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To (1) describe the prevalence of cardiometabolic disease (CMD) at spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation discharge; (2) compare this with controls without SCI; and (3) identify factors associated with increased CMD.Multicenter, prospective observational study.Five National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research Model SCI Rehabilitation Centers.SCI (n=95): patients aged 18-70 years, with SCI (neurologic levels of injury C2-L2, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grades A-D), and enrolled within 2 months of initial rehabilitation discharge. Control group (n=1609): age/sex/body mass index-matched entries in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Education Survey (2016-2019) (N=1704).None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Percentage of participants with SCI with CMD diagnosis, prevalence of CMD determinants within 2 months of rehabilitation discharge, and other significant early risk associations were analyzed using age, sex, body mass index, insulin resistance (IR) by fasting glucose and Homeostasis Model Assessment (v.2), fasting triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol, and resting blood pressure (systolic and diastolic).Participants with SCI had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure and triglycerides than those without SCI, with lower fasting glucose and HDL-C. A total of 74.0% of participants with SCI vs 38.5% of those without SCI were obese when applying population-specific criteria (P.05). Low HDL-C was measured in 54.2% of participants with SCI vs 15.4% of those without (P.05). IR was not significantly different between groups. A total of 31.6% of participants with SCI had ≥3 CMD determinants, which was 40.7% higher than those without SCI (P.05). Interplay of lipids and lipoproteins (ie, total cholesterol:HDL-C ratio and triglyceride:HDL-C ratio) were associated with elevated risk in participants with SCI for myocardial infarction and stroke. The only significant variable associated with CMD was age (P.05).Individuals with SCI have an increased CMD risk compared with the general population; obesity, IR, and low HDL-C are the most common CMD risk determinants; age is significantly associated with early CMD.

Purpose The COVID-19 pandemic has brought dramatic changes to the daily lives of U.S. adolescents, including isolation from friends and extended family, transition to remote learning, potential illness and death of loved ones, and economic distress. This study’s purpose is to measure changes in adolescents’ perceived stress and mood early in the pandemic. Methods The present study drew from a racially and ethnically diverse sample of high school student participants in an ongoing intervention study in the Midwestern U.S., 128 of whom provided reports of their daily stress and mood both before (December 2017 to March 2020) and during (March–July 2020) the COVID-19 pandemic. We expected to see increases in perceived stress, declines in positive mood states, and increases in negative mood states, with larger impacts on individuals from households with lower parental education levels. Results Multilevel models revealed increases in perceived stress primarily for adolescents from low/moderate education families during the pandemic. Impacts on mood states also diverged by education: adolescents from low/moderate education households reported feeling more ashamed, caring, and excited than before the pandemic, changes that were not shared by their peers from high education households. Although changes in mood that arose with the onset of the pandemic became less pronounced over time, increased levels of home- and health-related stress stayed high for low/moderate education adolescents. Conclusions During the COVID-19 period, we observed disparate impacts on adolescents according to household education level, with more dramatic and negative changes in the emotional well-being of adolescents from low/moderate education households.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine whether aging imparts a clinically significant effect on the (1) mechanism of graft failure and (2) structural, material, and viscoelastic properties of patellar tendon allografts by evaluating these properties in younger donors (≤30 years of age) and older donors (>50 years of age). Methods A total of 34 younger (≤30 years of age) and 34 older (>50 years of age) nonirradiated, whole bone-tendon-bone allografts were prepared for testing by isolating the central third of the patellar tendon using a double-bladed 10-mm width scalpel under a 10-N load to ensure uniformity of harvest. Bone blocks were potted in polymethylmethacrylate within custom molds. Tendon length and cross-sectional area were measured using an area micrometer. A mechanical loading system was used to precondition the grafts for 100 cycles with a load between 50 N and 250 N (1 Hz). A creep load (500 N) was then applied at a rate of 100 mm/min (10 minutes). Grafts were allowed to recover at 1 N (10 minutes), followed by pull-to-failure at a rate of 100% strain per second. Mechanisms of failure (midsubstance vs avulsion) were noted and the structural, material, and viscoelastic properties calculated and compared between groups. Results There were 33 (97%) midsubstance tears in the younger group and 28 (82%) in the older group (P = .034). Younger grafts showed greater ultimate load to failure (1,782 N [1,533, 2,032] vs 1,319 N [1,103, 1,533]) (P = .006) and ultimate tensile stress (37.4 MPa [32.4, 42.4] vs 27.5 MPa [22.9, 32.0]) (P = .006). There were no significant differences in displacement (P = .595), stiffness (P = .950), strain (P = .783), elastic modulus (P = .114), creep displacement (P = .881), and creep strain (P = .614). Conclusions This in vitro study suggests that aging weakens the bone-tendon junction and decreases the ultimate tensile strength of patellar tendon allografts. However, aging did not affect the displacement, strain, stiffness, elastic modulus, creep displacement, or creep strain of patellar tendon allografts. Clinical Relevance Surgeons should be aware that patellar tendon allografts from donors >50 years of age have a lower ultimate tensile stress than donors ≤30 years of age.

