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The NIH Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN) Initiative is focused on developing new tools and neurotechnologies to transform our understanding of the brain, and neuroethics is an essential component of this research effort. Coordination with other brain projects around the world will help maximize success.

The Supervisor Support Consensus Statement has been developed after consultation with supervisors of surgical training for the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) programmes in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand and other key stakeholders. Six key areas have been recognized with specific recommendations crafted to improve the support and recognition of Supervisors: 1. Clarity of role, 2. Education and Training, 3. Local support, 4. RACS support, 5. Recognition and valuing of the Supervisor role, 6. Risk Management. The purpose of this consensus statement is to clearly articulate supervisor opinions on the support they require to undertake this important role. It has been produced by an independent writing group of experienced surgical supervisors and educators, with support from RACS education department. The consensus statement is a response to a needs assessment of supervisors of surgical training. The statements in this consensus document have been generated from comments and feedback from supervisors that have been refined through process of extensive consultation using a Delphi methodology. We advise specialty training Committees consider these statements and mandate them as part of their accreditation of terms. The role of the supervisor of training requires greater recognition, and incorporation in the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA) in Australia and the ASMS Te Whatu Ora SECA in Aotearoa New Zealand would ensure the provisions in this document are enacted. The six areas identified have transferability to other specialities and countries and are valuable when considering how to support supervisors involved in training our next generation of specialist doctors. The purpose of this consensus statement is to clearly articulate supervisors' opinions on the support they require to undertake this important role. Six key areas have been recognized with specific recommendations crafted to improve the support and recognition of Supervisors: 1. Clarity of role, 2. Education and Training, 3. Local support, 4. RACS support, 5. Recognition and valuing of the Supervisor role, 6. Risk Management. The role of the supervisor of training requires greater recognition, and incorporation in the all facets of training in hospitals and by training boards would ensure the provisions in this document are enacted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monel 400, a decorative metal with a five-decade-long span of architectural use in the first half of the 20th century, suffers from a two-fold predicament[1]. A victim of its own [...]

During the last decades, the coastal areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, have been subjected to intense economic and industrial growth. As a result, it may be expected that the overall environmental status of Saudi Arabian coastal marine waters has been affected by human activities. As a consequence, adequate management of the Saudi Arabian coastal zone requires an assessment of how the various pressures within this zone impact the quality of seawater and sediments. To this end, environmental surveys were conducted over 15 hotspot areas (areas subject to environmental pressures) in the Saudi Arabian coastal zone of the Red Sea and over three hotspot areas in the Saudi Arabian waters of the Arabian Gulf. The survey in the Red Sea, conducted in June/July 2021, acquired measurements from hotspot areas spanning most of the Saudi coastline, extending from near the Saudi–Jordanian border in the north to Al Shuqaiq and Jizan Economic City (close to the Saudi–Yemen border) in the south. The survey in the Arabian Gulf, carried out in September 2021, included the areas of Al Khobar, Dammam and Ras Al Khair. The main objective of both cruises was to record the physical and biogeochemical parameters along the coastal waters of the kingdom, tracing the dispersion of contaminants related to specific pressures. Taken together, these cruises constitute the first multidisciplinary and geographically comprehensive study of contaminants within the Saudi Arabian coastal waters and sediments. The measurements acquired revealed the influence of various anthropogenic pressures on the coastal marine environment of Saudi Arabia and also highlighted a strong influence of hydrographic conditions on the distribution of biochemical properties in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The data can be accessed at SEANOE 10.17882/96463 (Abualnaja et al., 2023), whereas the details of the sampling stations are available at https://mcep.kaust.edu.sa/cruise-postings (last access: 25 March 2024). The dataset includes the parameters shown in Tables 1a, b and 2a. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monel 400, also known as nickel alloy 400, has been used in the industrial and built environment since 1905. A short-lived architectural metal, it was increasingly replaced by its cheaper [...]

