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Nasal turbinals, delicate and complex bones of the nasal cavity that support respiratory or olfactory mucosa (OM), are now easily studied using high resolution micro-computed tomography (μ-CT). Standard μ-CT currently lacks the capacity to identify OM or other mucosa types without additional radio-opaque staining techniques. However, even unstained mucosa is more radio-opaque than air, and thus mucosal thickness can be discerned. Here, we assess mucosal thickness of the nasal fossa using the cranium of a cadaveric adult dog that was μ-CT scanned with an isotropic resolution of 30 μm, and subsequently histologically sectioned and stained. After co-alignment of μ-CT slice planes to that of histology, mucosal thickness was estimated at four locations. Results based on either μ-CT or histology indicate olfactory mucosa is thicker on average compared with non-olfactory mucosa (non-OM). In addition, olfactory mucosa has a lesser degree of variability than the non-OM. Variability in the latter appears to relate mostly to the varying degree of vascularity of the lamina propria. Because of this, in structures with both specialized vascular respiratory mucosa and OM, such as the first ethmoturbinal (ET I), the range of thickness of OM and non-OM may overlap. Future work should assess the utility of diffusible iodine-based contrast enhanced CT techniques, which can differentiate epithelium from the lamina propria, to enhance our ability to differentiate mucosa types on more rostral ethmoturbinals. This is especially critical for structures such as ET I, which have mixed functional roles in many mammals., (© 2020 American Association for Anatomy.)

Timing of craniofacial suture fusion is important for the determination of demographics and primate ontogeny. There has been much work concerning the timing of fusion of calvarial sutures over the last century, but little comprehensive work focusing on facial sutures. Here we assess the relationships of facial suture fusion across ontogeny among select catarrhines. Fusion timing patterns for 5 facial sutures were examined in 1,599 crania of Homo, Pan, Gorilla, Pongo, Hylobatidae, Papio, and Macaca. Calvarial volume (early ontogeny) and dental eruption (late ontogeny) were used as indicators of stage of development. General linear models, test for homogeneity of slopes, and ANOVA were used to determine differences in timing of fusion by taxon. For calvarial volume, taxonomic groups segregated by regression slopes, with models for Homo indicating sutural fusion throughout ontogeny, Pongo, Macaca, and Papio representing earlier and more complete suture fusion, and Pan, Gorilla, and Hylobatidae indicating very early facial suture fusion. Similar patterns are observed when dental eruption is used for developmental staging. Only Gorilla and Hylobatidae are observed to, generally, fuse all facial suture sites in adulthood. Finally, Homo appears to be unique in its delay and patency of sutures into late ontogeny. The taxonomic patterns of facial suture closure identified in this study likely reflect important evolutionary shifts in facial growth and development in catarrhines., (© 2021 S. Karger AG, Basel.)

Objectives: An individual's perceptions of their workplace safety climate can influence their health and safety outcomes in the workplace. Even though union membership has been declining in the US, union members still comprise 10% of the working population and have higher-than-industry average non-fatal illness and injury rates. Due to limited research focused in this area, this study examined whether union membership was associated with worker perceptions of safety climate., Methods: This was a secondary data analysis study utilizing data from the Quality Work Life module from the General Social Survey centered on US workers aged 18 and above. Propensity-score matching was implemented to reduce potential selection bias between unionized and non-unionized workers. Linear regression explored the association between union membership and perceptions of safety climate, controlling for age, sex, education, industry, resource adequacy, supervisor support, co-worker support, and workload., Results: For perceived safety climate (on a 0-16 scale, the higher the more positive), those in union had a lower mean of perceived safety climate (12.44) compared to those not in a union (13.20). Based on the regression results, those who were in a union reported more negative perceptions of their workplace safety climate in a 12-month period ( β  = -0.61, p  < .001)., Conclusions: By demonstrating a commitment to proactive injury prevention and bolstering the business's overall safety performance indicators, businesses who are open to collaborations with unions may see some long-term benefits (e.g. return on investment, increased job satisfaction) and enhance union workers' perceptions of safety climate., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This special issue of The Anatomical Record is the end result of a rare convergence of researchers scattered around the globe who came together to explore the mystery of the dog-human connection. Many of the discussions at the 12th International Congress of Vertebrate Morphology in Prague (July 23, 2019) are echoed within this issue. The enigmatic origins of dog domestication (as well as feralized descendants such as the dingo) are discussed, including phases of domestication that we might infer, and our historical knowledge of dog breeding. Emphasized by the morphological and genetic data are the forces of selection, both unintentional and intentional. In our modern life with dogs, we enjoy their companionship and benefit from the utility of many breeds, but we encounter unintended health care issues that are often breed-specific. Dogs are so different in their sensory specializations (especially olfaction), but have uniquely (among other domestic mammals) developed highly sophisticated means of interspecific communication with humans. In sum, the manuscripts within this issue discuss anatomical, paleontological, genetic, and behavioral evidence bearing on the antiquity of the domestic dog, the process of domestication, and the many ways in which dogs continue to affect human life., (© 2020 American Association for Anatomy.)

Introduction: Firefighting is stressful work, which can result in burnout. Burnout is a safety concern as it can negatively impact safety outcomes. These impacts are not fully understood within the fire service. Further, the fire service needs support that safety strategies are needed to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of firefighters., Methods: Structural equation modeling was completed to examine a hypothesized model that linked stress and burnout to diminished safety behavior outcomes among a sample of career firefighters., Results: Findings support a full mediation model. Firefighter stress perceptions were positively associated with burnout and burnout was negatively associated with safety compliance behavior, personal protective equipment behavior, safe work practices, and safety citizenship behavior., Conclusions: These results illustrate the negative impact of health impairment on firefighter safety behaviors. Practical Applications: These outcomes suggest that interventions aimed at protecting and promotion firefighter health are needed. Total Worker Health® (TWH) approaches may provide the framework for these interventions., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

Traditionally, safety-related research on firefighting has focused on fires and fireground smoke as the primary source of non-fatal firefighter injury. However, recent research has found that overexertion and musculoskeletal disorders may be the primary source of firefighter injury. This study aimed to provide an update on injury occurrence among career firefighters. Injury data were collected over a two-year period from two large metropolitan fire departments in the U.S. Injury data were categorized based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System. Cross-tabulations and Chi-square tests were used to determine the primary causes of injury, as well as the injury region. Between the two fire departments, there were 914 firefighters included in the analysis. The median age was 40.7 years old with those aged 40-49 as the largest age group for injury cases (38.3%). The most frequently reported cause of injury was 'overexertion and bodily reaction' ( n = 494; 54.1%). The most reported injury region was in 'multiple body parts' ( n = 331; 36.3%). To prevent subsequent musculoskeletal disorders that may arise due to overexertion, initiatives that promote enhanced fitness and ergonomics based on an analysis of the physical demands of firefighting are suggested.

