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Autocorrelation in recruitment success of fish is frequently reported, but the underlying mechanisms are generally only vaguely alluded to. We analysed recruitment success of 21 cod (Gadus morhua) stocks in the North Atlantic to investigate possible common causes of autocorrelation in recruitment. We found autocorrelation and periodic fluctuations in recruitment success and adult growth in just above half of the stocks considered and investigated six possible underlying mechanisms. With three exceptions, the variations in recruitment success were not significantly related to temperature or growth anomalies, indicating that the variation was not caused by temperature-dependent survival or growth-dependent spawning products. Further, a link between recruitment and subsequent spawning biomass could not explain the observed recruitment patterns. Slow-growing cod stocks tended to exhibit longer cycles and positive autocorrelations consistent with dilution of predation mortality by adjacent large year classes or age reading errors, whereas fast-growing cod stocks showed shorter cycles and no significant autocorrelation at lag 1. Both types exhibited significant negative autocorrelations consistent with cannibalism at one or more lags greater than lag 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zimmi diamonds (Sierra Leone) have 500 million year mantle residency times whose origin is best explained by rapid tectonic exhumation to shallower depths in the mantle, associated with continental collision but prior to kimberlite eruption. Here we present spectroscopic data for a new suite of Zimmi sulphide-bearing diamonds that allow us to evaluate the link between their spectroscopic features and their unusual geological history. Cathodoluminesence (CL) imaging of these diamonds revealed irregular patterns with abundant deformation lamellae, associated with the diamonds' tectonic exhumation. Vacancies formed during deformation were subsequently naturally annealed to form vacancy clusters, NV0/− centres and H3 (NVN0). The brownish-yellow to greenish-yellow colours observed in Zimmi Ib-IaA diamonds result from visible absorption by a combination of isolated substitutional nitrogen (NS0) and deformation-related vacancy clusters. Colour-forming centres and other spectroscopic features can all be attributed to the unique geological history of Zimmi Ib-IaA diamonds and their rapid exhumation after formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The radiation resistance of Bacillus pumilus spores to gamma rays, X-rays, and electron beam (e-beam) was investigated using industrial irradiators operating at various dose rates. The dose rates were as follows: gamma 1 and 10 kGy/h; X-ray 10 and 200 kGy/h; e-beam 2000 kGy/h. The regression analysis showed that survivor curves were log 10 linear for all three sources within the investigated absorbed dose range of 1–6 kGy, irrespective of the dose rate applied. All irradiation technologies were equally efficient to inactivate the spores, which is reflected in their comparable D-values (p > 0.05), and dose rate had no impact on the microbicidal efficacy. These results suggest that wherever a specified minimum dose is delivered, the sterilization dose can be transferred between irradiation technologies in industrial sterilization of medical devices without any impact on product sterility. These findings from a novel single study encompassing all available industrial radiation technologies for the purpose of medical devices sterilization, advance our understanding of microbial destruction as related to exposure to important sterilization modalities, which will help inform future applicability of these technologies for emerging industry opportunities. • X-ray, gamma, and e-beam are comparable in terms of their microbicidal efficacy. • Dose rate has no effect on B. pumilus inactivation. • All investigated technologies showed log-linear inactivation kinetics (R2 ≥ 0.95). • Possible transfer of sterilization dose between industrial irradiators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microinclusions of high-density fluids (HDF's) occur in cloudy diamonds from the Mir and Internatsionalnaya kimberlite pipes (Malobotuobia kimberlite field, Siberian platform). These HDFs are of typical high-Mg carbonatitic composition; a few diamonds contain microinclusions that define a low-Mg carbonatitic to silicic trend. The observed variations are interpreted as resulted from mixing of two contrasting fluids derived from the partial melting mainly of carbonated peridotite (the high-Mg carbonatitic HDFs) and eclogite (silica-rich HDFs and HDFs with high Ca/(Ca + Mg + Fe)). Immiscibility of carbonatitic and silica-rich fluids provides a possible mechanism for the co-existence of the observed HDFs but needs further proof. The uniform carbon isotope composition of cloudy diamonds with high-Mg carbonatitic microinclusions from both kimberlite pipes implies a single peridotitic source. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a multispecies gadget model (GadCap) simulating the interactions among the Flemish Cap cod (Gadus morhua), redfish (Sebastes spp.), and shrimp (Pandalus borealis) has been incorporated as the operating model in a management strategy evaluation (MSE) framework (a4a-FLR) to test the performance of multiple combinations of harvest control rules (HCRs) for the three stocks when recruitment uncertainty and assessment error are accounted for. The results indicate that due to the strong trophic interactions, it is not possible to achieve the precautionary exploitation of all the stocks at the same time. Maintaining shrimp biomass above the limit reference point (Blim) would require unsustainable fishing pressure on cod and redfish to reduce predation mortality. In contrast, maintaining cod biomass above Blim would involve high predation on and high risk of collapse of the shrimp and redfish stocks. The implementation of alternative two-stage HCRs would reduce predation, resulting in higher productivity and lower probability of collapse for cod and redfish. The results of this study support the need of accounting for species interactions when designing management strategies for a group of interdependent commercial stocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine fishes are heterogeneously distributed across their ranges according to population dynamics governed by complex spatiotemporal relationships between ontogenetic habitat usage, species interactions, environmental variability, and harvest patterns. However, few stock assessments incorporate spatial population structure in the determination of population status and sustainable catch limits. A small number of generalized stock assessment software platforms are utilized worldwide to assess a large number of marine fish populations. Although each platform relies on similar underlying population dynamics, the spatial capabilities and functionality often differ among them. We catalogue spatial dynamics and capabilities across stock assessment platforms to leverage collective experiences and identify future needs for next generation assessment software packages. Despite commonalities across platforms (e.g., most models allow for a single population with spatial heterogeneity, apportionment of recruitment, and age-varying connectivity), no single platform is flexible enough to address the full breadth of spatial dynamics observed for managed marine fish species. Our review clarifies spatial assessment design and modeling 'good practices', while emphasizing the need for more generalizable and modular next generation assessment platforms that can account for the spatiotemporal complexity of marine resources (such as natal homing and spawning migrations, ontogenetic movement patterns, metapopulation structure, and complex fleet dynamics). Generalized, spatially-integrated assessment platforms will be key decision-tools to account for spatiotemporal species and fishery interactions, particularly as managers attempt to address climate change and implement ecosystem-based fisheries management. • Changing distributions and other scale-dependent management challenges require advancements to stock assessment software tools. • Despite some commonalities across assessment platforms, none were flexible enough for the full extent of observed spatial population dynamics. • Population structure, recruitment, and connectivity parameterization options were the most varied and are areas for cross-collaboration. • Challenges