During the last decades, the coastal areas of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf, have been subjected to intense economic and industrial growth. As a result, it may be expected that the overall environmental status of Saudi Arabian coastal marine waters has been affected by human activities. As a consequence, adequate management of the Saudi Arabian coastal zone requires an assessment of how the various pressures within this zone impact the quality of seawater and sediments. To this end, environmental surveys were conducted over fifteen hotspot areas (areas subject to environmental pressures) in the Saudi Arabian coastal zone of the Red Sea and over three hotspot areas in the Saudi Arabian waters of the Arabian Gulf. The survey in the Red Sea, conducted in June/July 2021, acquired measurements from hotspot areas spanning most of the Saudi coastline, extending from near the Saudi-Jordanian border in the north to Al Shuqaiq and Jizan Economic City (close to the Saudi-Yemen border) in the south. The survey in the Arabian Gulf, carried out in September 2021, included the areas of Al Khobar, Dammam, and Ras Al Khair. The main objective of both cruises was to record the physical and biogeochemical parameters along the coastal waters of the Kingdom, tracing the dispersion of contaminants related to specific pressures. Taken together, these cruises constitute the first multidisciplinary and geographically comprehensive study of contaminants within the Saudi Arabian coastal waters and sediments. The measurements acquired revealed the influence of various anthropogenic pressures on the coastal marine environment of Saudi Arabia and also highlighted a strong influence of hydrographic conditions on the distribution of biochemical properties in the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. The data can be accessed at: SEANOE. https://doi.org/10.17882/96463 (Abualnaja et al., 2023), whereas the details of the sampling stations at https://mcep.kaust.edu.sa/cruise-postings. The dataset includes the parameters shown in Tables 1(a,b) and 2(a). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the 1990s, coastal habitat off southeastern Massachusetts (SEMA) supported commercially viable fisheries for American lobster (Homarus americanus). Over the past two decades, landings and post‐larval settlement of lobsters in this region, which is near the southern edge of the species' range, have declined substantially, concurrent with a period of significant warming of the coastal waters off southern New England. Previous work has suggested that rising ocean temperatures may adversely impact the survival of larval and early benthic phase (EBP) lobsters and may cause adult lobsters to seek cooler offshore waters during the critical time of larval release. To investigate the manner in which the observed decline in lobster abundance may be linked to warming coastal waters, a high‐resolution hydrodynamic model was used to quantify the increase in water temperature experienced by EBP lobster off SEMA and to supply input to an individual‐based model of lobster larval transport from release areas delineated using fishery‐dependent data of late‐stage egg‐bearing lobsters. The results indicate that rising coastal water temperatures may have adversely impacted EBP lobster recruitment off SEMA by (1) causing an offshore shift in the area of larval release that resulted in a reduction in the delivery of larvae to suitable nearshore EBP habitat and (2) dramatically increasing thermal stress experienced by recently settled EBP lobsters. These findings highlight the implications of warming coastal waters on southern New England lobster population connectivity and provide insight to an understudied mechanism by which climate change affects marine species recruitment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Superior patient outcomes rely on surgical training being optimized. Accordingly, we conducted an international, prospective, cross‐sectional study determining relative impacts of COVID‐19, gender, race, specialty and seniority on mental health of surgical trainees. Method: Trainees across Australia, New Zealand and UK enrolled in surgical training accredited by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or Royal College of Surgeons were included. Outcomes included the short version of the Perceived Stress Scale, Oxford Happiness Questionnaire short scale, Patient Health Questionnaire‐2 and the effect on individual stress levels of training experiences affected by COVID‐19. Predictors included trainee characteristics and local COVID‐19 prevalence. Multivariable linear regression analyses were conducted to assess association between outcomes and predictors. Results: Two hundred and five surgical trainees were included. Increased stress was associated with number of COVID‐19 patients treated (P = 0.0127), female gender (P = 0.0293), minority race (P = 0.0012), less seniority (P = 0.001), and greater COVID‐19 prevalence (P = 0.0122). Lower happiness was associated with training country (P = 0.0026), minority race (P = 0.0258) and more seniority (P < 0.0001). Greater depression was associated with more seniority (P < 0.0001). Greater COVID‐19 prevalence was associated with greater reported loss of training opportunities (P = 0.0038), poor working conditions (P = 0.0079), personal protective equipment availability (P = 0.0008), relocation to areas of little experience (P < 0.0001), difficulties with career progression (P = 0.0172), loss of supervision (P = 0.0211), difficulties with pay (P = 0.0034), and difficulties with leave (P = 0.0002). Conclusion: This is the first study to specifically describe the relative impacts of COVID‐19 community prevalence, gender, race, surgical specialty and level of seniority on stress, happiness and depression of surgical trainees on an international scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urgent and emergent operations should occur irrespective of COVID-19 vaccination status, as delays would likely significantly worsen patient outcomes (level III-2 to IV evidence). Achieving safe surgery after COVID-19 vaccination However, for urgent or emergency operations where patient outcome would be compromised by delay, surgery should proceed regardless of vaccination status (level III-2 to IV evidence). COVID-19 has changed surgery worldwide.1 As surgical outcomes for patients with COVID-19 are significantly poorer than those without,2 one of the most important preventative measures for surgical safety has been vaccination, which dramatically reduces transmission and disease severity. [Extracted from the article]

