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Asphalt volcanoes and other extensive hard tar seafloor accumulations are known from the Gulf of Mexico, off Angola, and in the Santa Barbara Channel (SBC), Southern California. There are two major volcano features in the SBC: Il Duomo (about 20 m high, cresting at a bottom depth of 115 m) and Il Duomito (about 15 m high, cresting at 185 m). While the geology of these features has been well studied, their fish assemblages have not been well documented. Using an autonomous underwater vehicle, we surveyed the fishes that live on the volcanoes and on the surrounding mud. We observed 1836 fishes, which represented a minimum of 43 species. Of these species, at least 23 (53.5%) were of rockfishes (genus Sebastes). Most of the species were entirely or primarily associated with a specific habitat type, either asphalt or mud. The most abundant primarily asphalt-associated species were greenblotched, swordspine, greenspotted, and flag rockfishes, and bocaccio, cowcod, and bank rockfish. The most abundant mud-associated species included Pacific sanddab, slender, Dover, and English soles, and unidentified poachers. A few taxa (shortspine combfish, greenstriped rockfish, and spotted ratfish) were found both on the mud and over the edges of the asphalt. We observed relatively low densities of all fishes on the volcanoes compared to densities on many Southern California natural reefs within the same depth range. We suggest that this is due to (1) a lack of cobble fields around the volcanoes, creating limited habitat for either dwarf species or juvenile fishes, (2) a lack of complex habitat (volcanoes are relatively smooth) creating very limited habitat for adults that need to shelter, and (3) fishing pressure targeting economically important species. Given the unique nature of these tar volcanoes off California, we also suggest the state consider protecting this habitat and the organisms within it.

Ocean warming linked to anthropogenic climate change is impacting the ecology of marine species around the world. In 2010, the Gulf of Maine and Scotian Shelf regions of the Northwest Atlantic underwent an unprecedented regime shift. Forced by climate-driven changes in the Gulf Stream, warm slope waters entered the region and created a less favorable foraging environment for the endangered North Atlantic right whale population. By mid-decade, right whales had shifted their late spring/summer foraging grounds from the Gulf of Maine and the western Scotian Shelf to the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The population also began exhibiting unusually high mortality in 2017. Here, we report that climate-driven changes in ocean circulation have altered the foraging environment and habitat use of right whales, reducing the population’s calving rate and exposing it to greater mortality risks from ship strikes and fishing gear entanglement. The case of the North Atlantic right whale provides a cautionary tale for the management of protected species in a changing ocean.

Both local and international careers in the ocean sciences are largely unavailable or inaccessible to interested students and graduates from under-resourced nations. Barriers to ocean science careers result from a range of region-specific factors. Financial and infrastructural resources supporting ocean science opportunities are limited. Inter- and intranational abuses of power, societal instabilities, and exploitation of communities and resources can create and exacerbate these resource deficits. Access to available resources is not evenly distributed due to societally constructed gaps in opportunity, representation, inclusion, and equity in education and in the geosciences in particular. Ocean careers in under-resourced nations are further constrained by the lack of awareness efforts and examples of real-life, societally beneficial applications of geoscience in education, as well as the absence of specialized mentors and role models.

Sharks are iconic and ecologically important predators found in every ocean. Because of their ecological role as predators, some considered apex predators, and concern over the stability of their populations due to direct and indirect overfishing, there has been an increasing amount of work focussed on shark conservation, and other elasmobranchs such as skates and rays, around the world. Here we discuss many aspects of current shark science and conservation and the path to the future of shark conservation in the Northeastern and Eastern Central Pacific. We explore their roles in ecosystems as keystone species; the conservation measures and laws in place at the international, national, regional and local level; the conservation status of sharks and rays in the region, fisheries for sharks in the Northcentral Pacific specifically those that target juveniles and the implications to shark conservation; a conservation success story: the recovery of Great White Sharks in the Northeast Pacific; public perceptions of sharks and the roles zoos and aquariums play in shark conservation; and the path to the future of shark conservation that requires bold partnerships, local stakeholders and innovative measures.