include multiple population structure hypotheses, parameter dimension constraints, and efficient management and review systems. • Spatial layers (partitions or strata) should be a foundational feature of any future generalizable, modular software development approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Barents Sea ecosystem, one of the most productive and commercially important ecosystems in the world, has experienced major fluctuations in species abundance the past five decades. Likely causes are natural variability, climate change, overfishing and predator–prey interactions. In this study, we use an age-length structured multi-species model (Gadget, Globally applicable Area-Disaggregated General Ecosystem Toolbox) to analyse the historic population dynamics of major fish and marine mammal species in the Barents Sea. The model was used to examine possible effects of a number of plausible biological and fisheries scenarios. The results suggest that changes in cod mortality from fishing or cod cannibalism levels have the largest effect on the ecosystem, while changes to the capelin fishery have had only minor effects. Alternate whale migration scenarios had only a moderate impact on the modelled ecosystem. Indirect effects are seen to be important, with cod fishing pressure, cod cannibalism and whale predation on cod having an indirect impact on capelin, emphasising the importance of multi-species modelling in understanding and managing ecosystems. Models such as the one presented here provide one step towards an ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The integration of evidence-informed practices in social work education can be difficult given the crowded curricula of most Master of Social Work programs, particularly for advanced standing MSW students who launch directly into advanced concentration year coursework after obtaining their Bachelor of Social Work (BSW). Several factors impact decisions about the integration of evidence-informed curricula, including the time, location, and order of infused material and choosing curriculum content that can be applied across a range of professional settings. Social workers frequently encounter clients who are reluctant to change or are mandated to receive social work services. Practitioners need the skills to engage and empower those clients toward change. This paper reports on the evaluation of a tripartite training module on Motivational Interviewing (MI) for advanced standing MSW students, which is centered around social simulation. Results of one-way repeated ANOVAs highlighted statistically significant increases in students' knowledge about MI, as well as enhanced Counselor Self-Estimate Inventory scores from pre-simulation to post-simulation, lending promising substance to social simulation as an effective, useful method in the education of advanced standing MSW students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Balanced harvest has been proposed to reduce fishing impact on ecosystems while simultaneously maintaining or even increasing fishery yield. The concept has attracted broad interest, but also received criticisms. In this paper, we examine the theory, modelling studies, empirical evidence, the legal and policy frameworks, and management implications of balanced harvest. The examination reveals unresolved issues and challenges from both scientific and management perspectives. We summarize current knowledge and address common questions relevant to the idea. Major conclusions include: balanced harvest can be expressed in several ways and implemented on multiple levels, and with different approaches e.g. métier based management; it explicitly bridges fisheries and conservation goals in accordance with international legal and policy frameworks; modelling studies and limited empirical evidence reveal that balanced harvest can reduce fishing impact on ecosystem structure and increase the aggregate yield; the extent of balanced harvest is not purely a scientific question, but also a legal and social choice; a transition to balanced harvest may incur short-term economic costs, while in the long-term, economic results will vary across individual fisheries and for society overall; for its application, balanced harvest can be adopted at both strategic and tactical levels and need not be a full implementation, but could aim for a "partially-balanced" harvest. Further objective discussions and research on this subject are needed to move balanced harvest toward supporting a practical ecosystem approach to fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physical characteristics and impermeability of diamonds allow them to retain radiogenic 4He produced in-situ from radioactive decay of U, Th and Sm. This study investigates the U-Th/He systematics of fibrous diamonds and provides a first step in quantification of the uncertainties associated with determining the in-situ produced radiogenic 4He concentration. Factors determining the total amount of measured helium in a diamond are the initial trapped 4He, the in-situ produced radiogenic 4He, α-implantation, α-ejection, diffusion, and cosmogenic 3He production. Alpha implantation is negligible, and diffusion is slow, but the cosmogenic 3He component can be significant for alluvial diamonds as the recovery depth is unknown. Therefore, samples were grouped based on similar major and trace element compositions to determine possible genetically related samples. A correlation between the 4He and U-Th concentrations approximates the initial 4He concentration at the axis-intersect and age as the slope. In this study, the corrections were applied to eight fibrous cubic diamonds from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and two diamonds from the Jwaneng kimberlite in Botswana. A correlation exists between the 4He and U-Th concentrations of the group ZRC2, 3, and 6, and of the group CNG2, 3, and 4 and both correlations deviate significantly from a 71 Ma kimberlite eruption isochron. The U-Th/He dating method appears a promising new approach to date metasomatic fluid events that result in fibrous diamond formation and this is the first evidence that some fibrous diamonds can be formed 10s to 100s Myr before the kimberlite eruption. • Quantification of initial trapped 4He, in-situ produced radiogenic 4He, α-implantation, and α-ejection. • Comparing crushing and heating experiments shows crushing does not efficiently release 4He from fibrous diamond. • U-Th/He model ages and isochronous correlations indicate fibrous diamonds can form 10s–100s Myr before kimberlite eruption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the core of many Earth-scale processes is the question of what the deep mantle is made of. The only direct samples from such extreme depths are diamonds and their inclusions. It is commonly assumed that these inclusions reflect ambient mantle or are syngenetic with diamond, but these assumptions are rarely tested. We have studied inclusion-host growth relationships in two potentially superdeep diamonds from Juina (Brazil) containing nine inclusions of Fe-rich (XFe 0.33 to =0.64) ferropericlase-magnesiowüstite (FM) by X-ray diffractometry, X-ray tomography, cathodoluminescence, electron backscatter diffraction, and electron microprobe analysis. The inclusions share a common [112] zone axis with their diamonds and have their major crystallographic axes within 3°-8° of those of their hosts. This suggests a specific crystallographic orientation relationship (COR) resulting from interfacial energy minimization, disturbed by minor post-entrapment rotation around [112] due to plastic deformation. The observed COR and the relationships between inclusions and diamond growth zones imply that FM nucleated during the growth history of the diamond. Therefore, these inclusions may not provide direct information on the ambient mantle prior to diamond formation. Consequently, a "non-pyrolitic" composition of the lower mantle is not required to explain the occurrence of Fe-rich FM inclusions in diamonds. By identifying examples of mineral inclusions that reflect the local environment of diamond formation and not ambient mantle, we provide both a cautionary tale and a means to test diamond-inclusion time relationships for proper application of inclusion studies to whole-mantle questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents sulfide-bearing type Ib diamonds from Zimmi, Sierra Leone to evaluate the association between their rare Fancy yellow colors, unusual geological history and distribution of spectroscopic features.