The objective was to determine if 3-axis accelerometers could be used to predict daily activity for cattle grazing rangeland. There were 48 Hereford × Angus 2-yr-old low- or high-residual feed intake (LRFI or HRFI) cows used in this 2-yr trial. Cattle grazed in 4 pasture treatments consisting of continuously grazed, control (CCON); continuously grazed, supplemented (CTRT); rotationally grazed, control (RCON); and rotationally grazed, supplemented pastures (RTRT). Three LRFI- and 3 HRFI-collared cows in each treatment had accelerometers mounted for 29 d in 2016 and 45 d in 2017, beginning mid-October. Grazing time (GT), resting time (RT), and walking time (WLK) were obtained for each cow by direct observation over 3 d each year and compared with accelerometer predicted behavior. In 2016, 1.6% of the days were rejected for halter-mounted accelerometers and 3.6% were rejected in 2017 for collar-mounted accelerometers. The GT and RT were more accurately predicted than was WLK with the percentage error of predicted against observed data being 11.94% for RT, 13.51% for GT, and 30.13% for WLK in 2017. Less observation data were available in 2016, but when considering other sampling periods for the same cows and halters, the error rate was 15.1% for RT, 19.3% for GT, and 52.6% for WLK. The accelerometers successfully identified patterns of grazing behavior and differentiated among climatic, grazing system, supplementation status, and residual feed intake classification influences on GT, RT, and WLK. In a more moderate climate year, HRFI cattle appeared to rest less (P

Background Structural bone graft for reconstruction of glenoid bone stock is often necessary in the setting of revision shoulder arthroplasty. This study introduces a new structural autograft technique using the distal clavicle for treatment of glenoid bone loss in the setting of revision shoulder arthroplasty. Methods This is a retrospective, single-surgeon study of patients with significant glenoid bone loss requiring revision shoulder arthroplasty with autologous distal clavicle bone grafting to the glenoid. Twenty patients with failed shoulder arthroplasty who underwent revisions of their glenoid components between 2015 and 2019 were retrospectively identified. Sixteen patients were available with follow-up of greater than 1 year. Patient records and radiographs were reviewed for intraoperative and postoperative complications. Preoperative and postoperative function were evaluated by physical examination and patient-reported outcome surveys. Results There were no observed intraoperative complications relating to the distal clavicle autograft harvest or placement. There were no iatrogenic nerve injuries or intraoperative instability. One of the 16 patients developed postoperative loosening and subsequent failure of the glenoid baseplate, requiring revision. One additional patient demonstrated increased elevation of the coracoclavicular interval postoperatively, likely related to the distal clavicle autograft harvest. At a mean follow-up of 25 months, 15 of 16 glenoid implants remained well fixed (93.4%), with no evidence of infection, or impingement demonstrated radiographically or clinically. Average patient age was 69 years at the time of surgery. Forward elevation improved from 76° to 123° at final follow-up (P = .0002). The American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Standardized Shoulder Assessment Form score improved from an average of 35.8 to 67.8 at mean follow-up (P = .001). The visual analog scale score improved from an average of 5.9 to 2 at mean follow-up, though not statistically significant (P = .068). There was no significant change in external rotation following surgery (P = .319). Conclusion Osteolysis and bone loss of the glenoid poses a challenging problem in revision shoulder arthroplasty. Distal clavicle autograft augmentation is a viable and reproducible technique to manage structural glenoid defects.

Technical notes are known to be a popular method of publishing novel surgical techniques, up-to-date technological advances, and tricks of the trade in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS). The British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (BJOMS) has a dedicated section for such papers, and this article explores the publication of technical notes over the last two years. In addition, comparison is made with previous reviews of technical notes in this journal a decade ago, to explore the progression of diversity and evolving topics of interest to the oral and maxillofacial surgery community.

Background Extraction of a well-fixed humeral stem during revision shoulder arthroplasty is challenging and can result in significant proximal humeral destruction. We introduce a refinement to osteotomy techniques, the extended humeral osteotomy (EHO), that facilitates complete extraction of the humeral component and cement mantle. Materials and Methods Twenty-five patients with failed shoulder arthroplasty who underwent an EHO for removal of a well-fixed humeral component between December 2008 and May 2018 were retrospectively identified. Twenty patients were available for final follow-up. Records and radiographs were reviewed for intraoperative and postoperative complications, preoperative and postoperative function, and patient reported outcome measures. Results Average follow-up was 65.6 months. All osteotomies healed. Of patients who were converted to reverse shoulder arthroplasty, 18/19 remained stable at final follow-up. From preop to final follow-up, mean forward elevation improved from 77 degrees to 109 degrees (p-value 0.013), ASES scores improved from 33.9 to 59.5 (p-value 0.003), and VAS scores improved from 6 to 3.1 (p-value 0.002). Complications related to the osteotomy occurred in two patients (10%). In one patient, the osteotomy was performed using improper instrumentation and created an intraoperative periprosthetic fracture which required immediate plate fixation. In one patient, irritation from a cable required cable removal at 1 year postop. There were no iatrogenic nerve injuries or known recurrent infections. Conclusion The extended humeral osteotomy is a safe and reproducible technique for complete extraction of well-fixed humeral prostheses and associated cement mantles in revision shoulder arthroplasty cases. Level of Evidence Level IV; Case Series; Treatment Study

Background High-level spinal cord injury (SCI) results in profound spinal and supraspinal deficits, leading to substantial ventilatory limitations during whole-body hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES)-rowing, a form of exercise that markedly increases the active muscle mass via electrically induced leg contractions. This study tested the effect of noninvasive ventilation (NIV) on ventilatory and aerobic capacities in SCI. Methods This blinded, randomized crossover study enrolled 19 patients with SCI (level of injury ranging from C4 to T8). All patients were familiar with FES-rowing and had plateaued in their training-related increases in aerobic capacity. Patients performed two FES-rowing peak exercise tests with NIV or without NIV (sham). Results NIV increased exercise tidal volume (peak, 1.50 ± 0.31 L vs 1.36 ± 0.34 L; P Conclusions Acute NIV can successfully improve ventilatory efficiency during FES exercise in SCI but may not improve Vo2peak in all patients. Those who benefit most seem to be patients with cervical SCI within a shorter time since injury. Trial Registry ClinicalTrials.gov; Nos.: NCT02865343 and NCT03267212; URL: www.clinicaltrials.gov.