Social media has been influential in decision making regarding a number of health concerns. However, comparatively little has been examined with regard to its effects on pregnant women. The goal of this scoping review was to examine the literature and identify the role of social media in intrapartum decision making. A scoping review of the literature published between January 1990 and June 2018 was performed using PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychINFO, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases. Of the initial 1951 records reviewed, 5 met inclusion criteria. Two of the 5 were quantitative in design, 1 was qualitative, and 2 used mixed methods. Internationally widespread, studies largely took place in developed nations including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Finland. Women are using the Internet, including social media, consistently as a source of pregnancy information, for example, 97% of 2400 participates in 1 exploratory study. This knowledge seeking was found to increase women's confidence and self-assurance in making decision during labor and birth. Studies identified issues surrounding women's ability to appraise available information. While it is clear that social media has an influence on women's intrapartum decision making, it is not clear exactly how. Further studies are needed to determine the content of the social media being appraised, the accuracy of the information, and the resulting decision as it affects the intrapartum experience. In addition, efforts should be made to open lines of communication between patients and care providers. This may foster a greater clinical understanding of social media consumption and its influences.

The decommissioning of southern California offshore oil and gas platforms will create major economic, engineering, and environmental challenges in the next decade. Platform jackets, conductors, and shell mounds often host a diverse and productive marine community, and among the myriad considerations associated with decommissioning planning, platform operators and federal and state regulatory agencies will consider the ecological value of existing underwater structures as artificial reefs. In the event of partial removal of platform structure, fish assemblages on decommissioned platforms may remain unchanged in areas where structure is left intact. However, on the seafloor beneath the platforms, a mound of debris often called the shell mound will likely change over time if the supply of falling mussels and other organisms from the productive surface part of the structure is removed. In this study, we review shell mound research relevant to decommissioning, including mound formation, contaminant loads, associated biological communities, and transitions following the removal of platform structures at four sites. To address the gap in knowledge of shell mound fish community structure, we used manned submersible and remotely operated vehicle surveys from 1997 to 2013 to estimate the biomass, density, species composition and similarity between shell mounds at 22 southern California platforms. We found a wide range of variability in fish density and shell mound areal extent. Species composition also varied among sites, with three significant community clusters primarily distinguished by species depth preferences. These results will help inform a comprehensive net environmental benefit analysis of southern California offshore platform decommissioning alternatives.

Reproductive output can serve as an important metric to assess the value of a marine habitat as it combines fish densities, size at maturity, and the exponential increase of fecundity with body length. California may permit some portion of the structures of offshore oil and gas platforms to remain in place if a "net benefit to the marine environment" can be demonstrated. Here we assess habitats at 23 oil and gas platforms in terms of site- and species- specific estimates of potential reproductive output. We identified 17 fish species (15 rockfishes Sebastes spp.) that have potential reproductive output densities (no. eggs m–2) on individual platforms that were tens to hundreds of times their average on natural reefs in the study area, with the highest potential reproductive output values being observed on platforms for all but two of these species. These extreme values were typically observed in platform base habitats, and likely result from the combined effects of high levels of fish recruitment to midwater platform habitats, relatively low fishing activity on these structures, and ontogenetic habitat use (depth-specific) patterns that make some platforms better habitats for some species based on the seafloor depth where they are sited. However, spatial variability was also very high across both platform and natural reef sites, including reproductive potential for almost all focal species being zero at the majority of surveyed sites. The contribution of fish reproductive potential to the discussion of decommissioning alternatives should therefore be considered on a case-by-case basis for each platform in California.

There are thousands of offshore oil and gas platforms worldwide that will eventually become obsolete, and one popular decommissioning alternative is the "rigs to reefs" conversion that designates all or a portion of the underwater infrastructure as an artificial reef, thereby reducing the burden of infrastructure removal. The unique architecture of each platform may influence the size and structure of the associated fish assemblage if different structural elements form distinct habitats for fishes. Using scuba survey data from 11 southern California platforms from 1995 to 2000, we examined fish assemblages associated with structural elements of the structure, including the major horizontal crossbeams outside of the jacket, vertical jacket legs, and horizontal crossbeams that span the jacket interior. Patterns of habitat association were examined among three depth zones: shallow (26 m); and between two life stages: young- of-the-year and non-young-of-the-year. Fish densities tended to be greatest along horizontal beams spanning the jacket interior, relative to either horizontal or vertical beams along the jacket exterior, indicating that the position of the habitat within the overall structure is an important characteristic affecting fish habitat use. Fish densities were also higher in transects centered directly over a vertical or horizontal beam relative to transects that did not contain a structural element. These results contribute to the understanding of fish habitat use on existing artificial reefs, and can inform platform decommissioning decisions as well as the design of new offshore structures intended to increase fish production.