Andonegi, E., Fernandes, J. A., Quincoces, I., Irigoien, X., Uriarte, A., Pérez, A., Howell, D., and Stefánsson, G. 2011. The potential use of a Gadget model to predict stock responses to climate change in combination with Bayesian networks: the case of Bay of Biscay anchovy. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 1257–1269.The European anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) is a short-lived pelagic species distributed in Atlantic European waters, with the Bay of Biscay being one of the main centres of abundance. Because it is a short-lived species, the state of the stock is determined largely by incoming recruitment. Recruitment is highly variable and depends on a variety of factors, such as the size of the spawning stock and environmental conditions in the area. The use of a coupled model that could serve to predict the evolution of the anchovy stock in the short, medium, and long term under several fishing-pressure scenarios and given climate scenarios is demonstrated. This coupled model consists of a Gadget (Globally Applicable Disaggregated General Ecosystem Toolbox) model that was used to analyse the status of the Bay of Biscay anchovy population and to simulate future scenarios based on the estimated recruitment levels, combined with a probabilistic Bayesian network model for recruitment estimation based on machine-learning methods and using climatic indices as potential forecasting factors. The results indicate that certain combinations of medium to high fishing pressure and adverse environmental conditions could force the stock outside its biological reference boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Catalytic hydrogenolysis of polyolefins into valuable liquid, oil, or wax-like hydrocarbon chains for second-life applications is typically accompanied by the hydrogen-wasting co-formation of low value volatiles, notably methane, that increase greenhouse gas emissions. Catalytic sites confined at the bottom of mesoporous wells, under conditions in which the pore exerts the greatest influence over the mechanism, are capable of producing less gases than unconfined sites. A new architecture was designed to emphasize this pore effect, with the active platinum nanoparticles embedded between linear, hexagonal mesoporous silica and gyroidal cubic MCM-48 silica (mSiO 2 /Pt/MCM-48). This catalyst deconstructs polyolefins selectively into ∼C 20 -C 40 paraffins and cleaves C-C bonds at a rate (TOF = 4.2 ± 0.3 s -1 ) exceeding that of materials lacking these combined features while generating negligible volatile side products including methane. The time-independent product distribution is consistent with a processive mechanism for polymer deconstruction. In contrast to time- and polymer length-dependent products obtained from non-porous catalysts, mSiO 2 /Pt/MCM-48 yields a C 28 -centered Gaussian distribution of waxy hydrocarbons from polyolefins of varying molecular weight, composition, and physical properties, including low-density polyethylene, isotactic polypropylene, ultrahigh-molecular-weight polyethylene, and mixtures of multiple, post-industrial polyolefins. Coarse-grained simulation reveals that the porous-core architecture enables the paraffins to diffuse away from the active platinum site, preventing secondary reactions that produce gases.