Objectives: This research aims to provide guidance on means to bolster safe and effective emergency response. Safe and effective performance among firefighters is key to protecting firefighters, to ensure mission completion, and to protect the public during emergency response situations. Although some studies have shown the impact of safety climate on firefighter performance, few studies have explored the impact of safety climate on affective organizational commitment and safety behaviors among firefighters, which are critical to more effective emergency response., Methods: Data collected from 349 career firefighters in the southern United States were analyzed by means of structural equation modeling to assess posited relationships in the proposed model., Results: This study confirmed a model that describes the relationships between safety climate, affective organizational commitment, and safety behaviors. Safety climate significantly predicted affective organizational commitment (P < 0.001) and affective organizational commitment was positively associated with both safety compliance (P < 0.001) and safety participation (P < 0.001)., Conclusions: This study has implications for researchers and practitioners. Firefighters exhibit positive affective organizational commitment as a result of positive safety climate perceptions. This commitment is then associated with positive safety behavior outcomes, which bolsters personal safety and enhances the likelihood of safe and effective mission completion to protect the public.

Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is an acute cardiac condition with presentation indistinguishable from acute coronary syndrome (ACS), and mechanism independent of epicardial coronary obstruction. Acute coronary artery plaque rupture/occlusion is not expected in TS. Nonetheless, the physiologic stress of ACS might itself trigger TS, leading to coexistence of both conditions, and diagnostic uncertainty., Methods: From 2011 to 2014, we encountered 137 consecutive patients with typical TS (without acute coronary plaque rupture/occlusion). During this time, among a population of 3,506 consecutive ACS patients, nine (0.3%) presented with features of both ACS and TS, that is, acute onset, troponin elevation, acute plaque rupture/occlusion, and reversible LV ballooning not corresponding to culprit coronary distribution., Results: The nine patients (seven female) with TS-ACS coexistence, average age 70 ± 13 years, presented with chest pain (n = 6), nausea/vomiting (n = 2), or cardiac arrest (n = 1), ST-elevation (n = 5), all with troponin elevation (peak 1.3 ± 1.2 ng/ml). Each had single vessel coronary disease; right coronary (n = 3), circumflex (n = 3), mid-LAD (n = 2), ramus intermedius (n = 1), with percutaneous coronary intervention in seven patients (78%). Initial ejection fraction was 26 ± 7%, with apical ballooning in eight patients and mid-LV ballooning in one patient. Each patient had LV ballooning resolution and ejection fraction normalization to 57 ± 3%, hospital survival was 89%., Conclusions: Among patients with ACS, a subset have evidence of coexisting TS, findings which further expand the clinical profile of both conditions, raising the possibility that ACS itself may trigger TS., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Previous descriptive work on deciduous dentition of primates has focused disproportionately on great apes and humans. To address this bias in the literature, we studied 131 subadult nonhominoid specimens (including 110 newborns) describing deciduous tooth morphology and assessing maximum hydroxyapatite density (MHD). All specimens were CT scanned at 70 kVp and reconstructed at 20.5-39 μm voxels. Grayscale intensity from scans was converted to hydroxyapatite (HA) density (mg HA/cm 3 ) using a linear conversion of grayscale values to calibration standards of known HA density (R 2 = .99). Using Amira software, mineralized dental tissues were captured by segmenting the tooth cusps first and then capturing the remainder of the teeth at descending thresholds of gray levels. We assessed the relationship of MHD of selected teeth to cranial length using Pearson correlation coefficients. In monkeys, anterior teeth are more mineralized than postcanine teeth. In tarsiers and most lemurs and lorises, postcanine teeth are the most highly mineralized. This suggests that monkeys have a more prolonged process of dental mineralization that begins with incisors and canines, while mineralization of postcanine teeth is delayed. This may in part be a result of relatively late weaning in most anthropoid primates. Results also reveal that in lemurs and lorises, MHD of the mandibular first permanent molar (M 1 ) negatively correlates with cranial length. In contrast, the MHD of M 1 positively correlates with cranial length in monkeys. This supports the hypothesis that natural selection acts independently on dental growth as opposed to mineralization and indicates clear phylogenetic differences among primates., (© 2019 American Association for Anatomy.)

Stone, sand and gravel mining (SSGM) constitutes the vast majority of mining operations in the United States. Despite musculoskeletal disorders being one of the most common occupational health problems across several industries, limited research has examined the extent of reported musculoskeletal symptoms or disorders among actively employed SSGM workers. To address this knowledge gap, cross sectional data were collected from 459 SSGM workers in the Midwestern United States to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Sociodemographic and job-related factors were examined to identify possible risk factors in SSGM. Musculoskeletal symptoms of the low back (57%), neck (38%), shoulder (38%) and knee (39%) were highly prevalent among SSGM employees. The results, among other findings, showed that working more than 60 h a week increased the likelihood of musculoskeletal symptoms at the low back (OR: 4.7 95% CI: 1.9-11.5), neck (OR: 5.1, 95% CI: 2.2-11.8) and knee (OR: 4.5, 95% CI: 2.0-10.3). Working as a mechanic/maintenance worker increased the likelihood of low back (OR: 2.1, 95% CI: 1.1-4.2) and knee (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1-4.6) musculoskeletal symptoms. Intervention measures aimed at improving ergonomic hazard identification for various job tasks as well as administrative controls limiting hours worked may help reduce the burden of musculoskeletal problems in the SSGM industry.

Employee turnover has been linked to negative business performance outcomes, increased costs, and disruptions to operations. Research to explore predictors of turnover intention is important to the mining industry, including the stone, sand, and gravel mining (SSGM) industry. Safety climate has been linked to job satisfaction and reductions in turnover intention in other fields, but investigation within SSGM has virtually been non-existent, creating a knowledge gap. This research seeks to address this dearth of information. Cross-sectional data from 452 workers in the SSGM industry were analyzed to assess the influence of safety climate on turnover intention through job satisfaction. Mediation analyses showed that job satisfaction significantly mediated the relationship between safety climate and turnover intention. The implications of these novel findings are important for SSGM administrators. It suggests that bolstering safety programs and increasing safety climate perceptions will help increase job satisfaction and reduce turnover intention among workers in the SSGM industry.

This special issue of The Anatomical Record explores extravagant adaptions that vertebrates have evolved from their base groups to survive in the most challenging environments. It stems from a symposium entitled "Extreme Anatomy: Living beyond the edge," which was held April 23, 2017, at the annual meeting of the American Association for Anatomy, in Chicago, IL. In Part 1 of this issue, we examined extreme morphologies that allow exploration of new niches. In this issue, we return to the evolution of terrestriality by digging deeply into the fossil history of the piscine antecedent of tetrapods. These were truly "lottery winners" among vertebrates. This issue also bears on extreme specialists that once thrived but are now long extinct and some extant species that thrive in the hottest terrestrial niches. Herein, several contributions discuss developmental strategies that facilitate later demanding locomotor regimens and feeding strategies for accessing nutrients from less than ideal food sources. From mole-rats to short-faced breeds of domestic dogs, we encounter another host of the most unusual of earth's creatures, who have much to teach us about our world. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy Anat Rec, 303:214-217, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy., (© 2019 American Association for Anatomy.)