The American Society for Apheresis (ASFA) Journal of Clinical Apheresis (JCA) Special Issue Writing Committee is charged with reviewing, updating, and categorizing indications for the evidence-based use of therapeutic apheresis in human disease. Since the 2007 JCA Special Issue (Fourth Edition), the Committee has incorporated systematic review and evidence-based approaches in the grading and categorization of apheresis indications. This Seventh Edition of the JCA Special Issue continues to maintain this methodology and rigor to make recommendations on the use of apheresis in a wide variety of diseases/conditions. The JCA Seventh Edition, like its predecessor, has consistently applied the category and grading system definitions in the fact sheets. The general layout and concept of a fact sheet that was used since the fourth edition has largely been maintained in this edition. Each fact sheet succinctly summarizes the evidence for the use of therapeutic apheresis in a specific disease entity. The Seventh Edition discusses 87 fact sheets (14 new fact sheets since the Sixth Edition) for therapeutic apheresis diseases and medical conditions, with 179 indications, which are separately graded and categorized within the listed fact sheets. Several diseases that are Category IV which have been described in detail in previous editions and do not have significant new evidence since the last publication are summarized in a separate table. The Seventh Edition of the JCA Special Issue serves as a key resource that guides the utilization of therapeutic apheresis in the treatment of human disease. J. Clin. Apheresis 31:149-162, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Oceanography Society (TOS) Honors Program provides opportunities for its members to amplify the Society’s values (https://tos.org/about) and to recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of colleagues. However, individual and systemic biases can affect the nomination and selection process. In fall 2021, the TOS Council postponed a cycle of the Honors Program due to lack of diversity in nominees (https://tos.org/tos-news-june-2022). The TOS JEDI Committee (https://tos.org/diversity) is considering ways to generate a large and diverse pool of nominees by embedding TOS’s justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion goals into the honors and awards process. This article highlights some of those suggestions and invites TOS members to weigh in.

Sharks are iconic and ecologically important predators found in every ocean. Because of their ecological role as predators, some considered apex predators, and concern over the stability of their populations due to direct and indirect overfishing, there has been an increasing amount of work focussed on shark conservation, and other elasmobranchs such as skates and rays, around the world. Here we discuss many aspects of current shark science and conservation and the path to the future of shark conservation in the Northeastern and Eastern Central Pacific. We explore their roles in ecosystems as keystone species; the conservation measures and laws in place at the international, national, regional and local level; the conservation status of sharks and rays in the region, fisheries for sharks in the Northcentral Pacific specifically those that target juveniles and the implications to shark conservation; a conservation success story: the recovery of Great White Sharks in the Northeast Pacific; public perceptions of sharks and the roles zoos and aquariums play in shark conservation; and the path to the future of shark conservation that requires bold partnerships, local stakeholders and innovative measures.

There are currently thousands of offshore platforms in place for oil and gas extraction worldwide, and decommissioning efforts over the next three decades are estimated to cost more than US$200 billion. As platforms reach the end of their useful lifetime, operators and regulatory agencies will assess the environmental impact of potential decommissioning strategies. Among the many factors that will be weighed in preparation for these major economic and engineering challenges is the fate of the fish and invertebrate communities that inhabit the structures underwater. Offshore platforms act as inadvertent artificial reefs, and some are recognized among the most productive fish habitats in the global oceans. We present a model for forecasting changes to fish communities surrounding offshore installations following a series of decommissioning alternatives. Using 24 platforms off southern California, we estimate fish biomass and somatic production under three possible decommissioning scenarios: leave in place, partial removal at 26-m depth, and complete removal of the platform and underlying shell mound. We used fish density and size data from scuba and submersible surveys of the platforms from 1995-2013 to estimate biomass and annual somatic production. Bottom trawl surveys were used to characterize future fish assemblages at platform sites under the complete-removal decommissioning scenario. Based on a conservatively modeled extrapolation of the survey data, we found that complete removal of a platform resulted in 95% or more reduction in the average fish biomass and annual somatic production at the site, while partial removal resulted in far smaller losses, averaging 10% or less. In the event that all surveyed platforms are completely removed, we estimated a total loss of more than 28,000 kg of fish biomass in the Southern California Bight. Platform habitats, which attract reef-dwelling fish species, had minimal overlap in community composition with the surrounding soft-bottom habitat. To best serve the wide range of stakeholder interests, the site-specific biomass, productivity and species composition information provided in this study should be incorporated into strategic decommissioning planning. This approach could be used as a model for informing "rigs to reefs" discussions occurring worldwide.