When approaching an ethylene oxide (EO) sterilization validation, medical device manufacturers traditionally have two choices. They can use biological indicators (BIs) to monitor each production run or establish a parametric release process in which sterile release is based on the monitoring and control of physical process parameters that ensure process specifications are met. In ISO 11135:2014, parametric release was brought to the forefront as an acceptable release method; however, a perception exists that implementing parametric release is challenging and time consuming. This article will demonstrate that the opposite is true. It presents a streamlined approach in which parametric release is addressed through the various stages of validation: product definition, process definition, performance qualification, routine release, and process control. Considerations for establishing specifications directly from validation versus "run and record" and trending critical process parameters (e.g., relative humidity, temperature, EO concentration) are discussed. In addition, the benefits of parametric release (active monitoring) over BI release (passive monitoring), including improvements to turnaround time, process control, risk mitigation, reduction of resource investment, and elimination of microbiological release testing, are highlighted. With multiple benefits, parametric release should be the gold standard for EO sterilization processes. It is not novel and has been widely accepted by regulatory agencies globally and notified bodies. The article further describes how the data collection and process capability that is central to process control and parametric release is more powerful than the information provided by a BI, which is merely a catastrophic indicator when used in routine processing.

Parametric release, which relies on use of process data for product release, provides many benefits. However, adoption by the sterilization industry has been slow, with release typically involving biological indicator (BI) growth responses/ dosimetry readings. The current article highlights how the data provided by the process (described through examples for ethylene oxide [EO], vaporized hydrogen peroxide [VHP], and radiation) may be better used to inform parametric release implementation. The examples involving EO and VHP demonstrated the ability of the sterilization equipment to deliver validated parameters repeatedly after the load presented was validated. For instances in which load variability has not been addressed in performance qualification, BI testing or even measurement of EO concentration cannot reliably or fully inform the impact of such variance on the validated process. "Direct" monitoring of EO concentration is a current requirement in ISO 11135:2014. Nonetheless, the findings presented here show that EO and VHP concentrations can be determined by the calculated method, rendering the use of a concentration measurement probe somewhat superfluous. In alignment with European Union good manufacturing practice Annex 17, a key requirement of parametric release is to have sufficient data to demonstrate the repeatability of the validated process. Similar to gas technologies, radiation processing strives to implement parametric release but is limited by the currently available means of measuring all critical parameters, such as photon delivery.

We simulate the combined natural and pollutant-induced survival of early life stages of NEA cod and haddock, and the impact on the adult populations in response to the time of a major oil spill in a single year. Our simulations reveal how dynamic ocean processes, controlling both oil transport and fate and the frequency of interactions of oil with drifting fish eggs and larvae, mediate the magnitude of population losses due to an oil spill. The largest impacts on fish early life stages occurred for spills initiated in Feb-Mar, concomitant with the initial rise in marine productivity and the earliest phase of the spawning season. The reproductive health of the adult fish populations was maintained in all scenarios. The study demonstrates the application of a simulation system that provides managers with information for the planning of development activities and for the protection of fisheries resources from potential impacts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests: JoLynn Carroll reports financial support was provided by Equinor Energy. JoLynn Carroll reports financial support was provided by ConocoPhillips Skandinavia. JoLynn Carroll reports financial support was provided by Wintershall Dea Norge AS. JoLynn Carroll reports financial support was provided by Vår Energi. JoLynn Carroll reports was provided by OMV. JoLynn Carroll reports financial support was provided by Lundin Energy Norway AS. JoLynn Carroll reports financial support was provided by Aker BP ASA., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)