A new approach to modelling asset portfolio capital investment and operational plans using a rationalisation process of multiple asset life cycle cost model’s is presented. It overcomes the traditional limitations of stocastic models which do not explicitly consider deliverability issues such as scrarce resources, access in combination with an organisations objectives and finamcial imapcts. The approach builds on earlier work including the Strategic Asset Lifecycle Value Optimisation (SALVO) research and development project and rational decision making. It uses individual life cycle cost models for each asset class and programme-level constraints and multi-criteria to create an optimal plan with transparent cost/benefit/risk justification. Alternative scenarios can then be developed from this idealised plan using significance cooling and hill climbing algorithms. These explore the real-world constraints and competing objectives that might prevent such a plan from being delivered. In this way, a realistic and deliverable plan is produced, with fully quantified business impact of any constraints or programme changes that are required. Using the idealised plan as a benchmark, the rationalised variants and scenarios may be compared and a budget and resource-committed programme then selected. The approach is found to be equally applicable for capital investment, operations and maintenance activities, including the combined operational expenditures (OpEx) and capital (CapEx) plans at enterprise portfolio level. Further, its application is applicable for any industry and regulated or non-regulated asset managing organisations.

The visual patterns of fractal stimuli on a computer screen and the brightness patterns of light projected onto room surfaces have independently been shown to influence human perceptual responses. It is not clear, however, what effect would result if the same fractal patterns were projected as light patterns on room surfaces. This paper reports on the results of three studies investigating visual interest, visual preference, and mood responses elicited by varying complexities of fractal light patterns projected on walls and floors of an interior space. The results suggest that fractal light patterns of medium to medium-high complexity (quantified by the fractal dimension D = 1.5–1.7) were significantly more visually interesting than other patterns. Crucially, viewing distance did not significantly influence visual interest or visual preference. Based on these studies, the use of medium to medium-high complexity fractal light patterns in interior spaces may be useful for enhancing occupants’ visual interest and mood.

In Operational Research conventional simulation practices typically focus on the conceptualization, development and use of a single model simulated on a single computer by a single analyst. Since the late 1970s the field of Distributed Simulation has led research into how to speed up simulation and how to compose large-scale simulations consisting of many reusable models running using distributed computers. There have been significant advances in the theories and technologies underpinning Distributed Simulation and there have been major successes in defence, computer systems design and smart urban environments. However, from an Operational Research perspective, Distributed Simulation has had little impact on mainstream research and practice. To argue the potential benefits of Distributed Simulation for Operational Research, this article gives an overview of Distributed Simulation approaches and technologies as well as discussing the state-of-the-art of Distributed Simulation applications. It will investigate the potential advantages of Distributed Simulation for Operational Research and present a possible sustainable future, based on experiences from e-Science, that will help Operational Research meet future challenges such as those emerging from Big Data Analytics, Cyber-physical systems, Industry 4.0, Digital Twins and Smart environments.

Research into hallucinations typically regards them as single sensory or unimodal experiences leading to a comparative neglect of co-occurring multi-sensory hallucinations (MSH). People with psychosis who have visual hallucinations (VH) report high rates of hallucinations in other senses (auditory, olfactory, tactile). However, it is not known if this is similar to other groups who report VH. Consequently, this study explored MSH in four different patient groups who all had current VH. Archival data from standardised assessments of visual hallucinations in people with psychosis (n = 22), eye disease (ED) (n = 82), Lewy body Dementia (LBD) (n = 41), and Parkinson's disease (PD) (n = 41) determined the presence of MSH. People with psychosis and visual hallucinations reported significantly higher rates of MSH (auditory, 73%; tactile, 82%; olfactory/gustatory hallucinations, 27%) than the LBD group (auditory, 21%; tactile, 28%; olfactory/gustatory, 6%), ED (auditory, 1%; tactile, 11%; olfactory/gustatory, 0%) and PD patients (auditory, 3%; tactile, 8%; olfactory/gustatory, 3%). Regardless of diagnostic grouping, participants with MSH reported greater conviction that the VH were real, and reported greater distress. People with psychosis with VH report high rates of MSH unlike groups of older adults with VH. These between group differences in MSH prevalence have implications for clinical practice and theory.