Forgiveness is considered a positive way to respond to an offense. Recently, researchers have suggested that a number of factors may be related to one’s ability and desire to forgive. Specifically, the religious commitment of the offended individual has been proposed as a potentially influential variable in the forgiveness process; however, few studies have examined this connection. In study 1, to understand beliefs and values that may encourage forgiveness in different religious traditions, religious participants who had experienced an offense committed against them were interviewed about factors that motivated them to forgive and strategies they used to reach forgiveness. Results indicated that while many strategies used to forgive were congruent with forgiveness techniques promoted in prior research, participants also reported developing original strategies to achieve forgiveness. In addition, study 2 explored how religious commitment may be associated with forgiveness extended to an offender after participation in an intervention designed explicitly to promote forgiveness. Results suggested that there was no difference in the change in forgiveness-related outcomes for people of high versus moderate to low religious commitment. Trait forgivingness was also examined as a potential mediator of the relationship between religious commitment and forgiveness. Results indicated that trait forgivingness fully mediated the relationship between religious commitment and revenge, but not the relationship between religious commitment and empathy or avoidance.

Rising global temperatures are causing a poleward shift in species distribution. Range shift velocities are higher in the marine environment, with observed rates of 30–130 km per decade. Both protected and exploited species will be at risk if marine species management policies are not structured to anticipate these range shifts. The 2017 mass mortality event of the North Atlantic right whale showcases the detrimental impact of unanticipated climate-mediated behavior in a species protected by geographically and seasonally fixed policies. Based on the results of a demographic capture-​recapture model, right whales may face extinction in fewer than 30 years unless protective policies are expanded to cover their shifting distribution. Increased support of long-term monitoring programs paired with environmental modeling research is critical to developing more proactive conservation management strategies and preventing further ecological crises.

Background Since 2011 our health system has achieved >90% employee influenza vaccination via a 3-week intensive nonmandatory program offering entrance location vaccinations. We partnered with Emergency Management to consolidate this process into 1 day, fulfilling a dual purpose of conducting an emergency vaccination drill. Methods The health system comprises 2 hospitals (913-bed and 250-bed) and campuses, multiple off-campus clinical and nonclinical sites, and a free-standing emergency department, employing nearly 12,000 people in 4 states. A multidisciplinary team planned the drill, scheduled 4 am-9 pm at 3 locations in the 2 hospitals. In addition, roving vaccination teams visited all off-campus sites to either perform vaccinations or deliver supplies. Employees not scheduled to work were encouraged but not required to come in; all eligible employees working that day were expected to be vaccinated. Nonemployees (including physicians, volunteers and retirees) were also included. To promote the event, we developed posters and other communications using a #HitMeWithYourFluShot hashtag, and included radio stations, therapy dogs, photo booths and other activities. After the event we surveyed participants to elicit feedback. Results During the 1-day event we vaccinated 7267 (69%) employees, along with 1594 nonemployees, similar to prior 3-week campaigns (figure). Nearly 300 employees volunteered to vaccinate or perform other duties. The roving teams visited 81 practices at 42 separate locations, traveling >250 miles. Of those completing the post-event survey (n = 656), 79% found the event very convenient, and 61% of those who had participated in prior campaigns found this format somewhat or much better. Employee vaccination rates for the entire season was 92%. Conclusion This effort demonstrated that we could achieve high levels of employee flu vaccination in a single day in a large and geographically diverse healthcare system, using a mass vaccination drill format that included multiple sites of vaccination as well as roving vaccination and transport teams. We identified the lack of a master list with locations of all off-campus employees as the greatest opportunity. Participants favorably accepted the drill format and employee engagement was high. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Considered one of the most endangered cetacean species, the North Atlantic right whale Eubalaena glacialis suffered declining abundance during the 1990s due to a high rate of anthropogenic-associated mortality and a low rate of reproduction. Previous studies have sug- gested that the reproductive rate is tightly coupled to the abundance of Calanus finmarchicus in the Gulf of Maine (GOM), which has been shown to respond to ecosystem regime shifts associated with decadal-scale climate forcing from the Arctic. Given the endangered status of the right whale population, it is vital to determine how climate-associated changes in prey availability will affect this species in the future. Here, we investigate a 3-state reproduction model that explores multiple environmental proxies as potential predictors of annual calf production during the period from 1980 to 2007. The model achieves its best fit to observations using temporally and spatially resolved C. finmarchicus abundance data derived from Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) sur- veys of the GOM. Building on previous research, this prey-dependent model, which uses bi- monthly and geographically specific abundance anomalies of C. finmarchicus, significantly improves estimates of annual calf production relative to a null model. The temporal and geo- graphic distributions of prey objectively chosen for inclusion in the new version of the model cor- respond well with observed right whale seasonal distribution patterns, providing further evidence that the model captures essential features of right whale reproductive ecology.