The UK Biobank (UKBB) is a large population-based cohort that provides a unique opportunity to study the association between environmental exposure and biomarkers and to identify biomarkers as potential instruments for assessing exposure dose, health damage, and disease risks. On 462 063 participants of European ancestry, we characterized the relationship of 38 disease-relevant biomarkers, asthma diagnosis, ambient pollution, traffic factors, and genetic background. The air pollutant exposure on the UKBB cohort was fairly low (e.g., mean PM 2.5 concentration at 10.0 μg/m 3 ). Nevertheless, 30 biomarkers were in association with at least one environmental factor; e.g., C-reactive protein levels were positively associated with NO ( p adj = 2.99 × 10 -4 ), NO 2 ( p adj = 4.15 × 10 -4 ), and PM 2.5 ( p adj = 1.92 × 10 -6 ) even after multiple testing adjustment. Asthma diagnosis was associated with four pollutants (NO, NO 2 , PM 2.5 , and PM 10 ). The largest effect size was observed in PM 2.5 , where a 5 μg/m 3 increment of exposure was associated with a 1.52 increase in asthma diagnosis ( p = 4.41 × 10 -13 ). Further, environmental exposure and genetic predisposition influenced biomarker levels and asthma diagnosis in an additive model. The exposure-biomarker associations identified in this study could serve as potential indicators for environmental exposure induced health damages. Our results also shed light on possible mechanisms whereby environmental exposure influences disease-causing biomarkers and in turn increases disease risk.

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic health conditions, and to leverage the wealth of data in the electronic medical record (EMR), it is important to be able to accurately identify asthma diagnosis., Objective: We aimed to determine the rule-based algorithm with the most balanced performance for sensitivity and positive predictive value of asthma diagnosis., Methods: We performed a diagnostic accuracy study of multiple rule-based algorithms intended to identify asthma diagnosis in the EMR. Algorithm performance was validated by manual chart review of 795 charts of patients seen in a multisite, tertiary-level, pulmonary specialty clinic using explicit diagnostic criteria to distinguish asthma cases from controls., Results: An asthma diagnosis anywhere in the medical record had a 97% sensitivity and a 77% specificity for asthma (F-score 80) when tested on a validation set of asthma cases and nonasthma respiratory disease from a pulmonary specialty clinic. The most balanced performance was seen with asthma diagnosis restricted to an encounter, hospital problem, or problem list diagnosis with a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 85% (F-score 84). High sensitivity was achieved with the modified Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set criteria and high specificity was achieved with the NUgene algorithm, an algorithm developed for identifying asthma cases by EMR for genome-wide association studies., Conclusion: Asthma diagnosis can be accurately identified for research purposes by restricting to encounter, hospital problem, or problem list diagnosis in a pulmonary specialty clinic. Additional rules lead to steep drop-offs in algorithm sensitivity in our population., (Copyright © 2022 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cyclooxygenases play a vital role in inflammation and are responsible for the production of prostaglandins. Two cyclooxygenases are described, the constitutive cyclooxygenase-1 and the inducible cyclooxygenase-2, for which the target inhibitors are the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Prostaglandins are a class of lipid compounds that mediate acute and chronic inflammation. NSAIDs are the most frequent choices for treatment of inflammation. Nevertheless, currently used anti-inflammatory drugs have become associated with a variety of adverse effects which lead to diminished output even market withdrawal. Recently, more studies have been carried out on searching novel selective COX-2 inhibitors with safety profiles. In this review, we highlight the various structural classes of organic and natural scaffolds with efficient COX-2 inhibitory activity reported during 2011-2021. It will be valuable for pharmaceutical scientists to read up on the current chemicals to pave the way for subsequent research., (© 2022 Chinese Pharmaceutical Association and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.)

The grid-like activity pattern of cells in the mammalian entorhinal cortex provides an internal reference frame for allocentric self-localization. The same neurons maintain robust phase couplings with local field oscillations. We found that neurons of the human entorhinal cortex display consistent spatial and temporal phase locking between spikes and slow gamma band local field potentials (LFPs) during virtual navigation. The phase locking maintained an environment-specific map over time. The phase tuning of spikes to the slow gamma band LFP revealed spatially periodic phase grids with environment-dependent scaling and consistent alignment with the environment. Using a Bayesian decoding model, we could predict the avatar's position with near perfect accuracy and, to a lesser extent, that of heading direction as well. These results imply that the phase of spikes relative to spatially modulated gamma oscillations encode allocentric spatial positions. We posit that a joint spatiotemporal phase code can implement the combined neural representation of space and time in the human entorhinal cortex.