The colonial naked mole rat Heterocephalus glaber is a subterranean, eusocial rodent. The H. glaber vomeronasal organ neuroepithelium (VNE) displays little postnatal growth. However, the VNE remains neuronal in contrast to some mammals that possess nonfunctional vomeronasal organ remnants, for example, catarrhine primates and some bats. Here, we describe the vomeronasal organ (VNO) microanatomy in the naked mole rat and we make preliminary observations to determine if H. glaber shares its minimal postnatal VNE growth with other African mole rats. We also determine the immunoreactivity to the mitotic marker Ki67, growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), and olfactory marker protein (OMP) in six adult and three subadult H. glaber individuals. VNE volume measurements on a small sample of Cryptomys hottentotus and Fukomys damarensis indicate that the VNE of those African mole rat species are also likely to be growth-deficient. Ki67(+) cells show that the sensory epithelium is mitotically active. GAP43 labelling indicates neurogenesis and OMP(+) cells are present though less numerous compared to GAP43(+) cells. In this respect, the VNO of H. glaber does not appear vestigial. The African mole rat VNE may be unusually variable, perhaps reflecting reduced selection pressure on the vomeronasal system. If so, African mole rats may provide a useful genetic model for understanding the morphological variability observed in the mammalian VNO. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Anat Rec, 303:318-329, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy., (© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Functional studies of skeletal anatomy are predicated on the fundamental assumption that form will follow function. For instance, previous studies have shown that the femora of specialized leaping primates are more robust than those of more generalized primate quadrupeds. Are such differences solely a plastic response to differential loading patterns during postnatal life, or might they also reflect more canalized developmental mechanisms present at birth? Here, we show that perinatal Lemur catta, an arboreal/terrestrial quadruped, have less robust femora than perinatal Propithecus coquereli, a closely related species specialized for vertical clinging and leaping (a highly unusual locomotor mode in which the hindlimbs are used to launch the animal between vertical tree trunks). These results suggest that functional differences in long bone cross-sectional dimensions are manifest at birth, belying simple interpretations of adult postcranial form as a direct record of loading patterns during postnatal life. Despite these significant differences in bone robusticity, we find that hindlimb bone mineralization, material properties, and measures of whole-bone strength generally overlap in perinatal L. catta and P. coquereli, indicating little differentiation in postcranial maturity at birth despite known differences in the pace of craniodental development between the species. In a broader perspective, our results likely reflect evolution acting during prenatal ontogeny. Even though primates are notable for relatively prolonged gestation and postnatal parental care, neonates are not buffered from selection, perhaps especially in the unpredictable and volatile environment of Madagascar. Anat Rec, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Anat Rec, 303:250-264, 2020. © 2018 American Association for Anatomy., (© 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Horseshoe bats (Family Rhinolophidae) show an impressive array of morphological traits associated with use of high duty cycle echolocation calls that they emit via their nostrils (nasophonation). Delicate maxilloturbinal bones inside the nasal fossa of horseshoe bats have a unique elongated strand-like shape unknown in other mammals. Maxilloturbinal strands also vary considerably in length and cross-sectional shape. In other mammals, maxilloturbinals help direct respired air and prevent respiratory heat and water loss. We investigated whether strand-shaped maxilloturbinals in horseshoe bats perform a similar function to those of other mammals, or whether they were shaped for a role in nasophonation. Using histology, we studied the mucosa of the nasal fossa in Rhinolophus lepidus, which we compared with Hipposideros lankadiva (Hipposideridae) and Megaderma lyra (Megadermatidae). Using micro-CT scans of 30 horseshoe bat species, we quantified maxilloturbinal surface area and skull shape within a phylogenetic context. Histological results showed horseshoe bat maxilloturbinals are covered in a thin, poorly vascularized, sparsely ciliated mucosa poorly suited for preventing respiratory heat and water loss. Maxilloturbinal surface area was correlated with basicranial width, but exceptionally long and dorsoventrally flat maxilloturbinals did not show enhanced surface area for heat and moisture exchange. Skull shape variation appears to be driven by structures linked to nasophonation, including maxilloturbinals. Resting echolocation call frequency better predicted skull shape than did skull size, and was specifically correlated with dimensions of the rostral inflations, palate, and maxilloturbinals. These traits appear to form a morphological complex, indicating a nasophonatory role for the strand-shaped rhinolophid maxilloturbinals. Anat Rec, 2018. © 2018 American Association for Anatomy., (© 2018 American Association for Anatomy.)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) use, although normally the last line of preferred hazard control, is vital to protecting firefighters. It is vital that research identify factors that positively influence firefighter behaviors associated with PPE use. Data were collected from 742 career firefighters working for metropolitan fire departments in both the eastern and western United States. Structural equation modeling was used to assess the hypothesized model and relationships between safety-specific transformational leadership, safety motivation and effective use of personal protective equipment. Safety-specific transformational leadership was positively associated with firefighter safety motivation and safety motivation was positively associated with personal protective equipment use. There was also a significant direct relationship between safety-specific transformational leadership and personal protective equipment use. Transformational leadership has not been an emphasis in the fire service because of its hierarchical structure and paramilitary-like traditions. Current fire service stakeholders have called for changes in leadership strategies and the overall culture within the fire service. This research provides additional evidence that safety-specific transformational leadership can bolster safety motivation among firefighters and can result in enhanced safety performance, including the proper and effective use of personal protective equipment., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

This special issue of The Anatomical Record explores extravagant adaptions that vertebrates have evolved from their base groups to survive in the most challenging environments. The special issue stems from a symposium entitled "Extreme Anatomy: Living beyond the edge," which was held April 23, 2017, at the annual meeting of the American Association of Anatomists, (now called the American Association for Anatomy), in Chicago, IL. In part 1 of this issue, we encounter fossorial mammals and cave-dwelling fish and salamanders that have reduced visual systems accompanied by a variety of mechanosensory adaptations. In rivers and seas, teeth may not suffice in the pursuit of prey: aquatic vertebrates are adorned with armor or weaponry or elaborate keratinous sieves. As vertebrates exploit a great diversity of niches, selection has favored a dizzying array of specialized sensory and locomotor adaptions for deep diving, rapid flight, and navigation through dark and complex settings. Each special adaptation, some seemingly quite "extreme" deviations from an original Bauplan, becomes a tool for a pioneer-like diversification of vertebrates. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy., (© 2019 American Association for Anatomy.)

