuco, nº.1000, Belo Horizonte, MG, 30130-151, Brasil. 21 Instituto Ambiental Brüderthal, Brusque, SC, 88353-190, Brasil. 22 Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis, SCEN Trecho 02, Edifício Sede, Brasília, DF, 70818-900, Brasil. 23 Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia, Florianópolis, SC, 88040-900, Brasil. 24 Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Programa de Pós Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Avenida Costa e Silva s/nº, Bairro Universitário, Campo Grande, MS, 79070-900, Brasil. 25 Instituto Felinos do Aguaí, Siderópolis, SC, 88860-000, Brasil. 26 Universidade do Estado de Santa Catarina, Departamento de Engenharia de Pesca, Laguna, SC, 88790-000, Brasil. 27 Rua Martim Stahl551, apto 803, Bairro Vila Nova, Jaraguá do Sul, SC, 89259-310, Brasil. 28 Universidade Federal do Paraná, Programa de Pós Graduação em Engenharia Florestal, Curitiba, PR, 80035-050, Brasil. 29 Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Programa de Pós Graduação em Genética, Conservação e Biologia Evolutiva (GCBEv), Avenida André Araújo, 2936, Aleixo, CP 2223, Manaus, AM, 69060-001, Brasil. 30 Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Prefeitura da Estância Turística de Salto, Avenida Nove de Julho 1053, Salto, SP, 13322-900, Brasil. 31 Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia de Biomas Tropicais, Campus Universitário Morro do Cruzeiro, Ouro Preto, MG, 35400-000, Brasil. 32 Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Departamento de Biologia Animal, Laboratório de Mastozoologia, , CCB2, 3º andar, Av. P.H. Rolfs s/nº, Campus UFV, Viçosa, MG, 36570-900, Brasil. 33 Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Laboratório de Mamíferos, Departamento de Sistemática e Ecologia, CCEN, Jardim Universitário, s/nº, Castelo Branco III, João Pessoa, PB, 58051-900, Brasil. 34 Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Zoologia). 35 Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Laboratório de Ecologia Aplicada à Conservação, Rodovia Jorge Amado, Km 16, Salobrinho, Ilhéus, BA, 45662-900, Brasil. Abstract Our understanding of mammal ecology has always been hindered by the difficulties of observing species in closed tropical forests. Camera trapping has become a major advance for monitoring terrestrial mammals in biodiversity rich ecosystems. Here we compiled one of the largest datasets of inventories of terrestrial mammal communities for the Neotropical region based on camera trapping studies. The dataset comprises 170 surveys of medium to large terrestrial mammals using camera traps conducted in 144 areas by 74 studies, covering six vegetation types of tropical and subtropical Atlantic Forest of South America (Brazil and Argentina), and present data on species composition and richness. The complete dataset comprises 53,438 independent records of 83 species of mammals, includes 10 species of marsupials, 15 rodents, 20 carnivores, 8 ungulates and 6 armadillos. Species richness averaged 13 species (± 6.07 SD) per site. Only six species occurred in more than 50% of the sites: the domestic dog Canis familiaris, crab-eating fox Cerdocyon thous, tayra Eira barbara, south American coati Nasua nasua, crab-eating raccoon Procyon cancrivorus and the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus. The information contained in this dataset can be used to understand macroecological patterns of biodiversity, community, and population structure, but also to evaluate the ecological consequences of fragmentation, defaunation, and trophic interactions. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved. KEYWORDS: Atlantic Forest; biodiversity hotspot; camera traps; forest fragmentation; invasive species; mammal communities; neotropical mammals PMID: 28857166 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.1998