Scholars, journalists, and laypeople alike have argued that the relatively new field of citizen journalism (CJ) offers a space where citizens can act as amateur reporters to challenge the dominance of mainstream media. However, contrary to popular expectations, a large number of CJ sites include current or former professional journalists as contributors, calling into question the new field's independence from the mainstream media. Using a content analysis of a sample (n = 326) drawn from the largest sampling frame of English-language CJ websites based in the United States to date (n = 1958), we explore potential explanations for the presence of professional journalists as contributors on CJ sites. In a series of logistic regression analyses, we find evidence that for-profit CJ sites and those with editorial staffs are more likely to have professional journalists. Furthermore, we find that sites with professional journalists do not offer significantly different content when controlling for other factors. B...

Human activities have placed populations of many endangered species at risk and mitigation efforts typically focus on reducing anthropogenic sources of mortality. However, failing to recognize the additional role of environmental factors in regulating birth and mortality rates can lead to erroneous demographic analyses and conclusions. The North Atlantic right whale population is currently the focus of conservation efforts aimed at reducing mortality rates associated with ship strikes and entanglement in fishing gear. Consistent monitoring of the population since 1980 has revealed evidence that climate-associated changes in prey availability have played an important role in the population's recovery. The considerable interdecadal differences observed in population growth coincide with remote Arctic and North Atlantic oceanographic processes that link to the Gulf of Maine ecosystem. Here, we build capture-recapture models to quantify the role of prey availability on right whale demographic transitional probabilities and use a corresponding demographic model to project population growth rates into the next century. Contrary to previous predictions, the right whale population is projected to recover in the future as long as prey availability and mortality rates remain within the ranges observed during 1980-2012. However, recent events indicate a northward range shift in right whale prey, potentially resulting in decreased prey availability and/or an expansion of right whale habitat into unprotected waters. An annual increase in the number of whale deaths comparable to that observed during the summer 2017 mass mortality event may cause a decline to extinction even under conditions of normal prey availability. This study highlights the importance of understanding the oceanographic context for observed population changes when evaluating the efficacy of conservation management plans for endangered marine species.

Possessing the world's largest Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), the United States enjoys the benefits of a multi-billion dollar commercial fishing industry. Along with these benefits comes the enormous task of assessing the status of the nation's commercial fish stocks. At present, many of the most valuable commercial fish stocks are assessed using acoustic surveys conducted from manned survey vessels. The expense and limited availability of ship time often compromise the quantity and quality of the acoustic stock assessment data being collected. Here, we describe our vision for how an unmanned mobile platform, the Liquid Robotics Wave Glider, can be used in large numbers to supplement manned survey vessels and transform fisheries acoustics into a science more consistent with the new ocean-observing paradigm. Wave Gliders harness wave energy for propulsion and solar energy to power their communications, control, navigation, and environmental-​sensing systems. This unique utilization of wave and solar energy allows Wave Gliders to collect ocean environmental data sets for extended periods of time. Recently, we developed new technology for Wave Gliders that enable them to collect multifrequency, split-beam acoustic data sets comparable to those collected with manned survey vessels. A fleet of Wave Gliders collecting such data would dramatically improve the synoptic nature as well as the spatial and temporal coverage of acoustic stock assessment surveys. With improved stock assessments, fisheries managers would have better information to set quotas that maximize yields to fishermen and reduce the likelihood of overfishing. Improved observational capabilities also would enable fisheries scientists and oceanographers to more closely monitor the responses of different fish stocks to climate variability and change as well as ocean acidification.