'Macrosmatic' mammals have dedicated olfactory regions within their nasal cavity and segregated airstreams for olfaction and respiratory air-conditioning. Here, we examined the 3D distribution of olfactory surface area (SA) and nasal airflow patterns in the pygmy slow loris ( Nycticebus pygmaeus ), a primate with primitive nasal cavities, except for enlarged eyes that converge upon the posterodorsal nasal region. Using the head of an adult loris cadaver, we co-registered micro-computed tomography (CT) slices and histology sections to create a 3D reconstruction of the olfactory mucosa distribution. Histological sections were used to measure olfactory surface area and to annotate CT reconstructions. The loris has a complex olfactory recess (∼19% of total nasal SA) with multiple olfactory turbinals. However, the first ethmoturbinal has a rostral projection that extends far anterior to the olfactory recess, lined by ∼90% non-olfactory epithelium. Only one (of three) frontoturbinals bears olfactory mucosa. Computational fluid dynamics simulations of nasal airflow and odorant deposition revealed that there is some segregation of respiratory and olfactory flow in the loris nose, but that it is not as distinct as in well-studied 'macrosmats' (e.g. the dog). In the loris, airflow is segregated medially and laterally to vertically elongated, plate-like first ethmoturbinals. Thus, lorises may be said to have certain macrosmatic anatomical characteristics (e.g. olfactory recess), but not segregated nasal airflow patterns that are optimized for olfaction, as in canids. These results imply that a binary 'microsmatic/macrosmatic' dichotomy does not exist. Rather, mammals appear to exhibit complex trends with respect to specialization of the turbinals and recesses., Competing Interests: Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing or financial interests., (© 2019. Published by The Company of Biologists Ltd.)

We are witnessing a momentous cultural shift in how we understand, respond to, and resist sexual violence. Rise of the #MeToo movement has ignited a viral wave of consciousness raising, dialogue, and advocacy on an international scale. Women and girls have been empowered to share their stories of sexual assault, bringing to light the widespread prevalence of gender-based violence. As the shame and blame that have silenced victims gradually diminish, we anticipate a continued upward trend in sexual assault disclosure among youth, and corresponding increase in demand for trauma-informed paediatric sexual assault services. It is our collective responsibility to prevent revictimization and retraumatization by the very systems designed to help. In this critical lens commentary, we strongly advocate for heightened awareness and improved responsiveness among paediatric health care providers and policymakers to effectively and ethically meet the diverse needs of the growing number of young survivors who take the brave step of speaking out and reaching out.

Introduction: Limited research associated with safety climate has been completed within the fire service. Given this dearth of information, the present study sought to identify a valid and reliable measure of safety climate at both the workgroup and organizational levels within the fire service., Methods: Researchers surveyed 994 firefighters in two large metropolitan fire departments. Preliminary analyses including psychometrics, confirmatory factor analyses, and shared perception analyses were completed. A linear mixed model analysis was then completed to assess the relationships between workgroup safety climate, organizational safety climate, and safety behaviors, including both safety compliance and safety citizenship behaviors., Results: Measures of safety climate at the workgroup (WGSC) and organizational levels (OSC) were derived. WGSC factors include supervisor support (α = 0.92), vertical cohesion (α = 0.89), and horizontal cohesion (α = 0.94). OSC factors include management commitment (α = 0.91), safety programs/policies (α = 0.89), perceived fairness (α = 0.86) and incident command (α = 0.90). Confirmatory factor analyses confirmed our multi-factor models were a good fit to the data. The linear mixed model analysis found that WGSC positively predicted safety compliance behavior (B = 0.13, p < .001) and safety citizenship behavior (B = 0.22, p < .001) and OSC positively predicted safety compliance behavior (B = 0.16, p < .001) and safety citizenship behavior (B = 0.15, p < .001)., Conclusions: This work presents reliable and valid measures of both workgroup and organizational safety climate, which have positive relationships with safety behavior outcomes. Practical application: The measures, which were developed through an extensive multi-method process, provide a means for researchers and practitioners to assess safety climate in the fire service and provides guidance for future safety climate research, including informing intervention research, which could potentially bolster safety climate and enhance safety in the fire service., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd and National Safety Council. All rights reserved.)

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a complex systemic syndrome associated with high morbidity and mortality and risk for the subsequent development of renal and non-renal complications. Nearly 50% of patients in the ICU experience AKI. AKI severity is a key metric for evaluating patients risk of hospital mortality. Current AKI stratification is based on absolute changes in Serum Creatinine (SCr) and the maximal increase relative to the patients baseline value. However, such measurement does not consider either the progression or duration of AKI, both of which are associated with adverse outcomes post-AKI. In this article, by leveraging a large volume of SCr temporal variabilities, we present a novel model called Trajectory of Acute Kidney Injury (TAKI) for the identification of AKI trajectory subtypes. Experimental results demonstrate that TAKI is better than the existing trajectory subtyping methods on both the inpatient mortality stratification and the post-7-day AKI progression estimation. With TAKI, it is found that the trend of KDIGO trajectory appears to be more highly associated with inpatient mortality rates than the maximum KDIGO score.

Macrophages are versatile cells of the innate immune system that can adopt a variety of functional phenotypes depending on signals in their environment. In previous work, we found that culture of macrophages on fibrin, the provisional extracellular matrix protein, inhibits their inflammatory activation when compared to cells cultured on polystyrene surfaces. Here, we sought to investigate the role of matrix stiffness in the regulation of macrophage activity by manipulating the mechanical properties of fibrin. We utilize a photo-initiated crosslinking method to introduce dityrosine crosslinks to a fibrin gel and confirm an increase in gel stiffness through active microrheology. We observe that matrix crosslinking elicits distinct changes in macrophage morphology, integrin expression, migration, and inflammatory activation. Macrophages cultured on a stiffer substrate exhibit greater cell spreading and expression of αM integrin. Furthermore, macrophages cultured on crosslinked fibrin exhibit increased motility. Finally, culture of macrophages on photo-crosslinked fibrin enhances their inflammatory activation compared to unmodified fibrin, suggesting that matrix crosslinking regulates the functional activation of macrophages. These findings provide insight into how the physical properties of the extracellular matrix might control macrophage behavior during inflammation and wound healing.