Effects of Quercetin against Mycotoxin Induced Cytotoxicity: A Mini- Review

ISSN (Print): 1573-4013 ISSN (Online): 2212-3881 Volume 13, 4 Issues, 2017 Current Nutrition & Food Science Aims & Scope Abstracted/Indexed in Editor-in-Chief: Undurti N. Das UND Life Sciences Shaker Heights OH 44120 USA Author(s): Laura Escrivá , María José Ruiz, Guillermina Font, Lara Manyes. Graphical Abstract: Abstract: Introduction: Quercetin (QUER) is a bioactive phytochemical belonging to a large group of polyphenolic flavonoid substances and one of the most abundant flavonoids in the human diet. The antioxidant and pro-oxidant activity of QUER has been extensively investigated because of contradictory findings about its ability to protect mammalian cells from cytotoxicity. QUER is concomitant with mycotoxins in numerous food and foodstuffs. In the 80s, experimental approaches started to evaluate in vitro its protective effects against cytotoxicity related to mycotoxin ingest. Objective: The aim of this mini-review was to analyze how QUER treatment modifies mycotoxin effects in in vitro experimental models. Methods: A literature research was performed using the keyword “quercetin”, “mycotoxin” and “in vitro”, individually or all together, in Scopus, Web of Science and Pubmed. Results: In literature, the tested mycotoxins are described as follows: ochratoxin A, zearalenone and its metabolites α- and β-zearalenol, alternariol, alternariol monomethyl ether, T-2 toxin, patulin, aflatoxin B-1, deoxynivalenol, enniatins and beauvericin. Regarding the experimental models, human hepatocellular (HepG2) and colorectal carcinoma (HCT116 and Caco-2), human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPMBC), embryonic kidney (HEK293), Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-K1) and African green monkey kidney (Vero) cell lines were used. Conclusion: QUER showed promising results that made researchers move up to in vivo experiments. As future implementation, a combination of dietary non-enzymatic antioxidant products in food and feed could reduce the effects of mycotoxins on humans and animals. Keywords: Antioxidant, cytotoxicity, in vitro, mycotoxins, polyphenol, quercetin. VOLUME: 13 ISSUE: 4 Year: 2017 Page: [240 - 246] Pages: 7 DOI: 10.2174/1573401313666170725112637

Call for submissions: Indigenous Feminist Politics in Settler Contexts

How do Indigenous/Native/Aboriginal feminisms navigate the contemporary political terrain in settler colonial contexts? How does attention to the concerns of Indigenous people change or reshape dominant progressive and/or liberal conceptual and activist concerns? For instance, can Indigenous understandings of land, the sacred, and kinship offer new insights and strategies for addressing xenophobia, climate change, and racism? Do they pose challenges and dilemmas? As is typical of our journal, we invite scholarly essays based on original research as well as review essays on clusters of new works, art essays, fiction, poetry, pedagogical reflections, and political commentary. We especially welcome content grounded in place, people, and time. Deadline: November 30, 2017. How to Submit: For your submission to be complete, please send all of the following: One double-spaced hard copy mailed to Feminist Studies, 0103 Taliaferro Hall, 4280 Chapel Lane, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742. (In order to protect anonymity, the author's name should appear only a separate title page and not on the manuscript itself.) This requirement is waived if you are submitting from a country outside of North America. An electronic copy to submit@feministstudies.org (Please send the electronic file as a Word or WordPerfect document, not as a PDF). A 200-word (or fewer) abstract A cover note with mailing and email addresses. Feminist Studies | T: 301-405-7415 | F: 301-405-8395 | www.feministstudies.org

Mind and Body Practices for Fibromyalgia

https://nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/digest/fibromyalgia?nav=cd

Constructing Scientific Communities Contagion Cabaret

Posted: 21 Sep 2017 06:01 AM PDT Wednesday 27 September, 7.45pm The Chipping Norton Theatre A unique collaboration between The Theatre Chipping Norton and Oxford University Girl In Gas Masks Holds a Red Ballon Image: iStock.com/WilliamSherman Killer germs, superbugs, pestilent plagues and global pandemics have fascinated writers, musicians and thinkers for centuries. As disease spreads through a culture, likewise myths and ideas travel virally through film, literature, theatre and social media. Dreamt up in the plague-ridden imagination of the Theatre’s Artistic Director John Terry, join a cast of familiar faces including Marcus D’Amico (Frankie and Johnny) and Anna Tolputt (Around the World in 80 Days), alongside scientists and literary researchers from Oxford University for an evening of infectious extracts from plays and music, past and present. Be sure to bring your antiseptic wipes! For more information and to book tickets see http://www.chippingnortontheatre.com/index.php?p=whatson&id=3601