Filamentous soil bacteria are known to produce diverse specialized metabolites. Despite having enormous potential as a source of pharmaceuticals, they often produce bioactive metabolites at low titers. Here, we show that inactivation of the pactamycin, NFAT-133, and conglobatin biosynthetic pathways in Streptomyces pactum ATCC 27456 significantly increases the production of the mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors piericidins. Similarly, inactivation of the pactamycin, NFAT-133, and piericidin pathways significantly increases the production of the heat-shock protein (Hsp) 90 inhibitor conglobatin. In addition, four new conglobatin analogues (B2, B3, F1, and F2) with altered polyketide backbones, together with the known analogue conglobatin B1, were identified in this mutant, indicating that the conglobatin biosynthetic machinery is promiscuous toward different substrates. Among the new conglobatin analogues, conglobatin F2 showed enhanced antitumor activity against HeLa and NCI-H460 cancer cell lines compared to conglobatin. Conglobatin F2 also inhibits colony formation of HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner. Molecular modeling studies suggest that the new conglobatins bind to human Hsp90 and disrupt Hsp90/Cdc37 chaperone/co-chaperone interactions in the same manner as conglobatin. The study also showed that genes that are involved in piericidin biosynthesis are clustered in two different loci located distantly in the S. pactum genome.

Introduction: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases worldwide. As a disease of the respiratory tract, the site of entry for the SARS-CoV-2 virus, there may be an important interplay between asthma and COVID-19 disease., Areas Covered: We report asthma prevalence among hospitalized cohorts with COVID-19. Those with non-allergic and severe asthma may be at increased risk of a worsened clinical outcome from COVID-19 infection. We explore the epidemiology of asthma as a risk factor for the severity of COVID-19 infection. We then consider the role COVID-19 may play in leading to exacerbations of asthma. The impact of asthma endotype on outcome is discussed. Lastly, we address the safety of common asthma therapeutics. A literature search was performed with relevant terms for each of the sections of the review using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Medline., Expert Opinion: Asthma diagnosis may be a risk factor for severe COVID-19 especially for those with severe disease or nonallergic phenotypes. COVID-19 does not appear to provoke asthma exacerbations and asthma therapeutics should be continued for patients with exposure to COVID-19. Clearly much regarding this topic remains unknown and we identify some key questions that may be of interest for future researchers.[Figure: see text].

Background: The impact of asthma diagnosis and asthma endotype on outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection remains unclear., Objective: To describe the association between asthma diagnosis and endotype and clinical outcomes among patients diagnosed as having COVID-19 infection., Methods: Retrospective multicenter cohort study of outpatients and inpatients presenting to 6 hospitals in the Mount Sinai Health System New York metropolitan region between March 7, 2020, and June 7, 2020, with COVID-19 infection, with and without a history of asthma. The primary outcome evaluated was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and hospital length of stay. The outcomes were compared in patients with or without asthma using a multivariate Cox regression model. The outcomes stratified by blood eosinophilia count were also evaluated., Results: Of 10,523 patients diagnosed as having COVID-19 infection, 4902 were hospitalized and 468 had a diagnosis of asthma (4.4%). When adjusted for COVID-19 disease severity, comorbidities, and concurrent therapies, patients with asthma had a lower mortality (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.64 (0.53-0.77); P < .001) and a lower rate of hospitalization and intensive care unit admission (OR, 0.43 (0.28-0.64); P < .001 and OR, 0.51 (0.41-0.64); P < .001, respectively). Those with blood eosinophils greater than or equal to 200 cells/μL, both with and without asthma, had lower mortality., Conclusion: Patients with asthma may be at a reduced risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19 infection. Eosinophilia, both in those with and without asthma, may be associated with reduced mortality risk., (Copyright © 2021 American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Acute hypoxemic respiratory failure is the major complication of coronavirus disease 2019, yet optimal respiratory support strategies are uncertain. We aimed to describe outcomes with high-flow oxygen delivered through nasal cannula and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in coronavirus disease 2019 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure and identify individual factors associated with noninvasive respiratory support failure., Design: Retrospective cohort study to describe rates of high-flow oxygen delivered through nasal cannula and/or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation success (live discharge without endotracheal intubation). Fine-Gray subdistribution hazard models were used to identify patient characteristics associated with high-flow oxygen delivered through nasal cannula and/or noninvasive positive pressure ventilation failure (endotracheal intubation and/or in-hospital mortality)., Setting: One large academic health system, including five hospitals (one quaternary referral center, a tertiary hospital, and three community hospitals), in New York City., Patients: All hospitalized adults 18-100 years old with coronavirus disease 2019 admitted between March 1, 2020, and April 28, 2020., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: A total of 331 and 747 patients received high-flow oxygen delivered through nasal cannula and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation as the highest level of noninvasive respiratory support, respectively; 154 (46.5%) in the high-flow oxygen delivered through nasal cannula cohort and 167 (22.4%) in the noninvasive positive pressure ventilation cohort were successfully discharged without requiring endotracheal intubation. In adjusted models, significantly increased risk of high-flow oxygen delivered through nasal cannula and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation failure was seen among patients with cardiovascular disease (subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.17-2.83 and subdistribution hazard ratio, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06-1.84, respectively). Conversely, a higher peripheral blood oxygen saturation to Fio 2 ratio at high-flow oxygen delivered through nasal cannula and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation initiation was associated with reduced risk of failure (subdistribution hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.19-0.54, and subdistribution hazard ratio 0.34; 95% CI, 0.21-0.55, respectively)., Conclusions: A significant proportion of patients receiving noninvasive respiratory modalities for coronavirus disease 2019 acute hypoxemic respiratory failure achieved successful hospital discharge without requiring endotracheal intubation, with lower success rates among those with comorbid cardiovascular disease or more severe hypoxemia. The role of high-flow oxygen delivered through nasal cannula and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation in coronavirus disease 2019-related acute hypoxemic respiratory failure warrants further consideration., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the Society of Critical Care Medicine.)