Of the principal sensory systems (vision, olfaction, taste, hearing, and balance), olfaction is one of the oldest. This ubiquitous system has both peripheral and central subdivisions. The peripheral subdivision is comprised of the olfactory epithelium and nerve fascicles, whereas the central subdivision is made up of the olfactory bulb and its central connections. Humans lack the "accessory olfactory system" of many other mammals, exhibiting only a nonfunctioning vestige of its peripheral element, the vomeronasal organ. Compared to most mammals, major elements of the human olfactory system are reduced; for example, humans have fewer turbinates than many mammals, and their olfactory epithelia are found only on one or two of these structures and their adjacent surfaces. Nonetheless, humans retain a full complement of functional cellular elements including a regenerating population of olfactory sensory neurons. These neurons extend long ciliary processes into the mucus that form a mat of cilia on which the odorant receptors are located. The olfactory sensory neurons send their axons directly to synapse within the olfactory bulb. Mitral and tufted cells then relay impulses from the bulb to other brain regions. This chapter describes the general anatomy and microanatomy of the olfactory system., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Little research has explored burnout and its causes in the American fire service. Data were collected from career firefighters in the southeastern United States ( n = 208) to explore these relationships. A hierarchical regression model was tested to examine predictors of burnout including sociodemographic characteristics (model 1), work pressure (model 2), work stress and work-family conflict (model 3) and interaction terms (model 4). The main findings suggest that perceived work stress and work-family conflict emerged as the significant predictors of burnout (both p < .001). Interventions and programs aimed at these predictors could potentially curtail burnout among firefighters.

Objective: Despite lessons learned from the recent Ebola epidemic, attempts to survey and determine non-health care worker, industry-specific needs to address highly infectious diseases have been minimal. The aircraft rescue and fire fighting (ARFF) industry is often overlooked in highly infectious disease training and education, even though it is critical to their field due to elevated occupational exposure risk during their operations., Methods: A 44-question gap analysis survey was distributed to the ARFF Working Group to determine where highly infectious education and training can be improved. In total, N=245 responses were initiated and collected. Descriptive statistics were generated utilizing Qualtrics Software Version 2016.17©., Results: Supervisors perceived Frontline respondents to be more willing and comfortable to encounter potential highly infectious disease scenarios than the Frontline indicated. More than one-third of respondents incorrectly marked transmission routes of viral hemorrhagic fevers. There were discrepancies in self-reports on the existence of highly infectious disease orientation and skills demonstration, employee resources, and personal protective equipment policies, with a range of 7.5%-24.0% more Supervisors than Frontline respondents marking activities as conducted., Conclusions: There are deficits in highly infectious disease knowledge, skills, and abilities among ARFF members that must be addressed to enhance member safety, health, and well-being. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:675-679).

Introduction: Fire and emergency service workers, including Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting members, may be called on to perform confined space entry and rescue operations. The purpose of the present study was to develop a comprehensive and valid understanding of the present state of confined space entry and rescue training effectiveness and resultant compliance or use of best practices among trained Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting personnel., Method: The study used a convergent, parallel mixed-methods approach. Qualitative data (n = 20) were collected via semi-structured interviews at four locations. Data were coded, analyzed and super-ordinate and sub-ordinate themes were derived. Quantitative data (n = 158) from Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting members were analyzed., Results: Interviewees believed there is a lack of standardization in training, but believed training should not be completed in the same format every time. Several participants (50%) desired more realistic training. Other concerns were associated with staffing, personal readiness, and resource adequacy. With regard to survey outcomes, most respondents reported that their organizations completed confined space training (69.8%), but only 55.3% indicated this training was conducted as a full-scale exercise and nearly 40% indicated that rescue practice was not performed despite standards mandating annual rescue practice. Following training, 55.4% indicated training evaluation information was not presented., Conclusions: Participants mostly agreed their training effectively addressed OSHA requirements, such as how to test the atmosphere, the need for and use of personal protective equipment, how to identify pertinent permit information and methods to retrieve victims in limited space. Some gaps exist between current training practices and established training requirements and standards., Practical Applications: Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting organizations need to bolster aspects of their training, particularly with regard to standardizing training efforts, practicing rescues, providing evaluation feedback and written materials and providing adequate resources., (Copyright © 2018 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) asked the RAND Corporation to develop an approach, reported here, for estimating the economic benefit of NIOSH research, using three case studies. The cases provide concrete illustrations of the ways in which NIOSH research could affect worker health and safety practices and outcomes, as well as some initial estimates of the economic benefit associated with those impacts. The authors selected the case studies to illustrate variation in types of NIOSH research and in intended users. The first case study examines research to develop, test, and support implementation of engineering control measures to limit exposure to silica among road construction workers. This case study offers an example of NIOSH's intervention and surveillance research and provision of technical assistance. The second case study involves two NIOSH studies that strengthened the evidence base about the linkage between firefighting activities and increased risk of certain cancers among firefighters. This case study provides an example of etiological and exposure surveillance research, coupled with an intervention study. The third case study involves a NIOSH evaluation of the effectiveness of Ohio's Safety Intervention Grant Program in reducing the prevalence and costs of workplace injuries. This case study illustrates intervention research targeting government organizations. The first and second case studies led to the development of control technologies, and all three case studies involved dissemination and stakeholder engagement efforts that promoted the adoption of risk-reducing technologies and practices.

Mechanical cues including stretch, compression, and shear stress play a critical role in regulating the behavior of many cell types, particularly those that experience substantial mechanical stress within tissues. Devices that impart mechanical stimulation to cells in vitro have been instrumental in helping to develop a better understanding of how cells respond to mechanical forces. However, these devices often have constraints, such as cost and limited functional capabilities, that restrict their use in research or educational environments. Here, we describe a low-cost method to fabricate a uniaxial cell stretcher that would enable widespread use and facilitate engineering design and mechanobiology education for undergraduate students. The device is capable of producing consistent and reliable strain profiles through the use of a servomotor, gear, and gear rack system. The servomotor can be programmed to output various waveforms at specific frequencies and stretch amplitudes by controlling the degree of rotation, speed, and acceleration of the servogear. In addition, the stretchable membranes are easy to fabricate and can be customized, allowing for greater flexibility in culture well size. We used the custom-built stretching device to uniaxially strain macrophages and cardiomyocytes, and found that both cell types displayed functional and cell shape changes that were consistent with the previous studies using commercially available systems. Overall, this uniaxial cell stretcher provides a more cost-effective alternative to study the effects of mechanical stretch on cells, and can therefore, be widely used in research and educational environments to broaden the study and pedagogy of cell mechanobiology.

Objectives: An overexpression of Tgf-β2 leads to calvarial hyperostosis and suture fusion in individuals with craniosynostosis. Inhibition of Tgf-β2 may help rescue fusing sutures and restore normal growth. The present study was designed to test this hypothesis., Design: Twenty-eight New Zealand White rabbits with delayed-onset coronal synostosis had radiopaque markers placed on either side of the coronal sutures at 10 days of age. The rabbits were randomly assigned to: (1) sham control rabbits (n = 10), (2) rabbits with control IgG (100 μg/suture) delivered in a collagen vehicle (n = 9), and (3) rabbits with Tgf-β2 neutralizing antibody (100 μg/suture) delivered in a collagen vehicle (n = 9). Longitudinal growth data were collected at 10, 25, 42, and 84 days of age. Sutures were harvested at 84 days of age for histomorphometry., Results: Radiographic analysis showed significantly greater ( P < .05) coronal suture marker separation, craniofacial length, cranial vault length, height, shape indices, cranial base length, and more lordotic cranial base angles in rabbits treated with anti-Tgf-β2 antibody than in controls at 42 and 84 days of age. Histologically, rabbits treated with anti-Tgf-β2 antibody at 84 days of age had patent and significantly ( P < .05) wider coronal sutures and greater sutural area compared to controls., Conclusions: These data support our hypothesis that antagonism of Tgf-β2 may rescue fusing coronal sutures and facilitate craniofacial growth in this rabbit model. These findings also suggest that cytokine therapy may have clinical significance in infants with progressive postgestational craniosynostosis.