There is a vacant temporary position as Project manager/research administrator at the Natural History Museum. The position is available from 01.01.2018 to the project end at 31.12.2021.

the University of Oslo is Norway’s oldest and highest ranked educational and research institution, with 28 000 students and 7000 employees. With its broad range of academic disciplines and internationally recognised research communities, UiO is an important contributor to society. The Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo is Norway’s most comprehensive natural history collection. For almost 200 years, preserved plant specimens, animal specimens, rocks, minerals and fossils have been collected, studied and preserved here. A selection of specimens are on display for the general public, in the Geological Museum and the Zoological Museum. Both are found in the beautiful Botanical Garden. Located at Tøyen in the east of Oslo city centre, the garden is not only popular for recreation, but also a scientific collection. Project Manager / Research Administrator There is a vacant temporary position as Project manager/research administrator at the Natural History Museum. The position is available from 01.01.2018 to the project end at 31.12.2021. The position will be part the Plant Evolution and DNA Metabarcoding (PET) group at the Natural History Museum (NHM), a leading research group of 10-15 people with backgrounds in systematic biology, phylogenetics, bioinformatics, macroevolution, and modeling. The PET group addresses cutting-edge research questions in plant speciation, phylogenomics, and biogeography using genomic and DNA metabarcoding data from modern and ancient samples, and contributes to the development of metabarcoding as a next-generation biodiversity assessment tool for society. For more information see http://www.nhm.uio.no/english/research/groups/pet/ Description of the position The employee will be appointed in as senior executive officer (seniorkonsulent) with responsibility for the practical implementation and management of H2020 MSCA-ITN-ETN project Plant.ID on molecular identification of plants, as well as PET research administrative support. Plant.ID is training network involving 15 PhD students at 9 European institutes with 18 partner organisations. Tasks will include logistics and coordination of network-wide events such as supervisory board meeting, courses, workshops, project reviews, reporting of deliverables and milestones to the EU project officer in Brussels, facilitate travel and secondments, maintenance of the project webpages, and profiling in social media. The employee will be part of the PET group and report to the project leader. Required qualifications • Minimum MSc degree in biology. • Someone with relevant organizational experience. This can include research and project administration, organization of meetings, conferences, courses, teaching.
 • Expertise in biology, preferably biosystematics, phylogenetics and DNA barcoding. • Proven ability in scientific writing and reporting in English.
 • A true team-player, with good ability both to work independently and in collaborative teams. • Someone who keep deadlines, is organized and manages tasks carefully. • Willingness to travel for meetings, conferences, workshops and courses. • Must be fluent in English. Relevant applicants will be interviewed. We offer • Salary of 474.300 - 517.300 NOK per year, depending on qualifications (position code 1363). • An inspiring and friendly working environment • Membership in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund • A position in an inclusive work life (IA) institution • Attractive welfare benefits The application must include • Application letter, including 1) your interest in this position, a review of relevant work experience and interests, and a description of how this position will fit you and enhance your career development goals. • CV (summarizing education, positions and academic work – scientific publications) • Copies of educational certificates, transcript of records and max 2 letters of recommendation. • Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number). In accordance with the University of Oslo's equal opportunities policy, we invite applications from all interested individuals regardless of gender or ethnicity. The University of Oslo has an agreement regarding acquisition of rights to work results for all employees , with the aim to secure rights to research results, etc. According to the Freedom of Information Act (offentlighetsloven) § 25 section 2, information concerning the applicant may be made public even though the applicant has requested not to be shown on the list of applicants. Contact information Associate Professor Hugo de Boer, hugo.deboer@nhm.uio.no, +47 98126030 For questions about the recruitment system, please contact HR-Officer Thomas Brånå , thomas.brana@nhm.uio.no, +47 22856374

Anthony Gismondi: Only the fittest survive in today's B.C. wine industry

https://learningherbs.com/skills/how-to-make-marshmallows/