The majority of lambs in the United States are born from late winter to early spring and pregnant ewes are generally sheared in the last third of pregnancy. Although there are benefits to shearing before parturition, shorn animals may be more vulnerable to the cold, highly variable climatic conditions associated with these seasons. The objective of this study was to determine if late gestation shearing induces differences in individual BW, dry matter intake (DMI) and plasma metabolite concentration of finewool ewes managed outdoors during winter. Thirty-six mature, pregnant Rambouillet ewes (3.8±0.45 years; 76.8±11.4 kg) were managed in a drylot with ad libitum access to pelleted alfalfa in bunks capable of measuring individual daily DMI. The treatment group consisted of ewes sheared at ~5 weeks before the estimated parturition date (shorn; n=18). Unshorn ewes (n=18) remained in full fleece throughout the experiment and were shorn on the last day of the experiment ~2 weeks before the estimated parturition date. Blood was collected on days 0 (before shearing shorn group), 7, 14 and 21 (before shearing unshorn group) of the trial, and plasma was isolated and analyzed for non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) and glucose (GLU) concentrations. There was no effect of shearing on ewe DMI or BW during the trial (P⩾0.35). Plasma NEFA and GLU concentrations were similar (P⩾0.36) between shearing groups, though plasma BHB concentration was 103.7 μmol/l greater (24.1%; Plt;0.01) in unshorn ewes. Lamb BW at birth was not affected (P=0.30) by ewe shearing treatment. Under conditions of this study, no differences in economically important aspects of sheep production were observed between shorn and unshorn pregnant ewes.

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generators are a class of devices that directly convert mechanical energy of a flowing fluid into electrical energy. However, due to the production of low magnitude voltages at low fluid velocities, they are not very useful for harvesting energy from the everyday environment at a watt scale. This work theoretically investigates a novel three-phase alternating current liquid metal vortex MHD, capable of generating power on a scale of watts and voltages on a scale of volts from a wide range of environmental energy sources. A new theoretical approach is utilized, where the induced fields and the stator fields are calculated independently which makes it easy to analyze different operational modes of the system. The effect of the number of poles and the slip value on the generated power and current is studied. The obtained analytical and numerical results are in good agreement and provide a robust foundation for the generator design and experimental characterization.

Application of radical cross-dehydrogenative coupling (CDC) procedures to prepare a range of novel spirocyclic oxindoles and to a formal total synthesis of the vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist Satavaptan is reported. The key step involves a copper-mediated oxidative cyclisation of a simple linear anilide precursor to give the spirocyclic oxindole core. This synthetic approach was also used to prepare novel Satavaptan scaffolds and analogues.

© 2018 The US and Mexico share a common history in many areas, including language and culture. They face ecological changes due to the increased frequency and severity of droughts and rising energy demands; trends that entail economic costs for both nations and major implications for human wellbeing. We describe an ongoing effort by the Environment Working Group (EWG), created by The University of California's UC-Mexico initiative in 2015, to promote binational research, teaching, and outreach collaborations on the implications of climate change for Mexico and California. We synthesize current knowledge about the most pressing issues related to climate change in the US-Mexico border region and provide examples of cross-border discoveries and research initiatives, highlighting the need to move forward in six broad rubrics. This and similar binational cooperation efforts can lead to improved living standards, generate a collaborative mindset among participating universities, and create an international network to address urgent sustainability challenges affecting both countries.

Background Prior work has found that linear heart rate variability (HRV) indices do not accurately reflect cardiac vagal control, and nonlinear indices of HRV have been proposed as alternative tools that may better capture cardiac vagal effects. We used progressive low dose atropine to induce changes in cardiac vagal tone to test the hypotheses that nonlinear HRV indices accurately reflect cardiac vagal control, and that their changes in response to low dose atropine correlate with those in RR interval. Methods Changes in RR interval and HRV indices during intravenous injections of saline (control) and 6 cumulative doses of atropine (from 1.4 to 7.2 μg/kg) during controlled breathing at 15 breaths per minute were assessed in 14 young healthy individuals. Results As expected, low dose atropine increased average RR interval (vagotonic effect). There was no strong association between vagotonic changes in RR interval and the majority of nonlinear HRV indices, either within or among subjects. Conclusions These data suggest an inconsistent relationship between responses of nonlinear HRV indices and RR interval to changes in cardiac vagal tone. Therefore, nonlinear HRV indices may not be reliable indices of cardiac vagal control in healthy humans.

Sheep are economically important worldwide, and growth-associated genetic variants, such as a TNXB charged amino acid substitution E2004G and a silent DGAT1 single nucleotide polymorphism (rs409119650), could improve sheep profitability. However, both were identified in single reports using small groups of sheep from outside the U.S. We evaluated 896 U.S. sheep from one location to investigate an association of TNXB E2004G and DGAT1 rs409119650 with growth and lifetime production. For TNXB E2004G, glutamic acid homozygotes had greater body weights in spring and fall at ages 3 and 4 (all P ≤ 0.05) and greater milk scores at ages 3 and 4 (P

The first study of the divergent reactivity of phenol/anisole-tethered donor-acceptor α-diazoketones is described. Four distinct product classes were shown to be accessible from closely related α-diazoketone precursors, with the reaction outcome dependent on the nature of the oxygen substituent on the phenol/anisole ring and the catalyst used to decompose the diazo group. Anisole and TBS-protected derivatives selectively produce three products types (cyclopropanes, tetralones and 1,2-dicarbonyls) while phenols selectively produce spirocyclic dienones.

Continual efforts have been made to determine a simple and universal method of estimating heavy metal phytoavailability in terrestrial systems. In the present study, a mechanism-based multi-surface model (MSM) was developed to predict the partition of Ni(II) in soil–solution phases and its bioaccumulation in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in 19 Chinese soils with a wide range of soil properties. MSM successfully predicted the Ni(II) dissolution in 0.01 M CaCl2 extracting solution (R2 = 0.875). The two-site model for clay fraction improved the prediction, particularly for alkaline soils, because of the additional consideration of edge sites. More crucially, the calculated dissolved Ni(II) was highly correlated with the metal accumulation in wheat (R2 = 0.820 for roots and 0.817 for shoots). The correlation coefficients for the MSM and various chemical extraction methods have the following order: soil pore water > MSM ≈ diffuse gradient technique (DGT) > soil total Ni > 0.43 M HNO3 > 0.01 M CaCl2. The results suggested that the dissolved Ni(II) calculated using MSM can serve as an effective indicator of the bioavailability of Ni(II) in various soils; hence, MSM can be used as an supplement for metal risk prediction and assessment besides chemical extraction techniques.