Red blood cell (RBC) antigen matching policies to prevent alloimmunization in females of childbearing potential (FCP) vary between centers. To inform transfusion centers responsible for making decisions about matching policies for FCPs, the causal stimulus of the antibodies implicated in severe hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) must be determined.We conducted a multinational retrospective study of women with offspring affected by severe HDFN requiring neonatal exchange transfusion and/or intrauterine transfusion. Mothers treated at centers that provide extended antigen-negative RBCs (MATCH, five centers) and those that do not (NoMATCH, nine centers) were compared.A total of 293 mothers had at least one affected pregnancy: 179 at MATCH centers and 114 at NoMATCH centers. Most alloimmunization (83%) was attributed to previous pregnancy: 3% to transfusion (two cases at MATCH, six at NoMATCH centers) and 14% undetermined (both antecedent transfusion and pregnancy). Only 50 mothers had received transfusions; 13 had HDFN due to anti-K at MATCH and four at NoMATCH centers. Most (12/13, 92%) of the anti-K HDFN cases at MATCH centers had K+ paternal antigen status. Mothers at the MATCH centers do not appear to be protected from HDFN due to K, C, c, and E antibodies, although the low number of FCPs who received transfusions precluded drawing firm conclusions.The causal stimulus of antibodies that cause HDFN is predominantly from previous pregnancy. Although extended RBC matching for FCPs may impart some protection from allosensitization, we were unable to show a positive effect, possibly because matching policies are not uniform and there was a small number of mothers who previously received transfusions.

PurposeThis paper aims to report on the University of Denver Penrose Library's Research Center, a new reference service model created to respond to the changing needs of students and to strengthen the connection between research and writing.Design/methodology/approachAn increase in reference questions requiring more time, a financial gift to the university which provided an opportunity to propose a new vision of integrating research and writing, and the opening of a new Writing Center in the library prompted the reference librarians to implement a consultation model in fall quarter 2008. A highly visible, dedicated space for one‐on‐one, in‐depth consultations, the Research Center reinforces skills learned in library instruction sessions and effectively promotes reference services.FindingsA successful new Research Center reaches a larger segment of the university community, better serves student research needs, and enhances library instructional services. During the course of the academic year, 856 consultations were provided to students and faculty, attesting to the popularity of the service.Research limitations/implicationsMore robust assessment data are needed to establish the impact of the Research Center on student learning.Practical implicationsThe paper outlines a successful method of delivering research services that leverages existing staff resources, increases the visibility of library services, and provides more personalized, in‐depth research consultations to the university community.Originality/valueAdapted from the Writing Center consultation model, the Research Center's prominent location and configuration encourage active learning interactions, complement the library instruction program, and actively promote consultations with subject‐specialist librarians.

Context.—Patient safety is of prime concern in every laboratory. Double labeling of glass slides is performed in many cytology laboratories where handwritten patient information on the frosted portion of the glass is overlaid with paper labels (sometimes containing bar codes). The cytotechnologists match this information by turning slides over. We use SurePath liquid-based cytology for Papanicolaou tests in our laboratory and noticed patient misidentification because of slide labeling errors, a problem that has not been addressed in the literature. Objective.—To reduce slide labeling errors without increasing costs, using a systems-based approach. Design.—All errors from mislabeled slides during November 2006 were documented, and an informal root-cause analysis was performed. Slides were labeled on opposite ends and monitored for errors. Results.—Labeling on different ends of the glass slide reduced our error rate from 0.59% to 0%, made visual matching easy, and did not alter costs. Conclusions.—The practice of overlaying handwritten information with printed labels for liquid-based Papanicolaou tests should be strongly discouraged and replaced with placing patient information in separate portions of the glass slide so that crucial patient identification is not hidden and visual matching is easy.

