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Global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) are increasing, and in Hawaiʻi, rates of ocean warming are projected to double by the end of the 21st century. However, current nearshore warming trends and their possible impacts on intertidal communities are not well understood. This study represents the first investigation into the possible effects of rising SST on intertidal algal and invertebrate communities across the Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). By utilizing citizen-science data coupled with high-resolution, daily SST satellite measurements from 12 intertidal sites across the MHI from 2004–2019, the response of intertidal algal and invertebrate abundance and community diversity to changes in SST was investigated across multiple spatial scales. Results show high rates of SST warming (0.40°C Decade-1) over this study's timeframe, similar to predicted rates of warming for Hawaiʻi by the end of the 21st century. Changes in abundance and diversity in response to SST were variable among intertidal sites, but differences in antecedent SST among intertidal sites were significantly associated with community dissimilarity. In addition, a statistically significant positive relationship was found between SST and Simpson's diversity index, and a significant relationship was also found between SST and the abundance of six dominant taxa. For five of these six dominant taxa, antecedent SSTs over the 6–12 months preceding sampling were the most influential for describing changes to abundance. The increase in community diversity in response to higher SSTs was best explained by temperatures in the 10 months preceding sampling, and the resultant decreased abundance of dominant turf algae. These results highlight rapidly warming nearshore SSTs in Hawaiʻi and the longer-term effects of antecedent SSTs as significant drivers of change within Hawaiian intertidal communities. Therefore, we suggest that future research and management should consider the possibility of lagging effects of antecedent SST on intertidal communities in Hawaiʻi and elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report an assessment for determining the contribution by diatoms to community productivity and respiration within a coastal benthic ecosystem with multiple autotrophs. During summer, cores of open sediment and seagrass habitat were collected from a lagoon within the Northern Gulf of Mexico. Cores were maintained in an outdoor mesocosm. Germanic acid, an inhibitor of diatom cell division, was added to half the cores and quantification of production and respiration was done. Inhibition of diatoms reduced benthic productivity within the seagrass habitat. 71–83% production was attributable to diatoms and this contribution moved the benthic system into net autotrophy. Diatom contribution to production in other habitat‐community components was more variable (varied from 0% to 86%). Findings underscore the ecological importance of diatoms as producers in seagrass beds, the role of seagrasses in maintaining productivity, and infer that diatoms may have similar contributions in other aquatic vegetated habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report experimental observation of the formation of phononic band structure in one-dimensional periodically and quasiperiodically (based on the Fibonacci and Thue-Morse number sequences) area modulated waveguide structures. The experimental results are compared to model calculations considering the interference of multiply reflected waves using a transfer matrix method formulation. It was found that both the scattering due to the changes in area (causing an impedance discontinuity) and also the radiation impedance acting at each area discontinuity must be considered to accurately model the experimental results. For the quasiperiodic structures, complicated transmission spectra are seen to result, characterized by wide acoustic pseudo-band-gaps interrupted by narrow defect modes around the center of the gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders are impacted by dementia at higher rates and at a younger age of onset than the broader Australia population. Public health strategies to support this population require a thorough understanding of how Aboriginal people perceive dementia and dementia care support needs. The aim of this study was to investigate Aboriginal community understandings of dementia and their responses to dementia care. This study is a community participatory action research partnership. The mixed method study was undertaken in 2017 with members of a discrete Aboriginal community from rural Tasmania, Australia. Participants were older than 18 years, self-identified as an Aboriginal person and were living or had lived in the community studied. Data were derived from 50 participants who completed the 27-item Dementia Knowledge Assessment Scale (DKAS). Twelve of these participants also shared their dementia care experiences in individual interviews. The DKAS results showed a low overall level of dementia knowledge, with a total mean score of 27.73 (scoring 51% on average) of a possible score of 54. The salient interview theme was the cultural obligation to care for family members living with dementia. Dementia care metaphors represented ways to protect family members living with dementia and maintain their ongoing connections to home and community. However, limited understandings of dementia affected their capacity to provide quality care. The findings contribute to public health scholarship involving Aboriginal community responses to dementia care. The study has resulted in important initiatives including a community-based dementia education program to ensure Aboriginal people impacted by dementia are provided with effective and culturally appropriate care. • The study examined Aboriginal people's understandings of dementia and appropriate dementia care. • The collaborative participatory action research approach used questionnaires and interview methods. • The results illustrated low understandings of dementia and high cultural obligation of care. • Dementia care metaphors represent the continuity of family and community relationships. • Aboriginal community responses to dementia care contribute to public health scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energetically costly transition from free-swimming larvae to a benthic life stage and maintenance of a calcareous structure can make calcifying marine invertebrates vulnerable to ocean acidification. The first goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of ocean acidification on calcified tube growth for two Serpulidae polychaete worms. Spirorbis sp. and Spirobranchus triqueter were collected at 11 m depth from the northwest Mediterranean Sea and maintained for 30 and 90 days at three mean pHT levels (total scale): 8.1 (ambient), 7.7 and 7.4. Moderately decreased tube elongation rates were observed in both species at pHT 7.7 while severe reductions occurred at pHT 7.4. There was visual evidence of dissolution and tubes were more fragile at lower pH but fragility was not attributed to changes in fracture toughness. Instead, it appeared to be due to the presence of larger alveoli covered in a thinner calcareous layer. The second objective of this study was to test for effects on S. triqueter offspring development. Spawning was induced, and offspring were reared in the same pH conditions that the parents experienced. Trochophore size was reduced at the lowest pH level but settlement success was similar across pH conditions. Post-settlement tube growth was most affected. At 38 days post-settlement, juvenile tubes at pHT 7.7 and 7.4 were half the size of those at pHT 8.1. The results suggest future carbonate chemistry will negatively affect the initiation and persistence of both biofouling and epiphytic polychaete tube worms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This correction notice provides updated information regarding the authors and their affiliations for the article titled "Spatial variation and antecedent sea surface temperature conditions influence Hawaiian intertidal community structure." Steven L. Colbert should be listed as the third author, and Tracy N. Wiegner should be listed as the eighth author. The correct citation for the article is also provided. The contributions of each author are outlined, including their roles in conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, methodology, supervision, validation, and writing. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Due to their relative scarcity and to limit single-center bias, multi-center data are needed to study femoral hernias. The aim of this study was to evaluate outcomes and quality of life (QOL) following laparoscopic vs. open repair of femoral hernias.Methods: The International Hernia Mesh Registry was queried for femoral hernia repairs. Laparoscopic vs. open techniques were assessed for outcomes and QOL, as quantified by the Carolinas Comfort Scale (CCS), preoperatively and at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Outcomes were evaluated using the standard statistical analysis.Results: A total of 80 femoral hernia repairs were performed in 73 patients: 37 laparoscopic and 43 open. There was no difference in mean age (54.7 ± 14.6 years), body mass index (24.2 ± 3.8 kg/m2), gender (60.3 % female), or comorbidities (p > 0.05). The hernias were recurrent in 21 % of the cases with an average of 1.23 ± 0.6 prior repairs (p > 0.1). Preoperative CCS scores were similar for both groups and indicated that 59.7 % of patients reported pain and 46.4 % had movement limitations (p > 0.05). Operative time was equivalent (47.2 ± 21.2 vs. 45.9 ± 14.8 min, p = 0.82). There was no difference in postoperative complications, with an overall 8.2 % abdominal wall complications rate (p > 0.05). The length of stay was shorter in the laparoscopic group (0.5 ± 0.6 vs. 1.3 ± 1.6 days, p = 0.02). Follow-up was somewhat longer in the open group (23.8 ± 10.2 vs. 17.3 ± 10.9 months, p = 0.02). There was one recurrence, which was in the laparoscopic group (3.1 vs. 0 %, p = 0.4). QOL outcomes at all time points demonstrated no difference for pain, movement limitation, or mesh sensation. Postoperative QOL scores improved for both groups when compared to preoperative scores.Conclusion: In this prospective international multi-institution study of 80 femoral hernia repairs, no difference was found for operative times, long-term outcomes, or QOL in the treatment of femoral hernias when comparing laparoscopic vs. open techniques. After repair, QOL at all time-points postoperatively improved compared to QOL scores preoperatively for laparoscopic and open femoral hernia repair. While international data supports improved outcomes with laparoscopic approach for femoral hernia repair, no data had existed prior to this study on the difference of approach impacting QOL. In the setting where recurrence and complication rates are equal after femoral hernia repair for either approach, surgeons should perform the technique with which they are most confident, as the operative approach does not appear to change QOL outcomes after femoral hernia repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The observed partitioning of poleward heat transport between atmospheric and oceanic heat transports (AHT and OHT) is compared to that in coupled climate models. Model ensemble mean poleward OHT is biased low in both hemispheres, with the largest biases in the Southern Hemisphere extratropics. Poleward AHT is biased high in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in the vicinity of the peak AHT near 40°N. The significant model biases are persistent across three model generations (CMIP3, CMIP5, CMIP6) and are insensitive to the satellite radiation and atmospheric reanalyzes products used to derive observational estimates of AHT and OHT. Model biases in heat transport partitioning are consistent with biases in the spatial structure of energy input to the ocean and atmosphere. Specifically, larger than observed model evaporation in the tropics adds excess energy to the atmosphere that drives enhanced poleward AHT at the expense of weaker OHT. Plain Language Summary: The equator‐to‐pole contrast of solar radiation entering the climate system drives the large‐scale oceanic and atmospheric circulations that, in turn, move heat from the equator to the poles to moderate latitudinal temperature contrasts. The ocean moves the majority of heat in the tropics whereas the atmosphere moves the vast majority of heat in the mid‐ and polar‐latitudes. We demonstrate that, on average, state‐of‐the‐art climate models representing both oceanic and atmospheric circulations simulate too little oceanic heat transport and too much atmospheric heat transport relative to observational estimates. These model biases in the atmosphere‐ocean partitioning of poleward heat transport are persistent across three generations of climate model ensembles spanning 20 years of progress in climate modeling and are insensitive to the choice of datasets used to calculate observed heat transports. The model biases are consistent with stronger than observed surface evaporation in the tropics which enhances atmospheric heat transport at the expense of oceanic heat transport. Key Points: Climate models simulate too little poleward oceanic heat transport and too much poleward atmospheric heat transport in the extratropicsModel biases in heat transport partitioning are persistent across model generation and are insensitive to the observational data sets usedStronger than observed evaporation in models enhances atmospheric heat transport at the expense of oceanic heat transport [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: When pregnant patients require surgery, whether to perform an operation open or laparoscopic is often debated. We evaluated the impact of laparoscopy for common general surgical problems in pregnancy to determine safety and trends in operative approach over time.Methods: Pregnant patients undergoing appendectomy or cholecystectomy were identified using the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. We analyzed demographics, operative characteristics, and outcomes. Univariate comparison and multivariate regression analysis (MVA) were performed adjusting for confounding factors: age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, and smoking, and an additional MVA was performed for perforated cases.Results: A total of 1999 pregnant patients between 2005 and 2012 were evaluated. Of 1335 appendectomies, 894 were performed laparoscopically (LA) and 441 open (OA). For 664 cholecystectomies, 606 were laparoscopic (LC) and 58 open (OC). There were no deaths. For LA versus OA, patient characteristics were not different {age: 27.7 vs. 28.2 years, p = 0.19; diabetes: 1.8 vs. 0.9%, p = 0.24; smoking: 19 vs. 16.1%, p = 0.2} except for BMI (27.9 vs. 28.4 kg/m(2); p = 0.03). LA had shorter operative times (ORT), length of stay (LOS), and fewer postoperative complications compared to OA. In MVA, difference between approaches remained statistically significant for ORT (<0.0001), LOS (<0.01), and wound complications (<0.01). MVA was performed for perforated cases alone: LA had equal ORT (p = 0.19) yet shorter LOS (p = <0.001). The majority of LA were performed in the last 4 years versus the first 4 years (61 vs. 39%, p < 0.001). For LC versus OC, patient characteristics were not different: age (28.3 vs. 28.7 years; p = 0.33), BMI (31.4 vs. 33.2 kg/m(2), p = 0.25), diabetes (2.8 vs. 3.5%, p = 0.68), and smoking (21.1 vs. 25.9%, p = 0.4). LC had a shorter ORT, LOS, and fewer postoperative complications than OC. In MVA, the difference between approaches remained statistically significant for ORT (<0.0001), LOS (<0.0001), and minor complications (<0.01). In MVA for cholecystitis with perforation, no difference was seen for LOS, ORT, or postoperative complications (p > 0.05). The percentage of LC cases appeared to increase over time (89 vs. 93%, p = 0.06).Conclusion: While fetal events are unknown, LA and LC in pregnant patients demonstrated shorter ORT, LOS, and reduced complications and were performed more frequently over time. Even in perforated cases, laparoscopy appears safe in pregnant patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpretation of principal components is difficult due to their weights (loadings, coefficients) being of various sizes. Whereas very small weights or very large weights can give clear indication of the importance of particular variables, weights that are neither large nor small ('grey area' weights) are problematical. This is a particular problem in the fast moving goods industries where a lot of multivariate panel data are