Selfing (self-pollination) is the ultimate form of inbreeding, or mating among close relatives. Selfing can create yield loss when inbreeding depression, defined as a lower survival and reproduction ...of inbred relative to outbred progeny, is present. To determine the impact of selfing in alfalfa (
Medicago sativa
L.), we quantified the selfing rate of 32 alfalfa seed production fields located in three regions, namely, the Pacific Northwest (PNW), the Central Valley of California (CEV), and the Imperial Valley of California (IMP). Selfing rates (the proportion of selfed seeds) varied between 5.3 and 30% with an average of 12.2% over the 32 seed production fields. In both the parents and their progeny, we observed an excess of heterozygotes relative to Hardy–Weinberg expectations. We detected notable levels of inbreeding in parents (0.231 ± 0.007 parental inbreeding coefficient) and progeny (0.229 ± 0.005). There were a 15% decrease in the number of seeds per stem (seed set) and a 13% decline in the number of seeds per pod in selfed relative to outcrossed stems, but negligible inbreeding depression for pods per raceme and seed weight. The number of racemes on selfed stems increased significantly in fields with greater selfing rates, supporting the presence of geitonogamous or among flower selfing. Despite the significant level of inbreeding depression, seed set did not decrease in fields with higher selfing rates, where the greater number of racemes on the selfed stems increased the seed set. The effects of the field selfing rate on the seed yield metrics were mostly indirect with direct effects of the number of racemes per stem. Available data indicate that the majority of selfing in alfalfa is pollinator-mediated, and thus, eliminating selfing in alfalfa seed production would require the selection of self-incompatible varieties, which, by eliminating inbreeding depression, would provide a 15% potential increase in seed yield and an increase in future hay yield.
•Veterans attending a 28-day inpatient substance abuse treatment program self-initiated box gardening to reduce stress.•The inpatient veteran diagnoses included alcohol abuse, drug abuse, PTSD, ...depression, anxiety and military sexual trauma.•Veterans utilized their own resources in order to have horticultural therapy for reducing internal and environmental stressors.•The veteran initiated horticulture therapy has continued for 3 successive years without Veterans Affairs assistance.•The veterans’ activities in the gardens and their responses to their gardening activities are described.
To assess the experiences of a veteran initiated horticultural therapy garden during their 28-day inpatient Substance Abuse Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SARRTP).
Retrospective study.
Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC), Salem, Virginia, USA
Group interviews with veterans from the last SARRTP classes and individual interviews with VAMC greenhouse staff in summer of 2016.
Time spent in garden, frequency of garden visits, types of passive and active garden activities, words describing the veterans’ emotional reactions to utilizing the garden.
In 3 summer months of 2016, 50 percent of the 56 veterans interviewed visited and interacted with the gardens during their free time. Frequency of visits generally varied from 3 times weekly to 1–2 times a day. Amount of time in the garden varied from 10min to 2h. The veterans engaged in active and/or passive gardening activities during their garden visits. The veterans reported feeling “calm”, “serene”, and “refreshed” during garden visitation and after leaving the garden.
Although data was secured only at the end of the 2016 growing season, interviews of the inpatient veterans revealed that they used their own initiative and resources to continue the horticulture therapy program for 2 successive growing years after the original pilot project ended in 2014. These non-interventionist, therapeutic garden projects suggest the role of autonomy and patient initiative in recovery programs for veterans attending VAMC treatment programs and they also suggest the value of horticulture therapy as a meaningful evidence- based therapeutic modality for veterans.
Although adherence to aftercare therapy in substance abuse treatment is associated with improved outcome, little research has explored the effects of adherence interventions on outcome. We compared ...20 graduates of our 28-day intensive treatment program who received a standard aftercare orientation with 20 graduates who received this intervention plus social reinforcement of aftercare group therapy attendance. The social reinforcement group showed less alcohol use than the standard care group at a 6-month follow-up assessment as measured by the Addiction Severity Index (ASI), but not less drug use. Additionally, compared to standard care, the social reinforcement participants were more likely to be abstinent at the 6-month follow up (76% vs. 40%). The groups did not differ on hospital readmission rates over a 12-month follow-up period. Additionally, the social reinforcement group showed better long-term aftercare attendance compared to the standard care group.