The arterial baroreflex is a primary regulator of autonomic outflow to effectively regulate acute changes in blood pressure. After a spinal cord injury (SCI), regulation of autonomic function is disrupted, although the damage of the autonomic pathways may not necessarily be related to the severity of injury (i.e. level and completeness). Nonetheless, it can be assumed that there would be greater loss of sympathetic innervation with higher level of injury and that cardiac parasympathetic control would remain intact regardless of injury level. In those with SCI, impaired baroreflex regulation has implications not only for adequate pressure regulation, but also for long term cardiovascular health. In this review, we discuss the expected impact ofan SCI on baroreflex control and the studies that have investigated baroreflex sensitivity in this population. The data generally indicates that baroreflex sensitivity is lesser in those with chronic injuries. However, these findings are counter to the expected effect of an SCI and hence may indicate that the effect of an SCI on baroreflex control might be secondary to long term deconditioning and/or vascular stiffening of baroreceptive arteries. Furthermore, the alterations in the ability to regulate pressure do not impact the relationship between spontaneous heart rate and blood pressure variabilities. In addition, those with SCI are not adequately able to control blood pressure changes in response to orthostasis, resulting in frank hypotension in a significant proportion of those with high level injuries.

The purpose is classification of stress tolerances of spoilage bacteria using Raman spectra and chemometrics. We obtained Raman spectra of six spoilage bacteria. Classification models were constructed with support vector machine and classified food-related stress tolerance with 90% accuracy, which provides bacterial characteristics specific to environment reducing food spoilage.

Rapid human development in coastal areas is introducing significant amounts of novel habitat and leading to widespread habitat simplification. To predict how species will respond to these changes, it is important to understand how organisms interact with novel habitats versus naturally existing habitats. In this study, we used traditional fish sampling gear (fyke nets and minnow traps) and a Dual-Frequency Identification Sonar (DIDSON) to conduct fish surveys along natural and modified estuarine shorelines in North Carolina, USA. The overall objective of our study was to investigate how fish abundance and other community metrics change as a function of shoreline type (natural marsh, living shoreline, or bulkhead), sampling location (marsh platform or the shallow subtidal area offshore of the structure), and time of day (day or night). Using fyke nets, we caught significantly more fish and recorded higher species richness on the marsh platform at living shorelines versus natural marsh shorelines. However, we found no significant differences in fish abundance in the shallow unvegetated habitats seaward of the different shoreline types, which may have been affected by low sampling efficiency and replication when sampled using minnow traps and the DIDSON. Our findings, in conjunction with similar studies, may reflect a localized shoreline effect where the nursery enhancement observed at living shoreline sites is restricted to the living component of the shoreline (i.e., the marsh). Additionally, the preliminary results from our limited daytime versus nighttime DIDSON sampling show no significant differences in fish detections. This contrasts with many previous studies using traditional fish sampling techniques that report substantially higher fish catches at night. This unexpected finding is worthy of additional research as it may suggest that traditional fish sampling techniques are underestimating fish abundances during the day, perhaps due to visual gear avoidance. Ultimately, a careful consideration of the social and ecological goals of any shoreline stabilization project is needed before choosing a final design; however, maximizing habitat restoration and limiting the use of artificial materials is likely to confer the greatest ecological benefit.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. The hallmark pathological feature in most cases of ALS is nuclear depletion and cytoplasmic accumulation of the protein TDP-43 in degenerating neurons. Consistent with this pattern of intracellular protein redistribution, impaired nucleocytoplasmic trafficking has emerged as a mechanism contributing to ALS pathology. Dysfunction in nucleocytoplasmic transport is also an emerging theme in physiological aging and other related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Huntington’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Here we review transport through the nuclear pore complex, pointing out vulnerabilities that may underlie ALS and potentially contribute to this and other age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Summary We analyze economic life in three Congolese refugee camps in Rwanda and the interactions between refugees and local host-country economies within a 10-km radius around each camp. Refugees in one of the three camps received food aid in kind, while in the other two camps they were given cash via cell phones provided by the UN World Food Programme. We find that refugee economies arise inside each camp, and the structure of these economies reflects the economic context around the camps. Despite undergoing forced migration and often living in destitute conditions, refugees actively interact with host country economies. Interactions with the host country result in a divergence of refugee households’ income from the assistance they receive. A shift from in-kind to cash aid appears to increase refugee welfare while strengthening market linkages between camp and host economies. This finding is potentially important for refugee policies as well as for other types of development assistance, as donors find themselves under pressure to shift from in-kind to cash aid.

Chronic pain affects the lives of millions yearly, but few new treatments are available. Due to decreasing budgets and increasing costs of preclinical research, alternatives are sought with high translatability and low cost. Here we demonstrate the utility of a zebrafish-based model of nociception to serve as a novel screening tool for analgesic drugs. Zebrafish swimming behavior was measured following administration of various algogens including histamine, cinnamaldehyde, mustard oil, acetic acid and complete Freund's adjuvant. All compounds reduce distance traveled, thought to be an expression of nociception. Additionally, the suppression of swimming was attenuated by administration of the common analgesic, morphine. Together these data provide support for the use of zebrafish as a cost-effective and translatable model of nociception.