Study Objective: Accurate interpretation of anogenital examination findings in the context of suspected child and adolescent sexual abuse/assault is essential, because misinterpretation has significant child protection and criminal justice implications. A consensus approach to the interpretation of anogenital examination findings is widely used to support accurate diagnosis; however, a large-scale study using this standardized approach is lacking. The objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the proportion of anogenital examinations for sexual abuse concerns with findings diagnostic of trauma and/or sexual contact; (2) determine whether frequency of diagnostic findings varies according to age, gender, and timing of examination; and (3) characterize diagnostic findings. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, INTERVENTIONS, AND MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Retrospective records of children aged 0-18 years evaluated for sexual abuse/assault were reviewed. Case details of 3569 patients were extracted and anogenital examination findings were reinterpreted using a published consensus approach., Results: Anogenital examination findings diagnostic of trauma and/or sexual contact were present in 173 of 3569 patients (4.8%). The prevalence of diagnostic findings was significantly higher in adolescents than in children younger than 12 years of age (13.9%, 114/823 vs 2.2%, 59/2657), in female vs male patients (5.7%, 164/2866 vs 1.5%, 9/614), and in examinations within 72 hours for children younger than 12 years (14.2%, 91/643 vs 4.5%, 45/997). Acute injuries were the most common type of diagnostic finding., Conclusion: Diagnostic findings are present in a small proportion of children and adolescents examined for suspected sexual abuse/assault. It is essential that practitioners who interpret examination findings be adequately trained and familiar with the current consensus approach and are aware of case characteristics associated with higher likelihood of findings., (Copyright © 2017 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

While often a silent and invisible issue, childhood trauma is pervasive, and has profound individual, societal and economic impacts. Many forms of childhood trauma exist, including child physical and sexual abuse. Given the prevalence, impact and availability of prevention and intervention approaches, child abuse deserves the same level of awareness, policy priority and investment as is directed to other issues of significant public health importance. The complex issue of child abuse requires a coordinated multifaceted response, which minimizes system trauma and revictimization for the child and family. The Child and Youth Advocacy Centre (CYAC) model brings together various sectors to create an integrated, multidisciplinary response that is client-centred and trauma-informed. To ensure that all children, youth and their families who have experienced maltreatment have access to the CYAC model of care when needed, sustainable funding investment in CYACs should be a priority for government at all levels.

The association between safety climate, job satisfaction and turnover intention has not been thoroughly researched. This research is needed so that safety researchers and practitioners can begin to delineate the impact of safety on organizational and business outcomes. A path analysis was completed using data from a national sample of workers from the USA (n = 1525). The overall fit of the model was excellent and analyses determined that both training and resource adequacy positively affected safety climate and job satisfaction. Safety climate also positively influenced job satisfaction. Both safety climate and job satisfaction were negatively associated with respondents' turnover intention. In the study, the relationship between job satisfaction and turnover intention is reiterated in a sample of workers across many industries. This study is novel because it is one of the first studies to confirm that turnover intention is reduced with increased safety climate in a diverse sample of workers.

Introduction: New strategies need to be developed for the early recognition and rapid response for the management of sepsis. To achieve this purpose, the Multidisciplinary Sepsis Team (MST) developed the Computerised Sepsis Protocol Management (PIMIS). The aim of this study was to evaluate the convenience of using PIMIS, as well as the activity of the MST., Methods: An analysis was performed on the data collected from solicited MST consultations (direct activation of PIMIS by attending physician or telephone request) and unsolicited ones (by referral from the microbiology laboratory or an automatic referral via the hospital vital signs recording software [SIDCV]), as well as the hospital department, source of infection, treatment recommendation, and acceptance of this., Results: Of the 1,581 first consultations, 65.1% were solicited consultations (84.1% activation of PIMIS and 15.9% by telephone). The majority of unsolicited consultations were generated by the microbiology laboratory (95.2%), and 4.8% from the SIDCV. Referral from solicited consultations were generated sooner (5.63days vs 8.47days; P<.001) and came from clinical specialties rather than from the surgical ward (73.0% vs 39.1%; P<.001). A recommendation was made for antimicrobial prescription change in 32% of first consultations. The treating physician accepted 78.1% of recommendations., Conclusions: The high rate of solicited consultations and acceptance of recommended prescription changes suggest that a MST is seen as a helpful resource, and that PIMIS software is perceived to be useful and convenient to use, as it is the main source of referral., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier España, S.L.U. and Sociedad Española de Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica. All rights reserved.)