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are multiple sources of maltreatment and household dysfunction with tremendous impact on health. A trauma-informed (TI) approach is preferred when working with patients with ACEs. The Professional ACEs-Informed Training for Health © (PATH © ) educational program and simulation experience using standardized patients (SP) was developed to help healthcare professionals address ACEs with adults. PATH © is a 3-4 hour curriculum comprised of lecture and discussion, video-based demonstration, simulation experience, and debriefing. It was first developed for primary care (PC) residents in family medicine and internal medicine, and subsequently modified for occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) students. This study evaluates a preliminary dataset focusing on PATH © skills of PC residents and OT and PT students during simulation. Recordings of 53 learner-SP encounters from 15 OT and PT students and 38 PC residents were coded using standardized behavioral codes. A subset of ten recordings of PC residents who participated in simulations in the first and fourth year of the training program allowed for evaluation of training outcomes over time. Results showed that medical residents and OT and PT students demonstrated skills during SP encounters congruent with TI training on addressing ACEs with adults, particularly in explaining ACEs, demonstrating empathy, collaborative treatment planning, and stigma reduction. PC residents showed both positive and negative changes in PATH © -specific skills from year 1 to 4 of the training program. This study supports the PATH © model and simulation-based training in preparing clinicians to address ACEs with adults and provides insight into further curriculum improvement.

Following years of discussion and debate regarding the economics of X-ray radiation for sterilization of healthcare products, the benefits of the technology are now being realized. X-ray, like gamma radiation, is a process whereby energic photons penetrate to sterilize medical devices. Compared to gamma, photons in the bremsstrahlung spectrum from X-ray radiation allow for improved dose uniformity ratio, higher dose rates, and shorter process time, which provide additional opportunities for sterilization process enhancement. Such improvements may be realized in a number of ways: 1) economic, where more products may be processed on a carrier; 2) improved dose range fit; and/or 3) wider material compatibility. Despite noted benefits, X-ray sterilization has not yet been widely accepted and currently accounts for less than 5% of the contract sterilization market. This article brings X-ray sterilization into focus by sharing knowledge and experience gained over the past 10 years at the STERIS Däniken site, with an aim to identify opportunities for future medical device sterilization., (© 2020, Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. Publishing services provided by Allen Press, Inc.)

We simulate oil spills of 1500 and 4500m 3 /day lasting 14, 45, and 90days in the spawning grounds of the commercial fish species, Northeast Arctic cod. Modeling the life history of individual fish eggs and larvae, we predict deviations from the historical pattern of recruitment to the adult population due to toxic oil exposures. Reductions in survival for pelagic stages of cod were 0-10%, up to a maximum of 43%. These reductions resulted in a decrease in adult cod biomass of <3% for most scenarios, up to a maximum of 12%. In all simulations, the adult population remained at full reproductive potential with a sufficient number of juveniles surviving to replenish the population. The diverse age distribution helps protect the adult cod population from reductions in a single year's recruitment after a major oil spill. These results provide insights to assist in managing oil spill impacts on fisheries., (Copyright © 2017 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The widespread depletion of commercially exploited marine living resources is often seen as a general failure of management and results in criticism of contemporary management procedures. When populations show dramatic and positive changes in population size, this invariably leads to questions about whether favorable climatic conditions or good management (or both) were responsible. The Barents Sea cod (Gadus morhua) stock has recently increased markedly and the spawning stock biomass is now at an unprecedented high. We identify the crucial social and environmental factors that made this unique growth possible. The relationship between vital rates of Barents Sea cod stock productivity (recruitment, growth, and mortality) and environment is investigated, followed by simulations of population size under different management scenarios. We show that the recent sustained reduction in fishing mortality, facilitated by the implementation of a "harvest control rule," was essential to the increase in population size. Simulations show that a drastic reduction in fishing mortality has resulted in a doubling of the total population biomass compared with that expected under the former management regime. However, management alone was not solely responsible. We document that prevailing climate, operating through several mechanistic links, positively reinforced management actions. Heightened temperature resulted in an increase in the extent of the suitable feeding area for Barents Sea cod, likely offering a release from density-dependent effects (for example, food competition and cannibalism) through prolonged overlap with prey and improved adult stock productivity. Management and climate may thus interact to give a positive outlook for exploited high-latitude marine resources.