Marine seismic surveying discerns subsurface seafloor geology, indicative of, for example, petroleum deposits, by emitting high-intensity, low-frequency impulsive sounds. Impacts on fish are uncertain. Opportunistic monitoring of acoustic signatures from a seismic survey on the inner continental shelf of North Carolina, USA, revealed noise exceeding 170 dB re 1 μ Pa peak on two temperate reefs federally designated as Essential Fish Habitat 0.7 and 6.5 km from the survey ship path. Videos recorded fish abundance and behavior on a nearby third reef 7.9 km from the seismic track. During seismic surveying, reef-fish abundance declined by 78% during evening hours when fish habitat use was highest on the previous three days without seismic noise. Despite absence of videos documenting fish returns after seismic surveying, the significant reduction in fish occupation of the reef represents disruption to daily pattern. This numerical response confirms that conservation concerns associated with seismic surveying are realistic.

Summary Access to international markets provides smallholders with unprecedented opportunities, but also exposes them to world market whims. We use a local economy-wide impact evaluation (LEWIE) model to analyze how the recent global saffron-price variability affected Morocco’s Taliouine–Taznakht region, a specialized agro-export economy with a stark gender division of labor. Prices of saffron increased by 71% per year over the 2007–09 period before falling quickly back to their trend. Our modeling approach allows us to simulate such shocks and evaluate impacts not only on producers but also on the local economies around them. In our simulations, positive price-shocks and increases in productivity both cause large reallocations of labor resources, particularly for female workers at harvest time. We use Monte-Carlo simulations to evaluate how saffron-price variance affects the economy. Female wage income is especially sensitive to global price variability: a 100% increase in saffron-price variance leads to 133% increase in female wage income variance, but only 36% for males. Accounting for general-equilibrium effects is critical for understanding the ramifications of exposure to export price volatility in poor economies.

Hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES) rowing has positive effects on cardiovascular fitness, producing significantly greater aerobic power than either upper body or FES exercise alone. However, there is minimal information on the kinematics, kinetics, and mechanical efficiency of FES-rowing in the spinal cord injured (SCI) population. This study examined the biomechanics of FES-rowing to determine how motions, forces, and aerobic demand change with increasing intensity. Six individuals with SCI and six able-bodied subjects performed a progressive aerobic capacity rowing test. Differences in kinematics (motion profiles), kinetics (forces produced by the feet and arms), external mechanical work, and mechanical efficiency (work produced/volume of oxygen consumed) were compared in able-bodied rowing vs. SCI FES-rowing at three comparable subpeak workloads. With increasing exercise intensity (measured as wattage), able-bodied rowing increased stroke rate by decreasing recovery time, while FES-rowing maintained a constant stroke rate, with no change in drive or recovery times. While able-bodied rowers increased leg and arm forces with increasing intensity, FES-rowers used only their arms to achieve a higher intensity with a constant and relatively low contribution of the legs. Oxygen consumption increased in both groups, but more so in able-bodied rowers, resulting in able-bodied rowers having twice the mechanical efficiency of FES-rowers. Our results suggest that despite its ability to allow for whole body exercise, the total force output achievable with FES-rowing results in only modest loading of the legs that affects overall rowing performance and that may limit forces applied to bone.

Traditionally, quantity take-offs and estimates have been performed and developed with 2-D drawings supplied by the architect to the general contractor (GC). However, in recent years, the construction industry has seen a shift toward Building Information Modeling (BIM) and BIM-based quantity take-off (QTO). Although BIM has gained popularity in recent years, models supplied to general contractors often lack consistent quality that would allow the general contractor to extract data that would facilitate an appropriate quantity take-off and estimate. General contractors were surveyed using on-line questionnaires and in-person interviews to determine factors limiting the ability of building professionals to extract the necessary quantity takeoff data from the model. Respondents were further asked to compare BIM-based QTO to traditional 2-D methods. Surveys and questionnaires were also used to determine which elements and items in models were typically included, inferred, or omitted.

Summary Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) generators directly convert mechanical energy to electrical energy. However, due to production of low amplitude voltages at low fluid velocities, they are not useful for electronic devices requiring power at watt scale. This work introduces vortex MHD, capable of producing voltages on scale of volts and generating power on a scale of watts. This is achieved by using Galinstan, a highly conductive metallic fluid, which remains liquid at room temperature. The proposed device comprises an impeller and set of copper coils positioned in a ferromagnetic housing. Three-phase AC current is passed in the coils producing a rotating magnetic field. The interaction of a moving conductive fluid and rotating magnetic field governed by Faraday's law of induction serves as a mechanism of electrical current generation. The study investigates the system performance and, in particular, variation of power with respect to system parameters like fluid inlet velocity and stator current., Graphical abstract, Highlights • A novel liquid metal vortex MHD generator with Watt scale power output is proposed • AC voltage on a scale of Volts can be produced without any transformer • Variation of output power with fluid velocity, rotor RPM, and slip are investigated, Physics; Electricity; Engineering; Energy engineering; Mechanical engineering; Electrical property