Computed tomography X-ray imaging of the internal face in well-preserved primate fossil crania permits reconstruction of the nature of their nasal anatomy, including some soft-tissue features. These features are diagnostic of the primate suborder Haplorhini, and allow reevaluation of the phylogenetic status of several purported early members of the group. Here we examine the nasolacrimal morphology of a broad sample of extant primates, as well as a number of Paleogene fossils. The extant sample confirms the distinctiveness of the two suborders. Of the fossils studied, only Shoshonius cooperi from the late-early Eocene exhibits evidence of a haplorhine nose. This suggests that the haplorhine oronasal complex may have evolved before the postorbital septum, and strengthens the claim that Shoshonius is a close relative of tarsiers and anthropoids. These results indicate that Omomyiformes is not a monophyletic group, and that few of its members possessed the derived oronasal morphology that characterizes crown haplorhines., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Integration of the sphenoid and ethmoid bones during early postnatal development is poorly described in the literature. A uniquely prolonged patency of sphenoethmoidal synchondrosis or prespheno-septal synchondrosis (PSept) has been attributed to humans. However, the sphenoethmoidal junction has not been studied using a comparative primate sample. Here, we examined development of the sphenoethmoidal interface using ontogenetic samples of Old and New World monkeys, strepsirrhine primates (lemurs and lorises), and a comparative sample of other mammals. Specimens ranging from late fetal to 1 month postnatal age were studied using histology, immunohistochemistry, and micro-computed tomography methods. Our results demonstrate that humans are not unique in anterior cranial base growth at PSept, as it is patent in all newborn primates. We found two distinctions within our sample. First, nearly all primates exhibit an earlier breakdown of the nasal capsule cartilage that abuts the orbitosphenoid when compared to nonprimates. This may facilitate earlier postnatal integration of the basicranium and midface and may enhance morphological plasticity in the region. Second, the PSept exhibits a basic dichotomy between strepsirrhines and monkeys. In strepsirrhines, the PSept has proliferating chondrocytes that are primarily oriented in a longitudinal plane, as in other mammals. In contrast, monkeys have a convex anterior end of the presphenoid with a radial boundary of cartilaginous growth at PSept. Our findings suggest that the PSept acts as a "pacemaker" of longitudinal facial growth in mammals with relatively long snouts, but may also contribute to facial height and produce a relatively taller midface in anthropoid primates. Anat Rec, 300:2115-2137, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Rotator cuff tears are one of the most common conditions affecting the shoulder. Because of the difficulty in managing massive rotator cuff tears and the inability of standard techniques to prevent arthropathy, surgeons have developed several novel techniques to improve outcomes and ideally alter the natural history., Purpose: To systematically review the existing literature and analyze reported outcomes to evaluate the effectiveness of using a bridging graft reconstruction technique to treat large to massive irreparable rotator cuff tears., Study Design: Systematic review., Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and CENTRAL was employed with the key terms "tear," "allograft," and "rotator cuff." Eligibility was determined by a 3-phase screening process according to the outlined inclusion/exclusion criteria. Data in relation to the primary and secondary outcomes were summarized. The results were synthesized according to the origin of the graft and the level of evidence., Results: Fifteen studies in total were included in this review: 2 comparative studies and 13 observational case series. Both the biceps tendon and the fascia lata autograft groups had significantly superior structural integrity rates on magnetic resonance imaging at 12-month minimum follow-up when compared with their partial primary repair counterparts (58% vs 26%, P = .036; 79% vs 58%, P < .05), respectively. Multiple noncomparative case series investigating allografts, xenografts, and synthetic materials for bridging reconstruction of large to massive rotator cuff tears demonstrated high structural healing rates (74%-90%, 73%-100%, and 60%-90%, respectively). Additionally, both comparative studies and case series demonstrated a general improvement of patients' functional outcome scores., Conclusion: Using a graft for an anatomic bridging rotator cuff repair results in improved function on objective testing and may be functionally better than nonanatomic or partial repair of large to massive rotator cuff tears. Allograft or xenograft techniques appear to be favorable options, given demonstrated functional improvement, imaging-supported graft survival, and lack of harvest complication risk. More high-quality randomized controlled studies are needed to further assess this technique.

Objectives: Dental eruption schedules have been closely linked to life history variables. Here we examine a sample of 50 perinatal primates (28 species) to determine whether life history traits correlate with relative tooth size at birth., Materials and Methods: Newborn primates were studied using serial histological sectioning. Volumes of deciduous premolars (dp 2 -dp 4 ), replacement teeth (if any), and permanent molars (M 1-2/3 ) of the upper jaw were measured and residuals from cranial length were calculated with least squares regressions to obtain relative dental volumes (RDVs)., Results: Relative dental volumes of deciduous or permanent teeth have an unclear relationship with relative neonatal mass in all primates. Relative palatal length (RPL), used as a proxy for midfacial size, is significantly, positively correlated with larger deciduous and permanent postcanine teeth. However, when strepsirrhines alone are examined, larger RPL is correlated with smaller RDV of permanent teeth. In the full sample, RDVs of deciduous premolars are significantly negatively correlated with relative gestation length (RGL), but have no clear relationship with relative weaning age. RDVs of molars lack a clear relationship with RGL; later weaning is associated with larger molar RDV, although correlations are not significant. When strepsirrhines alone are analyzed, clearer trends are present: longer gestations or later weaning are associated with smaller deciduous and larger permanent postcanine teeth (only gestational length correlations are significant)., Discussion: Our results indicate a broad trend that primates with the shortest RGLs precociously develop deciduous teeth; in strepsirrhines, the opposite trend is seen for permanent molars. Anthropoids delay growth of permanent teeth, while strepsirrhines with short RGLs are growing replacement teeth concurrently. A comparison of neonatal volumes with existing information on extent of cusp mineralization indicates that growth of tooth germs and cusp mineralization may be selected for independently., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Background: Firefighting is a hazardous occupation and there have been numerous calls for fundamental changes in how fire service organizations approach safety and balance safety with other operational priorities. These calls, however, have yielded little systematic research., Methods: As part of a larger project to develop and test a model of safety climate for the fire service, focus groups were used to identify potentially important dimensions of safety climate pertinent to firefighting., Results: Analyses revealed nine overarching themes. Competency/professionalism, physical/psychological readiness, and that positive traits sometimes produce negative consequences were themes at the individual level; cohesion and supervisor leadership/support at the workgroup level; and politics/bureaucracy, resources, leadership, and hiring/promotion at the organizational level. A multi-level perspective seems appropriate for examining safety climate in firefighting., Conclusions: Safety climate in firefighting appears to be multi-dimensional and some dimensions prominent in the general safety climate literature also seem relevant to firefighting. These results also suggest that the fire service may be undergoing transitions encompassing mission, personnel, and its fundamental approach to safety and risk., Practical Applications: These results help point the way to the development of safety climate measures specific to firefighting and to interventions for improving safety performance., (Copyright © 2017 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

An avian uropygial gland is located on the mid-dorsum of the tail, and is the only external gland found in birds. Most studies have focused on the function, gross anatomy and chemical nature of this gland, with little research on its ontogeny. The purpose of this study was to examine the development of this gland in a series of Laysan Albatross (Phoebastria immutabilis) embryos. Specimens were examined anatomically and histologically. It was found that grooves preceded glandular development by many stages. The embryogenesis of the uropygial gland was divided into 6 phases: preinception, groove inception, mesodermal separation, migrating mesodermal cells, oval shaped "depressions", constriction and finally glandular inception. No other gland is known to develop similarly, though there may be parallels with femoral gland development. In comparison to other bird species, the length of the development period in the Albatross, as well as other compounding factors, make it difficult to determine the significance of these observations. The development of a mesodermal band, soon to be a connective tissue capsule, is more complex than originally described in ducks. Thus, the unique nature of this gland is established, but the significance of the observations required further studies into uropygial gland development. Anat Rec, 300:1420-1428, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Antineoplastic drugs pose risks to the healthcare workers who handle them. This fact notwithstanding, adherence to safe handling guidelines remains inconsistent and often poor. This study examined the effects of pertinent organizational safety practices and perceived safety climate on the use of personal protective equipment, engineering controls, and adverse events (spill/leak or skin contact) involving liquid antineoplastic drugs. Data for this study came from the 2011 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Health and Safety Practices Survey of Healthcare Workers which included a sample of approximately 1,800 nurses who had administered liquid antineoplastic drugs during the past seven days. Regression modeling was used to examine predictors of personal protective equipment use, engineering controls, and adverse events involving antineoplastic drugs. Approximately 14% of nurses reported experiencing an adverse event while administering antineoplastic drugs during the previous week. Usage of recommended engineering controls and personal protective equipment was quite variable. Usage of both was better in non-profit and government settings, when workers were more familiar with safe handling guidelines, and when perceived management commitment to safety was higher. Usage was poorer in the absence of specific safety handling procedures. The odds of adverse events increased with number of antineoplastic drugs treatments and when antineoplastic drugs were administered more days of the week. The odds of such events were significantly lower when the use of engineering controls and personal protective equipment was greater and when more precautionary measures were in place. Greater levels of management commitment to safety and perceived risk were also related to lower odds of adverse events. These results point to the value of implementing a comprehensive health and safety program that utilizes available hazard controls and effectively communicates and demonstrates the importance of safe handling practices. Such actions also contribute to creating a positive safety climate.