The peptide content of individual mammalian cells is profiled using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Both enzymatic and nonenzymatic procedures, including a glycerol cell stabilization method, are reported for the isolation of individual mammalian cells in a manner compatible with MALDI MS measurements. Guided microdeposition of MALDI matrix allows samples to be created with suitable analyte-to-matrix ratios. More than 15 peptides are observed in individual rat intermediate pituitary cells. The combination of accurate mass data, expected cleavages by proteolytic enzymes, and postsource decay sequencing allows identification of 14 of these peptides as proopiomelanocortin prohormone-derived molecules. These protocols permit the classification of individual mammalian cells by peptide profile, the elucidation of cellspecific prohormone processing, and the discovery of new signaling peptides on a cell-to-cell basis in a wide variety of mammalian cell types.

Research indicates that human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cell proliferation is stimulated by the bioactive lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and may cause abnormal proliferation in diseased smooth muscle. LPA may work with epidermal growth factor to stimulate cellular division. Studies show that the rate of [3H] thymidine incorporation is much greater when both LPA and EGF are administered at the same time. HASM cells are ideal for future research into synergistic regulation and asthma disease.

The observation of the passage of a Gulf Stream meander over the continental slope between Cape Hatteras and Hudson Canyon revealed that it was largely made up of water discharged from the Gulf Stream and intrusions of the middle Atlantic Bight. It created an anticyclonic eddy in its wake that had an initial diameter of about 100km but possessed relatively weak currents.

Abstract Background Topographic reorganization of central maps following peripheral nerve injury has been well characterized. Despite extensive documentation of these physiological changes, the underlying anatomical correlates have yet to be fully explored. In this study, we used Golgi impregnation and light microscopy to assess dendritic morphology following denervation of the glabrous hand surface in adult primates. Results After survival durations that permit complete physiologically-defined reorganization, we find a systematic change in the dendritic arborization pattern of both layer II/III pyramidal and layer IV spiny stellate cells in the contralateral hand region of area 3b, compared to unaffected cortical areas. In general, our analyses indicate a progressive expansion of distal regions of the dendritic arbor with no appreciable changes proximally. This pattern of distal dendritic elaboration occurs for both basilar and apical dendrites. Conclusions These observations are consistent with the notion that latent inputs gain expression in reorganized cortex after nerve injury via their influence through contacts with more distally located termination sites.