Persons who use tobacco in addition to alcohol and other drugs have increased health risks and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of participation in a tobacco ...cessation program on tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use in a population seeking treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use were assessed by urine drug screens, breathalyzer readings, and self-report. Veterans (N=137) with a tobacco use disorder enrolled in inpatient program for the treatment of SUDs at the Salem Veterans Affairs Medical Center participated in tobacco cessation education as part of their treatment programming. Use of tobacco, drugs and/or alcohol was evaluated upon admission, 2weeks following admission, at discharge and 1month following graduation. The 1-month follow-up rate was 70.8%, with 97 veterans completing the follow-up assessment. Of those 97 veterans, 90.7% (n=88) reported abstinence from alcohol and 91.8% (n=89) reported abstinence from other drugs of abuse. Fourteen veterans (14.4%) reported abstinence from tobacco at the 1-month follow-up. The veterans reporting abstinence from tobacco use also reported abstinence from alcohol and other drugs at the 1-month follow-up.
Although adherence to aftercare therapy in substance abuse treatment is associated with improved treatment outcome, relatively little research has explored methods of improving aftercare adherence. ...To improve on established methods of promoting aftercare adherence, 43 graduates of the 28-day intensive substance abuse treatment program at the Salem Veteran's Affairs Medical Center who received standard aftercare orientation are compared to 38 graduates who received the standard intervention plus social reinforcement of aftercare group therapy attendance. Clients who received social reinforcement attended more aftercare group sessions than did clients who received the standard treatment during the 8-week intervention (68.8% vs. 49.4% of sessions attended), and during the 4-week follow-up period (41.5% vs. 31.4% of sessions). These findings are noteworthy since the standard treatment had been shown to be effective in increasing aftercare adherence in prior studies (Lash, 1998; Lash & Blosser, 1999). Areas for future research are discussed.
Marketers are increasingly allowing consumers to sample sensory-rich experiential products before making purchase decisions. The results of seven experimental studies (two conducted in field ...settings, three conducted in a laboratory, and two conducted online) demonstrate that the order in which consumers sample products and the level of (dis)similarity between the sensory cues of the products influence choices. In the absence of any moderators, when sampling a sequence of sensory-rich experiential products (e.g., fragrances, chocolates, flavored beverages, music) with similar sensory cues (e.g., smell, taste, color, sound), consumers prefer the first product in the sequence. However, when sampling a sequence of products with dissimilar sensory cues, consumers prefer the last product. These findings (1) contribute to a better understanding of the role of sequential sensory cues on consumer choice formation, (2) have implications for effects related to sensory habituation and sensory trace fading, and (3) help resolve apparent inconsistencies in prior research on order effects in the context of choices for sequentially sampled experiential products.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) targeting CTLA4 or PD-1/PD-L1 have transformed cancer therapy but are associated with immune-related adverse events, including myocarditis. Here, we report a robust ...preclinical mouse model of ICI-associated myocarditis in which monoallelic loss of
in the context of complete genetic absence of
leads to premature death in approximately half of mice. Premature death results from myocardial infiltration by T cells and macrophages and severe ECG abnormalities, closely recapitulating the clinical and pathologic hallmarks of ICI-associated myocarditis observed in patients. Using this model, we show that
and
functionally interact in a gene dosage-dependent manner, providing a mechanism by which myocarditis arises with increased frequency in the setting of combination ICI therapy. We demonstrate that intervention with CTLA4-Ig (abatacept) is sufficient to ameliorate disease progression and additionally provide a case series of patients in which abatacept mitigates the fulminant course of ICI myocarditis. SIGNIFICANCE: We provide a preclinical model of ICI-associated myocarditis which recapitulates this clinical syndrome. Using this model, we demonstrate that CTLA4 and PD-1 (ICI targets) functionally interact for myocarditis development and that intervention with CTLA4-Ig (abatacept) attenuates myocarditis, providing mechanistic rationale and preclinical support for therapeutic clinical studies.
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Sensory cues are often encountered sequentially (rather than simultaneously) in retailing, food packaging, and other consumption contexts. While prior studies on effects of sensory cues have examined ...scenarios where the sensory cues are encountered simultaneously, this research takes the novel approach of examining order effects of different sensory cues encountered sequentially. Specifically, four experiments examine the effects of sequentially encountered visual and olfactory sensory cues on food taste perception. We theorize and find empirical evidence that an olfactory cue benefits from first encountering a visual cue, but not vice versa. More specifically, encountering a visual cue before (vs. after) an olfactory cue (i.e., V‐O vs. O‐V sequence) results in more positive outcomes (higher taste perception, volume consumed, product recommendation, and choice). Moreover, ease of processing the olfactory cue mediates the effect of sensory cue sequence on taste perception. These findings highlight the sensory cross‐modal effects of sequential visual and olfactory cues on gustatory perceptions and have implications for consumer well‐being as well as for food/beverage packaging and for designing retail outlets and restaurants.
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