PURPOSE. High-level spinal cord injury (SCI) can result in spinal and supraspinal respiratory control deficits leading to insufficient ventilatory responses to exercise and training-related adaptations. We hypothesized a serotonin agonist, known to improve respiratory function in animal models, would improve adaptations to whole-body functional electrical stimulation (FES) exercise training in patients with acute high-level SCI. METHODS: We identified ten patients (0.66, p

Background: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an organized cluster of tightly linked vertebrate genes with immunological and non-immunological functions. While the important MHC gene DRB1 has been examined in regard to many sheep infectious disease traits, only one study, based on microsatellite markers, has previously examined DRB1 and sheep production traits. Furthermore, to our knowledge no studies have examined DRB1 relationship with lifetime ewe prolificacy traits. Therefore, we analyzed association between the presence of DRB1 SNP haplotypes with internationally recognized standard names and production traits including growth and lifetime prolificacy in 370 Rambouillet, Columbia, and Polypay sheep., BackgroundThe major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an organized cluster of tightly linked vertebrate genes with immunological and non-immunological functions. While the important MHC geneDRB1has been examined in regard to many sheep infectious disease traits, only one study, based on microsatellite markers, has previously examinedDRB1and sheep production traits. Furthermore, to our knowledge no studies have examinedDRB1relationship with lifetime ewe prolificacy traits. Therefore, we analyzed association between the presence ofDRB1SNP haplotypes with internationally recognized standard names and production traits including growth and lifetime prolificacy in 370 Rambouillet, Columbia, and Polypay sheep.ResultsTheDRB1*0404 haplotype was associated with increased weaning and mature weights, as well as average daily gain (ŠidákPP=0.084) and number of lambs born alive (ŠidákP=0.084). In contrast, theDRB1*0141 haplotype was associated with decreased mature weight (ŠidákP=0.01).ConclusionsSince the *0404 haplotype was present in all three breeds, these results suggest there is at least one functional mutation in the region that influences growth and prolificacy traits that may be broadly present across several breeds. Furthermore, combined use of the similar *0404 and *0141 multi-marker haplotypes that nonetheless have opposing directions of production trait associations will enhance mutation discovery in this region. If undesirable alleles for underlying mutations can be identified, selective pressure against one or a small number of undesirable alleles may improve production with limited impact on MHC genetic diversity and infectious disease susceptibility.

HnRNPA2B1 encodes an RNA binding protein associated with neurodegeneration. However, its function in the nervous system is unclear. Transcriptome-wide crosslinking and immunoprecipitation in mouse spinal cord discover UAGG motifs enriched within ∼2,500 hnRNP A2/B1 binding sites and an unexpected role for hnRNP A2/B1 in alternative polyadenylation. HnRNP A2/B1 loss results in alternative splicing (AS), including skipping of an exon in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-associated D-amino acid oxidase (DAO) that reduces D-serine metabolism. ALS-associated hnRNP A2/B1 D290V mutant patient fibroblasts and motor neurons differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-MNs) demonstrate abnormal splicing changes, likely due to increased nuclear-insoluble hnRNP A2/B1. Mutant iPSC-MNs display decreased survival in long-term culture and exhibit hnRNP A2/B1 localization to cytoplasmic granules as well as exacerbated changes in gene expression and splicing upon cellular stress. Our findings provide a cellular resource and reveal RNA networks relevant to neurodegeneration, regulated by normal and mutant hnRNP A2/B1. VIDEO ABSTRACT.

Juvenile Lytechinus variegatus (ca. 3.95± 0.54 g) were fed one of 10 formulated diets with different protein (ranging from 11- 43%) and carbohydrate (12 or 18%; brackets determined from previous studies) levels. Urchins (n= 16 per treatment) were fed a daily sub-satiation ration equivalent to 2.0% of average body weight for 10 weeks. Our objective was (1) to create predictive models of growth, production and efficiency outcomes and (2) to generate economic analysis models in relation to these dietary outcomes for juvenile L. variegatus held in culture. At dietary protein levels below ca. 30%, models for most growth and production outcomes predicted increased rates of growth and production among urchins fed diets containing 18% dietary carbohydrate levels as compared to urchins fed diets containing 12% dietary carbohydrate. For most outcomes, growth and production was predicted to increase with increasing level of dietary protein up to ca. 30%, after which, no further increase in growth and production were predicted. Likewise, dry matter production efficiency was predicted to increase with increasing protein level up to ca. 30%, with urchins fed diets with 18% carbohydrate exhibiting greater efficiency than those fed diets with 12% carbohydrate. The energetic cost of dry matter production was optimal at protein levels less than those required for maximal weight gain and gonad production, suggesting an increased energetic cost (decreased energy efficiency) is required to increase gonad production relative to somatic growth. Economic analysis models predict when cost of feed ingredients are low, the lowest cost per gram of wet weight gain will occur at 18% dietary carbohydrate and ca. 25- 30% dietary protein. In contrast, lowest cost per gram of wet weight gain will occur at 12% dietary carbohydrate and ca. 35- 40% dietary protein when feed ingredient costs are high or average. For both 18 and 12% levels of dietary carbohydrate, cost per gram of wet weight gain is predicted to be maximized at low dietary protein levels, regardless of feed ingredient costs. These models will compare dietary requirements and growth outcomes in relation to economic costs and provide insight for future commercialization of sea urchin aquaculture.

