background: lead toxicity has been reported to affect hematopoietic, nervous, reproductive, cardiovascular and urinary tract systems. many investigators have so far studied the effects of high blood lead levels on pregnancy outcomes. objective: to investigate the effects of elevated maternal blood lead during pregnancy on some trace elements and pregnancy outcomes. methods: blood lead and plasm...

The interaction between plants and human has long been established since ancient times. Plants' medicinal properties have been acknowledged very well and considered as humans' living pharmacy for thousands of years. The knowledge of traditional medicine and ethno-botanical uses of plant species in each tribe may serve as a starting point for extensive pharmacological studies to be carried out i...

Translocation of a polymer chain through a narrow pore is explored using 3D explicit solvent dissipative particle dynamics simulation. We study the dependence of the translocation dynamics and translocation time τ on the chain length N, driving force magnitude E, and solvent quality. Two types of driving forces are considered: uniform hydrostatic force, which is applied equally to the chain and...

Four new species of the genus Thoracophorus Motschulsky, 1857 of the Neotropical region are described: T. verhaaghi n. sp., T. zicsii n. sp., T. struyvei n. sp., and T. perplexus n. sp. The new species originate from French Guiana, Peru, and Ecuador. Similar species T. filum Sharp, 1887, T. proximus Irmler, 1985, T. exilis (Erichson, 1840) and T. aequalis Sharp, 1887 are compared to discuss dif...

Recently, BMI screening in public schools has stirred sharp controversy with the emergence of letters sent home to parents indicating their child’s BMI percentile and weight category. In Massachusetts, these letters have been deemed, “fat letters,” and have appeared on late night comedy shows, newspapers, and televised news reports. Not only has screening come under harsh criticism, but the inc...