collected on products. These panel data are subjected to univariate analyses and multivariate analyses where principal components (PCs) are key to the interpretation of the data. Several authors have suggested alternatives to PCs, seeking simplified components such as sparse PCs. Here components, termed simple components (SCs), are sought in conjunction with Thurstonian criteria that a component should have only a few variables highly weighted on it and each variable should be weighted heavily on just a few components. An algorithm is presented that finds SCs efficiently. Simple components are found for panel data consisting of the responses to a questionnaire on efficacy and other features of deodorants. It is shown that five SCs can explain an amount of variation within the data comparable to that explained by the PCs, but with easier interpretation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much research examining primary caregivers of children with cancer has focused on their distress levels and coping strategies. Drawing on qualitative data from semi‐structured interviews with 38 Australian primary caregivers, this article examines their experiences through their child's cancer diagnosis and early treatment period. However, it does so retrospectively with their child in remission (a minimum of 5 years post diagnosis). This methodology gave caregivers the time to evaluate and reflect on their experiences through their child's cancer. Interviews with caregivers were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using a grounded constant comparison approach. The concept of neo‐normal was developed to represent caregivers’ responses to having a child with cancer – characterised by the existential threat of cancer, the shattering of notions of control and certainty in their capacity to protect their child's well‐being and reliance on medical intervention. Paradoxically, conceding to this disempowered position facilitated new ways to be a caregiver of a child with cancer. The findings illustrate the social processes and cultural context in which caregivers construct new normalising strategies as they transition through their child's illness. The study also gives recognition to the vital care, advocacy and pseudo‐nursing contributions that caregivers bring to the paediatric oncology setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A short-term intensive measurement campaign focused on flow, turbulence, suspended particle concentration, floc dynamics and settling velocities were carried out in a brackish intertidal creek draining into the main channel of the Scheldt estuary. We compare in situ estimates of settling velocities between a laser diffraction (LISST) and an acoustic Doppler technique (ADV) at 20 and 40 cm above bottom (cmab). The temporal variation in settling velocity estimated were compared over one tidal cycle, with a maximum flood velocity of 0.46 m s −1 , a maximum horizontal ebb velocity of 0.35 m s −1 and a maximum water depth at high water slack of 2.41 m. Results suggest that flocculation processes play an important role in controlling sediment transport processes in the measured intertidal creek. During high-water slack, particles flocculated to sizes up to 190 μm, whereas at maximum flood and maximum ebb tidal stage floc sizes only reached up to 55 μm and 71 μm respectively. These large differences indicate that flocculation processes are mainly governed by turbulence-induced shear rate. In this study, we specifically recognize the importance of along-channel gradients that places constraints on the application of the acoustic Doppler technique due to conflicts with the underlying assumptions. Along-channel gradients were assessed by additional measurements at a second location and scaling arguments which could be used as an indication whether the Reynolds-flux method is applicable. We further show the potential impact of along-channel advection of flocs out of equilibrium with local hydrodynamics influencing overall floc sizes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alterations in seagrass epiphytic communities are expected under future ocean acidification conditions, yet this hypothesis has been little tested in situ. A Free Ocean Carbon Dioxide Enrichment system was used to lower pH by a ~0.3 unit offset within a partially enclosed portion (1.7 m) of a Posidonia oceanica meadow (11 m depth) between June 21 and November 3, 2014. Leaf epiphytic community composition (% cover) and bulk epiphytic mineralogy were compared every 4 weeks within three treatments, located in the same meadow: a pH-manipulated (experimental enclosure) and a control enclosure, as well as a nearby ambient area. Percent coverage of invertebrate calcifiers and crustose coralline algae (CCA) did not appear to be affected by the lowered pH. Furthermore, fleshy algae did not proliferate at lowered pH. Only Foraminifera, which covered less than 3% of leaf surfaces, declined in manner consistent with ocean acidification predictions. Bulk epiphytic magnesium carbonate composition was similar between treatments and percentage of magnesium appeared to increase from summer to autumn. CCA did not exhibit any visible skeleton dissolution or mineral alteration at lowered pH and carbonate saturation state. Negative impacts from ocean acidification on P. oceanica epiphytic communities were smaller than expected. Epiphytic calcifiers were possibly protected from the pH treatment due to host plant photosynthesis inside the enclosure where water flow is slowed. The more positive outcome than expected suggests that calcareous members of epiphytic communities may find refuge in some conditions and be resilient to environmentally relevant changes in carbonate chemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present data from sediment cores collected from IODP Site C0012 in the Shikoku Basin. Our site lies at the Nankai Trough, just prior to subduction of the 19 Ma Philippine Sea plate. Our data indicate that the sedimentary package is undergoing multiple routes of electron transport and that these differing pathways for oxidant supply generate a complex array of metabolic routes and microbial communities involved in carbon cycling. Numerical simulations matched to pore water data document that Ca2+ and Cl1- are largely supplied via diffusion from a high-salinity (44.5 psu) basement fluid, which supports the presence of halophile Archean communities within the deep sedimentary package that are not observed in shallow sediments. Sulfate supply from basement supports anaerobic oxidation of methane ( AOM) at a rate of ~0.2 pmol cm−3 day−1 at ~400 mbsf. We also note the disappearance of δ -Proteobacteria at 434 mbsf, coincident with the maximum in methane concentration, and their reappearance at 463 mbsf, coinciding with the observed deeper increase in sulfate concentration toward the basement. We did not, however, find ANME representatives in any of the samples analyzed (from 340 to 463 mbsf). The lack of ANME may be due to an overshadowing effect from the more dominant archaeal phylotypes or may indicate involvement of unknown groups of archaea in AOM (i.e., unclassified Euryarchaeota). In addition to the supply of sulfate from a basement aquifer, the deep biosphere at this site is also influenced by an elevated supply of reactive iron (up to 143 μmol g−1) and manganese (up to 20 μmol g−1). The effect of these metal oxides on the sulfur cycle is inferred from an accompanying sulfur isotope fractionation much smaller than expected from traditional sulfate-reducing pathways. The detection of the manganese- and iron-reducer γ -Proteobacteria Alteromonas at 367 mbsf is consistent with these geochemical inferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological interactions can alter predictions that are based on single-species physiological response. It is known that leaf segments of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica will increase photosynthesis with lowered pH, but it is not clear whether the outcome will be altered when the whole plant and its epiphyte community, with different respiratory and photosynthetic demands, are included. In addition, the effects on the Posidonia epiphyte community have rarely been tested under controlled conditions, at near-future pH levels., In order to better evaluate the effects of pH levels as projected for the upcoming decades on seagrass