Background: The potential for transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during air travel has garnered considerable attention in the media and among public health authorities due to high-profile cases of international travelers with infectious tuberculosis (TB)., Methods: During 2007 and 2008, state and local health officials were asked to locate and conduct diagnostic follow-up for airline passengers considered contacts of three travelers, two with multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB and one considered highly contagious, who undertook air travel while infectious with TB disease., Results: Public health departments in 21 states located and evaluated 79 (60%) of the 131 passenger contacts identified; 52 (40%) were lost to follow-up. Eight (10%) contacts had a history of TB disease or latent TB infection and were not retested. Sixteen (23%) of 71 contacts tested had positive TB test results suggesting latent TB infection, 15 of whom were from countries reporting estimated TB disease rates of greater than 200 cases/100,000 persons., Conclusions: Passenger contacts' positive test results may represent prior TB infection acquired in their countries of residence or may be a result of new TB infection resulting from exposure during air travel.

Amyloid stained by Congo red is traditionally said to show apple-green birefringence in polarized light, although in practice various colors may be seen between accurately crossed polarizing filters, called polarizer and analyzer. Other colors are seen as the polarizer and analyzer are uncrossed and sometimes when the slide is rotated. Previously, there has been no satisfactory explanation of these properties. Birefringence means that a material has two refractive indices, depending on its orientation in polarized light. Birefringence can change linearly polarized light to elliptically polarized, which allows light to pass a crossed analyzer. The birefringence of orientated Congo red varied with wavelength and was maximal near its absorption peak, changing from negative (slow axis of transmission perpendicular to smears or amyloid fibrils) on the shortwave side of the peak to positive (slow axis parallel) on the longwave side. This was explained by a property of any light-absorbing substance called anomalous dispersion of the refractive index around an absorption peak. Negative birefringence gave transmission of blue, positive gave yellow, and the mixture was perceived as green. This explains how green occurs in ideal conditions. Additional or strain birefringence in the optical system, such as in glass slides, partly or completely eliminated blue or yellow, giving yellow/green or yellow, and blue/green or blue, which are commonly seen in practice and in illustrations. With uncrossing of polarizer or analyzer, birefringent effects declined and dichroic effects appeared, giving progressive changes from green to red as the plane of polarization approached the absorbing axis and from green to colorless in the opposite way. This asymmetry of effects is useful to pathologists as a confirmation of amyloid. Rather than showing 'apple-green birefringence in polarized light' as often reported, Congo red-stained amyloid, when examined between crossed polarizer and analyzer, should more accurately be said to show anomalous colors.

Dense slowly evolving or static granular materials exhibit strong force fluctuations even though the spatial disorder of the grains is relatively weak. Typically, forces are carried preferentially along a network of "force chains." These consist of linearly aligned grains with larger-than-average force. A growing body of work has explored the nature of these fluctuations. We first briefly review recent work concerning stress fluctuations. We then focus on a series of experiments in both two- and three-dimension [(2D) and (3D)] to characterize force fluctuations in slowly sheared systems. Both sets of experiments show strong temporal fluctuations in the local stress/force; the length scales of these fluctuations extend up to 10(2) grains. In 2D, we use photoelastic disks that permit visualization of the internal force structure. From this we can make comparisons to recent models and calculations that predict the distributions of forces. Typically, these models indicate that the distributions should fall off exponentially at large force. We find in the experiments that the force distributions change systematically as we change the mean packing fraction, gamma. For gamma's typical of dense packings of nondeformable grains, we see distributions that are consistent with an exponential decrease at large forces. For both lower and higher gamma, the observed force distributions appear to differ from this prediction, with a more Gaussian distribution at larger gamma and perhaps a power law at lower gamma. For high gamma, the distributions differ from this prediction because the grains begin to deform, allowing more grains to carry the applied force, and causing the distributions to have a local maximum at nonzero force. It is less clear why the distributions differ from the models at lower gamma. An exploration in gamma has led to the discovery of an interesting continuous or "critical" transition (the strengthening/softening transition) in which the mean stress is the order parameter, and the mean packing fraction, gamma, must be adjusted to a value gamma(c) to reach the "critical point." We also follow the motion of individual disks and obtain detailed statistical information on the kinematics, including velocities and particle rotations or spin. Distributions for the azimuthal velocity, V(theta), and spin, S, of the particles are nearly rate invariant, which is consistent with conventional wisdom. Near gamma(c), the grain motion becomes intermittent causing the mean velocity of grains to slow down. Also, the length of stress chains grows as gamma-->gamma(c). The 3D experiments show statistical rate invariance for the stress in the sense that when the power spectra and spectral frequencies of the stress time series are appropriately scaled by the shear rate, Omega, all spectra collapse onto a single curve for given particle and sample sizes. The frequency dependence of the spectra can be characterized by two different power laws, P proportional, variant omega(-alpha), in the high and low frequency regimes: alpha approximately 2 at high omega; alpha<2 at low omega. The force distributions computed from the 3D stress time series are at least qualitatively consistent with exponential fall-off at large stresses. (c) 1999 American Institute of Physics.