Macrophages are versatile and plastic effector cells of the immune system, and contribute to diverse immune functions including pathogen or apoptotic cell removal, inflammatory activation and resolution, and tissue healing. Macrophages function as signaling regulators and amplifiers, and influencing their activity is a powerful approach for controlling inflammation or inducing a wound-healing response in regenerative medicine. This review discusses biomaterials-based approaches for altering macrophage activity, approaches for targeting drugs to macrophages, and approaches for delivering macrophages themselves as a therapeutic intervention., (Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Invasive aspergillosis by Aspergillus fumigatus is a leading cause of infection-related mortality in immune-compromised patients. In order to discover potential genetic targets to control A. fumigatus infections we characterized rtfA, a gene encoding a putative RNA polymerase II transcription elongation factor-like protein. Our recent work has shown that the rtfA ortholog in the model fungus Aspergillus nidulans regulates morphogenesis and secondary metabolism. The present study on the opportunistic pathogen A. fumigatus rtfA gene revealed that this gene influences fungal growth and conidiation, as well as production of the secondary metabolites tryptoquivaline F, pseurotin A, fumiquinazoline C, festuclavine, and fumigaclavines A, B and C. Additionally, rtfA influences protease activity levels, the sensitivity to oxidative stress and adhesion capacity, all factors important in pathogenicity. Furthermore, rtfA was shown to be indispensable for normal virulence using Galleria mellonella as well as murine infection model systems.

Fibrin is a major component of the provisional extracellular matrix formed during tissue repair following injury, and enables cell infiltration and anchoring at the wound site. Macrophages are dynamic regulators of this process, advancing and resolving inflammation in response to cues in their microenvironment. Although much is known about how soluble factors such as cytokines and chemokines regulate macrophage polarization, less is understood about how insoluble and adhesive cues, specifically the blood coagulation matrix fibrin, influence macrophage behavior. In this study, we observed that fibrin and its precursor fibrinogen elicit distinct macrophage functions. Culturing macrophages on fibrin gels fabricated by combining fibrinogen with thrombin stimulated secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-10 (IL-10). In contrast, exposure of macrophages to soluble fibrinogen stimulated high levels of inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). Macrophages maintained their anti-inflammatory behavior when cultured on fibrin gels in the presence of soluble fibrinogen. In addition, adhesion to fibrin matrices inhibited TNF-α production in response to stimulation with LPS and IFN-γ, cytokines known to promote inflammatory macrophage polarization. Our data demonstrate that fibrin exerts a protective effect on macrophages, preventing inflammatory activation by stimuli including fibrinogen, LPS, and IFN-γ. Together, our study suggests that the presentation of fibrin(ogen) may be a key switch in regulating macrophage phenotype behavior, and this feature may provide a valuable immunomodulatory strategy for tissue healing and regeneration., Statement of Significance: Fibrin is a fibrous protein resulting from blood clotting and provides a provisional matrix into which cells migrate and to which they adhere during wound healing. Macrophages play an important role in this process, and are needed for both advancing and resolving inflammation. We demonstrate that culture of macrophages on fibrin matrices exerts an anti-inflammatory effect, whereas the soluble precursor fibrinogen stimulates inflammatory activation. Moreover, culture on fibrin completely abrogates inflammatory signaling caused by fibrinogen or known inflammatory stimuli including LPS and IFN-γ. Together, these studies show that the presentation of fibrin(ogen) is important for regulating a switch between macrophage pro- and anti-inflammatory behavior., (Copyright © 2016 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Sensing and responding to environmental cues is critical to the lifestyle of filamentous fungi. How environmental variation influences fungi to produce a wide diversity of ecologically important secondary metabolites (SMs) is not well understood. To address this question, we first examined changes in global gene expression of the opportunistic human pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, after exposure to different temperature conditions. We found that 11 of the 37 SM gene clusters in A. fumigatus were expressed at higher levels at 30° than at 37°. We next investigated the role of the light-responsive Velvet complex in environment-dependent gene expression by examining temperature-dependent transcription profiles in the absence of two key members of the Velvet protein complex, VeA and LaeA We found that the 11 temperature-regulated SM gene clusters required VeA at 37° and LaeA at both 30 and 37° for wild-type levels of expression. Interestingly, four SM gene clusters were regulated by VeA at 37° but not at 30°, and two additional ones were regulated by VeA at both temperatures but were substantially less so at 30°, indicating that the role of VeA and, more generally of the Velvet complex, in the regulation of certain SM gene clusters is temperature-dependent. Our findings support the hypothesis that fungal secondary metabolism is regulated by an intertwined network of transcriptional regulators responsive to multiple environmental factors., (Copyright © 2016 Lind et al.)

Bony structure of the postorbital region is a key trait distinguishing major clades of primates. Strepsirrhines share a postorbital bar, and anthropoids share a complete postorbital septum. At issue is whether the partial postorbital septum of tarsiers unites living tarsiers more closely with anthropoids than with certain large-eyed Eocene fossils. Previously we reported incomplete postorbital closure in tarsiers at birth. In this article, we document comparative analyses of the postorbital region in a broad range of perinatal primates. Virtual reconstructions of microCT data were used to study three-dimensional structure of the perinatal cranium in these taxa. We also describe and illustrate formation of the tarsier partial postorbital septum through the perinatal period using a growth series of Tarsius syrichta. Our results support the hypothesis that partial postorbital septation in the tarsier is secondary to eye hypertrophy. Based on these observations, we propose a structural hypothesis for phylogenetic differences observed in the primate postorbital region. Specifically, we propose that key postorbital traits, including the frontal spur in strepsirrhines and the posterior lamina of the zygomatic in anthropoids, develop as a result of the spatial relationships of brain, eyes, and teeth. Haplorhines are united by expansion of the anterior cranial fossa and loss of the frontal spur. Anthropoids are further united to the exclusion of tarsiers by expansion of the temporal lobes and associated formation of the posterior lamina of the zygomatic. Mechanical forces related to these spatial relationships may be modulated by deep fascia of the orbit to induce formation of the postorbital septum. Anat Rec, 299:1631-1645, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., (© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)