meadows, shoots of P. oceanica with their associated epiphytes were exposed in the laboratory to three pH levels (ambient: 8.1, 7.7 and 7.3, on the total scale) for 4 weeks. Net productivity, respiration, net calcification and leaf fluorescence were measured on several occasions. At the end of the study, epiphyte community abundance and composition, calcareous mass and crustose coralline algae growth were determined. Finally, photosynthesis vs. irradiance curves ( PE) was produced from segments of secondary leaves cleaned of epiphytes and pigments extracted., Posidonia leaf fluorescence and chlorophyll concentrations did not differ between pH treatments. Net productivity of entire shoots and epiphyte-free secondary leaves increased significantly at the lowest pH level yet limited or no stimulation in productivity was observed at the intermediate pH treatment. Under both pH treatments, significant decreases in epiphytic cover were observed, mostly due to the reduction of crustose coralline algae. The loss of the dominant epiphyte producer yet similar photosynthetic response for epiphyte-free secondary leaves and shoots suggests a minimal contribution of epiphytes to shoot productivity under experimental conditions., Synthesis. Observed responses indicate that under future ocean acidification conditions foreseen in the next century an increase in Posidonia productivity is not likely despite the partial loss of epiphytic coralline algae which are competitors for light. A decline in epiphytic cover could, however, reduce the feeding capacity of the meadow for invertebrates. In situ long-term experiments that consider both acidification and warming scenarios are needed to improve ecosystem-level predictions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective:To evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive computerized order set with decision support (ICOS-DS) in preventing medication errors in neonatal late-onset sepsis (LOS).Study Design:Prospective, controlled comparison of error rates in antibiotic orders for neonates admitted to the Medical University of South Carolina neonatal intensive care unit with suspected LOS (after postnatal day of life 3) prior to (n=153) and after (n=146) implementation of the ICOS-DS. Antibiotic orders were independently evaluated by two pharmacists for prescribing errors, potential errors and omissions. Prescribing errors included>10% overdoses or underdoses, inappropriate route, schedule or antibiotic, drug-drug or drug-disease interactions, and incorrect patient demographics. Potential errors included misspelled drugs, leading decimals, trailing zeroes, impractical doses and error-prone abbreviations. Multiple errors and omissions in an order were counted individually.Results:Overall error rate per order decreased from 1.7 to 0.8 (P<0.001) and potential error rate from 1.0 to 0.06 (P<0.001). The reduction in omission error rate per order from 0.2 to 0.1 was not significant (P=0.17). The prescribing error rate per order increased from 0.4 to 0.7 (P=0.03) because of the use of incorrect patient weights (P<0.001). Renal dysfunction was significantly associated with an increased risk of prescribing errors (odds ratio=3.7, P=0.01) which was not significantly different for handwritten versus ICOS-DS orders (P=0.15).Conclusions:The ICOS-DS significantly improved the quality of neonatal LOS antibiotic orders although the use of incorrect patient weights was increased. In both groups, orders for patients with renal dysfunction were at risk for prescribing errors. Further evaluation of interventions to promote medication safety for this population is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental variations can have major consequences on photosynthesis and in turn impact the settlement, productivity, or survival of plants in the intertidal zones. Low tides in Hawaii fluctuate <1 m yet expose intertidal macroalgae to high tropical temperatures and irradiances, which are predicted to have negative physiological consequences. To better understand environmental variations, temperature, exposure duration, and irradiance were measured in two intertidal zones on O'ahu over 8 days with negative tidal heights. Then to test whether these conditions were stressful, the photosynthetic response (via pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry) and relative water content of a common intertidal macroalgae, Padina sanctae-crucis, was measured over varying tidal heights. We found that P. sanctae-crucis was exposed to air from 0 to 6 h on days with tropical irradiance (237-2000 µmol photon m s) and a range of temperatures (20.4-32.3 °C), yet plants were able to maintain relatively high water content. Photosynthetic parameters for P. sanctae-crucis derived from light response curves were found to vary with irradiance. High irradiances were associated with lowered maximum rates of electron transport ( rETR) and effective quantum yield ( Φ). It was also determined that macroalgae exhibited different curves with tidal state. P. sanctae-crucis had relatively increased saturation irradiances ( E) and increased rETR but lowered effective quantum yield ( Φ) during negative tidal heights when aerial exposure is more common. P. sanctae-crucis was then exposed to air for up to 40 min in a laboratory experiment to determine the effect on fluorescence parameters. The 40-min aerial exposure, a duration smaller than which occurs at low tide, resulted in reduced rETR, α, and Φ. This manipulation combined with field observations indicate that aggregations of thalli combined with water motion and minimal tidal fluctuations help to limit water loss and maintain photosynthetic rates. From these results, we can conclude, for this system, high irradiances are a major factor that likely limits production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents abstracts of various studies on hernia management which includes advantage of laparoscopy for repairing femoral hernias, prospective comparison of preperitoneal tension-free open herniorrhaphy with laparoscopic pre peritoneal herniorrrhaphy and effectiveness of laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal tensionfree repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To assess whether human laser epilation technology can permanently prevent wool growth in sheep. Design An observational study. Methods Two commercial human epilation lasers ( Sharplan alexandrite 755 nm laser, and Lumenis Light Sheer® 800 nm diode laser) were tested at energies between 10 and 100 J/cm2 and pulse widths from 2 to 400 ms. Wool was clipped from flank, breech, pizzle and around the eyes of superfine Merino sheep with Oster clippers. After initial laser removal of residual wool to reveal bare skin, individual skin sites were treated with up to 15 cycles of laser irradiation. Behavioural responses during treatment, skin temperature immediately after treatment and skin and wool responses for 3 months after treatment were monitored. Results A clear transudate was evident on the skin surface within minutes. A dry superficial scab developed by 24 h and remained adherent for at least 6 weeks. When scabs were shed, there was evidence of scarring at sites receiving multiple treatment cycles and normal wool growth in unscarred skin. There was no evidence of laser energy level or pulse width affecting the response of skin and wool to treatment and no evidence of permanent inhibition of wool growth by laser treatment. Laser treatment was well tolerated by the sheep. Conclusions Treatment of woolled skin with laser parameters that induce epilation by selective photothermolysis in humans failed to induce permanent inhibition of wool growth in sheep. Absence of melanin in wool may have contributed to the result. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Simulated Colonoscopy Objective Performance Evaluation (SCOPE) was developed to fill the need for a lower-cost, non-virtual-reality (VR)-based assessment tool. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of SCOPE to assess endoscopic skills objectively. Methods: Four tasks were created using the Kyoto Kagaku colonoscopy model (Kyoto Kagaku Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan). The SCOPE tasks included Scope Manipulation (SM) requiring torque and tip deflection to align a shape in the colon with a matching shape on the monitor; Tool Targeting (TT) requiring coordination with biopsy forceps to contact a metal target; Loop Management (LM) requiring prevention, recognition, and reduction of a redundant sigmoid colon with navigation to the cecum; and Mucosal Inspection (MI) requiring identification of simulated polyps during withdrawal and retroflexion. Key performance metrics were identified, and a normalized scoring system was developed. For the study, 35 subjects were stratified into three cohorts based on colonoscopy experience: novice (0-50 colonoscopies; n = 11), intermediate (51-139 colonoscopies; n = 13), and experienced (>140 colonoscopies; n = 11). The subjects performed two trials of all four tasks. Results: Across all four tasks, the experienced endoscopists (E) consistently outperformed the intermediates (I), who in turn outperformed the novices (N). The mean normalized scores with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) are as follows: SM: N (54; range, 26-82), I (92; range, 79-106), E (106; range, 93-118) ( p = 0.0006). TT: N (40; range, 24-55), I (77; range, 63-91), E (88; range, 72-105) ( p < 0.0001). LM: N (51; range, 24-79), I (80; range, 59-101), E (101; range, 98-105) ( p = 0.003). MI: N (73; range, 53-92), I (85; range, 76-95), E (100; range, 91-108) ( p = 0.013). Total score: N (218; range, 155-280), I (335; range, 299-371), E (395; range, 371-419) ( p < 0.0001). The test-retest reliability (0.6) for the expert total score was respectable. Conclusions: The validity evidence from this study shows that scores on SCOPE tasks can differentiate between groups expected to have different levels of technical skill. This model shows promise as a low-technology tool for objective assessment or training of endoscopic skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the motion of a vortex under the influence of a harmonic force in an approximately two dimensional trapped Bose-condensed gas. The Hall-Vinen-Iordanskii equations, modified to include a fluctuational force and an inertial mass term, are solved for the vortex motion. The mass of the vortex has a strong influence on the time it takes the vortex to escape the trap. Since the vortex mass also depends on the trap size we have an additional dependence on the trap size in the escape time which we compare to the massless case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A water-based carbon screen-printing ink formulation, containing the redox mediator cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPC) and the enzyme glucose oxidase (GOx), was investigated for its suitability to fabricate glucose microbiosensors in a 96-well microplate format: (1)the biosensor ink was dip-coated onto a platinum (Pt) wire electrode, leading to satisfactory amperometric performance; (2)the ink was deposited onto the surface of a series of Pt microelectrodes (10–500μm diameter) fabricated on a silicon substrate using MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) microfabrication techniques: capillary deposition proved to be successful; a Pt microdisc electrode of ≥100μm was required for optimum biosensor performance; (3)MEMS processing was used to fabricate suitably sized metal (Pt) tracks and pads onto a silicon 96 well format base chip, and the glucose biosensor ink was screen-printed onto these pads to create glucose microbiosensors. When formed into microwells, using a 340μl volume of buffer, the microbiosensors produced steady-state amperometric responses which showed linearity up to 5mM glucose (CV=6% for n=5 biosensors). When coated, using an optimised protocol, with collagen in order to aid cell adhesion, the biosensors continued to show satisfactory performance in culture medium (linear range to 2mM, dynamic range to 7mM, CV=5.7% for n=4 biosensors). Finally, the operation of these collagen-coated microbiosensors, in 5-well 96-well format microwells, was tested using a 5-channel multipotentiostat. A relationship between amperometric response due to glucose, and cell number in the microwells, was observed. These results indicate that microphotolithography and screen-printing techniques can be combined successfully to produce microbiosensors capable of monitoring glucose metabolism in 96 well format cell cultures. The potential application areas for these microbiosensors are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Prior to 1996 and the Congolese wars, exploitative land policies pushed farmers in the eastern highlands of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) into a vulnerable position, with cattle manure sustaining intensive cultivation. This exposed households to a complete breakdown in mixed farming as cattle became targets of war. This study of villages in South Kivu offers an inside understanding of continuity and change in farming practices in a region where there are no easy solutions, and it assesses how the province lost its present and where farmers look when they glance to the future. For farmers, who hold a broad view of soil fertility, the casualties of war were not only people and cattle but also the land itself, which has enduring scars. Perceiving a rupture in tradition, South Kivu farmers are searching desperately for new livelihoods that are built on education instead of livestock, setting aside old ethnic signifiers to seek a future beyond protracted conflict. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear inflows of metal-poor interstellar gas triggered by galaxy interactions can account for the systematically lower central oxygen abundances observed in local interacting galaxies. Here, we investigate the metallicity evolution of a large set of simulations of colliding galaxies. Our models include cooling, star formation, feedback, and a new stochastic method for tracking the mass recycled back to the interstellar medium from stellar winds and supernovae. We study the influence of merger-induced inflows, enrichment, gas consumption, and galactic winds in determining the nuclear metallicity. The central metallicity is primarily a competition between the inflow of low-metallicity gas and enrichment from star formation. An average depression in the nuclear metallicity of ~0.07 is found for gas-poor disk--disk interactions. Gas-rich disk--disk interactions, on the other hand, typically have an enhancement in the central metallicity that is positively correlated with the gas content. The simulations tare reasonably well when compared to the observed mass--metallicity and separation--metallicity relationships, but further study is warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background There is concern about lack of consistency in the design of case definitions used to measure work-related stress in national workforce surveys and the implications of this for the reliability and validity of prevalence estimates as well as for developments in policy and practice on tackling work-related stress.Aims To examine associations between case definitions used for the measurement of work-related stress in nationally representative workforce surveys and the prevalence rates generated.Methods The study focused on 18 nationally representative workforce surveys conducted between 1995 and 2008 that involved British samples. The published report from each survey was scrutinized for evidence of the case definition used to measure work-related stress and the associated prevalence rate.Results Several types of case definition were identified that differed in terms of their theoretical basis, structure, and content. Each was associated with a unique range of prevalence rates.Conclusions The results illustrate the challenge presented to the production of valid and reliable estimates of the scale of work-related stress by inconsistent case definition design. The imperative for theory-based consistency in the design of case definitions used for the measurement of work-related stress in national workforce surveys is highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Rives-Stoppa incisional hernia repair is the gold standard for mesh repair of complex incisional hernias. The risk of infection can be reduced if fascia is closed over the prosthetic mesh. Fascial closure in large defects may require extensive dissection and can result in devascularization of the overlying skin and denervation of the abdominal wall musculature. Laparoscopic components separation minimizes these risks while facilitating anterior fascial closure. The combined technique of Rives-Stoppa repair augmented by laparoscopic separation of abdominal wall components has not previously been reported. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our initial experience with this combined technique for incisional hernia repair. A Rives-Stoppa incisional hernia repair is performed with mesh placed in the retromuscular position. If the anterior fascia cannot be closed, a laparoscopic separation of abdominal wall components is performed to facilitate fascial closure without creation of skin flaps. Results: Six patients were identified. Three patients developed hernias following laparotomy from severe injuries sustained during combat. The other patients included hernia after esophagectomy, retroperitoneal liposarcoma resection, and complicated diverticulitis. Average defect size was 270 cm. Complete primary fascial closure anterior to the mesh was achieved in 66% of the patients. No mortalities occurred and at short term follow-up no incisional hernia recurrences have developed. Early post operative complications included a superficial skin infection not involving mesh and a recurrent enterocutaneous fistula. Conclusions: The authors conclude that Rives-Stoppa repair augmented by laparoscopic components separation is an innovative method for reconstruction of complex abdominal wall defects. Laparoscopic components separation allows fascial closure to be achieved anterior to the mesh in large incisional hernias, which may reduce wound infection rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The magnetomotive force (mmf) of a modular planar winding contains multiple distinct waveforms which travel in opposite directions. An inductive rotor will produce oppositional forces from both waveforms, giving a poor overall performance. This study concerns the use of planar modular windings in linear induction motors by harmonic cancellation. A double-sided arrangement of stators is used and a mechanical offset is applied between the two stators such that the fundamental mmf waveform is reinforced and the oppositional harmonic mmf waveform is suppressed. A comprehensive mathematical analysis of mmf harmonic behaviour in the offset machines has been developed. Further, a high-speed dynamic test rig has been produced, which verifies the excellent performance of the offset modular configuration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acoustic signals from the bird wrasse Gomphosus varius and saddle wrasse Thalassoma duperrey were recorded on coral reefs in Hawaii. Terminal phase males in both species emit two types of pulse trains (type I and type II). Type I pulses were produced during spawning and courtship, while type II pulses were associated only with courtship behaviours. Gomphosus varius type I pulses were of lower frequency than T. duperrey type I pulses (271 v. 840 Hz) and were of narrower band. Discriminant function analyses revealed interspecific differences between type I pulse trains and individual pulses of both types. This study is the first documentation of courtship and spawning sounds in sympatric labrids and shows divergence in acoustic signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prior research has examined whether parenthood is associated with higher levels of well-being among older adults, but definitions of parental status have varied. The authors examine links between parental status and depressive symptoms among older adults, comparing biological and social definitions of parenthood. The study finds few differences between biological and social parenthood but substantial variation in the relationship between parental status and depressive symptoms by gender and marital status. Biologically and socially childless adults had the lowest predicted levels of depression across all marital status groups. Widowed men averaged higher levels of depression than other men. For women, the highest predicted levels of depressive symptoms were observed among never-married biological parents and formerly married women who had outlived their children. Increased sampling of less common parental subgroups and diverse kinship relations to allow for more precise classifications and the consideration of joint maritalDLparental statuses in future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past applications of one-dimensional advection, dispersion, and transient storage zone models have almost exclusively relied on a central differencing, Eulerian numerical approximation to the nonconservative form of the fundamental equation. However, there are scenarios where this approach generates unacceptable error. A new numerical scheme for this type of modeling is presented here that is based on tracking Lagrangian control volumes across a fixed (Eulerian) grid. Numerical tests are used to provide a direct comparison of the new scheme versus nonconservative Eulerian numerical methods, in terms of both accuracy and mass conservation. Key characteristics of systems for which the Lagrangian scheme performs better than the Eulerian scheme include: nonuniform flow fields, steep gradient plume fronts, and pulse and steady point source loadings in advection-dominated systems. A new analytical derivation is presented that provides insight into the loss of mass conservation in the nonconservative Eulerian scheme. This derivation shows that loss of mass conservation in the vicinity of spatial flow changes is directly proportional to the lateral inflow rate and the change in stream concentration due to the inflow. While the nonconservative Eulerian scheme has clearly worked well for past published applications, it is important for users to be aware of the scheme’s limitations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use an N-body/hydrodynamic simulation to forecast the future encounter between the Milky Way and the Andromeda galaxies, given present observational constraints on their relative distance, relative velocity, and masses. Allowing for a comparable amount of diffuse mass to fill the volume of the Local Group, we find that the two galaxies are likely to collide in a few billion years – within the Sun's lifetime. During the interaction, there is a chance that the Sun will be pulled away from its present orbital radius and reside in an extended tidal tail. The likelihood for this outcome increases as the merger progresses, and there is a remote possibility that our Sun will be more tightly bound to Andromeda than to the Milky Way before the final merger. Eventually, after the merger has completed, the Sun is most likely to be scattered to the outer halo and reside at much larger radii (>30 kpc). The density profiles of the stars, gas and dark matter in the merger product resemble those of elliptical galaxies. Our Local Group model therefore provides a prototype progenitor of late-forming elliptical galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employ numerical simulations of galaxy mergers to explore the effect of galaxy mass ratio on merger-driven starbursts. Our numerical simulations include radiative cooling of gas, star formation, and stellar feedback to follow the interaction and merger of four disc galaxies. The galaxy models span a factor of 23 in total mass and are designed to be representative of typical galaxies in the local universe. We find that the merger-driven star formation is a strong function of merger mass ratio, with very little, if any, induced star formation for large mass ratio mergers. We define a burst efficiency that is useful to characterize the merger-driven star formation and test that it is insensitive to uncertainties in the feedback parametrization. In accord with previous work we find that the burst efficiency depends on the structure of the primary galaxy. In particular, the presence of a massive stellar bulge stabilizes the disc and suppresses merger-driven star formation for large mass ratio mergers. Direct, coplanar merging orbits produce the largest tidal disturbance and yield the most intense burst of star formation. Contrary to naive expectations, a more compact distribution of gas or an increased gas fraction both decrease the burst efficiency. Owing to the efficient feedback model and the newer version of smoothed particle hydrodynamics employed here, the burst efficiencies of the mergers presented here are smaller than in previous studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevalence and implications of childlessness in old age are compared across nine major surveys in seven countries: Australia, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Specifically, the researchers examine indicators of the well-being and resources of childless men and women, compare them to their within-country peers with children, and explore the similarities and differences among childless older adults in different countries. The results show strikingly similar patterns across countries (with the exception of Japan). Childless elders are more likely than parents to live alone or in an institution. Childless never-married women have consistently higher education levels than other groups of women. Among men, marriage rather than parenthood is consistently linked with higher socio-economic status. The results suggest important structural processes that differentially shape the resources and well-being of men and women, childless and parents, over the life course and in old age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishers, scientists, and resource managers have made substantial progress in reducing bycatch of sea turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals through physical modifications to fishing gear. Many bycatch-avoidance measures have been developed and tested successfully in controlled experiments, which have led to regulated implementation of modified or new fishing gear. Nevertheless, successful bycatch experiments may not translate to effective mitigation in commercial fisheries because experimental conditions are relaxed in commercial fishing operations. Such a difference between experimental results and real-world results with fishing fleets may have serious consequences for management and conservation of protected species taken as bycatch. We evaluated preimplementation experimental measures and postimplementation efficacy from primary and gray literature for three case studies: acoustic pingers that warn marine mammals of the presence of gill nets, turtle excluder devices that reduce bycatch of turtles in trawls, and various measures to reduce seabird bycatch in longlines. Three common themes to successful implementation of bycatch reduction measures are long-standing collaborations among the fishing industry, scientists, and resource managers; pre- and postimplementation monitoring; and compliance via enforcement and incentives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study used cross-sectional analyses of the National Survey of Families and Households (1987-1988, 1992-1994) to examine attitudes about childlessness in the United States. It (a) assesses prevalence of positive, neutral, and negative attitudes about childlessness and (b) identifies the correlates of different attitudes in the population. About one fifth of adults disagreed with prescriptive norms that favor parenthood over childlessness, whereas two fifths gave neutral responses. More than 86% agreed or were neutral on whether childless adults could have fulfilling lives. Positive attitudes were consistently found among those who were female, college educated, or childless. Those with negative attitudes were distinct from those with neutral or positive attitudes and were more likely to be older, male, non-White, less educated, or have conservative religious beliefs, net of other factors. The authors argue attitudes reflect acceptance but not endorsement of childlessness, and substantial proportions of neutral responses merit closer examination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Schelde estuary, characterised as a turbid, polluted and eutrophic system, has nowadays reached a turning point in the restoration of its water quality. During the past century, human activities have reduced the intertidal areas, essential in the estuarine ecosystem for nutrient cycling and the self-cleaning capacity. Today, in combination with a master plan to protect the population from storm surges, an opportunity rises to restore areas with a tidal influence. One specific option of combining safety and ecology is the creation of flood control areas (FCA) under the influence of a controlled reduced tide (CRT). These specific areas will differ in many ways from fully tidal areas. However, these areas can fulfill important ecological functions with effects on aeration, nitrification, denitrification, sedimentation and primary production in the estuary. Opportunities for ecological development within a CRT have been investigated for a specific case. The ecology within a CRT showed to be very case specific, depending e.g. on the morphology of the area, the sluice design and the local water quality. Depending on the sluice design, water quality can be improved and sedimentation can be influenced. Possible measures to design a CRT with a rich habitat variation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We explore women's psychological well-being in late midlife in relation to childlessness and timing of entry into motherhood. Using two U.S. surveys, Health and Retirement Study (HRS) (1992) and National Survey of Families and Households (NSFH) (Sweet, Bumpass, & Call, 1988), we assess the well-being of childless women in their 50s compared to mothers with early, delayed, or normatively timed first births. We focus on the cohorts born between 1928 and 1941, who experienced strong normative pressures during the baby boom with regard to marriage and child-bearing. We find few differences among childless women but lower well-being among early mothers, related to singlehood and poorer socioeconomic status. Unmarried mothers are significantly disadvantaged regardless of maternal timing, controlling for socioeconomic status. Current maternal demands are independently related to well-being and help to explain observed differences in family satisfaction. Overall, childlessness and off-time child-bearing are related to midlife well-being through their link with more proximate factors, particularly current marital status, health, and socioeconomic status. The institution of marriage had a power and inevitability in the fifties that it has never had since. You simply didn't ask yourself if you wanted marriage and children; the only relevant questions were when and how many? And the answers were, as soon as possible and as many as possible' (Harvey, 1993, p. 69). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using hydrodynamic simulations of disc-galaxy major mergers, we investigate the star formation history and remnant properties when various parametrizations of a simple stellar feedback model are implemented. The simulations include radiative cooling, a density-dependent star formation recipe and a model for feedback from massive stars. The feedback model stores supernova feedback energy within individual gas particles and dissipates this energy on a time-scale specified by two free parameters; τfb, which sets the dissipative time-scale, and n, which sets the effective equation of state in star-forming regions. Via this model, feedback energy can provide pressure support to regions of gas that are thermally cold. Using a self-consistent disc galaxy, modelled after a local Sbc spiral, in both isolated and major-merger simulations, we investigate parametrizations of the feedback model that are selected with respect to the quiescent disc stability. These models produce a range of star formation histories for discs evolved in isolation, or during a major merger, yet all are consistent with the star formation relation found by Kennicutt. We suggest that this result is produced by the adopted recipe for star formation and is not a byproduct of the feedback model. All major mergers produce a population of new stars that is highly centrally concentrated, demonstrating a distinct break in the surface density profile, consistent with previous findings. The half-mass radius and one-dimensional velocity dispersion are affected by the feedback model used. In tests with up to an order of magnitude higher resolution, the star formation history is nearly identical, suggesting that we have achieved a numerically converged star formation history. Finally, we compare our results to those of previous simulations of star formation in disc-galaxy major mergers, addressing the effects of star formation normalization, the version of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (sph) employed and assumptions about the