This study assessed the effects of typhoons on sea surface pCO2 and CO2 flux in the northern South China Sea (SCS). During the passage of three major typhoons from May to August 2013, sea surface pCO2, surface seawater temperature (SST), and other meteorological parameters were continuously measured on a moored buoy. Surface water in the region was a source of CO2 to the atmosphere with large variations ranging from hours to months. SST was the primary factor controlling the variation of surface pCO2 through most of the time period. Typhoons are seen to impact surface pCO2 in three steps: first by cooling, thus decreasing surface pCO2, and then by causing vertical mixing that brings up deep, high‐CO2 water, and lastly triggering net uptake of CO2 due to the nutrients brought up in this deep water. The typhoons of this study primarily impacted air‐sea CO2 flux via increasing wind speeds. The mean CO2 flux during a typhoon ranged from 3.6 to 5.4 times the pretyphoon mean flux. The magnitude of the CO2 flux during typhoons was strongly inversely correlated with the typhoon center distance. The effect of typhoons accounted for 22% of the total CO2 flux in the study period, during which typhoons occurred only 9% of the time. It was estimated that typhoons enhanced annual CO2 efflux by 23–56% in the northern SCS during the last decade. As such, tropical cyclones may play a large and increasingly important role in controlling CO2 fluxes in a warmer and stormier ocean of the future. Plain Language Summary: The global ocean absorbs about 25% of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions from the atmosphere and plays an important role in regulating global climate. One important question regarding estimates of carbon dioxide flux at the ocean surface is how episodic events such as typhoons affect surface seawater carbon dioxide and air‐sea carbon dioxide exchange. In this study, seawater temperature generally played a primary role in controlling surface seawater carbon dioxide under nontyphoon conditions in the northern South China Sea. We found that typhoons seem to have a three‐step effect on surface carbon dioxide: first cooling, which decreases carbon dioxide content, followed by vertical mixing that can bring up deep water with high concentrations of carbon dioxide and nutrients, and lastly the triggering of net uptake of carbon dioxide due to phytoplankton growth fueled by those nutrients. Increased air‐sea carbon dioxide flux during a typhoon is caused primarily by high wind speed. Typhoons enhanced carbon dioxide flux to the atmosphere by 23–56% annually in the study region. As such, typhoons may play a more important role in the control of carbon dioxide fluxes in a warmer and stormier ocean of the future. Key Points: Typhoons tend to have a three‐step effect on surface pCO2: first cooling, followed by mixing, and then potentially biological uptakeIncreased air‐sea CO2 flux during typhoon effect periods is caused primarily by high wind speedTyphoons enhance CO2 efflux by 23–56% in the northern South China Sea during the last decade [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use observations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) to assess the impact of ecosystem metabolic processes on coastal waters of the eastern Red Sea. A simple, single-end-member mixing model is used to account for the influence of mixing with offshore waters and evaporation–precipitation and to model ecosystem-driven perturbations on the carbonate system chemistry of coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests. We find that (1) along-shelf changes in TA and DIC exhibit strong linear relationships that are consistent with basin-scale net calcium carbonate precipitation; (2) ecosystem-driven changes in TA and DIC are larger than offshore variations in >70 % of sampled seagrass meadows and mangrove forests, changes which are influenced by a combination of longer water residence times and community metabolic rates; and (3) the sampled mangrove forests show strong and consistent contributions from both organic respiration and other sedimentary processes (carbonate dissolution and secondary redox processes), while seagrass meadows display more variability in the relative contributions of photosynthesis and other sedimentary processes (carbonate precipitation and oxidative processes). The results of this study highlight the importance of resolving the influences of water residence times, mixing and upstream habitats on mediating the carbonate system and coastal air–sea carbon dioxide fluxes over coastal habitats in the Red Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use observations of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) and total alkalinity (TA) to assess the impact of ecosystem metabolic processes on coastal waters of the eastern Red Sea. A simple, single-end-member mixing model is used to account for the influence of mixing with offshore waters and evaporation/precipitation, and to model ecosystem-driven perturbations on the carbonate system chemistry of coral reefs, seagrass meadows and mangrove forests. We find that (1) along-shelf changes in TA and DIC exhibit strong linear trends that are consistent with basin-scale net calcium carbonate precipitation; (2) ecosystem-driven changes in TA and DIC are larger than offshore variations in > 85 % of sampled seagrass meadows and mangrove forests, changes which are influenced by a combination of longer water residence times and community metabolic rates; and (3) the sampled mangrove forests show strong and consistent contributions from both organic respiration and other sedimentary processes (carbonate dissolution and secondary redox processes), while seagrass meadows display more variability in the relative contributions of photosynthesis and other sedimentary processes (carbonate precipitation and oxidative processes). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Lagrangian model is constructed for a surface column of initial height h(0) that propagates at an average speed u and is subject to excess (i.e., net) evaporation of q m/year. It is shown that these parameters combine to form an evaporation length, L = uh(0)/q, which provides an estimate for the distance the column must travel before evaporating completely. While these changes in the surface water level due to evaporation are compensated by entrainment of water into the overall column, the changes in either near‐surface salinity or isotopic compositions are retained and can be measured. Observations of surface salinity and isotopic compositions of δ18O and δD along 1,000‐ to 3,500‐km long transects are used to estimate values of L in the Red Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, and Gulf Stream. The variations of salinity, δ18O and δD in all four basins are linear. As anticipated, the estimated value of L is smallest in the slowly moving and arid Red Sea and is greatest in the fast‐moving Gulf Stream. Plain Language Summary: a conceptual Lagrangian model is developed for constraining rates of evaporation in the ocean. The model is applied to routinely measured variables in the ocean's surface such as salinity and isotopic compositions. Our results show that all variables yield very similar estimates of the model's parameter, which bolsters the use of surface transects of salinity to constrain calculated values of parameters relevant to rates of evaporation. Key Points: A Lagrangian model is developed for changes in salinity and isotopic composition of a moving water column that undergoes net evaporationThe model is successfully applied to four oceanic transectsThe observations provide reliable estimates of the model's new single‐parameter – evaporation length [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]