Alloimmunization against red blood cell (RBC) antigens is a cause of morbidity and mortality in transfused patients with sickle cell disease (SCD). To investigate distinguishing characteristics of patients who develop RBC alloantibodies after transfusion (responders) versus those who do not (non-responders), a cross-sectional study of 90 children with SCD on chronic RBC transfusion therapy at a single institution was conducted in which 18 immune parameters (including T and B cell subsets) were tested via flow cytometry, and medical records were reviewed. RBC alloimmunization was present in 26/90 (29%) patients, with anti-E, K, and C among the most commonly detected alloantibodies despite prophylactic matching for these antigens at the study institution. In addition, RBC autoantibodies had been detected in 18/26 (69%) of alloimmunized versus 7/64 (11%) of non-alloimmunized patients (P 0.0001). Alloimmunized patients were significantly older (median 13.0 years vs. 10.7 years, P = 0.010) and had more RBC unit exposures (median 148 U vs. 82 U, P = 0.020) than non-alloimmunized patients. Sex, age at initiation of chronic transfusion, splenectomy, stroke, and transfusion outside of the study institution were not significantly associated with RBC alloimmunization. Alloimmunized patients had a significantly increased percentage of CD4+ T memory cells compared to non-alloimmunized patients (57% vs. 49%, P = 0.0047), with no other significant differences in immune cell subsets or laboratory values detected between these groups. Additional research of RBC alloimmunization is needed to optimize transfusion therapy and to develop strategies to prevent alloimmunization.

Despite an elevated mortality rate from lethal interactions with humans, the North Atlantic right whale population has continued to grow during the first decade of the new millennium. This unexpected population growth is the result of a 128% increase in female-specific reproduction relative to the 1990s. Here, we demonstrate that the recent increase in annual right whale calf production is linked to a dramatic increase in the abundance of its major prey, the copepod species Calanus finmarchicus, in the Gulf of Maine. The resurgence of C. finmarchicus was associated with a regime shift remotely forced by climatic changes in the Arctic. We conclude that decadal-scale variability in right whale reproduction may be largely driven by fluctuations in prey availability linked to climate-associated ecosystem regime shifts.

AABB Standard 5.27 requires transfusion services to have a process for urgent release of blood before completion of compatibility testing. Our institution endorses a policy for the emergency release of group O, D+ red blood cells (RBC; O+ RBC) to males and females at least 50 years of age. Our emergency department (ED) stocks 4 O- RBC units. To determine if O+ RBCs can replace ED O- RBCs, we performed a retrospective review.Patients admitted to the ED between January 2001 and August 2011 and transfused emergency-release O- RBCs were identified. Data were collected on sex, age, length of stay, clinical status, ABO/Rh, RBC transfusions, and RBC antibody screen results.A total of 498 ED O- RBC units were transfused to 268 patients (168 male, 100 female). A total of 322 units were transfused to males and 114 to females at least 50 years of age. Thirty-nine (14%) were D- with 18 receiving O+ RBCs. A total of 109 had follow-up antibody screens; one D- patient developed alloanti-D.The findings support the placement of O+ RBCs in the ED. The majority of ED O- RBCs (88%) went to patients who qualified for O+ RBCs; a minority (1.5%) of patients were D- females less than 50 years of age. The rate of alloimmunization was low.

This report documents a 2012 Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC) study that used material testing and modeling tools to design and test a helmet liner prototype for increased low velocity impact protection. Basic theory of energy absorption and packaging were used to estimate material requirements for the helmet application. Foam materials were tested with an impact test device and characterized based on foam compression strength and energy absorbing efficiency. A helmet was measured for low velocity impact protection with a helmeted headform drop test. A finite element model of the drop test was developed to incorporate different materials and configurations. Material test data was imported to the drop test model, and the LS-DYNA model was used to simulate the response of the helmet in the impact test. Based on material test and model simulation results, helmet liner prototypes were fabricated and tested. The effectiveness of crushable foam was demonstrated for a one time use application. A prototype helmet liner combining high density polyethylene (HDPE) foam and viscoelastic comfort foam showed an improvement in impact protection over the current Army Combat Helmet (ACH) system at 4.3 m/s (14 ft/s), although the results were mixed at higher impact velocities.

Decreased white and gray matter volumes have been reported in youth with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), but the effects of hyperglycemia on white matter integrity have not been quantitatively assessed during brain development. We performed diffusion tensor imaging, using two complimentary approaches—region-of-interest and voxelwise tract-based spatial statistics—to quantify white matter integrity in a large retrospective study of T1DM youth and control participants. Exposure to chronic hyperglycemia, severe hyperglycemic episodes, and severe hypoglycemia, as defined in the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT), were estimated through medical records review, HbA1c levels, and interview of parents and youth. We found lower fractional anisotropy in the superior parietal lobule and reduced mean diffusivity in the thalamus in the T1DM group. A history of three or more severe hyperglycemic episodes was associated with reduced anisotropy and increased diffusivity in the superior parietal lobule and increased diffusivity in the hippocampus. These results add microstructural integrity of white matter to the range of structural brain alterations seen in T1DM youth and suggest vulnerability of the superior parietal lobule, hippocampus, and thalamus to glycemic extremes during brain development. Longitudinal analyses will be necessary to determine how these alterations change with age or additional glycemic exposure.