interstellar medium. We conclude by suggesting several methods by which future studies may better constrain feedback models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preference rankings for 13 macrophytes were established for the subtidal herbivorous snail Lithopoma undosum using two-choice laboratory experiments and consumption rates. L. undosum did not discriminate among three kelp foods ( Egregia menziesii, Eisenia arborea and Macrocystis pyrifera) but ate kelp preferentially and more rapidly over all but Ulva spp. among tested macrophytes. Secondary preferences were established for the red alga Pterocladiella capillacea, followed by the coralline Lithothrix aspergillum, whereas the brown seaweeds Zonaria farlowii and Halidrys dioica and the seagrass Phyllospadix torreyi were the least preferred macrophytes. Fastest consumption rates (1.91 g day−1) were measured in trials consisting only of kelp foods. These results indicate that L. undosum exhibits clear feeding preferences even when given less-preferred, non-kelp macrophytes. Using an ash-marker technique, we determined total organic, carbon, and nitrogen assimilation efficiencies (AE%) for six macroalgae used in preference trials. Tested macrophytes were assimilated at different efficiencies but a pattern was not detected between AE (%) and a macrophyte’s position in L. undosum’s preference hierarchy. Highest total organic AEs were found for P. capillacea (61.2%) and H. dioica (59.4%); lowest AEs were detected for E. menziesii (34.9%), a preferred dietary item. Nitrogen was assimilated from red algae with higher efficiencies (74.9–84.3%) than from brown or green algae. These data suggest that the digestive capabilities of L. undosum are better suited for assimilating organic material and nitrogen from less-preferred, non-kelp foods. This supports the hypothesis that factors besides nutritional composition and digestive optimization have played a role in the evolution of feeding preferences in L. undosum and probably other herbivorous snails associated with northeastern Pacific kelp beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of disordered lipoprotein metabolism with the statin class of drugs is one of the most striking successes in the field of applied medical science: here the use of selective inhibitors of the first committed step of cholesterol biosynthesis, in a complex and highly regulated pathway, leads to improved outcome from a common lipid storage disease that is a blight on whole populations - atherosclerosis. By the same token, substrate reduction is an emerging therapeutic strategy' for the arcane field of the lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs). Reduced biosynthesis of glucosylceramide is postulated to allow correction of the imbalance between formation and breakdown of glycosphingolipids; the therapeutic effect of substrate reduction depends upon the presence of residual hydrolytic activity towards those accumulated glycosphingolipid substrates derived from glucosylceramide. First pioneered in the laboratory by Norman Radin, this approach has now been introduced into the clinic: based on the ability to inhibit uridine diphosphate glucosylceramide transferase, the semi-selective iminosugar, N-butyldeoxynojirimycin, is licensed for the treatment of type 1 Gaucher disease. Conclusion: Inhibition of substrate formation has wide application in the treatment of LSDs. Decreased glucosylceramide biosynthesis has therapeutic potential in glycosphingolipidoses other than Gaucher disease, and offers promise in several neurodegenerative storage disorders that are currently beyond the reach of other procedures. The results of ongoing clinical trials of miglustat in type 3 Gaucher disease, Niemann-Pick disease type C and GM2 gangliosidosis are eagerly awaited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel or candidate biomarkers require thorough evaluation to establish their utility in a clinical setting. This paper describes an evaluation of' several established enzyme markers of Gaucher disease and a newly-described chemokine, pulmonary and activation-regulated chemokine (PARC). The ability of the biomarkers to rank patients with Gaucher disease in order of disease severity and organ bulk, and to reflect changes in key clinical parameters in response to enzyme replacement therapy were evaluated. PARC concentrations were found to be reliably correlated with visceral disease and with key clinical responses to enzyme replacement in an unbiased manner. Unlike chitotriosidase and serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity, genetic variation in serum PARC did not appear to influence its utility as a biomarker. Conclusion: For each new candidate biomarker of lysosomal storage diseases, a similar clinical evaluation will be required, though the approach will need to he modified according to the clinical features and natural history of each disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A biomarker is generally an analyte that indicates the presence or extent of a biological process, which is itself directly linked to the clinical manifestations and outcome of a particular disease. An ideal biomarker provides indirect but ongoing and specific determinations of disease activity. These characteristics emphasize the value of surrogate biomarkers for non-invasive and detailed monitoring to demonstrate the efficacy of orphan drugs in clinical trials. The emergence of novel laboratory methods has facilitated the search for biomarkers in lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs), by allowing the systematic identification of molecules whose expression is altered as a result of the primary storage pathology. In Gaucher disease, for example, a chemokine, CCLI 8, has been identified as a biomarker for clinical development that reflects disease severity and response to treatment. Conclusion: New methods for the identification of novel biomarkers have the potential to provide mechanistic insights into the molecular pathogenesis of LSDs, including Fabry disease and Gaucher disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cox TC. Taking it to the max: The genetic and developmental mechanisms coordinating midfacial morphogenesis and dysmorphology. The rapid proliferative expansion and complex morphogenetic events that coordinate the development of the face underpin the sensitivity of this structure to genetic and environmental insult and provide an explanation for the high incidence of midfacial malformation. Most notable of these malformations is cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CLP) that, with an incidence of between one in 600 and one in 1000 live births, is the fourth most common congenital disorder in humans. Despite the obvious global impact of the disorder and some recent progress in identifying causative genes for some prominent syndromal forms, our knowledge of the key genetic factors contributing to the more common isolated cases of CLP is still remarkably patchy. The current understanding of the molecular and cellular processes that orchestrate morphogenesis of the midface, with emphasis on events leading to fusion of the lip and primary palate, is detailed in this review. The roles of crucial factors identified from relevant animal model systems, including BMP4 and SHH, and the likely events perturbed by key genes pinpointed in human studies [such as PVRL1, IRF6 p63, MID1, MSX1, and PTCH1] are discussed in this light. New candidates for human CLP genes are also proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents information on a study which evaluated the heat transfer of monodisperse sprays of large droplet diameters on high temperature surfaces. Experimental apparatus and procedure; Parametric results; Conclusions.

SUMMARY Effects of differences in morningness-eveningness (M-E) on diurnal variations in self-reported mood were examined in 28 female subjects. M-E was determined by using Horne and Ostberg's questionnaire, and mood by Mackay and his colleagues' stress arousal checklist. Self-reported arousal showed the expected pattern of variation across the day and this was found to be a function of subjects' M-E score. However, self-reported stress showed no significant differences due either to time of day or to subjects' M-E score. This confirms the independence of the two mood scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]