Remote species classification using fisheries acoustic techniques in coral reef ecosystems remains one of the greatest hurdles in developing informative metrics and indicators required for ecosystem management. We reviewed long-term marine ecosystem acoustic surveys that have been carried out in the US Caribbean covering various coral reef habitat types and evaluated metrics that may be helpful in classifying multifrequency acoustic signatures of fish aggregations to taxonomic groups. We found that the energetic properties across frequencies, in particular the mean and the maximum volume backscattering coefficient, provided the majority of the discriminating power in separating schools and aggregations into distinct groups. To a lesser extent, school shape and geometry helped isolate a distinctive group of reef fishes based on shoaling behaviour. Schools and aggregations were clustered into five distinct groups. The use of underwater video surveys from a Remote Operating Vehicle (ROV) conducted in the proximity of the acoustic observations allowed us to associate the clusters with broad categories of species groups such as large predators, including fishery important species to small forage fishes. The remote classification methods described here are an important step toward improving marine ecosystem acoustics for the study and management of coral reef fish communities.

Fractal geometry has been used to describe natural and built environments, but has yet to be studied in navigational research. In order to establish a relationship between the fractal dimension (D) of a natural environment and humans' ability to navigate such spaces, we conducted two experiments using virtual environments that simulate the fractal properties of nature. In Experiment 1, participants completed a goal-driven search task either with or without a map in landscapes that varied in D. In Experiment 2, participants completed a map-reading and location-judgment task in separate sets of fractal landscapes. In both experiments, task performance was highest at the low-to-mid range of D, which was previously reported as most preferred and discriminable in studies of fractal aesthetics and discrimination, respectively, supporting a theory of visual fluency. The applicability of these findings to architecture, urban planning, and the general design of constructed spaces is discussed.

International migration flows between Guatemala and North America are now over thirty years old. The maturation of this phenomenon permits us to look beyond the immediate impacts of migrants and their remittances on Guatemalan livelihoods and to view how migration processes affect Guatemala’s most valuable natural resource – land. We combine an interdisciplinary approach and data from a longitudinal study (1986–2012) that includes qualitative and quantitative methods to uncover and understand the specific impacts of international migration on land use and land distribution in San Lucas, Ixcan. We show that initial migration-related changes to land are not unidirectional and permanent. For example, after initial forest decline related to investment of cash remittances in cattle and pasture, the community experienced some forest recovery. This recovery can be explained by three processes. First, migrant money allowed some families to break their ties and reliance on the land and engage in non-agricultural occupations. Second, cleared land also reverted to forest because some migrant families failed in the technical and expensive business of raising cattle. Third, some farmers took advantage of national forestry incentives and left all or part of their parcels forested. However, as San Lucas and Ixcan become more integrated into the national economy, other options are open to migrant families. For example, in the last five years, some land owners took advantage of nearby expansion of the biofuel economy and improvement in roads and converted their fields to cultivate African Palm.

The current longitudinal study examined how Mexican-origin adolescent mothers’ (N = 204) reports of acculturative stress during late adolescence were associated with their educational attainment and engagement in risky behaviors in young adulthood, 4 years post-partum; we also examined whether this association was mediated by discrepancies between adolescents’ educational aspirations and expectations. Findings revealed that mothers’ greater reports of stress regarding English competency pressures and pressures to assimilate were associated with a larger gap between their aspirations and expectations. Mothers’ reports of greater stress from pressures against assimilation, however, were associated with a smaller gap between aspirations and expectations. As expected, a larger gap between aspirations and expectations was associated with lower educational attainment and increased engagement in risky behaviors. Finally, significant mediation emerged, suggesting that the influence of stress from English competency pressures and pressures to assimilate on young mothers’ educational attainment and engagement in risky behaviors was mediated through the aspiration–expectation gap. Findings are discussed with respect to understanding discrepancies between young mothers’ aspirations and expectations in the context of acculturative stress.

Nitric acid plays an integral role in the reprocessing of irradiated fuel. It is well known that nitric acid degrades; its often yellow hue signifies the presence of decomposition products. The decomposition of nitric acid is accelerated by temperature and radiolysis; therefore it is an important consideration in the reprocessing of nuclear fuels. Thermal and radiolytic reactions of nitric acid result in the formation of redox active nitrogen species, of which nitrous acid is of particular concern, largely due to its redox reactions with plutonium and neptunium. Such reactions are important to understand as plutonium and neptunium can exist in a number of oxidation states; the oxidation state has a direct effect on the species extractability. The effect of nitrous acid is exacerbated as it catalyzes its own production and its reactions with actinides are typically autocatalytic; thus even micromolar quantities can have a large effect. A full understanding of solvent extraction requires us to understand actinide valence states which in turn require us to understand what nitrogen species are present and their concentrations. As a first step in the overall objective of enhancing process models, the kinetic data for nitric acid decomposition reactions has been investigated in order to produce an initial dynamic model of decomposition under aqueous conditions. The identification of a set of kinetic reactions suitable for modelling has been the primary focus of this work. A model of nitric acid thermal decomposition will help develop a better understanding of nitric acid decomposition chemistry and enable better prediction of the oxidation states of species in solution. It is intended to later extend the model to include radiolytic reactions and then further to incorporate an organic phase in order to have a model which covers all decomposition routes for nitric acid within a nuclear fuel reprocessing scheme. The model will be used as a sub model for process models relating to nuclear fuel reprocessing to allow the nitric acid decomposition to be included and the effect of this on operations to be predicted. This is particularly relevant for models of maloperations where different fault scenarios can be investigated and the results of these predicted, as for example unusually high acidity could increase the yields of redox active species significantly altering actinide oxidation states.