Rising costs of ship time and increasing budgetary constraints limit current fisheries acoustic survey practices. The limited spatial coverage and relative infrequency of such surveys compromise their value to fisheries managers. The Liquid Robotics Wave Glider allows scientists to collect data in a wider range of weather conditions and using fewer man-hours than typical shipboard acoustic surveys while operating at a greatly reduced cost. As part of an NSF-sponsored research project, Cornell University, BioSonics, Inc. and Liquid Robotics collaborated to design and manufacture a custom tow-body containing a specially modified dual-frequency BioSonics echosounder with 70-kHz and 200-kHz transducers. The tow body was attached to the submerged glider unit of a Liquid Robotics Wave Glider with a compliant tow cable to provide mechanical isolation between the Wave Glider and the tow body. Liquid Robotics conducted a series of tests in Kealakekua Bay, Hawaii, during March 2011 and March 2012 with the goal of evaluating the ability of the system to detect the mesopelagic boundary community's (MBC) offshore to onshore and upward vertical migration. The system was shown to be an effective method for collecting high-quality acoustic data for studying patterns in the distribution and migration of marine organisms. It also holds great promise for applications oriented towards continuous assessment of commercial fish stocks and the monitoring of marine ecosystem health.

A systematic review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies assessing platelet (PLT) transfusion therapy identified gaps in the descriptions of trial design, variables of the PLT products transfused, and outcomes. We aimed to systematically develop a reporting guideline to aid in designing, reporting, and critiquing PLT trials.With the use of expert opinion, a preliminary checklist of 23 items was created. The Delphi method, an iterative forecasting method, was used to achieve consensus among experts to systematically improve upon the preliminary checklist. Items were ranked for inclusion using a 7-point Likert scale from "definitely should not" to "very important to" include. Criteria were established a priori based on the mean score: at least 5.5 accept, 2.6 to 5.4 intermediate, and not more than 2.5 eliminate. Intermediate items were edited and sent out in subsequent rounds for review. Three rounds were undertaken to determine the final checklist.Initially 33 experts participated, decreasing to 25 by the third round. The preliminary checklist consisted of 23 items spread over four sections: methods and intervention, PLT-specific outcomes, PLT-specific results, and PLT-specific adverse events. After three rounds of the Delphi method, the checklist was expanded and refined to include 30 items. The final checklist was further enhanced by adding an explanatory guide.Use of the Delphi method was successful in finding consensus on items to include in reports of a clinical PLT transfusion study. The final checklist and explanatory guide will be useful for authors and editors to improve the reporting of PLT transfusion trials.

As evidence-based medicine assumes increasing importance, there is a need for high-quality reporting of clinical studies. A recent review of clinical platelet (PLT) studies indicated variability in reporting. We undertook a critical analysis of PLT transfusion studies to determine the quality of reporting.A systematic MEDLINE search for clinical studies of PLT transfusion was performed to identify articles. Relevant observational studies (OBS) were critiqued using the STROBE checklist and randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) using the CONSORT checklist. Studies were further evaluated with a PLT-specific checklist developed by the authors. Observations were analyzed descriptively and using Pareto analysis.A total of 772 articles were identified by the search. Eighty-six articles (23 RCTs and 63 OBS) met eligibility criteria. All RCTs, and a similar number of OBS (24), were randomly selected for analysis. Studies reported the scientific background and rationale, key results, and outcomes. OBS frequently did not consider bias and confounders. RCTs frequently did not explain bias, interim analyses, stopping rules, success of blinding, or weaknesses of multiple analyses. The PLT-specific critique found many studies adequately reported basics of the PLT product, PLT increment, and transfusion reactions. Studies frequently failed to report specific details of PLT compatibility, details of product preparation, and use of other blood products.Recently published articles of clinical PLT transfusion share common strengths and weaknesses. The quality of reporting may be improved by providing guidelines to authors and journal editors that list the essential elements of a well-reported clinical study of PLT transfusion.